Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Island and Dungeon - 3
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Making a vegetable garden on the island was tough work.
It was a completely different situation from the forest inside the dimension gate.
There were no iron farming tools here, and no one would even dream of such things.
Our tech level was below the Stone Age.
The one saving grace was that I wasn't alone.
Everyone liked this island and was full of enthusiasm, which was worth appreciating.
Of course, enthusiasm didn't guarantee success.
Anyway, I gathered the kids and assigned tasks.
In situations like this, clearly defining jobs was the most efficient approach.
Once a task was done, reward them with a solid break or food... then put them back to work.
Otherwise, you'd see attitudes flare up.
"You two head to the mainland first and do some farming. You confident in making a quick escape?"
Jun-ho and Do-hyung nodded in unison.
It was hilarious how their habit of scarfing down school lunches had evolved into a trait, but it was reassuring in times like these.
I wrote a list on a scrap of paper: items for the garden and fishing.
"No farming tools, probably, but grab any plastic ones you find. There should be shovels."
"Got it."
"And nets and fish traps—make sure to bring those. The traps might be beat up, but that's fine."
With Ji-man's trait, the fish would practically jump in saying, catch me if you can.
I double-checked the list and sent them to the pier.
Once they hit the mainland, it'd be at least an hour round trip, so they had to get it right the first time.
No one wants to row their asses off farming, only to be sent back for one missed item.
If Mi-kyung were here, Blink could make it quick...
This setup really reminded me of the gym crew.
I took Ji-man and Yeo-ul and pointed to a tree.
"Chop thick branches with the axe. Axe, plow, and hoe all in one, I guess."
"Attach stones to the front, right? Total cavemen."
Yeo-ul said it with a defeated sigh, and I corrected her.
"Below cavemen. We don't even know how to work stones properly. We'll learn step by step."
"I've watched some videos."
Ji-man stepped up, borrowed my long knife, chopped a branch, and picked up two stones to shape them.
Yeo-ul crouched down with an "ooh," watching intently.
He's good.
Tied tight with sturdy vine rope, it became a stone axe-like tool.
Crude-looking, but useful for chopping wood or digging soil.
Ji-man started digging with it.
"Takes a lot of effort, but doable."
"Yeo-ul, you're not strong enough for heavy work, so clear the brush and rocks. Got it?"
"Yeah. But what about Dingo?"
Woof.
Dingo gave a small bark, and I patted his butt.
"Patrol for monsters."
Dingo bolted off, and Yeo-ul eyed his retreating form skeptically.
"Does he even understand?"
"Just wandering around is fine. He'll bark if monsters show."
"Fair enough."
The island was small— a short walk and you're done.
I left them to it and hopped on the boat moored at the dock.
Cloudy skies hinted at rain, so I planned to grab plenty of basins.
The island had decent freshwater, but more was always better.
Especially for the garden.
Mindlessly rowing, I reached the mainland.
A few zombies welcomed me, but I ignored them and tied up at the pier.
Peering at Dog Island through binoculars, I saw Ji-man and Yeo-ul messing around.
"They'll get attached."
Ji-man was 20, Yeo-ul 18?
Perfect age for a couple.
Nothing like that for me except monsters.
Karma, I guess.
I kicked aside a charging zombie and sprinted to the mart.
.
.
.
People think of dungeons as dark, cramped spaces.
Survival Life's dungeons weren't much different.
Bigger than a burrow, smaller than a maze—places needing prep.
But farming dungeons? Totally different story.
Other worlds accessed via dimension gates.
That's a farming dungeon.
No one knows what's inside.
Forests, oceans, swamps, mountains, deserts, wastelands—every terrain awaits.
Ecosystems vary wildly, down to leaf shapes.
Great spots, but with limits.
Exit once, and that dungeon's sealed forever.
So common sense: set up base camp inside, stockpile, then haul out all at once.
Sometimes you'd meet other users—most cooperated.
The ecosystems were brutal; solo survival was tough.
"If a good one's up, lock it down."
Farming dungeons are random by default.
Terrain changes each time, but you can fix it.
Leave an item behind.
Bug or feature, it reopens the last one.
From experience, with 4-5 people around, one always pops nearby.
"Nice to solo it on an island."
They cycled every 1-2 months—decent pace.
Without them, every character would starve.
Urban farming dries up over time; no full farming sim implemented.
"Store bread could sustain you, but..."
Is that living?
I played some farming dungeon vids.
The gate matched mine—likely same world.
If my shelter showed when crowds rushed in... trouble.
"That's a golden goblin nest."
My 200-pyeong shelter brimmed with stockpiles.
Bikes, ATVs, mini excavator—even those.
Useless now, but fix the location, reopen post-event, usable later.
"...More dangerous than I thought."
One glimpse, and greed flips eyes.
Siege possible.
Moats and barbed wire held strong, but a few determined folks could breach.
Worse: shifting perceptions.
That bastard holed up comfy while we died.
Rumors spread fast; I'd be public enemy.
Already hated, but active hostility everywhere? Different level.
"Won't get found easy, though."
Otherworld's vast—who knows.
Worrying for nothing.
I left the cave, heading to the pier.
Farmed enough; time for island.
An orc strutted with goblin entourage.
