Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Cart People
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I proposed a spar to Choi Min-seong.
He readily agreed.
'I wonder what his skill is.'
I hadn't seen the self-introduction he wrote.
We both knew nothing about each other.
That made it all the more exciting.
With skills as such a wild variable, adaptability was key.
"Thank you for granting my request."
Choi Min-seong's eyes sparkled as he spoke.
He knew it too.
This spar was the answer to his doubts.
"How about the rules...?"
"Give it everything you've got."
At my curt reply, Choi Min-seong's eyebrow twitched.
But he didn't argue, simply raising both hands.
Empty hands.
I'd handed my club to Jang Ho-seop as well.
"Feel free to use a weapon. I don't really use them anyway."
"I'm good. Let's begin."
Choi Min-seong's first impression was of a polite and cautious man.
Having led his group this far, he must have leadership and decisiveness too.
Now, I sensed something new from him.
Fighting spirit.
Seeing I wasn't armed, he seemed determined to win.
"Hoo..."
One deep breath to shake off the tension.
Then he alternated tapping his feet.
Like a ritual.
'He must have their full trust.'
His group watched him in tense silence.
No words, but their eyes burned with hope for their leader's victory.
They believed it possible.
I'd shatter that.
They were only thinking of Samira's collective strength right now.
So my job was to show them an overwhelming gap.
Choi Min-seong probably wanted that too.
Swoosh.
It felt good to stand in the ring again after so long.
We faced off in the circular ring formed by the crowd.
I raised my guard; he extended his hands slightly forward.
'Judo? No...'
Choi Min-seong didn't charge recklessly, circling sideways bit by bit.
He moved like a massive, blocky boulder.
I closed in with natural steps.
Whoosh!
I threw a light jab.
The distance was a touch short, but it didn't matter.
This was to gauge his reaction.
Thud!
But Choi Min-seong dropped his upper body and rushed me straight on.
Aiming for my lower half.
'What to do.'
He was pretty fast in his own right.
Over level 20, after all.
But it was clear as day to me.
I even had time to think.
How could I subdue him while leaving a strong impression?
'Huh?'
Suddenly, magic resistance triggered.
For an instant, I felt my body pulled toward him.
Choi Min-seong had used his skill.
I could sense his panic as things didn't go as planned.
Regardless, he lunged with all his might, as if grabbing me was all that mattered.
Whoosh!
I briefly considered kneeing his head.
But that risked hurting him badly, so I held back.
Instead, I swiftly retreated, lowering my stance.
I swung one hand down, chopping his forearm.
Bam!
"Guhhh."
The massive impact sent Choi Min-seong tumbling.
Even as he fell, he swung one arm to grab my ankle.
I dodged, of course.
"What was that?"
"Couldn't see it clearly."
"He dodged Min-seong hyung's tackle and smashed his forearm with a fist."
I stepped back a bit and waited for him to stand.
'Probably cracked the bone...'
Choi Min-seong's eyes still burned with fight.
I told him once more.
"Give it everything. No regrets."
"Yes."
He charged again.
Utterly reckless.
Choi Min-seong lay on the ground.
His fellow Awakeners too.
"Hyungnim. Weren't you a bit too rough?"
"Was I?"
"Yeah. Looked like you were bullying Choi Min-seong."
Choi Min-seong hadn't been a match for me at all.
Later, I even let him grab me as he wanted, but he still couldn't do a thing.
With both his wrists pinned in one hand, he just took the hits powerlessly.
"Aside from that first forearm strike, I controlled my strength fine. Nothing's broken, right?"
"Th-that's not the issue, is it?"
I'd toyed with Choi Min-seong like a child while beckoning the other Awakeners too.
Come at me together.
They all ended up beaten amicably and lost the will to fight.
"Just to be safe, check their conditions. Anyone badly hurt?"
"On it."
Jang Ho-seop checked Choi Min-seong's group with a few others.
No serious injuries.
"Whoa... How'd they all get bruises only on their right eyes?"
"Yi Hyun-nim did it on purpose, I think."
I felt great.
These guys were tougher than orcs.
And sturdy enough to take a solid hit.
"Um... You okay?"
"Ngh. I'm fine... Ah, no, I'm not."
Choi Min-seong struggled up with Jang Ho-seop's support.
Then he approached me right away.
"Thank you. It must've been a hassle... My face is burning with embarrassment at how pathetic I was."
He bowed deeply before me.
It hadn't been a hassle.
A quick warmup, and I'd convinced all these people.
"You're on a whole other level. I had no idea you'd be this strong."
I sensed his emotions.
Choi Min-seong was happy.
"Samira seems like the safest place I've seen."
"Glad it answered your question."
"Ahem... Yes."
But he was worried too, even as he rejoiced.
After hesitating, Choi Min-seong dropped to his knees before me.
"I want to join Samira fully. Please accept us."
I'd given him two options.
One: intern at Samira.
Two: build a base at a location we designated.
Choi Min-seong wanted full integration into Samira.
"You might see me as lacking, sir... but I'll do anything you ask, work hard at it."
