Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: You're the Only Ones Dying
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The next day.
Sure enough, Kim Min-su approached us and made his pitch.
But the words coming out of his mouth were a little different from what I'd expected.
"So... you're saying we should all go investigate the fog together?"
"Yes! All my guys are planning to join in. If you come along, we'll hand over half the coins outright!"
Kim Min-su said it with a friendly, good-natured face.
Why the sudden proposal like this?
Honestly, I couldn't make sense of it.
"'All of you' means you're going too, Kim Min-su?"
"Of course! Who else would go if I didn't?"
It was just a probe, but Kim Min-su answered without a hint of hesitation.
"We've been trying hard all this time but haven't made any real progress. But with you and your group, Ji-hoon, it'd be different! Let's uncover the fog's secrets together!"
...Did he take the wrong meds, or skip the ones he should have taken?
It was a very leader-like response.
And that's exactly why it made even less sense.
'This isn't like him at all...'
Kim Min-su had never once joined a fog scouting party, or so he claimed.
He had plenty of stuff already, so his life must have felt too precious to risk.
For a guy like that to suddenly lead all his underlings charging into the fog?
And to go along himself?
No one in their right mind would make that offer.
'Honestly, we were planning to farm it one more time and call it quits.'
According to Yoo-ri, the fog was nearing its endgame anyway.
It was just a limited-time farming spot for us.
We figured we'd tag along one last time and hunt a bit more.
Didn't expect this kind of invitation.
"Well, we were planning to follow along anyway, so it doesn't matter to us."
"Great! Then I'll assume you're in and get ready!"
Kim Min-su vanished after that.
We started our meeting the moment he was gone.
"What do you think?"
"It's a trap."
Yoo-ri gave the immediate answer while impassively polishing her sword.
"Suddenly wanting us all to head into the fog together. It screams 'take them all out at once.' The only snag is..."
"No real reason to do it, right?"
Yoo-ri nodded at my words.
"Doesn't seem like there's any profit in fighting us."
We hadn't started anything, and we weren't on bad terms to begin with.
From their side, it'd be poking the beehive for no good reason, risking their lives.
Even if they won, it'd just mean losses.
"He doesn't seem dumb enough not to realize that."
"Hmm, maybe he's anxious we're actually going to drive them out?"
"Could be."
That was the only reason coming to mind right now.
People clutching power can lose their reason out of fear sometimes.
"Of course, nothing's certain yet. But if they attack first, no reason to hold back."
Yoo-ri smiled contentedly at her sword gleaming in the sunlight.
Her face was pretty, but there was something oddly murderous about it.
"On that note, mind if I go alone this time?"
"Huh?"
Hye-na's eyes went wide at my words.
"W-Why?"
"I've got a plan to deal with them. If it's okay, I'd like to test it out."
"Even so, isn't it too dangerous alone?"
"I'll be fine. Worst case, I can just bolt into the fog."
"Ah."
I didn't know why Kim Min-su insisted on fighting in the fog.
But it was good news for me.
You could barely see the person next to you in there.
Chasing down someone hell-bent on escaping would be tough.
"Is this a solo-only plan?"
"The fog spawns monsters based on what people imagine, right? Got me wondering if this could work."
I explained the plan I'd been mulling over.
Hye-na looked a bit scared hearing it.
Yoo-ri gave a sly smile.
"So sneaky and dirty, as expected. If you were the enemy, I'd have taken your head already."
"...Is that a compliment?"
"The highest praise."
It felt a little iffy, but if she said so, I'd take it that way.
Hye-na still looked worried.
"...You'll really be okay, right?"
"Don't worry. No matter what, I won't get hurt."
With her permission secured either way.
I warmed up for the plan ahead.
It wasn't like I was doing this to hog all the coins or anything.
****
"Wow, having you all come along like this feels like I've got a heavenly army on my side!"
Honestly, I'd been skeptical.
But Kim Min-su had really brought every last one of his underlings, like he meant business.
Though their faces didn't look too happy.
Why do we have to be here doing this?
That was written all over them.
"You've all come heavily armed yourselves."
"Nothing to brag about."
The guys had geared up with weapons.
Swords, spears, clubs, even a bow.
Not easy stuff to get, regardless of type.
Probably bought from the coin shop.
'Means they've got quite a stash of coins.'
Fitting for a group holding down a zone.
But it also made me think there were probably more groups like this out there.
'If one has a powerhouse like Yoo-ri, things could get messy.'
Story-wise, it was about time for a strong villain to show up.
