Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: 35. Birth (2)
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‘What the hell? What does this mean?’
Yeongwoo gripped the fountain pen, his face etched with shock, causing Sergeant Jo Sung-sik to tilt his head.
“What’s wrong, sir?”
“Well...”
Yeongwoo started to say something but then closed his mouth.
Why else would the ‘wanted poster’ set to find his father react at this moment?
‘Could my father be connected to the prison somehow?’
That was the only conclusion he could draw for now.
The search arrow on the wanted poster that reappeared in his vision was also pointing south—toward Uijeongbu.
“...”
Yeongwoo stared vaguely southward, reflecting once more on his own origins.
「This character is a random composite of 4th-grade settings.」
「Influenced by parental settings, acquires the following immutable element upon birth: #4th-grade #Orphan」
「As a congenital 4th-grade composite, receives negative adjustments to acquiring 2nd-grade or higher settings throughout lifespan.」
The ruthless preamble of the Fate Ledger had once filled him with dread.
But now, Yeongwoo no longer feared those bizarre phrases.
He had become who he was by clashing with far more terrifying things than mere strings of text.
Jeong Yeongwoo07.
The bold ‘Jeong Yeongwoo’ who was the seventh among all Jeong Yeongwoos on Earth to make contact with an exchange, and the foremost sword of Gyeongbuk, Gangnam, and Joseon.
‘Also the advertising model for the pan-universal weapon brand Doggo.’
And the man destined one day to cross blades with Kim Jong-un, who would manifest as the Golden Diamond Demon.
But even so.
[Father]: 6th-grade Extra
[Mother]: 1st-grade Supporting Character
Before the clear confirmation of his roots via the Fate Ledger, he couldn’t help but feel small.
Naturally, Jeong Yeongwoo07 had also been born to a pair of man and woman, inheriting much from them.
‘A random composite of 4th-grade settings...’
It meant that a proper fusion of parts from a 6th-grade father and 1st-grade mother had birthed the system-certified ‘misfit.’
“What exactly happened in Uijeongbu? Did the inmates stage a mass breakout or something?”
Hoping it wasn’t the case as he asked, Jo Sung-sik delivered a merciless answer.
“Yes. They say several exchanges dropped right over the prison too. That’s how the inmates poured out amid the chaos.”
“Ah...”
Yeongwoo pressed his forehead.
This meant his father was very likely one of the criminals imprisoned in Uijeongbu Prison, and now he had to sift him out from among those convicts.
‘Will the wanted poster pinpoint the exact target I’m looking for? So far, it’s only seemed to indicate direction.’
Would it mark the target’s head with some kind of sign once he got close?
He’d only know by meeting them in person.
“Hmm.”
Yeongwoo stared south with a troubled expression.
Then, Yeoncheon’s First Sword, Jo Sung-sik, cautiously asked a question.
“Are you thinking of heading to Uijeongbu...?”
“Yes. If it’s that much of a mess, I’ll have to go see for myself.”
There was no need to mention his father was there.
But separately, one question lingered.
‘If there was that big a commotion in Uijeongbu, why doesn’t Seoul know about it yet?’
Shouldn’t the members of the First Swords’ alliance, who had started uniting early, at least be aware?
“...”
In the end, he’d have to go to Uijeongbu himself to find out.
Having made up his mind, Yeongwoo extended his left hand into the air and summoned the black sword.
Whoosh.
「Nol’s Ironclad Belt」 - Mutated Belt
【Recovers weapons remotely.】
The black sword lying on the ground shot back like an arrow and slotted itself into Yeongwoo’s belt.
Clank!
“Eek...?”
As expected, Sergeant Jo Sung-sik jumped in surprise once more.
Meanwhile, Yeongwoo had mounted Neugig with the golden goblin in tow.
Thud!
Jo Sung-sik sheathed the sword he held and saw off Joseon’s First Sword.
“If I visit Seoul, could I see you again...?”
“Yes. Every afternoon at 3 PM, Seoul’s First Swords gather at Yongsan Park. Come then, and you’ll find me.”
Yeongwoo added that otherwise, they’d have to come directly to Gangnam.
And that they generally didn’t stick close to Seoul.
“Ahh... So there’s a gathering of First Swords.”
For Jo Sung-sik, who had been guarding the front lines, everything he heard from the Yeongwoo who came from Seoul was new and astonishing.
“Please go carefully. Pocheon is close to the gray zone, but you should be a bit cautious starting from Yangju.”
Of course, who there could even handle this monster of a man? Still, one never knew.
Jo Sung-sik offered the advice out of concern.
“Yes, thank you. If I spot any threats on the way, I’ll clear them out.”
Meaning he’d kill every being that posed a threat to him or Seoul as he passed.
“...!”
Jo Sung-sik understood the implication a beat late and felt a chill run through him unbidden.
Clank, clank.
Finally, the Neugig carrying Yeongwoo began to slowly move its iron hooves.
* * *
Gyeonggi-do, Pocheon City.
Pre-reset, it had a population of 140,000, one of the cities with very low population density by area.
Gangnam-gu alone had 540,000 people.
‘No one’s here at all. It’s not even a gray zone—it’s practically a ghost town.’
According to Jo Sung-sik, Pocheon City became a kind of public hunting ground around 1 PM, when all nearby First Swords and monster hunters flocked in to earn money and leave.
‘Yangju’s First Sword does act as this city’s guardian. That’s why people live here.’
|Current region: ‘Pocheon.’
|No First Sword in this region.
