Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: 21. Retribution (3)
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‘This place isn’t exactly normal either.’
Seongnam, currently under the reign of its 31st First Sword.
For Young-woo, it was impossible not to think of Kimcheon.
That city that had been ravaged by mutants because it lacked a proper First Sword.
“…….”
Young-woo frowned as he recalled the time when the First Sword title had automatically passed to just anyone nearby in Kimcheon.
It was a prime example of what happens in this reset world when no one steps up as the strong.
‘But the same thing couldn’t have happened in Seongnam.’
Swish.
Young-woo’s gaze shifted back to Seongnam’s regional status.
|You are currently in the ‘Seongnam’ region.
|This region’s First Sword is ‘Lee Nam-hee101’. 31st generation, defended 1 time.
Seongnam was right below Seoul—directly under Gangnam District, the most bustling area.
So even if the Seongnam First Sword was weak, it would be nearly impossible for a mutant to survive long in Seongnam.
Because.
‘They’re already eyeing monsters as far as the outskirts of Gyeonggi from Seoul. In a situation like this, would they leave the closest Seongnam alone?’
Thus, the Seongnam First Sword title changing hands dozens of times was likely unrelated to mutants.
For instance.
‘Maybe top-tier challengers kept showing up.’
It was hard for Young-woo to imagine with his common sense, but this was right below Seoul, where 25 mutants appeared every day. Nothing would be too surprising.
‘If I head into the city, I’ll figure out what’s going on.’
Current time: 11:15 a.m.
Young-woo was traveling along the highway, just like the day before.
But even on the same highway, the atmosphere was vastly different from crossing Chungbuk or the outskirts of Gyeonggi.
Apartment complexes were already lining both sides of the road, and people could be seen near them.
‘Definitely more people near Seoul.’
Of course, this was the time when the active population was at its peak.
An hour after short-term stays ended.
Weak and strong alike would be out scavenging daily necessities or completing daily quests.
‘Oh, right.’
Young-woo’s gaze finally shifted to the quest window on the left side of his vision.
The daily quest list had updated to match his current region, Seongnam.
[Daily] “Scout”
<Mission> Approach within 10 meters of a monster.
<Reward> 3,000 karma
The first quest was the usual one.
The mission that lured people into fighting monsters.
‘This one’s fixed no matter the region.’
It meant everyone had to debate whether to tackle the Scout quest right after waking up in the morning.
Of course, it mainly applied to the majority who were still closer to ordinary people than to the skilled fighters with decent combat prowess.
The skilled ones would naturally hunt down monster spawn points, while ordinary people had to avoid monsters.
But in this world, didn’t you need about 4,000 karma a day just to breathe, even without eating?
The cheapest motel short-term stay was 3,000, plus 1,000 in base tax.
So if you skipped the Scout quest, you had to beg, offer some service for pay, or whatever to scrape together 3,000 karma.
And on top of that.
‘For ordinary people, the second quest is basically mandatory too. Tax is an issue, but they can’t survive without eating.’
Unlike the fixed “Scout,” the second daily quest varied by region and day. Young-woo checked it.
His eyes widened.
“……!”
A horrific, unbelievable quest was displayed.
[Daily] “Aid for Unfortunate Neighbors”
<Mission> Find a disabled person and give them karma.
<Reward> 2,000 karma
“What the hell is this bullshit……?”
Young-woo was reminded anew that this reset world wasn’t managed by humans.
At a glance, it seemed like mutual aid—help the disabled and get rewarded—but it lacked context.
The setting for this quest: a merciless world where personal morals and conscience went unchecked.
No sane person would have people wandering around hunting for the disabled.
And they sure as hell wouldn’t dare name it “Aid for Unfortunate Neighbors.”
“…….”
Young-woo felt chills creeping up his arms and neck.
Who the hell made a quest like this?
It had to be either something with vicious malice toward humans or something with an absurd lack of understanding.
‘Either way, not optimistic.’
As Young-woo examined the horrific daily quest, the endless row of apartments to the right of the road broke off, suddenly opening up his view.
“……?”
Turning his head that way, Young-woo saw two relatively low buildings flash by in succession.
“…Ah.”
He caught the writing on the upper parts of the buildings in that brief moment and let out a groan.
「Evergreen Middle School」
「Evergreen Elementary School」
So that’s what they were—schools.
Probably buildings that wouldn’t be used anymore.
