Chapter 126
Chapter 126
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: First Burger in Seoul
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Having swept up the parts he wanted from the factory, Yuseong prepared to leave. But the number of parts he was taking wasn't all that many.
Of course, there was the reason that most of the stuff lying around was broken junk with hardly anything usable, but the main issue was that he had to transport two robots along with the powered exoskeleton, which drastically reduced the weight he could carry.
'Should I just send the robots back on their own?'
But Yuseong shook his head.
'I'll keep them with me for the time being.'
How long had it been since he encountered that monster? Even though he now had the capacity to venture much farther thanks to it, he was still sticking to short-range movements as much as possible.
He planned to observe them for at least three months.
Yuseong gathered all the parts he'd collected and the robots, then activated Otherworld Travel.
Whoosh!
His body and the items vanished in an instant. Afterward, the factory fell into its familiar silence.
But after some time had passed.
Thud!
A heavy footfall echoed inside the factory. Was it a stray beast? But glowing eyes in the darkness ruled out that possibility.
Blue eyes.
It was a monster.
-Grrrrrr.
The monster prowled slowly through the factory, letting out a low growl. It stopped at the spot where Yuseong had last stood before activating Otherworld Travel. It shoved its head into the place where Yuseong had been and sniffed around.
-Grk!
Was it just his imagination? The monster's growl sounded almost like laughter.
* * *
He descended to the living room, now as if it were routine. As usual, he packed the parts into the box and shifted his gaze to the TV screen.
[Welcome.]
At the strategy guide's familiar greeting, Yuseong nodded.
"I'm heading to Seoul today. You have a base there, right?"
The location mentioned by the Western Flower Garden was in Seoul. As the capital and heart of Korea, the most populous place in the country, it was only natural they'd have set up a base there.
And Yuseong's assumption was correct.
[Of course.]
"Good. Let's move. Do I need to wash up first again?"
Yuseong was brimming with leisure. And why not? This time, he could stay in this world for a full twelve hours.
[We recommend it.]
He showered as usual and put on the clothes the strategy guide had prepared.
Then he stepped outside.
"Huh?"
Yuseong was surprised. There was an unfamiliar object in the yard.
"A helicopter?"
It was his first time seeing one, but he knew what it looked like.
[We've prepared it to reduce travel time. It can easily transport the player's powered exoskeleton and robots without issue.]
"You're going to pilot this too?"
[Yes.]
No harm in that. In fact, it was great. He could look down on this world from above.
Yuseong boarded the helicopter. The robots loaded the powered exoskeleton and climbed in after.
Whirrrrr!
The helicopter's rotors began to spin. Wind kicked up. The surrounding bushes swayed all at once.
The craft lifted off.
"Whoa, whoaaa!"
Yuseong marveled. Flying in the sky was a first for him.
His world possessed technology far beyond this one, but the ruined civilization offered him no such luxuries.
The ground fell away in an instant.
'So this is what the terrain looks like from up here.'
He'd explored the area on foot several times to memorize the lay of the land, but the view from the sky was entirely different from the ground.
'I wonder if my world looks this different from above.'
The thought crossed his mind briefly, but he shoved it aside. What difference would seeing that garbage heap from the sky make? It'd still be repulsive from any angle.
The helicopter began flying forward in earnest. Yuseong peered eagerly at the scenery below.
Cities where people gathered, surrounded by mountainous terrain. Roads carved through those mountains. Winding rivers came into view.
Yuseong gazed down at the ground nonstop.
There were occasional clusters of human habitation, but mostly it was green forests.
But at some point, the landscape changed.
Dense clusters of buildings. Many of them high-rises stretching toward the sky like they were challenging it. Roads sprawling like veins, packed with countless cars racing along them.
And throngs of people walking the streets.
'This is Seoul.'
The capital of a nation. Yuseong had to admit his imagination fell short. Seoul was bigger and grander than he'd pictured.
While Yuseong was lost in admiration, the helicopter continued onward, then began its descent.
'Already here?'
It was a district packed with towering buildings. Seoul had plenty of high-rises, but this area was especially dense. Far taller structures dotted the landscape here and there.
The helicopter touched down on the rooftop of one such high-rise.
"Is it safe to get out?"
[Yes.]
Yuseong exited first, followed by the robots carrying the powered exoskeleton. Following the strategy guide's instructions, he opened a door on one side of the roof and went down.
"Whoa!"
Yuseong exclaimed in admiration at the building's interior.
It was as pristine as the previous house, but the key difference was the walls. Floor-to-ceiling glass offered a perfect view of the surroundings.
Yuseong approached the glass. He could clearly see not just the nearby buildings, but the people and cars moving far below.
"Is the whole building my house?"
