Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Calling Her Noona
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The people I'd encountered at the market fell into two distinct groups.
Arrogant pricks and folks with grim expressions.
So, this place was nothing like what I'd heard.
"We've been working all morning, and this is all you give us...?"
"That's all you managed to do, miss. Isn't it?"
"This isn't even enough for one meal. Please, just a little more."
"God, you're such a pain."
I paused for a moment as a woman and a man bickered.
The woman looked filthy, like she hadn't bathed in ages.
"That's why I'm telling you not to waste your energy here and go over there instead."
"Over there...?"
"All you gotta do is spread your legs. No idea why you're messing around here instead. The doc even handles health checks... "
The armed man pointed toward the building I was heading to.
The woman begged again, insisting she couldn't.
"Argh, enough! Get lost! Or go hunt some monsters outside!"
The man shoved her, and she crumpled to the ground without resistance.
"Bro."
"Yeah, let's go."
As I stared at their scuffle, the armed men turned their attention to us.
I tore my gaze away at Jang Ho-seop's call and resumed walking.
"Just as we expected."
It wasn't what we'd heard, but we'd anticipated a scene like this too.
The market wasn't some place where everyone clung to hope for tomorrow together.
"Two?"
"Yeah."
We arrived in front of a building with a red sign.
The man guarding the entrance asked.
"Man or woman?"
"Huh?"
"You looking for a guy or a girl?"
"Oh... a woman."
Jang Ho-seop barely managed to reply.
"How old?"
"Twenty-five... but why? She's an adult, at least."
The man chuckled in disbelief.
"No, tell me her age. You must have a type in mind."
"Oh, right. Thirties."
"Older women, huh? Nice. Head to the third floor."
Jang Ho-seop put on a bewildered act.
"Uh... this is my first time, so can I ask a couple questions?"
He slipped some local currency into the man's hand.
"Whoa, hey. You can't do that."
"Just my way of showing sincerity. Heh."
The man who took the bribe grinned widely.
"Sheesh. Fine, but make it quick. Be discreet."
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Haha."
Pretending to be an acquaintance, Jang Ho-seop asked if they knew a certain hairdresser.
"No one like that here. Unless she's using a fake name, no way to tell."
"Got it. What if I like someone? Can I take two at once?"
"Hah, everyone wonders that. Nope, cash only, and the boss ain't sending 'em out."
No matter how much you spent, they didn't sell the women themselves.
"Makes sense. What if I join the Revival Society...? Oh, right. Actually..."
Jang Ho-seop casually mentioned being scouted at the entrance.
He gathered info as if it were natural to be curious about the place.
After a few more questions.
"Hey, you know how many girls are out there doing manual labor?"
"No clue."
"Tons. Wanna know why? Young ones don't have many options."
Most women had limited work available.
It was deliberate.
They pushed grueling jobs with meager pay, driving women to sell their bodies.
"Our boss is super fair. Clear standards. The guys working alongside do several times more, so no complaints."
"That big a difference?"
"Obviously. Even lowbies awaken Fundamental Skills. And with the gap already..."
The man opened up easily.
Maybe guarding this place got boring.
"One more thing I'd like to ask..."
"What? As long as it's not too much."
"Can I see the faces of the women working here? I'm the cautious type."
"Jeez, dude. It's dark anyway; you won't see much."
This time, Jang Ho-seop pulled out cigarettes from his backpack.
The whole pack.
"Ahem. Follow me."
It felt almost too easy.
We checked every woman's face inside the building.
The guard had some pull; he even let us see women with other customers.
"Ah... she's not here."
"What, looking for a crush?"
"Something like that."
The women staying here all looked in good shape.
Well-fed, clean, even made up.
"They eat and sleep here. If she's not, she's not."
In the end, no sign of the hairdresser.
Jang Ho-seop said he'd come back next time.
"Man, you're such a romantic. Just pick anyone. They all feel the same."
"Heh, no thanks. I'll come back. And here."
"Huh? More?"
As we wrapped up and exited the building.
"This crazy old lady. Bring money, she says! Money!"
Another scuffle broke out.
Right at the entrance of the next building over.
"Please, just once more. One more time. Yeah? This time for real..."
"Lady. You know how much you've racked up so far?"
A woman in her fifties and an armed man.
"Whoa, that old bat's at it again."
Our guide marveled.
I signaled Jang Ho-seop.
"What's with that lady?"
"Oh, that's the gambling den."
"Gambling?"
"Yeah. But that lady's a total wreck. Gambling addict..."
The gambling-crazed old lady.
I recognized her face.
"She came here with her daughter, right? Heh, but while the daughter's killing herself at work, the mom blows it all."
"Wait, her daughter's money?"
"Yeah. Daughter's a real tough one. Been grinding non-stop for days. Won't last, though. Even guys collapse after one shift."
The hairdresser's mother.
'Old habits die hard, huh.'
Found her at last.
The hairdresser was here.
I nearly caused a scene right in the middle of the market.
Jang Ho-seop sensed my agitation and quickly pulled me away.
"Bro, you sure about that lady?"
The hairdresser had been working since high school.
Diligently, until I—a middle schooler then—grew up.
