The Long Journey Begins
The next day, Kang Dohyun called for Kim Harin and Lee Gaeun first.
"You two each have a bulletin board now, right? Let me explain how to operate them."
He began by walking them through the basics of how the bulletin boards worked.
"Once a bulletin board is officially opened, anyone who meets the eligibility requirements can post articles and comments. Under their real names."
Aside from the real-name requirement, it was much like a regular internet community.
"However, the administrator can set fees for posting articles and leaving comments."
The administrator's authority was strong because they held the rights to the bulletin board and could set costs.
"And administrators can also impose penalties, such as banning users from the board."
After finishing the basic explanation, Kang Dohyun turned to Kim Harin.
"For the first bulletin board, name it 'Korea.'"
"Yes."
"Set the posting fee at one Zombie Coin, and make comments free. For categories, just keep it simple—'Information' and 'Free Talk,' nothing more."
Kim Harin configured the bulletin board in real time according to Kang Dohyun's instructions.
"Post an announcement. Write that while we charge for posting, articles will never be deleted under any circumstances. But warn that troublemakers may lose the ability to post again."
"Understood. What's the standard for troublemakers?"
"You decide, Harin. Use your own judgment."
Kim Harin listened to Kang Dohyun's words and completed the settings.
"But there's also a super-posting option in the settings?"
There were other bulletin board options Kang Dohyun hadn't mentioned. But regarding that part—
"For now, just operate it as I've described."
This was the first bulletin board for the entire world to share. It was quiet now, but eventually it would become a board used by all of Korea, so it was important for Kim Harin to gain experience managing it in the early stages.
"Gaeun, leave your second bulletin board untouched for a while."
"Yes."
The second bulletin board would remain closed for now.
"You two will receive all sorts of private messages related to the bulletin boards—negotiations, threats, inquiries, even trade offers. But ignore all of them."
It wouldn't take long for everyone to realize just how valuable the bulletin boards were. Naturally, people would try to contact the two women who managed them, and Kang Dohyun advised them to ignore every single message.
The next person Kang Dohyun called was Lee Dongwoo.
"Dongwoo, you take one Random Skill Ticket."
He handed Dongwoo a Random Skill Ticket, and the young man accepted it with satisfaction.
"And take one healing potion as well."
"Huh? But I'm only staying on the uninhabited island?"
"Still, just in case, keep one with you."
As Kang Dohyun said that, he handed Dongwoo a healing potion, and the young man accepted it.
"The Lost Coin of Fortune (U)—this one is yours."
"Really?"
Dongwoo took the coin and asked about its purpose.
"How do I use it?"
"Just keep it for now. But even if you carry it, there's a high chance it won't activate."
Even though Kang Dohyun said it was unlikely to activate, Dongwoo accepted the coin without complaint.
"Got it. Then what about the Ancient Blessing Scroll?"
I'll show you how to use that one directly.
The two of them stood up right there.
Kang Dohyun and Lee Dongwoo moved to the farmland on the uninhabited island—the field Dongwoo had diligently tended for six months, growing crops.
"Dongwoo, tear the scroll in the center of the field."
"Huh? Okay."
Dongwoo obediently moved to the center of the field as Kang Dohyun instructed. Then he tore one Ancient Blessing Scroll.
Ancient Blessing has been activated.
Special energy is imbued into the crops in the field.
"Huh? Hyung! It says special energy is being imbued into the crops?"
"That's right. Some of the crops will become special."
Kang Dohyun explained that he would use one scroll each month, and that Dongwoo should collect any special crops from the harvest and bring them to him.
"Got it."
That way, he gave Dongwoo the ability to cultivate special crops.
The last person he called was, naturally, his younger brother Kang Dohun.
"First, take a Random Skill Ticket."
He gave his brother a Random Skill Ticket as well. The three tickets he had purchased were now distributed—one each for Kang Dohyun, Kang Dohun, and Lee Dongwoo.
"You already have healing potions, right? Take two more."
That gave Kang Dohun a total of five healing potions.
"And the Condensed Rest Potions—those are yours too."
"These as well?"
Kang Dohun asked as he stored thirty-one Condensed Rest Potions in his inventory per his brother's instructions.
"But what are these potions?"
"As the name 'Condensed Rest' suggests, they accelerate all recovery while you sleep."
It was a special recovery item that helped with everything from HP restoration to healing injuries while sleeping. But it had a slightly special hidden ability.
"Wait, it also cures the zombie virus?"
"With a certain probability—the higher your level, the higher the chance. Sometimes it slows the progression of zombification, and occasionally it stops the progression entirely, preventing you from becoming a zombie."
There were many cases where people with high levels and high HP who consumed it never turned into zombies.
"And hyung, I'm going to use the Random Skill Ticket right here."
"Go ahead."
Kang Dohun used the Random Skill Ticket right there, and looked at the result with a somewhat ambiguous expression.
"What? What skill did you get?"
"It's... 'Breathing Control'?"
"Oh?"
