Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: To the North
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I don't know much about the situation to the north of my house.
That said, since the house sits at the top of a hill, I could roughly make out a few paths with the naked eye.
I've spotted goblins wandering around in relatively close spots before.
Near the main road, I even confirmed a cluster of a few gnolls.
There were people there too, though.
The northern neighborhood is incredibly convoluted.
A mix of old buildings and new constructions, villas, officetels, and other residential facilities.
Convenience stores, laundromats, and other amenities, plus guesthouses.
Even random cafes and wine bars that feel out of place.
It's a gentle hillside terrain overrun with all sorts of buildings crammed together.
Narrow roads spiderweb through the gaps between them.
Because of the geography, it seems the factions haven't coalesced into large groups but are splintered into smaller ones instead.
That's just my guess, of course.
How long will it take to carve a path through...
We have to push through this tangled complex that even buses can't enter.
Once we reach the main road, we can figure out the next steps.
So the plan is to establish footholds and secure the necessary areas step by step.
It'll also let people level up and farm, which is the goal.
Starting with the closest zones means short travel distances for now.
Which is why I figured we could run two teams: one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
"I'm uneasy leaving my wife alone..."
The morning team heads out at dawn and returns around lunchtime.
I thought we'd set off smoothly, but one guy raised his hand with a request.
"Uh... Im Sang-sik, right?"
"Yes, that's me."
Jang Ho-seop approached the man to talk.
I stayed back and just waited quietly.
"The team assignments were made considering everyone's skills."
"Yeah, I heard the explanation... but I suddenly got anxious. Sorry."
He looks at least ten years older than me.
He spoke to Jang Ho-seop politely.
"Sang-sik, I'm in a different team from my mom too. You know that, right?"
"Oh... yeah."
"Everyone else is the same. Families got split up."
Im Sang-sik isn't trying to make a fuss.
He's genuinely worried.
"That's why we grouped you this way. For contingencies."
"Huh? What do you mean..."
"If something overwhelming happens, at least one should survive."
A white lie slipped from Jang Ho-seop's mouth.
Well, not entirely false, but that's not the real intent.
Split up the close ones.
That's what I said yesterday.
I judged it more efficient that way.
"Im Sang-sik."
He shut his mouth after hearing Jang Ho-seop out.
Then Kim Soo-jung stepped forward.
"I told you yesterday, didn't I?"
"Yes?"
"We're not here to babysit you."
Her face smiles, but her voice is firm.
"We're giving you a chance. Even if it's uncomfortable now, you need to tough it out and make the most of it."
"Ah..."
"That way, you'll get more benefits later. The church is just temporary. Once we secure stable housing, personal space and..."
The gist is this:
Stop whining.
And it's not just for Im Sang-sik.
Kim Soo-jung glanced around at everyone before wrapping up her advice.
"Yes. I'll do my best. Sorry."
Im Sang-sik bowed repeatedly to Kim Soo-jung and Ho-seop.
Then he apologized to me too.
With that minor hiccup, we began the first scouting run.
The area-clearing op went smoothly yet creakily at the same time.
"Hold the formation! Don't break out in excitement!"
We hadn't been out ten minutes before running into goblins.
Outnumbered them, so we easily took down the small group and pressed on.
Now, for the first time, we'd hit a goblin pack over ten strong.
"Check your surroundings! No, watch your flanks!"
More than ten, but a number Ho-seop or Uncle Jang-su could handle solo.
No need for me to step in.
They had that much combat experience, enough to scan around and control the group.
Plus, Kim Soo-jung's words before departure must've lit a fire.
Everyone fought with real enthusiasm.
So things flowed well.
I just handled mana stone extraction.
"Phew. Anyone hurt?"
After the brief skirmish.
Jang Ho-seop checked on the group's safety.
A woman raised her hand.
"Yes. Where?"
"My arm here..."
"Ah... not like that."
The woman grimaced and thrust out her pale forearm.
A slight scratch.
Ho-seop didn't even flinch when a goblin bit him...
And it wasn't just Ho-seop.
The others endured their own discomforts quietly.
Me too.
"Ugh! That scared me."
Shortly after resuming, a guy yelped in surprise.
The others tensed up, scanning around.
"What? What's wrong?"
"Sorry. Cockroach..."
"Hey, you can't just yell like that."
Jang Ho-seop scolded the man.
We'd specifically warned yesterday: keep quiet in unsecured areas.
Is it because there are so many people?
These petty frictions kept cropping up.
One person's slip-up feels minor, but with the whole group, it's constant.
Overall smooth, but something kept snagging.
"Hyung-nim. What now?"
After minor scraps, the sun had climbed high.
We'd reached the pre-set point, and Jang Ho-seop asked my take.
