Entering Kimpo Village
While we marched straight into the heart of the enemy camp, Bidel and Jeri took out most of the remaining goblins.
That was an insane growth rate. Probably thanks in large part to killing that 5 Circle rhino. Jeri had scraped by into 3 Circle herself. It was only natural after a 2 Circle massacring a bunch of 3 Circle goblins. Thanks to their exploits, I'd racked up a ton of experience too.
'Might be able to make a third summon soon.'
"I'll make it nice and easy for you, as promised."
"Rahumk rakka! Kieeeek!"
Bidel exchanged some words with the last remaining goblin, then burst its head open without even lifting a finger. Jeri, watching the scene, took a fearful step back.
"What was that, Bidel? Were you talking to the goblin or something?"
"Yes."
No matter how capable Bidel was at everything, knowing Goblin was a surprise.
"You can actually communicate with goblins, huh."
"Strictly speaking, our origins are somewhat similar."
A shocking truth. Were summons and monsters actually the same kind of existence?
"I thought you were beings I created. Since exactly the kind of women I wanted kept getting summoned..."
"Oppa, you're such a perv~?"
Haru glanced at Jeri's massive tits with a playful grin. Those huge breasts were somewhat contained only because they were bound over her underwear.
"Strictly speaking, it's not wrong to say Master created us. We've existed as spirits for decades to centuries. The form I took was largely influenced by Master."
"Where's your homeland, anyway?"
"Deep in the ocean."
So the Heart of the Sea was the monsters' home. It was a bit of a shock, but apparently common knowledge—Chaehee and Haru didn't even bat an eye. With the enemy base in the unreachable depths of the sea, humans and monsters had no choice but to coexist. Wrecking the ocean to kill monsters would just make Earth unlivable for humans too.
'Who cares. I'll just live it up with sex and be done with it.'
I had no need to worry about humanity's distant future with the monsters.
"So, what did the goblin say?"
"I interrogated it. These guys were outcasts chased from a goblin settlement. They banded together and hunted humans to raise their circles."
Outcasts from a settlement reaching 4 Circle... Sure, they'd probably hit that after starting human hunts, but goblin settlements were not to be trifled with.
"Um... Chaehee-ssi, what's the military strength like in your village?"
"The chief is 7 Circle, and there are three 6 Circle guards."
7 Circle. No stray monster could touch that. Unless they went to war with a monster settlement, safety was guaranteed.
"Have monsters ever invaded?"
"Only once in twenty years. Our village is pretty strong, so we handled it quick."
She said most villages had a 6 Circle chief.
After passing the international airport and walking for about an hour, we spotted a massive village walled in. The wall was way bigger than expected—the end wasn't even visible. Winged eyeballs patrolled the perimeter, and Haru waved hello to one.
"Just a bit farther, Oppa."
As Haru said, a short walk along the wall brought us to a huge iron gate. Two guards watched from under parasols atop the wall.
"Haru! Chaehee! Who's the guy trailing behind you!?"
Magic-amplified voice— it hurt my ears even from up there.
"Come closer if you wanna talk! You trying to bust eardrums or what!?"
Haru fired back with her own magic. She seemed chummy with the guards judging by her tone.
The guards whispered, then one floated down with levitation magic. A 4 Circle mage.
"People we found outside. Let us in."
"Haru, even if our village has room, more powerless folks are a headache. We already have enough farmers."
Bidel flared her mana, and the guard recoiled in panic.
"Wh-what are you guys!? Who sent you!? Rapists!?"
The superior watching from above vanished, sensing danger. Things were getting messy.
"Fight us and you won't get off easy either!"
The guard trembled, mana surging through his spear. I approached Chaehee, confused.
"What's a Rapist, anyway?"
"A gang of rapists called the Rapists. They roam the country raping people—crazy bitches. They've been around Seoul lately, so we're on alert."
I grabbed Bidel's head and bowed it low.
"Don't misunderstand. She just wanted to show she can help the village. Right, Bidel?"
I sent her a message.
Behave yourself. I don't need a subordinate who can't even talk properly.
"As Master says. I just meant to show I'm capable, but I overdid the intimidation..."
She apologized verbally, but veins bulged on her lowered forehead. Bowing her head to anyone but me must have been humiliating, even on my orders.
