Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Too Many Crazy Bastards - 2
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Dajeong returned to the shelter after scouting Bat Island.
Waiting for her was former President Jang Won-taek.
He pulled her aside and treated her to some coffee.
"How was it? Bat Island."
"I went, and there was just a slight problem."
The state of Bat Island was laid bare in detail.
Vines that didn't look like anything from Earth had completely overgrown the island.
They grew so fast that even while she watched, it felt like they were sprouting right before her eyes.
Jang Won-taek's brow furrowed.
"Did those vines cover only Bat Island, or..."
"Of course they stretched to the mainland. Made crossing to Bat Island a breeze, actually."
"Heh... this is something."
How thick and sturdy must those vine stems be to support humans and ghouls passing over them?
Jang Won-taek shuddered at the image of Dajeong riding on a ghoul's back to cross.
This was beyond their initial expectations.
It had to be seen as an invasion by otherworldly plant-type monsters.
Potentially more serious than animal-types like goblins or orcs.
Those didn't corrupt the land itself.
Jang Won-taek asked casually.
"Did you just leave it be, by any chance?"
"You said it was a nature preserve and to leave it."
"I said to burn it if erosion started. That vine growth is erosion in all but name..."
As he tried to slither past it like a snake over a fence, Dajeong got angry and slammed her high heel on the table.
"God, seriously! Why are you flip-flopping?"
But Jang Won-taek didn't flinch at all and calmly asked her.
"I'm sure someone like you took care of it. How'd it go?"
"...I did. Made some flame cans and torched the center. Burned like crazy. 'Kieeeek!' like that."
"Practically a monster... Anyway, flame cans... Did you have the materials?"
"Bought 'em at auction."
"Someone just happened to list them, huh..."
The former president's sharp gaze landed on her.
Dajeong flinched unnecessarily and averted her eyes.
Truth be told, she'd been pondering what to do with those vines.
Then she contacted Sung-ho through the auction house.
—Just torch it with flame cans. It'll burn great.
—Did you meet Earth Mover or not?
—Sex.
—Yup, Earth Mover. Hurry up and come to Seoul already. Or I'll come down there.
—Got something important going on, can't for a bit.
—If your 'important thing' doesn't convince me, I'll kick both your asses.
—Playing with a natural monument.
—OK, fair.
Not playing—she was dying to join the beatdown, but held back.
Just a bit longer...
And Sung-ho listed the flame cans at a higher bid than usual.
The auction lurkers cursed him out for price gouging, but Dajeong snapped them up.
Points were like morning snow to her—piling up overnight.
The ghouls carried the flame cans and set the massive vine plant ablaze.
—Filth needs disinfecting!
Dajeong told the story, omitting Sung-ho and Earth Mover.
But Jang Won-taek seemed to catch on.
"Hmm... looks like you met him."
"Who?"
"Kimbap Lover. Only he could whip up flame cans right on time and list them."
This old fox checked the auction house.
Stuck in the shelter, he wasn't level 15, so one of his underlings reported it.
Dajeong brushed her hair back over her shoulder and asked.
"What if I did?"
"What could we do... We're just gathering info and confirming facts. Did you?"
No point hiding it now.
Meeting him wasn't earth-shattering news anyway.
Auction rumors already said Earth Mover and Duck Down Quack headed south because of Kimbap Lover.
As she nodded, Jang Won-taek downed his cold coffee in one go.
"I'd like to bring him to the government shelter."
"You'd cause a riot. He's humanity's traitor."
"Haha... I don't see him that way."
"He hid info to survive alone. Auction folks straight-up called him 'that bastard.'"
"That's their perspective. Mine's a bit different. Had a broad view, even if my judgment was lacking."
"Hmm?"
It sounded like he knew the truth.
As Dajeong leaned in, he looked uncomfortable and set down his cup.
"Promise to bring Kimbap Lover, and I'll tell you everything. Not yet."
"Whatever, doesn't concern me. Sort it with that guy."
"He's old, huh?"
"No... around my age. Wait, don't jump to conclusions."
