Chapter 492
Chapter 492
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 492
Chapter Title: God's Atlantis
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We discovered a fountain spewing dark emerald-green water instead of clean water. The horrific liquid from the fountain slowly flowed through the canal.
"It's the swamp fountain. Everyone, put on your prepared gas masks."
We all pulled gas masks from our bags and put them on our faces.
This was made to order for times like this. It even had a rank, but we'd have to discard it after a few uses.
There were two reasons for wearing gas masks.
One was to block the pollutants from this swamp. If you tried to pass through here without one, you'd soon learn the agony of your insides rotting.
The other was...
"Ugh... Bugs! They're so gross! I knew there'd be a lot, but this is too much!"
Yu Seo-hee recoiled in disgust as she gripped special insecticide sprays in both hands and started spraying in every direction. Gut flies, curse mosquitoes, anesthetic moths, parasitic ticks—every kind of harmful insect dropped dead the moment they touched the insecticide.
The second reason for the gas masks was to avoid inhaling this insane amount of insecticide.
"Yu Seo-hee! Don't waste the insecticide!"
Kang Myung-jin shouted. A considerable amount of money had gone into making this stuff. To him, the Legion Master, it probably looked like she was spraying cash around.
"Ah! Yes, sir!"
"Don't get too down. You were a bit overzealous."
"I know. But Yu-jin... you don't need the spray, huh?"
Zap. Zzzap! Zap!
The insects approaching me were electrocuted mid-flight and fell to the ground. I'd deployed an electric field around me using brain lightning.
"What happened to the one you took last time? If you don't need it, give it to me."
"Uh... that? I left it behind. Forgot about it."
"Really? Myung-jin will get mad if he finds out."
"It's a secret. Shh. But why do you have two? Wasn't it one per person?"
"There were extras, so I took one. Want one? You'll be in big trouble if Myung-jin catches you."
"Yeah, hand one over."
I'd gotten tired of spraying and just walked with the electric field up.
"Sung Yu-jin! Don't waste mana—use the spray! The spray!"
"Got it. Got it."
In the end, I got an earful from Kang Myung-jin.
"...But isn't drinking mana potions more economical than using spray?"
"Well... you're right. Still, use the spray. Mental fatigue from using abilities doesn't recover with potions."
"Can't argue with that."
I quietly sprayed the bugs.
They dropped like flies.
I glanced at the canal.
'Did Yuria find the right path?'
It wasn't like the wasteland earlier, so no need for a compass, but I was still a bit anxious.
'Ah. I wanna fuck the sleeping princess already.'
???
"Good work. You can take off the gas masks now. Let's rest here a bit."
We removed our gas masks right after leaving the swamp fountain area. Most of us had sweat-soaked heads. The faint breeze felt refreshing.
The Legion members didn't look back. No one wanted to return to that bug-infested hell.
I looked straight ahead.
It was a garden overrun with thorny vines. We couldn't move easily without dealing with them. We'd have to handle the thorny vines somehow.
'Maybe we'll find traces of Yuria who went ahead here.'
If Kang Myung-jin saw signs of someone passing first, he'd definitely find it suspicious. He might even think the strategy had leaked.
'No choice but to risk it.'
We filled our stomachs with prepared food and stood before the thorny vines.
Looking closely, you could see the vines writhing like living things. One slip, and they'd wrap around you, shredding your body with sharp thorns.
Like a blender.
"...I can't scout ahead here. There are paths even in complex mountains and jungles, but there's no path in those thorny vines."
Lilsne surrendered. Wise decision. Rashly entering would mean not even bones left.
But Kang Myung-jin didn't waver. He'd known about the vines.
"If there's no path, make one."
He pulled out a torch and an axe.
Everyone wore expressions of "Here we go."
Labor time.
???
"Eheradiya~!"
I muttered nonsense as I swung the red-hot axe vigorously.
Crack!
The thorny vine snapped easily. Tougher than steel, but as a plant, it was weak to fire.
"Impressive. That endless stamina... I see why the Master trusts Sung Yu-jin."
Ji Young-bin said beside me.
Currently, Ji Young-bin and I were clearing vines to make a path. The others rested in a wider area behind.
"...It's just high stats."
"Everyone knows raising stats isn't easy. Let me introduce myself properly. Ji Young-bin."
"Sung Yu-jin."
