Chapter 129
Chapter 129
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: 33. One Man Against Ten Thousand (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Did you know?”
Songpa First Sword Oh Yeon-hee asked this, and Choi Nam-hee responded in a dazed voice.
“…No idea. Probably no one did. Who could’ve imagined it.”
Seocho First Sword, Choi Nam-hee.
Right now, he was completely lost trying to comprehend the inexplicable event unfolding before his eyes.
A First Sword summoning mutants… Was this even possible?
Yet it had actually happened.
In broad daylight, not even mutant appearance time, right in the middle of Gwangjin District, two mutants had been summoned.
If he hadn’t heard quickly that Gangnam First Sword was suddenly heading to Gwangjin District, he probably would’ve missed that scene altogether.
“Looks like Jeong Yeong-woo’s friends, right? Not sure if they’re allies… or in a master-servant relationship.”
Oh Yeon-hee let out a hollow laugh as she eyed the name tags above the two mutants’ heads.
[Jeong Yeong-woo07’s Friend-Hong Yeong-tae]
[Jeong Yeong-woo07’s Friend-Kim Tae-jun]
Judging by the name tag format, those two mutants were clearly tied to Jeong Yeong-woo somehow, reduced to genie-in-the-lamp status.
The real question nagging at her, though.
‘Do those mutants fight for Jeong Yeong-woo? But they didn’t show up during his clash with Jeong Hyeon-sik.’
Oh Yeon-hee, unaware of the whistle’s usage limits, couldn’t help but wonder.
“What the hell’s going on… I really have no clue.”
Choi Nam-hee was just as bewildered, his confusion deepening.
Jeong Yeong-woo had been an absolute freak from the first sighting.
Now, even doubts like “Is he really the same Earthling?” were creeping in.
“Anyway, we should head back soon. It’s almost 1 o’clock.”
Choi Nam-hee glanced at his wristwatch and turned south, so Oh Yeon-hee nodded.
Current time, 12:31 p.m.
In about 29 minutes, Day 4 mutants would drop across all of Seoul.
Mutant and monster markers could appear as early as 30 minutes or as late as 10 minutes prior, so they needed to be back in their districts ahead of time.
* * *
Meanwhile, Yeong-woo watched the family reunion from a safe distance now that it had stabilized.
Contrary to his initial worries, CEO Kim Tae-jun’s family had shaken off the shock of the situation quickly, allowing Yeong-woo to quietly slip away.
「Heartwarming stuff. Live long enough, and you see all kinds.」
Yeong-tae, who had exited the scene with Yeong-woo, stroked his long snout with his hand and grinned widely.
Yeong-woo chuckled.
“Live long? You’ve only been a mutant for……”
He’d started to say “four days now,” but clamped his mouth shut.
He’d momentarily forgotten that this world and the Returner’s Room operated on completely different time flows.
The survivors here had only endured four days, but Hong Yeong-tae and CEO Kim Tae-jun had spent an eternity in there.
That’s why Yeong-tae tossed out “live long enough” so casually.
‘Right. From his perspective, it might feel like ages.’
Yeong-woo thought this as he checked his watch.
Current time, 12:34 p.m.
「……?」
If he wasn’t mistaken, his two “friends” were lingering in this world longer than usual.
Previously, they’d stayed anywhere from a few dozen seconds to three or four minutes at most before vanishing.
‘What’s going on? Extra time for the family reunion?’
If so, who from?
Did the System have a “heart”?
Yeong-woo vaguely pondered this and glanced skyward, prompting Yeong-tae to tilt his head.
「What? What’s up?」
“Nothing, just… Mutant drop time’s coming, so I’m a bit worried.”
Yeong-woo brushed it off vaguely, and Yeong-tae perked up his ears.
「Oh, yeah? Call us again then?」
Ever the merit-chaser, as always.
But Yeong-woo had no intention of using the whistle for mutant fights.
Not right now, anyway.
‘Thank goodness the codex effect gave me one extra use…….’
[Collection Effect: 10]
| All accessories’ usage +1
‘Still, total of three uses. Only two left.’
Of course, no need to crush Yeong-tae’s hopes deliberately.