I needed to power up as much as possible before then.
"Alright, looks like we've gone deep enough."
While I was lost in those stray thoughts.
We'd already pushed far into the fog.
"Lee Ji-hoon, you're really an idiot."
"Pardon?"
"Whatever you were thinking, you came tagging along all alone, without even your friends."
No sooner had he said it than the men drew their weapons.
They circled me like a ring.
I wasn't surprised at all, which threw them off instead.
But it was a well-prepared move on their part.
"If you'd been even a little smarter, you'd have spotted the trap. Didn't anyone teach you not to follow creepy candy-giving uncles?"
"That uncle looked weaker than me."
Kim Min-su's face twisted.
My response must have hit a nerve.
"To be honest, I never liked you from the start."
"Oh yeah? Funny coincidence. Same here."
I pulled out my baseball bat.
They gave off a menacing vibe, but that was it.
No one rushed in first.
'Scared?'
A guy who'd one-shot fog monsters.
No way they'd charge recklessly at someone like that.
"You little punk, talking all big. Should've just joined hands with me from the beginning."
Only Kim Min-su kept his cool composure.
"Don't feel bad, though. I'll send your pretty girlfriends to join you soon enough."
"Think you can handle them?"
To think he could touch a reincarnator like Yoo-ri with this much.
A mountain of corpses would pile up in under ten minutes.
"Besides, there is no 'next time.' This is the end of the line for you guys."
"Ha! A guy about to die still bluffing to the end."
Kim Min-su raised his hand.
The men tensed up like it was the signal.
"Get him."
Just as they were about to charge.
"ROOOAAARRR!"
A guttural roar suddenly echoed, shaking them to their bones.
The men froze and grimaced.
"Grr, you bastard! What the hell!"
"You know the fog monsters are sensitive to sound?"
"What?"
Ji-hoon spoke with utter confidence.
Kim Min-su squinted at the abrupt claim.
"You can't see an inch ahead in the fog. That's why the monsters here have hyper-developed hearing. Even if you tiptoe, they show up because of that."
Of course, it was pure bluff.
Fog monsters were born from human fear and imagination.
No such nitpicky traits existed.
But how would those words land on them, deep in the fog?
"Th-Then... does that mean the shout just now..."
"From my experience, swarms of monsters way worse than usual come charging in."
I let out an evil chuckle for show.
The key to this plan was looking utterly insane.
The crazier I seemed, the more they'd buy it.
And that belief would turn to terror of the unknown monsters.
"Y-You mad bastard! Do that and you die too!"
"You'll die first."
The men's eyes wavered with anxiety.
I was already out of their minds.
All they could do was tremble at the milky fog enclosing them.
Fear of what monster might emerge from it anytime.
"...Not enough, guess I need to call more."
"D-Damn it!"
"Someone stop that guy!"
They finally turned back to me, too late.
I triggered Roar again right away.
"ROOOAAARRR!"
And precisely as the roar faded.
-Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
A massive rumble spread from the fog.
The men clutching weapons shook violently.
"Aaaah! No! I don't wanna die! I was against this plan from the start!"
One man couldn't take the fear and bolted.
But like in most horror flicks.
That just made him the first victim.
A tentacle shot at his leg, yanking him airborne.
"Aaaargh!"
His scream marked his end as he vanished.
The fog's obscurity amped up the horror even more.
"Damn... it was real...?"
"Argh! Die! We're all gonna die! Everyone's dying!"
Even guys who'd ruled others through violence were just human.
No less terrified of monsters and death.
"You idiots! R-Run for it, everyone!"
Kim Min-su yelled, face drained pale.
He was barely holding onto composure.
"Where to run in this fog?"
"You son of a—!"
Kim Min-su gnashed his teeth at me, still looking relaxed.
"You wanna just die here all together?"
"Not me."
"What?"
"You think I'd really follow you guys here with zero plan?"
I planted my feet firm.
Kicked off the ground, leaping high into the air.
Boosted strength and the 'Cat Shoes' item effect.
Dodging monsters while fleeing was child's play.
Especially with all these other baits ahead.
Realizing it, Kim Min-su bellowed with blazing eyes.
"You bastard!"
Whether he did or not, things weren't improving for them.
One by one, plunged into panic.
And step by step, monsters closed in.
"Ah... ah..."
Enormous shadows loomed beyond the fog.
Not just one, either.
Facing the monsters encircling them.
The men couldn't even think of resisting.
"SKREEE!"
Finally, ear-shattering shrieks erupted as the monsters burst forth.