Level 4 Human in a Ruined World - Chapter 37

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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 37 12. Strange World (1)

Daily Quest.

Literally a mission given every day.

In typical games, these are generally used as devices to encourage users’ continuous connection, so the mission difficulty isn’t high.

At most, it’s about catching a few ‘mobs’ or pulling weeds from the village flower bed.

But isn’t this a reality where ‘users’ are constantly connected?

Then what meaning would daily Quests have in the real world?

‘Anyway, since it’s one of the basic welfare systems, it must be a positive system.’

However, contrary to Young-woo’s thoughts, the people behind him were all staring into the air with terrified expressions.

Welfare or whatever, they were afraid of all changes happening in this world.

Nothing that had occurred so far had been friendly to humans, and even systems like the night shelter that supposedly guaranteed survival rights turned out to be living hell when you actually went there.

So.

“Daily Quest…?”

“What is it this time?”

“W-we don’t need this kind of thing… Please just leave us alone!”

No one in the gathering was optimistic about the future brought by daily Quests.

And indeed, it wasn’t an easy Quest at all.

[Daily] “Scout”

【Mission】 Approach until you are within 10 meters of a monster.

【Reward】 3,000 Karma

[Daily] “Economic Activity”

【Mission】 Pay a price to another person and receive Karma.

【Reward】 1,000 Karma

【Special】 Family members cannot be designated as trading partners.

“A-approach a monster?”

“What kind of daily Quest is this… It’s a suicide mission.”

“This isn’t even a joke.”

Sure enough, people who saw the ‘Scout’ Quest showed incredulous reactions.

That made sense, since everyone here were people who remained ‘ordinary citizens’ because they couldn’t bring themselves to fight monsters.

“But the second Quest seems doable, doesn’t it?”

“Right…? Though the reward is a bit stingy.”

When a few mentioned the ‘Economic Activity’ Quest, everyone’s attention shifted there at once.

“Does it complete when you receive Karma from someone else?”

“Can’t we just exchange coins with each other?”

“Oh… shall we try it once?”

One group that had finished their discussion arbitrarily decided on trading partners and began exchanging the same amount of currency.

The currency used was commemorative coins with Young-woo’s face engraved on them. Everyone had been penniless until Young-woo scattered the coins.

“…”

Young-woo was equally curious about the experiment’s results, so he didn’t leave and quietly watched.

“Let’s exchange simultaneously.”

“Shall we count?”

Two people who ended up attempting the commemorative coin exchange in front of everyone.

Even though it was an exchange proceeding by agreement, one side was particularly nervous. It was because they were much smaller in build than their counterpart.

They knew well that if the other person just took their coin and didn’t give theirs, it would be difficult to take it back.

Of course, with many eyes watching and even a First Sword present, surely such a thing wouldn’t happen… but from a weak person’s perspective, even small anxiety factors felt large.

“Alright, I’ll count.”

The smaller person extended their left hand and counted loudly.

“Three! Two! One…!”

As soon as the counting ended, two commemorative coins crossed paths.

Fortunately, the exchange proceeded conscientiously, but the result was different from everyone’s hopes.

“…Huh.”

“Oh.”

Looking at the two experimenters’ expressions, it seemed nothing had happened.

At this, the remaining people who were about to proceed with exchanges following the advance team each took a step back.

“Simple exchange doesn’t work… it seems it has to be a real transaction.”

“It’s written in the Quest too, to pay a price.”

“Hmm.”

The venue became noisy again.

Then, the larger of the two people who had just attempted the first exchange made a new proposal.

“I have one 1000 coin. I’ll give this to you, so could you massage my arm for a moment? You’ll have to return the coin when the transaction is finished.”

At these words, the smaller person designated as the trading partner nodded with a displeased expression.

They knew this was also part of the experiment, but having to massage the other person’s arm wasn’t pleasant.

Moreover, they had to return the money they received.

“…Let’s try it.”

But what could they do? The other person was the one with the 1000 coin.

“Yes, then.”

Soon the large person smoothly extended their sturdy forearm toward their counterpart.

Then an unenthusiastic massage was performed for about 10 seconds.

“Shall we stop here?”

Sensing that the other person’s complexion was gradually hardening, the giant withdrew their arm first and offered the crimson coin.

And immediately, all eyes in the gathering focused on the counterpart who received the coin.

“Oh!”

The experimenter’s expression was clearly different from before.

Then, with a clinking sound, one crimson coin fell from the air.

The Quest had really been completed.

“Oh?”

“As expected, you have to do something.”

“If we arrange this with each other in advance…”

The venue’s atmosphere became rapidly excited, but Young-woo realized through the subtle psychological warfare between the traders he had just witnessed.

‘Just now it was fine because they traded in front of everyone under the pretext of an experiment… but would it really be easy to coordinate like that with complete strangers?’

