Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Uncomfortable Proposal, Good Choice
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I had gathered separately in the annex those who chose work and compensation.
“Hey! It’s too dark in here!”
“No, what are we even supposed to organize...”
“Let’s just get started, yeah?”
I drew my axe and let my imagination run.
Through Target Detection, I could vividly sense their emotions.
‘Dissatisfaction, hostility, annoyance.’
When we’d been patrolling the neighborhood.
And even when they’d gathered at the church.
The strongest emotions coming from people had been tension and fear.
After talking it out and giving them options, those feelings had eased.
But in their place, other negative emotions were surging up.
“Hostile...”
“Pardon?”
Now that I knew their emotions, it was crystal clear.
These people were my enemies.
‘Not a single one grateful.’
These folks had been cursing us under their breath.
Thinking I couldn’t hear, they’d whispered among themselves.
How could we make them do something like that?
No decent person would.
Yet they wanted our help—couldn’t bring themselves to just walk away, so they vented with words alone.
Whoooong.
Didn’t matter.
Their thoughts and feelings would soon vanish from the world.
Slice.
I started with the neck of the man closest to me.
Blood gushed out.
The spray soaked the person next to him.
“Huh?”
The man suddenly drenched in someone else’s blood went wide-eyed.
Spouting something stupid.
Crunch.
I stomped his chest.
And as if they’d been waiting for me to move, a faint voice drifted from beyond the door—Kim Soo-jung’s.
—I am Kim Soo-jung. This boy’s mother. I have words for all of you.
The room was dark.
People looked like shadows.
I must’ve looked the same in their eyes.
Only after I’d taken two lives did the rest finally react.
“Wh-what?”
“You bastard! I knew it!”
The ones standing near me stumbled backward.
—There is one man. He saved my son’s life and mine. The day red meteors rained from the sky...
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Some still hadn’t grasped what was happening.
“What’s going on? Why are those people suddenly...”
“Wait, hold on. We came here to organize supplies...”
I ignored their questions.
Silently swung my axe.
—That man slew an orc at level 1. He gave you all a chance.
By the time I’d killed five.
Screams finally broke out.
Far too late.
“Run! Run away!”
“No, if we team up...”
“Open the door! Let us out! Fuck...”
Their chaos drowned out the woman’s voice.
Some crawled on the floor; others shouted to gang up on me.
“I surrender! I’ll join that side too, please...”
I didn’t answer a word.
Waste of time.
Before long, they all met the same end.
Man, woman, young, old—didn’t matter. All dead.
‘Not even a level up.’
I extracted the mana stones.
—So remember this. Every decision comes from him. Now, what you must do is...
I knocked on the door and told Bo-mi noona it was done.
Creak.
She opened it, and the woman’s voice rang clearer.
“Dedicate yourselves to him. Prove your worth. Do that, and he’ll gladly protect us all...”
I walked the passage.
Each step left bloody footprints.
“He’ll always stand before us. Accept it. He bears our burdens and leads the way...”
I entered the chapel.
Kim Soo-jung, mid-skill on the pulpit, spotted me.
“Everyone, rise. Turn and pay your respects. This is the one who’ll lead us from now on.”
People surged to their feet.
Kim Soo-jung stepped forward and knelt.
One by one, the others followed, as if entranced.
I stood before them, drenched in blood.
A tidal wave of emotions crashed in.
“This is Yi Hyun-nim. Our true savior in this world.”
What the hell had she told them?
The strongest emotion radiating from them was faith.
The thieves, who’d been holding out with multiple knives buried in them, fell to my hand too.
Still no level up.
The dead had levels too low.
Same went for those who’d joined our side.
‘Get everyone to at least base level 10...’
I organized my thoughts as I walked.
Right now, I was heading to the baby mom’s house.
The rest were being handled by the group.
After handing out one meal’s rations, we’d send them back to their spots.
They’d pack personal gear and regroup at the church early tomorrow morning.
‘Still tons of farming to do.’
Clear the northern sector from my house as base.
That area had a big commercial district around the university too.
Couldn’t say for sure till I checked, but monsters there meant handling them and farming in one go.
‘Split into teams to move...’
We’d taken in 13 people this time.
Our numbers tripled overnight.
I’d assess their skills, classes, specialties—then divide them up to move.
“Um, excuse me. Yi Hyun... no, Yi Hyun-nim.”
“Yes.”
I was sorting the schedule based on prior talks with the group when a small voice piped up beside me.
The baby mom.
We’d already reached her place.
“What should I do...”
“Pack your things. You’re coming to my house.”
From her poured fear toward me—and belief.
Not as intense as before, but Kim Soo-jung’s skill had definitely shaken hearts.
I’d asked the auntie.
What she’d said in that short time to get such a reaction.
‘Just the plain facts.’
When people had bowed to me.
The mood then had emotions churning wildly.
Time dulled the vibe, but the ripples lingered.