"Kimbap Lover's in his 20s or 30s... Good. He'll get along with Geom-in and Seung-cheol."
"Eww. Total opposites with those old guys. Lucky if they don't fight."
"Can't know till they meet. Hot-blooded guys need to clash to understand each other."
"No, trust me. Seung-cheol maybe, but that Sword Geom-in? Oil and water."
"...Kimbap Lover sent you here?"
How'd he guess that?
"You weren't interested in my offer. Right? But you came last minute. Change of heart... He was in that dungeon?"
This old man's a pro at reading between lines.
And nailing the core every time.
Dajeong clammed up, so he tapped the back of her hand.
"I want you to know I'm not his enemy. Least of all from my mouth."
"You don't hate him, Mr. President? If he'd shared sooner, more people could've prepped."
"If he had early, we'd have wasted resources hunting him. And government wasn't just us. Forces beyond my reach existed."
"Forces the president couldn't touch?"
Linked to those scary guys who found Poor Man and Jibani?
"...That's enough. Rest goes to Kimbap Lover himself."
Bring him if you wanna hear.
But Dajeong didn't care about the truth.
Whatever—as she faceplanted on the table, Jang Won-taek stood and said.
"Get close to Geom-in. Give him a little recognition, he'll spill everything."
"Doubt it. He wants to rule this shelter."
"Natural for a man. And he's not the only one."
"Not you, Mr. President?"
He shrugged as he turned.
"I'm an old man. Past my greedy days. Was once president of Korea—what more could I want?"
Words from a former giant of Korea.
Fine, maybe give him a shot.
If he acts shady still, squash him.
Dajeong slipped on her heels and stood.
Chilly mid-October night.
Suddenly, wolf howls echoed from the streets.
Awoooo—
Wolf pack howls under a clear full moon. Cool.
Dingo reacted, lifting his muzzle to howl, but Seok-hyeon clamped it shut.
"Shh, not your friends."
He's right.
These howlers weren't normal wolves—infected with some disease.
Far bigger, way fiercer than regulars.
Beasts roaming instinctively for prey.
Humans bitten turn into werewolves.
Unlike respawning otherworld monsters, complex spawn method.
"Things are gonna get tough from now on..."
"Why? Werewolves ain't shit."
"Not us—others."
At my point, Seok-hyeon went "Ah" and stepped onto the balcony to scan the night streets.
Truth is, survivors had it easy till now.
Hide in your hideout, survival skyrockets.
Goblins, kobolds wandering? Easy countermeasures.
Keepers, Bone Creepers only at night; orcs hunker down once settled.
Werewolves? Different.
They actively hunt prey.
Insane smell—slight scent means danger. Blindingly agile, hard to counter.
Unless combat trait, only gang up.
Dig traps, nets, spears—lots of effort.
Seok-hyeon nagged Dingo not to become one.
Different breed, dude.
Then, a scream rang out.
Me and Seok-hyeon plastered to the balcony, peering out.
A backpacked guy fled a wolf pack.
Hard to help—wolves pounced in a blink, ending it.
Poor guy.
"Gaaah!"
He screamed miserably and slumped.
Then transformation hit.
His body swelled unbelievably, fur sprouting everywhere.
Clothes ripped; surrounding wolves whimpered back.
Full werewolf howled at the moon; pack joined.
Awoooo—
They bolted off.
Night's their domain now.
Venture out clueless? Shredded by werewolf.
Side-eye: Seok-hyeon nonchalant.
"How many minutes one-on-one now?"
"Geared up, 1 min. Fists, 10."
"No troll skill, huh?"
"Yeah, bare hands have limits. Need tier 2."
Troll skill: Berserk Strength.
Get that, crisis unleashes absurd power.
Seok-hyeon with it? Could throttle werewolf barehanded.
Trolls later, though.
Me? No bare hands. Full gear, 3-4 mins maybe.
Still, grown—no more ass-whooping like before. Good.
Wolves yapping loudly.
Damn noisy.
I proposed to Seok-hyeon.
"Let's take 'em. Time you got a skill."
