Chapter 162
Chapter 162
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: 38. Hot Night (6)
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Tourism.
Traveling to another region or country to sightsee its scenery, customs, and culture.
Thus, Youngwoo's proposal was semantically spot-on for tourism.
"Where else? The dungeon. I'll take you there."
"The dungeon...?"
Having heard the name of the tourist spot, Jeong-gu tilted his head for a moment before his eyes widened.
That place you could only enter by activating the sphere left behind by a mutant on a nighttime path.
The otherworldly space where people from around the world gathered for desperate life-or-death battles, wasn't it called a dungeon?
"I'm not an idiot—why the hell would I crawl into that place?"
"It's worth seeing at least once before you die. When else would you get a chance like that?"
"That's not the point..."
Jeong-gu's words caught in his throat, leaving him gaping silently.
Youngwoo picked up where he left off.
"In dungeons, not betraying your comrades and strictly following the rules is crucial."
"So why the hell do you want to go there with me? If you die, I'm free. What's my reason not to betray you?"
"Betrayal. You already didn't do it once."
"What?"
Jeong-gu's face twisted in confusion at Youngwoo's words.
Then, realization dawned, and he clapped without thinking.
"Ah, damn it. You're right."
If he really wanted to be free, he should've ambushed during Jung Youngwoo07's spinal surgery on the operating table.
"But no need to regret it. Even lying down, Father, I could've beaten you."
Youngwoo's statement was literally true.
*Whirrr...*
Because he had an auto-combat greatsword equipped with Prisoner Swordsmanship.
How could a mere Dobong First Sword beat a legendary-grade weapon loaded with legendary martial arts?
"...This guy's for real."
"And better to trust one fellow countryman than leave your back to foreigners."
Youngwoo added that blood ties made it even better.
At that, Jeong-gu glanced at the sword on his waist and spoke up.
"Don't I get a veto? There are other First Swords in Seoul, right? Just pick one of them. They're all familiar faces."
"Well, most of them are the type who'd stab me in the back the moment I'm in danger. It's only natural—they're outsiders, after all."
Youngwoo didn't think betraying others in a crisis was wrong.
In this world, betting everything on what's best for you was the smart choice.
That's why he rated Jong-su so highly for not swinging his sword at him even after finding his mangled body in Chungju.
He was a rare character in the post-Reset world.
'And now there's one more person who might pull that off.'
None other than his father.
No, father candidate Kim Jeong-gu.
Of course, he couldn't trust him completely, but as he said earlier, he was more trustworthy than the other First Swords at the meeting.
But paradoxically, that was exactly why.
"You do have veto power. Dungeons are places where trust matters—forcing you along wouldn't end well."
"Oh, really?"
Jeong-gu brightened as if he'd been waiting, but Youngwoo added a warning.
"You saw it yourself with Father, but at least on the Korean Peninsula, no one can take me down."
"...Probably."
"That means if I die in the dungeon, this country's combat strength drops massively."
"...Isn't that a bit self-important?"
"Dungeon rewards are huge too. Survive to the end, and you get guaranteed unique gear."
"...Makes you realize life is one-of-a-kind too."
"And more than anything, you want to watch your son get betrayed and killed by foreigners? Last time we got lucky with comrades, but who knows this time."
"......"
Youngwoo had Jeong-gu at a loss for words this time.
Setting aside acceptance of the "son" label, the idea of Korea's ace First Sword dying among foreigners grated on him.
As Jeong-gu pursed his lips searching for a retort—
*Ding.*
A bell rang at the guest room entrance.
Seon-ah had brought the others as promised.
"The kids are here, Father. Lighten up your expression."
Youngwoo said this while unloading his waist weapons to the golden goblin.
He then gestured for 'Golden Trajectory' to hide behind the sofa.
*Whirrr.*
It obediently lay down behind the living room sofa as instructed.
"Sh-should I take my sword off too?"
"Of course."
"You should've said so earlier."
Jeong-gu hurriedly hid his sword behind the living room sofa.
"You're not hiding a dagger in your pocket again, are you?"
Confirming Jeong-gu's return, Youngwoo opened the guest room door.
*Click.*
In the long hallway beyond stood Kim Tae-jun's wife, Kim Seon-ok, flanked by their two children, Moses and I-hyun.
"Ah, Representative, come on in."
After a split-second's thought, Youngwoo went with "Representative" for Seon-ok.
She was indeed the head of the Moi Cultural Foundation.
Meanwhile, Jeong-gu...
"Oh, nice to meet you. I'm Kim Jeong-gu."
