Chapter 189
Chapter 189
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 189
Chapter Title: Under One Roof, Multiple Families - 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"..."
Heavy.
As expected, Da-jung must have her leg draped over my stomach.
When I opened my eyes, sure enough, her calf was pressing down on my chest.
She's the woman with the worst sleeping habits in the world.
I carefully pushed her leg aside and got up.
Stepping out of the cabin, it was still before dawn.
The horizon beyond the shelter's sea was faintly tinged red.
"How long has it been since I last saw a dawn sky like this..."
Lately, I've been holed up in the Great Labyrinth with no time to gaze at the sky.
Even when I finally return to the shelter, it's all eating and sleeping, leaving no spare moments.
I went behind the cabin to the cliff and admired the sea.
"They said there's land somewhere over there..."
This place we're at is a peninsula jutting sharply southeast from the southern part of Lotus Continent.
To the east lies the distant ocean, and to the west, the mainland.
According to the map drawn by the beetle folk, it's about 60 km away.
Too far to row there.
Even with a motorized boat, I doubted it would make it.
The reason I'm fixated on that place is because it's the homeland of the beetle folk.
"An underground city whose name is unknown..."
They wanted to go there, but we couldn't attempt it right away.
Securing the Black Forest and blocking the peninsula's neck took priority.
The peninsula connects to the continent via a very narrow strip of land, near the volcano Da-jung had visited.
In other words, the actual area where monsters could enter was only about 2 km wide—quite narrow.
If we secure that, we'll be able to live comfortably from now on.
"Unless griffins show up, that is."
If Da-jung tames an adult griffin, two people could ride it.
With that monster's flight capabilities, flying 60 km would be a breeze.
"We need at least two for Su-yeon too..."
Ideally, others—especially Mi-kyung—should get one as well.
With expanded vision, she'd be able to use Blink even more aggressively.
Anyway, we need flying monsters to appear soon to catch a real break.
For those with lower abilities, it'd be even tougher, but that's unavoidable.
"Huuuuh."
I stretched as I walked through the dawn shelter.
Passing the cabin where Su-yeon and Mi-kyung stayed led to the vegetable garden, bird coops, and hornbird pens.
Someone was working at dawn—it was Ji-man.
He's always so diligent and hardworking.
"Ji-man, what are you doing up this early?"
"Ah, hyung."
He turned around, his well-tanned face beaming with a bright smile.
Wondering why he was so happy, I saw a hornbird chick nestled right against him.
Both of them, in fact.
"They already hatched..."
"I felt something odd last night, so I came to check, and they were chirping away. I fed them, and now they're sleeping."
"What kind of chick is the size of a pheasant?"
"They'll grow enormous later. Big enough to carry us."
"Not motorcycle replacements, right?"
Ji-man's eyes widened as if I'd said something ridiculous.
"I heard from Gorgos that they're incredibly fast?"
"Who's Gorgos?"
"The boss beetle."
Ah...
Well, a dwarf-like race would have a hefty name like that.
Anyway, these hornbirds seemed widely used across Lotus Continent.
They even farmed them, so like horses and cows combined in our history.
Of course, they tasted awful, so no using them for food.
Ji-man placed the two hornbirds back in the nest and stood.
"I need to let the wild boars out—want to come watch?"
I was startled.
Why release them?
"You're letting the ones we caught go free?"
"Yeah. If I release them in the morning, they forage and come back by evening."
"Really..."
That was fascinating.
Turned out it was due to Ji-man's trait.
"An extra effect appeared, so now I can give orders to animals. Nothing complex, though."
"That's impressive enough. Let's go watch."
"Sure."
We were raising a herd of wild boars in a dedicated pen.
For long-term meat supply.
Thanks to Ji-man's trait, the piglets grew rapidly and didn't escape.
Management was the issue, but diligent Ji-man handled it.
Geom-in said he worked all day.
Even told him to take breaks, but he preferred it that way.
The gate creaked open, and the wild boars looked at Ji-man.
He brushed each one carefully.
