10. Explosion is Art
“What the heck is this?”
“Never seen fruit like it before?”
Everyone at Haven was staring at the blue fruit they'd never laid eyes on. It had a shell as hard as a coconut.
What could it be? No matter how hard they racked their brains, no answers came.
So they looked around—and sure enough, there was another letter.
The note explained all about the fruit.
[Bomb Flower Fruit]
The small fruits inside the tough shell explode powerfully when subjected to a certain amount of pressure.
I think it'll be super useful for dealing with orcs.
If you cut along the long line in the center of the fruit, you can safely extract the small fruits inside~
“Bomb Flower? Is there a plant like that?”
They asked the other survivors, but the answer was a resounding NO!
Maybe it wasn't a plant from Earth—maybe something else entirely?
“...Let's just try it out for now.”
Thanks to the miracle plant—the potatoes—she'd sent before, their faith in the girl was rock-solid. They'd do exactly as she said.
“Place these small fruits where the orcs are likely to swarm...”
“But will they really explode?”
“It's too scary to even test.”
“Eh, let's lay 'em out anyway. Worst case, no big loss.”
There was no reason for the girl to lie. They split open the Bomb Flower fruits and started spacing out the small ones inside at intervals.
Of course, stepping on one mid-process could be dangerous, so they warned everyone to be careful.
“Gah!! I stepped on one!!!!”
One guy accidentally trod on a fruit. But luckily, it didn't go off.
Still, they couldn't relax. What if it was like a mine that detonated when you lifted your foot?
“Uh, what do we do?”
“Hang on, stay calm. Everyone, back off!!”
But then the guy who stepped on it stumbled and fell flat with a thud.
The nearby survivors dove behind cover in a panic.
But...
“......?”
The fruit sat there, perfectly fine. No boom.
“A dud?”
“Back off anyway. Could be a delayed fuse.”
Even with all that caution, nothing happened.
Was it really explosive? They were starting to doubt it.
“She's not pulling our leg, right?”
“No way.”
“Maybe it doesn't react to humans?”
“Could be it needs more weight? Like anti-tank mines that don't go off under a person.”
Made sense. But no way to test it.
“Too bad that bird understands us.”
“From earlier, it seemed to get what we were saying. Should we ask?”
The survivors approached Mae.
“This Bomb Flower fruit—is it really a bomb?”
Mae nodded.
“See? It totally understands! It just can't talk.”
But the news that Mae comprehended speech hit the others differently.
“Aw, it gets us? Want a snack?”
“Can I pet your chest feathers?”
“What a cute beak...”
Mae, annoyed by the sudden crowding, flew up to perch on a streetlamp.
Sad voices rose in response.
“The potatoes, the Bomb Flower, that giant bird... What kind of person is she? Potato Fries Girl.”
“Seola said she looked like a high schooler, right?”
A girl whose name they didn't know, only that she loved french fries. They pondered her identity, but no clear answers emerged.
“Hey! It's all ready!!!”
Then, the items for the girl were prepared.
“Hold on!!”
They slipped in Seola's letter last, then sealed the box with tape.
“Alright, done. Take it.”
At Seola's words, Mae let out a mighty screech, grabbed the box, and flew off.
Regretful voices trailed the departing bird.
“Eh, we'll see it again.”
“Wonder when it'll come back? Should I prep some treats?”
Haha, hoho. The survivors laughed.
Regaining smiles over one big bird wasn't a bad thing.
Seola gazed in the direction Mae flew, offering silent thanks once more.
But as the saying goes, good fortune is often followed by misfortune.
Bad news arrived.
“Orcs are heading this way again!!”
Scouts' report. Haven scrambled into battle prep.
“Already?! Way too soon this time.”
“Pushing while they've got momentum?”
Each fight, their numbers grew, tactics improved—it was already tough.
Now even faster assaults? But no time for complaints.
They moved as one: erecting barricades, setting traps, grabbing bows and weapons, taking positions to greet the orcs.
Same as always. The difference? Bomb Flower fruits scattered across the battlefield.
Would they explode? Tension and curiosity mixed as they eyed the orcs swarming from afar.
“Grurrruk!!!”
“Grruk!!!!”
Orcs charging with roars. The horde was vomit-inducing.
Just 100 people, a handful of civilian archers, holding off that? Gonna be rough today. As they readied weapons—
BOOM—
The first explosion kicked off.
BOOOOM!!!! Pop!! Pop!!!! Pop pop pop!!!!
Fruits detonating under orc feet. Power beyond imagination left survivors stunned.
“Everyone, behind cover!!!”
At Kanghyuk's command, they ducked.
Up front, blasts shredded orcs to bits.
Violently satisfying. Refreshing. Cheers erupted as limbs tore free, blood sprayed, monsters died.
These survivors had long danced the kill-or-be-killed with monsters. This brutality? Nothing.
“Hot damn!!!”
“Blow up!!!!”
Awakened ones cheered at exploding orcs, shouting “Serves you right!”
Rewarding their faith, Bomb Flowers piled up orc corpses.
After the blasts, no orcs remained on the field.
Survivors fled the explosions. The few breakthrough stragglers fell to Haven.
“Die, you bastards!!!”