Sad truth was, whether called at 1 p.m. soon or after a night dungeon appeared, it’d be an endless wait for him either way.
“Yeah, we’ll see each other again soon.”
Yeong-woo told a white lie.
Then, to avoid any slip in his expression, he changed the subject.
“What’re you gonna buy with your merit points? Got anything in mind?”
The topic Yeong-woo picked was none other than the merit point shop.
From what he’d seen on TV in his hotel room, the Returner’s Room let you buy TVs with points too.
And if what he’d witnessed was real, Yeong-tae’s answer would be too.
「Oh, that. Yeah, decided. A TV!」
“Ah.”
Yeong-woo let out a loaded “ah” as his prediction hit the mark.
“What airs on it if you buy a TV there?”
「Who knows. Price list just had item names.」
“…Got it.”
Yeong-woo nodded.
Personally, he wondered if it’d show this world, but he held his tongue.
“Then moving forward…….”
As Yeong-woo tossed out the next topic, the moment arrived.
「Huh!」
Yeong-tae’s jaws dropped wide, eyes bulging.
Then.
「Guess it’s time already……!」
He folded his ears flat with a wistful look.
Even the System’s extended time had fully elapsed.
Shooo.
Yeong-tae’s hind legs were already dissolving rapidly into thin air, which meant.
“Honey!”
“Huh? Oh, Dad……?”
CEO Kim Tae-jun, mid-heartfelt chat with his family across the way, was vanishing too.
“You did great, Yeong-tae.”
Yeong-woo waved goodbye with a smile, and Yeong-tae, now just ear tips remaining, let out a longing voice.
「See you again!」
Then.
Shhht.
He vanished completely from this world.
And so did CEO Kim Tae-jun, casting a massive shadow over there.
「…….」
Moments ago, his family had been exchanging warm words under that shadow; now they stared vacantly at empty air.
It had been far too brief.
“…Hyung-nim, what happens to them now?”
Jong-su, who’d been watching it all silently from behind, finally spoke.
Yeong-woo turned with a wry smile.
“First off, good work, Jong-su. You too, officer.”
“No need. Coming here today, I really feel like following you was the right call, Yeong-woo.”
Tae-yeong, still misty-eyed, wiped his damp eyes with his police uniform sleeve and sniffled.
Yeong-woo, meanwhile, had composed himself and spoke in a businesslike tone.
“The whistle has limited uses, so I can’t summon CEO Kim Tae-jun anytime. Today’s reunion was the last one.”
“What about tomorrow?”
Jong-su’s follow-up.
Yeong-woo pondered.
“Dunno. Have to see how tomorrow plays out. If I die or the family’s safety’s threatened, no more meetings.”
“Fair point.”
“Stick around and protect CEO’s family for a while. I’ll request lodging from Taewon side. If there’s other work, check that out too.”
Jong-su’d fit monster hunting; Tae-yeong, private security in Gangnam.
Mutants weren’t the only threat—monsters could surge too, so they needed income.
“Hyung-nim, so you’re fully settling in Seoul now?”
Jong-su’s question hit the core sharply.
But Yeong-woo couldn’t answer easily.
“We’ll see. For now, I’ll base out of Gangnam.”
Just a guess, though.
Who could predict even tomorrow in this world?
‘The Golden Rain achievement already hints at going abroad. No telling what’s next.’
Anyway, time to wrap up and prep for mutants.
First, evacuate CEO Kim’s family deeper into Gangnam.
‘Time now… 12:40 p.m.’
Exactly 20 minutes left.
As urgency gripped Yeong-woo and he moved to call Taewon’s Im Seon-ah, a massive roar erupted from the sky.
Taaaaang… Tatang!
Like pistol shots amplified dozens of times.
Shwooooaaah!
Red and blue light pillars.
The invaders’ markers dropping into this world.
* * *
“Ugh, uwaaaak!”
“Kyaaak!”
“Save me……!”
Nineteen minutes until mutant and monster emergence.
Locals who’d spectated the miraculous “family reunion” now fled for their lives.
Toward their vehicles or kilometers away to their home districts.