Their grunts grew louder—they clearly loved the brushing.
"Go eat well and come back. Lots of mane wolves in the forest lately."
Oink oink.
The herd's choral response was truly amazing.
The chain-link fence and stockade opened, and they rushed out.
They'd spend the day in the forest and return by evening...
Since we'd cleared nearby monsters, it should be fine for a while.
As we closed the stockade, Dingo and Dingo-soon woke and came panting over.
Behind them, adorable pups followed in a pack.
Smaller than when I first met Dingo, they looked even cuter.
Ji-man turned and scooped up the pups.
"Aww, yeah? Oh dear, stop wagging those tails. You'll fly away."
This was peak peace.
I toured the garden, harvesting buff-granting crops.
"Today's tasks..."
Checking the wooden bulletin board showed everyone's schedules.
Seok-hyun and Da-jung: Great Labyrinth floor 6.
Geom-in and Ji-man: Shelter maintenance.
Others: Monster hunting.
No one assigned this—they planned it themselves.
I wrote "Korean Shelter visit" next to my name.
Heading to see Jang Won-taek, but a few bulletin notes caught my eye.
—Auction house says infighting broke out in the Korean Shelter lately. Be careful. - Yoo-hyun.
—Factions formed, seems like they're clashing with the president. - Yeo-ul.
—Someone smuggled ecstasy into the Korean Shelter. What's that taste like? - Mi-kyung.
—They say it's amazing for sex. - Sleek Sis.
That damn ecstasy.
Told them repeatedly not to even be curious, but curiosity wins.
I grabbed a pen and added under Da-jung's note.
—Anyone using ecstasy will be exiled from the shelter, so don't even think about it. - Sung-ho.
Drugs corrupt society.
That's why nations ban them.
Even with strong bodies, letting your guard down leads to ruin.
Best to ignore them completely.
"...Even writing 'exile' might be tough."
We've grown attached; banishing someone would ruin the mood.
I could only hope they'd make the right choices.
They're adults; they'll manage.
At the workshop, the beetles and stag beetles were watching something emerge from a house when sunlight finally bathed the shelter.
People started waking one by one.
.
.
.
The shelter's mornings began with communal meals.
Everyone could skip based on condition, but no one did—the work was grueling.
Just wandering burned calories; tending gardens and hunting required massive energy.
And when soup cooked in the morning, the smell spread everywhere—impossible to resist.
With snacks hard to come by, no one skipped meals.
Even petite Yeo-ul ate three full meals a day, two bowls each time.
Yet she never gained weight.
Today's cooks: Su-yeon and Yoo-hyun.
They rolled up sleeves and prepped ingredients; I helped casually.
The veterans—me included—weren't on rotation, but we had time.
Soon, seaweed soup bubbled in one pot, steam pouring from another.
Food ready, we all sat.
Seok-hyun's hair was a mess—awake less than 10 seconds.
Da-jung propped her chin blankly, occasionally pinching my thigh.
Why'd I escape this morning?
I'm not always in the mood, geez.
I distributed utensils and asked them.
"How far'd you clear on floor 6? Didn't post on the board."
Da-jung took her bowl.
"Doppelganger room at the path to floor 7."
"Talk about bad luck."
"Saw two Bunny Duos—ruined my mood. That's why we bailed."
Yeah, two human doppelgangers—not rabbits or princesses—would be off-putting.
Seok-hyun, unfazed, said cheerfully.
"Truth is, we ran. Those guys were tough."
"Abilities are identical, right?"
That's doppelgangers' gimmick.
They copy approaching beings' forms and powers perfectly.
Indistinguishable until they speak—chilling.
Anyway, from their story, Seok-hyun had scrapped it out.
"Same stats made it fun to fight."
"Tried firearms?"
Da-jung sighed.
"Used your grenade launcher—the fake Bunny Duo deflected it."
Bunny Duo's stats were insanely high from body recomposition effects.
Higher than buffed-up me; enough to swat grenades.
Probably dodge rocket launchers too.
Headache-inducing foes.