Finishing off the rest, they claimed a crushing victory. Zero casualties, too.
Perfect.
Kanghyuk watched contentedly, muttering.
“...Gotta ask for more Bomb Flowers than potatoes.”
“But don't we need to kill orcs ourselves for levels?” Seola asked.
Kanghyuk tapped the air.
“Just leveled up. And I didn't tag a single orc. Know what that means?”
“No way...”
“Using her stuff to drop enemies still gives EXP. No reason not to use it.”
Astonishing. This Bomb Flower could revolutionize future fights.
“Low-level awakeners using it...”
“Level safely. Though real combat experience matters, so not for total newbies.”
Each gift from the girl reshaped the battlefield.
What changes would the next bring? Unimaginable.
Maybe even close that distant gate, rout orcs and monsters, reclaim the city.
“...Might not be a dream.”
“Of course, with this support, we gotta work harder.”
Kanghyuk smiled for the first time in ages. Seeing it, Seola felt pretty good too.
Haven survived another day.
A plant called Bomb Flower.
Our survivor group had never heard of it.
Looks like a blue pomegranate. Full of small fruits inside, same deal.
Issue is, small fruits are fine under human feet, but orcs step on 'em? Boom, wiped out.
Plus, EXP goes to the installer.
Total cheat plant, right? Blocked orc raid with zero losses.
Amazing part: they suddenly stopped attacking. Scouting the explosions or spooked? Dunno.
Finally some breathing room. Thanking Potato Fries Girl again.
Sent a letter, hope she got it.
Seeing the piled-up comments, I couldn't help but smile.
Early on, plenty doubted. But sincerity wins out.
That's the power of Bomb Flower.
The might of a rare seed grown by the world's strongest Druid(EX-rank). Of course it'd be insanely potent.
“At this point, maybe I could reveal myself?”
Nah, no plans for that.
Flashing my hand in an apocalypse? Dumb move.
I'm not that stupid.
Anyway, I'd gotten plenty of what I needed right away.
I headed back to the box in the corner.
First thing that caught my eye: cooking oil. Most requested item.
Fries need good oil, after all.
Sam Mart area had shops and markets galore—unused oil should be plentiful.
“Haven operates around a big mart, nearby shops, and busy streets. Stuff like this overflows, they said.”
“Ah, total opposite of my situation.”
Factory-made goods are scarce for me. Smart to ask Haven.
Spot-on choice.
Digging deeper: canned goods galore.
I could grow any plants I wanted, so not necessary, but nothing beat civilization's flavors.
But that wasn't the star.
“Why so many sauces?!”
Mayo, mustard, curry powder, etc. Variety city.
Batteries, butane gas, charged power banks too.
No generator, sadly. Still satisfied.
Holes filled.
“Hope these sweet trades keep rolling.”
I eyed the letter on the table.
We received the potatoes and Bomb Flower you sent.
Thanks to them, many wounded survived mortal peril.
And we gained the strength to repel repeated orc invasions.
We hope to maintain good relations going forward.
If you need anything, just say—we'll prepare as much as we can.
Sam Mart Survivor Group Leader, Kanghyuk Choi.
Haven's leader, huh. Feels super official, like a government doc.
“Civil servant maybe?”
Or military. Whatever, shrugged it off.
“So, what was the vibe there?”
“Ah, the atmosphere? Yes, falconer.”
“Yes.”
Mae shook his head.
“Orcs appearing split survivor groups, but they're gathering at that Sam Mart.”
“Makes sense—small groups can't survive orcs, yeah?”
Those orc sizes in the pics? Huge. Starting at 2 meters easy.
Chased by those? Piss a trail for sure.
“Trading steady with Haven seems solid...”
“This one thinks there's more reason.”
“Like what?”
“If Haven falls, orcs expand here.”
“For real?”
“Very possible. They seem to have leaders.”
Mae said they moved on organized orders. Plausible.
“Wise rulers hide behind strong walls. Empowering those survivors to clear nearby monsters seems best.”
“Hm... yeah, same page.”
Didn't think that deep, but no plans to let Haven crumble.
What's the point of me alone in the world?
Help within my power—mutual aid.
“So next up: grow tons of Bomb Flowers and potatoes, ship 'em out?”
“Won't test other seeds, nyang? Warehouse had tons, nyang.”
“True. Gotta check other plants too. Ugh... so much to do.”
But better than cowering in the corner.
Busy and lively beats that.
“Alright then...”
What first?
Pondering options, one idea hit.
“Let's eat first.”
“Excellent! As they say, even Mount Geumgang tastes better after a meal—fill the belly, and plans will come!”
“Nah, already got a good plan.”
“What is it?”
“Do it all. Eat, test new plants.”
I headed to the front yard.
Sam Mart trade sparked an idea.
“Curry loaded with potatoes~ Curry loaded with potatoes~”
Curry needs what?! Onions first.
Carefully planted onions for that subtle sweet crunch.
Next, carrots. Some hate 'em, but curry's soft, sweet carrots? Essential.
Finally, potatoes. Carb overload? Yeah, and it's delicious.
Why's tteokbokki tasty? Carb bomb.
Add canned ham? Perfection.
Brain already pictured scooping steaming curry over rice.
“Heh heh...!!”