Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Kimbap Lover and Poor Man
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Crackle, crackle.
The flames in the fire pit felt especially hot today.
Winter was finally leaving the forest.
Goodbye to the endless snow and ice.
I ground up some flint stones into powder to prepare for making flame cans.
Dingo was sprawled out, dozing off with little nods of his head.
"They should be back around now..."
The shelter felt empty without the usual beetles hanging around.
They'd gone out on my special mission to gather as much flint as possible.
Well, it wasn't exactly an order.
Since they roam the forest anyway, I just asked them to bring back any flint they found.
They must have taken it a bit too seriously.
"Maybe I should go check..."
It was night, so heading out wasn't ideal.
If I ran into a Bone Creeper, one hit and I'd be done for. Gotta be extra careful.
The forest had been quiet lately, though, so they probably wouldn't show.
Ughhh!
As I stretched, there was a knock-knock at the door.
They were back.
I opened the door, and sure enough, the four beetles were carrying two flint stones.
"Did mining these take so long? You could've just scouted the spot and come back with me. Come in, come in."
They scurried inside to warm up.
Winter might be on its way out, but nights were still freezing.
I took the flint stones and set them on the workbench, then gave the beetles some honey.
Cheap stuff, but it was a treat they loved.
Regular beetles would get their tongues stuck in honey, but these guys didn't bat an eye.
"They melt metal, after all."
The beetles warmed up, filled their bellies, and crawled into their beds.
The leader beetle poked my leg with his horn.
He had something to say.
"Hm... Oh. A cave there? Not your average cave?"
They'd gone all the way past the old goblin nest to the north.
They found a mine-like cave and dug up these flint stones there.
Lots of glowstones and coal too—they suggested checking it out again.
"Alright, tomorrow then."
I was chill about it, but he seemed urgent.
He frantically drew arrows pointing to the cave.
"Right now? Why?"
The leader beetle drew a round fruit and a hand picking it.
Some kind of fruit was ripening now.
Magic forest—nothing's too weird.
"...Fine. Let's go."
I could just beat down any kobolds, and watch for Bone Creepers.
If anything suspicious appeared, open a dimension gate and bail.
As I ate some shade grapes and packed my bag, Dingo stretched and followed.
Night was still scary.
I was used to the forest now, night vision improved, but the darkness itself brought terror.
Not ghosts—real threats like Bone Creepers.
Spot one a second too late, and I'm dead.
Every step had me on edge.
The leader beetle perched on my head, directing the way.
Luckily, no monsters on the path.
Past the goblin nest, through unfamiliar terrain, and we reached an open area.
Moon mandarins and winter strawberries awaited.
Branches stretched toward the moon—must be why it's moon mandarin.
Winter strawberry matched what I knew.
"Moon mandarins are wild."
Agility's tough to boost.
These would make orcs and werewolves way easier to handle.
"Activate Battle Instinct, and I could even take 'em head-on?"
Not just knife fights.
Traps and every trick in the book.
No need for losing battles.
I picked a bunch and marked the spot on my map.
Then headed further north.
After a while, a cliff appeared.
A huge cave mouth in the midsection.
"...Climb that?"
The beetle tapped my shoulder.
Like he was saying, "You got this! Go for it!"
The cliff was solid, plenty of footholds.
"Not that high."
About 4 meters tops?
Soft ground below—wouldn't die falling.
Hook somewhere and it'd be better...
I handed the leader the grappling hook.
"Can you take this up?"
He hooked it on his horn and huffed his way up.
Then came down and drew a pillar and the hook.
Tied to a pillar, got it.
Dingo hopped on my pack. I pulled the rope—solid.
"What kinda midnight madness is this..."
Woof woof woof!
Dingo barked big. Chill up my spine.
I grabbed the rope and climbed without looking back.
Glimpse of something pale below.
Boom! Gray storm exploded.
"Phew..."
One way to dodge a Bone Creeper suicide blast.
In Survivor1's guide, but tough in cities.
Usually spot 'em on roads too late.
Poles scarce—best to heighten senses early.
"Thought I was goner."
Shouldered up to the entrance, flicked on the flashlight.
"Whoa..."
Jackpot.
Flint, coal, glowstones embedded in walls.
Veins snaking through the whole cave.
This a mother lode?
Not gold, but close.
Set down beetle and pack, prepped to mine flint mainly.
Soft walls—pickaxe would do.
Kobolds would love the noise at night.
"Bone Creeper means plenty inside, huh..."
Tough climb for them, but prep anyway.
Put leader on Dingo's head.
"Watch below while I work, got it?"
Both nodded.
Dimmed flashlight, got mining.
Clang, clang echoed through forest.
Every kobold in the hood incoming.
Day or night, same deal.
Kobolds, goblins—all the same.
Bagged five flint, shoulders sagged.
"...That's enough for tonight."
Jackpot exciting, but sleep for tomorrow.
Dingo and beetle still on watch.
Dodged kobold rocks like pros.
Pet them good.
"Good boys. Home time. Untie hook when I'm down, okay?"
Getting back was work.
Ten-plus kobolds to punch through.
Lit a firecracker, chucked it.
Boom boom boom!
Caw!
Kobolds clutched eyes, tumbled. I dashed down with Dingo.
"Beetle!"
Hook tossed, beetle slid down.
Shouldered him, bolted.
Wanna kill those eye-rubbing kobolds, but escape first.
Forest in uproar.
Barely made shelter.
