I Was Mistaken as the Novel’s Hidden Boss

A red gate suddenly appeared in the sky. 

 

In the outskirts of Busan, no less. 

 

It almost bypassed our national detection. If not for a civilian call, we won't even realize it until it's too late. And I, as a commander, cannot let that happen. 

 

Fortunately, we could get there early before the gate poured monsters. The evacuation smoothly conducted, and perimeters successfully planted accross the beach. Still, even after much preparation, I cannot shake this nervous feeling. It's a red gate after all. In a world where the violet gate is less than 30 in a fixed place, red gate that suddenly pops up like this is more dangerous. 

Monster could pour out anytime, often just merely minutes after its creation. Devastating cities and infrastructure, and could claim life at least hundreds of people first before the support comes. 

 

"How long until they come?" 

 

I ask the deputy in the temporary tent. 

 

"At least 15 minutes. They are already on the way, but even with helicopters, the distance is too far." 

 

"Tsk."

 

Hearing that, I smack my tongue. Fifteen minutes is too long. The red gate is famous for its unpredictable pattern. If those hunters can't get here ASAP, even with our best equipment, I don't know for how long we can hold it. 

 

After a moment of contemplation, I said to my deputy. 

 

"Prepare my equipment." 

 

"Commander!" 

 

With a loud voice, he stood. And everyone in the tent also looked our way. Silence took place, further thickening the tension between me and my deputy. 

 

But in the end, I sighed. 

 

"I'm not going into combat. I'm just going to prepare." I said. But this kid still stood his ground. 

 

Saying, "You absolutely can't, commander. Your wound—"

 

"—will worsen. Yes, I know." I cut him off before he could say the obvious. "But if my sacrifice could lessen the casualties of my hometown, I don't mind dying." 

 

Again, silence took place. 

 

I understand my deputy's sentiment, but what am I? Am I not a soldier? Am I not taking this burdensome position so I can protect my precious? If my life alone could protect numerous people behind me, for what reason would I not take that choice? 

 

"Still! The perimeters are already done perfectly. The hunters are on the way, and we take almost all our firepower from a nearby camp! You don't need to sacrifice yourself, commander." 

Lee Jae pleaded. As the deputy, only he could voice the minds of countless soldiers here. The commander is their hero. A figure more important than themself. Even if the opponent is a red gate, they would rather sacrifice themself rather than let their commander die. 

 

Once more, I sighed. Sometimes I don't understand why they keep this old man in such high regard, when I already lost the majority of my power. 

 

"Lee Jae, this is the red gate we are talking about. The same gate that almost destroyed Gangnam, and turned Jeju into a no man's land. Do you think we have the leisure to limit our power here?" 

 

Starting from green, yellow, white, black, red, and finally, violet. Amongst all the gates, the first three could get defused a lot more easily than the last two. Violet is even categorized as 'undefeated'. The reason is simply because it's too strong. Both the denizen of the gate, and the environment. What's fortunate, is that the violet gate did not cause the phenomenon 'Gate Invasion', where the monster poured out of the gate mainly because the gate isn't cleared. So higher ups only maintain a stance of caution without sending their hunters to clear the gate. 

 

A red gate, however, is the exact opposite. 

 

It pops anywhere, and oftentimes, pouring their monsters in short intervals after its resurgence. It has been deemed as the main threat of humanity. 

Not to mention that these monsters that come out often have the strength of a yellow or white boss, en masse. But in a rare case, it could spit out a violet level monster. 

 

"You are beside me when we confront the red gate in Gangnam. Only a dozen came out but how were the casualties? Five A-ranked dead, two more heavily injured. Twelve B-ranked died, and me, an S-rank, now forced into retirement because of the wound I received that day." 

 

Lee Jae's face instantly contorted, and in my heart, I felt sorry for re-living the PTSD. We both succeeded in neutralizing the situation back then, but not without a cost. I suffer from long-term wounds which could worsen if I exert even a little more strength. Lee Jae, on the other hand, lost his guildmates, and his guild dissolved because the members were either dead or injured. 

 

He lost everything. 

 

"I don't have to say it out loud. You already understand." 

 

Once more, I sighed. The scars were too deep, and I could understand his wish for not wanting to see me dead. 

 

But Lee Jae, fate does not move according to our wishes. 

 

I tap Lee Jae's shoulder twice. "I won't die." I said with a little smile. 

 

Perhaps knowing he can no longer persuade me, he responds with a tired smile. 

 

Just before I command him to ready my equipment again, a soldier hurriedly enters the tent and shouts. 

 

"The red gate poured out a monster!" 

 

Instantly, the atmosphere tensed. But I keep my cool. Then I ask him. 

 

"How many are there?" 

 

Strangely, hearing my question, the soldier's face began to ashen. 

 

"I-It's—" 

 

"Calm down, we already set the perimeters. So calm your heart and report." 

 

At this time, I could see the trembling from his hand. 

 

"O-Only—" 

 

"Only?" 

 

A bad premonition. My senses as an S-class hunters now screaming a bad omen at me. The soldier cannot voice it out, and only gestured the number with his hand. But with just that, our face changed instantly. 

 

'One'. 

 

Wasting no time, I blitzed outside the tent. There, I could clearly see in the sky, something is currently falling from the red gate. No other monsters come out aside from the one that's currently falling. 

 

Confirming the sight, I cursed under my breath.  

 

"Shit." 

 

When Gangnam was under attack, 14 monsters came out of the red gate. It took us many lives and sacrifices before finally shut the coffin. That alone is recorded as the second most dangerous gate incident in Korean history, with the Jeju incident as the first. In the other country, there's a record of 5 monsters coming out of the red gate, and the casualties literally ripped the functionality of three big cities. And took them months to defeat the five monsters. That was the most horrible catastrophe caused by the red gate recently. 

 

Thus, it's been common sense that the less monsters out from the gates, the more dangerous the situation. 

 

But 'one'? Are you kidding me?? 

 

The monsters haven't even touched the ground, but I could see the despair in the soldiers eyes. 

 

"Lee Jae!! Contact the headquarters! Request more hunters!!!" 

 

"Understood!" 

 

Now, I can only do my best here. 

With that resolve, I shout commands. 

 

"SOLDIER!! PREPARE THE WEAPONS!! THE SECOND THAT CREATURE TOUCH THE GROUND, RELEASE EVERYTHING!!!" 

 

"Yes!!" 

 

Perhaps realizing that doing nothing wouldn't resolve the situation, the soldiers, recovered from their despair, quickly ready all the armaments of war. Everything, from artillery to air support. All the people here know what it means. It is most likely that they will die here, not one person didn't think about that. So they desperately prepare the weapons while trembling hard from fear. 

 

At these moments, time felt really slow for them. 

 

The creature is falling at the speed of 50 km per hour. But in their eyes, that speed is too slow. But a loud sound rang, waking them up from their hyperslow perception. The monster has fallen into the sand. 

 

And the moment that happens, a shout of command instantly chimed their ears. 

 

"FIRE!!!" 

 

They pull the trigger.