Gatekeepers (Dungeon on Earth Story) ch. 3 (Patreon)

Chapter 3:

If there was one thing that bothered Kamikiri Minato, it was the fact that he still had to go to school. He was in his third year of high school, and whereas most would be looking for a college to go to post-graduation, he had already planned to go Gatekeeper full time.

“Hey, check this out! I’m a Gatekeeper, now.” One of Minato’s classmates was brandishing a Gatekeeper licence for his friends to see. It was a brand new one with a big D on it, showcasing the owner’s rank.

As the class suddenly took interest in the newly revealed Gatekeeper, Minato rested his head on his crossed arms. He hadn’t told anyone in school he was a Gatekeeper. Unlike most students who got a licence to show off and gain popularity, Minato didn’t see the point of talking about his job.

The redhead did the bare minimum at school and was in no club. He also didn’t socialize beyond what was expected. He had one goal he was focused on and nothing would distract him from it.

As if hearing his thoughts, the universe decided to send him a curveball.

“We have a transfer student coming to this class today. I hope you’ll treat her well.” The teacher announced.

The door opened to let the transfer student in. The moment it slid open, Minato jolted as his senses went into overdrive. He raised his head and every muscle in his body flexed, ready to move at a moment's notice. 

No one noticed the silent kid in the back’s actions as the whole class was enraptured by the beauty who walked in.

Long legs carried the transfer student to a spot before the blackboard. She stood tall and proud, jutting her impressive chest forward. Her hands settled on her hips, the short-sleeved Summer uniform showing the slight amount of muscles.

Long white hair cascaded framed her face and cascaded down her back. Red eyes swept through the class and she gave a big, fanged grin. Finally, two blood-red horns rose from her forehead.

The Oni was beautiful. She was also very dangerous. 

If one had a good enough feel for it, the Mana of living beings carried feelings, smells and other impressions that could give you hints about a person. 

Minato’s senses were only perceiving a bottled volcano of violence ready to be set off at the slightest provocation.

The Oni’s gaze caught Minato’s tense form and her grin grew bigger.

“‘Sup! I’m Kazama Shiraori! I’m from Hokkaido!” She cheerfully introduced herself. “I’m a Gatekeeper, so you won’t see me in a club.”

There was a bit of a hubbub as the other students started asking questions, but the teacher managed to make them settle down, and directed Shiraori to her seat. As she sat and listened to the lesson like everyone else, Minato slowly relaxed.

It was during the next free period that he realized he should have kept his guard up.

The guy who showed off his licence earlier approached the Oni. Minato thought his name was Kurogane.

“Heya, I’m Kurogane Ren.” So, Minato was right. “I’m a Gatekeeper, too. Maybe we could team up, sometime.”

Ren was a classic athletic pretty boy, popular with girls, good grades and the star of the kendo team. He went out with a lot of girls. No one refused his confessions, and a lot more confessed to him. 

So, he must have been surprised when Shiraori laughed at his face.

“Yeah, no. I don’t team up with weaklings.” She shot him down instantly.

Ren could only gape, his mouth wide open. Before he could answer, the air shimmered.

The Gate formed out of nowhere. Most of the students gasped and stumbled back, Ren included. 

One girl didn’t. She froze as the portal appeared right in front of her face.

An elongated shape shot out of the Gate, ready to impale the schoolgirl.

Minato dragged her by the back of her collar just in time before she could be speared through. He hopped back with the girl in his arms.

The monster came out of the Gate. The tubular shape that almost killed a student was revealed to be a proboscis, like that of a mosquito. However, it was attached to a quadrupedal form worthy of a big cat with raptor-like claws. The furless body showed how every muscle coiled and tightened on the alien monster’s form.

It looked at Minato and the girl it had failed to kill for a moment before its compound eyes caught the other, less defended preys.

It lunged. Ren eeped and crossed his arms as the beast flew through the air at him.

The monster yelped when something tugged at his tail mid-leap.

Shiraori smirked and reared back the arm that was holding the monster’s tail. Lightning sparked across her other arm as she brought it down at the same time she reeled the beast back.

Thunder Drum.

The monster’s spine was folded in two by the equally monstrous strength of an Oni. The floor under it also splintered under the thunderous strike.

Behind her, another bug-mammal hybrid had jumped out of the Gate, aiming to ambush her.

Minato fell upon the beast’s back, counter-ambushing it. Earth-aspected Mana ran through his arm and hardened his hand as he shifted it into a knife-hand. The edge sharpened and he chopped down.

Earth art: Stone Edge.

The back of the monster’s neck was cut halfway through. Its head hung awkwardly from its remaining flesh while purple blood ran down on the floor, framing the cracks caused by Shiraori’s earlier blow.

Minato looked up from his kill and was met with Shiraori’s amused grin, fangs fully bared. He knew that he just caught the attention of something troublesome.

Still, he got up and addressed the red-eyed Oni.

“Ready to take down a Gate?” He pointed a thumb at the portal behind him.

Her grin only grew wider. 

“Always.”

That was enough of an answer for him. He turned around and started walking towards the Gate, a delighted Oni one step behind.