Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: 22. Make Them See Gwanak (3)
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First Sword Assembly.
The moment Youngwoo heard those words, he recalled the warning he'd received when he was about to kill the son of the Gangnam First Sword.
- Th... This is far enough. If you go any further, you'll make enemies of all of Seoul.
Enemies of all of Seoul.
‘I thought it was an exaggeration, but maybe not.’
In this Seoul, where a civilian-government pact had been made, what could it mean for all the First Swords to gather in one place?
It certainly wasn't for them to settle life-or-death grudges.
“What exactly is the First Sword Assembly?”
When Youngwoo asked, the officer checked his watch again before answering.
“Every day at 3 p.m., the First Swords from every district in Seoul gather at Yongsan Park. Government officials observe as well.”
“The government observes?”
When Youngwoo repeated in surprise, the officer nodded.
“They have to implement whatever’s decided at the assembly.”
“My God.”
Youngwoo made a face as if he finally understood.
They said the First Swords were backing the government, but in reality, it was the government serving the First Swords.
‘Now it makes sense in a logical way.’
That was right.
In this reset world, a ‘functioning government’ could only operate like this.
“You mentioned earlier that I should attend the assembly. As an outsider, what kind of reception would I get if I went there?”
“As long as you’re not there to harm civilians, you’ll be welcomed in some form or another. Even I can tell you’re no ordinary person. Seoul’s a great place for the strong to live.”
The officer cautiously scanned Youngwoo from head to toe.
Then he continued.
“If you want a First Sword position, you can challenge anyone attending the assembly. If you’re after a monster business, you can duel the current holder and take over their rights.”
“Monster... what? You do business with monsters?”
Youngwoo’s eyes widened at the unbelievable story, and the officer nodded as if it were habit.
“Yes. It’s one of the reasons Seoul’s order is maintained.”
Monster business. Also known as the Seoul Rotation.
According to the officer, this was a kind of economic recovery project proposed by Seoul National University side at the first assembly.
It involved selecting experts of a certain level from each district, having them lead dozens or hundreds of civilians to complete the ‘Scout’ quest.
[Daily] “Scout”
<Mission> Approach within 10 meters of a monster.
<Reward> 3,000 karma
And from the 3,000 karma income per person generated this way, the business takes 1,000 karma as a fee.
“...That’s a crazy idea.”
Even as Youngwoo said it, he understood that this was the best realistic option.
If it actually worked, it was a no-lose deal for people who found it hard to hunt monsters themselves.
Of course, on the flip side.
‘Those strong folks who didn’t get the rights would have no choice but to be dissatisfied. It’s basically controlling hunting grounds.’
As Youngwoo thought that far, the officer’s lips twitched.
“But that’s not all.”
“......?”
“Did you know the Scout quest applies separately to each district?”
“No way.”
“Yes. Even if you complete the quest in Seocho, you can do it again in another district.”
“So that’s the Seoul ‘Rotation.’”
This time, Youngwoo nodded.
Exactly. The Seoul Rotation was a business where strong experts lead clients around Seoul’s districts, helping with Scout quests—literally printing money.
Assuming at least two districts, after fees, that’s over 4,000 karma per person.
“An enormous amount of money must be circulating. So plenty of people gunning for those business rights.”
“Yes. That’s why all procedures—everything from duels between experts—only count if they happen during the assembly. No knife fights in the city streets.”
In other words, duels or business disputes outside Yongsan Park were all illegal.
“Pretty systematic. How is this even possible? The reset only started three days ago.”
When Youngwoo voiced the perfectly natural question, the officer held up two fingers and folded one down first.
Shh.
“First, Seoul National University, handling the government’s top brass. And...”
Then he folded the second finger and spat out a fearsome name.
“Thanks to Gangnam First Sword Jung Hyun-sik. He’s the one who created the First Sword Assembly.”
“......”
Gangnam First Sword Jung Hyun-sik.
A name he’d heard twice already, not even a few hours after arriving in Seoul.
“Is the Gangnam First Sword that impressive?”
Pretending ignorance, Youngwoo asked, and the officer checked his wristwatch with a more urgent expression than before.
“I can only say he’s the one and only person who can gather the First Swords. Anyway, withdrawal time is almost up.”
“......!”
Youngwoo checked his own watch and saw time was indeed tight.
‘12:29 p.m.’
In 31 minutes, monsters and mutants would pour out across all of Seoul.
“Withdraw immediately!”
The police controlling Yangjae Interchange were already loading into their vehicles.
They were all evacuating to safe zones before the monsters fell.
