Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Venturing Out
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“Rewards—when and how do I get them?”
Yusung, who had been watching the copying progress on the laptop screen, shifted his gaze to the TV and asked.
It seemed like they would give him the rewards, but he still needed to clarify things. This quest was proceeding differently from the usual, so there might be some misunderstanding between them.
[Upon your return, the quest completion window will appear immediately, and the rewards will be distributed.]
“Got it?”
That settled it.
Copying the data took some time. With only three hours to spare, Yusung couldn’t just sit idly in front of the TV until it finished.
He set the laptop down next to the TV. It would finish copying on its own once the time was up.
‘Today’s the day I go out far.’
“This is what I plug in again, right?”
As he rummaged through the drawer for the cable, he picked up the earphones sitting in the same spot as before.
[Are you planning to go out?]
“Of course.”
He had come to another world, after all—he couldn’t just hole up in the house forever.
“This time, I’m heading out far.”
[In that case, please wash up and change your clothes first.]
“What?”
[If anyone saw you in your current state, they would feel extreme discomfort.]
Yusung glanced at the mirror set up in one corner of the living room. He saw dirty, shabby, worn-out clothes—and a reflection of himself that was just as ragged.
[Clean off the grime and odor, then put on fresh clothes to look presentable. Otherwise, no one will give you the time of day.]
“…How do I do that?”
[I’ve prepared everything. Go to the bathroom on the first floor.]
Yusung followed the guide’s instructions.
On one wall above the bathtub in the bathroom was another TV. As soon as Yusung entered, it turned on automatically.
[Take off all the clothes you’re wearing and put them in the silver bin outside the bathroom.]
He stripped as instructed and placed them in the bin outside.
“What about these?”
[They’ll be disposed of.]
“Huh? But they could still be worn a bit more.”
Yusung was surprised, but the guide was firm.
[They’re unwearable. I can provide clothes every time you visit, so don’t worry about it.]
If they were giving him clothes, Yusung was grateful. But throwing away perfectly good ones?
‘No, they keep providing more.’
Honestly, upon second thought, the clothes he’d been wearing weren’t in good shape at all. He’d just kept wearing them because they were hard to come by in his world.
After that, Yusung washed up following the guide’s advice—from basic instructions on using the showerhead to the purposes and methods for shampoo, conditioner, and cleansing foam.
‘Yeah, I was filthy.’
The water draining into the sewer was pitch black. Rubbing himself with the scrub towel, clumps of dirt the size of his finger fell off in exaggerated heaps.
But even in a situation that would make an ordinary person grimace in horror, Yusung remained unfazed. Having lived in an environment where hygiene was a luxury, he didn’t even see it as a problem.
He just noted ‘dirty’ once and moved on.
Even after the shower, the guide kept chiming in. He dried his hair with the blow dryer and even tried skincare products like skin essence and lotion.
‘Skincare products, huh…’
They said that back when civilization was intact, appearance was one of the criteria for judging people.
‘Why, though?’
Yusung couldn’t comprehend it.
He could understand avoiding people with missing eyes or limbs—disabilities like that.
In Yusung’s world, where every day was a fight for survival, such impairments were directly tied to life and death. Of course he could empathize.
But judging people based on looks? When they weren’t that different?
‘I can’t wrap my head around it.’
Yet whether Yusung understood it or not, that culture wasn’t going away.
And he didn’t have such strong convictions that he’d refuse skincare just because he didn’t get the culture.
So Yusung obediently followed the guide’s nagging.
Next, the guide directed him to a room on the first floor.
There lay neatly ironed, clean clothes. They looked brand new to anyone.
Yusung stared down at them intently.
New clothes—fresh from the factory or handmade, never worn by anyone.
He’d never even tried them on, let alone seen them.
Yusung put them on.
The crisp fabric clung comfortably to his skin. No foul odors—just a faint new-clothes smell he’d never encountered before, but it wasn’t bad.
Well, in a polluted world where he was used to the constant acrid stench in the air, what smell couldn’t he handle?
“This good enough?”
[That’s sufficient.]
With the guide’s approval, Yusung returned to the living room and checked the mirror again.
The shabby, dirty person from before was gone, replaced by someone with a neat appearance. His unevenly cut shaggy hair stood out, but it wasn’t too distracting.
Yusung stepped closer to the mirror, inspecting himself from head to toe. He fiddled with his clothes for no reason.
It was just a wash and a change of clothes. But for Yusung, that alone made him feel like he belonged to this beautiful world—not his godforsaken one.
