Chapter 55
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Preparation
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Science might be teaching at school now, but rumor had it she was quite the elite.
She'd worked as a researcher at a famous research center and even briefly as a university professor.
Then, when Daehan International High School was established, she was selected as one of the first teachers, which was how she ended up in education.
It was probably not just about the money—interacting with the students who would one day shoulder the nation would net her some serious connections.
That was when she spoke softly.
"We're done for."
"Pardon?"
Science raised both hands and spoke quietly again.
"There's no way."
I'd mentioned the typhoon coming and asked about countermeasures for hypothermia, but she responded pessimistically.
"There's absolutely no way to prepare? Isn't giving up a bit too soon?"
"Yeah, sis. You're so smart—there has to be something, right?"
Park Soyoung rushed over, massaging Science's shoulders to cheer her up. But Science just shook her head firmly.
"You think it's easy staying in the water for five days without getting hypothermia? Nod off for a second, and it's straight to hell."
"Is it th-that bad, sis?"
"Yeah. Hypothermia sounds mild, so people underestimate it and laugh it off, but it kills fast and hits unpredictably."
"Unpredictably?"
"The scope and criteria are a nightmare. In nature like this, one stroke of bad luck and you're done."
She went on to say there were cases of hikers dying from hypothermia after getting caught in rain during a trek—not even in winter.
"No one's surviving this. It's over for all of us. If I'd known we'd die like this, I never would've licked that bastard's asshole."
Science, was in despair.
She sniffled at first, then burst into full sobs.
"Waaah! How did I even survive this long... licking that fucker's asshole just to stay alive!"
"Mina, quiet down."
"You think I'll listen to you? I got nothing left to lose! Get lost!"
I let out a short huff and asked Science.
"Just to be sure—no boat, but would a rubber dinghy work?"
"Rubber dinghy?"
I bought one from the shop window and set it down on the ground. Science's eyes went wide.
She fumbled with the packaging, unfolding it and checking the contents.
"A-a real boat?"
Since I was showing it off, I bought an inflator too and pumped it up until the rubber dinghy was fully puffed out.
Science flopped onto it and started laughing like a maniac.
"Uwahaha! Uwahahaha!"
"...Sis is on fire today. Her mood's bouncing like a crazy bitch."
"That enough?"
At my question, Science answered like it was obvious.
"Of course! This'll do just fine! Looks kinda cheap, but it'll hold up!"
Cheap, yeah. No helping it. With only daily necessities unlocked, there were no big, sturdy, proper rubber dinghies in the shop—just the kind sold at marts, Daiso, or convenience stores.
Like the camping section at a big box store or those summer water fun specials.
Only two types even available, and this was the smaller one.
On sale for about 120,000 won for 1-2 people.
So small your legs would stick up if you lay down, no motor.
That was the limit for buyable necessities—simple processed goods without complex circuits or boards.
But personally, I was satisfied.
She wouldn't go wild trying to drag this out to sea.
"Hahaha! Perfect. Awesome! You're the most useful guy I've ever met!"
"That's a compliment, right?"
Feels kinda weird.
"Obviously! I'd even suck your ass for three hours straight right now!"
"Then do it."
"Hey, just talk! I didn't mean it!"
"I did."
"Uh...?"
"Starting now—three hours."
"......"
And so, our group had a plan for the typhoon.
The problem was the class kids.
Per Science, it was a group wipe.
'Bring Park Jimin first and figure it out.'
I sent Jeong Seohee right away to warn them about the typhoon. But she came back alone.
"Where's Jimin?"
"They won't come."
"Why?"
"They said they can't abandon the others to save herself. Said when the rain hits, she'll convince the kids to tough it out in the plane. It's big, sturdy, and heavy—no issues."
Jeong Seohee huffed shortly.
"She's always acting without thinking, even if it was pretty cool. Kids should follow her lead."
Meaning the class kids' issue sorted itself out naturally—no need to touch it.
'So just wrap up our side.'
We'd solved hypothermia, but issues remained.
Had to trek to the forest center, drop the rubber dinghy there, and tie it down tight with ropes so waves wouldn't sweep it away.
'Palms are dense enough—no wind worries.'
Palm trees towered over 20 meters, so even if strong winds hurled stuff around, they'd block anything from above.
My worry was if the whole trees got uprooted—but even then, it'd start from the outskirts, not the center.
Just mind the waves, rainwater, and body temp.
'The problem is getting to the center.'
Luckily, the forest was my playground now, and unknown distances were easy with one item.
[You have purchased 'Compass'.]
The compass second hand spun wildly before stopping.
I marked the direction with a permanent marker, then headed straight to the rocky hill entrance.
'This way, huh?'
Rocky hill to forest center to class kids—straight line anyway.
Just follow the second hand fixed on the mark into the forest.
Crunch. Crunch.
I carved marks into obstructing palms along the way.
The typhoon would make it dark constantly, making it hard to navigate—gotta prep for that.
Resting, eating—how far did I go? Footsteps echoed nearby.
'The class kids?'
Peeking through a brush, I saw kids working.
'Up close, it's insane. Way more advanced than before.'
Nonstop day-night grind: thousands of fish drying along the forest edge.
Over 50 smokers in front.
Beyond: salt flats in rice paddy style, next to shallow sand pits storing dozens of sashimi-fresh fish from angling.
'Like a massive production facility.'
Precisely divided workspaces, kids moving like robots.
No wasted motion, mechanical efficiency.
'Effort's part of success too. Those inherited genes ain't going nowhere.'
It was Bitter: pouring everything into progress, they were clueless about what's coming.
The typhoon would wash it all away.
'No wonder typhoons are called heavenly disasters.'
Knowing vs. not knowing—the difference hits hard.
