Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Samira's Land
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Jang Ho-seop stood on the first floor of the main building.
Half excited, half anxious, he waited for Yi Hyun.
He had finally reached level 20 today.
Now he could upgrade his Spirit Stone and enter the plaza.
'Ah, I can't bring it up.'
To upgrade his Spirit Stone, he needed spare Spirit Stones and Mana Stones.
But all the Spirit Stones and Mana Stones belonged to Yi Hyun.
He had to ask for permission, but ever since Yi Hyun burned down the house, he'd been in a foul mood, so Jang Ho-seop had just been watching his cues.
'Maybe tomorrow... Ah, I really can't hold it in.'
Jang Ho-seop paced back and forth.
There was a reason for his anxiety.
This was Jang Ho-seop's level 20 General Skill.
The moment he acquired the skill, he sensed it.
This General Skill was related to the plaza.
'I should just tell him. This is important.'
Jang Ho-seop had been scolded by Yi Hyun about the plaza before.
Even before the decisive mistake of uploading photos.
That's why he'd been even more cautious, but since the skill was a key element, he leaned toward thinking it would be okay to mention it.
"Son."
"Mom!"
"Hit level 20?"
"Yeah, I did!"
A moment later, Kim Soo-jung came down, dressed to the nines.
Seeing his mom made Jang Ho-seop feel better.
It would be better to go through her than say it himself.
"Mom. So, about that... could you talk to big bro...?"
"Ah, Mr. Yi Hyun is coming down."
Kim Soo-jung cut off her son and rushed to Yi Hyun.
'Wait, why do I feel like she stole my mom?'
Kim Soo-jung spent time in meditation every day and was more influenced by her skills than anyone else.
She still loved her son, but her affection for Yi Hyun had grown just as much.
'Sigh.'
Yi Hyun's original members all moved together.
They left the main building and headed to the annex.
As Jang Ho-seop timed when to speak, Kim Soo-jung took the lead.
"I'm thinking of clearing part of the central garden."
The central garden of the Independence Hall wasn't small.
It was big enough to fit three or four school fields.
"A place for combat prep before heading out? We need a spot like that."
"Hm... For now, clear from there to there and make it empty land for a farming materials depot. Combat prep can share with the annex and the depot land."
Whenever the group raised an issue, Yi Hyun decided quickly.
He rarely deliberated long.
"Manage the rest when we have capacity. People need places to stroll... space to breathe."
"Yes. And right now, the interns are assigned four to a room."
Jang Ho-seop listened to the conversation but couldn't take his eyes off Yi Hyun's face.
He briefly forgot about the plaza.
'I knew he was handsome, but...'
Yi Hyun's looks, refined by Yoon Bom's hands, were that impressive.
Even a man's eyes would admire them.
"Can we give private rooms based on promotions or merits?"
"Sure. If they want, two to a room or separate multi-rooms are fine. Only if they request it. If they find someone they click with, encourage it..."
What Yi Hyun wanted was for people to value this land and those around them.
It was in the same vein as making them feel achievement.
That way, they'd work harder.
"No problem. Even if our forces grow several times bigger, we can handle it."
"Then let's do that. Oh, I'll mention the gates in the opening ceremony speech too."
Yi Hyun's group arrived at the annex.
All eyes focused on Yi Hyun.
'Whoa, everyone's looking at big bro.'
Tall stature, solid build.
And a handsome face.
Jang Ho-seop didn't even feel jealous.
"Sunbae. But why didn't that uncle become a celebrity?"
Yi Hyun headed to the stage.
Lee Yu-na, at the same table, asked Jang Ho-seop.
Jang Ho-seop was surprised by Lee Yu-na again.
Her looks were just as striking as Yi Hyun's.
Enough to take the center spot in a girl group instantly.
"Big bro hates people. Makes sense in a way."
"Ah, right. Yeah. Just a shame. With that face..."
Yi Hyun didn't like standing before crowds.
He was on stage now only because of Kim Soo-jung's earnest request.
And because he felt the need himself.
Thud. Thud.
While the two whispered, Yi Hyun climbed onto the stage.
As he looked down at the crowd, dead silence fell like mice had frozen.
Maybe because of what Yi Hyun had shown so far.
But it wasn't just that.
Yi Hyun had that kind of presence.
An aura that overwhelmed the room poured out.
"Hello. I'm Sai Hyun."
Finally, Yi Hyun spoke his first words.
As Jang Ho-seop felt like his voice was a bit husky,
"Kyaaaa! Oppa!"
"Crazy, who's oppa? Mr. Yi Hyun! Look over here!"
"He's so handsome!"
"Whoa, seriously. Insane..."
Screams like shrieks erupted from the women.
Like how Lee Yu-na had mistaken fear's pounding heart for excitement.
A massive thrill spread among the women gathered here.
Heat built up.
It quickly turned into collective madness.
'Crazy... Did they all do drugs or something?'
Jang Ho-seop looked around in shock.
Yi Hyun waved slowly, shifting his gaze.
Women who met his eyes screamed even louder.
Jang Ho-seop felt overwhelmed.
Crunch.
And beside him came a grinding sound.
"Those bitches..."
It was Lee Yu-na.
Lee Yu-na glared at the women with fiery eyes.
To no avail.
"Hoo, hoo, sunbae-nim? Your teeth might break."
"Don't mind them."
"Ah, yes."
The endless cheers calmed quickly at Yi Hyun's gesture.
"We made it through the move safely. It's an honor to share this moment with you all."
Then Yi Hyun began his speech at a steady, unhurried pace.
About the hardships we faced to reach here.
How much we'd lost.
He laid out the facts plainly.
"But today, we discovered an activated gate. It means the crisis hasn't ended."
