I looked out the window. Today's a good day to renew some fabrics–
Wait, I need to think about what types of clothes to make. Otherwise, what will I do with the new fabrics?
I looked into my book, where I had made a scribbling mess, trying to get new ideas for types of clothing for Hunters and Gatekeepers to use.
Sigh… I wouldn't have this dilemma if the system hadn't come 16 years ago! But as always… I never have luck on my side–
Purr…
I was snapped out of my thoughts when Layla jumped on my lap and started nuzzling into my chest and purring… I guess she wanted head pats.
I found Layla when she was a small dungeon beast. I was lucky that the Branch let me keep her. She looks like a cat, but her dark blue fur gives away that she's a dungeon monster.
I used to take her on dungeon expeditions with me… I was impressed by how quickly she learned how to kill other dungeon monsters.
But then, I left being a hunter, so I don't have to worry about her safety…
I looked around the room, all my fabrics were in the corner, and my sewing machine was on the other side with a lot of scrap cloth. I looked at my table again, and it was a mess… I should clean it…
Then an Idea came into my head for a new outfit… maybe I could–
⌈System notification for Awakener: AD⌉
A bright purple message box is shown right in front of me.
AD… it is my system name, it was an abbreviation for my real name, Ambrose Diaz…
Sigh… is it time already?
I click the message box.
⌈ Good morning. You have to complete a⌉
Gate in 12 hours,
The location and partner system name
will be given shortly
⌊ ⌋
"Ah… damn it" I mumbled into my breathe, I had just gotten a good idea for my new outfit…
Gates and Dungeons… were the two things that came 16 years ago with the System.
Gates were mandatory for every Awakener. If they did not clear the Gate in the given time, the Awakener would be exiled by the system, which could potentially lead to death.
Dungeons were not much prioritized in the beginning, but after multiple Dungeon breaks around the world, causing massive destruction, Awakeners started to clear Dungeons monthly.
Those who do both Dungeons and Gates are called Hunters, and those who only do Gates are called Gatekeepers.
I hope I still remember these little pieces of information… I don't want to write all this stuff in my notebook…
I packed up my stuff and locked up the
shop and put a sign on the door
「The boutique will be closed until
Further notice.
Have to finish a gate. 」
Then I walked towards the building next to my shop with Layla following me.
The building was old but well-maintained. It had 10 floors and a roof terrace. I went to my apartment on the 4th floor and opened the door.
It's a small two-bedroom apartment, my bedroom is on the right.
I went to my bedroom and changed, and Layla sat on the couch.
I wore a black turtleneck shirt and a long black coat with gold embroidery and black pants.
After tying my hair into a bun, Layla jumped down from the sofa and nuzzled into the side of my thigh. I petted her and told her to stay in the house and left.
By then, the system had already given the location of the gate, which was in Incheon.
___
When I reached it, I parked my motorcycle and saw that the gate was at a construction site, which could be dangerous-
"Stop right there, this area is restricted, a Gate has opened here", a guard approached me.
"I'm the partner for the awakener for this gate", I replied.
"Mhm…I see… please wait here, let me check" With that, the guard left.
I looked to where that guard went and saw a boy with light brown hair and brown eyes.
Lee Hayoon… He is my partner for this gate, he's ranked 6 on the Ranking board… He's an A rank… I think…
I opened the Rankings on my system profile:
⌈ ⌉
Rank: S - Yoo Junwoo
Rank: S - AA
Rank: S - Alexandria
Rank: A - Geulimja
Rank: A - ╰(*°▽°*)╯
Rank: A - Leee
⌊ ⌋
Ah, there he is. I was right… But still, I should write the Rankings into my notebook. I can't afford to forget these things. For example, what if someone randomly asked me who was the rank 5? I can't say I don't know, everyone knows–
I look at the board again…Rank 5
…
…I don't want to know they managed to make that their system name.
The Ranking board only takes those who played the Dungeons. I was the No. 1 16 years ago, but I stopped playing the Dungeons and became a Gatekeeper.
