Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Yongsan Station Sweeping Operation
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Day 4 of the Yongsan Station sweeping operation.
Jang Ho-seop had been making a fuss since morning.
"Hyung-nim! Have you checked the plaza?"
"Why?"
"Likes... likes! Ugh! And not just one, but five of them!"
He'd woken up to find likes on the post he'd written.
"Hyun-ah. What's a 'like'?"
"The plaza has a recommendation feature for posts. That's what he means."
"Ahh~ But why call it 'dog like'?"
"No idea."
Sister Bom tilted her head.
Yu-na mimicked her from across the way.
I had no clue why.
"There are comments too!"
"So that means someone with a Level 2 Spirit Stone exists?"
"Yes! Finally, people on my board..."
"Why is it yours?"
Jang Ho-seop turned his head as if he hadn't heard.
No, he might actually not have heard.
His body was wiggling around in excitement.
"I'll take a quick look."
I knew the plaza had a comments feature.
I'd never used it because I didn't want my level revealed.
The plaza was like an internet space with real-name registration.
'Comments for real.'
There were three comments on Jang Ho-seop's latest post.
Two of the names looked Chinese and Japanese.
'Does it translate?'
The foreigners' comments envied the items in the photo Jang Ho-seop had uploaded.
I checked the post and left the plaza.
"Jang Ho-seop."
"Yes?"
"Did you check all the comments?"
"Huh? Isn't there just one?"
Jang Ho-seop looked puzzled.
"There were three."
"Whoa~ Another one already?"
Jang Ho-seop bolted to the Spirit Stone upon hearing me.
The kid was slower on the uptake than usual.
Normally, he'd have read my expression and gauged the mood.
The last comment was bothering me.
It had been left by someone we knew.
A moment later.
Jang Ho-seop opened his eyes.
"H-Hyung-nim... I'm sorry."
"It's fine. What do you think?"
"I got too excited and messed up. I deleted the post..."
The third comment was from Prosecutor Kang Hye-seon.
[KangHye-seon22]: Location can be inferred from the photo. Be careful.
I felt indebted to her.
At Level 22, she could've posted long ago but hadn't until now, just leaving this comment.
Maybe she was stingy with Mana Stones, or like me, hated exposing her name and level.
"What should we do?"
I didn't know how many people had seen Jang Ho-seop's post on the plaza.
And unless they'd scrutinized the photo closely, they wouldn't pinpoint our area from it.
Still, it felt off.
The world had changed.
"Posted at night and deleted just now, so..."
"It'll be okay?"
Jang Ho-seop answered softly to my question.
Maybe I was overreacting.
But I couldn't just let it slide.
"I'll revoke your admin privileges."
"Hyung-nim! Ah... Okay."
Jang Ho-seop replied dejectedly.
And so the day began.
We came to Yongsan Station again today.
Separate from the nagging unease, it was worth it.
First, no need to hunt for orcs anymore.
My group no longer gained EXP from goblins.
Second reason: farming.
To stockpile supplies and utilize Uncle Jang-su's ability.
"How is it?"
"Ah, Yi Hyun. Seems like aluminum."
Uncle Jang-su's General Skill was 'Mana Search'.
It let him locate desired materials and grasp their properties.
Until now, he hadn't used his General Skill.
Then yesterday, he learned something by chance.
While drinking beer near a Spirit Stone.
"Aluminum should be easy to find, right?"
"Yes. Not certain yet, but..."
I was feeding Mana Stones to the Spirit Stone.
Uncle was watching from the side with a beer can in hand.
That's when a system message appeared, he said.
Stating the beer can conducted mana energy.
So now he was searching for metal like the beer can.
Problem was, beer cans weren't pure aluminum.
"We'll figure it out from here."
For now, satisfied with discovering his General Skill's use.
With time and research, good results might come.
His skills would evolve with levels too.
"Then we'll head that way, farm in the afternoon, and return."
Yongsan Station was a private station surrounded by commercial facilities.
We'd divided them into Buildings A, B, and C.
Today's turn: Building C.
Jang Ho-seop scouted first with Invisibility.
Once intel secured, the group entered together with shields up.
That was the basic plan.
'They're doing well.'
The group cleared Building C without my help.
There was a crisis when an orc smashed through a wall dramatically, but Yu-na handled it well.
Yu-na's senses were sharp.
Wide field of view, excellent basic athleticism.
With Sister Bom as her auxiliary battery, she was optimized for monster slaughter.
"Up to here. Good work, everyone."
The group secured the zone without my aid.
More than planned.
Target Detection scouting suggested stopping here.
"Let's rest."
Rest, then advance again.
Replenish energy, then fight.
We smoothly cleared Building C.
Now, farm supplies with remaining time and head home.
But just then, a problem arose, making the smoothness feel hollow.
"Hyun-ah. Can't we check that place too?"
I'd planned to return to Building A for farming.
Sister Bom stood before me, smiling brightly as she asked.
"That store?"
"Yeah. It's an overseas brand, you know. Because of my underwear size..."
"Got it."
Building C had tons of clothing brands.
Even a luxury hall.
