Chapter 181

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: penny

Chapter: 181

Chapter Title: Reorganization

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Shin Seo-yeon felt wronged.

"It's not like I'm bullying the weak."

"What bullshit! This guy's not weak?!"

Even to me, she looked genuinely aggrieved. Me, weak? If my party heard that, they'd all make dumbfounded faces.

"Bullies always spout the same excuses."

"It's not an excuse, it's true! Even when I do this...!"

Shin Seo-yeon put on her most wronged expression and locked me in a headlock with her arm.

Squish.

Seo-yeon's chest might be smaller than the Saintess's, but the feel was fantastic. It was so good it almost seemed like it was made to please men.

I was happily savoring that squishy sensation when Shin Seo-yeon spoke up in disbelief.

"Hey, why aren't you doing anything?! Resist like you usually do and break free!"

Why would I? It was just healing and felt great.

"...Let go of that arm right now. Even if the guy's a man, it's not like you're bullying someone weaker than you."

"Ah, fuck, this guy's really not weak? And what's it to you? You his guardian or something? Butt out, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠third wheel!"

Then Lee Eun-jeong strode over and pried Shin Seo-yeon's arm off.

"Eek?! What the—?!"

Shin Seo-yeon, who'd taken over 20% of my strength through [Binding] for more than 110, widened her eyes. Lee Eun-jeong's power was beyond imagination. After freeing my arm, she pulled me behind her.

"When he's with me, I'm his guardian."

"Hah? Says who!"

"Says me."

Shin Seo-yeon glared daggers.

"Fuck off. Hand over Dickhead right now while I'm asking nicely. He's mine, y'know? Been marked as mine since kindergarten."

"Humans ain't slaves. No yours or mine."

"That's not the point right now!"

Shin Seo-yeon ignited a flame in her palm, while Lee Eun-jeong prepared to hurl a mushroom.

They were still holding tension without fighting, but if they clashed, it'd create emotional rifts—not good at all.

'Better step in and mediate now.'

I was about to insert myself between them when my foraging party returned, wondering what was up, and chimed in.

"Auntie bullying oppa again?"

"No, I'm not!"

"Seo-yeon, you can't just hit guys with your fists like that."

"Argh, this time there was a reason, okay? That guy was all up in my food before...!"

"Lovers' quarrels are fine, but keep it moderate. Like you said, let's just eat."

Even Han So-hee came over, patting her shoulder and saying that, making Shin Seo-yeon jump up and down in frustration.

"No, it's not like that! Dickhead, tell them!"

But no one believed her—that's why reputation matters.

Afterward, Shin Seo-yeon kept whining pitifully about how wronged she was, but it was like flailing at thin air, with just her cat tail dangling and swaying between her legs.

"So, what's next?"

"Let's eat first."

The smell of cooking wafted from everywhere.

Smoke from the fires rose along the rocky ceiling and vented outside.

I was a bit worried about the food smells, but mixed with the wood smoke, no monsters would come sniffing around.

Monsters generally hated fire.

"Yeah! I'm starving after all that running!"

"So, Min-jun-ssi, what're we eating?"

Lee Sera bounced around eagerly for food, while Ju Ah-hyun and Kim Yu-rim looked expectant. My party pulled out extraordinary ingredients from the sub-space pouch.

"Let's grill mushrooms too. And some meat on the hot plate while we're at it."

The party sprang into orderly action. They built a bonfire, placed a pan on top. Now they could set up the perfect infrastructure for any meal on command.

"But how'd the others get fire and firewood? Thought they ditched all their gear."

"I let them use the general store owner."

"Ah, that explains it."

I'd wondered how people who'd abandoned everything managed a fire. Han So-hee reported like always.

"They came asking to use the general store, and blocking them might've bred grudges leading to bloodshed later, so I just let them."

"Good call. No fees or anything, right?"

"Of course."

Yeah, after barely surviving death, being stingy with fees or denying shop access could've backfired on us.

Not that I feared it, but if we weren't wiping them all out here, better to keep things amicable.

'Part of me wants to sweep them clean...'

But with the Saintess here and building favor with Lee Eun-jeong, time to adjust plans.

"With so many people, let's set a proper table today."

"Not on the ground?"

"Nope."

"How?"

"Got this."

I pointed at the general store owner.

"Ah."

General stores sold basics. Think of it like a dollar store with everything, quality aside.

'Early in the Selection Process, no specialty shops, so lots use general stores.'

Later, with potion shops, fish markets, veggie stands, alchemy, magitech, furniture stores, etc., general stores were for penny-pinching.

