Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Transaction
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These days, I felt like I was seeing the Heavenly Sect Leader grandpa more often.
"Ahem... Hunting been tough lately? Scrambling for mana stones."
I uttered something uncharacteristically concerned about the Heavenly Sect, and the sect leader grandpa gave me a look like, What's gotten into this kid all of a sudden?
Seolhwa, standing beside him, flinched in surprise—as if it were that shocking.
Well, even I found myself awkward asking after their well-being like this.
".........That's why we've been having a bit of a dispute lately with the survivor group across the river."
The sect leader grandpa answered honestly, though his expression was reluctant.
Truth be told, the shortage of game wasn't just because the Heavenly Sect had been hunting diligently.
It was because I'd been hunting a bit too eagerly, causing a monster shortage.
"Ahem... I know a great hunting ground full of monsters."
"......Where might that be?"
The sect leader grandpa's gaze was suspicious, laced with impure intent, but I decided to overlook it for the greater good.
"Cheongju."
"Cheongju...? You mean Cheongju.... Isn't that too far...?"
It wasn't that far, but trekking back and forth on foot for hunting would be a burden.
"That's why some new merchandise just came in..."
I showed the sect leader grandpa the catalog.
Upon seeing the catalog I'd given him, he looked utterly dumbfounded.
"Cars are hard to fuel, and we don't really need them yet."
"These run on mana stones."
"What, no.... How in the world...?"
The sect leader grandpa sputtered in bewilderment at my words.
"Yeah, by vehicle, it won't take long at all. No people there, just tons of monsters from what I saw. Not that dangerous, though. With your abilities, it should be no problem."
Almost every part of the city was covered in spiderwebs.
I could tell without even entering just how many spider monsters were lurking there.
Of course, driving would require clearing the roads at first since the condition's poor.
But since I wasn't the one clearing them, it didn't matter to me.
The roads weren't completely destroyed either.
Once cleared, they'd be smooth sailing for vehicles afterward. For the mana stone-hungry Heavenly Sect, it was worth a shot.
I didn't drive myself, but if they maintained the roads well, I could take a joyride for a change of pace.
"If any dangerous mid-tier monsters show up, just give me a call. I'll handle it."
I said it like I was doing them a huge favor.
But the sect leader grandpa and Seolhwa looked shocked at my words.
"What's not to like?"
"N-No, it's fine.... We'd be grateful if you did."
"Ahem. We all gotta help each other out, right?"
But the sect leader grandpa's face was still full of distrustful impurity.
"Grandfather, do you doubt the young master's good intentions?"
"N-No, Seolhwa. I believe him. I do..."
The sect leader grandpa, wearing that impure expression, ended up getting scolded by Seolhwa.
To maintain their comfortable lifestyle, the Heavenly Sect needed a steady supply of mana stones.
And mana stones came from monsters.
Which meant they needed monsters—and constant hunting.
I'd tipped them off to a good hunting ground.
If the Heavenly Sect cleared out the trash mobs there and prepped the decent ones, I could swing by and rack up skill points.
Even if they hated spider monsters, anything mid-tier or higher was fair game.
Installing relay stations and base antennas midway would make quick contact a breeze.
With a comms network, tracking via Suni would be easy, or I could use save points—or just fly there in a flash.
This is a win-win, isn't it?
In the end, the sect leader grandpa reluctantly took the vehicle catalog.
According to Seolhwa, the men of the Heavenly Sect had a heated debate over the flashy lineup and which car to buy.
But tight on mana stones, they ended up getting two military trucks.
A solid choice.
Ride was bumpy as hell.
But it was the most common vehicle in the military.
Cheap, durable, and efficient for hauling people and cargo in the back.
The leader of the survivor camp across the river came calling.
"I'm Jang Seo-won."
Behind Jang Seo-won were two armed soldiers escorting him like bodyguards.
I crossed my arms and eyed them.
Was this the guy Chaewon mentioned?
The one she left the camp over because he was eyeing her little sister...?
"We'd like you to sell us a generator."
".........."
Word about me selling mana generators must've reached them.
I hadn't hidden it, so it wasn't surprising, but they moved faster than expected.
Felt like there was a spy in the Heavenly Sect.
This Jang Seo-won guy was a C-rank awakener.
Military uniform, but his face was the pretty-boy type young women would've swooned over back in the day.
This guy's a lolicon?
He didn't look the part... but Chaewon said so, and she was my woman, so I leaned toward believing her.
Generators... no reason not to sell.
"You a lolicon?"
"Wh-What?! What kind of nonsense is that out of nowhere? I like kids, sure, but I'm not that kind of guy."
Jang Seo-won panicked at my out-of-left-field question.
"I take good care of the little ones..."
"Y-Yes, that's right.... All I'm doing is protecting the children—our future—in this brutal world."
Something smelled off.
Taking care of kids in this harsh apocalypse?
Hmm... I can barely handle two brats myself, and he's looking after a bunch...?
Either a total pushover... or the lolicon Chaewon warned about.
"Nah. No smoke without fire. Word's reached me that you're a lolicon."
"Are you insulting me? If you don't want to sell, just say so. Don't make up lame excuses."
"Hmm..."
"Who the hell said that? Let me face them. I'm innocent."
At my skeptical look, Jang Seo-won seemed genuinely aggrieved.
If that was acting, he'd win Best Actor at the academy awards.
Whatever his motives, most of the kids he had were probably alive thanks to him.
Even if he groped them, survival might beat the alternative...
On the surface, he treated them well, and in this shit world, that might count as tame.
"Not saying I won't sell just 'cause you're a lolicon..."
"Grit! I'm not a lolicon..."
Jang Seo-won seemed a bit pissed now.
For building a comms network, two groups working on it would be faster than one.
Might be better to sell...
Still, Chaewon's words gave me pause.
"I'll think about it. Come back in a month."
Anyway, I wasn't the desperate one.
Torn, I put it on hold to mull over slowly.
In the car heading back to camp, Jang Seo-won's face twisted in humiliation.
It was the first time he'd felt this way since the world went to hell.
Still, how'd he know I like kids? Does he have an informant?
Jang Seo-won didn't consider himself a lolicon, obviously.
He was impotent anyway.
He just loved kids so much he enjoyed caring for them.
Bathing and sleeping with the cute ones—but that alone didn't make him a lolicon.
He couldn't stand his love for his kids being demeaned as lolicon behavior.
He'd acted gentlemanly, only to get insulted.
Talking to Park Un-ho had felt like chatting with a superior—unpleasant.
"Fuel for the generator's touch-and-go as it is. We can't wait a month. And no guarantee he'll sell then anyway."
His adjutant Im Gu-seong had a point. The guy's attitude didn't inspire confidence.
Problem was, the guy was strong.
Cheon Su-ho had called Park Un-ho strong. Jang Seo-won figured he and Cheon Su-ho were evenly matched.
So Park Un-ho was probably stronger than him.
No, definitely.
Park Un-ho's first impression— that massive build, solid muscles—radiated the pressure of a true powerhouse.
Even without Cheon Su-ho's warning, it hit him skin-deep the moment they met.
He had to admit the guy's presence had cowed him.
His camp might be doable, but dragging armed forces past the Heavenly Sect to that place was risky.
"Spread his info around the camp. And focus surveillance on him."
"Yes, sir."
Jang Seo-won knew there was a spy from the Jochiwon raiders in his camp—identity unknown.
They avoided clashing with his big faction but always eyed opportunities.
No way the raiders would sit idle knowing Park Un-ho had generators made from blue stones.