Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Cart People
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Two days had passed since dealing with the prisoners at Yongsan Station.
In the meantime, Seol-hee and I had cleared one emergency gate together.
This gate had taken a bit longer than usual.
We'd received a mission to accompany some locals on their journey, and it involved nothing but walking the whole way before we finally emerged.
It wasn't particularly difficult, just time-consuming.
But there was one thing bothering me.
"Noona."
"Yeah?"
We were having a late breakfast, getting ready to head out.
"About Seol-hee."
"Yeah, yeah. What about her?"
"Is something going on?"
"Hmm... not sure?"
What was bothering me was Seol-hee.
Her emotions toward me had felt off throughout the entire gate clear.
"She seemed anxious the whole time in the gate. And there was a lot of sadness too."
"Really? Wasn't it just because of the gate?"
"She wasn't like that before."
"Oh... yeah, anxiety makes sense, but sadness is weird."
Another emotion that had grown was her trust in me.
I could understand that—it stemmed from what I'd shown while handling the Yongsan Station prisoners.
But the directions of these growing emotions didn't align.
"Seol-hee's almost level 20 now. Her levels are going up smoothly, so why the anxiety?"
"Who knows. But Hyun-ah... levels aren't everything."
"They're not, but when you're about to hit 20, you should be excited and happy, right?"
I chatted with Bom noona while gearing up.
I grabbed my shortened club.
I was still using the one with the end chopped off.
The shifted balance was annoying, but I hadn't found a replacement this sturdy yet.
"I asked her if something was wrong, but she just said she was fine."
"Got it... I'll talk to her later."
Bom noona decided to carve out some time after I got back from today's gate.
"Alright, I'm off. Don't come to see me out—get ready yourself, noona."
"Okay! Be safe!"
Bom noona gave me a kiss.
As I stepped out of the master bedroom, Seol-hee was already ready, waiting in the living room.
'Still the same.'
I'd thought seeing Hye-rin might help a little.
But Seol-hee's emotions were still dominated by anxiety and sadness.
Her condition looked fine otherwise, so we headed out together.
We went down to the lobby and got supplies from the support team.
"This is plain water, and this is honey water. We'll mark the spouts by color from now on so you can tell them apart..."
I could now bring water and food through gates.
I used bags made from monster hides, wrapping them once more in my mana.
Surprisingly, the contents passed through intact.
Just like the System rewarding us with items.
'Wish my mana covering range was bigger.'
Releasing mana strongly outward to envelop something was called mana covering.
It was a term we'd made up.
You could cover weapons or your body with it.
But even with the same amount of mana, results varied by material.
Some conducted mana well; others rejected it entirely.
For example, my club conducted well, but the supply bags didn't.
That's why I only took small pouches with minimal food, not big backpacks.
'Hm?'
As we were nearly done preparing,
I sensed a presence rapidly approaching from outside the main building.
"Hyungnim."
It was Ho-seop.
Jang Ho-seop spotted me after passing the main gate and came running straight over.
He'd headed out early for northern scouting.
It was a trip outside Samira's influence zone, so his early return meant something had come up.
"People came down from the north."
"People?"
"Yes. We met them in the influence zone—nearly 40 of them."
"Where in the zone? Tell me details."
A group had been moving south from the north.
Samira's zone lay in their path, and Ho-seop had met them near the northern boundary.
"So they weren't targeting us?"
"No. I confirmed with Lie Detection too."
"Where were they headed?"
"Nowhere specific. Monsters overwhelmed them..."
They'd secured an area and survived there initially.
But invading monsters increased daily, foraging grew harder, so they started migrating.
In short, wanderers who stumbled into our zone by chance.
"They're still there?"
"Yes. We held them."
Until now, we'd found hidden survivors during zone securing.
This was the first large influx from outside.
"Their leader was cooperative. Didn't feel right to decide alone, so I rushed back."
Ho-seop knew I was heading out a bit late today.
"Good call. Let's go."
"Yes."
After hearing his intel,
I postponed the gate and headed north into the zone with him.
Soon, we met the group resting at a distance from our people.
At first, I thought they were some beggar horde.
The other group totaled 39, mostly men.
I hit them with Target Detection right away.
Concentrating to expand the range, I gauged their emotions and levels.
I'd considered stragglers or hidden folks, but no.
'Awakened: 18... more than expected.'
One Awakened over level 20.
Three in the late teens, rest around 10.
If combat broke out, we'd win easily.
On raw numbers and levels alone, anyway.
"Yi Hyun-nim."
"No trouble?"
