Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: The Best Defense is a Good Offense - 2
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I'd boasted to Suyeon and Sergeant Jo that the best defense is a good offense, but that didn't mean we were charging in right away.
We'd just arrived, after all. We needed a little rest first.
Sergeant Jo gave me a quick tour of the battalion barracks and facilities.
The gym crew and Captain Kim's group were living separated by the parade ground.
That distance was perfect.
"Rest up for now. The company commander said he'd like to meet with you later separately. That okay?"
"Sounds good."
Suyeon and I entered the officers' quarters.
All the metal had been stripped out, but it was surprisingly clean—livable, at least.
As we stepped into the first-floor hallway, Mi-kyung came down from the second-floor stairs.
Drying her wet hair with a towel.
"Uncle, you're here."
"How is it? Livable?"
I knew she'd just arrived, but I asked anyway.
She grinned and said there was plenty of water, which was great.
Turned out she'd filled every water tank and tub in the battalion.
I was impressed once again by the soldiers' preparedness.
Suyeon tapped my shoulder.
"The men's rooms are on the first floor. Probably smells pretty bad, so wash up... Huh?"
She looked at my face.
"You don't smell at all. Where'd you shower?"
Oh, right.
I'd forgotten I'd showered in the cave while crossing the Kimhae Plains.
Mi-kyung approached with curious eyes and sniffed.
"Ah... smells like soap."
"Washed up in that river on the Kimhae Plains."
"Uncle, you know, I've always thought this, but you're way too clean. My skin's all messed up."
Maybe because I washed so often in the forest?
"I'm just a clean freak type."
I brushed it off and headed to my room.
A simple setup with a bed, wardrobe, and desk each—decent enough for staying a while.
Not that we'd be here long-term anyway.
As I unpacked, I heard Suyeon nagging.
"Mi-kyung, you gonna walk around barefoot?"
"Huh? Why?"
"Go put on long pants quick. Don't flash your legs at the guys."
"It's cool like this."
"Fine when it's just us girls, but those guys over there might get ideas, Grace."
"Eek. How'd you know, sis?"
"Quiet and hurry up."
Mi-kyung whined, and Suyeon insisted she change into something longer.
She was the careless type, after all.
Even if the guys here were well-behaved, exposing that much skin wasn't smart.
In the apocalypse, combat uniforms and hats were the way to go.
Lying on the narrow bed, Yoo Hyun-i's paper airplane flew in.
―Captain Kim says let's grab some food together?
Sounds good.
The meal was a far cry from before.
The Type 1 warehouse stockpiles were massive.
Dozens of boxes of cup ramen, and so many pouches of military rations you'd get sick of them.
Adding in the combat rations, eight of us could eat for months.
Of course, we weren't the only ones using these supplies.
Nearby survivors, and even the kobolds taking their share—precautions were needed.
Anyway, we finished eating and gathered.
"Let the kids rest. Let's talk among ourselves."
Brother Hyung-jun was calling me, Suyeon, and Captain Kim.
The "kids" must mean the two early-20s soldiers, Yoo Hyun-i, and Mi-kyung.
The age gap made sense.
I boiled water in a pottery pot and handed out mugs of mix coffee.
"Ah... been ages since I had coffee."
Suyeon slurped hers and smiled in satisfaction.
Sipping coffee on an autumn evening with crickets chirping, staring out at the dark forest—not bad.
If only those damn monsters didn't exist, it'd be perfect.
Captain Kim brought it up.
"You mentioned earlier today, Sung-ho—something about the best defense being a good offense."
"Right. While you're all here, how about we take out some kobolds? If circumstances don't allow, just us."
He'd insist on joining, no doubt.
Not that heading to Seoul alone would be a problem.
"Because of the ones raiding the warehouse?"
"Can't just leave 'em, right? From what Seung-tae said, they make a mess even when looting. Annoying to clean up."
"Still, it'll be tough... Got a plan?"
I placed a roughly sketched map on the folding table.
It covered the Kimhae Battalion, Bunseong Mountain, the summit theme park, and more.
"Clear this long stretch, and things'll be way better for a while."
"What about other monsters? Zombies or goblins?"
"Not many zombies around. Goblins stick to the city—they love shiny stuff. It's in the strategy guide."
"Oh... it really is. Written in tiny font."
Suyeon placed the strategy guide next to the map.
Captain Kim skimmed it and said,
"So, taking out the kobolds quiets this area?"
