The first thing visible upon entering the gate was a huge windmill.
Cherry-colored bricks were stacked tightly, giving the impression of the Tower of Babel.
It looked about five times larger than a normal windmill, and the windmill blades were made of swords that could be used on a guillotine.
"There are so many."
There were 30-40 such windmills.
Below them was an endlessly wide prairie.
Flocks of sheep were grazing freely, and a shepherd was sleeping using a tree shade as a bed.
"Instructor Kim Seokgu, what's going on here?"
Kim Seokgu and Lee Minjun were discussing with serious expressions.
They looked like they knew the difficulty had changed to S-rank because the gate's concept had been assigned.
"The gate's difficulty has changed. This has never happened before..."
"I think we should keep the regular cadets in the safe zone for now."
This was an unknown fact.
There was a safe zone spread out at the gate entrance.
It was to prevent dying from dizziness right after entering the gate.
It was questionable that the gate provided this prevention, but the result was good.
There's no point in weak kids trying to move to conquer the gate, they'd just be a hindrance.
---------------------------------=
S-rank gate is activated.
Don Quixote de la Mancha is a character with beloved madness.
He has changed his appearance by moving from place to place through various people's mouths, hands, and actions.
But there were always a few things that supported him.
His ridiculous armor, his wonderful pony Rocinante, and his assistant Sancho Panza!
That's not all.
Do you remember the giant windmill and the angry shepherd?
Recall the memories of reading the book after a long time and break through the gate!
Perhaps you'll be immersed in happiness remembering this moment later.
Clear condition :: ???
Time limit :: None
---------------------------------=
Just as Kim Seokgu and Lee Minjun were about to explain their plan, an explanation window appeared.
A huge paper suddenly appeared in the sky, large enough for everyone to see.
"Judging by the unknown clear condition and no time limit, it's definitely an S-rank gate."
The higher the difficulty, the less information about conditions was given.
Instead, they usually gave very generous time, but this wasn't good news.
When the time limit ends, gates usually open again so you can go outside.
But no time limit meant there were only two ways out.
'Either die or clear it.'
It meant about forty lives could disappear in an instant.
Dark shadows fell on the faces of children who had come to the gate with light hearts.
Well, no matter how strong they were, they were just twenty-year-olds.
It was strange to expect much from kids who had only been adults for four months, despite their impressive appearance.
"Then for now... we need to form a team to clear it."
"I think that's already been decided."
Before I came in, Kim Seokgu and Lee Minjun had already finished coordinating their opinions to some extent.
The most efficient method to break through an unknown gate was with an elite few.
Rather than gathering a random bunch, breaking through with the strongest minimum number of people resulted in less damage.
"We should go with five people: Instructor Kim Seokgu and me, Cadet Minsu, Cadet Taeyang, and Cadet Melanie."
Everyone nodded at Lee Minjun's words.
I belatedly realized that although he said to speak casually, Lee Minjun was using honorifics.
It gave the feeling of preparing for battle in his own way.
'It's the most ideal.'
Three always-active ability users, an experienced instructor, and a hunter team leader.
This was the best small elite team that could be formed currently.
Lee Minjun's hunter team exerts power when all members are united.
But in fact, only Lee Minjun was a 1st-class hunter, the rest were between 2nd and 3rd class, so they weren't much help.
This was also why they had the derogatory nickname 'Lee Minjun and his kids'.
"Then how about we identify each other's skills before investigating the gate? Mine is teleportation."
Lee Minjun's skill was so well-known that it didn't need to be mentioned.
It had been automatically memorized due to so much exposure in the mass media.
"I can only move myself, and for objects, only up to the size of a dagger is possible."
This was also a well-known fact.
Because of these limitations, Lee Minjun was also called a 'ninja'.
"My body hardens, think of it as solidification. There's no slowing down or anything like that."
Kim Seokgu explained his skill while demonstrating his head hardening.
It was fascinating to see his head transform into smooth metal.
I felt the urge to touch it, but held back due to the heavy atmosphere.
"I'm a hero. It's a physical enhancement type."
Kim Minsu's ability had also been talked about two or three times in the media, so detailed explanation was skipped.
In the first place, even with a detailed explanation, it wasn't a skill that would change much.
'How would you explain being a hero.'
A hero was just a hero. The protagonist leading the world view and the embodiment of justice defeating evil.
It was a simple and brief explanation, but it could explain everything.
"My main skill is Coercion. As Instructor Kim Seokgu mentioned, it's in the debuff category and applies direct pressure limited to living beings."
"By pressure, to what extent is it possible?"
"I can't be certain since I haven't used my full power yet, but I should be able to suppress even skill activation."
Confirming ability output was extremely important in a gate where life and death were at stake.
Lee Minjun was going over these aspects one by one.
He kept asking questions not only to me but also to Kim Seokgu and Kim Minsu if he had additional curiosities.
"Then what about Cadet Melanie?"
"I can summon and control firearms. Everything from simple guns to complex machines. They can fire automatically without a gunner."
"The drawback is that I lose control if used for too long, especially with complex things like machines."
Kim Seokgu, who had been silently listening, opened his mouth.
Melanie's confident expression instantly hardened.
'So this was why.'
It made sense why she was treated like an explosive.
If she couldn't properly control her ability, a tank could suddenly be summoned on the street and blow everything up.
The big accident that happened when she was young was clearly due to this reason.
"Alright then, now that we've finished identifying everyone's abilities, shall we analyze the concept? Does anyone know Don Quixote?"