The crowd focused on Yi Hyun's words.
In this world where life-threatening dangers were visible.
Since it concerned their own lives, attention came naturally.
"I won't say don't worry. I ask that everyone do their best in their roles."
Because that's the only way to survive even a bit longer.
Our lives were still precarious.
Yi Hyun didn't comfort them with empty words.
"Instead, I promise. I won't abandon you."
Emotions surged through everyone.
An empty promise, but one they had to cling to.
"Because you've already entered my fold. From now on, this land is our home."
That's what Yi Hyun was.
The one person they could rely on.
"From today, we stand together under the name of Samira."
And finally, a name his group heard for the first time came from Yi Hyun's lips.
"You are members living on Samira's land. Devote yourselves to Samira and receive its protection."
Kim Soo-jung had insisted on a specific group name.
Names held meaning beyond mere titles.
Yi Hyun had pondered longer than usual and decided today.
"As long as you don't forsake Samira's name, I'll forever be on your side."
Samira.
The name they'd share from now on.
"We're lucky to be alive. So enjoy this moment. We'll keep living on."
Yi Hyun ended his opening speech.
It wasn't long.
Yet it etched into everyone's minds as surely as if Kim Soo-jung had used a skill.
Grateful to stand by that powerful man's side.
Acknowledged as part of Samira.
"Mom. When did you decide this?"
Yi Hyun stayed on stage, interacting with the crowd like fan service.
Meanwhile, Jang Ho-seop questioned the sudden name with his mom.
"First time I've heard it too. Anyone hear anything?"
Everyone shook their heads.
The group waited for Yi Hyun to return.
"Big bro! Wow... You speak so well."
Yi Hyun returned to the table.
Jang Ho-seop took the lead.
'Mood seems better.'
Yi Hyun sat with a smile.
Seeing it, Jang Ho-seop asked lightly.
"But what's Samira mean? Sounds like we gotta use guns and swords..."
"Huh?"
"Ah, no. Just curious if it has special meaning."
The others looked curious too, waiting for Yi Hyun's answer.
A natural question.
"My mom. Her name was Samira."
"Pardon? Ah... I, I see. Your mother's name... Yes. Beautiful name."
Jang Ho-seop barely managed an awkward reply.
"This way, I'll protect it."
And from Yi Hyun's following words, Jang Ho-seop realized.
Yi Hyun had named it with great resolve.
"From now on, this is my home."
"Yes, big bro. Mine too. This is my home."
41 days had passed since the cataclysm.
That day, they discovered an active gate and gained a new home.
It was early morning.
A yellow gate stood a few steps away.
【Latshilva Outskirts】
[Active/Open Type] [D-25] [0/2]
Over the past five days, I'd investigated gates in my territory.
Thoroughly, and made a gate status board.
As expected, there was more than one active gate.
I found seven active gates, four of which were yellow.
'25 days...'
Through Jang Ho-seop's skill, I'd learned what that number meant.
It indicated time until gate 'collapse'.
Collapse would allow monsters inside to cross over here.
Changing from one-way to two-way passage.
'Is there really a god of Earth or something...'
Divine being or system.
Something was protecting humanity.
Collapse was when that entity lost control over the gate.
"Tight schedule. And we don't even know how long it'll take..."
Green gates were the most common.
But among cleared gates, yellow ones outnumbered them.
And the shortest collapse times were yellow gates.
This 'Latshilva Outskirts' gate before me was the closest to collapse.
"Gotta hustle."
So I was preparing to enter this gate now.
"Big bro. Just in case, should we check once more?"
"Yeah. But why are your eyes so sunken?"
"Well... There was a lot to check in the plaza."
Jang Ho-seop had hit level 20 a few days ago and awakened a new General Skill.
Named 'Channel Scouting'.
With it, he could access plazas in other regions.
And disguise his name and level too.
"Take it easy. Don't drain your mana dry."
"Yes."
All actions in the plaza required Mana Stone energy.
Jang Ho-seop could now substitute his own mana.
That's why he looked like he'd been up all night watching porn.
'Still useful though.'
Info exchanges happened in the plaza too.
Like monster traits or survival tips.
Jang Ho-seop brought back such info.
Thanks to him, we learned of monsters we hadn't encountered yet.
"Recharge your mana or something."
"Ah, no. I'll be fine after sleeping."
"Then check once more and come out."
"Got it!"
One more thing.
He'd gained a special skill too.
From an odd idea.
'Can't Channel Scouting peek inside gates too?'
He'd said that yesterday and loitered near a gate.
Then really awakened a special skill.
Channel Scouting reacted with his Fundamental Skill and evolved into 'Gate Scouting'.
"Same as yesterday. It's a forest."
Jang Ho-seop opened his closed eyes after a few seconds and reported.
He could only scout beyond the gate for about a second.
Not entering physically, but like astral projection.
'Useful guy...'
Still a huge help.
Based on info from his Fundamental Skill and Gate Scouting, we'd concluded it was safe to enter.
"Yu-na. Ready?"
"Yes!"
For the first run, it'd be with Yu-na.
This raid had to succeed.
"Let's go."
Yu-na took my hand.
We stood side by side before the gate.
The system message sounded.
'Yes.'
We were instantly transported elsewhere.
I consciously kept my eyes wide open.
Still felt like I'd blinked.
I opened all my senses fully.
Target Detection too.
As practiced, I quickly scanned surroundings first.
'Huh?'
As I turned my head.
"Ah..."
For the first time in ages, I felt utterly flustered.
Because.
"Kyaa... Mmph."
Cascading black hair and pale flesh filled my view.
'So white...'
I'd scanned very quickly.
So this was just habitual observation.