Chapter 208
Chapter 208
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 208
Chapter Title: People Living in the Apocalypse - 3
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"Oh, so this is Belond Forest?"
"What? Elves use their own territory as a castle? So in my case, it'd be Belond Residence or something?"
"What happens if you move? You don't? You live in the forest you were born in until you die?"
The veterans walked through the forest, constantly peppering the stag beetle with questions.
The little guy seemed thrilled to meet his own kind for once and answered cheerfully.
All except Seok-hyun's questions.
But even the stag beetle didn't know everything.
It seemed elves lived scattered across the continent in closed-off communities with little interaction.
Geon-in's voice turned disappointed at that.
"They never leave the place they were born... That means there are no elf-human hybrids..."
The stag beetle made an obvious gesture, but the dung beetle disagreed.
The two started bickering right above Geon-in's head.
The dung beetle was bigger, but the stag beetle had pincers.
"Our side's winning!"
Da-jeong cheered as Seok-hyun reached out with his arm.
"Shh. Monster nearby."
"What kind?"
"Jectree."
Jectrees were tree monsters.
They looked identical to normal trees on the outside, but once they uprooted and moved, it was a different story.
They had high attack power, and above all, incredibly high defense that shrugged off most hits.
But to veterans, they were just prime kindling.
Toss a fire can their way, and they'd scream as they went up in flames.
"There it is."
Da-jeong finally spotted the jectree's position too.
It stood motionless between two healthy trees.
"Cold weapons won't work on that thing."
As Geon-in said, bladed weapons didn't faze jectrees much.
Arrows did nothing, and swords only left scratches.
"But we've got Topkong. Go get 'em, Topkong!"
Da-jeong hoisted Seok-hyun and hurled him forward.
The moment the jectree snapped its eyes open and tried to uproot, Seok-hyun steadied himself and smashed his fist into it.
"Kiyoooot!"
Crunch.
The jectree's trunk caved in, its roots tore free, and it toppled to the ground.
Seok-hyun charged, clamped both arms around its head section.
"I want you!! Topkong Hug!"
A bit more squeeze, and the sturdy jectree shattered and died.
Geon-in muttered in disbelief.
"Isn't that a bit too much love?"
Then, bushes rustled from another direction, and elves emerged.
They were Belond elves with gray skin, balanced physiques, and long ears.
The leader was the one Seok-hyun had pummeled and captured earlier.
They all wore looks of utter bafflement.
Was a jectree really that easy to kill?
No.
It was a formidable foe.
Especially for elves who couldn't use fire in the forest.
So seeing it head-crushed to death was beyond comprehension.
"You... what kind of monster are you?"
The lead elf demanded.
"The guy who nabbed you."
"Want to go again? Here, in Belond Forest."
"I'm game."
Seok-hyun grinned provocatively.
Sung-ho's warnings had long vanished from his mind.
Patrol captain Griondel Belond condemned him.
"Humans really are... You're outsiders in this forest! Don't you understand that outsiders have proper etiquette to follow?"
"Make me understand."
A sinister crack came from his fist, and the wood elves tensed.
In truth, they sensed the human before them was no ordinary foe.
Fine, getting thrashed and captured in a blink—one could chalk it up to surprise.
But pulverizing a jectree's head with raw strength? Absurd.
What, was he a half-ogre or something?
"So the flag of goodwill and fruit basket were just a front."
Griondel gnashed his teeth, and Geon-in quickly stepped in.
"Misunderstanding. We're not here to fight."
"Not here to fight? You..."
"Catch."
The fruit basket flew at Griondel.
The surrounding elves opened it and gasped in admiration.
"Sun apples!"
"Winter berries... These are rare!"
Griondel tried ignoring the basket, but the aroma was irresistible.
The instant his gaze swept over it, Da-jeong blocked Seok-hyun with her arm.
"To repeat, that was an unfortunate accident. No need for us to fight, right? Unless you want to, in which case we're happy to oblige."
Griondel could tell the woman before him was no pushover.
'Something's off...'
No humans had appeared in this forest since the apocalypse.
The Luat Kingdom, which had clashed with Belond elves, was gone, leaving only ruins.
So what did it mean for three to show up now?
...Though one barely looked human.
Then a bird landed on Griondel's shoulder.
A beautiful parrot with blue feathers.
It whispered in his ear, and Griondel's tension melted away.
"...Lower your bows."
"Message from the trees?"
One elf asked.
"Yes. Follow us. The trees will guide you."
"Sudden attitude shift means orders from above, I take it?"
Sharp woman. Griondel nodded.
"The chieftain wants to see you. Don't do anything stupid..."
The group followed the elves.
Griondel walked silently, but his two subordinates kept glancing back and snickering.
With tension eased, Seok-hyun's outfit finally registered.
"Hey, why are you dressed like that?"
"It's comfy."
"Even Luat humans didn't dress like that. Where you from?"
"Korea."
"Where's that?"
"On Earth."
Da-jeong clamped a hand over Seok-hyun's blabbing mouth.
"Keep talking, and I'll shove a fist up your ass."
"Sounds fun to me."
"Not my fist. Tank's fist."
"Duck's mean."
"So shut up."
Cold sweat beaded on Griondel's forehead.
Bringing these maniacs to the Elderwood was definitely a mistake.
But chieftain Amelia's orders were absolute.
Moments later, the forestscape opened up to reveal a massive tree.
Its trunk split into multiple branches forming houses.
The Elderwood.
The group, having only seen Elderwood roots before, gawked in awe.
Griondel felt a quiet pride at their reaction.
"The Elderwood is like our mother. We are born, grow, and die in her embrace."
"But it seems kinda hurt."
Seok-hyun's words made him glare as if he'd spouted nonsense.
