Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Why Did You Come to My House? - 3
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Thankfully, Dajeong's words didn't mean she wanted to pin me down.
She just wanted to stick around with me.
She said the government shelter was full of annoying jerks, and she didn't want to stay there anymore.
―They're all leering at me with sleazy grins, trying to get handsy. I can't just beat them all up, and it's hell here. So get me out before I kill them all.
She must've been under a lot of stress.
―I want to tell her to come out right now, but wait a bit. Let me at least see Grandpa President's face.
―Didn't you say you wouldn't meet him?
―I've gotta make him think that.
―Ah, got it. Anyway, Bunny Duo's the real issue more than me. If I hadn't stopped him, he would've attacked without warning. We don't mesh with government types.
Seok-hyun had said something like that...
Things were bound to get noisy in all sorts of ways once the Metal Plague subsided.
I promised Dajeong one last tuna catch before leaving the auction house.
"Phew..."
I had a rough idea why the president wanted to meet me.
He was trying to gather people.
His goal was probably to collect talent, build a faction, and carve out a civilization somehow.
Fine, say that works—what then?
The president was experienced; he wouldn't cling to petty power...
But I couldn't be certain.
"Develop telepathy to manipulate ability users from the shadows..."
I've watched too many movies.
I couldn't picture him retiring quietly and living modestly.
"As if I can trust a politician..."
People fundamentally can't be trusted.
Especially in an apocalypse.
Still, I figured I should at least see him.
The mansion where the zombie raid wouldn't happen also piqued my interest.
I marked the location Dajeong told me on the map and entered the shelter.
Lately, something had been bothering me.
A few rock monkeys had been prowling around the shelter.
The moment they spotted me, they screeched kkeek! and bounced around on the branches.
They were no ordinary size, and fighting them was a pain because they hurled stones.
"Just passing through, right?"
I hoped so.
But their numbers were steadily growing.
Eventually, they swelled into a group of 30 or 40, pelting us with rocks.
Damn pests.
Of course, I hadn't just sat idle.
I shot down every one in sight with my bow, but they reacted nimbly.
The instant I drew the string, they'd drop below the branches.
Their movements were so quick it was hard to hit them.
I managed to take one out with the ballista, but that was the end of my successes.
Kkeegik! Kkeek!
They were clearly learning.
It looked like they were warning late arrivals about the dangers of bows and ballistas.
Fucking monkeys.
"How do I wipe these bastards out..."
Kkeek!
Even now, they were chucking stones at the shelter.
The warehouse was sturdy, so no real damage, but I couldn't step out into the clearing, and the stress was piling up.
Even Dingsuni had bruises all over from getting swarmed.
They weren't mere animals—monsters with serious throwing power.
A solid hit could break bones.
Numbers win every time.
"Why the hell are these punks at my house?"
Was it spring migration time?
Anyway, I wouldn't feel better until I killed them all.
"I could win a fight, but dodging the damage is the hassle."
I wasn't great at climbing trees either, so they could evade easily by zipping around.
With the shelter in plain view, rock-throwing must've been a blast for them.
I was trapped in a no-win spot.
I could gun them down, but wasting ammo on monkeys felt off.
"155 rounds... Gotta conserve."
So, what ways were there to crush these godforsaken pests?
"Take out the leader first."
Rock monkey troops were led by the biggest, strongest male.
Staying in the rear wouldn't earn respect, so it led from the front, attacking aggressively.
I had to kill it.
I grabbed the K2 rifle I'd babied all winter.
Only 15 rounds of 5.56mm left.
Had to aim carefully and drop the leader in one shot.
Once it was dead, the troop would fall into chaos.
That's when I'd smash their nest.
No loot from monkeys anyway—just burn it.
"Can't even eat monkey meat..."
Gryphons—non-humanoid—were delicious, but humanoid monsters turned me off.
I geared up, hid behind the warehouse.
Tat-tat-tak!
Stones from the rock monkeys bounced off the warehouse.
"Zeroed in? Not even close..."
Ammo was too scarce to waste on sighting shots.
I seized a lull in the rock barrage, poked out the barrel, and fired at the leader.
Bang!
Birds exploded from the trees as the big monkey thudded to the ground.
It had a clean hole through its forehead—instant death.
Kkeegigik!
The troop panicked without their leader, even turning on each other in frenzy.
I wasted no time, firing arrows from the longbow.