It was the first time I’d spoken since setting out.
"Short break, then farm."
"Got it."
At his call for rest, people plopped down right there.
Clashing head-on with big goblin groups must've worn them.
"No, don't lie down. Sit and rest."
First time out, probably.
"Don't chug the water. Sip it."
First time...
"Hey? Eyes open! Uncle, why are you suddenly taking off your shoes..."
Jang Ho-seop patrolled without resting, watching everyone.
Uncle Jang-su, polishing his weapon quietly beside me, muttered.
"Damn... so many weaklings."
He barely swallowed the curse in front of me.
I returned safely with the morning team.
One outing made it crystal clear.
My original crew was exceptional.
"Felt like tension was a bit low."
"Yeah, same here."
People tried hard, sure.
But with a safety net, no desperation.
We'd survived the same cataclysm, same time, but our ways differed.
Some are good, surprisingly...
Im Sang-sik held up better outside than most.
But the standouts were the ones who slipped up occasionally over the steady performers.
The overall vibe seemed swayed by them too.
"What if hyung-nim steps up?"
"Me?"
"Yeah. Truth is, we were a little tense around you too."
Back at the church, sorting farmed goods.
Jang Ho-seop made an unexpected pitch.
"Me, Yu-na, Uncle Jang-su—we've all had shocking experiences with you."
I'd never meant to tense them up.
There were reasons, and they were efficient.
"Got it. I'll handle it."
"Huh?"
He startled at my agreement.
Ho-seop seemed fine, so I'd hung back, but if it's too much, I can do it my way.
"N-no, hyung-nim. We'll manage."
"Why?"
Why the backpedal?
I stared at Jang Ho-seop.
"Uh... well. Feels like you'd kill us all if we messed up."
"Kill who? Me?"
"Huh? Yeah."
Not my intent at all.
I figured they'd listen better, having seen me at the church.
"You said you were tense around me too. So."
"Ah... yeah. Messengers are key, huh..."
"What?"
"N-nothing. I'll try harder."
Finished sorting at the church and headed home.
Lunch with the crew, then prepped for the afternoon team.
This time, Spring-noona stays home; I go with Seol-hee.
"Spring, take care."
"Yep! Everything's prepped; nothing for me to do."
Seol-hee was fully geared for afternoon farming.
Prepped meals with Soo-jung, even made instructions for Spring-noona on baby duty.
Her eyes burned different.
Determination to level up no matter what.
Like vowing to secure food for her kid.
In the end, it's all about the person...
Afternoon mirrored morning.
Some aced it smoothly; others fumbled often.
Some slacked by; others overflowed with zeal.
Thus ended day one of the northbound project.
"Think we should start tiered rewards now."
"Yes. Cut minimum rations."
"Extra water for whoever found spirit stones today?"
Gathered at my house for debrief.
Crew felt the same.
"What if we name groups like a company and add ranks?"
"Company?"
"Builds belonging, motivation..."
Ho-seop and Soo-jung led discussions.
Crew suggested; I decided.
Included Seol-hee this time.
She earned special treatment.
"Tiered rewards first. Need criteria..."
They have rough edges, like us.
Trial and error it is.
"Oh, Yi Hyun. One more proposal. Start this right away."
Nearing end.
Kim Soo-jung raised another item.
"What if I use my skill on everyone at night?"
Like with Uncle Jang-su, but group-wide.
She has the General Skill "Speech."
"People need... ah! More mind training."
"Mind training?"
"Yeah. Mental discipline? Under that banner. Mandatory, of course."
Asked if less rest was okay.
She said no issue.
"They lack faith in us. My rest isn't priority."
"Alright... do as you want."
"Thank you."
Her eyes widened, looking up clear and unwavering.
"Since you approved, starting tonight. Let's go."
"Huh? Me too?"
"Of course your son too. And Jang-su. No skipping."
I don't feel fear.
"Seol-hee, join if you can. Not forcing."
"Yes, got it."
"No, Mom. Why me? Then what about Spring-noona and Yu-na?"
"They're fine. Quit yapping and lead."
But seeing Soo-jung's eyes, I thought, Is this what unease feels like?
Petty creaks aside, our plan progressed steadily.
Individual differences, but people grew adept, levels rose.
Then one day.
A new post appeared on the square after ages.
I was about to call Jang Ho-seop.
It wasn't by him—someone else.
"Hyung-nim!"
But he showed up first.
"Yeah. Was gonna call you."
"Huh? Something up?"
"You first. Seems urgent."
Troubled look.
"Not super urgent, but... tricky for me to handle."
"What?"
We'd felt the new thirteen lacked tension, urgency.
"Fight broke out at the church."
A chance to enforce discipline.