Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: The Victor's Reward
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The night deepens.
I selected one of the rewards from the 'Model Citizen' achievement I'd earned for capturing the murder-robber.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[Select a reward.] [1. Peddler Summon Ticket] [2. Wanted Poster] [3. Ring of Increased Income] [Peddler Summon Ticket: Can summon a Peddler once.] [Wanted Poster: Can identify a murder-robber disguised as a Peddler up to 3 times.] [Ring of Increased Income: When equipped, you earn 15% more Coins.] I decided to choose the Peddler Summon Ticket.
Ha-rin and Hwa-yeong could already identify murder-robbers with their intuition and sense of smell, so the wanted poster wasn't really necessary. And compared to the income ring, it seemed better to summon the Peddler quickly to open the Black Market.
Who knows when I'd get to meet the Peddler again? To summon him for sure, I'd need to gather at least 100 people, and that doesn't seem likely anytime soon.
After choosing my reward, I was lost in thought, groping Kang Hui-seon's chest, when dawn broke.
Nothing much happened during the night, and Kang Hui-seon, probably exhausted, slept like a log.
Well, she had to endure my stamina for hours.
Any other girl would have passed out long ago, but she tried her best to hold on until the end, even without the help of stats or skills.
It was as if she was ready to accept me. I was very satisfied with her capacity.
"Haaam."
As I was starting to feel tired and yawn, she slowly opened her eyes.
"Uh... You were awake?"
Hui-seon, who naturally caressed my chest and showed me affection.
"No. I didn't sleep."
"What? Why?"
"In case something comes looking for us in the middle of the night. It's become normal to have at least one person awake. During the two weeks you were asleep... the world has changed a lot. You'll be shocked when you go outside."
"Ah... I see. Sorry. I was the only one who slept. You must be tired? Should you get some sleep? I'll stay awake this time..."
"It's fine. I wasn't trying to make you feel bad. You'll probably have to stay awake often at night from now on. I was just letting you know ahead of time."
"I see... Thanks for protecting me..."
Hui-seon buried her face in my chest and kissed my neck, saying thank you.
I enjoyed the feel of her full breasts and groped her butt.
My recovered manhood started to make its presence known, probably because it was morning, but I held back. It was time to head back to the supermarket.
"Let's wash up and go to the supermarket. There are people there."
"Okay. I'll get ready right away."
As Kang Hui-seon was picking up her scattered clothes, I told her.
"Oh, by the way, everyone there, including you, is my slave."
"Uh...? S-Slave?"
"Yeah. Don't hurt yourself. Don't betray me. Don't cause any harm to the team. Remember?"
"Yeah... You can't mean..."
"That's right. I used a class skill to make you my slave."
"Aha... Class and skill?"
"Yeah. You have a class now too. Sit down, I'll tell you what it is."
I sat her down on the bed and explained everything to her.
It was about classes, skills, and stats.
As I was telling her, I learned that Kang Hui-seon was far from being a gamer. She said she'd never even played an RPG, so I meticulously explained the information I knew about levels, skills, and achievements.
"And I took care of your achievement reward from yesterday."
Zombie repellent was quite useful last week during the initial collapse when she wasn't used to skills or combat, but now, zombie repellent or antidotes aren't very useful. It's more important to not be in a situation where you need to use either.
With named zombies starting to appear, they're practically meaningless anyway. For that reason, I made her acquire Inventory.
With this, Hui-seon could now store 5 items in her subspace.
"I see. Inventory?"
As I said that, a blue window appeared before her eyes. There were five empty slots.
She could store a total of five items.
"Hold on a sec. Let's do an experiment."
Just how much can she store?
I told her to try putting a bag packed with daily necessities from home into her inventory.
Swoosh.
"Nice."
It wasn't that she had to put in 5 individual items; rather, it was like she had 5 slots for item storage.
After cramming the bag full of items, she put the bag into her inventory, and it was treated as a single object, allowing all the items inside to be stored together.
The capacity was up to the size of a carry-on. A small carry-on bag went in with a swoosh, but anything larger couldn't be stored.
"Next is the skill. Hui-seon."
"Yeah, yeah. I'm listening."