It was nice, sure, but it felt too big for him to live in. What was the point of turning an entire dizzyingly tall skyscraper into living space?
[The building is indeed owned by the player, but the entire structure isn't your residence. Only this top floor is your living quarters. The other floors are rented out to others.]
"Hmm, I see."
Yuseong, no expert in economics, didn't fully grasp the strategy guide's explanation. But he got the key point: he could use this place freely.
That was enough.
Yuseong inspected his new base. Everything was already furnished and ready to go.
To anyone from this world, the expensive, luxurious setup would inspire awe, but Yuseong didn't know their true value.
'Nice.'
With that brief impression, he followed the strategy guide's directions to the elevator.
It was a private elevator for his exclusive use, according to the guide. He pressed the button.
Yuseong rode the elevator down and stepped out of the building, finally setting foot in a city untouched by destruction.
'Wow!'
Yuseong looked around frantically.
No crumbling roads, no abandoned broken-down cars, no ruined buildings.
Above all, no beasts waiting to devour humans whole.
Just countless people, cars, and intact buildings.
This was a city. A living space for many people, before it became a nest for beasts.
Yuseong walked the sidewalk, dodging the people passing by. There were so many that if he spaced out, he'd bump into them. That alone was moving.
As he strolled, taking in the city and its people, his nose twitched.
'This smell.'
The aroma of food. Something he'd never smelled before. He stopped immediately and looked toward the source.
[It's a fast-food restaurant.]
A large burger photo was plastered on the ad above the glass door.
A hamburger. He knew what it was.
'I always wanted to try one.'
Any reason to hesitate?
"I can buy it with the card I have, right?"
[Of course.]
That card could buy not just a burger, but the entire building housing the burger joint. Yuseong entered the store.
It was past mealtime, so the place was quiet. He stood at the counter, following the strategy guide's advice.
"Welcome! What can I get for you?"
The clerk delivered her well-rehearsed line, looking at Yuseong. Her eyes wavered. The one next to her did too.
But Yuseong was too busy scanning the menu to notice. Even if he had, he wouldn't have cared.
"Uh, I'll take that one!"
Yuseong pointed at the most eye-catching item.
"Cheeseburger set, correct?"
"Yes."
"Cola okay for the drink?"
"...Yes."
"We can upsell the fries and drink size, so about that..."
'What’s with all these options?'
Yuseong was flustered by the clerk's rapid-fire spiel. He could calmly dodge a boss monster's flurry of attacks, but first-time fast-food ordering threw him off.
Fortunately, the strategy guide whispered detailed help through his earphones. Yuseong managed to complete the order, though he came off a bit dazed.
"Please wait over there on the side."
Yuseong stood in the pickup line as instructed, waiting for his burger. The earlier fluster was gone, replaced purely by anticipation.
"Your cheeseburger set is ready."
"Thank you."
He thanked her fairly smoothly and found a seat.
'There's a second floor.'
The first floor seats were cramped. Seeing the sign pointing upstairs, they must have more seating there. Yuseong headed to the second floor.
"Isn't that Yuseong right now?"
"Looks like it."
"Whoa, my first famous streamer sighting. Should've gotten an autograph."
The clerks buzzed excitedly about spotting Yuseong. His sharp ears caught the conversation, but he ignored it. The burger was all that mattered now.
The second floor wasn't crowded either. Yuseong claimed a spot by the window.
'This is the hamburger, these are the fries, this is cola. And this is ketchup.'
Following the strategy guide's explanations, Yuseong prepared to eat. He tore open the ketchup packet and squeezed it out. A bit got on his finger. Unthinkingly, he licked it off.
"Gasp!"
Sauce. Just sauce. But the sweet and tangy burst hit his taste buds hard.
Gulp!
He swallowed the ketchup straight.
'Gotta try the rest quick.'
He restrained his suddenly eager hands. Rushing now would only spoil it. Combat or meals, same principle.
'First, the hamburger.'
With clumsy movements, he unwrapped the burger and took a big bite.
"......!"
He froze. The overwhelming flavor left him speechless. He might even forget to breathe. Yuseong slowly savored the hamburger.
The fries and cola were just as incredible.
He dipped the crispy fried fries in ketchup and slurped the cola through the straw. Nothing disappointed.
Yuseong continued his meal, blissfully savoring each bite.
Before he knew it, people around him were watching.
It started with a woman who recognized him. She pointed him out to her male companion. Those who overheard them began glancing over one by one.
At first, it was just the novelty of seeing a celebrity.
But the moment Yuseong started eating with pure joy, their curiosity vanished in an instant.
Gulp!
"Should I get just one more?"
"M-Me too."
All that remained was the sudden surge of appetite.