**Pre-assignment for the S-rank Gate. Gate exploration practice.**  
The first partner was decided to be **Sia**.

[On Tuesday, **Yu-jin** will go, and on Wednesday, **Alice** will go.]

There was no specific reason for the order.  
Whether someone goes first or last, the experience gained would be similar.  
It was merely the chairman's intuition that determined the sequence.

[Hehe. I’m first. As expected of the chairman.]  
[Why am I second?! I’ve explored gates with **Yu-jin** before, so I should go first this time as well.]  
[Tsk. Don’t attach too much meaning to such an order.]  
[But no matter how I think about it, I should be first.]  
[Stop whining. Instead, share something good….]

…For some reason, **Alice** was fixated on the order, which left the chairman flustered trying to appease her.

[Gate? I’ll go too. As your disciple, it’s only natural that I follow you.]  
[Please just stay put. We’re sending the kids to build their skills, not taking them on a picnic.]  
[No, I’m going. Don’t stop me, even if I’m ranked fourth in S-class.]  
[I’ll prepare something for you later too. Please, please exercise some restraint….]

Due to the insistence of the master who wanted to tag along, there was a comical negotiation between him and the chairman.  
However, all other preparations went smoothly.

The next day, Tuesday.  
Until the moment the **Cheonhwa Clan** came to greet us.

“Miss. Awakened **Yu-jin**. We are at your service.”  
“Have a good trip. **Yu-jin**, be careful, just in case.”  
“Are you worried about me? Oh, I’m a bit touched.”

—Muttering.

“…I’m worried about speeding violations.”  
“What?”  
“It’s nothing. Just come back quickly.”  
“Okay.”

Before leaving, the chairman mumbled something…  
But it was probably just an old man’s unnecessary worries, as always.

---

In modern times, gates are broadly divided into two types.

The first is the majority, guerrilla-type gates.  
Like the A+ rank gate I tackled last time, which causes immense damage if not closed after clearing.

And the second is,

---  
**Military Restricted Zone**  
There is a C-rank gate located 100 meters ahead from this point.  
Access by civilians is strictly prohibited.  
Unauthorized entry may expose you to significant danger and may result in legal penalties.

**Caution**  
Even if someone tries to entice you at night, do not follow them under any circumstances.  
It may be a symptom of hallucinations and auditory delusions caused by the monster 'Jangsanbeom.'  
The **Cheonhwa Clan** is actively engaged in periodic extermination to prevent such occurrences, but…  
---

‘Long time no see. Has it been 10 years?’

It was a gate that had already been cleared and intentionally left open.  
It might seem strange to leave a gate open, but there were substantial benefits in doing so.

Gate clearing guarantees a clear increase in stats, making it perfect for training newcomers.  
They can even gain real combat experience.

For this reason, the clan intentionally keeps gates with low danger levels that are left open.  
If not constantly exterminated, monsters could overflow and cause an explosion, but with proper management, they can be maintained.

The gate before us was of such a type.

“Phew. I can’t believe I’m already here….”  
“Are you nervous, **Sia**?”  
“Honestly, a little. I’ve heard the newcomers cry a few times, so I’m slightly trembling.”

Next to me, **Sia** was taking deep breaths, unable to hide her anxiety.  
It seemed her first real experience was quite nerve-wracking.

It made me smile, finding her cute.

—Grinning.

“Oh? Our junior is grinning like that. Are you that happy to be on a date with our lady?”  
“Sister?! This isn’t a date; it’s a gate….”  
“There’s only one letter difference. It’s basically the same thing~.”

The other awakened ones around reacted similarly, giggling at **Sia** as if they were intoxicated by the lewd newb scent.

‘…Most of them are A-rank. Is it really appropriate to get so worked up over just a C-rank gate?’

The problem was that they were all senior members of the **Cheonhwa Clan**.  
It seemed excessive for the main force of the strongest clan, **Cheonhwa**, to be assigned to a C-rank gate clearing.  
It was a bit like using a slaughter knife to catch a chicken; a reflection of the love for the clan leader's daughter.

I bowed deeply.

—Nodding.

“Senior members, I’m sorry. You shouldn’t be here at such a humble place because of us….”  
“Don’t be so formal, junior~. If you’re a friend of our lady, then you’re a friend of ours too, right, everyone?”  
“Of course!”

My apology was met with cheerful smiles from the senior members.  

…It was an odd adjustment. Before my regression, I had been treated like a thief.  
It took years to become friends with them.  
Was this the effect of the achievements?