Slammed stone axe, roared—goblins charged emboldened.
"Bring it?"
Grabbed building rope, climbed roof, nocked Elderwood Longbow.
One arrow, one goblin down—consistent.
"I'm improving."
Orc raged at losses, hurled debris.
Poor aim; easy dodges.
"Why no arrows for you?"
Twang—shoulder hit.
Furious orc charged building, climbed window frames.
King Kong vibes.
Waited till close, drew Emeras Spear, aimed forehead.
Orc eyes widened.
"Gift!"
Full weight slam—orc crashed down.
Kraaagh!
Orc thrashed; I rained adamant arrows from above.
Elderwood power plus penetration shredded hide.
Two headshots—orc slumped.
Final spear toss.
"Hup!"
Practice paid off—pierced chest.
Tough orc finally dropped points.
Remaining goblins fled.
Tracked 'em, but two? Nah.
"No drops besides points, as expected."
Same-level monsters like orc skip skills/items.
Werewolf at 20—good for a while.
Retrieving arrows, cleaning up—folks emerged from building.
"Sung-ho. Mind a quick talk?"
Cheol-jun's group—I'd heard of 'em, no direct contact.
Vice versa.
Pointed to inner shop; they entered, I took doorway spot.
Two guys, two gals eyed me curiously.
Young leader-type spoke.
"You know Cheol-jun hyung and Yu-ju. First time with us? I'm Lee Sang-cheol."
"Lee Sang-hee."
The follow-up gal gave a burdensome smile.
Similar names—siblings?
Sang-cheol bowed apologetically—about the warning note.
"Didn't know you then..."
"It's fine. No real harm done."
Harm me, and I won't sit idle.
Sang-cheol continued.
"Saw you take that orc—impressive. Rope up top for that?"
"Yeah. Useful for werewolves later."
"We tried late—too hard."
Yu-ju shook hands dismissively.
Makes sense; needs Blink or terrain mastery.
Installing's tough; monster interference worse.
But what's their angle?
I eyed promptingly; Sang-cheol hesitated, spoke.
"Suspicious stuff lately around here. Killer event aside, Jong-sa-mo's crew vanished."
"Jong-sa-mo people gone?"
"You didn't know? Yeah, poof—one morning. Checked base—no sign of life."
"...Killer hit?"
Voice dropped.
"Probably. Don't know who, but nearby. So... alliance against 'em?"
That's the pitch.
Ironic, killer approaching like this.
Sang-hee leaned in.
"Watched you fight. Skilled... we vibe well?"
"Got people with me."
"Those kids vanished lately."
"Moved base."
"Where... ah, Dog Island. Saw movement."
"Dog Island?"
Group startled.
Sang-hee pondered, confused.
"Nothing there worth staying for—no supplies, hard farming."
"Ways around it."
"Sang-hee, wait. Zombie raids aside, safe from killer?"
"That's why we claimed it."
Emphasized "claimed."
No owner, but we took it first—back off.
They got it; Cheol-jun and Yu-ju darkened.
Sang-cheol tapped table, bitter smile.
"How'd we miss that? Plastic boat, row over."
"Dog Island's empty."
"Exactly. No monsters. Boat supplies in. Damn... close."
Sang-hee pouted at me.
"Island sounds boring. What do all day?"
"Busy. Garden, fishing."
"I see... nights lonely, though... what about me, Sung-ho?"
Lip tease, eyes locked; others embarrassed.
First so bold.
But no interest.
Precisely: women meant hassle.
Too much solo work, constant motion—clingy? No.
Shouldered pack.
"Done here? I'm out."
Turning—Cheol-jun urgent.
"Wait. Something for you... folks roaming ballpark."
Masan ballpark: baseball stadium, north, close.
"Clan?"
"Changwon biggest. No clue why, but watch out."
"Thanks."
Whoever, whatever—but polite.
Reciprocate: farming dungeon soon.
"Opening now?"
"Post-orc in Survival Life. Not certain, but around now."
Sang-hee punched Sang-cheol's shoulder.
"You saw it—primitive ecosystem vid. Mityube."
"Oh yeah. But that guy's voice so sleepy..."
"Kimbap Lover?"
"Maybe? Made me drowsy. Forgot now."
...My stream as lullaby.
Viewers joked it often.
Hid burning face, exited.
Sang-hee sly behind.
"Meet in farming dungeon, act like pals?"
We'll see.
Rowed to Dog Island.
Kids paused work, cooing at rabbit hutch.
"So cuuute..."
Yeo-ul baby-talked.
Cute, huh? Dinner soon.
.
.
.
That evening.
Post-dinner, prepped for farming dungeon.
Exciting, but might not appear.
If not, scout mainland? Dingo returned from walk, barking wildly.
"Not monsters?"
We'd learned his barks: alert for strangers, not foes.
Followed to visitor center—blue dimension gate loomed.
Kids cheered, arms up.
"Yes!"
"Woo-hoo!"
Too soon—no clue what's inside.
Held back Dingo and kids, cautiously probed gate.
Chilly air.
Bad vibes building.
Forest winter ending, still cold.
"Uncle, hurry."
Yeo-ul urged; I leaned in.
Huh?
Where's this?
[Island and Dungeon - 3] End