"No human has ever communed with the Elderwood."
"I did. I felt its wounds clearly."
"Tired of your nonsense. Chieftain Amelia is there. Show some respect."
The group drew hot stares from the elves.
Some whispered, others pointed at Topkong and laughed—reactions varied.
On the terrace of the largest trunk pillar, one elf awaited them.
"Welcome to Belond. I am Amelia Belond, first guardian of this forest."
"Topkong, no weird talk."
Da-jeong warned firmly, placed the stag beetle in her palm, and handed it over.
Amelia's expression hardened at the sight.
"It's under dark magic influence. A curse, perhaps... And you all carry a similar ether..."
"He says he's an elf. Cursed, apparently."
Da-jeong explained, and Amelia looked deeply shocked.
She quickly composed herself before anyone noticed.
"...This isn't for out here. Come inside."
The group followed her into the Elderwood pillar.
Griondel frowned at their backs, then sensed something.
"...What?"
Shockingly, multiple Elderwoods shifted.
His keen senses caught it clearly.
But he denied it.
"No reason for Elderwoods to watch a mere human."
Yet the uneasy feeling lingered.
Griondel gazed quietly at the Elderwood pillar.
No wind, yet branches swayed.
As if welcoming someone.
We herded the cattle to James's ranch.
The lone country house on the prairie looked desolate from long neglect.
Naturally, no monsters around.
Though a few might respawn now that we were here.
James stroked the outer wall nostalgically.
"Ah... Being home feels so comforting."
"Homes are like that. Places you eventually return to..."
I had one too.
Busan.
Couldn't go now with business and radiation threats, but someday.
James smiled at me.
"Makes me want to settle in. But survival's tough, eh?"
"Levels stagnate. Can't grow big without clearing battle royale fields."
"Hmm... Yeah, hard to stay here. Better head to Korea if possible. Paige! Paige!"
She was playing with Ji-man and the wolves.
Used to fawn over Sang-shin, now curious about Ji-man.
Said she liked his pure eyes and animal affinity.
Typical—falls for anyone easy.
"What?"
"Ducks nearby probably. Scout 'em out!"
"Got it... You come too."
Ji-man got dragged off before he could respond.
Sang-shin yawned and flopped onto a hay bale.
"Prime spot. No monsters—perfect."
"Gonna live here?"
He pulled a straw hat over his face.
"Nah... Too boring long-term. No gukbap, for one."
Knew it.
I ignored him and followed James.
To learn butchering.
Slaughtering kicking, bellowing cattle ain't easy.
James watched my hide work.
"Done something like this before?"
"Not cows, but pigs. Wild boars, y'know."
"Ah... Big enough. Mr. Kang's full of surprises. Thought you just fought well."
"Gotta eat to live."
"Great mindset. Wish Paige would learn."
Twenty years old.
But in apocalypse, age don't matter.
Soon Ji-man and Paige rushed back with a flock of ducks.
"They're alive! Feed's barely touched!"
"Must've had plenty stocked. Mr. Kang, take the ducks too."
Too grateful.
Phoas taste good but too big, meat's tough.
Duck's tender—perfect treat.
Stockpiling like this.
"Ji-man! Help out!"
"Yes!"
We shoved cows through the dimension gate.
Members waiting upfront jumped.
"Whoa! Oppa, what's with all the cows?"
"Told you Texas. Caught 'em there."
Mooo—
Cows pouring into the shelter made everyone back up.
Yeo-ul eyed me.
"Didn't say this many..."
"Forty percent for Korea shelter. Don't get hopes up."
"How to butcher? I can't do cows..."
Su-yeon learned phoa from me.
Wild boars stretch her, but she's game for cooking. Cows too much.
"I'll handle butchering. Don't worry. Tough jobs are for men."
Women handle theirs too.
Shelter members seemed fine with roles.
Soon Ji-man herded ducks, loaded feed ample.
Shelter felt packed now.
Abundance breeds contentment.
So secure.
I grilled meat with James, satisfied.
Beef sizzled on the grill.
I got unexpected news at the US auction house.
A new flying monster appeared in major cities.
Thought griffon or wyvern—nope.
Dragon-like with blue scales.
Sang-shin and I pooled info.
"Drake."
"Drakes are the scariest flyers, right?"
"Need tier-3 weapons to scratch 'em."
Not ogre-level, but drakes terrify.
Bigger than griffons, insane defense.
Machine gun rounds? Doubtful.
Those scales are nuts.
Habits differ too—tricky to counter.
Griffons and wyverns divebomb; drakes fight great on ground too.
Sang-shin rewound footage to the drake's flame breath.
"This. Woke me yelling 'Breath! Dodge!' on stream."
"Did I?"
I scratched my head, replayed the breath scene.
Not huge damage, but few can tank it now.
Elemental resistance skills are rare.
Seok-hyun has via effect; I got from wyvern hunts.
No one else.
Even with resistance, taking it direct is dumb.
Dodge mandatory, but drake fights too well.
Closes for melee, breaths from air—pro fighter.
Nickname "fighting cock" for a reason.
Similar-sized griffons/wyverns? Chicks compared.
US cities swarmed with drake hunters now.
Told 'em suicide—no believers.
Americans brim with confidence.
Not our level, but plenty enjoy fights in big cities.
Sang-shin and I hunkered at auction house, gathering intel.
Surprise: food supply solid.
"Farmers with traits here."
"Vast land, big pop... Some farm pure for points."
US scale undeniable.
I scoured Houston comments for drake sightings.
Clans tried, failed miserably.
I advised politely, got mocked.
Can't stop here.
Comments exploded.
One caught my eye.
Someone knew me.
That guy forgot Geon-in.
End of People Living in the Apocalypse - 3