Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Change and Stability
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I'm used to being alone, and it feels comfortable.
Because of that, I've developed a few habits.
One of them is that I feel at ease only when I handle things myself if I can.
There's also the thought that it's more efficient since if I leave it to others, it ends up coming back to me anyway.
Lately, I've been trying to let go of these habits.
'It hasn't been easy...'
The day we first conquered a gate and returned safely.
During a separate conversation with Jang Ho-seop, I was convinced by him.
My role and the roles of others.
And the direction Samira should head in, and so on.
The conclusion was this.
I can't solve everything with my own strength like I have been.
'There's no need to, either.'
Based on the conversation with Jang Ho-seop, we held another meeting with the group.
Everyone already understood the importance of gate conquests and my role, so specific discussions flowed quickly.
Auntie Soo-jung spread it to the people through her prayer sessions as well.
That all of Samira's strength should be gathered to support me.
As a result, roles were divided much more meticulously than before.
'So all I need to do is let go...'
Now, the important thing is my mindset.
I need to learn to trust others and delegate.
I just need to grasp the core threads.
And these changes are happening both inside and outside the house.
Not just Samira's operations, but efforts are needed inside my home too.
'Hyung-nim, focus on resting as much as possible.'
Jang Ho-seop emphasized my physical and mental rest.
He even formed a separate team for it.
Thanks to that, my life has been really comfortable lately.
Fortunately, Noona Bom-i and Seol-hee have a good grasp of my preferences and tastes.
'There are major projects like day-and-night rice cultivation, but making sure hyung-nim is comfortable is important too.'
While others shower once every few days, I do it morning and night.
Meals aren't just for nutritional survival—they're tailored as much as possible to my tastes.
Even Noona Bom-i and Seol-hee put effort into their appearances so as not to sour my mood.
So it's not just me making an effort—the two women staying in my house are adapting to me too.
"Mi-hye, please put the cleaning tools back in the storage right after using them."
"Ah, I was going to use them again later..."
No, there's one more.
Voices come from outside the bathroom.
It's Seol-hee and Ko Mi-hye, the housekeeper who recently started working at my house.
"Yi Hyun-nim hates seeing things left out. I know it's a hassle, but please."
Seol-hee asks Ko Mi-hye to make the same efforts she does.
Ko Mi-hye was recommended by Seol-hee.
She serves as both housekeeper and babysitter.
"Yes, understood."
"Sorry if it sounds nagging. But we need to be extra attentive for Yi Hyun-nim, so please bear with it."
Their voices fade away.
I finish showering and step out.
Heading to the master bedroom with just a towel around my neck, naked.
"Ah... Hello."
Ko Mi-hye, who's been staying at my house for a few days, lowers her gaze and greets me awkwardly.
I acknowledge her and enter the master bedroom.
'She said she was a professor in the Child Welfare Department.'
Ko Mi-hye is a young 32-year-old professor.
I don't know the specifics, like if she's tenured or not.
What I do know is she's unmarried and childless.
I expected Seol-hee to recommend someone experienced with childcare or housework, but Ko Mi-hye was her top pick.
'Maybe the age gap would make it awkward to give orders to someone older...'
I didn't ask in detail and just hired her.
As long as she doesn't bother me.
So far, she's a bit clumsy but quiet and gets by fine.
Knock knock
"Yi Hyun-nim, may I come in?"
"Yes."
A moment later, Seol-hee knocks and enters the master bedroom.
To help me prepare for gate duty.
"You know tomorrow is Seol-hee's turn, right?"
Seol-hee brings a tray with water and supplements, waiting.
I apply toner and lotion, then take my morning vitamins.
On the dresser, the clothes for today are neatly laid out.
Underwear suitable for passing through the gate and monster leather liner.
"Yes. Thank you for preparing it first."
As I take the medicine, Seol-hee hands me the underwear.
I converse naturally while receiving her assistance.
'I got used to this kind of thing quickly.'
I wander around naked when washing up.
Even with eyes watching.
I hate taking clothes off and putting them back on in the bathroom.
I'm living exactly like when I was alone.
No shame, and no need to consider them.
"And thank you for preparing the gear too."
"Did you receive it?"
"Yes. Laundry's all done... Everything's ready."
Finally, Seol-hee helps with donning the various gear.
We finish preparing amid small talk.
"Then have a safe trip today as always."
"Yes. You have a good day too, Seol-hee."
I leave the house with the two women seeing me off.
A week has passed since we conquered the first gate.
I've been going to the gate without fail every day.
In that time, I took my companions into the gate one by one.
Everyone reached level 20, with Noona Bom-i last.
'Now it's the villagers' turn.'
Jang Ho-seop is level 21.
No need to take him into the gate.
So I planned to start with the villagers from Seol-hee.
Then those in combat-related roles.
"Hyung-nim! Ahem! How do I look?"
As I come down to the lobby, Jang Ho-seop strikes a weird pose in front of me, beaming excitedly.
He's wearing a monster leather mask over his face and bandages around his ankles.
'Skipping over me... This is discrimination!'
When I told Jang Ho-seop he didn't need to go into the gate, he got really sulky.
Insisting he wanted to go in too.
When others fear the gates.
"What's with that?"
"Don't I look cool?"
"Why'd you cover one eye? Use the protector properly."
I'll have to take Jang Ho-seop today since there's no helping it.
He needs the experience once.
