[Episode 07] Seomyeon Station (1)
《Outpost》
A safety zone installed outside the home.
{Activated} When activated, it temporarily exerts the same influence as the area declared a corner.
However, it is {activated} only when a citizen with a title of [Knight] or higher resides there, and it is destroyed when an unauthorized entity invades and occupies it for more than a day.
It was an amazing performance.
However, the price was as high as its performance.
-Outpost (1,300,000,000 won)
1.3 billion.
‘It’s worth investing in.’
Now that I had some extra cash in my bank account after clearing out the orcs in Jeonpo Station, 1.3 billion wasn’t a burdensome amount.
‘There is still 350 million won in subsidies left.’
I tried building it right away.
When trying to build an outpost, something a little different from the normal construction mode occurred.
Unlike the feeling of looking down on the entire apartment area, I could see the Ha Dong-gun party gathered at Jeonpo Station.
But the moment I saw the system notification that popped up right after, my anticipation turned to disappointment.
[This facility requires 3 citizens with a title of ‘Knight’ or higher during the construction period (7 days).]
[Do you really want to install it?]
[Yes / No]
‘······.’
So, in order to build an outpost, all three of them, Oh Eun-ju, Kim Da-jeong, and Ha Dong-geon, had to live there for a week.
‘The damage is too great.’
In this case, the cost of 1.3 billion for construction was not an issue.
Because the expected profits they could earn in the next week alone are in the tens of billions.
‘The greatest loss is time.’
A week.
I had just completed the combination and was about to send the Hadonggun party to my parents’ home.
At this point, I couldn’t afford to waste a week.
‘Besides, if it’s a forward station, there’s no need to make it into an outpost.’
Most of the monsters in this area had already been cleared out thanks to the efforts of the Hadonggun party and the citizens.
There is no need to prepare by building an outpost.
‘Do not install.’
Construction mode ends and your senses return to normal.
‘Still, it’s not a bad harvest.’
I really liked one thing about the newly added outpost.
‘If only I could build this in my hometown…!’
If that happens, we can feel relieved for now.
So that you can keep your family safe under your domain.
‘Actually, it won’t be easy to bring grandma and grandpa here.’
It was a problem for Hadonggun’s party to go through the monster field to their hometown, but it was also a big problem to bring their family back there.
However, I felt that building an outpost in the main house was a level of difficulty that was worth the effort.
‘···Please stay alive.’
At this point, the conditions are met.
‘Tomorrow, I’m sending Ha Dong-geon’s party to his parents’ house.’
***
“and.”
Kim Gun just blankly watched Owen Joo hunt.
‘This is crazy, this is crazy.’
I felt it when I went to rescue Moon Byung-ho’s grandmother, but Owen Ju’s fighting style was truly that of a beast.
‘How can a man tear an orc apart with his bare hands? Oh, he’s not a man.’
The scene unfolding before my eyes was the same as before, except that the target had changed from a goblin to an orc.
No, rather, it was giving off an even more overwhelming presence than before.
‘···That’s only natural. That woman was strong even before she received Jaehyun’s blessing.’
He was also a person who awakened supernatural powers like Ha Dong-geon.
Considering that Ha Dong-geon showed a rapid increase in fighting power immediately after being selected, it could be inferred that the woman had also gone through a similar process.
‘But how did Jaehyun convince that woman?’
Owen’s obsession with goblins was too much for anyone to ignore.
I don’t know the exact details because I didn’t hear any separate stories, but I definitely felt a grudge against goblins.
‘She was clearly a woman who was crazy about goblins.’
Even when we were together, I was so obsessed with killing goblins that I would often act alone.
Because of those things, after a few days, we started to act separately, but now, even when we encounter a group of goblins, we don’t react so hastily.
Although there is still a tendency to act unilaterally, it is clear that he is following directions.
‘if···.’
When I thought rationally, there was only one plausible hypothesis.
‘···Did that woman also gain some new ability?’
As he watched his party members, starting with Moon Byung-ho and Kang Deok-su, awaken special powers one by one, Kim Geon developed one desire.
The desire to awaken superpowers.
And for that, I consciously tried to worship Kim Jae-hyun more.
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Because I thought that was the key to awakening.
‘And it worked.’
Although he was the last of the party members to awaken, he was still able to awaken a special power.
‘I guess if you receive that kind of ability, you can’t help but become obedient.’
Even right now, he was worried that Kim Jae-hyun might take his special ability.
Owen Ju must be in a similar situation.
