Chapter 54
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Modern Item Purchase Level 4
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"It's been a while, Sirien. Glad to see you've been doing well without any issues."
"Lately, I've been living off the thrill of buying the items you all upload."
Sirien grinned widely, clearly satisfied with her current lifestyle.
'More importantly, how did she get chicken skewers and beer?'
Just calculating what was piled up in front of Sirien right now came out to around 500-600 points.
This had piqued not just my curiosity but Elisicia's too, as she tilted her head and asked about it.
"Have you been earning points by hunting too, Sirien?"
"That's right. I head up to the surface now and then to take down those monster bastards. I even bought pickaxes for the beastkin with the points."
Sirien explained that she'd been earning points by hunting surface monsters.
On top of that, I now knew where the pickaxes each beastkin was holding had come from.
'So that's how they all got pickaxes.'
Someone had mentioned before that killing surface monsters gave around 1,000 points.
Thinking about it that way made the beastkin's pickaxes, along with the skewer sticks and canned beers piled up in front of us, make perfect sense.
"Anyway, the fact that you've made it here, Hero, means... you're tackling the labyrinth?"
"Yes. We realized we lacked firepower on the 23rd floor. That's why we need your strength, Sirien."
Sirien nodded upon hearing the expected response from the Hero.
Surprisingly, she agreed readily without any 'Why me?'
"I'll help. But on one condition—you grant me a favor."
"A favor?"
"To be precise, it's a favor for the castaway here."
I asked, puzzled by Sirien's mention of a favor for me.
"For me?"
"Throw a feast for the beastkin so they can eat their fill for a day."
I didn't know exactly how many beastkin there were, but considering the points I had, it wasn't impossible.
'Not for life, just one day—totally doable.'
Curious about the reason, I asked Sirien.
"Mind if I ask why?"
"It's nothing big. I haven't done anything worthy of a chieftain since I took over."
In other words, she wanted to do one last proper chieftain duty.
On the other hand, the thought that she hadn't bought pickaxes crossed my mind, but she seemed to consider that trivial.
'In a way, this works out perfectly.'
I'd been planning to level up Modern Item Purchase anyway, so this was a good opportunity.
Of course, there was always the safe option of buying popular items in bulk and reselling them to rack up points.
'That method's the most reliable, too.'
But since this was Sirien's condition for joining, I nodded readily.
"Sure. Call all the beastkin. I'll throw them a proper feast."
And considering we'd be together from now on with Sirien...
I figured it was better to spend big rather than skimp here and there.
Channel 3.
Ice Queen Han Soo-yeon confirmed that the first wave of zombies had been mostly cleared.
The problem was seeing the second wave charging in without even a moment to rest, which made her grimace involuntarily.
"Now the real battle begins."
Just as Jeong Ye-rim beside her said, it was time for the full-scale fight.
The initial waves had been 1-2 stage variant zombies, but now 3-4 stage ones were appearing frequently.
'Especially the 4th stages are dangerous.'
Even Han Soo-yeon had lost two group members when she took down a 4th stage zombie.
The silver lining was that she wasn't alone here—people from other groups were present too.
'The downside is there aren't just one or two 3-4 stage zombies.'
Right on cue, a scream rang out from a short distance away.
"Gahk!"
Turning her head immediately, she saw an awakener with a gaping hole in his abdomen tumbling behind the walls.
It was clear he'd been pierced through the gut by a 3rd stage sniper-type and fallen back over the wall.
"Damn it, healer! We've got a wounded man! Healer!"
Then, the waiting healing-type awakener rushed over and used their ability.
"......"
Han Soo-yeon actually thought that awakener was lucky to get treatment now.
Soon, casualties would pile up with no chance for healing.
"4th stage Giant over there! Take it out first!"
"Bomber! Kill it before it gets close!"
Not long after, urgent shouts echoed from all around.
"Sis, doesn't it look like things are starting to crumble?"
"Not yet. The walls haven't even been hit."
The awakeners were using every prepared catapult, oil drum, Molotov cocktail, and more to take down zombies.
"Plus, they're almost done with the 5th stage Gigas."
Even if they retreated, they had to kill the 5th stages first.
The slight worry was if the Zombie Queen retreated with the Gigas, but countermeasures were in place.
"Come to think of it, the Gigas's movements are different from before."
No matter that the Zombie Queen controlled it, the opponent was a Nightmare Crow four times its size.
Moreover, the Nightmare Crow's attacks were all wide-range, making evasion nearly impossible.
"Damage must be accumulating."
The Gigas was a zombie, but not immune to damage.
Right now, its legs were half-broken from the Nightmare Crow's attacks, and its torso was visibly caved in.
'If it were a normal creature, it'd be dead already.'
Thanks to being a zombie, it kept moving until its head was destroyed.
Even so, Han Soo-yeon believed they'd finish the Gigas soon and focused on the task at hand.
"Jeong Ye-rim, take some people and support the flank. If that side breaks, this side follows."
"What about here?"
"I'll hold it. Don't worry."
As Han Soo-yeon issued orders...
Pop—
Space warped briefly beside them, and about 20 people appeared.
