Level 4 Human in a Ruined World - Chapter 19
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 19 7. The Dignity of the First Sword (3)
Daesil .
Renting out rooms for money.
In fact, the word itself wasn’t particularly special or dangerous.
The problem was the world in which this word was being used.
A world with dragons and Quests, where most people walked around carrying military weapons.
Young-woo, being a First Sword, only felt bewildered, but others trembled in fear.
“Daesil…?”
“What happens at night that they’re doing this?”
“Don’t we have to pay money even to sleep?”
While the Sky Villa residents huddled together having worried conversations, Young-woo hurriedly devoured his food as if time was precious.
Then Ye-chan, who was biting into bread across from him, lowered his voice and asked cautiously.
“Uncle.”
“Yeah.”
“What do you think? About that daesil?”
From the Exchange Office to the monster appearance and the mutant elimination.
Since virtually every event after the reset had been close to miraculous for Young-woo, Ye-chan had no choice but to trust his insight.
“Well. I don’t know if they’ll continue providing daesil or if it’s just a first-day convenience…”
“Yes, yes.”
“Whether you’re a First Sword or anyone else, you’re completely defenseless while sleeping, right? So they’re probably saying they’ll let you sleep alone and safely somehow.”
Though it probably won’t be free, Young-woo concluded.
However, Ye-chan still had questions.
“Then where?”
“Huh?”
“Daesil means renting out rooms anyway… but in a way, this mart is also a big room, isn’t it?”
That was a valid point.
So even Young-woo could hardly imagine what form the world’s proposed ‘daesil’ would take.
It wouldn’t be strange if a motel suddenly dropped down in the middle of the city.
“We’ll find out in an hour. What’s certain though.”
Young-woo paused mid-sentence and poured the canned tuna into his mouth.
“Is that if you have enough money, you can solve most problems.”
* * *
Time really passed in an instant.
You could tell just by seeing that outside the mart had become much darker than before.
Hadn’t nearly an hour passed?
During that time, all Young-woo and Ye-chan had done was eat and sort out luggage to attach to the bicycle.
Meanwhile, there had been several visitors from outside looking for food, but most politely expressed gratitude after seeing Young-woo’s title, then scattered to find their own food.
Thanks to the commemorative coins, he had essentially become officially recognized in Gumi.
Of course, not everyone was favorably disposed toward Young-woo.
Those who clearly had above-average combat experience generally either were wary of or envied Young-woo.
Among them, some seemed to be subtly trying to gauge Young-woo’s martial prowess.
“…”
Young-woo felt the gazes piercing him from all directions and checked the regional status.
|The region you are currently staying in is ‘Gumi’.
|The First Sword of this region is ‘Jung Young-woo07’. 1st generation, 6 defenses.
Perhaps due to the incident at the mart entrance, the number of defenses had increased to 6 at some point.
‘Still, the number isn’t as high as I thought.’
If even he thought this way, what about others?
There were probably some who thought the First Sword was just a bubble.
Especially if they had never seen a mutant.
“Uncle, I’m all done.”
Eventually, Ye-chan, who had finished packing, came to report.
Young-woo also checked the sacks and ropes attached to the bicycle for a final inspection.
Then a middle-aged man who had been wandering nearby slowly approached.
“Um… First Sword.”
“…”
Since correcting the title every time was tiring, Young-woo continued the conversation as is.
“Yes. What is it?”
“Do you happen to need a watch?”
“A watch?”
When Young-woo glanced at the mart’s wall clock that was still stone, the man unfastened something from his wrist and held it out.
It was none other than a digital wristwatch. A real watch, not petrified.
[20:48]
Current time, 8:48 PM.
Young-woo’s eyes widened at seeing ‘time’ after so long.
“But why are you selling this? You’ve already unpetrified it…”
“I don’t have money right now. Since daesil is about to start, I thought I’d need money then.”
“Did you use up all your commemorative coins?”
At Young-woo’s words, the man looked apologetic.
“Hmm. Actually, they were taken from me.”
“By whom?”
“By young people.”
Young people. Even though he was robbed, his expression was quite polite.
This man was probably quite a good person.
Young-woo thought of the police officer from the Exchange Office, which already felt like ages ago, and relaxed his expression as much as possible.
“So, how much do you need?”
“I’m trying to get half of what it cost to unpetrify it. 2,000 Karma.”
That meant he had paid 4,000 Karma to restore the watch initially.
“Yes. That’s fine.”
Since his backpack was full of crimson coins, it was like paying pocket change for Young-woo.
Clink.
When Young-woo rummaged through his backpack to take out 2,000 Karma, the man’s eyes sparkled.
“I’m lucky this time. To be selling a watch that the First Sword will use.”
“You’re rating me too highly.”
As Young-woo pressed the coins into the man’s hand, the other party also handed over the wristwatch.
This was essentially… a barter based on trust.
The belief that the other party wouldn’t pull out a blade instead of money.
“I really need to go now. Looking at it, daesil seems to start from 9 PM.”
When Young-woo finished the transaction and put his hand on the bicycle saying this, Ye-chan looked at the Sky Villa group in the distance.
“What about those people?”
“They’ll have to go their own way. I don’t intend to clean up after them.”
The Sky Villa side still seemed busy packing their belongings.
That made sense since they had many people to support.
On the other hand, we were in a position where we might have to constantly fight challengers and mutants, and even First Swords from other regions.