He bowed deeply and reflexively offered a handshake.
*Swish.*
Seon-ok lightly took it and introduced herself.
"Yes, nice to meet you. I'm Kim Seon-ok. These are my children."
As she introduced Moses and I-hyun in turn, Seon-ah, standing quietly in the hallway corner, spoke to Youngwoo.
"Your comrades will be here soon too."
And sure enough, the elevator dinged from down the hall.
*Swish.*
Two long shadows stretched across the hallway.
It was Jong-su and Tae-young's silhouettes.
"Hyung-nim!"
Jong-su spotted Youngwoo and dashed down the hall.
"No trouble in the meantime, right? I called you because there's something interesting."
"Ah, thanks to you, we've been doing fi—..."
Mid-jest, Jong-su noticed Youngwoo's changed title and gaped.
"Joseon...? What the hell did you do in half a day?"
Then Officer Kwon Tae-young bowed his head as he approached, predictably eyeing the stranger Jeong-gu first, true to cop form.
"And this is...?"
"Kim Jeong-gu. My father."
"Your father...?"
"Yes."
Youngwoo introduced the two first-timers, and Seon-ah, who'd been watching, slipped back.
"The room's gonna be lively for the first time in ages. I'll head out! Call me on the radio if you need anything."
"Yes. Thanks for your hard work."
With Seon-ah's temporary clock-out, headcount dropped by one, but the hallway was still bustling.
Seven people left, after all.
"Come on in, everyone. TV time until 11 p.m."
* * *
Television.
More precisely, the Reset world's television.
From Youngwoo's experience so far, it was only in pricey day-use spots like Suite 3233 at the Parnassus Hotel.
And accordingly, the Reset TV broadcast things that were far from ordinary.
'Last time it was footage of experts from various countries sleeping, and me promoting Dogok... Makes you wonder if channels change based on guests.'
Especially telling was it showing a Returner's room.
Youngwoo was the only one in Korea treating mutants like 'friends.'
"Everyone into the bedroom."
Confirming the TV was in the bedroom again, Youngwoo gathered them.
As Officer Kwon Tae-young neared, he gently pulled him aside outside the room.
"Officer."
"Yes, Youngwoo-ssi."
"You still have it? The bracelet the precinct chief used."
"Ah."
Tae-young raised his right wrist at Youngwoo's words.
*Swish.*
Sure enough, wrapped around it was former Icheon First Sword Kim Byung-chul's relic.
「Cross Knot」 - Mutant Bracelet
【Psionic Resistance 20%】
【--Empty Slot--】
A bracelet with 20% psionic resistance plus a gem slot—an absurd piece of gear.
Just days ago, Youngwoo hadn't grasped its value, but now he did.
"I'm ashamed, but... could I use that bracelet? I'll give you a weapon you can use right away in exchange."
Instructing the golden goblin to open the subpocket, relic and mutant-grade weapons slid out.
Tae-young stared at them, flustered, then back at Youngwoo.
"You really need this bracelet, huh."
"Yes. I do."
Youngwoo answered shamelessly.
20% psionic resistance was worth it.
Bluntly put, for Tae-young, whose path to top-tier was dim, it meant little anyway.
Against humans or aliens dealing psionic damage, he'd die nine times out of ten.
"It was given to me out of goodwill anyway. If you need it, of course. And you'll put it to better use."
Tae-young readily removed and handed over the bracelet; Youngwoo bowed awkwardly.
He then pulled a weapon from the goblin's subpocket and offered it.
"Please take this at least. It'll bother me otherwise."
It was leg gear, mutant-grade, easy to part with, but his sincerity was real.
"If you insist, I'll gratefully accept."
Tae-young took the offered weapon, and Jong-su called out.
"H-hyung-nim."
"Yeah."
"Something weird's on that TV...?"
"What? Already on? Who turned it on?"
With kids around, who turned it on early?
The reckless father?
Rushing into the bedroom, Youngwoo saw Kim Tae-jun's family lined up by the bed, staring blankly at the TV.
Jeong-gu stood a bit ahead, remote in hand.
'Ah.'
That nosy guy must've turned it on acting like he knew best.
But the problem was—
—These reactionary bastards, kill them all.
The bizarre voice echoing through the room.
"Crazy."
Hearing it, Youngwoo felt chills down his neck.
He knew the voice's owner and had confirmed it on the TV screen reflected in the kids' eyes.
—I'll kill them all! Won't let any go.
What the post-Reset TV was showing now was.
[Dictator-Kim Jong-un]
North Korea's Kim Jong-un, ranting to himself in a pitch-black space.