Chapter 143
Chapter 143
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: When a Whale Gets Involved in a Shrimp Fight - 5
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There was something I had to do before the distribution.
Cleaning up the mess in front of the Time Shelter.
I immediately contacted Geom-in.
He'd seen my comment through someone else and entered the auction house.
―Remember that experiment we did in Incheon? The one that prevents zombie raids.
―Oh... you mean the totem?
It was an item I'd only heard about verbally.
According to Geom-in, installing it prevents zombie raids in the surrounding area.
But the materials were so rare that he could only make one.
―Lend it to me. I'll pay you back later.
―Between us, paying back feels weird. Just take it.
Between us... well, not a bad thing.
And so, I bought Geom-in's totem.
It was a forearm-sized wooden piece carved with the image of a monster with its mouth gaping wide open.
―It's made from elderwood. Drops very rarely from golden goblins.
Wait, elderwood?
Isn't that the root from the Black Forest up north?
Geom-in, whose mouth was itching to talk, spilled the whole production story.
―How it happened was, I looted an ancient tome from a dungeon. It had drawings in it.
Aha...
Dungeons occasionally drop ancient tomes.
Couldn't read the unfamiliar language, but apparently there were illustrated pages.
And by chance, it was the recipe for a totem that repels zombie-type monsters.
―What's the range on this thing?
―Uh... if done right, about the size of one house? Best to keep everyone clustered.
A bit short, but no helping it.
Guess I'll have to move people around.
―It's sticky... what'd you coat it with?
―You know those plant monsters zombies love? The ones we called zombie hell. Slice their stems and sap comes out. Coated it with that.
Pretty detailed.
Geom-in even taught me the recipe.
If I find zombie hell, I could make one too.
Problem is harvesting elderwood.
Every beast and monster in the neighborhood glared at me when I brought a saw.
And not just that—the atmosphere was downright hostile.
Should I harvest it with an elementium knife...?
Anyway, now's the time to use this to drive off the zombies.
When I brought it into the cave, surprisingly, the stag beetles showed interest.
"You guys know what this is?"
Playing dumb, as expected.
Living with them, I've noticed they have this tsundere side.
Act like they're not interested, but sneak over to help when you're struggling alone.
A stark contrast to the dung beetles, who charge in with curiosity.
Dogs and cats, basically.
I turned my back to them and fiddled with the totem.
"How do I use this thing so word spreads that it's effective..."
The stag beetles gathered around me.
Desperately pretending not to care, but I know they're hugely interested.
Their eyes are glued to the totem.
One even unconsciously climbed my leg.
Then realized where it was and scampered down.
At times like this, they seem like shy young ladies.
The dung beetles... feel more like jolly, bearded uncles for some reason.
"Ahem..."
As I fiddled appropriately, the leader stag beetle bit my hand.
Like it was saying, Don't handle it so roughly!
"What's wrong?"
According to its drawing, this was a very dangerous item.
Might repel certain monsters, but it attracts others.
"What kind?"
It hesitated, then drew a monster I'd never seen before, not even in Survival Life.
"If it doesn't even appear, isn't it fine?"
You have to worry about things that show up.
My words got a whatever-you-want reaction from it.
But it recommended making a new totem.
"Sorry, but my crafting skills suck."
I held out the totem slightly, and the leader stag beetle grumbled as it took it.
How do I know it grumbled? It was tapping its front legs on the ground.
Seemed worried I'd ruin the precious thing.
Come to think of it, they showed a lot of interest in my elderwood longbow too...
Maybe they're connected to elderwood somehow.
The stag beetles clustered and instantly began modifying the totem.
They gnawed off the sap, made it smaller overall.
No zombie hell— what are they coating it with?
Then they brought elderwood sap and slathered it on thick.
"Hey, I was saving that."
They all looked at me in unison.
Like, So we shouldn't?
No choice but to back down.
As I watched, they drew teeth on the totem.
Hmm... yeah, that'd scare anyone off.
The leader stag beetle handed me the totem.
"What's improved?"
According to it, the range tripled.