‘The hard work over the past two weeks has paid off.’  
“Thank you. Well then, let’s head out.”

Under the warm atmosphere, we set out for the gate exploration…

“Ah, junior? You’re supposed to hold the lady’s hand while entering, right?”  
“…What?”  
“Sister?”

…Just as we were about to head out.  
I heard something strange.

“The rule is that for the first gate, we hold hands as the opposite genders.”  
“No, there’s no such rule.”  
“It’s an industry standard, so the lady might not know~. Now, now. Hold on tight! Hurry up!”  
“…….”

A sigh escaped me.  
It was obvious why they were saying such nonsensical things.

To tease the newbies.  
If I fell for this willingly, I would be a laughingstock for years to come, with phrases like, “Didn’t he do that back then?”

So, I…

—Grabbing.

“If that’s the case, there’s no helping it. **Sia**, hold my hand tightly.”  
“……Y-Yu-jin?”

Oh, I’d be thankful if you could do that. Legal skinship is great.  
I even intertwined our fingers.

—Murmurs.

“Oh? You’re really holding hands.”  
“Senior, this friend is surprisingly more naive than I thought?”  
“Maybe we should give it a little push…?”

The seniors seemed to find joy in my situation, laughing quietly…  
Go ahead and tease me all you want. I’m the one benefiting. 

---

After entering the gate, the two students quickly dealt with the monsters.  
It was hard to believe it was their first time working together; they coordinated remarkably well.

“**Sia**, behind you!”  
“I know, I know!!”  
“I’ll cover all the close combat for you….”

**Sia** used her ability to manipulate shadows to deal with the monsters.  
**Yu-jin** kept a watchful eye, ready to protect his wife from any potential danger.

It was truly exemplary party play, so much so that those watching felt pleased.

“Junior, you and the lady really get along well~.”  
“Plus, the way you two coordinate so smoothly. It’s like you’re made for each other, right?”  
“Should we let them take a break?”

…The reason for their satisfaction was a bit different.

Weren’t all of them at least 10 years into the **Cheonhwa Clan**?  
For A-rank awakened ones, leveling up takes a long time.

And **Sia** had always been there, running around the clan building, proudly declaring, “I’m a **Cheonhwa Clan** member!”  
In other words, for them, **Sia** had been like a niece they had watched grow up since she was little.  
She was our ‘lady.’

But now, this lady was bringing a man?  
And not just any man, but one who was handsome, capable, and had great character?

‘I can’t let this slide. No way.’  
‘It’s our lady’s first love. We should support her, right?’

This was why these A-rank awakened ones volunteered for a mere C-rank gate escort duty.

We actively support our lady's love life.  
Just leave it to us.

“Phew. First, let’s take care of all the monsters here….”  
“Junior~? After the battle, let’s rest with a buddy! Hydrate, and wipe off each other’s sweat!”  
“Sister, what are you talking about since earlier?! I can do that myself….”  
“Awakened ones build trust this way~.”

Thus, they eagerly spun lies.

Fought? Then they had to wipe each other’s sweat!  
Why was there only one water bottle? Well, getting drinking water in a gate is tough, so just share it~.  
Since they could get ambushed, they should stick close

 together while scouting~.

What? Embarrassed?  
This is how all awakened ones do it~. 

Thanks to that, **Sia** was having a rough time.

“Sister, you want me to drink this? But this was what he drank…?”  
“Oops. Sorry, **Sia**. I thought we were supposed to have one each, so I drank from it. Just a moment. I’ll get another one from the seniors.”  
“A-Anyway, we need to conserve drinking water in the gate. I should drink….”

—Gulp.

‘Isn’t this an indirect kiss? And I’m doing it knowingly!? I can’t help but drink, but if she thinks strangely….’

In the midst of a push-and-pull situation, the forced skinship kept increasing.  
Each time, my heart would thump, my face would heat up, and my saliva would gather uncomfortably.

The lips that had touched the mouth of the water bottle inexplicably wanted to smile.  

Ultimately, **Sia**'s reason began to crumble.  
Her body became unable to think of anything other than the battle.  
Instincts driven by the sense of crisis took over; her mind only screamed, “What to do, what to do?”

—Boom.

“Phew. Since we’ve reached the boss room, we’re done, right, seniors?”  
“Yes. The owner of the dungeon won’t respawn. You all worked hard. Junior. Lady.”  
“Especially you, lady. You fought incredibly well! You were in a state of pure focus! Your concentration is even better than mine!”

