Chapter 60
Chapter 60
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: New People - 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Kwon Kyung-jun was dead.
The brainwashed people had been freed, and the bunker's supplies had been divided among them.
The gym folks, along with the other survivors, had each grabbed their share, of course.
I'd taken the biggest haul.
After all, I'd shoved an entire bunker into my shelter.
I'd also snagged Kwon Kyung-jun's logbook, which revealed quite a bit of info.
"Hmm... So the survivors were building a network among themselves."
The people he'd been in contact with were clustered around Gimhae and Changwon.
I had no idea what kind of people they were.
But since they were close enough to Kwon to communicate with him, it was safe to assume they needed watching.
The next bit that caught my eye was the code they used at the auction house.
Since it was a public space visible to everyone, they seemed to have their own secret code for talking.
"Ah, so that's how they did it."
I'd thought about using it when chatting with Bunny Duo or Duck Down Quack, but it looked like I was already getting use out of it.
They'd put up specific items at auction each week and communicate via code.
"They did it on September 1st, so I just need to check for weird auction listings on the 8th."
Still, a Changwon clan already...
Calling themselves a clan already meant they'd gathered some real power.
Five or more people would be tough, though.
"They could have branches for loose coordination."
If they gave orders through the auction house, it probably wouldn't be a big issue.
Control would be key in that setup, though...
What if a branch leader turned on them? Nothing they could do.
"Not my problem anyway."
The people who'd been scrambling between zombies and goblins early on were starting to form groups.
They'd feel secure now that they had a base.
But not in my eyes.
Orcs and werewolves—threatening monsters like that hadn't even shown up yet.
Plus, winter was just three months away.
"Summer was brutally hot, so winter might be just as brutal."
Winter would be way harder on survivors than summer.
Food shortages were kicking in around now too.
Point was, it was time for long-term survival plans.
"Can't live off combat rations forever, right?"
Farming in the city was efficient for now, but that'd change in a few days.
If a kobold swarm swept through at night, nothing would be left.
Tougher times were coming. How should I prep the people around me?
"...Nah, don't need to worry about them."
Veterans handle their own business.
The gym crew was the issue. They were farming the rice center for now.
With the bunker loot, they could hold out at least a month.
"Next up, north or east..."
Heading to Gimhae first seemed smart.
Then swing to Changwon after.
The key was securing a spot for long-term food supply.
"Need a garden plot, and fishing access too."
Changwon—especially Masan District—looked promising.
Biggest city in Gyeongnam, right on the coast.
"What about other cities..."
Moving between cities would be a hassle without serious firepower.
I checked the auction house, wondering if anyone else thought like me. Sure enough.
Someone had listed a single item and turned it into a discussion board.
The gist was this:
"Not much different from my thinking."
People think alike.
Since it was a survival info thread, trolling was rare—mostly serious comments.
Staying alive wasn't that hard if you focused on it.
The shop had bread updated in it.
No clue who made or sold it, but you could buy food with points.
Tasted like crap and cost a fortune, though.
Mi-kyung, who'd saved up a ton of points, bought one once and spat it out without swallowing.
—Tastes like chewing raw flour dough...
Only for desperate times.
"We're not there yet."
As I browsed, Yoo Hyun-i's paper plane flew in.
Hunting time.
...
The gym crew's levels were nearing 10.
Hyung-jun hyung and Mi-kyung had passed it already; Soo-yeon and Yoo Hyun-i were at 8 and 9.
I wanted to push the two to 10.
Extra trait effects would benefit me too.
They were waiting at the meetup spot.
Soo-yeon looked like she had questions.
"Sung-ho, heard about the golf course?"
"Yeah, roughly from Yoo Hyun-i."
"Whoa... That sturdy bunker collapsing in a day? I saw in the morning—people flipping out everywhere."
"They say collapsing is easy. Building's the hard part."
"Rome didn't fall in a day, though. Weird. No one nearby looked strong enough to wreck it."
Soo-yeon looked baffled.
Normal reaction.
Yoo Hyun-i glanced at me; I spoke quietly.
"Had Yoo Hyun-i scout yesterday. Insane defenses. Whoever did it is way stronger than us. Gotta prep."
They nodded grimly.
Of course, that powerhouse wouldn't hit them.
I was the culprit.
But a bit of tension was good.
Yoo Hyun-i added info.
"Those three from the golf course yesterday?"
"The murderers?"
"Yeah... Saw them setting up near our hideout on the way."
"What about the original bunker folks?"
"They took two bunkers. One's unusable—burned out."
'Cause I torched it.
The new groups seemed aggressive.
One had killed already; Kwon's men weren't pushovers either.
They'd heard about it and were furious.
Here, "you" meant the gym crew and local survivors.