We were people who shouldn’t travel together.
“…Yes. Then let’s go quickly.”
Ye-chan seemed to understand the situation soon enough, turning his gaze away from the Sky Villa residents and grabbing his bicycle.
* * *
Young-woo and Ye-chan had only spent about an hour at the mart, but in that time the atmosphere outside had completely changed.
It had become a complete marketplace.
“Ah, please move aside!”
“Let us through. We’re on our way out now.”
Those trying to enter the mart and those who had finished their business and were leaving were chaotically mixed together.
On top of that.
“Please, just give me one coin. I was robbed and I…”
“Is there anyone who could share some food? I haven’t eaten anything all day.”
“Looking for work! Porter, companion, night watch, anything is possible!”
People begging and those trying to earn money through part-time work were scattered throughout the crowd, making it a complete pandemonium.
“My goodness… how did it become like this in just one hour?”
“It’s because this is a mart, not just anywhere else.”
Young-woo thought it was perfectly natural.
Current time, 8:56 PM.
It was time for people who hadn’t eaten a single meal to feel extreme hunger, and this was after the President’s hologram had made the functions of Karma fairly well known.
The fact that with Karma, even food turned to stone could be restored.
‘I even scattered money to everyone on top of that.’
Having given money to starving people, wasn’t it natural for them to rush to buy food first?
Of course, it seemed quite a few people had been robbed on their way here.
Anyway, since people with money gathered at the mart, it was natural for people who needed money to come here too.
“Probably for a while, people will gather at places like marts, restaurants, and convenience stores.”
It seemed like it would also serve as a job market.
In other words, a new economic center had emerged.
“Huh… First, First Sword?”
“It’s the First Sword!”
“Young-woo!”
“Jung Young-woo!”
When Young-woo and Ye-chan came out of the mart entrance, the already chaotic market became even more noisy.
However, the situation was different from just before when it was mayhem because people wouldn’t make way for each other.
Even though they had never met before, everyone took a friendly attitude toward Young-woo, making way or starting to follow behind him.
“Young-woo! Where are you going?”
“First Sword! Can I come with you?”
“I’ll really put the coins to good use!”
This was thanks to the commemorative coins.
The face and name engraved on them made the Gumi citizens feel an inner sense of familiarity.
Also, this was possible because everyone knew that Young-woo had given up the 3 million monopoly to scatter coins.
“…You’re incredibly popular, mister.”
Ye-chan glared at the people who kept pushing him with their bodies while earnestly chasing after Young-woo.
“At this rate we’ll be trapped here. Let’s get out quickly.”
Young-woo signaled to Ye-chan behind him, then quickly got on his bicycle and pedaled.
“Huh?”
“Wait, let’s go together!”
“Young-woo!”
When Young-woo’s group started picking up speed, people tried to run after them, but due to the stark difference in ability stats, the distance quickly widened.
“It’s scary.”
Ye-chan muttered while looking back at the few people still running after them from behind.
Young-woo answered in a low voice.
“They’re acting like that because everyone has been through so much hardship.”
“You mean they’re so happy to see you because they’ve been in such a difficult state?”
“Yeah. Now there are hardly any things left to be happy about.”
Young-woo stopped elaborating further and recalled what the Sky Villa elder had said.
―It’s the first good thing that’s happened since that reset thing or whatever occurred. What you did for us, Young-woo.
What you did for us, Young-woo.
“…”
Young-woo kept mulling over the last sentence the elder had pronounced. Because it made him feel quite good. Even while pedaling a bicycle in this damn world.
Creak, creak.
It was when he had pedaled for about another minute like that.
With a beep sound, his wristwatch displayed exactly 9 PM.
Flash!
At the same time, system text appeared before Young-woo and Ye-chan’s eyes.
「Room rental service has begun.」
「From now on, all buildings classified as ‘residential’ will be under the influence of the room rental system and become inviolable.」
‘All buildings classified as residential?’
It probably meant existing buildings that had been used for lodging purposes.
Places like villas, apartments, and lodging establishments.
「Anyone can pay Karma to occupy a desired residence for a certain period of time.」
「During the rental period, you can control access to that space and it’s also possible to charge accommodation fees.」
Simply put, it meant you could act as a lodging business owner. From another perspective, it would also be a way for several people to split the rental fee.
But did you absolutely have to pay money to sleep?
Ye-chan seemed to be thinking something similar.
“Uh… but couldn’t we just hide somewhere suitable and sleep without renting a room?”
“If you’re okay with a low probability of getting stabbed while sleeping, that would be a good method too.”
However, it seemed the real reason was something else.
Just when we thought the explanation was over, there was one last notice remaining.
「By the way, tonight’s weather will be red fog.」
「Please be careful of respiratory damage.」
Fourth-Class Human of the Ruined World (Serial)
Author │ Oetu
Publisher │ Kim Ju-hyeong
Published by │ J Plus Media Co., Ltd.
Marketing │ Han Jae-hyeok
Address │ 288 Digital-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul, Room 204 (Guro-dong, Daeryung Post Tower 1)
Email │ [email protected]
Website │ www.jayplemedia.com
ⓒOetu2023
※This work is published by J Plus Media Co., Ltd. under contract with the copyright holder, and no part of the content may be used in any form or by any means without permission from our company and the author.
Violation of this may result in criminal and civil legal liability.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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