The Real Gatekeeper
The fake shop was gone.
Burned down that same night. Not by Min Jae—though he was tempted—but by the impostor himself, likely trying to erase the evidence. The tent, the counterfeit goods, even the buff goat were all vaporized in a spell Min Jae barely dodged.
But none of that mattered.
Because the damage was done.
People in Rivertown had already seen him.
And now, they were talking.
---
Step One: Taking the Stage
The next day, Min Jae returned to Rivertown—not in disguise, not in shadows, but in full view. Hood off. Portal key at his side. Goji riding on his shoulder like a smug magical cat.
He stood in the heart of the open market square, cleared his throat, and activated a minor sound-amplification charm.
"Hello, everyone," he said.
The crowd around him paused. Whispers spread. A few gasps.
"I'm Min Jae. Yes, that Min Jae. The one they call the Gatekeeper."
Goji let out a theatrical bleat and dropped a glitter peanut.
"I've heard there's been some confusion lately," Min Jae continued. "So let's clear it up."
He pulled out a mana stone and tossed it into the air. It hovered, spun, then exploded into a harmless firework of purple sparks that spelled out:
> "The Real Deal. Accept No Imitations."
The crowd cheered.
And just like that, the fake was forgotten.
---
Step Two: Real Trade
Min Jae set up a proper stall—nothing too flashy, just a sturdy table, enchanted snack jars, and a few basic spell tools made by Minji.
Sunwoo stood behind him, keeping the money safe.
Goji wore a bandana labeled "Head of Security" and glared at everyone who got too close to the jerky.
A young woman approached the table, eyeing a pouch of mana puffs. "Are these the ones that sing?"
"Only on Thursdays," Min Jae said.
"Perfect. I hate silence."
Next, a middle-aged dwarf grunted, "Got anything for nightmares?"
Min Jae handed him a charm tag. "Place it under your pillow. It won't kill your nightmares, but it'll make them forget what they were doing."
Goji handed him a free sample.
The dwarf sniffed it, shrugged, and walked off happy.
---
A Growing Crowd
By midafternoon, the Gatekeeper's stall had drawn a full semi-circle of interested customers. Word spread fast.
"His goat can identify lies by headbutting people," someone whispered.
"He once sold a luck charm to a fortune teller and ruined her whole business," someone else added.
Sunwoo leaned close. "Okay, I may have started some of these rumors."
Min Jae shrugged. "If it works, it works."
At one point, a merchant tried to challenge him. A tall man in jeweled armor walked up and said, "I sell healing potions. Yours can't possibly match mine."
Min Jae smiled. "Mine taste like mango."
"I—what?"
"They heal and taste like mango."
The merchant left quietly.
---
Step Three: The Message
Toward evening, Min Jae stepped away from the crowd and activated a small orb—his link to the Third Market drop relay. It hovered in the air, waiting.
He didn't hesitate.
He spoke clearly:
> "I'm not your puppet. I don't need your name to rise. You wanted to test me? You did.
I'm still standing.
Try again—and next time, I won't just take your tent. I'll take your customers."
Then he turned off the orb and tossed it into a bucket of enchanted vinegar. It hissed and died.
Sunwoo clapped slowly. "Ten out of ten for dramatic flair."
Goji blew a raspberry.
---
Back at the Portal
That night, Min Jae returned home through the portal, exhausted but buzzing.
His mom was in the kitchen, stirring noodles.
"You're late," she said.
"Sorry," he replied, "Goji got into a staring contest with a sentient spoon."
She turned slowly. "What?"
"Don't worry. The spoon blinked first."
He made it to his room and collapsed on his bed.
Two worlds. One portal. Zero breaks.
He smiled.
This time, though, he felt like he was finally winning.
---
The Next Morning: School Shock
At school, Mr. Choi approached him after class with a strange look.
"You've been... energetic lately," he said carefully.
"Trying something new. Sleep," Min Jae lied.
"I don't know what you're up to," Mr. Choi muttered, "but your last test came back. Top five in the class."
Min Jae blinked. "Really?"
"I assume this was a mistake. You'll correct it next time."
"Of course," Min Jae said with a straight face.
Behind him, Sunwoo was already texting Seojin:
> "Min Jae might be leveling up in real life too. Is this character development??"
---
The Rumors Begin
By lunchtime, rumors had already started circulating in Rivertown:
"The Gatekeeper is training a second goat."
"He challenged the Third Market to a snack duel."
"He's opening his own portal hub."
None were true.
Yet.
But as Min Jae watched Goji rest in a pile of plush mana sacks that night, he couldn't help but grin.
Maybe it was time to make some of them real.