Mhm… if I remember correctly, Gatekeepers are Awakeners who only do Gates. They are often looked down upon since people decided that every Awakener should do dungeons…
I find that absurd… Like Awakeners should also have the choice to live how they want to, and there are plenty of Hunters to do the dungeon… not every Awakener should be a Hunter
When I told the Director that I wanted to leave, people at the branch were trying to make me stay, like the Assistant Director, but the Director said that I could leave freely and come back if I ever change my mind, and I'm so thankful for that...
Surprisingly, the public also supported me, and lots of gifts were given. I couldn't help but smile at the memory.
Then I removed my notebook from my inventory and wrote the Rankings and closed the Ranking board.
It felt nice to have a record of things to remember, I don't want to forget–
"Sorry for the delay. Can I see your Hunter card?" the guard asked while walking towards me.
"I'm a gatekeeper", I replied, putting my notebook back into my inventory.
"I see… Can I see your system name?".
He extended his hand, and I held it.
"System name", I called out, and a small purple system message box appeared.
⌈System name: AD⌋
The guard let go of my hand and nodded.
"Alright, you can go", he stepped aside as I walked through towards where the Gate was.
Hmm… I never met Lee Hayoon, I wonder how he is… I've heard people say that he is a lively and cheerful kid who helps everyone.
I reached the Gate and saw Lee Hayoon talking to a branch employee. He had black hair, pale skin and Blue and green eyes. He turned and saw me and waved at me.
"Hello! Are you my partner for the gate?" he asked me excitedly.
He's more lively than I expected…
"Yes", I replied
"Nice. Well, I already checked the Rank of the Gate. It's B– Wait… uh… what's your Rank?"
"B"
I had to lie that my rank was S, I didn't want him to tell the branch about me since I'm sure they would remember me and ask me to join back, which I did not want to deal with the Assistant Director…
I looked at the branch employee next to Lee Hayoon. When I was a hunter, I wore an eye mask that only the wearer could see through and put black dye in my hair… though it never stuck, so I had to reapply it a lot. It did the job well, so I don't think the employee will recognize me.
And looking closely, it seems to be a newly joined Awakener–
"Ah… that's why the gate is B… Well, no worries, let's do our best!" he smiled and looked up at me.
I smiled back,
"Alright", the employee spoke, looking up from the tablet in her hands ", I've logged this gate, you both can go in"
We both nodded at the employee and went into the Gate.
___
It was a forest-type Gate and a B-rank
Well, I guess I was lucky that it's B, which means I can keep my facade that I'm a rank B and not S… I guess I can get lucky sometimes.
I looked around and saw that we were on a cliff, and below was a big forest that stretched for miles and in the center of the forest was a white beam that shot up to the sky.
"Is that the Boss?" Lee Hayoon mumbled
"Yes, it is", I replied and stood next to him
Lee Hayoon turned his head and looked at me "Hey, how long have you been an Awakener for?"
"16 years'"
"Wow, so that means you're my senior. Should I call you, sir?"
"No need, just call me Ambrose"
"Oh... ok, Ambrose… I just realized that your white hair… it looks good on you, by the way, what color are your eyes?"
"They are blue, but because of the system, I got a red rim around the iris", I explained.
"It's cool"
He smiled, and I gave a small smile back…
"Can you wait?" he asked "Let me just check my inventory"
"Alright", I replied, looking over the forest
I hate my white hair… I hate white… I try not to pay attention to my hair, but after 397 years of having white hair and nearly 342 years of not being experimented on, it's still hard to do so…
look down at my hands, seeing light skin blotches on my dark skin… It's also on my neck and around my right eye and cheek… I don't mind those and my eyes… they are unique, I guess.
Wait, how did I get white hair? My fast healing should've made it remain black-
"Experiment: 011, stay still… now we will give your daily dose of injection—
"Inventory", I mumble out, I need to stop thinking about that.
⌈ INVENTORY ⌉
First Aid x5
Notebook x1
Pen x1
Small Kitchen knife ×2
….
⌊ ⌋
I took the notebook and Pen and put them in my pocket, then took out the kitchen knife and put it in my coat pocket.
"Alright! Let's go!" Lee Hayoon exclaimed
I rechecked my things and replied, "Mhm… Let's go"