Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: First Day in the Demon Realm
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Was it the Empire's consideration? Or just a simple coincidence?
Fortunately, nothing happened on the first day.
Thanks to that, Seo Woo-jin and the other heroes were able to quickly adapt to the environment of Demon Realm Heldein.
"It's hot."
Yoo Hong-seol frowned as she spoke.
"It's not the heat—it's the humidity."
Lee Ji-ah agreed.
The humidity was excessively high.
There was no trace of the refreshing forest air.
The air felt heavy, sticky, and even ominous.
"Korean summers are better than this."
Seo Woo-jin let out a sigh as he scanned their surroundings.
It wasn't the kind of weather that could freeze you to death like in the North if you messed up, but in terms of discomfort, Heldein took the cake.
"It's too quiet, which bothers me. How can there be no birdsong in a forest this dense?"
The atmosphere suited the name Demon Realm perfectly.
"Well, that doesn't change what we have to do. Shall we start preparing food first?"
The heroes split into teams and scattered in all directions.
Sticking together in survival training wouldn't help at all.
Of course, the knights were positioned nearby, ready to intervene at any moment.
"The rations we were given..."
Yoo Hong-seol checked the supplies they'd received at the start.
"They're too few."
Even if they rationed carefully, they'd run out in two days.
"Does that mean we have to procure our own?"
Seo Woo-jin nodded at Yoo Hong-seol's words.
"Once war breaks out, supplies won't always come through reliably, so this is them making us experience it."
Didn't some units in the Korean military do that kind of training?
Like UDT's survival exercises or something...
'I never did it myself.'
He hadn't even had that experience in the North.
Supplies had always been plentiful there, and thanks to Banslein paying close attention.
"Then we'll need to hunt or forage. Oh, before that."
Yoo Hong-seol, muttering to herself, suddenly clapped her hands as if she'd forgotten something and glanced to one side.
"We haven't properly introduced ourselves yet."
Standing there were two men offering awkward smiles.
They were the new heroes Lee Ji-ah had brought along.
"Ta-da! It's finally time for introductions!"
For once, the usually quiet Lee Ji-ah threw her hands up dramatically and started gushing.
"This handsome guy here is Kang Byung-gyu! Rank B! Class: 'Explorer'! And level 24!"
'Is she introducing a UFC fighter?'
She looked thrilled, as if she'd been waiting for this moment, and continued.
"This one's Jin Tae-seong! A-rank! Class: 'Elementalist'! And his level is a whopping 28!"
Seo Woo-jin's eyes lit up slightly at their introductions.
'Is this intentional?'
Surprisingly, Lee Ji-ah had picked exactly the classes they needed.
Even in the Demon Realm, it was a forest first and foremost, so an 'Explorer' was bound to be helpful.
He'd likely have a bunch of survival skills for foraging food or finding paths.
And an 'Elementalist' could fill the gap in their team's magic firepower.
Seo Woo-jin had skills close to magic himself, but he couldn't use them unless it was a dire emergency.
They were just too out of place otherwise.
'Dahye's versatile skills too.'
It wasn't bad at all.
Whether she'd done it on purpose or it was luck, he didn't know.
'But they're helpful, that's for sure.'
Seo Woo-jin nodded and patted Lee Ji-ah's head approvingly.
"Hehe."
She grinned happily, her face saying, 'Did I do good?'
"I'm Seo Woo-jin. My rank is..."
"We already know."
As Seo Woo-jin started his introduction, Kang Byung-gyu cut in with a laugh.
"You're too famous."
Was that sarcasm? It didn't feel like it.
'Well, yeah. I've been too visible.'
From the party incident to the troll event.
Rumors about D-rank hero Seo Woo-jin were etched into every hero's mind.
It wasn't exactly welcome, but what could he do?
'It was my own doing.'
Seo Woo-jin gave a wry smile.
But Kang Byung-gyu seemed to misread it.
"Ah, no, I didn't mean to dismiss you... Sorry."
Thinking his interruption had soured Seo Woo-jin's mood, Kang Byung-gyu bowed his head in apology.
That alone made it clear he had no ill intent.
Seo Woo-jin shook his head with a smile.
"It's fine."
He truly meant it.
If anything, he felt good about meeting someone decent.
After dealing with constant provocations, this was refreshing.
"Phew, good to hear, haha!"
Kang Byung-gyu was the same age as Seo Woo-jin.
He'd assumed he was younger at first—turns out he just looked young.
Being the same age helped them hit it off quickly.
But Jin Tae-seong was the opposite.
'Not a bad guy, but...'
He was too quiet.
Aside from the initial greeting, he hadn't said a word.
His expression didn't scream stoic...
"Tae-seong's just shy around new people."