"Unnie. How about this?"
"Hmm, let me see... Yu-na, you have wide hips, so..."
"Eek? Why's the price like this?"
Cosmetics and accessories stores were no slouch either.
"Ah, Auntie has dry skin. The cosmetics I used to use..."
"Stock here. Ho-seop-ah~ Come pull that out."
It was like an ant hell.
In the end, the three women thrust paper at me.
The paper where I'd told them to write what they needed.
All three sheets said the same thing.
— Shopping
I had no choice but to nod.
A promise was a promise.
Plus, handling their rewards at once had its merits.
Even so, the women eyed me and compromised with reality.
The men shopped moderately too.
"Ah, stuff's dazzling my eyes."
"We're coming back tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? Will Hyun let us?"
"How could he say no if unnie asks?"
Sister Bom and Yu-na chattered as if for me to hear.
Auntie Soo-jung watched me with expectant eyes too.
I pretended not to notice and kept walking.
Then,
'People?'
Several presences beyond the wall.
Their strengths varied wildly.
I stopped and alerted the group immediately.
"Feels like people."
"Uh... coincidence?"
To head home from Building C, we had to cross a wide open space.
Our path formed a ㅌ shape.
They were lingering in that space, separated from us by the wall.
"No. No movement. Even spacing between them."
"What if... symmetrically outside hyung-nim's detection range?"
"Yeah. Waiting to sandwich us."
Not certain.
Prosecutor Kang Hye-seon's comment might be biasing me negatively.
"Grab weapons only, to the second floor."
"Got it."
Coincidence or not, didn't matter.
We left the farmed goods and headed upstairs.
First floor had solid concrete walls, but second floor up had reinforced glass exteriors.
And lots of broken glass.
Up on the second floor, we peered below.
"Yup. Those bastards..."
Men gripping weapons hid behind cover.
Watching Building C's entrance.
Over twenty of them.
"Yu-na. In range?"
"Yes."
"Then..."
Floors here were tall.
But not too high to jump.
And no need to exit through the entrance without hauling goods.
We quickly planned.
No intent to flee avoiding them.
"Hoo..."
Plan was simple.
I'd drop on the strongest presence for a surprise attack.
Its strength suggested around Level 20.
Tat-tat-tak
Deep breath, then sprint.
Running start, foot on windowsill, leap with all my might.
Whooooosh
Wind whistled past my ears.
The dark nape rushed closer.
Bam!
I crushed him on landing.
The guy's spine snapped under me.
Regaining posture, I charged the nearest.
'Not this one.'
A stronger one farther away.
A man with a buzzcut, nearly bald.
"Wha... what?"
Men turned at the noise.
By then, I'd killed one more.
"Behind!"
When enemies registered me.
I killed another.
'High schooler?'
One wore a uniform.
My axe blade struck his neck.
"You fuck!"
Melee erupted.
Men charging me, others casting skills from afar.
I ignored distant ones, dropping chargers one by one.
Trusted Magic Resistance, plus Jang Ho-seop should've landed invisible by now.
Yu-na would start ranged support soon.
"Aaaagh! My leg... leg."
By my sixth kill.
A skill user clutched his pierced thigh, collapsing.
Yu-na.
That was our plan.
Leave skill users to Yu-na and Jang Ho-seop.
"Fuck off!"
Prioritize the strongest, draw attention, give them observation time.
Plan succeeded.
Fear spread among them.
Screams burst, numbers dwindled fast.
Then one turned to flee.
Shiiiik
Just a feeling.
An ominous one, halting my step.
Sizzle
Simultaneously, burning on my shoulder.
'Buzzcut?'
Turning, he extended a hand at me.
Magic Resistance failed.
Highest level had a ranged attack skill.
"Die!"
Thinking my turn was chance, one swung a bat.
Yelling amid a situation needing stealth.
I dodged lightly, smashed his face.
Ugly got uglier.
In that moment, I saw.
Blade embedded in floor.
That'd grazed my shoulder.
Not Magic Resistance failure.
'It embeds there?'
Buzzcut had a projectile skill, apparently.
Embedding meant reinforcement too.
"You idiots, catch him! Catch him!"
Buzzcut yelled.
He raised one hand high, prepping skill.
Couldn't fire immediately, grimacing in stance.
"Aaaagh! Run..."
I kept moving, mind on him.
Sliced a fleer's neck, gouged eyes of a grabber.
Then buzzcut swung his arm again.
Shiiiik
Different this time.
Saw it, felt it.
'Target Detection?'
I leaned back slightly.
Blade passed before my face.
Mother's voice rang out.
【Trajectory Detection】
A special skill awakened.
Seemed the goddess of victory was on my side.
Picture of an easy win forming.
I wouldn't die to these guys.
At least me.
"Hey, you bastard!"
But not Jang Ho-seop.
He dropped invisibility and yelled.
'No. Don't help.'
Buzzcut, focused on me, shifted gaze.
I cut my words short and shouted.
"Dodge!"
He swung at charging Jang Ho-seop.
Swish—slash
A clean, sharp sound lingered like an afterimage in my ears.