A couple more dropped, and the monkeys started fleeing.
Woooow—
Dingsuni and Dingo emerged into the clearing with magnificent howls.
They say retreating armies suffer the heaviest losses.
With those two, wiping out most of the monkeys was no stretch.
"Let's go."
I opened the barbed wire, and they bolted out, chasing the monkeys.
They couldn't catch tree-dwellers, but I'd help.
I halted, nocked an arrow—the monkey toying with the wolves by throwing stones dropped with a thud.
Furious Dingsuni pounced, clamped onto its head, and shook violently.
Crack—
A gruesome neck snap.
The three of us hunted that way, bagging over ten.
We tracked to the nest, got twenty, and cornered the pups.
Dingo and Dingsuni blocked escapes, then looked to me.
Monkey pups were kinda cute... but still monsters.
Future attackers.
"Kill them all."
Grrr!
While they handled the pups, I looted the nest.
My guess of nothing worthwhile was way off.
"Where'd they get this?"
A weathered leather backpack sat in the nest.
Pups had chewed it up, but contents intact.
"Must be recent."
No way it'd survive the brats' abuse long.
Untied it: knife, pot, cloak—traveler's gear.
And a map.
A map book in an unrecognizable language.
"Around here, huh."
Snow-capped northern mountains and lakes confirmed it.
It detailed terrain, vegetation, animal distributions too.
Matched the dungeon book perfectly.
"...Who the hell made this."
Definitely civilization here.
Pups dead by the time I finished checking the pack.
Burn the nest before more monkeys returned.
I doused it in gasoline and lit up.
To make them abandon it and flee.
Without a leader, no revenge attacks—they lacked the guts.
Back at shelter, drone up: monkeys heading west, as expected.
"Phew... It's over."
Mishandled, those rock monkeys could've been dangerous.
Now Dingsuni fully trusted me, following like Dingo.
The massive silver wolf rubbing against me wasn't half bad.
"Let's get along from now on."
Showed the map book to the beetles—they played dumb.
"You guys really don't know? Your eyes say otherwise."
Leader beetle peered closely, tapped a spot, mimed swinging a pickaxe.
Ah, a mark was there but faded.
Visible to it.
"Ignition stone? Coal? Ore vein?"
Nod nod.
It spread forelegs dramatically.
Something huge?
Not far—worth checking.
But first, stock gasoline.
Mini excavator guzzled it; reserves were tight.
Called Dingsuni and Dingo, fed them stored boar meat.
Hope they eat well and pup soon.
.
.
.
Next evening, I infiltrated Wolmido, set up near the pier.
Could go straight to the mansion where government folks stayed, but I wanted to see the president.
Seen him in the farming dungeon, but he hadn't recognized me as Kimbap Lover then.
Dajeong said his trait was telepathy—hard to gauge exactly.
Not just speaking without moving lips.
"Might read minds too..."
Jang Won-taek was South Korea's president.
Meeting supporters, opponents—gaining backing, persuading—was like battle.
He'd rolled in Yeouido politics for decades, reached the top.
Renowned for reading people; combined with telepathy? Terrifying.
"Can only hope his level's low."
Per Dajeong, he didn't hunt, so probably low level.
No need to think that way.
Jang Won-taek was impressive.
How hard to do a president's job?
He'd saved countless lives.
Gathering people at government shelter, experiments—fine.
Fighting monsters together? Natural.
"On the surface, sure..."
Dajeong once said I'd be dead if I revealed myself.
Something about other factions besides government.
Poor Man had hinted similar.
Anyway, an inexplicable unease lingered.
I opened the dimension gate, gazed at the sea, waited.
When the werewolf howled, an old man appeared right on cue.
Dark night, but gray hair, shirt, slacks visible.
He turned his back, spoke to someone.
"Go on in. Seems he's here."
Had he sensed me?
Been hiding since evening?
Footsteps after, he said:
"First time meeting like this? Or have we met?"
Referring to the farming dungeon.
I stayed silent, waited.
Back still turned, Jang continued.
"I absolutely won't look at you. That's one promise I can keep."
...This thorough, might as well show.
Plenty escape routes if needed.
Checked backpack, stepped out.
Despite the noise, he didn't turn.
Next to him, president admired.
"Quite the build. Cute ID, but such a big guy—amusing."
"How'd you know I came?"
"Figured you would. I'd have, in your shoes."
"Even after refusing via Dajeong?"