The problem is he's way too hyped.
Today's gate has a two-person entry limit, so I have to control him alone.
'He wasn't this talkative at first... Or was he?'
I need to calm down the overly excited Jang Ho-seop.
And I thought of the perfect way to do it.
"You at the plaza yesterday..."
"Eek? You saw the plaza?"
Just mentioning "plaza" makes Jang Ho-seop shrink back preemptively.
Definite effect.
"I told you to post info in Samira's name... Why are you fighting with people in the comments?"
Jang Ho-seop has been posting various info on the plaza.
About monsters, gates, survival knowledge, etc.
Of course, only pre-selected info from our meetings.
So other survivors don't die pointlessly.
"Those clueless guys kept picking fights, so I couldn't help it..."
Jang Ho-seop can use the plaza without mana stones.
And I've given him some freedom.
In his words, for "community antics."
From what he told me, he creates fake personas and pulls all sorts of pranks.
That's how he relieves stress.
"You slept properly, right?"
"Of course! Obviously! What day is today?"
Jang Ho-seop seems a bit calmer, so we head to the gate.
"Put the protector on right while I'm asking nicely."
"That's... uh... Yes."
Among the protectors I brought back from gates, there's no band-style like that.
It doesn't properly cover the crown or occiput—what's the point?
'Whatever... Let's just go.'
So far, I've closed a total of seven yellow gates.
One per day after the first.
All open-type, and the first gate had the highest difficulty.
The space beyond gates is still unknown, but I've cautiously concluded.
I can conquer yellow gates easily.
We enter the gate with Jang Ho-seop.
I scan the surroundings and check the system message.
Gate missions vary.
Some are reconnaissance of certain areas, others end with killing specific monsters.
The gates I entered with the others mostly gave simple missions like that, and we finished quickly.
Low difficulty too.
"Ooh... Quest window."
Jang Ho-seop mutters under his breath.
While scanning around with his eyes.
This gate feels similar to the first one.
Need to find locals and talk first.
'Over there maybe... Time limit's short too.'
As Jang Ho-seop scouted before entry, the surroundings are a rocky mountain area.
We're on a trail, and at the end of it sits a small cabin.
"But why's no one else here?"
"There might not be. Let's check that house."
"Wait... What about fateful encounters in the gate? Can't we seek out a proper meeting..."
I ignore his nonsense and start walking.
At that moment.
Rustle
The sound of dry ground being stepped on.
Suddenly, Target Detection picks up two unfamiliar presences.
I whirl around immediately.
Raising my club.
"Eek?"
Jang Ho-seop startles.
'20, 20.'
Two naked men appear.
Both around level 20, Middle Eastern-looking.
'Did they enter after hitting 20?'
Jang Ho-seop quickly draws a knife made from monster bone and eyes them warily.
Then, extending one hand forward, he speaks cautiously.
"Hold on... Uh, what was it?"
Out of habit, I leave the talking to Jang Ho-seop.
Ready to charge anytime.
"Ah! Allahu Akbar!"
A brief silence flows.
Then both men move at once.
Thud
One bends to pick up a large stone from the path.
The other backpedals while extending a hand toward me.
I swing my club almost simultaneously with them.
Crack
The moment I split the back of the bending man's head like a watermelon, diagonal detection triggers.
I tilt my head sideways.
Shiiiing
A sharp sound grazes past my ear.
I rotate my body in the direction of my swung arm and hurl the club.
Thwack!
My club flies straight and smashes the distancing man's face.
Thud
The man collapses with his nose crushed.
I rush in and stomp his skull.
Both dead.
"Hyung-nim, killing them out of nowhere..."
Jang Ho-seop says something ridiculous.
This is all because of him.
"I told you it's fine to just talk in the gate."
"Huh? Oh, right. Yeah. Forgot."
"What did you even say? They moved first."
"Really?"
Jang Ho-seop thought I attacked first.
Probably mistook due to my quick reaction.
"I don't even know what it meant... Just something I picked up somewhere."
Water under the bridge now.
"They're weird too. Why charge without hearing us out?"
I pick up my club and use Mana Stone Extraction a bit away from Jang Ho-seop.
"Eh?"
Then another person appears.
This time one, a woman.
She materializes naked right in front of Jang Ho-seop.
"Urk?!"
Jang Ho-seop startles even more than before.
He swings his fist immediately.
Thud
The woman, upon crossing the gate, takes a hit to the lower jaw from Jang Ho-seop's fist and passes out.
She collapses in an unsightly sprawl, legs spread.
"Hyung-nim!"
Jang Ho-seop runs to me, face red, fleeing.
"Are gates always like this? What is this, a horror game?"
Not a smooth start.
I felt it was all Jang Ho-seop's fault.
We arrive at the cabin.
As expected, someone's inside.
Knock knock knock
Crash clang
Upon knocking, something falls inside.
"Come in!"
A moment later, a gruff male voice.
With permission, I open the door and enter.
And what greets us isn't human.
"Oh... A dwarf?"
"First dwarf you've seen?"
The dwarf snaps curtly at Jang Ho-seop's mutter.
"Sit anywhere. Look at me."
"Ah, yes."
He's a disheveled mess with a bushy beard.
He introduces himself as Pango Mulcrude.
Jang Ho-seop talks with him.
"Three won't cut it. Wait."
"Until when?"
"How should I know?"
Pango's conclusion somehow reminds me of the first gate.