Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Why Did You Come to My House? - 2
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There was a ton of pork hocks, enough to include even Geomin and Jang Won-taek in the meal.
Excluding Seok-hyeon, they were all comrades who had shared a pot of rice before.
Geomin kept marveling at the tender pork hocks, not hiding his voracious appetite.
Dajeong's hand trembled as she gripped her chopsticks.
How can he be so oblivious...
Jang Won-taek set down his chopsticks and stood, leaning against the window.
"Whoever sent it must be a truly kind soul. How much did it cost?"
"100 points."
"100 points... That suggests someone with a solid hunting ground for wild boars and plenty of supplies."
"Don't ask any more. He doesn't like it much."
"Is that what you think, Dajeong, or what he thinks?"
"Both."
Dajeong smiled, and Jang Won-taek shut his mouth.
Instead, he conveyed his intent in an astonishing way.
―Just listen. Is Kimbap Lover here right now?
"..."
Dajeong was startled out of her wits.
Old Man's voice was echoing in her head!
She'd been curious about his trait, and it turned out to be telepathy.
But how did he know Sung-ho was here?
As she rolled her eyes, Jang Won-taek, having gauged the situation, continued his telepathy.
―Looks like it. I get information from various channels. But don't misunderstand. I have a tight lip.
Instead of replying, Dajeong blocked Geomin's chopsticks, which were rummaging through the side dishes like a cavalryman charging across a battlefield.
"What the hell are you doing? Pick one and stick to it. Stop digging around."
"But there's so much good stuff..."
Geomin glanced at her coldly and picked up some kimchi.
People she didn't like just rubbed her the wrong way no matter what they did.
Telepathy entered her mind again.
―Poor Geomin got an earful, heh heh. You know what I want, Dajeong. Meet him. Tell him to come to the Wolmido pier tomorrow night when the werewolves howl. By the way, he'll want to see me too.
Dajeong stared intently at his back.
Geomin, sensing her gaze, suddenly felt uneasy.
Why the interest in the president?
His delusions ran wild, and he couldn't even swallow his pork hock.
Regardless, Seok-hyeon finished eating and headed outside.
The president turned and said,
"Seok-hyeon, it's been a while, but no greeting?"
"Just because someone's young doesn't mean they have to greet first."
"Such rudeness. At my age, in a high position, I sometimes slip up. Allow me to greet you first."
It wasn't easy for a former president to bow to an ordinary citizen.
But Seok-hyeon showed no particular emotion.
"So, what's the reason for coming here?"
"Killing two birds with one stone. Testing and checking the site. Not sure if you know, but there are quite a few Chinese on that island beyond the sea."
"Why are Chinese here...?"
"Can't tell you that. For now, they're outsiders."
Seok-hyeon fell silent, and Jang Won-taek slyly suggested,
"How about it? Join the shelter now, and I'll tell you everything."
At those words, Dajeong's eyes flashed with anger.
"What? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Isn't it human nature to neglect the fish you've already caught?"
"Do I look like a fish to you?"
"More like a loach. One wrong move, and it could smash the tank."
"And you treat me like this?"
"Oh dear. Didn't you come for food? You still seem hungry, so I figured you wouldn't smash the tank."
She realized she couldn't win against this old man with words.
Of course, a man who'd reached the pinnacle of Korean politics...
He looked like a kindly elder on the outside, but inside, there were probably a hundred snakes coiled up.
Sung-ho was the same; the world was full of people who hid their true intentions.
As she pouted, Lee Beom-seok entered from outside.
Jang Won-taek, having heard something, grinned broadly.
"The test was a success. Even with a total of eight people gathered, no zombie raid occurred. Excellent, Geomin."
Geomin puffed out his chest and straightened his shoulders.
But he couldn't catch Dajeong's eye, as she was puffing her cheeks and pretending not to notice, clearly displeased about something.
Was even that look cute? Probably just his imagination.
"We can say we've taken the first step."
"Quite right. Let's all work together for the new government. You'll help too, right, Dajeong?"
Jang Won-taek asked, but she turned her head away without a word.
After the two left, Geomin said,
"Dajeong, you have a separate mission. Staying in this hideout was just the cover."
"Stop acting like you know."
