Finding the Ant Hill

In front of the ruined convenience store, six men huddled together, murmuring excitedly.

"Hey, you sure about this? There's really that much food in there?"

"Ah, fuck, how many times do I have to tell you? I saw it myself. They were grilling and eating meat, goddamn it? And there's electricity and running water too."

"What about the women? You said they're hot?"

A lanky, weaselly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠guy swallowed hard as he asked.

"Heh heh, don't even get me started. One's model-level, the other's a bit young but has a killer body. And there's even an auntie-type, but she's pretty decent-looking too."

"Kekeke, nice."

The men's conversation started turning dirtier by the second. Greed and lust burned naked in their eyes.

That's when the skinny guy with glasses pushed them up his nose and spoke up.

"W-wait... guys. If we just barge in... we'll all die..."

"Why? What's the problem?"

"It's not a problem... that building has a Zone trait applied to it..."

The men looked at him like he was speaking gibberish.

The glasses guy stammered on with his explanation. "Th-that trait... even if a nuke drops from above... as long as the caster's alive... it can't be breached..."

"Then... how the hell do we get in?"

The glasses guy looked up at the building's window. There sat a man perched on the sill, juggling a dagger toward the sky. The sharp blade spun in the air, reflecting the sunlight.

Whish, whish, whish...

"B-b-bro..."

The glasses guy stammered as he called out to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠him.

"If we kill the guy named Kim Geon... the t-trait... will be released. Th-then... w-we can take all the food and women..."

The man tossing the dagger paused for a moment.

"Ah, he probably... doesn't have more than two traits yet... even if he does, they'd be Common or Rare grade at best... his c-combat ability... isn't that great..."

Thud!

The man caught the falling dagger in his hand and flashed a sinister grin.

"Kekeke... is that right?"

Mad cruelty flickered in his eyes.

"Fine. I'll go rip that bastard's head off, so you lot wait out front."

"Y-yes, bro!"

The men bowed their heads in unison.

*

Park Hanseong scanned the surrounding buildings as he searched for Kim Geon, dagger gripped in his hand, sticking to the shadows. Finally, he spotted Kim Geon in the street, doing something weird.

That the guy? Matches the description...

Kim Geon stood by a streetlamp, glanced around, then suddenly shouted something. He shot forward like he'd been caught in an explosion, slamming into the building ahead.

Whoooosh!

"Whoaaaah!"

Kim Geon screamed as he flew, crashing straight into the wall of the building in front of him.

Thud!

"What the fuck is that guy?"

The moment Kim Geon stopped moving was the perfect chance. Park Hanseong hurled his dagger at the back of his head.

Whish!

The sharp blade sliced through the air toward Kim Geon's nape. But Kim Geon twisted his body like he had eyes in the back of his head, dodging it perfectly—as if he'd known the attack was coming from behind.

Swoosh!

The dagger grazed past his ear and embedded in the wall. Kim Geon got up and looked around. Right then, Park Hanseong, watching from the rooftop, locked eyes with him.

Uh...?

For a split second, as Park Hanseong stared into Kim Geon's eyes, chills exploded across his skin. It felt like being trapped in a void filled with pure darkness. Like peering into an abyss. Something massive and dangerous seemed to writhe deep within those black pupils.

"Uwaaack!"

Park Hanseong screamed and vanished from the rooftop. He fled without looking back, desperate.

What the hell was that look...?

Cold sweat poured down his back. His heart pounded like mad. He raced down to the street and rejoined his crew.

"Bro! How'd it go?"

"Th-that... bastard..."

Park Hanseong's voice still trembled as he spoke. "Hoo... never mind for now. Let's regroup with the guys waiting out front first."

*

With the Zone's invisible barrier between them, Yoon Seoyeon, Kim Miyeon, and Lee Seoyul stood inside, while five men clustered outside. It was like they were facing off across an unseen wall.

"Ah, really, no need to worry. We were just passing by and wondered if you needed any help."

Park Hanseong forced the friendliest tone he could muster. The men behind him eyed the inside of the Zone. The stocked food visible through the windows tempted them, but the women drew their gazes even more.

Yoon Seoyeon's voluptuous figure—especially her bust and hips—were perfectly outlined by her t-shirt and jeans. Kim Miyeon boasted a body so well-maintained it was hard to believe she was in her forties, paired with mature beauty. And Lee Seoyul...

She's young but cute.