That was when.
Tiring!
《Party Quest》
Quest Content: Return.
Time limit: 1 hour 00 minutes 00 seconds
Reward: A small amount of experience points.
Failure Penalty: None.
The order to return was given.
“I’m going back.”
As soon as Ha Dong-geon’s order was given, Kim Geon blew his whistle.
Wheeeeeeeeee―♪
As he whistled, a crow from the corner of the subway station flew in and landed on his arm.
Caw-
Kim Gun-eun smiled with satisfaction as he stroked the crow he named Kkamang.
“···Good. You little punk.”
Interacting with the black cat was more enjoyable than I expected.
More than anything, the fact that I had someone I could trust 100% gave me an indescribable sense of stability.
‘···Once you gain this kind of power, it’s hard to resist.’
At first, I suspected brainwashing, but it wasn’t brainwashing. Even after I awakened my abilities with Kim Jae-hyun’s blessing, I was still able to suspect him.
And if it was brainwashing, there was no way his mental state could be as sound as it is now.
Besides, Kim Jae-hyun was a person who was certain that if he achieved results, he would be treated accordingly.
‘···That’s why it was more trustworthy.’
It may be my mood, but every time my belief in him grew stronger, I felt my body getting lighter and my mind getting clearer.
While he was thinking about something else for a moment, Ha Dong-geon put his hand on Kim Geon’s shoulder and said.
“Geon-ah. I’d like you to do some reconnaissance.”
“···Yes, senior.”
Kim Geon conveyed his intention by stroking the black dog.
‘Please do some reconnaissance.’
He was able to convey his intentions to Kkamangi without having to say anything.
At the same time, the will of the black man is also transmitted to him.
Although we couldn’t share the same senses, we could tell whether the outside was dangerous or not.
The blackbird flew out of the subway station first and then reported the situation.
“···No problem. I think I can just go out.”
“thank you.”
At that moment, as I was exiting the subway station.
‘huh?’
Suddenly, in a corner of the subway station, a place shrouded in thick darkness.
I felt an unknown gaze there.
‘···what?’
It wasn’t an illusion.
I noticed it thanks to my senses, which had become sharper through my interaction with the black cat.
I felt an unidentifiable gaze from there.
At that moment.
Click-
A rat jumped out of the darkness and disappeared.
‘···What the. Was it a rat?’
After confirming that it was nothing serious, Kim Geon followed his group out of the subway station.
Click-
The rat, which was thought to have disappeared, was watching their backs closely.
***
“I would appreciate your help.”
As soon as I told him to go to Nambumin-dong to rescue his family.
[Citizen Owen’s credibility increases.]
[Citizen Owen’s loyalty increases.]
[Citizen Moon Byung-ho’s trust level increases.]
[Citizen Kim Ga-young’s trust level increases.]
······
······
For some reason, trust and loyalty began to rise.
When I looked up, there were eyes looking at me with sympathy.
Among them, Moon Byung-ho spoke with his eyes wide open.
“We will help you! No, let us help you!”
Looking at their pitiful expressions, I could tell what they were thinking.
“I know. It’s unlikely.”
I couldn’t not know.
Because during that time, the Ha Dong-gun party showed us things while scouting around the apartment complex.
Shockingly enough, we were quite lucky.
The most commonly seen monster was the goblin.
They are like cockroaches that keep appearing no matter how many times you kill them, and they keep breeding everywhere.
That was why people who hid in apartment complexes had an advantage in survival.
Because it was an apartment, the goblin’s influence decreased the higher the floor, so they were able to survive.
Conversely, the housing situation was dire.
The residential area that the goblin horde had swept through was a sight so gruesome that it reminded everyone of the first and second floors.
Corpse, corpse, corpse.
Flowers bloomed in every abandoned house.
The goblins are so vicious that they diligently drew a picture of hell on every single house.
Yoo Hye-rin said.
“I’m sure your family will be fine if they live in the apartment complex! We too···.”
“The place where the family lives is a residential area.”
“······.”
“However, there is hope because the wall is quite high and the structure is difficult to invade from the outside.”
“Yeah, that’s right! Haha!”
Although she tried to answer brightly, Yoo Hye-rin’s face was very dark.
I said, trying to ignore it.
“I’ve cleared out all the orcs occupying Jeonpo Station, so please follow the subway tracks to Seomyeon Station.”
Hadong Geon nodded and continued what I said.
“You can transfer to Line 1 at Seomyeon Station and get off at Jagalchi Station.”
