Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: The River Crossing
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"I'm only saying this once, so everyone remember it well. The other players we can definitely identify right now are the high school girl walking ahead of us and the two men next to her."
Jeongwoo scratched his head.
"Is one of those guys the assassin you mentioned?"
"Yeah. That girl. Her tracking skills weren't ordinary."
"Figures. I thought it was unusual how she kept looking around the whole time we were walking."
"...And the five monks walking at the very back of this line. They're players too."
Ma Jeongwoo nodded as if he knew everything.
Yoo Sora pretended to look at me while checking out the monks.
Michael burst into hearty laughter and called out to the monks.
"Ooh! Monks are players too yoou?"
Oh, you crazy bastard.
The group of monks, who had been pretending to be NPCs, looked flustered and glanced at each other.
A middle-aged man who seemed to be the head monk clasped his hands together with a displeased expression.
"Y-Yes, that's right."
"I'm Buddhist too. Nice to meet you, monks yoou."
"Are you a Bodhisattva?"
"Yes. I'm a Bodhisattva. Our mom is too yoou."
"Namo Amitabha.... Are the people ahead also players?"
"Yes! That guy with the slanted eyes over there and the one in the red coat. They're all my friends yoou."
'You crazy bastard.'
Jeongwoo grabbed Michael by the scruff of the neck and pulled him back. Yoo Sora slapped her palm over Michael's mouth.
Smack.
I stepped forward to the monks and continued the conversation.
"Hello."
"Hello."
"Sorry if our player bothered you. Well then...."
The monk bowed his head to us in greeting.
"Guanyin Bodhisattva...."
When I returned to my spot, I gritted my teeth and said to Michael.
"Michael."
"Yeah? Cheonjae Kim. What is it yoou."
"Don't reveal our identities to other players."
"Why yoou?"
"Most of the players in this group are veterans of the Land of Ruin."
Michael tilted his head.
"Really yoou?"
"Yeah. Probably every group has veterans mixed in. Otherwise, they wouldn't be so wary of each other."
"Ooh...."
"Before we cross to Gangbuk, most of the people here will die."
Yoo Sora, who had been listening, sidled up next to me.
"Cheonjae-ssi, is that true? Most of them die...."
"Yes. I didn't tell you earlier because I didn't want you to worry, but including NPCs, less than ten percent of the people here will survive."
"Can we survive?"
"...."
I didn't answer.
Because I didn't know either.
With no response, Yoo Sora made a dejected face. She knew the silence was the answer.
"Sora-ssi. Michael. From now on, don't get friendly with other groups or get attached. It'll just drag you down like poison."
"...."
* * * * *
After passing the Gwangjang intersection, we entered the terminal and soon arrived at the Han River.
The moment everyone saw the vast expanse of the Han River, smiles spread across their faces.
A large cruise ship being used as a cafe and several boats came into view.
The citizen NPCs began uttering hopeful words.
-We... We can go to Gangbuk!
-We survived.... We made it.... Hic....
-God, thank you!
Major Kim Juncheol's unit spread out widely and engaged the zombies in the river.
There weren't many, and they were scattered sporadically, making them easy targets.
Bang!
After clearing the area, Major Kim Juncheol shouted with a bright face.
"All personnel, board the ships!"
The citizen NPCs began lining up to board the large cruise ship.
At the entrance, a transparent barrier prevented players from crossing.
[Entry time has not arrived.]
I took a cigarette from Jeongwoo.
Sizzle. Sizzle.
Inhale. Exhale.
This was a chance to check all the players up close.
The group of five monks.
The high school girl and two athletes.
And the one who looked the most dangerous.
"Jeongwoo-ya. We need to watch out for that guy."
"...He's insane."
A buzz-cut head, a face so vicious it radiated murderous intent, a white suit revealing a floral-patterned shirt inside, and white shoes.
Anyone could tell he was someone with pull in the underworld.
As I turned my head to avoid his gaze,
I spotted an unexpected figure.
A long scar across his eyes, a blood-soaked black coat.
The main NPC of this game and the villain up to the final round—a demon.
Kim Jeongjae, called the Fire God, stood in front of us.
"Move."
I met his eyes.
He looked down at me.
His sharp gaze made my legs go numb.
I hadn't expected such an evil face.
In Land of Ruin, his face had just been a black screen.
I involuntarily stepped back one step.
It felt like if I didn't, the sword at his waist would slice my throat.
"...."
The path cleared as he walked.
Even the soldiers said nothing and made way for him.
Watching the path he took, I said offhandedly to Jeongwoo.
"That guy's already out."
"...Did the story get messed up? That bastard doesn't appear until Lucifer awakens."
"Probably. Because I beat Lucifer in the first round."
"...We're screwed."
Kim Jeongjae walked into the cruise ship.
As his footsteps faded, the transparent barrier blocking us disappeared.
At Major Kim Juncheol's command, those wearing goblin masks boarded the boats placed beside the cruise ship.
Red letters inside read 'Capacity: 8 passengers.'
Once all the soldiers boarded, Major Kim Juncheol waved his hand and shouted at the players.
"Board quickly!"
The remaining players eyed each other warily. It was a life-or-death choice.
Cruise ship or boat.
A hologram screen appeared outside.
[Cruise Ship: 115/120]
[Small Boat 1: 6/8]
[Small Boat 2: 6/8]
[Small Boat 3: 6/8]
[Small Boat 4: 6/8]
Thirteen people left.
Only five spots on the cruise ship.
The safer big ship had limited capacity.
Yet no one stepped up first.
While everyone hesitated,
"...Let's go."