"No round two."
Nod nod.
Dingo and beetles agreed.
Deep night—bedtime.
We crawled to our spots.
Every angler dreams it.
A sea overflowing with fish, bites on every cast.
Monopolize it? Perfect.
Such a sea stretched before me.
Strolling beach with Dingo and leader beetle, scouting trap spots.
"Somewhere with decent depth..."
Only a couple hours of safe strolling.
Dawn when goblins wake, kobolds head home.
No creepers, Bone Creepers visible if charging.
Finally found a good rock, dropped the trap.
Long line, stone anchor, then rod out.
"What's living here?"
Previous squid, crabs—similar to Earth.
Wild boars, valley deer too. Minus monsters, flora-fauna alike.
Bait: leftover bird guts.
Long cast, rig sank in calm sea.
Varied depths till I see what bites.
"Big sea like this, gotta be monsters."
Untouched months, maybe years.
Trophies incoming?
Happy thoughts—sudden bite!
"Gotcha!"
Yanked rod, hooked solid, reeled.
Strong pull!
Dingo jumped up, to my side.
After tug-of-war, fish surfaced, exhausted.
"Big boy."
Nearly 7 feet—stonefish? Dolkasari? Know the name, not the fish.
Scooped with net, into icebox—still flapping hard.
"Looks like a mullet."
Especially yellow eyes—like hairtail mullet.
Shrink it, sell as such.
"Blunt belly—roe?"
Mullet roe famous.
Different fish, but fish eggs edible usually.
Dingo with beetle on head, dying to pounce.
"You'd get hooked instead."
Recast.
Dolkasari.
Another.
"Again?"
Sea spitting only dolkasari.
Icebox full.
Plenty with roe.
"Dolkasari mother lode."
Valuable food regardless.
Filleted some on-site, bagged.
Rest for stew, but meh.
During cleanup, leader beetle on spine, crafting.
Making needles from bones.
"Oh... nice."
No metal plague needles IRL, but bone okay.
Felt super sturdy.
Small fish fine.
Leader looked up.
More?
"Few more, this shape."
Nodded, kept going.
I zoned into fishing, dolkasari nonstop.
"What kinda sea is this?"
Tried depths—only chompers.
Just needles here?
"Bait issue?"
My skill too.
Know sea better, get beauties.
Two full boxes, shook head.
Better than nothing.
Dawn breaking.
Pulled trap—heavy!
"What the— so much!"
Squid, crabs, shrimp, conch—packed.
Three squids devouring crabs n' shrimp.
"Hey hey."
Isolated squids.
Checked all—grinning.
"No starving here."
Auction? Sell?
No points needed now, but more never hurts.
Shoved all in icebox, loaded ATV.
"Mother lode here too."
Winter soon—stock food hard.
Dingo, beetle on box. ATV go.
Quad tore across beach.
Not just Sung-ho frequented empty beaches.
A man collected traps along the shore.
Pulled ashore—trap limp, waterless.
"Hup."
Sea water gushed.
Shouldered two, walked—eyes scanning.
Zombies long gone, but monsters appeared.
Kobolds worst—steal food at night, smash gear.
Goblins dangerous too.
Orcs, werewolves soon—worry with weak combat.
Reached seaside road, into fishing village.
Community hall center—his base.
Tiny village: few houses, pensions.
No survivors—boring safe.
'People scare me.'
Recently lived in survivor-heavy shopping district.
Tried gifts, approach—got greedy stares.
His trait, Affinity with Creatures, drool-worthy.
Crops grow big/fast, animals come begging.
Weak combat, survival godsend.
Survivors watched him after he shared openly.
—We're protecting you.
—Be grateful.
—Run? We'll smash your legs. Can't run then.
"Joking"—but twenty-year-old couldn't take oppression.
Escaped at chance.
Walked, ran here—fishing village.
Little loot, but solo sustainable.
Especially abundant fresh water.
Upstairs, barred door with furniture.
Perfect minbak for him.
Scarce stuff neat, everything in place.
Never owned much in 20 years.
Obsessed with order.
Not much to do.
'Process this first.'
Ceramic knife—skilled filleting.
Today's catch lasts days.
But worries lingered.
'Orcs, werewolves soon.'
Days left.
Done sorting, knelt at low desk, opened notebook.
Lifeline equal to life.
Dense writing.
Flipped—orc/werewolf section.
"..."
Young man memorized lines.
For combat-weak him, Kimbap Lover's tips were gospel.
Pre-apocalypse, copied all to notebook.
Posted online once—ignored.
Fake guides everywhere.
Told broadcasters/gov—some visited.
Claimed gov, but shady vibe.
Fled tracking, never shared again.
Escaped survivor greed—solo since.
Sea, gulls companions.
Decent life, but wanted more.
Good friend.
Not binders/users.
'Someone like Kimbap Lover...'
Unlikely.
Unknown identity, but powerhouse.
Longest Survival Life player.
Won't notice him...
Anyway, Poor Man thought so.
Closed notebook, stood.
Window: autumn in mountains.
Winter sneaks quick.
No big worry.
Poor Man tough on cold.
Pre-apoc, hated heating anyway.
Apoc changed little.
'But sometimes lonely.'
No talkies—adopted cat, monster-killed.
Auction house hope.
Crowds welcoming.
Level 6 to 15—far.
Hunt hard.
Poor Man grabbed weapon, headed out.
Kimbap Lover and Poor Man End