And now they were at the present moment.
Nox stood fully equipped in a Victorian gentleman's suit complete with his plague doctor mask, the ensemble creating an imposing silhouette that seemed to belong in a different century entirely. The long coat swayed slightly in the morning breeze, and the hood attached to his mask cast additional shadows over his already mysterious appearance.
Beside him stood Henry, who wore leather armor that was pure white, its surface so pristine it almost seemed to glow in the early light. The contrast between their appearances was striking—one dark and ominous, the other bright and almost angelic.
"Hey Henry," Nox said, breaking the comfortable silence between them.
"Huh, what is it?" Henry replied, adjusting one of his armor straps.
"Why is your armor so white?"
"Ahh, this suit can change color according to my will, and we're about to enter a winter gate, right? So white makes sense—it'll be harder for enemies to spot me after all."
"Well, that makes sense," Nox acknowledged, impressed by the practical thinking behind the aesthetic choice.
"What about youuu, Nox? What's up with the full Victorian suit and coat?"
Henry asked, gesturing at his partner's elaborate outfit.
"Your mask even has a hood—it's like a full-on steampunk plague doctor look."
"Haaa, I think the theme is kinda decided for me by some twisted type of fate,"
Nox replied with a philosophical resignation that surprised even himself.
"Hahaha, what is that?" Henry laughed, finding his partner's dramatic response amusing.
Behind them, a group of fifty A-rank hunters stood in formation, all equipped with full gear but looking notably nervous despite their professional preparations. Their conversations were subdued, and more than one kept glancing toward the two S-rank hunters with expressions that mixed hope with barely concealed anxiety.
According to what Henry had explained earlier, normally in S-rank gate clearing operations there would be at least one S-rank hunter participating, with A-rank hunters going in to gain experience and provide support.
However, their role was closer to that of porters and supporters rather than primary combatants, because even the basic mob-level monsters in S-rank gates were Destruction-rank threats. It typically took an entire group of A-rank hunters working together to take down a single one.
"Can we really entrust our lives to them?"
whispered a brown-haired female A-rank hunter who appeared to be in her early twenties, her voice barely audible but carrying clearly in the crisp morning air.
"Well, you are Irene, a newly joined A-rank, right? My Name is Hans Donor"
replied a middle-aged hunter standing nearby.
"I been in this guild for 7 years I know most of the S ranks hunter Mr. Henry is reliable. Although he's young, he's really strong,"
"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Han," Irene said politely.
"Just call me Old Han," the older hunter replied with a weathered smile.
"Okay. Old Han, you know a lot about S-rank hunters from this guild, right?" Irene asked, her curiosity evident despite her nervousness.
"Yes, I've been here for seven years. Although Mr. Henry joined only three years ago, he's already one of the strongest S-rank hunters in Qintara,"
Old Han explained, his tone carrying the respect of someone who had witnessed Henry's capabilities firsthand.
"What about Mr. Nox? He seems kinda reliable, right?" Irene pressed, glancing toward the imposing figure in the plague doctor mask.
"Well, I don't know," Han admitted honestly, his expression growing more uncertain.
"Huh? Don't you hear any rumors about him at all?" Irene asked, surprised by the lack of information.
"Well, there are rumors that he naturally awakened as S-rank and that he's a healer type. Oh, and there's a rumor that his power is... terrifying," Han said, lowering his voice on the last word.
"Huh? So he's really strong, right?"
Irene interpreted, though her tone suggested some confusion about why terrifying power would be concerning in an ally.
"No, I mean literally his power has horror elements mixed into it. My friend in the Hunter Bureau says that it's like he's a walking horror movie,"
Han clarified, glancing nervously toward Nox as he spoke.
"So the overall style isn't his choice? I thought he had antique taste with the suit and mask aesthetic," Irene mused, trying to reconcile the information with her observations.
"We don't know about his fighting power, but he's a healer type, right?" Irene said, seeking reassurance in the familiar category.
"Yes, he's a healer type according to the guild information," Hans confirmed, then sighed deeply. "We have very little information about him. Normally I always prepare detailed information beforehand—we have to place our lives in their hands, after all. But Nox's information seems to be nonexistent, like he appeared out of thin air."
Then Hans continued, as if trying to convince himself as much as Irene, "Well, Henry will do most of the fighting, and Mr. Nox is a healer type. We should be relatively safe."
"Oh, you're reliable, Old Han," Irene said with a small smile, clearly feeling somewhat better about their prospects.
"Hahahaha," Han laughed, though the sound carried a note of nervous energy.
.
.
.
Henry sighed audibly.
"Haaa, do they think we're deaf? Badmouthing S-rank hunters like that... S-rank hunter perception is really sensitive, you know?"
Henry then looked at Nox with an expression that mixed amusement with mild exasperation.
Ha, that's why I didn't hear anything. I'm not actually S-rank,
Nox thought to himself, finding dark humor in the irony of the situation.
The morning continued to unfold around them, with the preparation activities creating a constant background of organized chaos. Equipment checks, final briefings, and nervous conversations filled the air as the expedition made their final preparations for entry into the winter gate.
Nox found himself observing the A-rank hunters with growing interest. These were seasoned professionals, people who had survived countless dangerous missions and earned their rankings through blood, sweat, and skill. Yet here they were, clearly intimidated by the prospect of entering an S-rank gate despite having two supposedly capable S-rank hunters as their leaders.
The weight of their expectations and trust was almost palpable. These people were placing their lives in his hands based on a reputation and abilities he didn't actually possess. The fake credentials and borrowed identity that had seemed like clever solutions to his problems now felt like massive responsibilities that he might not be able to fulfill.
Henry, meanwhile, seemed to take the pressure in stride. He moved with the confident ease of someone who had done this before, checking his equipment with practiced efficiency while maintaining an air of casual competence that clearly reassured the A-rank hunters. His white armor caught the light in ways that made him seem almost ethereal, like some kind of guardian angel prepared to lead them through the darkness.
The contrast between them was stark and troubling. Henry was everything an S-rank hunter should be—powerful, experienced, confident, and genuinely capable of protecting those under his care. Nox, despite his elaborate costume and mysterious reputation, was essentially an impostor who had stumbled into a situation far beyond his actual capabilities.
The gate itself loomed before them, a swirling vortex of energy that seemed to bend light and space around its edges. Winter winds seemed to blow from within its depths, carrying the scent of snow and something else—something wild and dangerous that made the hair on the back of Nox's neck stand up even through his mask.
"Final equipment check," Henry called out, his voice carrying the authority of leadership. "Remember, once we're inside, communication is key. Stay within visual range of your assigned partners, follow the predetermined formation, and don't engage targets without confirmation from either myself or Nox."
The A-rank hunters responded with professional acknowledgments, but Nox could see the tension in their postures, the way their hands unconsciously checked their weapons one more time. These were people who knew they were walking into a situation where their survival depended entirely on the competence of their supposed protectors.
What am I doing here?
Nox wondered, not for the first time since agreeing to this mission. These people are trusting me with their lives, and I don't even know if my powers will work properly in a real combat situation.
But it was too late for second thoughts now. The gate was active, the team was ready, and Henry was already moving toward the swirling portal with the confident stride of someone who had done this dozens of times before.
"Ready, partner?" Henry asked, looking back at Nox with a grin that managed to be both encouraging and slightly reckless.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Nox replied, hoping his voice carried more confidence than he actually felt.