"For now, yeah. The base entrance is hidden, hard for monsters to find. No food nearby either."
No organic matter meant no reason for monsters to stick around.
They'd prefer wandering the city over the forest.
Except kobolds—they favored forests, unlike goblins.
Cleaning them out moderately would keep the battalion quiet for a bit.
Brother was listening but his gaze drifted elsewhere.
Southwest... toward his wife and daughter, probably.
Slim chance they'd survived, of course.
But he wanted any trace, that was his honest feeling.
Couldn't go himself... so stepping up wouldn't hurt.
"Brother, I'll check it out later. Where is it?"
"Huh...? You, Sung-ho?"
"Yeah. I'll take a quick look."
"...Thanks. Jangyu 2-dong, Encore Apartments."
"The complex is probably rubble. If they're alive, they fled nearby."
"Yeah... there's a studio complex and shops close by. Check those."
"Got it."
No big deal.
Anyway, Captain Kim studied the map repeatedly before deciding.
"Let's do it. Can't head to Seoul leaving kobolds behind—doesn't sit right. Wasn't guarding supplies to feed them."
"Then tonight we pull night watch among ourselves, plan in the morning and start."
Everyone agreed to my suggestion.
The "kids"—all adults, sure—but I wanted them resting.
The two soldiers, Mi-kyung, and Yoo Hyun-i had come a long way; must be exhausted.
Suyeon claimed she was fine but kept rubbing her eyes.
Brother Hyung-jun looked at me enviously.
"Must be nice being twenty-nine—full of energy. Jealous."
Captain Kim looked surprised and at me.
"Huh? I'm twenty-nine too. Same age."
"Drop the formalities then?"
He nodded at my suggestion.
"Sure, casual's better for me."
We brought bows and snacks, taking turns on night watch.
Fortunate or unfortunate, no kobolds showed.
And day 8 dawned.
.
.
.
"Suyeon, Mi-kyung, and Yoo Hyun-i—you're support. Know your roles? Medic, armored vehicle, scout."
"Mercy'da, Mercy."
Sergeant Jo's comment after hearing Suyeon's class and traits.
Turned out it was a famous game character.
Suyeon looked ambiguous.
"Don't really wanna be compared to a character."
"Sorry. But you look just like her."
"Pretty?"
"Super pretty, top popularity. Downside is she's kinda old..."
"..."
Private Im blabbered and caught the glare of Suyeon, who was like a big sis.
This guy's clueless.
I told Brother Hyung-jun,
"With you, no worry about kobolds. Just don't cross into arrow fire."
"Stay outside and circle?"
"Yeah. Dingo'll herd the kobolds with you."
"Got it. Good pup."
"And this..."
I handed him the long knife; his eyes widened.
"300-point weapon? Lending it?"
"Yep. You swinging this'll shred kobolds."
He hefted it and swallowed hard.
"Thought about buying one but it'd wipe my points. Feels great."
The three soldiers handled firepower.
Really, busting a few nests didn't need this elaborate plan.
But kobolds required caution.
They call kin with weird noises.
Not in the guide, so I'd have to patrol and intercept.
"Hold positions and attack! Team 2, don't chase fleeing kobolds! Teams 1 and 3 got it!"
"Roger."
"Let's go."
The group left the battalion for the mountain.
Yoo Hyun-i had scouted nests ahead; just attack.
Dingo barked wildly; kobolds burst from huts, unable to endure.
Gym crew saw kobolds first.
Fur wet with morning dew, savage teeth, awkward stance.
Dirtier than green-skinned goblins, another level.
Main weapons: spears, stone-throwing.
Unlike goblins with nets, purely primitive.
But kobolds were annoyingly persistent—they summon allies.
Run on all fours when desperate, surprisingly fast, hard to track.
"Hey! That one's running!"
Yoo Hyun-i spotted a kobold and loosed an arrow.
Paper model-tied arrow dodged trees like a guided missile, hit the back.
Boom!
Small blast, but internal—fatal.
Kobold collapsed forward, whimpering.
Sung-ho appeared, smashed skull with ebony club.
"Five down! Short break, then next nest!"
Captain Kim sat, catching breath at his shout.
Already two nests.
He'd never imagined kobold hunting this easy.
Soldiers' eyes followed Sung-ho too.
"Company commander weird, right? Fights like he's battled tons of kobolds."
"...Yeah. Knew exactly where they'd flee."
Obviously backward, but direction and timing spot-on.
He zipped front and back, directing everyone.
