Into the Unrecovered Lands
Nordic
2,000,000 EXP
"Ugh."
Taejeong clicked his tongue as he stared at the eyeball that had landed in his inventory after moving to the boss room and turning the thing into a rag.
He was supposed to get a heart, but this useless eyeball had dropped instead.
The heart was worth 3.5 billion won. The eyeball? A measly million.
Practically worthless.
But that was to be expected. The drop rate for a Nordic heart was one in twenty. Rookies almost never got it on their first clear.
"I had my hopes up a little, but total bust. Anyway, how much ammo did I burn through today?"
He'd hunted efficiently with chemical rounds, but factoring in the blaster and early gunfire, he'd gone through a ton of potions.
He still had plenty left from what the guildmates gave him during the territory war, but burning through them without profit would bankrupt him fast.
"Maybe one-shots aren't worth it over steady grinding. Eh, at least I leveled up a bunch."
Pushing aside his regrets, he exited the dungeon and received salutes from the patrols as he left the neighborhood.
By the time he returned to the guild as dusk fell, he headed straight to the office.
"Huh? Why's the boss here this late...?"
"Everything okay? Is Park Se-ah inside?"
"Yes. She popped home briefly and came back. But boss, why'd you come back? Didn't you head out hunting and clock out?"
"I'm the guy in charge here. Dipping out right after personal errands would be slacking. Don't worry about it—just keep working. I'll punch out and head home soon."
"Ah. Got it."
He passed the staff and entered his office, where Park Se-ah stood from the entrance to greet him.
"You're back?"
"What're you doing here this late? I told you on the phone to head in."
"I heard you were coming to the office."
"I'm just punching the clock. No need. You're too rigid sometimes. Gotta have some street smarts. You'll work yourself to death like this, for real. Not kidding—overwork's no joke."
"Only you say that, boss? Word's already spreading."
"Spreading what?"
"The new regional director's a total workhorse. No heavy-handed stuff, super eager to learn from even the grunts if he doesn't know something."
"It's my job now, so I gotta own it. Gotta grind hard so I can answer straight when questioned later. If the guild master asks about guild biz and I fumble 'cause the boss doesn't know? Most embarrassing thing ever. Can't shame my own staff."
"See? I really lucked out with this boss."
"Yeah, right."
Grabbing the new business proposals, Taejeong clocked out with Park Se-ah and shared a late dinner she'd prepared, chatting casually.
"Anyway, thinking of switching hunting spots. Feels like eyeballs are gonna pop out again tomorrow."
"Where to then?"
"Maybe bump up a rank."
"You sure? 8th rank was your first today."
"Based it on that last dungeon, but it wasn't bad. Feels like I could handle two ranks up."
"They say test the waters before crossing. Try one up first, decide after. Two feels reckless. Even 9th is 600-level territory."
"Worried?"
"Of course."
"About me? Or your awakening dream vanishing if I croak?"
"Both. But if I pick one... obviously..."
"Obviously?"
"People. What could be more important?"
"Wrong. The right answer's your awakening, not me."
"Why?"
"I'm me, you're you. You've slaved years to get here—prioritize yourself. I'd do the same."
"Just talk. You've got a good heart, boss."
"What makes you so sure? We've only known each other two months."
"Almost two, yeah?"
"Two months? Wait—already? Survival's right around the corner then."
"Was gonna bring it up tomorrow. You're joining, right? The higher-ups are pumped."
"Gotta keep the buffs rolling. Guess Jeju after survival."
The next day, after morning duties, Taejeong bumped to Blue 9th rank for hunting.
And like magic, it fit him perfectly.
Just the right difficulty—not too easy, not overwhelming.
Park Se-ah had nailed it.
Of course, with top weapons like the MLRS or interceptor missiles, he'd have breathing room.
But his other main arms were hitting limits, so this was the sweet spot for smooth clears.
"600-level zone, huh. Damage feels lighter for sure."
Not frustrating, but not a breeze either.
No complaints possible.
A solo mid-400s hunter clearing a spot that took dozens of 600s in a party? He was already reaping insane pro-level benefits.
"Items drop nice at least."
He kept hunting right up to survival.
Balancing work and hunts, he hit 460, restocked potions with earnings—and still had 2 billion left.
Worth the rank-up.
And survival day arrived.
AllKindsOfStuffHere has been registered on the Throne of Honor.
⊳ Integrated combat power of guild members: +30%
⊳ EXP gain for guild members: +20%
⊳ Buff period: May 31 ~ June 30
No surprises.
He dominated first place again, bringing the buff to Jenix.
The change? The unbreakable 30th stage fell.
Others had cracked survival's secret too.
Still, his overwhelming lead held.
Yang Taesik revealed Taejeong as the survival master.
Guildies praised their regional director even more—no one unrecognized now.
His shoulders swelled with pride, naturally.
Another day passed.
Moonlit dawn. Taejeong rummaged for clothes.
Outside, Park Se-ah prepped a lunchbox—way bigger than usual.
Like a trip.
"Almost done?"
"Nearly."
"Rough it—grab a box of energy bars."
"Can't fuel up on that junk. Done. Just pack it up."
The massive bento filled with easy eats: kimbap, sushi, tteokgalbi, kimchi, japchae, pork cutlet, sweet-and-sour pork.
Seaweed soup and soybean paste in thermoses.
Into a temp-control box. She wiped sweat from her brow with her arm and asked Taejeong.
"Wanna test putting it in inventory?"
"Kinda big, but gimme."
Checking angles and shoving it in, Taejeong marveled at the perfect fit.
"You calculated this too?"
"Didn't expect it myself. Market had inventory-spec boxes. Snagged one."
"They sell everything. Thanks anyway. I'll devour it."
"But really solo? It's far."
"You'd just suffer. Lower zones are unrecovered—no guards. You stay, handle my duties. Message if issues."
"Got it. Be safe. Office is fine."
"Yeah. See ya."
Fully geared, Taejeong left lodging for the roof.
No car—this expedition crossed unrecovered zones.
Sure ambushes, smashed vehicle, delays.
So he benched Kim Hyung-sik and Park Se-ah.
They'd just be baggage.
Man, this job's charms never end.
He was glad for Mechanic again.
Tons of travel options.
He picked blaster—unhindered flight.
Mana-hungry vs. gear, but perfect now.
Summons rose slowly into the air.
Then to Gerard: "South's which way?"
Turn 45 degrees right from your current facing for due south.
"Here? Here?"
That's it.
"Good. Let's roll."
With that, he blasted off at terrifying speed.
Sleeping dawn. Moon-slicing, free-cruising Taejeong blew past Gyeonggi in moments.
Slower than planes or cars, but no roads—pure freedom.
Smooth into Chungcheong, past Cheonan and Daejeon, into Jeollabuk-do.
Sporadic lights vanished; only moonlight lit the drab earth.
First unrecovered zone. Taejeong's heart sank at the devastation.
Ruined roads, dead cities. No intact buildings—total wasteland, no human touch.
Giant mystery bugs in rubble, mid-tier monsters on bone-bare rooftops.
How'd bustling cities become this?
Not just here. From southern Gangwon to Gyeongsang, Busan, Gwangju to Jeonnam—over a third abandoned.
Nearly a century later, barely Chungcheong reclaimed.
Even that shaky—Seoul aside, most just guild-held, no city function. Food shortages.
Humanity's scars ran deep. 80% gone at start.
Will people live here before I die?
Heavy-hearted, he pushed on, entering Jeonnam.
Soon, faint horizon line.
Gerard's voice:
Entering Wando.
"Almost there."
He ramped output.