KamiKowa: That Time I Got Transmigrated With A Broken Goddess-Chapter 48: [] Need to Know

Xavier straightened in his seat. The shift in Rousseau’s tone caught his attention more than the subject matter itself. The professor moved to the door and closed it, then returned to stand directly in front of the class.

"The Global Gate Authority recognizes seven official gate types," Rousseau continued, writing on the board. "Dungeon, Survival, Puzzle, Escort, Racing, Siege, and Mystery. Each presents unique challenges and requires specific strategies."

He turned back to face the class. "Dungeon gates are most common—linear progression, monster elimination, boss encounter, crystal reward. These represent approximately seventy-five to eighty percent of all gates."

Xavier leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. Something about Rousseau’s demeanor made this feel less like a standard lecture and more like classified information.

"Survival gates test endurance rather than combat prowess," Rousseau explained. "Hunters must withstand waves of enemies for predetermined time periods. Environmental hazards increase as time passes."

Nolan raised his hand. "Professor, the first year textbook only mentions dungeon gates. Why aren’t these other types covered in our required reading?"

"An excellent question. The official curriculum emphasizes what you’re most likely to encounter as freshmen licensed hunters. The GGA prefers a... streamlined educational approach."

"You mean they don’t want us to know everything up front," Kyrie said, his pink eyes narrowing.

"I mean," Rousseau replied carefully, "that knowledge is often distributed on a need-to-know basis."

"Puzzle gates," Rousseau continued, "test intelligence rather than strength. These rare gates require solving complex riddles or mechanical challenges. Combat is minimal or nonexistent."

"So brains over brawn," Naomi commented, twirling a pen between her fingers. "Sounds more profitable than fighting monsters."

"Perhaps," Rousseau nodded. "But puzzle gates represent only five to seven percent of all gate appearances. They’re uncommon and unpredictable."

Alexander raised his hand. "Professor, why would the GGA withhold information about gate variations? Wouldn’t comprehensive knowledge better prepare hunters for field operations?"

Rousseau paused, tapping the chalk against his palm. "The official position is that specialized knowledge is provided through advanced courses and field training. Reality is more... complex."

"You mean political," Xavier said.

Rousseau turned toward him, studying Xavier’s face. "Yes, Mr. Valentine. Political. Corporate interests often dictate information flow, even in educational settings."

"What are the other types?" Ashley asked.

"Escort gates require protecting someone or something—NPCs, as some hunters call them. These gates contain civilian-like entities that must be guided safely through danger zones. Failure occurs if your charges die."

"Wait," Beppo interrupted, momentarily forgetting to record. "There are people inside gates?"

"Not people as we understand them," Rousseau clarified. "Gate-generated entities that mimic human behavior. They possess no existence outside their gate environment, yet appear sentient within it."

"That’s messed up," Aurora said, her crimson hair shifting as she shook her head. "So we’re babysitting fake people who think they’re real?"

"A philosophical question beyond our current discussion," Rousseau replied. "Racing gates test speed and efficiency—completing objectives within strict time limits. Sometimes multiple teams compete simultaneously."

Xavier noticed how Rousseau kept glancing toward the door, as if expecting interruption.

"Siege gates involve large-scale warfare scenarios. These rare gates require teams of fifteen to fifty hunters attacking or defending massive fortified positions. They can last days or weeks but yield enormous crystal rewards."

"I’ve never heard of those," Luka said, his voice lower than his usual booming volume.

"Few have," Rousseau nodded. "They represent perhaps one to two percent of all gates. The same percentage applies to Mystery gates, which reveal their objectives only after entry. These combine elements from multiple gate types and are extremely unpredictable."

Eliza spoke up from her corner seat. "You’re talking about these like they’re video game levels."

Rousseau’s expression grew more serious. "An apt observation, Miss Demara. The structured nature of gates has led many researchers to question their supposed ’natural’ origin."

The classroom fell silent.

"Are you saying gates are designed?" Xavier asked.

Rousseau placed the chalk down carefully. "I am saying that certain patterns suggest intention rather than chaos. This perspective remains... controversial within academic circles."

"Is that why this information isn’t in our textbooks?" Sayuri asked, her green curls bouncing as she tilted her head. "Because it implies gates might be artificial?"

"Partially," Rousseau admitted. "But there’s another category we haven’t discussed. One that exists only in rumor and classified reports."

He wrote a single word on the board: NARRATIVE.

"Narrative gates," he said quietly, "reportedly follow story structures. Hunters who enter find themselves playing roles in predetermined scenarios. These gates adapt to participants, creating personalized challenges based on psychological profiles."

"That’s impossible," Alexander stated, though uncertainty crept into his voice. "Gates are dimensional tears, not interactive fiction."

"So we’re told," Rousseau replied. "Yet reports persist of gates that seem to... know their visitors. Gates that create scenarios specifically designed to test individual hunters’ greatest fears or desires."

Xavier kept his expression neutral, but his hands tightened on the edge of his desk. The concept struck uncomfortably close to his own situation—a second chance at life with game-like mechanics.

"Do you believe these reports, Professor?" he asked.

"I believe there is much about gates we don’t understand. I believe that knowledge is often suppressed when it contradicts established narratives. And I believe that you, as future hunters, deserve to know what you might face—regardless of official curriculum guidelines."

"Have you encountered a narrative gate?" Kyrie pressed.

"I have encountered..." Rousseau paused, choosing his words carefully, "situations that defied standard gate parameters. Whether they match the definition of narrative gates is open to interpretation."

"Why tell us this now?" Naomi asked. "We’re first-years, barely a week into training."

Rousseau smiled, but it lacked his usual exuberance. "Because knowledge suppressed tends to emerge at inconvenient moments. Better to prepare you now than leave you vulnerable later."

"Are there other gate types not in the textbooks?" Margaret asked.

Rousseau shrugged. "Without official documentation, these remain speculative."

"This is why we need more independent hunters," Alexander said, his gray eyes intense. "Corporate and government control of information hinders our understanding."

"A perspective that would not endear you to certain influential parties, Mr. Shepard," Rousseau noted. "But perhaps not incorrect."

Xavier studied Rousseau’s face, trying to determine the professor’s true motives for sharing this information. The man’s theatrical persona had dropped completely, revealing someone more complex than the flamboyant instructor they’d initially met.

"Professor," Xavier said, "what’s the real reason you’re telling us this? It’s clearly not standard first-year material."

Rousseau held Xavier’s gaze for several seconds before answering. "Because thirteen students from last year’s graduating class—my class—encountered an unclassified gate type during their final assessment. They were unprepared for what they found. Only one returned."

The classroom grew so quiet Xavier could hear the soft hum of the building’s ventilation system.

"What happened to them?" Sayuri asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"The official report cites ’standard gate hazards’ as the cause of death for those who didn’t return. The survivor..." Rousseau’s expression darkened. "The survivor described something that matched no known gate type."

"What happened to the survivor?" Xavier asked, already suspecting the answer.

"He was offered a research position with Phoenix Imperium’s Special Projects Division. He accepted and has not been available for further questioning."

"Convenient," Naomi muttered.

"Indeed," Rousseau agreed. "Which brings us to the point of this discussion: your safety depends not just on what you learn within these walls, but on your willingness to question established knowledge."

He returned to the front of the classroom, picking up the chalk again. "Now, officially, we will return to standard curriculum material. Please read Chapter three on basic gate structure and prepare a two-page summary for next weeks class."

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