Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: To Use the Dimension Gate - 2
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No zombie or ghoul could even get close to him before turning into chunks of meat.
Kenji stood there dumbfounded, silently watching him fight.
It wasn't just that he was strong—his movements were on another level entirely.
He sliced through the monsters with the bare minimum of motion.
As someone with swordsmanship traits myself, I had to shake my head at the thought of being able to move like that.
'Just how many hellish battlefields has he carved his way through...'
It didn't seem like he'd simply acquired a few extra skills.
He read the monsters' attacks and struck first, preemptively.
Wherever his long knife went, zombie and ghoul limbs flew into the air.
Kenji unconsciously started toward him but received a warning.
"If you don't want to get hurt, stay back."
The man's voice was incredibly deep.
Things like rivalry or competitiveness only applied to equals.
This burly man's combat prowess far surpassed his own.
"...Are you here to help us?"
"For now. Our ghouls might attack too, so it's best if you step aside."
"Our ghouls?"
The moment Kenji and Yuzuka looked puzzled, the zombies filling the village shot into the air.
Someone was hurling them aside.
Looking closer, it was a pack of ghouls.
They were clearly different from the ones that had attacked the wanderers.
If I had to compare, it was like the difference between an elementary school kid and a high schooler.
And the one commanding those ghouls was, surprisingly, a woman.
With a snap of her fingers, the ghouls launched a coordinated assault on the zombies.
Kraaak!
Keeek!
"Oh my god..."
Yuzuka stood there with her bow half-drawn, mouth agape.
No one could have imagined someone controlling ghouls.
The ghouls came in all varieties too—some hopped around like summer locusts, while others were massive hulks.
One of them casually swatted away and crushed zombies charging at it like they were annoyances.
With the two of them, the horde of over a hundred zombies and ghouls was steadily thinning out.
Hard to believe, but the pair had stopped the zombie raid single-handedly.
The wanderers fell back around the ginkgo tree, watching their exploits unfold.
The raid was cleared in less than thirty minutes.
"Phew..."
I shook off my long knife and caught my breath.
I'd gotten pretty strong, but facing a massive swarm head-on was still too much.
Good thing Da-jung had helped—rushing in alone would've been dangerous.
"Leveled up once. Level 27 now."
"Ooh, just three more levels to go!"
Why was she getting all fired up?
I approached the tense-looking siblings staring at me from the ginkgo tree.
The two average kids who'd been sniping from afar ran over and made introductions.
"Bro, this is Shiraishi Kenji, and this is Shiraishi Yuzuka."
"They're different from the other Japanese folks. These two are okay."
I'd see about that for myself.
I asked Kenji,
"Didn't you know zombies raid if five or more people gather?"
"...Embarrassingly, no. We were always on the run on the mainland, so I thought that was normal."
"Thank you so much for helping us. We learned a lot this time."
Yuzuka bowed politely.
But she was coughing hard—it looked pretty painful.
Da-jung circled her curiously.
"Yeah, definitely different from Korean girls. She gives off total 'young lady' vibes."
Her blatant once-over made Yuzuka stop coughing and blush.
"Do I really seem that different, Yuzuka?"
"Whoa, first person I've seen refer to herself in third person."
"This might take a while, so let's head over there."
I pointed to the studio apartment building right next door.
Kenji pinched his nose against the rising rotten stench.
"Is the zombie raid over for now?"
"They have to come before they can go."
The siblings flushed red.
Looks like if I wanted info from them, I'd have to offer something in return.
"Thank you so much for your help."
The moment we reached the third floor, Kenji and Yuzuka bowed deeply.
They probably couldn't act that humble in front of the wanderers.
I exchanged glances with Da-jung.
Nod, nod.
"Sure. We had our own reasons for stepping in."
"Reasons?"
Kenji had a chin beard that gave him an old-fashioned air.
Early thirties, maybe.
The wooden sword at his side suggested kendo training.
Time to fish for info before getting to the point.
"Yesterday, we were attacked by about twenty Japanese guys. Their leader was a big gorilla of a man—ring any bells?"
"Gorilla... with the weird speech?"
"You know him, then."
He waved his hands hurriedly in denial.
"No, no—just a bad connection. His name's Futaba Otaro. He was a famous wrestler on the mainland."
That explained the size—a wrestler.
But not the bizarre behavior.
Kenji hesitated, then continued.
"Futaba was average as a wrestler, but his odd mannerisms drew some fans. Rumors said he was on drugs."
"What's your relation to them?"
"Nothing beyond being Japanese. So... what happened to them?"
"Most died."
"Good riddance. Better off without trash like that bothering us here."
Da-jung stared out the window, while Yuzuka stuck close to her—maybe girl solidarity.
Big mistake seeing her as a normal girl.
Time for the main topic.
"I've got a proposal. You give us info, we give you some too."
Of course, it had to be quality info.
If not, ours would be the same.
Desire lit up in Kenji and Yuzuka's eyes.
"We came here to survive—no reason to hesitate. We'll tell you everything."
Kenji called a subordinate to fetch something.
Meanwhile, the two average kids were chatting happily with a Japanese girl on the second floor of the opposite commercial building.
They looked like they were having fun.