Yet she still lived in the tiny back room of the salon.
If the real owner hadn't been kind...
Her life might've hit rock bottom.
"Yeah, positive."
Her mom had even asked me for money once.
No mistake.
I just nodded, keeping her personal matters private.
"So she's definitely in the market."
Yet Jang Ho-seop seemed to pick up on it and didn't pry.
"Yeah. I'll go alone. Wait here."
We returned to where the rest of the group waited.
Jang Ho-seop would stay, and I'd head back to the market solo.
"Bro, hear me out just once."
He grabbed me urgently, knowing my haste, and continued.
"Even if we find her and bring her out, there'll be problems."
"Like what?"
"Fundamental Skills. We don't know what they have."
With so many Fundamental Skill awakeners on the market side, even if we extracted her safely, they could track us.
Using skills we didn't know about.
"Not that I doubt you, bro. Just hate the uncertainty."
"So?"
"Not just find her..."
His point: Use this chance to dismantle the market entirely.
"How?"
"The Revival Society's expanding their turf nonstop."
"Yeah."
"Real elites are out fighting monsters."
Jang Ho-seop said their elite members were out expanding today too.
He proposed ambushing them on their way back.
"President Park probably went with them. High chance."
We could take him out in one go.
"How do we know where they went and which way they'll return?"
"Market has two entrances: here and here. Cleared zones on the map..."
Jang Ho-seop unfolded the map and explained.
Their expansion had direction.
"By process of elimination, just guard these three choke points. We're five strong."
"Risky."
"When has it not been?"
Not for me—for the others.
We'd have to split up.
"I'll take one point solo."
I glanced at the rest.
Lee Yu-na nodded.
"You said it yourself, bro. Risk is part of survival."
"I did. But..."
"You won't abandon her, right? Then this isn't just your fight anymore."
Jang Ho-seop met my eyes and nodded.
Kim Soo-jung too.
"No one here can match your level, bro. They have no clue. This is a sure win."
"Fine. But I fight alone. No matter how many."
Decision made swiftly.
Time to move.
We hustled.
Moved to the predicted choke points Jang Ho-seop marked, memorizing terrain and features.
Labeled the three points.
Jang Ho-seop on 1, me on 2, rest on 3.
"Huff... huff..."
Running full tilt left me winded.
I climbed to the roof of a building at point 2 and caught my breath.
Flutter
Then waved the flag.
I'd seen Kang Hye-seon's sword group signal with flags crossing the Hangang Bridge.
Copied that.
'All clear.'
Flags rose from roofs at points 1 and 3.
No issues.
At night, we'd use lanterns.
Doubt the Revival Society would return that late.
Our estimated return window: late afternoon to early evening.
Not far from the market, so around sunset.
Now, waiting game.
'Hurry up. Ideally my way.'
Night would be better for ambush, but I wanted them showing soon.
Impatience.
The hairdresser was suffering right now.
'What if...'
If they moved differently than expected.
This wait could be wasted time.
'No. Can't think like that.'
I shook off the negative thoughts.
Even now, Lee Jang-su was crafting traps with nails.
We were preparing.
'Revival Society originals: 8 members. Skills unknown.'
So I did what I could.
'Even if numbers grew, they rotate... Jang Ho-seop's elite estimate: max 20.'
I built a mental simulation.
Summoned attack skill users I'd seen before.
Imagined charging in, rampaging among them.
'That wall—I can jump it...'
Time passed.
Evening already.
Sunset painted the clear sky.
Dusk.
Normally, streetlights flickering on, objects blurring into dark silhouettes.
'Did I miss them?'
My patience was shot.
Scanning below from the railing, I looked up.
'Just rescue the hairdresser first...'
Signal the group, head to market.
Bent to grab the lantern for signal.
Straightened—and
Flicker
A light blinked.
'Point 1.'
Tiny flashes repeated.
Jang Ho-seop covering and uncovering the lantern.
Revival Society sighted.
Signaled point 3, leaped from roof.
Thud
Stepped off a protruding ledge midway, landed on ground.
Jang Ho-seop nailed it.
Sprinted the path to cut them off.
Soon spotted the careless group moving.
Cleared zone, so chatting loudly.
"Man, thought we'd push to Gongdeok today."
"Bring some kids tomorrow? Too much detour..."
Twelve men.
All faces splattered with something.
"Breaking through there'll take ages. Need phase one walls done..."
Brawny builds.
One notably fat middle-aged guy in the middle.
Black mask, graying hair.
Gold ring on finger, necklace on nape.
Bracelet glinting on wrist.
'President Park.'
Gut said the pudgy one was him.
Thud thud
Poured power into legs.
Accelerated straight at him.
"We'll need to pull more guys... Bro!!!"
They noticed my ambush.
Too late.
Axe already swinging.
Blade met President Park's nape.
Clang
'Clang?'
Wrong sound—and sparks flew from his neck.
Thump
He bounced back from my swing's force.
Crashed into the wall, collapsed.
"Guhhh."
Groaning.
Still alive, unharmed.
"What the fuck!"
I'd failed to sever President Park's neck.
First time my attack was blocked.