Euljiro Tool Street (1)
"Well then, shall we head to our next destination?"
"Where to?"
"You'll see once we get there," I replied smoothly, pressing down on the accelerator.
The morning sun had fully crested the horizon, washing the cracked asphalt in pale gold. Any lingering trace of the Abyss Species that had hounded us throughout the dark hours dissolved into nothingness alongside the dawn. When Seo Hyun kept looking over at me with bright, inquisitive eyes, a quiet chuckle slipped past my lips.
"I'm planning to head toward the tool street around Euljiro and Cheonggyecheon."
"The tool street? Considering your abilities, Ido-ssi, that certainly sounds like the place with the most to offer."
"Exactly. The hand tools we brought along won't cut it for what comes next."
Leaning forward from the back seat, Seo Seol chimed in with a curious tilt of her head.
"Are we heading straight there right now?"
"No. Before that, we'll stop by an outlying highway rest stop to recharge first."
I cut the wheel, steering the truck toward the ramp leading to the highway tollgate. There was a very deliberate reason I wasn't rushing headlong into the tool district.
"Euljiro Tool Street isn't just a goldmine for someone with my crafting ability; it's packed with essentials necessary for everyday survival."
"Which means other people are likely targeting it as well."
"Bullseye. Just like what happened at Ilhwa Women's University, there's a very high chance that place has already fallen under the thumb of some powerful bastards."
A slight stiffness crept into both sisters' expressions at my words. The memory of the Dictator's brutal reign from the previous night was still far too fresh in their minds. I offered an easy smile to dispel the gloom.
"That's why tonight, I intend to go out of my way to hunt the Abyss Species."
"Hunt? You mean deliberately fight the monsters?"
"Yeah. We need to harvest a mountain of cores, properly upgrade our weapons and armor, and only then set foot in the tool street. That's how we minimize the risks."
Hearing the plan, Seo Hyun gave a resolute nod and tightened her grip into a small fist.
"Understood. I'll make sure to be your reliable shield during the hunt, Ido-ssi!"
We continued chatting as the truck rolled down the deserted highway. Before long, my beat-up truck pulled into a quiet, secluded roadside stop on the outskirts. I eased into a corner of the parking lot and killed the engine.
The entire plaza was eerily still. Aside from the dry rustle of garbage bags tumbling across the pavement in the breeze, there was no sign of human presence whatsoever.
"It's almost too quiet. To think there isn't a single survivor in a place this big... it feels strange."
Seo Hyun took her dark industrial saw in hand, slipping into a low, combat-ready posture. I slung my tacker gun over my shoulder, scanned the perimeter, and hopped down from the cab.
In an apocalypse where food, clothing, and shelter dictated survival, finding a massive rest stop completely untouched seemed bizarre. Yet, turning the circumstances over in my mind, it made sense.
"It's only been a few days since the world went to hell."
"So you mean people haven't worked up the courage to venture outside yet?"
"Most likely. Everyone's probably cooped up inside downtown buildings, trembling in fear. They wouldn't have the luxury or the means to come raid a rest stop this far out."
For us, it was nothing short of a miracle.
Keeping our guard up, we cleared through the convenience store and the food court one by one. Fortunately, there were neither tracks of the Abyss Species nor signs of hostile survivors. The shelves remained neatly stocked with non-perishable food and essential household goods.
"Let's pack the bottled water and canned goods first. Gather up every single over-the-counter medicine you see, too."
"Seol-ah, stick right behind me so you don't get hurt. Just hold the bags open, okay?"
"Unnie, really... do you think I'm still a baby?"
"Of course! You're my adorable little baby, pfft."
"Oh, please!"
So this is what having sisters is like, huh?
Having grown up as an only child and lived on my own for so long, this warm, familial banter felt somewhat foreign, yet remarkably comforting. We swept up supplies in bulk, shuttling load after load into the truck bed. It was a bountiful harvest—more than enough to ensure we wouldn't have to worry about food for quite some time.
Once our scavenging was mostly wrapped up, Seo Seol peeked into the restaurant kitchen and called over to me.
"Ido Oppa, the gas line in the kitchen is still working, and there are quite a few ingredients left over!"
Hearing her naturally call me 'Oppa' caught me off guard for a second. She truly possessed an easygoing, remarkably friendly charm.
"Oh, excellent! Does that mean we finally get to witness your ability in action, Seol-ssi?"
"Fufufu, I'll whip up something hearty to fill you both up, so please sit down and rest for a bit."
