Requiem Of A Failed Hero

Tokyo, Japan.

In a rural developing area in Kichijoji. Right in the park, stood a massive round gate. Where people were used to walking and relaxing was now an abandoned place because of the rank C gate that appeared.

The rampant appearance of gates is something all these countries were dealing with. Sometimes when it is reported to the association it normally takes weeks for them to respond because they have to respond to gates that pose more danger such as rank B, rank A, and rank S. Especially rank S, the danger of a rank S gate could be compared with that of a level 10 dungeon in Therut.

Abandoning a gate breeds the possibility of a gate fracture, a situation where the monster breaks out of the gate, there is no fixated duration of time for this to happen, for some, it may take just one week, for some it may take a month, some three months but the least that has been seen is one week.

Because of this reason, the Japanese association has to pour more of its attention into the high-rank gates and leave the other ones to the guilds. The only problem is, the guilds are always after the high-rank gates too, because the higher the rank of the gate, the better the loot, and that means big big money.

The rank C gate in Kichijoji had been abandoned for two weeks even after being reported, the neighborhood, fearing a gate fracture, decided to take it upon themselves to evacuate the vicinity. Even residential homes that were around the park were all vacated and found somewhere safe to stay.

This sudden afternoon, someone stepped out of the gate.

Donned in a medieval attire, tight pants, open sleeve white blouse, and black knee boots, with his crimson red hair flowing and gleaming in the harsh sunlight.

Absalom looked up into the sky, the area was surrounded by trees and the breeze was cool and comforting compared to the hot air in Felfhiem, especially in the sixth realm where he lived.

"I have to find that bastard real quick and go back to Felfhiem before Volmak is sentenced." He mumbled as he finds his way forward.

***

***

***

"We, the Ares guild have been standing here for the past thirty-five minutes however the association has declined our access request to the gate. We are doing this for the sake of the public but I can't help but suspect that the association is doing this for personal gains. They seem to be hiding a lot from the public."

Gil Dae-Jung, the assistant guild president of the Ares guild spoke to the media in front of the rank B gate that emerged on the road and blocked all cars from moving.

He wasn't the only one present, representatives from the Han guild, Goryeo guild, Priderock guild, and Icepalace guild were all present in different corporate suits with the emblem of their guild sewed to the chest of their jackets. All of them demanded entrance into the gate.

But the association knew this wasn't the case. Thanks to Raith's flamboyant display of coolness, almost everybody caught him on camera and it only took twenty to thirty minutes for that video to go viral. Now all the guilds are here to ridicule the association and snatch him from them.

And truth be told, they could because the fact that Raith is a merchant does not stop him from joining a guild, hell they could even approach him with a better offer since the guilds have the resources and money– money they monopolize from dungeon loots and invest it into the new level of technological advances that is possible thanks to the dungeon loots.

Agent Jong-Su stood still with no emotions on his face, his black shades were tightly sitting and blocking the continues flashlight from the reporters' camera, and his hands were behind his back, clenched in anger and frustration.

The same was with the other association agents but none of them was as frustrated as he was. He was the one that put in the work to scout Raith, even when his rank isn't determined. He believed in him, yes there were sometimes when he had his doubts and was ruthless in his manner of thinking but he still gave Raith his trust.

That the guild was pulling this kind of stunt in order to take away their merchant was vexing. He gritted his teeth within those closed lips as he scowled at every one of them while they continued to say gibberish in front.

He had no intention of letting them pass through no matter how hard they push and he was ready for a confrontation.

Whoooossh

The gate suddenly began to gather breeze, everyone understood that someone was about to come out of it. As expected, Raith stepped out of the gate with his helmet standing out, the sun was setting but the road was more crowded than it was before he entered the dungeon.

As he stepped out the gate swirled and reduced in size till he disappeared.

The mob of reporters rushed forward and began to bombard him with questions.

"Who are you?"

"Are you the newest merchant of the association?"

"How did you clear B rank gate alone?"

"Are you an S rank?"

"Maybe a special rank?"

"Please talk to us?"

Raith stood frozen, one thing he has always been shy of is cameras. Even if he wanted to talk, he was damn sure he would stutter and disgrace himself. He looked at Jong-Su who was having a hard time cautioning the reporters and pushing them back.

'Instant move'

Whim

He disappeared from their sight in that instant and appeared afar off. further, than they could see immediately. But not for the representatives of the guilds that were there, some of them at least so the speed.

Some like Gil Dae-Jung whose eyes stayed widened.

'I was sure my eyes were on him, but he suddenly vanished and appeared there...' his eyes shook as he looked at Raith who was already walking away.

The reporters were left dumbfounded.