I replied curtly. No intention of getting chummy with a guy. But Ji Young-bin seemed different.
"Haha. Cool vibe. You don't seem like it... Do I rub you the wrong way? I'm the new guy rolling in."
"Nah. I'm just shy with people."
"Good. Ah, I was a mercenary. Met the Master by fate at a tavern."
Ji Young-bin started chattering. Unlike his bearish looks, he talked a lot. I half-listened while swinging the axe.
But a name I couldn't ignore came up.
"Are you and Yu Seo-hee lovers?"
My axe swing paused.
Ji Young-bin's face was dead serious. This was probably the point.
"What's with the sudden question?"
"I'll be honest. I fell for Yu Seo-hee at first sight. My heart raced. But... she's always looking at you."
"Asking me means... you think we're not?"
"It's ambiguous. Sometimes like lovers, sometimes close friends. I asked others. Master said ask her if I cared, Min-jung said lovers. In-ha flatly said no. Joo Seo-hyun glared and ignored me. Haven't asked Seo-hee yet."
I pondered briefly.
What to say? Admit lovers? Pros: he backs off. Cons: harder to flirt with others.
"Seo-hee and I are close, but not lovers."
Ji Young-bin's face lit up.
"I see! Thanks!"
"That exciting?"
"If not lovers, I have a chance!"
"Seo-hee didn't seem that into you."
"No tree survives ten strikes, bold win the beauty! I believe it!"
His eyes burned. Knew he was persistent and annoying. Easy to use, too.
"Anyway, good luck."
"Sung Yu-jin! Help me out?"
"Ask In-ha instead."
"“He told me to figure it out myself. No help there. Please!"
That Yu Seo-hee is my personal fuckhouse, though?
The words rose to my throat and sank.
"Seo-hee likes stamina guys."
"...Stamina? Great! I'm confident there! I lag behind you and Master now, but I'll build it up to match her!"
Ji Young-bin swung his axe with gusto.
I mean bedroom stamina...
When he's useless later, I'll break it to him.
And an hour later, we finally reached Zone 6,333, the Obsessive King's Castle.
???
After parting with Sung Yu-jin, Yuria strolled through the garden. She deliberately avoided easy paths, taking soil trails full of dangerous plants to leave minimal traces.
A plant stem shot from the dirt at her ankle. But Yuria dodged leisurely, as if expecting it, and ran forward.
Plant monsters blocking ahead? She bypassed without hesitation. She was routing to avoid overlapping with A-Plan Legion's path. Overlap meant traces they'd spot. The plan needed speed and secrecy.
Flutter, crunch.
A tree ahead moved branches to block. Yuria evaded dozens rushing at her without changing expression. Same for other plant monsters.
Mere plants couldn't stop her legs. If needed, she'd use shadow step despite mana cost.
What grated her nerves was something else.
Yuria ignored the system messages as a matter of course.
System power? Probably the unique traits Sung Yu-jin used here—stats and such.
She believed her own power sufficient. Besides, she'd return to her world in 30 days. Nice to have, but she couldn't trust the system.
"Please. Shut up. I'm not so idle as to deal with you."
Yuria's nonstop legs halted.
She looked up at the sky. Her eyes sharpened.
"I like you more and more."
"Here's a gift for you."
Space rippled, and a sword appeared, stabbing into the ground.
A black sword exuding eerie energy.
Anyone would call it a demon sword.
No detailed info since Yuria lacked system power.
She felt the overwhelming power. Grasping it would grant power beyond a lifetime's effort for normals.
Yet she showed no interest from start to finish. She passed by the sword.
The message windows annoyed Yuria. No way to dismiss them, so she fidgeted and kept moving.
Soon she found the swamp canal. She pulled a gas mask from shadows, put it on, grabbed insecticide spray, and dashed spraying along inconspicuous paths.
Then the dense thorny vines. Yuria quietly recovered stamina.
Sung Yu-jin taught her the strategy. Time-consuming and tough, but safe.
But it left traces.
Yuria narrowed her eyes at the vines.
Black aura crept up her shoes. Prepared, she dashed through. Vines constricted instantly. But she was already past. Her speed outpaced their reaction.
Yuria opened her mouth.
Breath ragged, sweat beaded on forehead.
Her perfectly managed stamina began to waver. Legs grew heavy, but she couldn't stop.
And she broke through the thorny vines.