They'd looted during the golf course chaos, so Kwon's men were pissed.
New conflict brewing.
Soo-yeon said worriedly,
"Heard some yelling about summoning zombies. Who knows what'll happen."
I paused.
I'd only killed Kwon—one guy.
The other 11 were alive and took the bunkers.
Problem: six in one bunker.
Three bunkers total—one burned, entrance wrecked, unusable.
I said quickly,
"Yoo Hyun-i, send a plane to check? How many per bunker."
"One sec."
He ripped notebook paper from his bag, folded a plane, and launched it.
Moments later, eyes closed,
"I see... Clubhouse front now? People fighting... Over where two women go."
Ah, that kind.
Two women among 11, arguing over bunkers.
Soo-yeon scoffed.
"Fighting over Kwon's girlfriends. Drinking their own bathwater."
"Would be fun if the women went independent."
She sighed.
"Easy for two women alone now? To survive, stick even if gross. Can't win numbers."
True.
No idea how strong they were, but not beating nine.
Had to pick a side for supplies.
Solved Kwon, new mess.
Soon Yoo Hyun-i stammered,
"Uh... Atmosphere's super tense. Someone yelling one must die or leave..."
"About to pop off?"
Killers trigger events on new kills.
Issue: unknown who killed before.
Kwon didn't log it.
Yoo Hyun-i dropped his head.
"D-dead. Smallest guy surrounded..."
"Hid the killer, huh."
"Yeah... Seems so."
Shift blame.
No murder event, so clean person did it.
Lucky?
Could've exiled instead—brute force solution.
Soon, Yoo Hyun-i said the women picked a side.
"Others protesting, but women snapping 'why's it your business?' With three guys."
"The women?"
"Yeah. Including three men."
Conflict sealed, new one sparked.
Women must be fed up.
Escaped Kwon's slavery, now similar creeps.
Humiliating, annoying.
Anyway, they wouldn't last.
Infighting from start? Enemies later.
"Won't hold here long."
They perked up.
"Where to?"
"Only two options. Changwon's better."
"Uh... Hyung-jun hyung seems keen on Gimhae..."
Yoo Hyun-i hesitated.
Why Gimhae? His wife and daughter's spot.
Slim chance alive, but wants traces.
Leader, can't show openly.
"Soo-yeon? Yoo Hyun-i?"
"Mm... Changwon with sea looks good. Winter soon—secure food?"
"Same."
Mi-kyung too...
Can't stay, so Changwon it is.
We geared up and hunted.
Letting Yoo Hyun-i finish, he hit 10 fast.
"Ah, extra effect. Doll Bomb?"
"Turn dolls into bombs?"
"Trying now."
Folded a frog, tossed far, muttered "doll bomb."
Frog exploded.
"Eek."
Soo-yeon ducked shards.
Meh power...
Yoo Hyun-i disappointed.
"...Won't one-shot goblin."
I patted his shoulder.
"Don't sweat—adapt. Tie folded paper to arrow, shoot? Explodes on hit."
"Ah."
Didn't think that far.
"Big monster, arrow to groin, boom—fatal. Imagine bomb there."
Pointed crotch; he cringed, legs together.
Soo-yeon blushed, fanned.
Gotta get used to worse.
Hunted on, got Soo-yeon to 9.
Hyung-jun hyung and Mi-kyung back from farming, showed loot.
Ate together, back to two-room.
Labyrinth soon—review time.
...
The labyrinth was a big event in Survival Life.
This one was a teaser.
Speedrun.
How fast to deepest part? Not what you do inside.
Tons of monsters, but tiny aggro range.
Zombies with degenerated sight ignore you passing by.
But maze so dark, players got lost easy.
Early event, underleveled too.
"Game risky, reality worse."
Game: respawn. Reality: no.
Few brave for first maze.
Veterans like me, handful...
Auction house surprised me.
Lots hyped for speedrun.
Hmm...
"All bravado?"
Anonymous boards—easy talk.
I dug through my videos for speedrun clips.
Only two.
One viewer: Poor Man.
Early supporter.
Always donated.
Would've quit without him.
He enabled my archiving.
Played video; he donated.
Chats with Poor Man always went like this.
Later viewers ragged on me for it; he stuck to his bit.
"He alive?"
Played game once? Less zombie chance.
Poor guy affording VR gear? Doubtful.
VR cafes later.
Probably dead.
If alive and met, could help...
"Pointless."
Dug video for settings, reviewed.
Tomorrow exact.
Gate random, but many—easy find.
"Only me going in."
Kwon dead.
Packed, slept deep in cave.
Alarm: dawn.
Outside, nearby lot shimmered—gate appeared.
Inside: pitch black welcomed me.