Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Heading Home
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A cluster of pleading eyes was fixed on me.
"Sorry, but I have no plans to live here."
Those eyes filled with disappointment.
"But I can take you with me."
The eyes lit up with hope once more.
The women reacted with a mix of joy and sorrow to my words.
"That doesn't mean I'm taking responsibility for you, though... I can introduce you to a decent place to live."
"Is there really a place like that...?"
I understood their skepticism; life in this world was harsh.
"Whether it suits you or not, I can't say... It's up to you to follow or not."
They wouldn't believe it until they saw it themselves.
But I had no intention of doing more for them than this.
I already thought it was more than enough.
"For now, we'll head to where I live. We leave tomorrow. Those who want to come, get ready by then."
A small stir rippled through the women at my firm words.
The base in Sejong City was close by my standards, but not for women on foot.
I figured a half-day walk at a leisurely pace would get us there, but with the sun setting, we couldn't leave now.
Besides, the women—stark naked as they were—had plenty to prepare.
In the end, departure had to be tomorrow to give them time.
I didn't like sleeping in this mart littered with raider corpses everywhere, but what could I do?
I picked the cleanest spot I could find, pitched a tent, and crashed.
"We're ready."
Seong Ga-yeon said.
Seong Ga-yeon was the woman temporarily acting as leader.
She'd gathered the women yesterday and seemed to have taken on the role of their provisional leader.
She was the one relaying their opinions to me.
Her fierce machete work on the boss had left quite an impression.
Early in the morning, 26 young women stood before me with determined expressions.
They might not have slept at all preparing to move.
But I had no intention of coddling them that far.
The desperate dig the wells, after all.
No one had chosen to stay behind.
I wanted out of this corpse-filled building ASAP, and I figured they felt the same.
Unlike yesterday when they were naked, they now wore practical clothes for travel and each carried a large backpack.
But packs that big? They wouldn't last long walking with them.
They didn't look like they had exceptional stamina either.
Even just walking for hours isn't easy.
"Drop all your luggage."
They looked puzzled but obediently set down their bags.
I swept them all into my inventory.
Not for their sake, but to shorten our travel time slowed by baggage.
They seemed shocked as the bags vanished in an instant, but said nothing.
Not indifference—more like they were too intimidated by me to ask.
Suited me fine; no need to explain unnecessary details.
"Let's move out."
And so I led the line of women on the march.
We were just retracing the path I'd taken with the guide yesterday.
Barring issues, we'd arrive by afternoon.
The return trip held no major threats.
The raiders might have cleared things out yesterday when they swarmed, or maybe I just didn't need to worry as much.
The pace was frustratingly slow, but unavoidable.
By late afternoon, we reached my Sejong City base without incident.
After the long walk, the women were breathing heavily.
'The kids are probably still at Cheonbu Gate.'
Thinking that, I passed through the shattered school gate from yesterday's chaos, and Seol-hwa dropped gracefully from above, landing on one knee.
"Welcome back, my lord. My apologies—I failed to stop the bandits."
"Bandits?"
"The bandit group across the river took your generator, my lord."
"........."
It was absurd.
Across the river meant Jang Seo-won's survivor camp.
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread...
In my original world, where my power was known, this would've been unthinkable.
But in this fucked-up world, Jang Seo-won's side might actually have the normal mindset.
Cheonbu Gate was too soft, if anything.
I wasn't particularly angry.
It wasn't some irreplaceable treasure; I could get another anytime.
That didn't mean I was forgiving Jang Seo-won, though.
"My lord... these women?"
Seol-hwa eyed the trail of exhausted women I'd brought.
"Women from the raiders' hideout."
Seol-hwa flinched, understanding the implications, and glanced back at them.
She could probably guess what treatment they'd endured.
"Find a place for them to rest for now."
"Understood, my lord. You must be weary. Follow me, everyone."
The women glanced at me hesitantly before shuffling after Seol-hwa.
Plenty of empty classrooms; resting spots were no issue.
But calling the Cheonbu Gate elder now felt untimely.
Too late today—let the women crash here and discuss handing them off tomorrow.
I reinstalled the generator they'd stolen.
Spare in my inventory—no big deal.
Then I called back the kids from Cheonbu Gate.
"Oppa, the women..."
Not one or two, but over 20—Ji-ah was naturally curious.
"From the raiders' hideout."
"Th-then..."
"Ugh... those trash..."
They could imagine the ordeals without me saying; the kids' mood sank.
"Tomorrow I'll meet the Cheonbu Gate elder and send them there."
After that, the question of dealing with Jang Seo-won.
I considered assassination but scrapped it. Easy enough, sure.
But someone else would just take over as leader and poke us fearlessly again.
Best to demonstrate overwhelming power, like in my original world, so they wouldn't even dream of it.
"My lord, please take me with you this time."
I'd planned to go alone again, but Seol-hwa requested to join.
"......Why?"
"Sigh... My senior brother is with those bandits."
Seol-hwa answered with a grim expression.
"What... Cheon Su-ho's there too?"
Incredibly, Cheon Su-ho had joined them in stealing the generator.
"He's been excommunicated from Cheonbu Gate, but he's caused you great trouble, my lord."
The guy barely survives and doesn't flee far—same lack of tact as ever.
"He was once family to Cheonbu Gate. Please allow me to handle his punishment. For old times' sake, I wish to end it with my own hands..."
Jang Seo-won received Park Un-ho's report from his subordinate.
Surveillance had ramped up after taking the generator.
"Returning with over 20 women... Quite the lustful man."
Not all could be espers.
Yet he'd brought back women who were just dead weight.
No ordinary lech could pull that off.
"That's his true nature."
Cheon Su-ho replied with eyes blazing in fury.
"What do you think he'll do?"
"Raid us, probably."
"Here? You think...?"
"He's arrogant."
Cheon Su-ho recalled Park Un-ho crushing him and his juniors, then storming Cheonbu Gate without hesitation.
Storming the raiders' hideout fit too.
He doubted Park Un-ho would think differently here.
Unlike Cheon Su-ho, Jang Seo-won rejected the idea of a reckless assault.
But he didn't rule it out entirely.
Jang Seo-won walked down the corridor.
Iron doors lined the hall.
-Groooaaar...
Inside were grotesque lifeforms unlike zombies.
Once human.
Jang Seo-won hadn't handed intact humans to Jo In-gwang for experiments.
Luckily, after the world went to hell.
Plenty of scum who deserved it, providing perfect justification.
Experiment materials were still plentiful.
He opened the door at the far end.
Glass tanks held unidentified flesh samples.
Flasks and cylinders filled a proper lab.
And there stood Jo In-gwang in a white coat.