"I think one of two would be good: Spirit Affinity or Nature Communion."
"Really? Then... uh... Nature-Friendly Communion. Should I go with that?"
"Yeah. That one."
For now, it seemed better for her to be able to use spirits rather than having attack power. Since there are several of us who can fight, including me, it would be best for her to focus on skills that allow her to contract or interact with spirits first. I realized how useful spirits are through the Salamander.
'Besides, Summon Oak Tree Root might have restrictions, just like my Tentacle Summon did at first.'
And so, Kang Hui-seon chose Nature-Friendly Communion.
"On the way to the supermarket, I'll break the arms and legs of all the zombies we see, so you'll crush all their heads. Got it?"
"Okay. I will. I want to level up quickly and be a help to everyone."
"Hehe. And Hui-seon, there are quite a few girlfriends I'm involved with at the supermarket. Be friendly with them, okay?"
"Mmm... Okay."
There was still a hint of fear in her eyes. It's only natural, considering she went crazy and threw a fit yesterday.
Truthfully, that gentle demeanor might all be an act. She's probably compromising to survive. Anyway, she's under my control, with her life and death in my hands.
Like Ha-rin, they all become submissive or docile after some time passes once they become slaves.
"Shall we go then?"
"Yeah! I'm excited."
The door closed. I held my sister's hand tightly and stepped out of the house.
The only thing left in the house was the cold corpse of Lee Han-seok.
*****
On the walk to the supermarket, Kang Hui-seon managed to level up five more times.
She used the crowbar I gave her to smash the heads of zombies crawling on the ground like crazy.
And so, the five new skills she acquired were [Spirit Affinity], [Lower Spirit Contract], [Forest Keeper's Insight], [Minor Growth], and [Mana-Herb Cultivation].
She focused on skills that would help with daily life, leaving combat-related skills for now.
First, [Spirit Affinity] is a skill that helps with contracting spirits along with Nature-Friendly Communion, and [Lower Spirit Contract] is a skill that allows her to contract up to four lower spirits she has communicated with.
[Forest Keeper's Insight] opens up a spiritual eye that allows her to see various spiritual beings, including spirits. After acquiring it, she could see the Salamander beside me. She was startled for a moment, saying there were two terribly ominous and creepy beings clinging to my back.
I think she must have glimpsed Pitch-Black Wheel and Deep-Sea Anchor.
Next were [Minor Growth] and [Mana-Herb Cultivation]. First, [Mana-Herb Cultivation] allows her to cultivate a plant called a 'Mana-Herb' as long as she has soil, sunlight, water, and mana.
Using the skill creates three seeds. If she plants them in the ground and gives them enough water and mana to thoroughly soak the soil every morning, they'll grow on their own.
The effects of the Mana-Herbs cultivated this way are quite significant. The roots have a mana recovery enhancement effect, so eating them gradually restores mana. It seems she can just chew on them when she's out of mana during a fight.
The leaves of the Mana-Herb, when boiled and drunk, are good for physical and mental health. And the fruits that grow from the Mana-Herb can be replanted, so she needs to manage them well so bugs or birds don't peck at them.
A single Mana-Herb produces one to three fruits, so if she grows them well, she could create a field like a ginseng farm.
'A class with the qualities of a farmer...'
It's a very nature-friendly skill. All it requires is meditation. My skill requires Human Sacrifice. It's a much more peaceful profession. Moreover, the results are quite useful, so it's fantastic.
'It even takes a week for a single Mana-Herb to grow... but using Minor Growth reduces it to about 3 days.'
The growth period is cut in half.
If I could capture someone with a class that seems related to potion making, like a Witch... I might be able to create an instant mana recovery potion with the Mana-Herbs.
Of course, it's still in the realm of imagination, but since a Druid has appeared, I don't see why anything else wouldn't.
Anyway, a real jackpot has rolled in. Her existence alone can eliminate many worries.
"Oppa! I waited for you!! Uh...? And... a new person?"
"Ah. Eun-ji. This is Kang Hui-seon. She's thirty-four, so she's your unnie."
"It's nice to meet you. You must be Eun-ji? I heard about you on the way. He praised you as being incredibly cute and pretty. And it's true."