"It's not acting; it's real... Well, you can't just tell anyone about a mission like that. Of course, you're not just anyone, but someone might eavesdrop, right?"
Geomin glanced at Seok-hyeon, who was still eating pork hocks.
"That stuff's so tough and tasteless..."
You ate it all and now complain?
Dajeong, who'd been suppressing her anger, said coldly,
"Shut up and get out."
Geomin flinched and checked her expression.
Since he'd changed his physical enhancement trait to something else, arguing here would just be a loss for him.
He scurried away, and Dajeong hurled her high heel after him, fuming.
"Damn nerds and old farts; none of them are to my liking."
"What about Jang Won-taek?"
She lowered her voice.
"His trait is telepathy. He wants me to set up a meeting with Sung-ho."
"You should've refused."
"He said Sung-ho would want to meet him too."
"...Really? Better to kill them all before Sung-ho hears any nonsense."
As Seok-hyeon moved to stand, Dajeong had to stop him.
She desperately wanted to flip the table, but she couldn't here.
"Wait a sec. We can hear them out first; killing later isn't too late."
"You think too much. Sometimes you gotta forget everything and act."
"Not now. God, don't turn me into a psycho. I wanna flip it too."
As her face flushed, Seok-hyeon egged her on.
"Embrace your inner rage. Awaken the demon..."
"Shut your bullshit and sit."
Seok-hyeon sat like an obedient child.
The ghoul brought her high heel, and Dajeong paced around him in her heels, clacking.
"Once this is over, even if Sung-ho begs on his knees, I'm leaving the shelter. Tired of listening to crap. It's over."
"Good thinking."
"And I'm sticking with you guys, so remember that. If Sung-ho tries to run, we catch him, got it?"
At that, Seok-hyeon tilted his head.
"Can't catch a running Sung-ho."
"I've caught him once."
"He let you. Once he's in the dimension gate, done. How you gonna catch him?"
Was that true?
Speechless, Dajeong pressed down on Seok-hyeon's shoulder with her weight.
"...Anyway, we're sticking together, got it? Screw hiding identities or whatever. I'll kill anyone who comes at us."
"Cool plan."
Seok-hyeon gave a thumbs up.
.
.
.
"Help me!"
But I didn't remove the long knife from her throat.
"Why are you here?"
"W-well, I was hoping you could help..."
"With what?"
"There are three guys outside trying to kill me..."
"For real?"
"Yes, yes!"
She nodded vigorously, but I didn't loosen my guard.
In the apocalypse, using bait to lure prey was common.
Women usually played the bait to lower defenses.
Seduce with looks, loot the backpack, and leave 'em. Perfect.
Traditional apocalypse would've killed her, but now with the murderer system...
Time to bait the baiters.
I sheathed the long knife and, like a thug, lifted her chin with my hand.
"What'll you give me if I protect you?"
"W-what do you want...?"
Terror in her eyes and voice.
If this was acting, she'd be pro-level.
I eyed her bulging chest.
Looks fake somehow?
"Lemme take a peek."
"..."
Her eyebrows twitched, but she reached for her chest.
Very close range.
And I'm off guard.
Perfect chance to reveal true colors, right?
She bowed her head, then lightning-fast drew a mithril knife from her bosom and stabbed.
But it bounced off my floating dimension wall.
The shock dropped the mithril knife, and she gaped in surprise.
"Wha...?"
"What 'wha'."
I kicked her hand away and punched her gut.
"Urk!"
"Those three outside are your buddies, right? Sleep for a bit."
I jabbed a paralysis poison needle into her thigh; she stiffened without a sound.
Shouldn't use paralysis here.
My poison frog's been sickly lately; haven't stocked much.
"Gotta hunt frogs..."
I laid her face-down, half-opened the window, and screamed.
"Agh!"
Now the three would think she overpowered me and come up.
Urgent footsteps sounded.
I quickly hooked to the rooftop and fixed it.
Then climbed up.
One door...
Good enough.
"What the hell? What happened?"
"That bastard went to the roof!"
"Hurry up!"
Even here, I'm "that bastard."
Hearing them rush, I blew the whistle long and hard.
Screeeeech―
Zombies and ghouls nearby swarmed the building.
Woman's done for; men too.
Because...
"You fucker!"
"I'll kill you and..."