Lee Minjun showed the attitude of an active hunter who meets various hunters.
He was continuously leading the atmosphere while actively exerting overwhelming sociability and humanity.
Kim Minsu blatantly avoiding eye contact, Melanie with an anxious expression, and Kim Seokgu watching Melanie.
I was impressed that he could keep the conversation going endlessly even with these three.
"I've read it a bit. To summarize briefly, it's Don Quixote's travel diary."
"Ah... Do those windmills appear in it?"
"They do appear, but they weren't as threatening as these."
When I answered actively, Lee Minjun made an expression like finding an oasis in the desert.
He sensed that the stiff atmosphere was gradually changing.
'Getting depressed because the situation is gloomy is the worst thing to do.'
In that aspect, Lee Minjun showed a perfect image.
Not only Lee Minjun, but 'Lee Minjun's kids' were also mingling with the cadets and creating a good atmosphere.
Kim Seokgu was doing well at first, but when Melanie mentioned her ability, his expression hardened and he didn't try to lighten up.
We discussed various things after that, but what surprised me was that no one knew the story of Don Quixote.
They knew it was a classic masterpiece and even said they saw it in the world literature collection, but didn't know the content.
'Is this Glasses Fatty's doing?'
They might simply not have read it. Just because something is famous doesn't mean you know it in detail.
"Then according to Cadet Taeyang, those windmills could become giants?"
"Yes, and that shepherd might also get angry and beat people."
"Hmm... We can't rashly attack first in that case."
The most tricky type in gates was when there was a set concept.
It's because you can't grasp how to deal with it, like now.
If it's defense, you defend, if it's offense, you attack.
Even in a boss battle, you just need to take the head of the strongest one.
"Should I try sniping first?"
"It's too dangerous. Let's observe the situation a bit more..."
Clop clop clop clop
Just as we were discussing where to start, the sound of horse hooves was heard.
It wasn't the powerful sound of a well-bred racehorse or warhorse, but the sound of barely taking one step at a time.
"Ho ho, what are you all doing here?"
"I'm not sure, my lord."
We could tell who they were as soon as we saw them.
We had explained about Don Quixote's characters for over thirty minutes.
An old-fashioned sword and spear inherited from his great-grandfather, a helmet that barely covered his face.
A shabby pony with patchy fur and a short man wearing a hat made of rags.
All these combinations meant one thing.
"Don Quixote!"
"Oh! To think there's someone who knows me, surely my spirit of chivalry is already spreading across this vast continent. Isn't that right, Sancho?"
"Hehe, that's right, my lord. As expected of the one who promised to give me an island. I, Sancho, will follow and serve you to the ends of hell!"
Kim Minsu coolly blocked the way, but Don Quixote and Sancho didn't pay him any attention.
They were treating not just Minsu, but all of us as extras.
"Sancho! Look over there! Those huge giants, the ferocious wolves disguised as sheep, and the evil sorcerer holding a staff!"
"No, my lord! Those are just windmills. There are no wolves, just sheep. It's not a sorcerer, just a shepherd!"
"Sancho! Trust me! You must have fallen for the devil's trick and can't see the truth. For now, I shall be your eyes and show you the truth! Giddy up!"
"Oh my lord! Please ride a bit slower! With my short legs... oh... darn! Rocinante has short legs too!"
It felt like watching a clumsy play.
None of us could grasp the situation and were just quietly watching their conversation.
Don Quixote skillfully controlled Rocinante and started galloping forward.
Sancho started following, running his short legs as fast as he could, which looked comical.
All we could do was watch the situation.
"Oh my lord! The windmills! The windmills are moving!"
"What did I tell you! Sancho, you've finally escaped the devil's trick! That is the true form of the windmills! Those sheep must be hiding their fangs, and the shepherd must be preparing to cast a spell!"
At Don Quixote's thunderous words, everyone's gaze turned towards the windmills.
The windmills were rising from the ground, just as Don Quixote said.
It reminded one of a huge tree uprooting itself and rising.
---------------------------------=
With the appearance of Don Quixote, Rocinante, and Sancho, the clear conditions are revealed!
Don Quixote's eyes have the power to blur the line between ideal and reality.
What he sees can become windmills or giants.
Even the most insignificant bug can turn into a monster if seen through his eyes!
Stop him before he turns everything in the world into monsters!
Clear conditions :: Kill Don Quixote (0/1)
Kill Rocinante (0/1)
Kill Sancho (0/1)
※Caution※
Don Quixote cannot be killed by the monsters he creates.
The same goes for Rocinante and Sancho!
---------------------------------=
Everyone came to their senses at the information window announcing the belatedly revealed clear conditions.
Don Quixote was also a massive delusional patient who believed all the stories in the novel were real.
But what if that became true? What if everything he saw turned into monsters?
"Everyone aim for Don Quixote! Minjun, provide rear support with Melanie, the rest follow me!"
Every object in the gate was turning into monsters as soon as it entered Don Quixote's sight.
"We absolutely can't let him look at all the windmills! We have to kill him before that!"
Kim Seokgu's urgent tone represented the current situation.
So far, Don Quixote had properly gazed at only one windmill.
But that one was emitting an aura comparable to a decent A-rank monster.
"Sancho! Look over there! The blade of the windmill giant is sharper than the guillotine that kills convicts!"
"Oh my lord, how do you intend to fight against that!"
"Won't those young people behind us deal with it instead? We must hurry to find the utopia said to be at the end of the world!"
"As expected of you, my lord! Your ideas are just brilliant and genius!"
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