Amid the surrounding chaos, Yeong-woo fixed on the red pillar piercing Gwangjin District’s sky.
‘Good, southern Gwangjin. Near Konkuk University campus.’
Not Han River-side, but still relatively close to Gangnam.
Vroooom……!
Taewon Group staff had boarded vehicles early and were peeling out; one pulled up near Yeong-woo and stopped.
“Yeong-woo-nim!”
Window down, a voice called—Im Seon-ah.
She’d loaded up CEO Kim’s family.
“I’ll take your colleagues. If you’re heading to Gangnam too…….”
Polite offer to ride along.
But with his otherworldly ride, Yeong-woo just loaded Jong-su and Tae-yeong.
“I’ll scout around and make my own way. Go ahead. Good work.”
Circling the soon-to-be-hellhole Gwangjin? Only Seoul’s top First Swords could say that.
“…Ah, yes. Got it.”
Im Seon-ah stared blankly at him, then gripped the wheel.
Vroooom!
Like other escapees, she floored it out of Gwangjin.
“Hmm.”
Current time, 12:49 p.m.
Eleven minutes to monster drop.
Yeong-woo eyed the sky’s torn pillars thoughtfully, then hopped onto Neoguri, who’d shifted from park mode and approached.
“Let’s go, Cheongdam Bridge.”
* * *
Cheongdam Bridge.
A double-deck Han River bridge between Gwangjin-gu’s Jaryong-dong and Gangnam-gu’s Cheongdam-dong.
Subway Line 7 once ran its lower level, like Dongjak Bridge, but service had halted.
Instead.
Vroooom!
A few frenzied vehicles sped across—locals doing escape time trials after watching the reunion.
「…….」
Yeong-woo, who’d arrived far ahead, leaned on the railing, scanning left and right.
Left: Gwangjin-gu.
Right: Gangnam-gu.
‘Might just reach both.’
Straddling the districts, Cheongdam Bridge let him spot both mutants’ red markers simultaneously.
In other words, with his 2 km max range, Yeong-woo might snipe both in sequence.
Fwhoosh!
Activating “Farsight,” a holographic sight appeared in his right eye, zooming his vision.
「Farsight」 - Mutant Earring
[Vision amplified up to 5x.]
‘Gangnam’s near Jeongneung. Farther than Gwangjin.’
From here, Gwangjin mutant: ~2.3 km.
Gangnam mutant: just over 2.5 km.
‘Gotta bleed before shooting.’
Bleeding boosts strength 25%; more strength means longer arrow range.
「White Saturation」 - Saga Bow
[Sense stat applies to arrow power.]
[Arrow power increases with range.]
Longer range, more power.
Theoretically doable.
Stab self for bleed, high jump for sightlines, snipe Gangnam then Gwangjin consecutively.
「Mountaineer」 - Mutant Pants
[Jump distance x3.]
‘Plan’s perfect. If it works, I’m a genius.’
Yeong-woo grinned to himself; the watching golden goblin tilted its head.
Meanwhile.
[00:00:10]
The airborne monster timer ticked to 10 seconds.
‘Almost. Everyone evacuated?’
[00:00:08]
‘Time to bleed.’
[00:00:06]
Crack!
Yeong-woo slashed his side with the bowstock; blood welled from within the skin.
“Urk.”
It stung plenty—no berserker charm to dull it.
But vigor surged through him already, boosting confidence.
‘This? 2 km’s nothing—could hit 3 km easy.’
[00:00:03]
Three seconds left.
Gripping the bow, in jump stance, Yeong-woo alternated glares at the two red pillars slashing left and right skies.
[00:00:01]
One second.
[00:00:00]
Kwaaaaang!
Timer hit zero and vanished; skies flashed as pitch-black forms poured like hail from all markers, red pillars included.
“Oh my god.”
First time seeing monsters rain in open view; Yeong-woo blanked briefly.
Then.
Squeeeeeee!
Squeeeeeee!
Huge silhouettes streaked from beyond the sky, plummeting along the red pillar—he snapped to.
‘Here they come……!’
Crunch.
His feet slammed the bridge center hard, then.
Fwoooosh!
His body rocketed skyward, bow raised to aim Gangnam first.