Our spar had been a mutual test.
He feared I'd be disappointed and cast them out.
"Choi Min-seong."
"Yes."
"We'll go to Samira. Keep your promise."
"Thank you!"
Choi Min-seong stood with a bright smile.
One arm badly swollen.
"We're heading to Samira, everyone. You've all suffered because of my shortcomings until now."
I waited as he talked with his people.
"Min-seong hyung. So what's that hyungnim's level anyway?"
"Right? Couldn't even see it... Some skill?"
"And the strength was insane too? Canceling skills like nothing."
"No idea. Can't gauge it. Anyway, we gotta stick tight to Samira, so everyone be polite always..."
A group of young, healthy folks had rolled right in.
From their emotions and words, they'd listen well.
'No clue how committed they are... but time will sort the rest.'
I didn't know how they'd survived till now.
Choi Min-seong's resolve had made absorption smooth.
Now it was up to them.
Samira already had a solid system.
The mindset of existing members had changed too.
They'd be split up, assimilate, or get pushed out.
"Hyungnim. All sorted."
"Yeah, let's head back. You handle basic training with aunty and these folks... Send someone else for north scouting."
"Got it. Mind if I chat with Choi Min-seong on the way?"
On the way back to Samira's land.
Jang Ho-seop approached Choi Min-seong with my okay.
"Choi Min-seong."
"Yes."
"Got a question. Ah, your group probably has tons too, but you'll learn in training..."
Choi Min-seong kept a respectful attitude toward Jang Ho-seop too.
Didn't care about age.
"What made you surrender like this without knowing what work we'd assign? Ah, bad wording..."
"It's fine."
"Anyway, all you knew about Samira was from the square, right?"
I felt everyone focusing on their talk.
"I got requests from so many. Soccer team kids too... Lots lost precious people."
"Yes."
"Had to save them... That's why I came. Survival first, nothing else matters."
His answer hushed the crowd solemnly.
It felt right to me.
"And we had no other choice anyway."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Teacher—no, the choice was always Yi Hyun-nim's. I just begged mercy from the strong."
This time Jang Ho-seop nodded.
"True. But some still don't get it."
"Huh? Who...?"
"Maybe the skills... So many've rushed hyungnim."
Choi Min-seong looked shocked, like really?
"Doesn't make sense. Skills aren't exclusive. Without humility and manners, your head gets cracked—why...?"
"Right? Think they're stronger?"
"Even before skills, strong people existed. One way or another. Unless it's outright enmity..."
Among those who'd died by my hand, many acted above their station.
They tried bending my terms and standards for their greed.
"Those all died by hyungnim's hand. That's how Samira was built."
"Ah... Yes. I understand."
"Oh? Cool?"
"Yeah. Didn't think we'd lack that resolve. We've only got our lives left. Survive first, then the rest."
Hearing Jang Ho-seop and Choi Min-seong talk felt refreshing.
Been too long since a type like him.
If Kang Hye-seon had acknowledged my standards and stepped back, Choi Min-seong willingly entrusted everything to them.
So no one got hurt this time.
Choi Min-seong was right.
We'd conquered the last emergency gate and returned.
It took a full day this time; back at Samira, it was late afternoon.
Now, over a month without emergency gates.
"Hyungnim. Shouldn't you rest?"
"I'm good. Ah, how're the newbies?"
Main building conference room.
Gathered the core group; Jang Ho-seop arrived first.
"Split 'em up and assigned as you said."
Samira interns handle various tasks as needed.
External Activity Division doesn't mean patrolling daily.
Work-wise, sure, but off-duty life is like the military.
Separate quarters by gender, strict rules.
"They joined self-cultivation too... Reactions were good."
"Yeah?"
"Yes. Talked to the goalkeeper kid... Loves it. Showers, fresh clothes..."
Newbies adapting fast after one day.
Samira's lifestyle shocked them.
"Yi Hyun-nim. No injuries?"
"No. All good. Ah, Seol-hee hit 20. Gate rewards..."
As I chatted with Jang Ho-seop, the rest trickled in.
Briefed on the gate, then to the main agenda.
"Ho-seop. Start us off."
"Yes. One sec."
Jang Ho-seop stepped forward.
Dragged a board from the corner.
Put on rimless glasses too.
Big paper instead of chalkboard.
About a meter square.
"Prepared some materials. Guess they did presentations and classes like this back then."
Handwritten text on the large paper.
His presentation slides.
"Ahem. Presentation starting. Applause?"
The group clapped.
"The emergency gate lull begins. Thanks to Yi Hyun hyungnim's efforts..."
I could tell he'd worked hard, but the intro dragged.
"What's key to expanding Samira? We need survivors."
Good, into the meat before I frowned.
"Finding survivors one by one has limits. So we brainstormed ways to draw them to us."
Jang Ho-seop flipped the board paper.
Revealing a boldly written project name.
"Cart People Project. Launching now."
He'd really put in his own time.
Under the eight-letter title, a drawing.
People pushing shopping carts from a mart, heading to Samira.