Useless as-is; needs to be fixed to the ground to activate.
"Gotta make a stand, huh."
Makes sense why Dajeong's ghouls didn't flee while working outside.
As I drew the stand design, the impatient stag beetles made it right away.
Like, Do we have to do even this by drawing?
Cute guys.
I took the totem and stand out of the cave.
Time to start the distribution.
.
.
.
A small change occurred at the Time Shelter.
A banner unfurled on the department store's third floor.
It read:
People muttered "crazy bastard" almost in unison.
Gather on the third floor, and zombies and ghouls would love that and swarm.
But the scenario they feared didn't unfold.
Zombies and ghouls around the Time Shelter started vanishing.
Goblins and orcs remained, but not in great numbers.
Even those were repelled by people's attacks.
A bit more time passed, and no monsters remained around the Time Shelter.
"This is really amazing..."
"At this point, we could gather on the third floor, right?"
"But how'd they know someone's on the third floor...?"
"Kimbap Lover's there."
"What right does he have to distribute supplies?"
Harboring doubts, people still headed to the third floor in groups of twos and threes.
The quick ones had already claimed spots in the men's clothing store on the third floor.
"..."
Everyone eyed each other warily.
These were people who'd just been fighting; tension was sky-high.
With ability users who could kill in an instant gathered, the atmosphere felt ready to explode.
More people arrived, and murmurs started here and there.
"Hey, move a bit."
"I got here first. Why should I move? You go somewhere else."
"Let's all quiet down."
"Why hasn't Kimbap Lover shown up?"
The moment someone said that, a figure descended the stairs from the fourth floor.
A hulking man.
Equipped like the epitome of a survivor, with an expensive elderwood longbow slung on his back.
He scanned the crowd and spoke.
"Not everyone's here yet. Let's wait a bit."
"Hey, what right do you have to distribute supplies here?"
A man stood, saying that.
A bit tense, he breathed roughly while glaring at Sung-ho.
Sung-ho, polishing his bloodied long knife, replied.
"Got a request from the government shelter. Satisfied?"
"What's the government shelter? They represent all survivors now? We can just take what we need—why control it?"
There's always one like this.
Sung-ho pointed outside.
"If you don't like it, go out and take supplies yourself. Entrance is blocked, so it'll be tough."
Dajeong's ghouls were affected by the totem too—no choice.
The man faltered, then opened his mouth.
"No, what I mean is..."
"What?"
"Pardon?"
"Speak straight. So what? What do you want?"
As Sung-ho advanced aggressively, he instinctively backed away.
Up close, the intimidation was no joke.
Sung-ho glared and enunciated clearly.
"If I don't step up, you'll all fight over supplies and die. Jang Won-taek asked me to handle it. Got it? Shut your mouth."
People were overwhelmed and fell silent.
"Young man, your mouth's too foul."
A burly middle-aged man stepped forward.
Sung-ho shifted his gaze to him.
"Advice: just sit. Don't embarrass yourself in front of everyone."
He chuckled heartily.
"No, I admit you're strong... but shouldn't you say something before bullying people?"
"Like what?"
"An apology. This happened because of you. If you'd just shared the info, it'd be way better."
Murmurs rose.
Come to think of it, this guy in front was the Kimbap Lover everyone sought before the apocalypse.
"Go on."
"..."
The man shut up at the ominous vibe.
Sung-ho approached step by step.
"Plenty said crap like that. I realized: easier to shut them up than convince them."
Explaining and getting permission one by one is foolish.
Sung-ho had learned: no people, no problems.
"Kill you and it'll get quiet, right?"
"Won't be easy..."
"Wanna bet? If I can toss you outside in 10 seconds."
The man gritted his teeth.
He'd only heard the shelter was breached and Kimbap Lover appeared—didn't know details.
Regretted sticking his neck out.
But with eyes on him, no backing down.
Ignoring his sweat-soaked back, he clenched his fist.
Sung-ho said.
"Let's get this over with quick. Need an example to make everyone behave."
Humiliated, fire sparked in the man's eyes.