When Seo Woo-jin looked puzzled, Lee Ji-ah quietly explained.
'Ah.'
So he wasn't quiet—he was just timid.
Not hard to understand.
People came in all types.
As long as he contributed to the team without needing to talk, it was fine.
"So, how should we handle meal prep?"
Seo Woo-jin asked Kang Byung-gyu.
He figured the guy knew way more about this stuff.
And he was right.
"First, we need to find water."
If you had to pick one essential for survival, it was water, hands down.
"Not just for drinking—hygiene too."
Heroes might transcend human limits and not get sick, but this was the Demon Realm.
Anything could happen.
"Can't shower, and we'll feel grimy enough as is."
"Stuck in this sticky heat without washing? Disaster."
Lee Ji-ah nodded vigorously at Kang Byung-gyu's words.
Enduring a week in muggy weather worse than Korea's rainy season without showers would be torture.
"Then water first."
As Seo Woo-jin nodded, Kang Byung-gyu grinned.
"Already found it, actually."
"Huh?"
"My skills are specialized for that."
Search, detection, appraisal, etc.
Kang Byung-gyu had all the skills fitting an 'Explorer'.
"Radar."
He activated the skill.
A faint green light spread out from him in concentric circles.
"This lets me scan the surroundings. And that way."
He pointed in one direction.
"There's a small stream."
Seo Woo-jin was impressed.
He might not shine in combat, but as a teammate, he'd be invaluable.
"Let's go."
Seo Woo-jin led the group after Kang Byung-gyu.
Sure enough, a stream appeared.
True to its name, it wasn't large, but more than enough for their team.
"Let's set up base camp here."
Securing a spot by water had tons of advantages.
No one objected, naturally.
"Now it's my turn."
With the site decided, Kim Da-hye—who'd been sticking close to Lee Ji-ah with a blank expression—stepped forward.
"Hm?"
Seo Woo-jin looked at her, confused by the sudden declaration.
But instead of explaining, Kim Da-hye pulled out a sketchbook and started drawing.
Thanks to her skill, it only took a few seconds to finish.
"Can't do fine details, but... 'Summon'."
She summoned the drawing.
And...
"Whoa!"
"It actually worked."
Seo Woo-jin stared in astonishment at what appeared before them.
"A log cabin?"
He'd imagined gathering branches, making a fire, and roughing it outside.
Everyone else had too.
Who'd think of building a log cabin in the Demon Realm?
"Done."
Kim Da-hye introduced her creation with her usual blank look.
"24 pyeong, no options unfortunately. But like this..."
She fiddled with something, and amazingly, lights came on.
"Electricity works."
No clue how the mechanism worked.
Well, in a world with demon kings, heroes, and magic, what couldn't happen?
Seo Woo-jin opened the door and stepped inside.
As she'd said, no options meant a bare-bones open studio with no furniture.
"Da-hye, Da-hye! Bed! Can't you make a bed? That'd make it perfect!"
Lee Ji-ah wheedled with sparkling eyes.
"I could, but..."
Kim Da-hye hesitated.
"No wasting mana needlessly. We don't know what'll happen, so we need to stay prepared."
Beds would be comfy, like Lee Ji-ah said, but they couldn't burn through mana recklessly.
No incidents yet, but this was the Demon Realm.
They had to conserve for potential fights.
"This place is plenty good."
"Yeah. Just thinking about sleeping outside for a week was depressing..."
Yoo Hong-seol chimed in agreement.
"No bed, but we do have this: 'Survival Pack'."
Then Kang Byung-gyu stepped up and used a skill.
A small hole appeared in midair.
"Like a mini-inventory. It's got expedition essentials. Like this!"
He reached in and pulled something out.
"A sleeping bag?"
"Ooh! Nice! Feels like camping!"
Seo Woo-jin chuckled wryly.
Just like Lee Ji-ah said, it felt more like a camping trip than training.
'Team luck's on point.'
Since being summoned to this world, Seo Woo-jin had never once thought his luck was good.
But this time? Definitely.
Personalities, abilities—all spot on.
'If we can just coast through the week without issues.'
That'd be ideal...
Unfortunately, this was Demon Realm Heldein.
A million light-years from camping.
Woooooo—!
"Monsters."
A thick killing intent emanated from outside the house, accompanied by monstrous howls.
Couldn't tell the exact number, but definitely over ten.
Swish swish—
The sounds of them approaching grew closer.
"Out first—battle stations."
Lee Ji-ah and Kang Byung-gyu had proven their survival skills.
Now it was time for the rest.
'Ours.'
Himself, Lee Ji-ah, Yoo Hong-seol, and Jin Tae-seong.
To survive, combat prowess was crucial.
And Seo Woo-jin was ready to prove his worth.