Soon, the subordinate brought a small pouch.
Inside were a map and a notebook.
Da-jung opened the notebook.
"A diary? But why start from July 17th?"
"The day the government notified us of the apocalypse."
"What? Zombies appeared five days earlier. Goblins before that."
Yuzuka bowed her head.
"Japan thought it was Korean propaganda back then... Yuzuka is ashamed."
No need to be that ashamed.
I unfolded the Kyushu map.
"Civilians, fine—but the government? So, what about the nuclear plants?"
Kenji shook his head despairingly.
"They told us to stay put, nothing to worry about. We survived by gathering Korean intel and stockpiling supplies."
"...These circles are the plant locations?"
"Yes. Northern Fukuoka Prefecture is probably a dead zone now. No one could survive..."
"What about other areas?"
"We decided to head to Korea, so we don't know much else."
Not helpful.
Sensing my expression, Kenji marked several spots with a pen.
"Just in case—these are Sanribu, this is..."
"What's Sanribu?"
"Discount stores all over Kyushu... like marts in Korean terms."
"Marts would've been looted dry."
"Logistics warehouses in remote areas—they should still be fine."
How'd he know I like logistics warehouses?
Monsters usually spawn where people are, so remote spots stay safe.
That's why so many grain centers are intact.
Kenji and Yuzuka hunched over the map, sharing a ton of info.
Enough that I wouldn't get lost in southern Kyushu right away.
Then Yuzuka suddenly pulled away, wracked by violent coughs.
She could barely breathe.
Kenji sighed deeply, helpless.
"It's been like this for days. No medicine, cough's getting worse... worried she might cough up blood..."
Da-jung poked my side.
This much, at least, right?
Yeah, fair.
I asked them,
"I know a doctor. You could get a consult via the auction house. Might even score meds."
Their eyes went wide.
"R-Really? We'd never forget it!"
"Yuzuka won't forget either!"
"Hold on."
I summoned the crew through the auction house.
Yoo Hyun, self-proclaimed auction house grinder, commented right away.
Geom-in and Soo-yeon?
Odd pair, but their business.
As I waited, Kenji shot me puppy-dog eyes.
Not a fan of that from a guy.
"Yuzuka, personal info and symptoms."
"Y-Yes."
She hurriedly entered the auction house and posted in comments.
Sounded serious.
Getting worse.
My grave tone prompted Soo-yeon to backpedal fast.
What the—
Just a cold from the cold weather.
The siblings sighed in relief at the comments.
It's the apocalypse.
Soo-yeon listed a med pack in the auction house, and Kenji snapped it up.
Lowest bid: 10 points.
Yuzuka downed it with water from a cup and sighed softly.
"Haa... feels reassuring somehow. Cough."
"Rest up and eat well for now."
But I knew their situation wouldn't allow it.
I stepped out with Da-jung and called the two average kids.
"Bro, what's up?"
"Take this upstairs."
A sack of rice, matches, and a soy sauce bottle.
Enough to last a day or two.
The rest was on them.
"Where'd you get rice? Searched everywhere, nada..."
"My cute ghouls fetched it—why?"
Da-jung was reliable at times like this.
The kids gauged her vibe and hauled the sack up.
I called after them.
"Tell 'em Dog Islet's fair game to occupy. You two hand it off and come right back to us."
Small favors buy loyalty—a solid investment.
No immediate help, but who knows later.
"Got it!"
"Be right there!"
We headed to Dog Islet.
The average kids heard the story and left for the government shelter.
Handed 'em the farming dungeon map, and someone's meeting them—no getting lost.
We watched from afar as the Shiraishi siblings entered the islet.
They were overjoyed at finally having a path to survival.
The siblings swore I'd saved them—they'd grant any one request.
Da-jung joked about demanding her body, turning Yuzuka beet red. Bonus.
No outrageous demands from me.
Da-jung said,
"Kinda wasteful leaving the islet empty, right?"
"Not bad if friendlies hold it. Might need it someday."
"You're so thrifty."
"Wonder if there's farming spots nearby... our crew probably cleared 'em."
"Gave 'em one grain center tip—they'll handle it. Chill."
Fair enough.
Da-jung and I led the ghouls north.
After monster tests, we crossed the river no problem.
Disappointing, but whatever.
We turned toward Jirisan.
Curious how many Chinese were in Jeonnam and Jeonbuk.
The long journey continued.
Near Jirisan, we faced serious trouble.
Plant monsters everywhere—like the whole mountain was alive.
Cities would turn into demon realms like this soon.
We fought moderately, then fled to Guryong.
Leveled to 29, points over 15,000.
Thanks to Da-jung's ghouls handling conveniences.
"Just one more level... one more level..."
She muttered, hunting monsters to offer me.
Spotting an orc, she cheered.
"Thank you for appearing, Mr. Orc!"
Kruk?
The orc flexed its pecs threateningly, but got beat by ghouls and dragged to me.
I kept easy-leveling like this.
And finally hit level 30.
+ 10 Points
Trait changed at Lv. 30
Exclusive Dimension Gate Open → Dimension Gate Open
Can set points required to use Dimension Gate
Special contract required to use Dimension Gate
Finally here, but...
Something feels off.