'Can't rein this one in.'
I glanced at Jeri just in case—she gave an exaggerated military salute.
"I won't act out, so don't worry, Master!"
Jeri's straightforward response eased my mind. At least she was better at human relations than Bidel.
"These people are super nice. Play nice."
Chaehee approached the combat-ready guard.
"Chaehee, what the hell are they?"
"They were asleep in some weird machine Haru woke up on her own. The two women are his summons."
We'd wanted to hide that Jeri and Bidel were summons, but then all three of us would look like summonless losers. No guarantee they'd let in useless humans, and we'd need to summon a fourth at 3 Circle anyway—more excuses then. No choice but to reveal humanoid summons.
"They didn't even know what summoning was till we told 'em, so no spy worries. They saved us from a goblin horde!"
Haru hugged Jeri from behind to emphasize harmlessness.
"Doesn't matter what you tell me. Talk to the chief or elite guards when they come. You ain't stepping foot inside till then!"
Despite freaking out at Bidel's mana, he had backbone. Guards should be like that.
My body trembled involuntarily when the chief and one elite guard appeared on the wall. A true 7 Circle mage—even standing still, her mana prickled my skin. I got why the soldier shook at Bidel.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Come inside and talk."
Shedding her robe, the chief was surprisingly young—early thirties at most. The massive iron gate creaked open just wide enough for a cart, taking two soldiers ages with magic.
"Come on in, Jinwoo-ssi."
"Looks nicer than I thought, Oppa."
Right after entering, curiosity made me try closing the gate with gravity magic.
Kreeeeak! Boom!
It slammed shut way faster than expected. The two soldiers stared in shock.
'Am I kinda strong now?'
Felt good. I'd closed a gate that took two 4 Circle guards time to open—in a snap.
"Impressive, Jinwoo-ssi."
"Haha."
"Gravity magic's innate—you either got it or you don't."
Chaehee explained some aced tough spells but couldn't do gravity, while magicless folks sometimes instinctively could.
"This way."
The chief led us to a small building right by the wall—a guard rest area with AC and a fridge, modern vibes strong. We stashed our bags in a corner and sat at the table. No wonder they said it was livable. I'd have been grateful for a proper toilet; cold drinks were a bonus.
"Must've been tough walking here—help yourselves. We can talk slowly."
"Thank you."
I chugged the iced red tea.
"Huaa."
A natural sigh escaped. First stuff in 100 years besides Haru's lukewarm water and Jeri's milk. The sweetness snapped me awake.
Gulp gulp. Clink.
"Phew..."
Draining the cup, I looked around—everyone stared.
Ahem. Ahem.
Embarrassed, I cleared my throat pointlessly. Bidel offered her drink.
"I'm good, Bidel. You drink."
Her consideration just made it worse. To change the mood, I blurted a question.
"So, how many people live inside this wall?"
"Around 100,000."
Way more than expected—a few city districts' worth. With that many and internet, civilization made sense.
Master, the fridge looks stocked with drinks. Shall I ask for some?
Please stop! ... "I see."
The lounge bustled; the elite guard left for urgent business. Tension like a job interview eased into comfort.
"Asleep 100 years, with humanoid summons... Hard to believe at first, but no reason for my kids to lie. I trust you."
"Yes."
"We have spare orphanage dorms. You can have one rent-free for a year, plenty of room."
Music to my ears. Selling clothes just to blow it on inns would've sucked.
"In return, take this?"
The chief pulled a ring with a red gem from her pocket.
"What's this?"
"A ring that tracks your location."
Blatant surveillance.
"I trust you, but as chief, I must reassure all residents."
Bidel snatched and inspected it first.
Master, it's just a mana storage ring. Blow mana in, and it deploys a shield—magic formula included.
What're you saying?
Just to scare us. If she's a 7 Circle wall summoner, she can already grasp the internal situation roughly.
"Then, gladly."
I took the ring happily. Now I could deploy a shield too.
"We'll lend three rooms, including for summons. There's a job center—drop by anytime. 3 Circle mages can get guard spots."
"Thanks for everything."
"Just standard for villagers. Let's get along."
Soon, soldiers brought ID cards for all three of us—even the summons. Thoughtful touch made me grateful.