Follow orders, fights went smoothly.
Step back as said, stones land ahead.
He said Attack Prediction trait let him foresee...
Gym crew, having fought with him, trusted fully.
Makes sense when it clicks perfectly.
Sung-ho didn't fight much, stuck with Suyeon feeding her EXP.
Dingo and Hyung-jun herded; he sniped first.
That way, Suyeon's level finally hit 10.
"Ah. Leveled to 10."
"Extra effect?"
"Ranged heal. Can't be too far though."
"Mercy vibes. Don't know details."
"They say ponytail sans glasses looks same. Try?"
But Sung-ho seemed uninterested in her looks.
Approached Yoo Hyun-i, patted back for good work.
Suyeon shut up, tied hair with rubber band.
Hunt ended there.
Mountain climb drained stamina too much.
Near nests cleared anyway; safe for now.
Group descended orderly back to battalion.
And learned kobolds weren't the only ones taking supplies without permission.
.
.
.
"Man, wanted to smack 'em."
"You held back well."
Brother Hyung-jun paced excitedly.
Culprits: nearby survivors.
We'd moderately finished kobolds and returned; they were rummaging warehouse.
Soldiers sighed; brother confronted.
―What're you doing?
―Why's it your business? Belong to you?
―National public property. Not yours.
Survivors argued since it's state's, citizens take naturally.
Hyun-woo couldn't stand it.
―Why not take all at once? Makes us worry every time.
―Our call.
―Mind your business. Hey, group's bigger? Who're those girls?
Dug into Suyeon and Mi-kyung's info.
Annoying bunch.
Hyun-woo, who'd held the place, stayed quiet—so I couldn't step in.
They loaded up and snarked,
―Let's get along. So much stuff, can't eat it all.
―Sharing with other survivors? Take as much as you want then.
Even after Hyun-woo said that, they smirked.
―Why share? Keep to ourselves.
―Kim's too nice for his own good.
One word about sharing and it'd be fine; they scraped till end.
Attitude infuriating—even calm Hyun-woo's face reddened.
"...Didn't hunt kobolds to see that."
Everyone agreed with Suyeon, but nothing to do now.
Supplies plentiful, true.
We weren't owners either.
Couldn't chase survivors just for attitude.
Brother dragged Hyun-woo to barracks, fuming; I quietly returned to room.
"Attitude says they're with some group..."
No plain survivor'd rile us.
Orders from someone.
Day 8—clans from Kimhae and Changwon linked to Kwon meeting.
Auction house on: weird item listed.
I opened Kwon's log.
―CW5 C
―CW3 C
―GH4 C
―GH2 ST EG
"Front branch name, back clear... no issues."
CW Changwon, GH Kimhae.
ST EG: Stranger (us) appeared.
"GH2 means around battalion."
Clan minions bold enough to mess with us.
Real goal: drive us out, monopolize warehouse.
Someone messaged.
―BS11?
―BS11 C
I typed; no more questions.
Checking regions like this.
Posted periodically, deleted traces meticulously.
Spent points to ID all.
Shocking discovery.
Survival Life mid-game trolls infamous for manipulation here.
―Help Me (Dog Troll): Strangers have women? Cute?
"Well, well."
The guy who scammed awakeners million each and bolted.
―Help Me (Dog Troll): Plan change. Send kids tomorrow night, check where women sleep.
"Oh ho."
Rumors of Suyeon and Mi-kyung's looks spread there?
Good idea hit me.
Best defense: offense.
Other auctions: Duck Down Quack down to Milyang.
"Milyang... not far."
Famous, so survivors flocked to see; area's buzzing.
―Zombie raid twice lol
―Body presence queen-level. Real deal.
―Pfft losers trembling at zombie trash.
―Lmao none of you talkers'd actually wreck her
―Fr lmao
―Why Milyang tho?
―Dunno. Meet Bunny Duo maybe.
"Popular as ever."
Reason for Milyang: to meet me, probably.
I'm hesitating if to meet her.
"..."
Recalled memories with Duck Down Quack.
Mostly played with Bunny Duo, but not awkward with her.
"Said wants to mount werewolf."
Passed then; weird now.
Women mount how?
"Don't think, don't think."
She's as crazy as Bunny Duo; more I think, more headache for me.
...Anyway, better meet.
Shares many memories.
"Came all this way to see me—can't be cold."
I decided.
Meet. Talk.
[The Best Defense is a Good Offense - 2] End