'Not the point.'
I looked up. Sunset soon bled into twilight everywhere.
I slipped to the forest edge.
Palms nailed along the edge, long ropes strung above, dressed fish dangling.
Swipe. Swipe swipe.
I snatched drying fish and sold them to the shop window.
'Roughly 2-3 thousand. Two-thirds won't dry before typhoon anyway.'
Waste.
'If we're dumping them anyways, might as well use 'em.'
I pilfered some fish.
Kids everywhere made it tricky, but I had the skill.
Highlights danger in color.
Since it was recently enhanced, now its utility skyrocketed.
[Enhancement successful.]
[All enhancements complete. Special ability added.]
[Displays sensory range of living beings.]
Red-only became purple too; animals showed yellow zones on ground like games.
Fan-shaped or circular.
'Visual, auditory, olfactory ranges.'
Example: Step into a fiddler crab's zone on the beach—it turns purple and bolts.
Not just direct threat to me, but if they sense me now.
Anyway, pilfering was a cakewalk.
Swipe. Swipe swipe swipe.
"What? The fish numbers seem down."
"Must be your imagination. Who'd touch 'em? Can't even eat them yet."
"Maybe."
Hide when people are near, then swipe swipe swipe.
My cash soared with each grab.
100,000 won.
200,000 won.
500,000 won.
Snapped out—over a million.
'This much.'
If I take too much, there would be problems later.
Satisfied, I turned back.
'The class vibe's off.'
Whilst pilfering, they showed a weird atmosphere.
Unlike binoculars. Jeong Seohee reported, but its way different now.
Their eyes shifted.
Han Dogun was jabbing at a girl.
I slipped close in the deepening dark and eavesdropped.
Smoked fish tumbled on the sand; Han Dogun trembled, yelling.
"Yoon Chaeyeon! Can't you do shit right?!"
"S-sorry. It was an accidental..."
"How many fucking accidents?! Huh?!"
"Sorry..."
Yoon Chaeyeon.
Daughter of world-class soccer star, Korea's swimming prodigy.
Popularity from skill and looks: tanned healthy brown skin, toned limbs, pretty face with charm galore.
But fatal flaw.
"Dropped again?"
"Yeah. I tripped running and spilled the smokes."
She was an airhead by nature.
She caused mistakes galore.
Common: men's room for women's, skirt over panties, drop phone en route.
Screen cracks—she swapped ten phones a month min.
"Half like Oh Seyoung! Or Kim Sujin! At least goblin level, huh?!"
"I-I'm trying."
"Trying ain't it! You can't!"
Han Dogun smacked her head irritably.
Onlookers ignored the abuse.
This kind of thing was impossible before.
Fights could spark house feuds—so no touching.
But the vibes are shifting. Hierarchies are forming.
The skilled got praise, respect, food; flops are ignored more.
Chaeyeon was the latter.
Han Dogun slapped her cheeks.
"Hey, fuck—if your useless, spread your ass like her."
His gaze: naked flight attendant working.
Lee Hyunji, who was stripped bare for instant access.
White fluid dripping realtime from her crotch.
Always wet. Dry? Filled again.
"H-Han Dogun, even so..."
"Want respect? Earn it! If you can't pull your weight! Why treat you as an equal?!"
Slap slap—Han Dogun batted her tits.
Chaeyeon bit her lip in rage, silent.
No backups here.
"Chaeyeon, if you can't shape up? Keep messing, and we'll pass you around."
His blunt words flew.
The kids saw it as something normal.
"Your body is sturdy—probably can handle seven guys solo."
"Wanna start today?"
"......"
No more yangban life of bloodlines/networks—value is now determined by body/skill/results, commoner style.
The class was flowing that way.
"Enough?"
One untouched by it.
"Park Jimin, butt out."
"Nah."
"Can't tell when to join? Do you need a beating?"
He raised his hand, then froze—Kim Taehun was behind Jimin.
More surprised even.
"Han Dogun, don't wanna get hit? Then back off."
Kang Hye-rin stepped beside Jimin, eyes fierce. Backing her for some reason.
'Are they close?'
Not in my at least. Han Dogun eyed Hye-rin's club, then retreated.
"L-lucky, psycho bitch."
"Yeah, fuck off."
Park Jimin flicked middle finger; Han Dogun ground teeth, spun.
Yelled at innocent sand.
"Anyway, where's that Han Jiwon bitch? Han Jiwon! Slacking again?!"
Han Dogun gone; Jimin checked Chaeyeon.
"Chaeyeon, you okay?"
"Yeah. Sniff."
'...Park Jimin, he's unchanged. Even if the environment shifts, you stay true.'
I saw her face and wanted to approach.
Kim Taehun trailed always—but my timing was off.
'Someday, together again.'
Smiled at Jimin arm-in-arm with Chaeyeon, then withdrew.
'Made good cash—I should head back.'
There was much left to do.
Confirm the typhoon spot, then install the dinghy.
Following my marks briskly—I froze midstep.
Swipe.
Pale moonlight filtering through trees: someone emerged.
Aquamarine hair. Sleepy face. Oversized hoodie on a small frame.
Nearly closed eyes.
"Han Jiwon?"
My call: she yawned lazily, waved hello.
'She knew I'd come? How?'
What's more: how long was she waiting? Her cheek had a clear hoodie dent.
"Kids, dinner!"
"Eat up!"
Going away from the bustle to the forest—I hid in the shadows.
The kids were distant; Han Jiwon dozed off briefly, then snapped awake—and shook her head.
With bigger eyes, she uttered some halting words.
"Status window, quests, points."
"......"
"This power, those of a player."
Then, I was convinced:
"You're one too, right? Awakened."
The first kid besides me to awaken a status window.