Seo Seol rolled up her sleeves and stepped briskly into the kitchen. With practiced ease, she prepped instant ramen and canned ham gathered from the convenience store, pairing them with fresh vegetables left behind in the restaurant pantry. Soon, cookware sizzled over the old burner, and an intoxicating, mouthwatering aroma drifted through the rest stop.
Sitting at a table, I quietly watched her from behind as she worked. A faint, gentle glow of warm silver mana drifted from her fingertips, swirling into the rising steam and naturally melding into the broth. Right before my eyes, the awakened gift of a Production-type Cook was working its magic.
"Just smelling that feels like all my fatigue is melting away."
"Ufufu~ Our Seol-ah has been an incredible cook ever since she was little," Seo Hyun beamed, her face brimming with sisterly pride.
Before long, Seo Seol carried a steaming pot of budae jjigae over to our table.
"The ingredients might be modest, but I gave it my all! Please, eat before it gets cold!"
Seeing her radiant confidence, I gave an approving nod and leaned in, treating the dish with the utmost seriousness. I raised my spoon and took a sip of the scalding broth.
Sluuurp—
"Haaah! Whoa...!"
My eyes flew wide open at the rich, deeply layered flavor bursting across my palate. This went far beyond simply tasting phenomenal; it felt as though the accumulated exhaustion and lingering muscle soreness deep within my body were being washed away like magic. It felt like that transcendent sensation when a fiery, savory stew cleanses every clogged organ after a night of reckless drinking—only tenfold more miraculous.
What's more... I can genuinely feel my body healing!
My depleted pool of mana was noticeably swelling, replenishing at an astonishing rate. Right on cue, a translucent blue system window materialized before my eyes.
You have consumed Special Mana-Infused Budae Jjigae.
◈ Exhausted stamina is completely restored.
◈ Physical strength and mana recovery rates are increased by 20% for half a day.
I set down my spoon and stared at Seo Seol in pure awe.
"Incredible. Seol-ssi, this ability of yours is an absolute national treasure. With a buff this potent, I feel like I could charge headfirst into a monster nest and come out without a scratch."
"Hearing you say that makes me blush... I'm just so glad it suits your taste!" Seo Seol shyly smiled, a faint blush dusting her pale cheeks.
Thanks to the first warm, proper meal in who knew how long, both body and mind were thoroughly replenished.
After finishing the meal, the two sisters took turns heading into the truck cab to catch some sleep. Deciding to let my food digest while staying on guard, I leaned back against the passenger door. With the impending night hunt looming over us, sleep was out of the question anyway.
Growing curious about how the rest of the world was holding up, I summoned the system interface into the empty air.
I still have plenty of points to spare. Why not take a look around the Abyss Gallery today?
I tapped on the Abyss Gallery tab.
The moment I connected, my breath hitched at the sheer volume of posts scrolling past in an endless cascade. In just a few days, millions of threads had flooded the boards at an insane pace. The desperate screams for rescue and terror-stricken pleas that had filled the feed early on were steadily dwindling.
In their place, posts from groups rallying forces and declaring dominion over their own territories dominated the Best board.
The world had barely crumbled, yet humans were already organizing hierarchies and consolidating power. Piecing together the picture painted by the gallery, the outside world was evolving into something far larger and much more systematically organized than the ragtag thugs under that Dictator back at Ilhwa Women's University.
Sifting through the deluge of information, I typed our destination into the search bar: Tool Street.
Please, let that place be free of swarming flies...
However, the search results that popped up instantly froze the blood in my veins.
The worst-case scenario I had anticipated was already reality.
A tool street overflowing with usable hardware, machinery, and industrial parts was a prime strategic objective that any group with muscle would covet first. Judging by the collected reports, the faction that had seized the district was a ruthless syndicate that treated human life like dirt.
I dismissed the window, clenching my fists tight as I glared into the gathering twilight.
As expected... wherever there are valuable resources, filthy flies will always gather.
I had braced for this, but the cold wall of reality was crashing down much faster than expected.
Indeed.
The enemies we had to face were not just the Abyss Species crawling out in the dead of night.
Humans drunk on power, transformed into predators far more monstrous than the creatures themselves—they were the true danger.
To carve a path through them and claim the machinery I needed, our current arsenal fell woefully short. The necessity to slaughter as many Abyss Species as possible tonight and harvest their cores had become crystal clear.
Because from here on out, all our moves will be made under the cover of night.