Thanks to **Sia**'s intense focus, the gate was cleared quickly.  

Before long, the group found themselves facing the return portal.  
If they returned now, the two’s practice would come to an end.

‘It’s finally over… I feel like my head might explode, so I need some fresh air quickly.’

—Whoosh. Grabbed.

“What’s this book, senior?”  
“Since we finished early, you two can do your homework together.”  
“……Huh?”

Just when they thought it was over.  
Suddenly, the words from the senior awakened ones echoed.

A smile they could no longer hide had appeared on their lips.

‘Today we really did something big.’  
‘Seeing our lady so fond of someone is adorable~.’  
‘We’ll be leaving now, so you two enjoy your time together.’

“The respawn won’t be until a month later, so take your time to chat and relax~.”

—Whoosh.

And then they stepped into the return portal.

**Sia** and **Yu-jin** could only blink in disbelief.  
No matter how much it was a C-rank gate, and they had cleared out all the monsters, was it right to leave the students behind and go home first?

“What the heck is this….”  
“Homework? What on earth could it be?”

Their eyes were fixed on the book.  
Curiosity filled them as they wondered what the senior awakened ones had tossed at them as “homework.”

[48 Methods to Subdue Mutants (Villains) - Written by **Seol Ha-yeon**]

‘No way, when is this from?’

The book was a guide on subduing villains.  
It was an old manual that had become outdated after decades.  
The senior awakened ones had given them something from a long time ago, asking them to practice with it.

**Yu-jin** tried to brush it off as insignificant, but…

“Hey, **Sia**, let’s just go. What use is it to learn something like this?”  
“No, it’s homework. We should practice a bit before we go.”  
“…**Sia**?”

**Sia** was currently in a situation where she was half entrusting her body to instinct.  
Her heart, stirred by the skinship with **Yu-jin**, blurted out her thoughts without passing through her head.  
She wanted to spend just a bit more time with **Yu-jin**, just like that time at the amusement park.

“Just a little. Okay?”  
“Alright, but I’ll take on the role of the villain since it would be unfair to subdue you.”  
“Okay. Then the first one is….”

After that, the two began their practice on subduing techniques.  
In a secretive manner, just the two of them.

“First, kick their shins to knock them down….”

—Thud. Thump.

“Oof. I got hit~.”  
“Haha, then next….”

[If you knock them down, immediately mount them and strike their face. Teeth are a weapon you can’t ignore, so if possible, destroy them. Aiming for the temple to induce a concussion is also effective.]

“Wow, that’s brutal.”  
“…I’ll just pretend to hit you.”  
“Okay~.”

**Yu-jin**, pretending to be the villain, flopped down.  
**Sia** climbed on top of him.  
And…

—Thud.

“……!!!!? **Sia**?”  
“This is just practice; it’s practice….”

—**Sia** had completely flopped down on **Yu-jin**.  
She crushed him with her weight. All while justifying it to herself as practice.

**Yu-jin** was stunned.

‘This… this is too close? **Sia**, we’re too close!!?’

—Ding.

[The skill ‘Total Hypnosis’ is activating.]

His face turned bright red as a bonus.

**Sia**’s outfit and position were definitely inappropriate for this kind of contact.  
The inappropriate physical contact was inevitable, no matter what.  
Even with the skill to suppress sexual desire, embarrassment couldn’t be avoided.

“**Sia**, wait. Just wait!! If you sit on me like that…”  
“It’s practice, so it’s okay. This is practice.”  
“It’s not okay!!?”

But **Sia** didn’t stop her rampage.  
She only kept insisting it was fine.

‘Really, our **Sia** is too innocent. I can’t help it. Even if my favorability drops….’

—Crack.

“You… you’re sitting on my… and it’s not that I’m having weird thoughts; it’s just natural for a guy to feel this way when you do that.”  
“It’s okay.”  
“……What?”  
“It’s okay. If it’s you, **Yu-jin**.”

She was so lost in her own world that she didn’t even realize what she was saying.  
Words spilled out without filtering through her thoughts.

“What does that even mean?”  
“If you like me, then….”

—Swoosh.

“W-What? Everything’s fine.”  
“……!!!!?”

‘What’s going on!? This has to mean she likes me. There’s no other explanation for this!’  

—Ding!

[The skill ‘Total Hypnosis’ is screaming in horror!!!]

It was only three minutes before the total hypnosis broke.