Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: The Monster of the Gyeryong Unit - 2
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"But wouldn't it be better to bring Geom-in along too? Let him crash at your shelter this time."
Dajeong's tone dripped with the implication that she couldn't build a cabin herself.
Just a little shelter expansion and you're already getting lazy?
I shook my head.
"Not yet. If that guy gets in your shelter, he won't come out. He's a total shelter maniac."
"Yeah, that's true."
"He can build shelters to his heart's content in a fantasy world and gather supplies. With a computer there too, it'd be paradise for him."
"It costs 100 points, and you have to open the entrance for him, Sung-ho."
She had a point; I couldn't argue.
As we were wrapping up at the auction house, a request came in from the government shelter.
―About that sniffing monster... could you sketch its overall appearance? Including where the spines come from... We'll pay well. The more detailed, the better.
It was from Chief of Staff Lee Beom-seok.
They must be confused just from the description.
I sketched it on a notepad, only to give Dajeong a good laugh.
"Pfft hahaha! This is totally a stick figure!"
Yeah.
Any humans I draw end up as stick figures.
"Can't I just draw it roughly enough to get the idea?"
"He's a government guy. He probably wants the details."
What a picky old man.
I was about to give up when I remembered the dung beetles were good at drawing.
If they draw it nicely, I can sell it for a high price... What a perfect collaboration.
When I told Dajeong, she pinched my cheek.
"Normal people call that exploitation, you know?"
"Hear me out. For every point I make, I'll feel proud of them. It's a long-term gain. Every action will show my consideration."
"You're so greedy... Just say you want to make points off the dung beetle drawings."
That'd be too blunt.
I am greedy, though.
Actually, there's a better way to earn points.
Sell everything beyond the dimension gate.
Oceans, forests, plains, valleys, snowy mountains—full of point-worthy stuff.
Process and sell them, and I'd be richer than Dajeong in points.
But it takes too much time.
I've only got one body; spending all day butchering wild boars is a waste.
So I need reliable people...
Focus on what needs doing now.
Secure the drawing and analyze weaknesses before the others arrive.
Of course, with an anti-tank weapon, no need for weaknesses.
But I have to consider close combat too.
"Maybe try the flame canister..."
Given its regeneration, it probably won't faze it.
As I pondered, Dajeong found a printer in the cave corner.
"Does this work? It says laser."
"Probably, yeah."
Haven't used it since looting; no idea.
Dajeong fiddled with her smartphone.
"Let's snap a pic and print it."
"Hold on."
Turning on the laser printer made the lights flicker.
This thing guzzles power.
Thankfully, no generator failure.
Bluetooth-connected the printer and phone; Dajeong clung to my side.
"Hurry up."
Not my style, but I'll play along.
Hit the shutter; soon the photo printed.
Dajeong checked the paper, flicked it with satisfaction.
"Apocalypse face like this? Aren't I kinda hot?"
Her narcissism is on point.
Anyway, plan: photo the sniffer, print, have dung beetles trace.
Test dimension wall and prison then too.
Too tall for the prison, probably.
I gathered materials and made a flame canister.
Let's see how long it lasts.
.
.
.
Luring the sniffer was easy.
Just wander near headquarters; it pops out.
But holding it in place? Near impossible—way too strong.
Even Dajeong's top ghoul, the locust, lasted under 5 seconds.
Jump attacks? Long arms grab its jaw, drag, done.
Kyaaak!
Locust split in half; Dajeong gritted her teeth.
"I'll crush you."
I snapped a photo, printed it.
Dung beetles tilted heads at the pic.
"Ever seen this monster?"
Shakes of denial.
Even stag beetles new to it.
Where'd this thing come from...?
Couldn't shake the unease—someone made it?
Slight intelligence, human-modded look creepy.
Anyway, using Dajeong's ghouls' sacrifices, tested attacks.
Bolts and bullets to head, flame canister—minimal damage.
Dimension prison? Wouldn't fit—too tall, bounced off.
Dimension wall blocking? Limits; it flips like a fish, closes in.
No answers.
Real monster.
Now it noticed me, got cautious.
Saw me from afar, even fled—clear intelligence.
That combat power plus smarts? Balance breaker.
Not my place to complain.
Anyway, added details to dung beetles' tracing of sniffer pic.
"Draw it with spines too. And add a human here."
To show scale clearly.
A4 sheet: three drawings, details—nice report.
This'll fetch good price.
Dajeong hugged from behind.
"How much you selling for?"
"500 points."
Her gentle touch turned to chokehold.
"Total scammer. Die, die."
"Gahk, husband dying."
Her grip softened.
"Why so pricey? Price at 50 and spread it; more buyers."
"Gov gets it, dumps at 10. Devalues mine. So high price."
"...I'll give points; just give to gov?"
Odd talk.
"Can sell, giving free is dumb. No free lunch."
Especially in apocalypse.
Kindness turns betrayal; gotta be ruthless—my philosophy.
"Hate seeing you hated."
...She's changed.
First met, thought psycho; now advising.
She tightened arms.
"Total assholes? Crush 'em. I'll kill. But gov shelter? They're for survivors' future. Be softer."
Not ally or foe yet, my view; but hers valid.
Textbook, even.
Here, heed Dajeong...
No big loss sans 500; think big picture.
Daily gouging? Ruins rep.
"Got it."
She smooched me silly.