‘I thought they’d stay and clean up some monsters, but no.’
Soon, the so-called ‘monster business operators’ he’d only heard about would be prowling nearby, leading crowds of civilians.
What kind of place was Seoul, really?
Having actually come here, Youngwoo felt even more confused.
Vroooom!
Finally, the patrol cars loaded with personnel sped away down the road.
Thanks to that, the exit toward Sadang that Youngwoo’s group needed to enter was now clear.
“...Let’s go. We need to hurry too.”
Youngwoo signaled to Tae-young and Jong-su behind him and grabbed the reins of his Neuggig.
* * *
Leaving Yangjae Interchange and entering the Gangnam Loop Road.
Moving along the Seoul outer loop, the districts changed quickly.
Flash!
|You are currently in ‘Dongjak.’
|This district’s First Sword is ‘Lee Han-wook09.’ 2 defenses, 8 attacks.
‘Dongjak First Sword... Lee Han-wook.’
Was the Dongjak First Sword also attending the assembly?
Youngwoo’s perspective on district statuses had already changed.
‘Come to think of it, I forgot to ask how many districts participate in the assembly.’
From the warning about making enemies of all Seoul if he harmed Gangnam First Sword’s son, it was clear a significant number of districts were involved.
The nuance from that officer’s words suggested the assembly held great power.
But Seoul had a whopping 25 districts.
No matter how great the Gangnam First Sword was, had he really united all of Seoul’s First Swords in just a few days?
‘There must be districts not in the assembly yet.’
So what happened to those?
Enemies of the assembly? Or classified as unclaimed territory for now?
‘The more I learn, the more complicated it gets.’
Youngwoo shook his head and shifted his gaze to the cityscape emerging on the right.
In the distance, he saw a massive white building where crowds of people were pouring inside.
‘What’s that?’
Squinting, he finally made out the red logo on top of the building.
It was Homeplus.
‘No way, one of the shelters?’
Given the time, that had to be it.
Or a waiting spot for ‘clients’ until monster spawn points were set.
‘Everything here is impressive.’
As Youngwoo muttered that inwardly, his surroundings suddenly darkened.
Flash!
He’d entered the Bongcheon Tunnel, piercing the northern end of Gwanak Mountain.
‘Crazy. All the lights are out.’
The ceiling and wall lights were all petrified too, making the tunnel pitch black.
“Youngwoo, you okay?”
Tae-young, entering the tunnel late, shone his headlights on Youngwoo, who waved it off to signal he was fine.
His Neuggig had kept running steadily even after entering the tunnel.
Maybe this iron horse could sense surroundings without light.
‘Got a solid gift for once.’
Youngwoo stroked the Neuggig’s nape as if to say he trusted it, and the creature lifted its head slightly, letting out an inexplicable sound.
-Kwee...!
Then it accelerated even faster, carrying Youngwoo along.
Boom, crunch!
“Y-Youngwoo!”
Tae-young cried out in worry at the speedup, but the sound soon faded from Youngwoo’s ears.
The distance to the vehicle had widened so much the headlights no longer reached, and soon the district status updated again.
Flash!
|You are currently in ‘Gwanak.’
|This district’s First Sword is ‘Jo Sang-ik01.’ 1 attack, 22 defenses.
He’d already left Dongjak and entered Gwanak.
‘Jo Sang-ik... 01?’
The first Jo Sang-ik nationwide to contact an exchange.
Youngwoo blankly stared at the district status glowing brightly in the pitch darkness.
Around then, light began to grow from the tunnel’s far end.
He was nearing the exit.
Crunch!
At the same moment, Neuggig ramped up speed further, and Youngwoo felt like he was being pulled into the light.
Flash!
The surroundings blazed bright.
“...Ugh.”
He’d finally exited the tunnel.
The relatively fresh air whipping his face was proof.
But it wasn’t just fresh air greeting Youngwoo outside the tunnel.
Flash!
As his temporarily blinded vision cleared, he spotted about a dozen young people.
“Wh-what?”
“Monsters...?”
“Monsters at this hour?”
Unlike their youthful faces, they were skilled fighters, each with an Early Bird at their waist.
And above all.
“...Ah.”
In June, this sweltering weather, they wore jackets.
The identical emblem on every jacket felt oddly familiar.
“......”
Youngwoo stared blankly at the young people gathered at the tunnel entrance.
Then, recalling which district he was in, he reached one conclusion.
“Are you all from Seoul National University?”
“......!”
As everyone’s lips twitched at his words.
Boom!
A massive roar echoed from the sky, and countless pillars of light began stabbing down to the ground.