That feeling alone lifted his spirits.
‘Alright, let’s go!’
He’d initially wondered if washing up and changing was necessary, but following the advice had refreshingly improved his mood.
He grabbed the earphones by the TV and slipped them into his ears.
[Can you hear me?]
“Yeah, loud and clear.”
[I recall you said you’re going far today.]
“That’s right.”
[Do you want to see this world?]
“Yeah.”
[Then allow me to guide you today.]
“You?”
Yusung was fairly surprised by the guide’s proactive attitude—especially after its help during the last expedition.
[You won’t be disappointed. I’ve made some preparations.]
“Preparations?”
[Let’s head out first.]
Yusung headed to the entrance. A pair of new shoes sat neatly there.
His old shoes had gone into the trash bin along with his clothes. These new ones were his now.
‘White shoes.’
In his own world of faded grays, shoes this brightly pure made his heart pound.
[You can wear them.]
The guide said.
[Shoes are easy to provide, so don’t hesitate.]
No point dallying when they put it that way. Plus, his time in this world was limited—wasting it here would be a shame.
Yusung slipped them on.
‘C-Comfortable?’
He wasn’t even sure. As long as they fit and covered his feet, he’d been thankful; he’d often gone barefoot when he couldn’t find any. A new pair like this?
‘Feels comfortable, I guess.’
He stepped carefully out the door.
The outside scenery was the same as always—breathtakingly beautiful.
But one thing was different from before.
‘That’s a car, right?’
A machine on four wheels. Quite familiar to Yusung. His world had plenty of them too.
They were just all broken.
But the one before him wasn’t.
Its sleek body gleamed with polish, and not a single crack marred the windows.
‘This one looks new too.’
[Get in. It’s your car.]
“My car?”
[Yes.]
Yusung circled the car once. He hadn’t expected to drive one in this world.
And now one was just handed to him as his?
“I’ve never driven before.”
[Don’t worry. I’ll assist you.]
Yusung opened the driver’s door. The seats inside were wrapped in plastic.
“Is this the standard car design?”
[It’s brand new, so the packaging hasn’t been removed yet. You can take it off if you want.]
“…Later.”
Uncharacteristically timid amid all these surprises, Yusung cautiously slid into the driver’s seat.
[Check the passenger seat—there should be keys and a wallet.]
Sure enough, there they were. Yusung picked them up.
He first examined the car key curiously, then opened the wallet.
“This is…”
The first thing that caught his eye was the ID. He pulled out the plastic card with his face printed on it.
“What’s this?”
[It’s identification that verifies your identity. One proves you’re a citizen of this country—a resident registration card. The other is a driver’s license, permission from the state to drive.]
Yusung stared intently at the two IDs—specifically the resident registration card.
‘An ID proving I’m a citizen of this country?’
For Yusung, who wanted to live here as one of its people, the resident card was deeply appealing. It made him feel like he truly belonged.
He could’ve stared at it all day.
But once again, limited time pushed him onward.
Reluctantly, Yusung put the ID back. He checked the rest of the wallet.
Besides the IDs, it held cash and credit cards.
Plenty of cash. He pulled out a bill—50,000 printed on it. A thick stack meant a substantial amount.
Next, the credit card. The guide explained its basics. Yusung turned it over, fascinated by the black color and metallic feel.
He replaced the money and card, then shoved the wallet into his pocket.
“Alright, time to hit the road.”
Following the guide’s instructions, he buckled his seatbelt, placed his hands on the wheel, and pressed the ignition button.
Vroom!
The engine roared to life, vibrations humming through the body.
“Whoa!”
It moved. Yusung looked around the interior. Lights lit up the dashboard, displaying various info.
Swoosh!
The car glided smoothly forward, following the road downhill. Soon, it reached the mansion’s entrance.
Slide!
The gate opened automatically. The car exited through it and merged onto the main road.
‘Finally!’
Yusung was thrilled. He was finally seeing new sights of this world. Unfamiliar scenery filled the windshield.
Endless roads stretching ahead, green foliage lining both sides.
But that didn’t last.
Buildings soon began appearing.
Towering apartments and skyscrapers piercing the sky, clusters of small shops.
And.
‘People.’
His own kind—living, breathing, acting, enjoying the same lifestyle.
Not Ark NPCs. Not Ark avatars.
Real, living humans.
[What do you think?]
The guide’s voice came through the earphones.
Did he need any other words? Yusung summed up his feelings in one.
“The best.”