Uncle Jang-su stood guard with a menacing axe,
primed to strike at any funny business.
My arrival eased his tension.
Theirs spiked.
They focused on me as Samira members saluted in unison.
"They were holding a meeting among themselves."
"Got it. Let's go."
I strode forward confidently.
The stench grew stronger up close.
And surprisingly,
'Students?'
Half looked like high school boys.
Memories of the Yongsan high schoolers' ambush flashed, but I kept my face neutral.
"Uh... hello."
As I approached, one man stepped forward.
The sole level 20+ Awakened, a bit older than me.
Their rep, probably.
"I'm Choi Min-seong. Sorry for trespassing. It wasn't intentional."
He apologized before I spoke.
Tension dominated his emotions.
'Built like a tank.'
Shorter than me, but naturally burly.
Thick hands, thick neck.
Muscled down now, but still twice Ho-seop's bulk.
"Sai-hyun here. I heard the gist."
En route, I'd decided their fate based on reactions.
"This is Samira territory. You have two options..."
"Samira? R-real?"
I liked his reaction.
Seemed we could skip killing. As I started on our prepared choices, Min-seong startled.
"Yes. Problem?"
"No! Just... is it the Samira from the plaza...?"
His emotions shifted fast.
Tension dropped, joy surged.
Relief too.
"Probably. Ho-seop, no other Samiras in the plaza besides us, right?"
"None. No imposters."
"He says so."
Min-seong eyed me and Ho-seop alternately.
"Ho-seop... Il-kkeok?"
"Oh, yes. Il-kkeok Jang Ho-seop."
Men behind Min-seong buzzed.
"Jang Ho-seop. Plaza Il-kkeok."
"For real? Image doesn't match."
"Ah, that Samira leader?"
"No, not leader. Just an exec."
They murmured about Ho-seop.
Trying to hush, but voices rose anyway.
Like spotting a celebrity.
"Kids, quiet down."
Min-seong turned, calming them.
Then bowed to me again.
"Sorry. Never imagined this was Samira turf."
Confirming reactions, I sensed things would go smoothly.
We'd worked to spread Samira's name in the plaza.
And to paint us as a well-adapted group.
Results showed now.
"Samira has a vertical structure. Know what that means?"
"Yes, of course."
"To become full members, you must prove devotion to Samira. Therefore..."
Min-seong nodded eagerly at my words.
Accepting everything.
"First, personal info. Ho-seop."
"Yes. Everyone, fill out these intros? Students might not have—name, age, family, physicals, specialties, prior job..."
Our people handed out paper and pens.
Identity check for Min-seong's group.
Awakened had to list levels, skills, details.
Min-seong accepted without hesitation.
Like it was already settled.
"Quick decisions, Min-seong."
Ho-seop returned after instructions.
Min-seong's group sat, scribbling on papers.
Ho-seop addressed Min-seong, also writing.
"Yes. It's Samira. My goal is saving people."
"Sure? You're starting as an intern, not leader anymore."
"Doesn't matter. Burden lifted—better this way."
These 39 survivors split into two groups.
First, high school boys from the soccer team.
On Cataclysm day, bus accident during group travel.
Coaches and teachers died early.
Min-seong had helped them then.
He'd led the students and locals this far.
Many died; 39 left.
Leading strangers must've worn him down.
"Um... sir."
"Yes."
"Samira's safe, right?"
"Safe place in this world?"
"Ah..."
Min-seong paused writing, looked up.
Ho-seop glanced at me, chimed in.
"Min-seong, our hyungnim's strong."
"Yeah... figures."
"For real. Way stronger than you imagine. You'll see."
Min-seong stood.
Apologized to me again.
"Really sorry, but... one request?"
"Go ahead."
"I know Samira's prosperous and powerful—from plaza info."
He circled.
"High chance a gate collapsed near our old spot. Or monsters pouring from elsewhere."
"Yes."
"Hate to offend, but..."
He still felt positive toward me.
Then doubt surfaced.
"Want to see Samira's strength. No—misunderstand. I know you're strong. I mean..."
Doubt.
Courteous, cautious, seeking certainty.
"How do we prove that now..."
Ho-seop stepped up again.
I stopped him.
"Choi Min-seong."
"Yes."
"Can't reveal Samira's full power to you precisely."
"Ah... okay."
"Instead, let's do this."
Samira and Min-seong's group weren't equals.
They knew, hence the quick bows.
His doubt didn't irk me.
Legitimate, and his attitude wasn't defiant.
So, a way to resolve: establish hierarchy.
Touching on men's instinctual territory.