From Kang Dohyun's perspective, it sounded like a skill he'd heard of before his regression.
"What's the description?"
"It says that breathing well reduces fatigue accumulation?"
"Insane!"
He remembered now. It was a skill possessed by someone with exceptionally high stamina.
"Wow, you got an OP skill?"
"Really?"
Kang Dohyun explained the skill's strengths and how to use it to his brother. If you managed your breathing well during combat, fatigue accumulated less, naturally increasing your stamina.
"Nice?"
"Yeah, it's good, I told you."
His brother had gotten a skill that improved stamina.
After finishing their conversation, Kang Dohyun handed over the equipment.
"Training Bracelet (U), Ancient Warrior's Ring (U), and the Artisan's Failed Special Shoes (R). These are the equipment you'll use."
Kang Dohun received the items from his brother and read the descriptions himself to confirm.
"The new equipment is great. Thanks, hyung."
As Kang Dohun collected his equipment, his brother made one final announcement.
"The second-quarter settlement is done, so I'm leaving again. This time I'll be going a bit further. The duration—six to eight months? I'll try to come back within half a year, but still, make sure you're well prepared, okay?"
"Wow... that's a pretty long trip. Where are you going?"
"This time I'll start from Busan and travel through Gyeongsangnam-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do."
At the mention of Busan, Kang Dohun nodded.
"When do we leave?"
"When do you want to leave? You choose."
When Kang Dohyun gave his brother the decision on departure time, Kang Dohun thought for a moment and said:
"Let's go in a week."
"Alright. Then we leave on July 7th."
And so the brothers' departure date was decided.
After handing over the items and equipment to Kang Dohun, everything remaining was Kang Dohyun's.
One Random Skill Ticket, Heavy Sword (U), Cloak of Silence (U), and the Artisan's Failed Special Shoes (R)—these four items belonged to Kang Dohyun.
First, this one doesn't need any thought.
The Heavy Sword (U) was immediately absorbed by the Chungmu Soul Sword.
The Chungmu Soul Sword absorbs the Heavy Sword.
The Chungmu Soul Sword's attack power increases.
The Chungmu Soul Sword grew even stronger.
The Cloak of Silence and the Artisan's Failed Special Shoes just need to be worn, and the Random Skill Ticket...
After a brief moment of consideration, he decided to use it immediately. And so he used the skill ticket.
You have used a Random Skill Ticket.
You have acquired the skill "Cat's Eyes."
"Hmm?"
It was an unfamiliar skill, so he checked the description. The explanation was simple—it simply allowed him to maintain visibility at night.
Not bad. Good for nighttime assassinations, good for nighttime activities. Combat skills are the best, but this is still a decent skill.
He was a little disappointed it wasn't a combat skill, but it was still useful.
As Kang Dohyun put on his new equipment in his room and moved his body to test it out, Kim Harin entered the room.
"Dohyun-ssi, is everything finished?"
She had confirmed that Lee Dongwoo had come and gone, and that Lee Gaeun had also left, before entering.
"Yes."
"Then?"
Kim Harin slightly parted her clothes to reveal what was underneath—red lace underwear.
"I tried wearing this underwear today."
Kim Harin's blatant seduction. Kang Dohyun immediately began removing the equipment and clothes he was wearing as he said:
"Is that so? Then I suppose I need to test your body today as well."
In an instant, both of them were naked, and they moved into passionate sex.
For seven days, Kang Dohyun and Kang Dohun tried their best to spend as much time as possible with their women.
Kang Dohyun went on dates with Kim Harin, traveling together on the mainland since their affection had recently deepened.
Whenever their eyes met or even the slightest desire arose, they would frequently slip into empty houses to exchange physical conversations.
Kang Dohun exercised hard together with Lee Gaeun on the uninhabited island. He wanted her to grow strong enough someday to protect her own body.
With Kang Dohun's help, she trained diligently, and in the evenings, she worked hard at another kind of exercise as well.
And so the morning of July 7th arrived. Everyone living on the uninhabited island gathered in the courtyard in front of their homes.
"Dohun, are you ready?"
"Yeah."
With everything they needed packed in their inventories and bags, the two brothers' preparations were complete.
"Dongwoo, take care of things."
"You all take care of Dongwoo too."
"Harin-ssi..."
Kim Harin knew Kang Dohyun wouldn't be back for a while, so she ran to him and embraced him.
"Be careful."
"Yes, you take care too, Harin-ssi."
The two of them exchanged greetings while holding each other for a moment.
After Kang Dohyun and Kang Dohun finished saying their goodbyes to everyone—
Woong...
A drone was summoned. Both of them climbed onto it, waved goodbye one last time, and the drone departed toward Busan.
At the spot where the two brothers had left, Kim Harin and Lee Gaeun were crying. Lee Dongwoo comforted the two women.
"I told you not to cry and to take care of each other. So stop crying."
At Dongwoo's words, the two women stopped crying, and those remaining on the uninhabited island began their daily lives on the island.