As a clan leader, he couldn't take this.
Last check: no wolf eyes activated on Sung-ho.
If not... strike!
"Hey!"
The giant closed the distance in an instant.
People expected a fierce fight, but no.
Kimbap Lover was unilaterally pummeling the charging giant.
Thud! Thud!
The giant flailed like a sandbag, unable to resist.
His arms weren't stuck—he just swung at air.
And it came back manifold.
"Gahk!"
Unable to even breathe, he took hits until he passed out.
Sung-ho grabbed his collar with one hand, propping him up, and asked the crowd.
"Anyone else wanna bitch? Come out now. No time wasting."
"..."
No one stepped up, even seeing the beaten man.
Sung-ho dropped him and said to Goo Myung-hoon, who joined late.
"Lots of clan folks here, right? Let's sort them first."
"Ah, yes."
He bowed reflexively.
Not even a subordinate.
.
.
.
With help from Gwangju First clan members, Sung-ho handed each person a large burlap sack.
Then declared.
"Go in, fill the sack with food, come out. Don't care how you fill it."
Meaning one sack of food per person.
People took sacks and pondered what to take.
Pretty big—could hold a lot.
"But don't know what's inside."
"Gotta take water. We have none."
"Rainwater's fine. Pick compact, high-calorie combat rations first."
"Those cause constipation if you eat 'em too much."
A few trembling approached Sung-ho.
Having witnessed him smash someone without blinking, they were terrified.
"Um... can we take non-food stuff?"
Sung-ho explained kindly, unexpectedly.
"Of course, daily necessities, books, clothes too. But food's better, right? The rest'll still be here."
"Ah."
"Shelter ain't going anywhere. Grab urgent stuff first, come back later for more. Plenty to go around."
"Ah, yes."
People came out tilting their heads.
Fierce face, but surprisingly nice side.
And so distribution began.
Entrance opened; five survivors entered first.
"Whoa..."
"Supplies are insane..."
Truth was, this was leftovers after Sung-ho took his share.
Shoved in as Dajeong expanded.
Still plenty to amaze survivors.
They scattered, filling sacks with food.
Sung-ho waited at the entrance.
"Can leave comments on auction house?"
"Pardon? Yes..."
"Uploaded a spam pack. Buy it for 20 points."
Why buy that?
Anyway, with food secured, 20 points was fine. He commented and bought the spam.
Sung-ho did this to prevent duplicates.
Over 100 people—can't remember all faces, so used Truth-Seeking Eyes.
Skill points covered by them.
Distribution went smoothly, but trouble midway.
A woman who'd already gotten hers returned for more, caught by Sung-ho.
"You're second time, right?"
"Ah, no..."
She protested innocence, but paled when Sung-ho recited her name.
"I said no duplicates."
"Y-you got the wrong person. Not Kim Ha-yeon."
"Find someone who knows your face, say Kim Ha-yeon, and you're really dead."
"Th..."
She bowed weakly, mid-sentence.
"S-sorry..."
"Return to status quo and leave."
Goo Myung-hoon nearby was inwardly shocked.
How'd he know a stranger's name?
Another skill?
After she left, Sung-ho relaxed and continued.
Word spread on auction house: distribution at Chonnam Uni basement Time Shelter.
People didn't believe at first.
Monsters everywhere—how gather and distribute?
But multiple posters forced belief.
Some schemed.
No need queue—ambush those leaving.
Three conspirators waited in a nearby building for someone with a sack.
Finally, one emerged; they surrounded him.
"Drop the sack and you live."
"N-no..."
"Heh."
As they lunged for the sack, Dajeong appeared.
She assessed and looked dumbfounded.
"My god. Trash worse than me."
Came because Sung-ho said go out, didn't expect these guys.
The trio's faces hardened.
"Trash?"
"This fucking bitch..."
"You don't get the situation..."
Dajeong sighed and snapped her fingers.
Dengchi and grasshopper enhanced ghouls appeared; their eyes bulged.
"N-no way..."
When a Whale Gets Involved in a Shrimp Fight - 5 End