I had given her a rough overview of the current harem members. Since Eun-ji is the de facto leader of the harem, I told her beforehand that if she just got on Eun-ji's good side, she'd be easily accepted.
"Hehe... Oppa, that's so embarrassing, praising me like that. Hehe. Unnie, come on in. And just use casual speech, unnie."
"Mmm... Okay? Thanks."
And so, with Eun-ji's welcome, we went inside.
The inside of the supermarket was peaceful. They must have cleaned up thoroughly yesterday, as there were no shards of broken glass left, and all the corpses had been thrown onto the roof.
"Hey, Su-min."
"Yes. What can I do for you?"
"Go ahead and burn all those corpses now."
"Is it okay to burn them now?"
"Yeah. The immediate danger is over, and we can't just leave them there. Burn them."
"Yes. Understood."
And so, the corpses left on the roof began to burn under Hwang Su-min's fireballs.
The smell of burning human flesh wasn't very pleasant.
Kang Hui-seon, who was following me around the supermarket, frowned slightly at the sight of the burning mountain of corpses. As the smoke began to rise, she started coughing.
She turned her head away as if she didn't want me to see, and even gagged a little.
"Most of those are zombies. At night, zombies attack places with a lot of people."
"I-I see. I thought you had killed that many living people..."
Hui-seon looked at the burning pile of corpses with a slightly dismayed expression.
She still seemed very bewildered by this situation.
It's an understandable reaction, as she wasn't someone who had survived from the very first week of the collapse.
Plus, she hadn't even experienced the first night of the update.
In my opinion, those who properly experienced the first night of the update grew significantly, both mentally and in terms of levels. Those who didn't are all dead.
It's like becoming someone who has directly experienced war.
The zombie rush on the night of the update was just that hopeless.
"Hui-seon."
"Yeah...?"
"To survive, you have to get used to things like this. And everyone here has killed at least one person. Directly or indirectly. So now, you need to get your mind straight and keep your distance from feelings like guilt. You have to kill others to live."
She listened quietly to my words and then nodded. Then she looked at the burning corpses again.
This is the age of collapse now. If you pour out your emotions for every single human death, you won't be able to endure it. Well, I've been killing without much of a struggle from the start, but Eun-ji and Ha-rin also hesitated at first.
I think it's a process everyone goes through as they survive.
"Mmm... I know that in my head. But it's... not easy yet..."
"You'll probably get used to it naturally in a few days. Whether it's a zombie or a person, their head gets crushed and they die. It's the same."
"Okay... I'll try."
As she nodded, I introduced her to the other harem members who were still asleep. We're about to be eating from the same pot, so we should at least get to know each other's faces.
I introduced Hui-seon's class to them and told them she would be a great help in the future.
When I said that her skills would be especially useful if the water or electricity gets cut off, everyone welcomed her warmly.
At first, they looked a bit bewildered, but after hearing about her class, they smiled and welcomed her.
And I heard from Eun-ji earlier that the water has been coming out sporadically and weakly. The water supply will probably be completely cut off soon. Water is essential for living, so I hope she can contract a water spirit soon.
I'm not keen on having to go to the Han River just to take a shower.
"Wow. Your chest is so big... and pretty."
Ha-rin looked at Hui-seon's chest, then back and forth at A-ram's chest, and then looked down at her own, comparing the sizes.
Ha-rin herself is glamorous, but A-ram and Hui-seon are almost on the level of having huge chests.
Especially since Hui-seon's figure has a curvaceous appeal, Ha-rin kept glancing at her own body while comparing it to Hui-seon's.
A-ram just gave a slight nod in greeting, and A-reum introduced herself politely.
And Kim Ye-won, who was trembling behind them, squeezed her eyes shut the moment she made eye contact with me.
From her perspective, she's a prisoner, so she seems quite terrified.
"Haaam."
Hwa-yeong was Hwa-yeong. She just nodded her head vaguely and went back to sleep.
I plan to do Hwa-yeong tonight. After taking Kim Ye-won's virginity first.
"Anyway, feel free to chat with each other."
"Yes!"
I gave them time to talk among themselves. Then I went to a corner of the roof and received the Model Citizen reward.
'Peddler Summon Ticket...'