"Dajeong? You're close. Lovers, maybe?"
"Friends, for now."
"Haha... I don't buy 'just friends' for young man and woman, but whatever. I expected you, and here you are. What's missing?"
He sat cross-legged, gestured for me to join.
Felt like he was subtly blocking escape—my paranoia?
I sat; he still avoided looking.
Thoroughly committed.
"At the end... thanks for the date info. Got time with my wife and kids. Same back then—grateful now."
Not words from a high position.
Few top brass I'd met were all stiff-necked.
"No big deal. Just basics."
"Max effort would be spilling all your info, right?"
"Yep."
"Related to your trait?"
"Close enough."
"Guessed as much. Not joining 'cause you like Geom-in. Anyway, sending Dajeong in—was it for guns?"
He read me completely.
But deny here.
"Who knows."
Precisely: live ammo, and blueprints to make it.
Beetles could handle casings, but primers stumped them.
They examined rounds, shook heads—no dice.
Could build the structure, but no clue what happens when firing pin hits primer.
Wasted three disassembling, then never touched again.
Jang stroked his goatee.
"Guns... very dangerous. Without Metal Plague, we wouldn't have fallen. Modern weapons pack a punch."
"Agreed. Shame that perilous firepower's with Bae Geom-in."
"Hahaha. Guns it is. And our Geom-in lacks charm."
He knew Bae Geom-in well.
Lived nearby months—obvious.
Unexpected proposal.
"I thought Geom-in having power was fine. Personality quirks? Everyone has 'em. Handed all info—good enough reason, no?"
"Fair."
"How about revealing yourself, supporting him? Clashes in events, but your skills could..."
"Sorry to interrupt, but revealing means at least a hundred rushing to 'welcome' me."
"...Heard that. Auction house full of hate for you. Gave plenty info—why the grudge..."
"They want event info, not monsters. Jealous you're hogging the honey."
"Hm... Indeed..."
"And I don't fully trust President... nim. Or rather, the hidden faction under you."
That drew a sigh from Jang.
"Since we have this chance, I'll explain. Late June... Yeouido shootout—remember?"
Ah... that.
Reported as AWOL soldiers, then news vanished.
Figured government cover-up, as usual...
"Total chaos. Ordered all commanders to inspect. Long story short—no issues. Military didn't revolt."
"So someone smuggled guns, started shooting?"
"Curious? I suspect ties to someone in our shelter."
Probably Joo Seung-cheol.
Daehyeon Group heir, investor in Survival Life's developer.
"Someone comes to mind? Dajeong spilled a lot, eh."
"That's why I sent her."
"Right. Anyway, he has a shelter too. Maybe bigger than ours. Knew ahead, owns Daehyeon Construction. Want the location?"
"Nah. Handle it myself."
Had all needed info—stood, refused.
He urged gently.
"Acknowledge you've thrived solo, but future needs factions. Join ours—save huge time."
"Can't trust factions. Few close pals suffice."
"Don't trust easily, huh. But it'll play out as I say. Know who's on Yeongjongdo?"
"Hundreds of Chinese?"
"Yes. That's just current count—boat people keep coming. Seeking untainted land."
So Korea safe, China irradiated.
Jang emphasized:
"Killer system limits acting against them. They speak our language, but culture, customs differ wildly. Clashes inevitable. Koreans over Chinese, right? By traits or whatever."
"Dunno. Know how many I killed yesterday?"
He flinched.
"...Not killed—let die?"
"Right. Four dead. They dropped guard, attacked. What's that differ from Chinese?"
"Well..."
Couldn't answer easily.
I raised my voice.
"Seeking nationality in apocalypse is foolish. Friend or foe. That's how I've lived—how I'll continue."
"Hm."
President pondered silently.
Then, boats cut through dark sea toward pier.
"...Boats incoming."
He squinted.
"Nothing visible..."
"Five boats. All armed."
"Not friendly, then."
I backed slowly into dimension gate.
Only then did Jang turn.
"Trait's insane. No presence at all. Gave tons info—won't help?"
No words—instead, tied firecracker to ballista, fired.
Pyuuung! Pop!
Fireworks burst, revealing five boats faintly.
Jang blinked, shook head.
"Prepared, aren't you. Thanks anyway. Handle the rest."
Sorry, but no sitting idle.
Coming armed to my house uninvited? Pay up.
Why Did You Come to My House? - 3 End