A burly subordinate behind the glasses guy tilted his head toward his buddy and whispered. "Hey, see those big tits? Fucking artwork."

"Fuck, I prefer the auntie. She's got that mature flavor."

The two exchanged sleazy grins. The scrawny glasses guy continued in a shaky voice. "Es-especially since it's just... w-women here... if you need any... m-manpower for anything... we can help anytime..."

A gulp was audible from behind his lenses.

Yoon Seoyeon yelled back. "What? You think you assholes can help? Don't make me laugh, you fucking scumbags! Get lost!"

"Haha... no need for such harsh words..."

Park Hanseong forced a laugh, but a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes. Lee Seoyul stood right inside the Zone boundary, anxious, while Kim Miyeon clutched her hands, unsure what to do.

That's when it happened.

"What's going on?"

The voice from behind sent ice down Park Hanseong's spine. He turned slowly. Kim Geon was walking toward them from the end of the street.

Fuck, he's back already?

Kim Geon's form came into clear view. He looked exhausted, green fluid crusted all over his clothes and body. Park Hanseong's mind raced.

Run? He doesn't seem to recognize me...

If Kim Geon knew him, he'd have charged already. But he was just asking what was up.

Stupid fucker.

Park Hanseong's lips curled into a sleazy smirk. "Oh, hi there!"

He plastered on a bright smile and waved, extending his right hand for a shake. "We're just survivors passing through. Wondered if you knew these ladies? We were worried since it's just women here, so we came to check if everything's okay."

Perfect acting. Like a genuine good Samaritan.

*

This fucker?

It was the guy who'd ambushed me before entering the World Fragment and fled after failing. But now he was pretending like we'd never met.

I narrowed my eyes at the man shaking my hand, figuring he thought I didn't recognize him. I asked the girls.

"What's going on?"

"Geon!"

Yoon Seoyeon called my name happily, while Lee Seoyul and Kim Miyeon sighed in relief. I looked at Park Hanseong and said, "So, what were you checking?"

“Well... since it's just the ladies here, we were worried and asked if they needed any help.”

Park Hanseong slithered his response like a weasel. I cut him off firmly. “We don't.”

Park Hanseong pushed back. “I-I was asking them, not you...”

As he glanced nervously, I looked at the women inside the Zone. Yoon Seoyeon was flipping him off, Kim Miyeon turned her head to signal no thanks, and Lee Seoyul eyed him suspiciously from behind Kim Miyeon.

I turned back to Park Hanseong, who'd seen the same. “Looks like the women don't need anything either?”

My mocking tone made his face flush red with anger. He ground his teeth and muttered, "Got it," before leaving with his crew.

Watching Park Hanseong's gang slink away, Yoon Seoyeon glanced at me uneasily. "...You sure it's okay just letting them go like that?"

Anxiety laced her voice. She knew exactly how filthy their eyes had been.

I shrugged. "I've been thinking—more ants like that are gonna crawl out everywhere from now on. Killing every one I see sounds exhausting, don't you think?"

“...So what're you gonna do?”

“Gotta find the anthill first.”

Yoon Seoyeon nodded slightly, getting it. I looked at Lee Seoyul and pulled the Grade Enhancement Ticket (Elite) from my inventory, tossing it to her.

"Enhance Stealth and scout their base. Be careful, and don't push if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it seems dangerous."

I could go myself, but I was fucking exhausted right now. Lee Seoyul hesitated in surprise, but remembering when I'd asked her to become combat-ready, her expression hardened.

"...Got it!"

She replied with eyes full of resolve.

Lee Seoyul used the enhancement ticket right away.

Confirming the trait's grade had risen, I dragged my weary body up to my apartment. Hot water cascaded over me. The crusted green blood washed away, swirling down the drain. While showering, I checked the rewards I'd missed.

My level had jumped straight to 17 with two ups. I eyed the Goblin Lord Mace (Rare) in my inventory.

Oh... even as Rare grade, the specs were impressive. Come to think of it, the goblin zombies and goblin lord zombies had been way stronger than normal Common or Rare-grade stuff here. Probably because of the World Fragment trait making them tougher—their drops were better too.

With the 'Weakened' effect, this was perfect for Yoon Seoyeon. I'd give it to her later. I checked the rest of the rewards.

The map could wait. I'd asked Lee Seoyul to scout, but I was still a bit worried deep down. If she couldn't handle even this, living together wouldn't work. After showering, I collapsed into bed, letting my heavy eyelids—drained like after using gravity—pull me into sleep.