I bought three long wooden tables from the merchant. One for us, two for the North Koreans.

"Even sharin' with us?"

I hadn't planned special treatment, but with the unintended connection to Lee Eun-jeong, worth paying extra attention.

Yeah, time to score points with her.

"......"

But Lee Eun-jeong's favorability didn't budge. Hmm, maybe her way of warming up was different?

Without the notifications, I'd have kept fumbling.

"Thanks. Take this."

Kim Jong-su expressed gratitude and handed me a pouch.

"From [Applelin Plains]?"

"Yessir."

Special grass only from [Applelin Plains], one of the second Trials. As we prepped to cook, Kim Jong-su pulled it out.

"Got more? Plenty left."

"Most wouldn't think to grab these..."

[Applelin Plains] teemed with dog-headed bipedal mobs called 'Nol', so plenty else to grab—weapons, armor...

Yet they brought this—thrifty in their own way, these North Koreans.

"Haha, back then we prioritized food over weapons. Stomachs were empty."

"Ah."

Instinctively foraging and gathering, they snagged these without thinking.

Habits are scary.

We, steeped in game culture, gear up first. But North Koreans, unaware of such systems or clichés, put food first.

Hence their gear: mere daggers, Lee Eun-jeong weaponless. That dagger screamed foraging/cooking knife.

Sizzle.

"Anyway, eat up, everyone."

I grilled meat and divided it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠among the three tables.

Right on cue, favor rose.

Hmm, starting to get a read on what tickles Lee Eun-jeong's fancy.

So I took full charge of grilling.

Truth was, I was the best in the party at it anyway.

"Oppa’s grilling is the best!"

"Right? It tastes different when Min-jun grills it."

"Hmph, our Dickhead's good at everything. Not like I keep him around for nothing."

"Impressive. I can grill decently at a restaurant myself."

Grilling at a restaurant? Anyone can.

But outdoors with fickle winds and uneven firewood flames? Tricky.

Controlling erratic fire while timing the cook to match—not easy.

'I've got ten years of experience.'

"I'll grill. Eat up quick."

Lee Eun-jeong sidled up then.

"Nah, it's fine. This is my party role. I'm the best, so I do it. Go eat what I grill."

I tapped the head of the [Wind Spirit] gnawing my finger.

Even without the [Wind Spirit], I grilled fine—but with it, meat and shrooms were effortless.

"Still..."

"Really, eat. Just help tidy the fire later."

Nod.

'As expected.'

Lee Eun-jeong seemed to value actions over material gifts.

Preferred hands-on effort over lavish presents.

'Gonna have to play the humble, caring type for a while—no flashy materialism.'

Anyway, up close, she was really pretty.

Stubborn, tough expression, but with lingering pure innocence.

"Why stare so hard?"

"Just thinking you need some meat on those bones."

"You eat more. Skinny guys like that can't exert."

She picked up her share with chopsticks and held it out to me.

I felt glares from the women at the next table, but refusing offered food was rude—I ate it.

Then chairs scraped as they stood.

"Dickhead, eat this too!"

"Min-jun-ssi, this one too!"

"Oppa!"

"......"

"Why leave it? Eat. Men need more."

...Maybe I shouldn't have accepted.

"But your comrades aren't eating."

I nodded at the North Koreans' table.

I'd plated grilled meat and shrooms, but they weren't touching it.

Taste issue? Then Lee Eun-jeong moved.

"Ah, Comrade Jong-su stepped away briefly."

As she picked up meat with chopsticks, they all pushed their plates forward. She distributed like mess duty, then quietly said,

"Eat."

"Graciously!"

Only then did they start eating, beaming.

"Tastes great. First time for somethin' this good."

"'Course it does. Who grilled it?"

A weird feeling crept in.

Impressive stats, but without Kim Jong-su or Lee Eun-jeong, these ten couldn't even fend for themselves.

Just blindly obedient followers.

Maybe that's what the North Korean regime wanted—worker bees bringing money home.

...Ironically, they weren't even recognized as citizens there.

Anyway.

'Thought they had no comeback, but they're hanging on.'

Cheongbang and Jeju Nohyung Alliance.

Despite losing most members, the guild masters had cash—bought heaps from the general store.

Handed it out, regaining trust from disillusioned members rallying back.

"Big Bro's the only one!"

"Without Big Bro, we wouldn't eat proper!"

Nothing sadder in Trials than missing meals. Nothing more grateful than good provisioning.

"Hao Zifeng!"

"Hao Zifeng!"