No First Sword serving as a defense force, and thus no residents making it their home.
That was why the buildings along the road Yeongwoo now passed were mostly so badly damaged they seemed unfit even for short-term rentals.
Traces of monsters or mutants summoned here rampaging freely, no doubt.
‘This is what happens when people don’t live somewhere.’
Every night at 11 PM, when anomalous weather began, those without shelter mostly died.
Thus, Pocheon—with scarcely any intact buildings—was effectively uninhabitable.
No method to restore destroyed buildings had been found yet.
The silver lining was that many areas bordered Pocheon, making it easy to leave.
Neighbors like Cheorwon, Hwacheon, Yangju, Dongducheon, Namyangju—too many to count on one hand.
‘They wouldn’t have gone near Uijeongbu, so they scattered east and west.’
Confirming the ‘Frightened Cat’ had its eyes closed, Yeongwoo urged Neugig to pick up speed.
Kwa-kwang, kwa-kwang!
No point lingering in Pocheon if no one lived there anymore.
‘No merchants either.’
Pocheon’s clear sky.
A hub for First Swords and hunters from all over, so any merchant who landed here could sell out in an instant.
In short, early closure.
“...”
Yeongwoo continued cutting through the desolate Pocheon City.
Then.
|Current region: ‘Yangju.’
|This region’s First Sword: ‘Choi Jong-seon02’. 2nd generation, defenses: 233.
“...!”
Finally, the region status switched to Yangju, revealing Yangju First Sword’s profile.
‘233...?’
What fiercely grabbed Yeongwoo’s attention was Yangju First Sword’s defense count.
Over 200 defenses was a phenomenon only seen in North Korea.
‘No, even with all the chaos around here... 233 defenses?’
It not only hinted at the brutal atmosphere in Yangju but also that Choi Jong-seon was no ordinary figure.
Kwa-kwang, kwang!
As he passed Yangju’s outskirts and homes came into view, people appeared sporadically.
‘Definitely different.’
Not a single unarmed person in Yeongwoo’s sight, all maintaining ample distance from each other as they moved.
‘About 40 meters.’
Likely the safety distance learned through bitter experience over the past few days.
In Yangju, breaching that distance meant either fleeing or preparing to fight.
-Kkueee!
Of course, Yeongwoo rode an iron horse from another world.
-Weeeeng!
With a gleaming golden flying greatsword at his side, Yangju’s ‘rules’ didn’t apply.
Kwa-kwang!
His speed was too fast, and those he encountered hurriedly cleared the path.
“What, what is that?”
“Damn! Scared me.”
“Riding a horse around...?”
Yangju’s survivors eyed the mysterious mounted figure that appeared out of nowhere, gripped by an ominous premonition of fresh ripples.
Because.
Kwa-kwang, kwang!
The dark steed, now nearly vanished from sight, headed toward the black pillar in the city center.
Where merchants still lingered in Yangju.
‘Oh...! Merchants are still here.’
Yeongwoo atop Neugig fixed his gaze on the distant black pillar.
Yangju’s merchant had landed smack in the city center, so Yeongwoo naturally pressed inward.
The atmosphere differed from the outskirts.
No lone wanderers here; safety distances shrank to about 20 meters.
Probably because the city center housed folks familiar enough with each other.
‘Still maintaining safety distances is unusual. City centers are usually more relaxed.’
Related to the First Sword’s exceptional defense count, perhaps?
But not a homicidal maniac slaughtering all in sight.
If so, the center would be empty like Pocheon.
‘Unique city.’
Unlike Seoul, few ordinary residents visible.
Mostly combat-ready fighters with solid self-defense skills.
Life here was no picnic.
“...”
The black pillar drew nearer, so Yeongwoo pulled Neugig’s reins to slow down.
Yangju citizens, who had been lurking between buildings watching him, began closing in bit by bit.
But only from behind.
‘What? Fascinated by the horse?’
In minutes, over twenty shadowed him, but Yeongwoo stayed calm.
He was confident he could fight them all at once and survive if needed.
And above all.
Goooooo...!
The eerie presence unique to black pillars emanated from ahead.
He was nearly at Yangju’s merchant.
‘Cash is overflowing right now, so just meet the merchant and head to Uijeongbu.’
As Yeongwoo pressed on with this thought, the base of the black pillar—hidden by buildings—came into view.
“...!”
Only then did Yeongwoo understand why Yangju’s wary residents had started tailing him.
“...Ah.”
Yeongwoo let out an involuntary sigh, and the woman sitting before the merchant in the distance turned toward the visitor.
『Yangju First Sword』
No room for doubt, given the splendid title shining above her head.
She was Yangju First Sword, Choi Jong-seon02, with 233 defenses.
“...”
Having thoroughly scanned Yeongwoo’s appearance, Yangju First Sword picked up the sword from the ground with a troubled look, when an unexpected sound burst forth.
“Wahhh...!”
An unmistakable baby’s cry.
“Huh...?”
Yeongwoo blinked in shock, and at the feet of the just-risen Yangju First Sword, a swaddled infant thrashed about.
“If you’re here to fight, make it quick.”
Choi Jong-seon jabbed at Yeongwoo with weary eyes and voice.
So Yeongwoo.
Clank, crash!
Dropped all the bows and swords he carried to the ground and said,
“Ma’am! I’m an orphan on my way to Uijeongbu to find my birth father.”
“...?”
“Would it be alright if I just quickly meet the merchant and go?”