A small paper ticket fell. If I tear this, the Peddler will be summoned.
'The thing I need to give the Peddler right away is the Black Chip...'
Other items I can use with the Peddler are the 'Lost Climbing Hat' and the 'Gold Coin' that dropped from the murder-robber.
The Gold Coin should be used when an item appears that I can't buy because I'm short on Coins, and the 'Lost Climbing Hat' greatly increases favor with the Peddler, so it's like a coupon that gives one item at half price, so I don't need to use it right away.
"Alright, come on out."
I immediately tore the ticket.
Fwoosh!
A light flashed before my eyes, and the Peddler appeared.
As expected, it was a man of indeterminate age, wearing old clothes and a climbing hat, carrying a large bag on his back.
"Haha. Meeting again so soon. How is it? Is life a bit more bearable?"
He greeted me warmly, acting like he knew me.
It seems the favor I gained by letting him off work early last time has been applied.
"Yes, hello."
"So. I've brought some fine goods again today, so take a look."
Six items were laid out on the counter.
Since I saw that the murder-robber only laid out five items last time, I carefully counted the number of items.
"Hehe. Pick whatever you want."
Before checking the items on the counter, I handed him the black chip.
"Um, I heard that if I give you this, you'll give me an entry pass to the 'Black Market'..."
"You must have the heart of a beast. What on earth did you eat, staking your life on it? Hmph. To get it already... Give me that Black Chip."
The Peddler took the Black Chip from my hand and examined it from various angles.
"It's the real deal. I can't believe it's already circulating. Quite fast. It's still early, though..."
"Uh... Is that so?"
"Ahem. Forget what I just said. It's a kind of meta-comment."
"Yes..."
Soon, he rummaged through his clothes and pulled out a black key.
"Here, take it. This is your entry pass to the Black Market. It allows entry for one or two people."
"Uh... Oh..."
"If you insert this key into a door that can take a key, you can enter the Black Market. And the Black Market is open every Friday from 10 PM to 2 AM the next morning. You can't enter at any other time... and if you can't get out of the Black Market within that time..."
"What happens if I can't get out...?"
"It's over. You'll become one of the Black Market's products."
I took a sharp breath. I have to use it within 4 hours and get out within that time.
"Is it difficult to get out?"
"Well, if you just find the door properly, you'll be fine. Ah, right, there are a few things to be careful about. Would you like the Black Market guide?"
"Yes..."
I received the paper with the Black Market usage rules from the Peddler and read it.
* * *
[Black Market Rules]
1. When walking around the black market, you must not carry any light source whatsoever, including flashlights.
If the patrol enforcers catch you, your entry privileges may be revoked.
2. If you fail to leave the black market before the time limit expires and you are not confident in your abilities, it is recommended that you end your life quickly.
Outside operating hours, the black market is practically an inhuman demonic realm.
Trust no one.
3. There are no ground floors in the black market.
If you discover an entrance or staircase leading to the ground floor, immediately notify a nearby enforcer.
Never enter out of curiosity.
4. Occasionally, you may discover entrances leading to the underground levels of the black market.
Never open those doors.
Your survival cannot be guaranteed if you descend below the black market.
5. The black market contains poachers, slave traders, and drug dealers, but no peddlers.
If you discover a peddler inside the black market, immediately notify the enforcers.
6. When dealing with the black market’s poacher, be careful not to approach the breeding grounds too closely.
Dangerous demonic beasts that have not yet been tamed are enduring hunger inside.
7. Always be cautious when dealing with the slave trader.
Carefully read every part of his contracts thoroughly.
If you discover anything incorrectly written, be sure to inform the slave trader.
8. When dealing with the drug dealer, never consume any food or drinks he offers.
He always wants more customers.
He is also always eager to test his prototypes.
9. If a friendly-looking loan shark approaches you and offers a loan, never seriously listen to him.
He has created countless “slaves” through those methods.
10. Occasionally, the underground security forces that crack down on the black market will appear.
Never allow yourself to be caught by them.
If you are captured and dragged into the basement, it is recommended that you end your life quickly.
11. If you fail to escape the black market within the time limit, quickly search for an open shop.
They will hide you from the eyes of the underground security forces.