Varying degrees, but everyone now held positive feelings toward me—faith, respect.
“To Yi Hyun-nim’s house?”
“Yes. Seol-hee will live with us from now on.”
Seong Seol-hee. The baby mom’s name.
Four years older than me—same age as Bo-mi noona.
“Y-yeah... Okay. I’ll pack fast.”
Seol-hee nodded without protest.
She set the baby down in a fluster—right in front of me.
She knew.
Living at my house was special treatment.
“No need for pots and pans. Just leftover food, clothes, essentials.”
“Got it... Baby stuff too?”
“Pack that as well.”
The moment I’d decided to take her in, the baby came with responsibilities.
Up till yesterday, I’d mulled ways to exclude the kid—but her story changed my mind.
‘Said her other family all died.’
Seol-hee’s parents and husband had sacrificed to save her and the baby.
So this kid in front of me was both risk and her final spark to keep fighting.
‘Church cleaning duty... and tons to teach her.’
While Seol-hee bustled about.
I eyed the baby and picked up my earlier thoughts.
Before roaming with people in tow, much to teach.
Our custom hand signals, movement precautions—survival basics to daily stuff like water conservation.
And teaching wasn’t one-way.
Others had their own tricks; I’d learn what I could.
We’d need ongoing talks, pooling all knowledge.
“Yi Hyun-nim. Got a little washbasin at your place?”
“We do.”
“Ah, okay.”
Seol-hee packed while tossing occasional questions my way.
Oddly, the baby hadn’t cried once.
Mild by nature?
Staring right at me, sitting all quiet.
Babbling softly now and then.
“Cut it down as much as I could... Mind a look?”
“We can take it all. Let’s go.”
As expected, barely any food left in the house.
Baby gear made the load hefty anyway.
As I started to rise.
“Mama.”
The quiet baby whimpered at its mom.
“Ah... well.”
Seol-hee glanced my way.
I shot her a what’s-wrong look; she started explaining.
“I breastfed fully till 6 months, then started solids. It’s feeding time now, but no food...”
“Okay.”
“So back to just nursing...”
Still not getting it.
Seol-hee caught on.
“Could you wait a sec while I nurse?”
“Sure.”
Now I got it.
I sat back down.
Two days later. Game on today.
We’d mix the original crew with newbies to punch north.
Not everyone at once.
Morning shift, afternoon shift—two teams.
Rotate to lock down zones and farm.
“Yi Hyun-nim. Hold up.”
Bo-mi noona and I wrapped prep at dawn.
Heading out, Seol-hee trotted from the kitchen.
Tumbler in hand.
“Drink this before you go. Bo-mi too.”
“Ooh, what’s this?”
“Soy milk with bits and pieces... You’re hungry, right?”
Seol-hee was afternoon shift.
We’d packed quick eats.
She must’ve gotten up early for this.
“Hehe, slurpy~ Thanks! I’m touched.”
“It’s nothing. Compared to what I got...”
Yesterday I’d shown her our pantry ingredients—told her use freely for baby needs.
Secured stocks included dried veg, beans, grains.
She’d lit up at the food stash.
“Kyaa, filling! Tasty.”
“Drank up nice.”
Her drink was thick like misutgaru powder.
Chewy bits too.
Noona and I finished; she took the empties.
“Stay safe.”
We left the front door under her send-off.
Bo-mi noona grabbed Seol-hee’s hand, swung it bye-bye style.
They’d bonded quick in a day.
“Hyungnim, sleep well?”
“Yeah. All set?”
“Yep.”
Out in the yard, Ho-seop greeted us.
Uncle Jang-su was tying Chairman Park to the cart.
Ho-seop’s family, Yu-na’s.
Four folks shifted next door.
My house now: Bo-mi noona and Seol-hee’s crew.
“Let’s move.”
Off to the church.
People already gathered.
Yesterday flew by in frenzy.
Had them clear church corpses themselves.
Cleaned up, shaped living space; Jang Ho-seop cataloged details.
Church as base till we pick a move spot.
“You’re here.”
Quick trip to church.
Yu-na and Kim Soo-jung waited in the yard.
Morning shift folks behind the two women.
“Prep complete.”
“Good work.”
Yu-na and Kim Soo-jung: afternoon shift.
Still, they’d beaten us out—to buff the group with auntie’s skill.
‘No hesitation means way higher survival odds.’
They’d passed the test: stabbing a living body.
But monster presence could make ’em flinch instinctive.
Monster bites one arm? Cut its throat with the other.
Auntie’s skill greased that.
“Then we’re off.”
Smooth rollout.
People formed ranks on Jang Ho-seop’s call.
“Um, hey.”
We were set to head opposite the usual hill path.
One guy raised his hand.
“Uh... My wife’s in the other team. Any chance to switch?”
No stragglers so far.
They’d followed better than expected.
I scowled.
Jang Ho-seop clocked my face, headed to the guy.