I can't believe I'm doing this.
I was currently in an alley, hurriedly putting on the clothes my sponsor gave me earlier.
The fabric felt new and strangely comfortable compared to the cheap clothes I had been wearing before. I stood there for awhile adjusting the sleeves and making sure everything fit properly.
It still felt unreal.
Just a few days ago, I was working in a office. Now I was standing in a quiet alley like some kind of secret agent, preparing to sneak into a gate.
A notification instantly appeared in front of me.
[Advance Information for Maintenance@#₱* Bug Player]
[Gate Location: 2,895 meters ahead]
[Opened 3 hours and 57 seconds ago]
"…Alright."
I clenched my fists slightly.
So this was it. My first job as the so-called "maintenance team."
I quickly finished preparing and walked out of the alley, making sure no one noticed me acting suspiciously.
When I finally reached the location, I slowed down and carefully peeked from the corner.
The area was already filled with debris. Pieces of broken pavement, dust still floating in the air, and the massive gate standing right in the middle like a crack in space itself.
Officers were already positioned around it, guarding the area strictly while a huge crowd had formed behind the barricades. People were whispering nervously, some recording with their phones, others just staring at the gate with fear clearly written on their faces.
Too much time had already been wasted waiting for licenses and official permission.
What about the people trapped inside?
My jaw tightened slightly.
I hated this system. I hated how slow everything was. And yet, neither I nor the others who could see how unfair it was could say anything about it.
But more importantly—
How was I supposed to enter that gate without anyone noticing?
Just as that thought crossed my mind, another notification appeared.
[The Constellation of Gates (GM) has sent you a special skill]
[Skill Acquired: Shadow Presence]
– A skill often used by assassins to hide their presence and move like a ghost, unnoticed.
My eyes widened.
"…Thank you so much, oh great deity."
I couldn't even hide the small smile forming on my face.
Sure, he was throwing me into this dangerous job without hesitation, but at least he was giving me something that could actually help me survive.
Maybe… I really could rely on him a little.
Constellation of Gates (GM):
Don't depend on me too much. Your life and death still depend on your own actions.
"…Copy that."
I took a deep breath and activated the skill.
At first, nothing seemed to change. But the moment I started walking again, it felt strange.
Lighter and Quieter.
As if the world itself had stopped paying attention to me.
I walked faster.
No one turned their heads.
No one noticed.
Like a passing wind, I slipped between the crowd, past the officers, past the barricades—until I was standing right in front of the gate itself.
My heart pounded loudly in my chest.
Then I stepped forward.
The familiar sensation returned immediately.
Lights flashed around me, and the world twisted as if I was being pulled through a tunnel of floating colors. My body felt weightless for a second.
Then—
The scenery changed.
Unlike the first dungeon I entered, this one was completely different.
I was now standing inside a massive ballroom.
A huge mansion.
The ceiling was high and decorated with elegant chandeliers, though most of them were broken. The marble floor stretched endlessly, and the walls were lined with luxurious decorations that looked old but expensive.
At first glance, it almost looked beautiful.
But then—
I smelled it.
Blood.
The entire hall was covered in it.
Not just small stains.
Fresh blood. Dark blood. Thick blood that had already started to dry in some places while still wet in others. The metallic smell filled the air so strongly that it almost made me gag.
It smelled awful.
Like something had been rotting here for years.
I swallowed hard and forced myself to keep walking.
Every step of mine felt heavier than the last.
Then I saw it.
An open door.
It led to what looked like a long hallway deeper inside the mansion.
My hand slowly moved to my weapon that I just summoned from my inventory. I tightened my grip and approached carefully, making sure not to make too much noise.
I was almost at the door when I slowly leaned forward and looked inside the hallway.
And that's when I saw them.
People.
No…
They weren't humans anymore.
They looked more like walking corpses.
Some of them were missing arms. Others were dragging their legs across the floor. One of them had its intestines hanging out, swaying with every step it took. Bite marks were scattered all over their bodies, as if something had been tearing them apart piece by piece.
The smell was even worse now that I was closer.
I covered my mouth slightly, trying not to breathe too deeply.
This was beyond disgusting.
I forced myself to look more carefully, even though every part of me wanted to look away.
And that's when something felt wrong.
A chill ran down my spine.
Some of them looked different.
Unlike the others, who were wearing old clothing and whose bodies had clearly been rotting for a long time, a few of them looked… newer.
Their clothes were modern. Clean. The kind you would see outside.
My eyes widened slightly.
"…No way."
That's when it finally hit me.
Those weren't dungeon monsters.
They were the people who got trapped here when the gate opened.