What Happened to Them?
I hadn't heard anything about a zombie outbreak in the world yet. Even if America went completely off the rails, I doubted they'd start something like that. Sure, maybe everyone could decide to go down in flames together, but what would the power players gain from it?
That's just not realistic. Dropping zombies right in the heart of an enemy nation?
That was another possibility. America's main rival right now was China. It could be devastatingly effective there, given the massive population. But the aftermath? Could they even control it? The world would probably end up in ruins. So, it was likely just a side effect of some experiment they'd shelved for now.
Of course, if America ever got desperate enough to play that card, it might already spell apocalypse. Not that I was an America fanboy or anything—I'm just saying, if a superpower like that was cornered into something so extreme, shit would be serious.
I mulled over what Sis had told me, then turned back to her.
"What kind of experiment was it, anyway?"
"Organ regeneration."
"Organ regeneration?"
"Yeah, literally bringing dying organs back to life. Using troll blood."
"We have a ton of troll blood too... but we turn it all into healing potions."
"You have that much troll blood?" Sis looked genuinely shocked.
"Yeah. I've hunted plenty, and Seon-woo and my family have too. I transferred ownership of a bunch to Seon-woo so it wouldn't degrade."
"Dude! Why didn't you mention that?"
"When? You never asked. Besides, you didn't even know what you'd use troll blood for—should I just walk up and go, 'Hey, Sis, I've got heaps of troll blood'?"
I nodded at Seon-woo's words. Made total sense. Normal people didn't think of organ regeneration; they went straight to potions.
"But wait, you guys caught trolls in America too?"
"Took dozens getting seriously injured. Lucky no one died."
Dozens on a raid. Impressive.
"Were you there, Sis?"
"Nah, I was a researcher, even as a hunter. No frontline combat for me."
"Makes sense. Hey, Sis, got a question."
"Shoot."
"Can stuff like math get registered as skills?"
"Of course. Not just math—basic sciences too. I couldn't register biotech, but I got Healing Arts. Seems like they categorize it that way."
"From reading books?"
"Some from books, some need experiments. And experiments... well, you know."
"Yeah, can't bring tools through gates."
"Exactly. Blacksmiths and crafters were scrambling to make lab gear. Heard it was tough in the States—no ocean gates open for sand to make glass. But here..."
Sand for glass, right? I didn't know the details, but alternate history novels always had glass as the first big breakthrough.
"So, like those alt-history books—we start with glass?"
"Think you can pull it off?"
"Turns out I'm weirdly good at crafting. So, the organ regen experiment failed, right?"
"Yeah. Worked on animals, bombed on humans."
"Cause?"
"My guess? Troll blood. Limited supply meant it degraded or got too diluted from repeated tests."
"Trolls that hard to hunt in America?"
"You kidding? Dozens of level 40s barely took down one."
Even for a critical US experiment, deploying level 40 hunters and still failing like that? Hunters there must not be as strong as ours. Made me think our gate was truly blessed.
"Sis, focus on skill creation here for now. Teach the kids when you have time—no one's really tutoring them."
"Can't I hunt too?"
"If you want. Just help me out too. Seon-woo'll keep you safe, Si-yeon'll gear you up. I'll research glass-making."
"Okay. And... um..."
"Yeah?"
"A few Koreans from the lab—can I bring them?"
"You know what joining a gate means?"
"Duh. They were outcasts anyway. I got along with folks 'cause of my personality, but most were lifelong bookworms."
The stereotypical lab rat image popped up—socially awkward, research-obsessed. Sis was outgoing despite all that studying, which is why Seon-woo and I (just a year apart) couldn't stand up to her.
"If you vouch for them, bring 'em. Let's try that organ regen."
"With that much troll blood, we could make killer meds. Rub it in America's face."
"Bad blood, huh?"
"You could say that."
I could guess.
"I'll help however I can. Hell, let's beat them to it here."
"Hell yeah! Let's do this!"
"Sure."
Sis bounced off excitedly. Seon-woo sighed softly and trailed after her—he knew better than anyone how she got tunnel vision.
"Gonna need a live troll soon."
Nyaang.
Hoya groomed herself indifferently on the lavish cat tower in my office—the fanciest I'd ever seen. She finished, plopped into the built-in chair, draped her front paws over the sides, and stared at me.
"You look pissed about something."
Pfft! She scoffed. One day I'd boop her—just a light one.
I slipped out to the real world briefly, searched how to make glass primitively—YouTube had detailed vids. Goal: Glassworking skill. Bought supplies, headed back, and started grinding when...
"Oppa, the centaurs are here."
"Oh? Right. Got it. Let's go."
A week had flown by. Wondering what the Wind Tribe brought, I went with Si-yeon to their arrival spot.
And...
"What the? They picking a fight?"
Two dozen ripped centaur warriors lined up beside her, weapons lowered but ready to charge knight-style any second.
"^$%^#$%^##@"
"Hello, my lord."
"We were good... but now I'm worried that might change."
My Clear Mind kept me calm, scanning coolly even now. Helena feared Hoya—knew exactly how terrifying she was. No way they'd attack with just this force.
"If you're talking about them, consider this our trade payment. Including me."
"Huh?"
I blinked. What nonsense was this?
"Exactly that. Me and these warriors will become your territory's people. In exchange, provide food for our tribe."
She bowed, and the others followed. No joke.
But why go this far? I didn't get it.
"Help me understand—you're a saintess of the Wind Tribe, right?"
"Yes. But there are several saintesses. I'm just one."
Usually one per tribe? Stereotype busted. Village Head's Truth Detection pinged true anyway. When'd he show up?
"How many in the Wind Tribe total?"
"Around two thousand."
Holy shit. Way more than expected. If they attacked, we'd be screwed.
Nyaang.
Hoya hopped onto Helena's back. Horse lower body or not, it looked awkward, but Hoya didn't care. She approached and...
Haaak!
Snarled threateningly. Right—they'd implied two thousand strong, but Hoya kept them at bay. How OP was my cat?
Suddenly felt invincible.
"This is absolutely true. Our tribe's food situation is dire. You know what happened where we live."
Not to me—to Hoya.
Nyaang?
"Do this or die" vibes. Helena was sweating bullets, genuinely terrified.
"Hoya, can Dad talk now?"
Nyaang. Go ahead.
"Helena."
"Yes, my lord."
"Joining my territory means no going back to the Wind Tribe—unless I say so."
"We're prepared. Better our sacrifice than the tribe's doom."
"So it's a sacrifice, huh?"
"Well..."
"Whatever. Why'd you think I'd accept? What if I said no?"
"Sorry, didn't think of that. But we have many skills. Warriors too."
Muscles screamed combat pros. Plus Helena's translation magic—and probably more.
"Feeding two thousand's a stretch, even for a lord..."
Then Karak arrived with feed, offering it to one Wind Tribe member—who lit up in satisfaction.
"Not an issue anymore. If that's fine?"
Pet food factory gig, our own production soon, hot sellers—feed costs? No sweat.
"Of course."
I accepted her and the twenty as territory folk. One question lingered: What the hell happened to them? Hoya seemed to know.