Checking, it was space-movement ability user Lee Jung-woo, along with Incheon Alliance leader Lee Gun-woo.
"Han Soo-yeon. We need your help."
Kang Mu-hyun, an S-rank like her, was there too.
"My help?"
"You've noticed, right? The 5th stage Gigas's movements are oddly deliberate."
"The Zombie Queen controlling it, I assume."
Kang Mu-hyun nodded.
"Exactly as you say—it's under Zombie Queen control. Which means, conversely, the Zombie Queen is near the Gigas."
"You want to take her out with this group?"
"If not now, no chance. What do you think she'll do once we clear these zombies?"
Han Soo-yeon knew the answer without thinking.
"Flee."
"And she'll slip away quietly, unnoticed."
To end this zombie apocalypse, they had to kill the Zombie Queen.
Even winning this battle, she'd just gather more zombies elsewhere.
"......"
Agreeing to take down the Zombie Queen, Han Soo-yeon asked how.
"How do we get the Zombie Queen?"
"See the 2-3 thousand zombies behind the Gigas?"
Indeed, zombies that hadn't charged yet were scattered behind the Gigas.
"She's probably mixed in there."
"My role?"
"Use your ability to wipe out as many zombies there as possible."
If she stayed on the walls, she could take out 3-4 thousand.
By firing compressed cold bombs at clustered zombies—but now they wanted her to abandon that.
"That means going right into the zombie center. Lee Jung-woo will help, I take it."
"Already arranged."
Han Soo-yeon didn't mention the need for trust.
If Lee Jung-woo dropped her there and ditched, she'd be dead.
'But I have to trust them.'
Plus, it was about the Zombie Queen.
Crucial mission—backing out could critically damage her position later.
'And everyone's watching.'
Awakeners on the walls, viewers on broadcast.
Incheon Alliance wasn't stupid enough to betray here, so she had no choice but to accept.
"What's the plan?"
"I'll explain."
Incheon Alliance leader Lee Gun-woo detailed the operation for Han Soo-yeon.
Her job: teleport to the zombie cluster and kill as many as possible.
"Problem is if the Zombie Queen's not there."
She was definitely somewhere since controlling the 5th stage Gigas.
But no guarantee she was mixed with those behind—no assurance, so she pointed it out.
"Don't worry about that. If she's nearby, we'll find and kill her somehow."
Han Soo-yeon nodded.
Her role: unleash all remaining power to sweep the zombies.
'Better not mention the Zombie Queen's essence now.'
Saying it would just spark pointless conflict.
Not good mid-war, so she decided to move immediately.
"Got it. Let's go."
"Yes. Lee Jung-woo."
The space-movement awakener Lee Jung-woo approached.
"Moving now."
Hearing that, Han Soo-yeon gathered all accumulated cold energy.
Pop—
In an instant, her view flipped, landing her amid the zombie cluster.
Pop—
As planned, Lee Jung-woo retreated.
Then Han Soo-yeon unleashed all her gathered cold in an explosive burst across the area.
Kwaaaaang!!—
S-rank, level 49 cold froze a 2.4km radius around her solid.
Zombies froze motionless in her white chill, time itself halted.
Pop—
"Good work."
Lee Jung-woo returned with the others.
Now, just finish remaining zombies and hunt the Zombie Queen.
"No message, unfortunately."
Kang Mu-hyun said regrettably, scanning around.
"She's not dead yet. Han Soo-yeon, head back."
"Yes."
Nothing more for her here now.
Leaving the rest to Kang Mu-hyun and the others, she returned to the walls with Lee Jung-woo's help.
Waaaaah!!—
I asked Sirien what the beastkin liked to eat and bought it all via Modern Item Purchase.
Butchered pig carcasses, various seasonings, and heaps of firewood for grilling—I laid it all out generously.
'Veggies and grass for the herbivore beastkin too.'
Just in case, I bought bread and soup too, setting them aside separately.
'Surprising, though. They prefer grilling it themselves.'
Or maybe they just hadn't tried modern meat dishes.
So on the other side, I set out jokbal, bossam, chicken, and more meat dishes, then looked around.
"Eat up! Drink up! It's a festival after years!"
"Long live the Chieftain!"
"Long live the Castaway!"
The beastkin cheered, shouting the names of Chieftain Sirien, who'd organized the festival, and me, who'd helped.
For reference, there were about 4-5 thousand beastkin, which was why Elisicia approached with a worried look.
"Castaway, aren't you overdoing it?"
"This much is fine."
Plus, Channel 7's Yoo Hyun-min hyung sent over 100,000+ points every few days.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say point shortages were a thing of the past, so I assured her it was okay.
"Castaway! More booze here!"
I bought various alcohols essential for any festival and distributed them to the beastkin.
Congratulations.
Ability 'Modern Item Purchase' has leveled up.
'Nice.'
As expected, Modern Item Purchase leveled up.
Modern Item Purchase catalog will add 'Item Expansion'...
'Item Expansion?'
Correction. User's strong will confirmed.
Reflecting that will, changing this once.
Modern Item Purchase catalog adds 'Item Rental'.
"......?"
What the hell is this?