"Good boy. Reward."
Dodged kisses, listed at gov shelter for 20 points.
Felt Lee Beom-seok flinch.
―Think you mistyped 2,000.
How low he rates me.
―Buy before I change mind.
―Ah, yes.
.
.
.
"Excellent."
President Jang Won-taek's take on Sung-ho's report.
He traced the sniffer's outline, impressed.
Pro-level; believable.
Muscles, shading—leapt off page.
"Sung-ho from art school?"
"No. Intel says fish-and-chips shop."
"Fish-and-chips? Doesn't match impression."
"Doddo Island chats: used to be plumper."
"I see... Anyway, this sniffer... way off my imagine. Without pic, mistake for other."
"Thought spines from arms too."
Full-body spines, long arms—chilling.
Compared to human pic, ~2.3m tall.
Jang tapped paper.
"No way to catch now?"
"Needs anti-tank. But extinguishers might neutralize. Just not worth it."
"Agreed..."
No modern weapon unharmed it, they judged.
Better anti-tank than wasting bullets.
Jang passed paper to Lee.
"How much?"
"20 points."
"...Wrong price?"
"Thought so, but confirmed 20."
Jang chuckled dryly.
"Sun rising west."
That ruthless guy changed mind?
Jang knew better.
"Maybe aligning thoughts with us?"
"Not yet. Judging psyche needs elements."
"Yes."
"Gather, analyze. Rush? Backlash. 'Why he rush alone?'"
"Watch reaction, step back."
"Request two more collabs, pay well. Show not foe."
"Plan together."
"We must go together."
Jang emphasized.
"Some friction ok. Thousand thoughts harmonize. But not permanent split. Humans bicker onward."
Unchanged philosophy, president days to now.
Sung-ho's aggression? Frown, but understandable.
Many hyenas; lion aggressive to protect.
Lone prairie lion building pride...
Jang's view of Sung-ho.
Lee pondered, offered next report.
"Japanese settled Doddo Island, Changwon."
"Doddo? Their spot. Sung-ho gave?"
"Some meeting. High schoolers say mild samurai clan."
"Which?"
"Kim captain contact needed."
"Major now."
"Right."
Recently promoted informally on return.
Others mock apocalypse nonsense.
But vital for belonging, power.
Jang hoped Sung-ho's pride felt it too.
To unite.
.
.
.
Dusk; Seok-hyeon and Mi-kyung arrived.
Near Gyeryong, contacted us.
Dajeong fetched; four in room.
"Voice low. Ears sharp."
"This it?"
Seok-hyeon eyed paper in glowstone light.
Mi-kyung cringed, hid behind Dajeong.
"Looks strong."
"Is. Tanked rifle shots to head. Needs anti-tank."
"Tried melee?"
"Why risk?"
"I'll go."
Seok-hyeon stood; I grabbed leg.
"Hey, sit."
Revive trait or not, no point waste.
Explained: no answer range or close.
"Regen insane. Balista bolt? Pulls out, hole closes real-time."
"My ghouls no match. All in? Minutes."
Seok-hyeon tilted head at Dajeong.
"This strong now? After lizardmen?"
"Trolls. Spiky ones."
"Spines... similar."
Yeah, trolls and sniffer alike.
Long arms, spines.
Fused horrors maybe?
My fantasy.
I poked pic.
"Paralyze venom no, flame weak. Open bunker, anti-tank. One-shot no regen."
"Buy time."
"Bunker long."
"We got this, Topo. Crazy time."
Dajeong fist; Seok-hyeon grinned.
"Trio battle long time."
"Hey Topo. In your shelter now."
"How?"
Mi-kyung startled forward.
Dajeong crossed arms, nodded me.
"Sung-ho lv30 trait. Bused me."
"Weirdly, Dajeong paid fare."
"S-stop."
"Miss it..."
"Me too. Try."
Opened gate on request.
Dajeong half-in.
"Ta-da. Like this. Cool?"
"Cool. Fare tho?"
"100 per entry. No time limit. Stay."
"You move gate post-move, Duck moves too."
"Quest quick. Enter."
"Quest too?"
"Not hard."
Sniffer cry afar.
Seok-hyeon: bathroom break.
2F; won't get lost.
Gone; Dajeong hugged Mi-kyung.
"Whitey, wanna in?"
Nod.
"Tons stocked. Spam fills toilet."
Dog-hugged, eyed me.
"...Oppa, me too?"
Desperate tone.
One word got her here; no cruelty.
Trait secret held—not spread auction.
Not forever.
"Of course."
Mi-kyung beamed, looked up Dajeong.
Dajeong squeezed, whispered cute.
"Wild sex party inside."
"I-I don't know..."
"Hey, hear ya. Quit nonsense."
Kid'll misunderstand.
Next morning, action.
Dajeong zombies raided HQ; soon mush through windows.
"Ugh..."
Mi-kyung behind moaned.
First battle.
"No panic. Stay back. Save Seok or Dajeong if danger. Got it?"
"Y-yes. Try."
Sniffer out HQ.
Morning sun; saw us, hesitated.
Seok-hyeon forward, dropped pants, hands hips.
Couldn't look straight.
"Nice meet, Sniffer! Bunny Duo!"
Kaaak!
Sniffer roared wide maw.
Cool morning greet.
The Monster of the Gyeryong Unit - 2 End