“yes.”
Jagalchi Station was the closest subway station to my hometown.
“Just take exit 2. I’ll give you specific directions once you get out of the station.”
Then Kang Deok-su raised his hand and asked.
“Why the subway station? Wouldn’t it be faster to just go above ground?”
Instead of answering, I got up and headed to the living room window.
Room 2901, this was a structure where you could see the situation clearly as if you were on the rooftop.
Charalak
He said, pulling aside the blackout curtains.
“Look over there.”
The city turned into a mess came into view at a glance.
Collapsed buildings, shattered windows, and monsters roaming around as if they were the original owners of the place.
“If you go above ground, you’ll die after fighting endless waves of monsters. On the other hand, even if there are monsters on the subway tracks, there’s only a limited number. You can also escape in the middle of the track.”
Kang Deok-su nodded in agreement after seeing the miserable cityscape.
“I guess so.”
“I’m not asking you to go all the way to Jagalchi Station right away. I know that’s being greedy.”
I turned my back and slowly made eye contact with everyone as I continued speaking.
“For now, please aim to occupy Seomyeon Station.”
“All right.”
Fortunately, everyone accepted my request.
There seemed to be some sympathy or pity mixed in, but that didn’t really matter.
I would do anything to save my family.
“Thank you. Get plenty of rest today, and start the operation right away tomorrow morning.”
After finishing the operational meeting, I came up home.
That was when.
♬♪♬♩~
When the bell rang, I checked and saw that Owen Ju was waiting at the door.
Crash
“What’s going on?”
“There’s one thing I’d like to ask you.”
“Go ahead.”
Owen Ju cautiously opened his mouth.
“Can’t you bring your family members with Jaehyun’s ability?”
“······.”
It’s not that I haven’t tried.
Teleporting a target as a quest reward.
In fact, this is why I was excited when I saw Moon Byung-ho’s awakening ability.
I think that if I do it well, I can maximize that ability and move my family in one breath.
[Impossible quest reward.]
The result was a complete failure.
It’s just a guess, but it’s probably because the place where Moon Byung-ho’s grandmother lives is out of my influence.
‘Just like the goblin that was clearly dead wasn’t settled.’
Moreover, this hypothesis could explain why Owen’s son’s resurrection was possible.
‘What if the place where that child died was within my influence?’
If this is really the case, then I will be helpless if my parents die.
‘···You’ll die outside my sphere of influence. Damn it.’
Anyway, for this reason, Ha Dong-geon’s party had to go directly to rescue Moon Byeong-ho’s grandmother.
“I’m not omnipotent, unfortunately.”
If I were omnipotent, the first thing I would do would be to get out of this fu*king corner of the house.
I would have given myself the ability to teleport and gone straight to see my family.
However, my abilities had many limitations, and I was not free from them.
However, I just struggle as much as I can.
In every way I can.
“There are things I can do with my abilities, and there are things I cannot do.”
He spoke to Owen Ju, who seemed anxious.
“You don’t have to worry too much. The promise I made to Mr. Owen Ju is a promise I can keep. As I confirmed with you earlier.”
Owen Ju was a trustworthy person.
It seemed like he came to ask me separately just in case the other people in the group doubted my abilities.
He was very considerate.
Moreover, he was a man of few words and deep thoughts, so much so that he never once mentioned his dead son or the resurrection I had promised in front of others.
That’s why.
What I told Owen Ju honestly was.
[Citizen Owen’s credibility increases.]
“Thank you for being honest with me. Good night.”
“Mr. Owen Ju too.”
Right after I sent her off.
[Unauthorized person attempts to enter.]
A familiar notification appeared.
It was not surprising that citizens joined in without warning.
[An entity that satisfies the conditions for acceptance as a citizen has approached the corner of the house.]
[Would you like to offer citizenship?]
She was a woman with long hair and a beanie pulled down, and a sharp look about her.
‘I propose.’
[Offering citizenship to Seo Ye-jin.]
[Seo Ye-jin accepts the offer.]
The entire process, from proposing citizenship to the subject accepting it, was natural.
however.
『Name: Seo Ye-jin (Lv. 31)
Reliability: 7
Awakening Ability: Queen of the Mice
Experience distribution rate: 0%
Settlement distribution rate: 0%
★Quest Granting Exit』
‘Awakened?’
The Absolute’s eyes immediately turned to the place where the stimulation had come from.
however.
Take it?
What was there was not Seo Ye-jin, but an ordinary little rat.
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