Most survivors in this world were killers. What would they even teach kids?
And even before that, it was uncertain if kids would keep existing.
‘Maybe humanity ends with this generation.’
Glancing back at the two receding schools, Young-woo spotted the patrol car slowing down behind him.
Jong-soo and Tae-young were clearly distracted by the schools too.
‘11:23 a.m.’
Young-woo checked his wristwatch and pulled back on Negig’s reins to slow down.
He had time to wait for his companions to snap out of their reverie.
Based on the pattern so far, monsters and mutants spawned at 1 p.m.
‘Wait here a bit to snag a mutant on the way, or head straight to Seoul.’
A fork in the road.
Waiting in Seongnam had the advantage of monopolizing mutants.
Fewer competitors than Seoul, so he could snag them stably.
Seoul, on the other hand, had fierce competition but also more mutants.
And above all.
‘If I enter Seoul before 1, I can see right away how things are running there.’
In this world, 1 p.m. was now the hottest time slot.
The time when the most money flooded the streets.
First Swords would hunt mutants, and other skilled folks would scramble for even monsters.
But Seoul was special: this would happen simultaneously across 25 adjacent districts.
‘Seoul it is. Looks like my father’s in Seoul too.’
Young-woo saw the arrow on the “Wanted Poster” still pointing north.
Of course, north from Seongnam just meant he could be in Seoul, or maybe Uijeongbu or Dongducheon.
Either way, entering Seoul would reveal it naturally.
From his father’s whereabouts to the state of the country’s most populous area.
And who the strongest First Sword in the country was.
“…….”
As Young-woo’s thoughts reached that point, a noise erupted from ahead on the road.
Vroooom……!
‘Engine noise?’
Young-woo questioned himself but was already certain.
It wasn’t a sound you mistook for anything else; it was too distinct.
Clank.
Young-woo pulled the reins once more, bringing Negig to a full stop. The patrol car following him halted too.
“Hyung-nim, what’s going on?”
Jong-soo leaned out the passenger door asking this, then fell silent upon spotting the object approaching from the other side of the road.
Vroooom!
Vehicles were approaching in a single file along the highway.
No—more precisely, Young-woo’s group was in the path they were heading.
The adjacent lane was empty, so no traffic issue.
“Uh… hold on, this…”
Tae-young voiced concern, noting the vehicles’ high speed.
He figured they’d slam the brakes in shock upon seeing Young-woo.
And rightly so—Young-woo was decked out in gleaming gear atop a pitch-black iron horse.
Sure enough.
Screeech!
As the distance shrank to about 40 meters, the lead vehicle abruptly braked.
The problem was.
Screeeeech!
Startled by the iron horse, they’d yanked the wheel too.
Disaster ensued.
Screeeeech!
The lead vehicle spun out of control, and the ones behind piled into it in a chain collision.
Boom, crash!
Right in front of Young-woo’s group, six vehicles smashed into the guardrail and stopped.
“Gasp…….”
Jong-soo and Tae-young just gasped in shock at the sudden chaos, but Young-woo reacted differently.
Leap!
He vaulted off Negig’s back and—
Shing!
Drew his black sword.
Current time: 11:28 a.m.
Six vehicles crossing Seongnam from north—Seoul direction—toward the south at this odd hour.
Young-woo didn’t think they were ordinary people.
Owning vehicles meant they handled serious cash, and traveling in a group screamed cartel with a purpose.
Like the “Seoul folks” the Yeongju cattle chasers feared, or the self-proclaimed “hunters” who’d shown up in Icheon.
“H-Hyung-nim?”
Click, clank.
Ignoring Jong-soo’s puzzled voice, Young-woo approached the lead vehicle, its nose buried in the guardrail.
The man in the driver’s seat was clutching his forehead.
“Fuck… what the hell.”
He looked startled by the unexpected accident, but as Young-woo predicted, no injuries.
A car crash couldn’t dent his body—superhuman level driver.
“You okay? Sorry. Looks like it was my fault.”
Young-woo spoke without a hint of apology, prompting the man to glare angrily, then quickly calm his eyes.
He’d swiftly recalled what startled him.
The opponent’s extraordinary gear.
And above all.
“W-What the hell is that?”
The man gawked anew at Negig.
He hadn’t been seeing things.
But the other drivers behind, unaware of the situation, kicked open their crumpled doors and piled out.