If I joined, three doppelgangers would spawn.
Geom-in, listening, asked.
"Can't Sung-ho open a dimension gate solo?"
If it were that easy, no dilemma.
"Floor 7's the seal layer."
"Ah."
Floor 7 seals all abilities except raw stats.
Pure flesh-vs-flesh to break through.
Monsters too, but huge demerit for my dimension gate reliance.
Deeper floors add more restrictions.
"Try rockets next. Da-jung kills one first, then gang up."
Da-jung gnashed her chopsticks at my words.
"Not talking about me, right?"
"Fakes, fakes."
"Why do I feel like you're in a birdcage mood?"
"As if I'd ditch you for some birdcage."
"Right?"
She grinned wide.
I cleared my throat.
"Anyway, you two push hard. Can't hit 8, so 7's the last."
"You?"
"Korean Shelter run. Mi-kyung, come with."
It's risky lately; her Blink would help.
"Yessir."
End of nagging.
Meal started; I shoveled rice and soup.
Probably only us worldwide enjoying this luxury.
Seaweed soup's delicious.
.
.
.
Exiting the Great Labyrinth took serious effort.
Entrance swarmed with people.
Every building packed—no exaggeration—yet totems prevented raids.
Sung-ho emerged under stares.
Then bumped into two unexpected faces.
People he'd parted with in hazy-named Busan.
"Sung-ho, doing well? Us..."
Sung-ho barely recalled: Kyung-hoon and Bora.
Last spat before splitting in Busan?
Too much happened since; memories fuzzy.
"Ah... yeah. Long time. You two made it to Seoul."
His tone was dry.
Months since the fight; no emotions left.
Kyung-hoon and Bora seemed unsurprised.
After brief greetings and his departure, stares at them shifted.
Just knowing Kimbap Lover altered the refugee camp's power dynamics.
Who knew? Maybe he'd drop a word and score something.
As parties propositioned them, Sung-ho fetched his bike elsewhere and mounted.
"Mi-kyung, Mi-kyung."
Opened a dimension gate, knocked; she popped out.
"Motorcycle... You're giving me a ride?"
"You wanted to before. Just to Yeouido."
"Yay!"
She hopped on quick, arms around his waist.
Felt her slim, flawless figure and marveled.
"Oppa lost so much weight."
"Was a pig back then?"
"Not pig... kinda chubby?"
"Nah, that bulk was pig-level."
Mi-kyung unchanged—body, bob haircut, pale skin.
Sung-ho twisted the throttle; 650cc bike roared down the airport road.
"Aaaah!"
Mi-kyung's bob flew in the wind as she laughed joyfully.
A ghoul spotted them, lumbering over.
Ghoul flowers cratered the road.
World turned demon realm; smiles vanished from faces.
But Mi-kyung could smile.
Stalwart Sung-ho was ahead.
Clinging tight, she suddenly shouted.
"Oppa, should I grow my hair out?"
"Why hair out of nowhere?"
"Just! Wanna grow it!"
"You're pretty as is!"
Mi-kyung squeezed his waist silently at his reply.
Then a shadow loomed from above.
Mi-kyung looked up, face hardening.
"Oppa! Griffin! It's a griffin!"
"Saw it."
Shadow veered; Sung-ho followed suit.
Griffin appeared.
Probably nesting high nearby.
Scouting now for prey-rich spots.
Sung-ho deliberately trailed the shadow, revving to expose them.
Mi-kyung, scared, said.
"Oppa, shadow's growing!"
"I know."
Then whoosh—wind howled.
Sung-ho wrenched the handlebar, dodging.
Screech—!
Bike skidded; griffin's bulk landed there.
Thick talons swiped air narrowly, then it soared again.
"Whoa!"
Mi-kyung clung speechless.
Sung-ho opened dimension slot, drew gun.
"Follow me, beast!"
Bang!
Griffin aloft wasn't badly hurt but furious.
It pursued the speeding bike.
Chase erupted near Yeouido.
Under One Roof, Multiple Families - 1 End