The three bursting onto the roof slammed into my dimension wall.
"Fuck, what is this!"
"Something's in the air!"
As they pushed the wall, monsters climbed up.
The men's faces paled.
No windows up there?
No blink, they're dead.
As I crouched, the three pounded the wall furiously.
"Stay there and you die too, asshole!"
"L-let's negotiate! Negotiate!"
"Open this shit now!"
Sorry, no worries here.
Soon ghouls arrived; their struggles intensified.
One rubbed his face against the wall, practically begging through tears.
"P-please! I won't do it again!"
"Open this and I'll do anything, bro!"
From bastard to bro, status upgrade.
But I didn't drop the wall.
Own your actions.
"Bye."
I gestured; they turned and nearly fainted.
"Hiiiik!"
"N-no, stay back!"
As if that'll stop ghouls.
A brutal fight unfolded inside the wall.
The three fought desperately in the tight space but were outmatched.
"Kaaaa!"
A ghoul's claw severed one's hand.
Blood splattered the wall.
The other two, maybe physical enhancers, bashed a ghoul's head around, but that was it.
Too many zombies climbing.
"Hngh!"
One held a ghoul's wrists, but a zombie bit his shoulder.
"Aaaak!"
Screams of death agony filled the air.
Only then did I drop the wall and jumped to the next rooftop.
A ghoul leaped at me; I swung my long knife, leaving its head splatting on the ground.
Zombies swarmed the ghoul's body.
Can't stay here.
I waited for monsters to leave, looted the dead's backpacks, and moved on.
.
.
.
Four died because of me.
Maybe I could've just taken their bags peacefully and begged them off.
They probably didn't wanna be murderers either, so no kill.
But I didn't even consider that option.
"Idiots..."
Posing as raiders in the apocalypse is extremely, extremely dangerous.
No one hands over bags quietly; combat's inevitable.
Unless you're a vet like me, repeated fights lead straight to death.
Win a few by luck and loot, but you won't always win.
Eventually, you get hurt, lose.
Result: death.
Smart choice: hide and run.
But they picked wrong and died.
Korea's population keeps dropping.
"Yawn."
Past is past; time to eat.
Opened dimension gate; Dingo popped out.
He tugged my sleeve.
What's up suddenly?
Entered cave; Ding-soon was panting near the barbed wire.
Goblin corpses everywhere.
Killed 'em all, huh.
"...Wanna come in?"
Bringing a huge silver wolf into the shelter was a big deal even for me.
But felt okay somehow.
He stared, then exposed his belly.
Sign of submission.
Opened wire; Dingo fetched Ding-soon.
They flopped before me, rolling to show bellies.
"Behave."
Shelter's cramped now.
Dingo's fine, but Ding-soon needs space to romp.
Take 'em out once a day, open wire.
While at it, tested if Ding-soon could pass dimension gate.
"Here, come out."
He followed to the studio.
Big guy...
Seemed huge in tight space.
Pet his head, sent back in.
If suspected in future, bring Ding-soon and pose as tamer.
Dingo's still small.
Ate alone, checked auction; Dajeong's request for me caught eye.
Jang Won-taek wants to see me.
How'd he know I'm here?
"...Nah."
Anyone else no, but Jang Won-taek? High chance.
Lots of people and info around him.
Probably knows I cleared the Gangdong dungeon too.
"...Meet him?"
I had stuff to say too.
But didn't wanna show face.
Asked if I could pick time/place; already set.
"Wolmido pier when werewolves howl..."
Assumes I won't refuse.
Also wants to see my skills.
But no intention of playing his game.
He might be in hurry; I'm not.
―Tell him no.
―Smart. That old fart's a telepath. Might read minds later.
Telepath?
Even more interesting.
Wonder how he transmits intent on contact.
Handshake like Kwon?
She kept typing comments.
―And once this is done, shelter or whatever, I'm out. Got it?
Damn, bored already.
Whatever; got the shelter's layout anyway.
Tiger and two foxes in one house? Bound for fights.
Wait for crack, snatch quick.
If shelter holds strong?
"Got other moves then."
Plenty ways.
Watching her type, I spat out my rice.
―Once I'm out, we're spending some hot time. Gotta stamp you so you can't run.
Stamp what?
End of Why Did You Come to My House? - 2