Everyone has different physiques, values, and consciences, and even the value of money each person perceives is different.

Even for Young-woo, 1000 Karma no longer felt like a large amount, but for someone who doesn’t even have today’s taxes, wouldn’t 1000 Karma be worth their life?

‘It’s a structure where hierarchical relationships are inevitable. Naively returning money to each other and just taking Quest rewards will probably be the last time this happens.’

Young-woo headed north again, watching people compete to engage in ‘trading.’

* * *

The ripple effect of daily Quests on people’s livelihood seemed more tremendous than expected.

When he came out to the outer road in northern Sangju, he could see people who would normally be busy with job hunting activities facing each other and concentrating on trading.

Of course, not everyone had found trading partners and was enjoying ‘basic welfare.’

“Anyone who can help me clear the daily Quest…?”

“I’ll give you 500 coins. Looking for daily quest helper.”

Daily Quests were one-time only, so people who had already found trading partners and completed their Quests didn’t need to risk trading with other strangers again.

So inevitably, stragglers had to emerge.

‘There are even people who offer to pay extra money if you help them with Quests.’

Well, since 1,000 Karma was given as a Quest reward, it was still profitable even if he paid 500 Karma as compensation for help.

Whoosh!

Young-woo quickly made his way through the chaotic scene.

Everywhere he went in Sangju City, he could see people looking for trading partners for daily Quests, and occasionally he could witness scenes of fistfights when problems arose during transactions.

‘Anyway, now that I can solve the daily tax issue, my survival rate should increase.’

But it still didn’t meet the minimum living expenses.

Because the nightly trials weren’t just about taxes.

Night shelter to avoid abnormal weather.

From Young-woo’s experience, renting a single small motel room required a whopping 3,000 Karma.

Though sharing was possible, who would provide a room rented with precious money for free?

For those who hadn’t succeeded in monster hunting, it was still a harsh world to live in.

‘Generally, there’s no other way. The only option is to challenge the Scout Quest.’

[Daily] “Scout”

【Mission】 Approach until you are within 10 meters of a monster.

【Reward】 3,000 Karma

As Young-woo ran along the road leaving Sangju City, he looked at the Quest text on the left side of his vision with tired eyes.

No matter how he looked at it, he felt these were Quests created with all of this predicted.

Why?

Why torment people like this?

Tap tap!

Finally, a large highway appeared to the right, and a farewell sign from Sangju City emerged.

‘So this is where Sangju ends.’

After Sangju comes Mungyeong.

Since the sun was still high, both Young-woo and the roadside trees cast short shadows.

Unlike the bustling downtown, Young-woo was the only one running on the highway, allowing him to feel peaceful for a moment.

But that was only temporary.

「Gyeongbuk First Sword (True) has appeared!」

「All Gyeongbuk First Sword (True) holders will receive your location in real-time.」

“What…?”

Screech!

Young-woo, who had unconsciously made an emergency stop, hurriedly looked around and then started running along the road again.

‘Gyeongbuk First Sword (True) means someone has collected three First Sword titles.’

Young-woo was about to add ‘how already?’ but stopped his thoughts.

To say that would be strange since he himself, of humble origins, was also a Gyeongbuk First Sword.

‘Anyway, it means someone like me is going around various cities taking the heads of First Swords.’

And that someone was receiving his location in real-time.

Meanwhile, Young-woo didn’t know the opponent’s location, let alone their face or name.

Therefore, even if an assassin was waiting in Mungyeong, his next destination, there was no way to know.

‘This really has no end.’

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t afraid of challengers who could appear at any time, but it was also a situation he had sufficiently anticipated.

‘Now anyone I encounter could be an enemy. I need to be careful.’

As soon as Young-woo thought this, noise came from ahead on the road.

“…?”

A mechanical sound that went “vroom.” More precisely, it was an engine sound.

A sound that was hard to hear on the roads of Reset Day 2.

‘Who else is driving a car?’

The only rolling car he had seen before was the one driven by Sangju First Sword’s wife.

Now he was witnessing a second car.

‘Is that it?’

Not long after the engine sound was detected, a gray SUV appeared in Young-woo’s vision.

And this also meant that Young-woo, running on two feet, was gradually catching up to that vehicle.

Young-woo must have been quite surprised to see two people driving cars in this crazy world, but in fact, the owner of the vehicle ahead was probably more surprised.

Screech!

Sure enough, the SUV’s body shook erratically left and right for a moment, then the engine sound changed.

Vroooom…!

It was accelerating to create distance from some madman encountered on the road in broad daylight.

‘They’re speeding too much… do they have plenty of fuel?’

Young-woo watched the vehicle starting to distance itself again and put more strength into his instep and thighs.

Crack!

Then the asphalt road surface in contact with Young-woo’s soles was mercilessly crushed, and the distance between the two sides, which seemed to be widening for a while, began to close again.

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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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