The crumbling guilds regained strength.

Kim Jin-woo especially splurged, then said,

"Tough times, good work. We're survivors for a reason—let's stick together. I'll share food and essentials, no pressure. Come eat, chat with us."

Scooping up unaffiliated survivors.

"Whoa, free for real?"

"Absolutely. Take freely."

"Thanks!"

"Handsome guy's got a big heart too!"

Kim Jin-woo did charity PR, skyrocketing popularity.

'Crisis over, straight to image control—born star.'

Glancing at Hao Zifeng and us—saw us as rivals, probably.

Energetic guy.

Thus, survivors naturally split: Cheongbang, Jeju Alliance, me/North Koreans.

Groups coalesced, subtly checking each other.

Humans gonna human—factions form, us vs. them kicks in.

"Their eyes are cocky. Cut off their merchant access? See 'em starve?"

"Seo-yeon, don't. Ladies shouldn't cuss."

"Unnie, say 'bitch pussy' like the bitch."

"Aying, really!"

As the three groups eyed each other warily over grilling meat and shrooms.

Whoosh!

'Hm?'

Sudden intense presences—then monsters ambushed from shadows under rocks.

Kyaaah!

Maws gaping wide, charging relentlessly. No chance to react—three per group, organized assault.

"Argh!"

"W-what are these?!"

"Crazy?! Food smell lured 'em?!"

All leaped up in shock, grabbing dropped weapons to fight back.

Whoosh whoosh!

Three hit our side instantly, but innermost safest spot let us prep quick. Not that we needed much.

"Ugh, what're these? Kicking up dirt and grass. Can't see we're eating?!"

Boom rumble rumble!

Shin Seo-yeon's fireball smashed a close one's head—instant roast.

The other two paused, stunned by their kin.

Bang!

Bullet-like stone hit one's head. Massive impact KO'd it mid-charge, tumbling forward.

I pinned its head with my foot as it rolled to me, then snapped its neck upward.

Crack.

Dead instantly.

"Comrade Min-jun, you okay?!"

Lee Eun-jeong rushed over, worried.

"Sorry. Shoulda watched closer."

"Fine. I finished it unintended."

She nodded at the circling [Wind Spirit].

"Long as you're unhurt."

Such a sweetheart.

Han So-hee handled the last. Seeing kin drop instantly, it wheeled to flee—but

"Where to."

Han So-hee dashed, afterimage slashing—head flew, dead.

"Whew, scary."

"Right? Ruin' a good meal—these punks got no manners."

"Yeah, and no clue why they attacked."

All nodded at Lee Sera's words.

Not just us—other groups handled okay too.

"Fuckin' bad luck. Of all people, pick on me."

"Hurt bad?"

"Nah."

Just shoulder/leg bites—no life threats.

"Why'd these weaklings charge?"

"Exactly."

"Attack then flee?"

Corpses showed: we got all three; others lost two each.

"Scared the shit outta me mid-rest."

"What even are they? Pretty small."

Maybe two meters tops.

Compared to giants we'd seen, all chuckled wryly.

Then ding—a notification popped up.

Exclamations followed.

"...These are Dracalon's kids?"

Someone's hollow mutter echoed in the silence.

All faces went blank. Mob-tier trash was their big bad?

"Doable, right?"

Nods all around. Compared to earlier beasts, these were total fodder.

Despairing eyes now sparkled.

"Fuck, this weak and rewards too?"

Free lunch, basically.

Han So-hee tilted her head at the corpse.

"Still doesn't add up. Weaker than us—why attack?"

"Simple."

"?"

"They scouted us secretly."

Hid and watched. Saw Hero Party strength by mother's corpse—super tense.

But surprise: humans weaker than [Primeval Forest] janitors?

What'd they think?

Weaker specimens?

Mistook us for easy prey—separate from Heroes but similar, starving and ambushed.

"Hah, Dickhead, you don't mean..."

Shin Seo-yeon gawked. Spot on.

I'd avoided fighting, just fleeing—no power shown—for this.

'Show strength, they hide forever.'

Hide it?

Confirm humans weak, they'll eventually strike.

Only easy hunt in forest: us humans.

'Baited 'em by holding back.'

'Didn’t expect 'em this small.'

We looked that feeble. How'd they survive so long?

'Anyway, five of nine down.'

Ridiculous. Folks, though, morale skyrocketed.

"God's on our side!"

"This weak?!"

Four more, we're out.

Knew looks now, clear tracks from fleers.

Thus?

"Chase now—get outta here!"

"Ooh!"

Hunt squads formed.