I chose a boat in an instant.
* * * * *
The Han River shrouded in darkness.
The gentle raindrops grew heavier and began pouring down fiercely.
Splatter splatter splatter.
The cruise ship carrying the monk players, infantry unit, and refugees departed from the pier.
Rumble.
The remaining soldiers on the boats checked their gear and prepared to follow.
Major Kim Juncheol wiped the rainwater from his drenched face and shouted loudly.
-Those who couldn't board the cruise ship! Please move to the boats!
At his gesture, the players began shifting positions.
They eyed each other.
Our group naturally split into two.
[Kim Cheonjae, Yoo Sora]
[Ma Jeongwoo, Michael]
Jeongwoo and Michael took the first boat.
We boarded the last boat.
The rest filled in the boats in between as they saw fit.
As we approached the boat, soldiers extended their hands.
"Please step carefully."
Yoo Sora, boarding first, smiled brightly and took the soldier's hand.
"Yes."
With the help of the goblin-masked soldiers, we boarded the small boat.
Yoo Sora wobbled onto the rocking boat and said to the soldier steadying her.
"Thank you."
"Not at all. Please put on the life jacket once aboard."
"Yes."
These goblin-masked soldiers were high-value assets that stuck around until the latter half of Land of Ruin's story.
We needed to get as close to them as possible.
Of course, assuming things followed the original story without deviation.
-Board quickly, please!
Before boarding, I scanned the Han River.
It looked murky even in the dark.
Along with the fishy river stench, zombie corpses floating down from upstream came into view.
'...Disgusting bastards.'
I boarded behind Yoo Sora and checked the soldiers' conditions.
Among the six soldiers was Park Gyuhwan, under my control.
'Good.'
Good thing I ordered him to board this boat in advance.
Thanks to NPC traits? All of Park Gyuhwan's wounds had healed.
Step. Step. Step.
"Is everyone ready?"
Major Kim Juncheol boarded our boat too. The leader of the Goblin Unit—other players thought he boarded one of the six boats at random, but...
No.
I knew.
He would board this boat.
"Cheonjae-ssi, it's true. He really boarded this boat."
"...Of course. This boat has the medic."
"Uh.... Medic?"
"Yes."
With Major Kim Juncheol aboard, our survival odds skyrocketed.
Jeongwoo's boat had the operations officer too, so it wouldn't sink.
Looking at the other boats, they were preparing to depart.
The high school girl player and the gangster player were on one boat.
Next to them, two male athlete players boarded another.
The rest, the monks, took the cruise ship.
Vroooom-!
The motors roared to life, splitting the water.
The boats began moving, spacing themselves out.
"Sora-ssi. Once the boat starts, keep your head down as much as possible. And don't fall into the water no matter what."
She replied in a trembling voice.
"...Got it."
"You have the vaccine, right?"
Yoo Sora nodded.
"Oh, right. I was going to give you some clothes."
"Clothes?"
"Yes. They're in Michael's bag right now; I'll give them later. Found something with better stats than expected."
"Where?"
"Where we were staying. Modern Mansion, 4th floor? Or was it 3rd?"
"Oh.... Thank you."
Jolt.
The boat began moving slowly.
Vroom-.
The boats spread out in a crane-wing formation.
At Major Kim Juncheol's radio signal, they began departing in sequence.
Beep.
"Departing. Remaining forces at the pier, stand by until return."
Beep.
-Roger.
After the radio, Major Kim Juncheol raised his hand high and swung it vigorously.
The boats departed all at once, following the cruise ship.
With his signal, the main game of the second round began.
[Second Round]
[Starting the second mission of Choice A.]
The downpour stopped as if it had never been.
The sky, filled with storm clouds, split open, and the sunset glowed.
Yellowish dust clouds from somewhere blocked the light, turning the ruined city red.
Taking a deep breath brought the scent of soil.
A familiar sight.
The city from the first loading screen when starting Land of Ruin.
That's what awaited us across Gangbuk.
"Cheonjae-ssi. Over there...."
"Yes?"
"Is that place really safe?"
"...Yes."
It looked desolate, but if we could get inside, it was the safest place for us.
Impossible to tell from here.
The yellowish city center shimmered like a heat haze.
Our destination wasn't just the north bank opposite the pier.
The first hope given to survivors in Land of Ruin.
'Utopia' awaited.
Vreeeeem-
The boat sped up, cleaving the water.
As the distance to the cruise ship narrowed, smoke rose from apartments on the opposite bank.
Confirming the smoke, Captain Kim Juncheol keyed the radio.
Beep.
"Intel team. Can you identify friend or foe on armed personnel four hundred meters ahead?"
-Communications unreachable; appears non-military.
"Meaning unidentifiable?"
-Affirmative.
"...Roger. Maintain comms standby."
Looking up, I saw machine guns and anti-air weapons mounted there.
People with rifles visible through open windows.
Dressed in assorted clothes, likely a citizen militia or reserve unit.
Yoo Sora, bent low at the waist, asked me.
"How long do I have to stay down?"
"Until we arrive."
"...."
She squeezed her eyes shut.
About halfway across the river.
Gunfire rang out.
Bang!
Whiz-.
Major Kim Juncheol pulled out binoculars and looked toward the shots.
"...What the?"
Beep.
-Brigade Commander! Northern hostiles' muzzles trained on us.
"What?"
-Gray villa opposite: 60mm M1 bazooka-like launcher targeting the cruise ship!!
"...Bazooka?"
-Incoming!
Whiiiiiish-
The wind-whistling sound was followed by.
Boom!!
Water erupted.