"Hunted before?"
"Yeah, in dimension gate... total show-off hunt though."
"You're strong, Sung-ho. Won't need to babysit."
"Then I'll call 'em."
As I lured, Seok-hyeon bellowed.
"Hey! You dog bastards! Shut the fuck up!"
The hell? Here?
Distant werewolf roared back.
Grrraow—
Worked great.
Seok-hyeon grinned at me.
"Let's scrap like old times."
Midnight workout time.
Werewolf emergence blew up the auction house.
Reports everywhere of werewolf kills.
Nobody bought it for real.
Everyone shaking heads: werewolves scary for real.
In Survival Life, werewolves needed teams.
Solo? Elite few.
Two at the peak soloed them.
"Damn, not even berserk and it's thrashing like this."
Sung-ho grumbled, shaking blood off his long knife.
Seok-hyeon tanked, he DPS—worked surprisingly well.
Werewolf rampaged wildly, took chest bolt crit, then Seok-hyeon's knife severed its neck.
"Hoo..."
Seok-hyeon opened eyes post-skill gain.
Level stuck at 19 finally hit 20.
His trait's extra unlocked.
Aftereffect Reduction
Cut 30-min respawn—excellent.
He pressed long knife to his chest.
Sung-ho's eyes widened watching.
"W-wait, you don't mean right now..."
"Be back soon."
Knife pierced heart.
He collapsed; Sung-ho stared blankly at his friend's corpse.
Knew he'd revive, still shocking.
"Jeez..."
Moments later, body engulfed in light, vanished.
Seok-hyeon came sprinting from somewhere.
"How many minutes?"
"...3 or so. You good?"
"Fine. Except points needed ramp up per revive."
"That's an issue. Later, no points—no revive?"
"Gotta save. Anyway, I'm 20."
"Congrats. Stuck at 17."
Seok-hyeon's eyes glowed red.
"Kill that bastard, you'll level. Let's go."
"Huh?"
Sung-ho panicked.
"That bastard" sounded like him.
"Kill me, my skills swap? Terrain Sense might go weird."
That'd be 10 skills?
Seok-hyeon eyed him puzzled.
"Skill slots full?"
"Exactly 10. Affinity crap incoming? Total loss."
Game-desired, but reality? Murder grind—weak heart quits.
Seok-hyeon pondered, then.
"That bastard..."
"Say 'that guy' at least."
"Anyway, Natural Monument told me his skills at 10. Odds 1/10."
"Really?"
Sung-ho figured killer max 4-5 skills.
System reworked apparently.
He'd tried killer briefly, freed quick via atonement—missed changes.
10% odds? Game-changer.
"Alright. Let's hunt."
They teamed up to track Natural Monument.
Killer trait: heart thumps near target. Easy find.
Low building: thumps heard.
"Deathmatch timing..."
"Doesn't wanna kill minions?"
Four trapped in zombie wall, scrambling terrified.
Faces: fear mixed with desperate will to live.
Killer leisurely chased.
Ceramic knife, not long knife—Serial Killer cosplay?
"Kim Cheol-seong, you fuck! Said you'd spare us!"
"Changed mind. Be my stepping stones."
"Fuck your stones!"
Cheol-seong, huh.
Sung-ho tapped Seok-hyeon's shoulder.
"We good at something?"
"...Crash the party?"
"Bingo. Iron Head backstab."
Fengshui crew pre-made extra hook.
Rope aplenty—no waste.
Seok-hyeon roped in, dropkicked Cheol-seong's head.
No sense investment trusting skill—his mistake.
"Gurk!"
Thunderstruck, Cheol-seong faceplanted.
Sung-ho midair dimension gate, bolt shot.
Cheol-seong twisted shoulder dodging as he sprang up.
Sung-ho, Seok-hyeon landed before him.
Cheol-seong recoiled at red eyes.
Werewolf Combat Instinct activates eyes like that.
"Total psychos..."
Werewolves just appeared—already killed, skill eaten?
Cheol-seong regretted poking Earth Mover.