Level 4 Human in a Ruined World - Chapter 65

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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 65 19. First Appearance in Martial World (2)

“I’m also going to Seoul.”

When Gyeongbuk First Sword Jung Young-woo07 said this, the expressions of the two police officers who had resolved to go to Seoul couldn’t help but become very complicated.

It was because of the particularly special status of their counterpart.

‘…Gyeongbuk First Sword.’

Byeong-cheol’s gaze carefully swept over the golden outsider’s head.

It was a fact he had overlooked due to the shock of their intense first meeting, but in this world, a First Sword was nine times out of ten either a thug or a murderous maniac.

It was structurally inevitable.

The only ways to become a First Sword were to commit bold murders on the first day of reset to catch the system’s attention, or to kill an existing First Sword.

If the process of becoming a mere regional First Sword was already so treacherous, what must the process of unifying a large region like Gyeongbuk have been like?

And now such a person was going to Seoul of all places… In the eyes of Byeong-cheol, a police officer, it looked like a massive bomb rolling toward an already blazing powder keg.

“Ahem.”

Byeong-cheol tried to maintain a calm expression as he asked a routine question.

“Excuse me, but… what business do you have in Seoul?”

“Well.”

Young-woo scratched his chin as he looked at the Iron Horse Negwig.

If he answered that he was going to find and fight masters with ability stats totaling over 3,000 according to an alien company’s proposal, the situation would become troublesome.

So the answer Young-woo chose was.

“I’m going to scatter money.”

“…?”

“Excuse me?”

Both police officers’ expressions immediately contorted.

They had no idea what Young-woo was talking about.

“What do you mean by that…”

“Officer, you chose the 3 million Karma monopoly, didn’t you? When you caught the Mutant.”

When Young-woo asked this, Icheon First Sword Kim Byeong-cheol139’s eyes widened.

“…Don’t tell me.”

He finally realized what this outsider was talking about.

≪Selection Reward≫

[3 Million Karma]

or

[30,000 Karma distributed to all residents in the region]

The dilemma Quest ‘Either-Or’ that only those who defeated a Mutant would receive.

Byeong-cheol, who was the Icheon First Sword, had also stood before those choices, and though he agonized as a police officer, he ultimately chose to monopolize the 3 million Karma.

He judged that it would be better for him to monopolize the large sum and maintain order rather than give money to citizens whose percentage of criminals was unknown.

Of course, beneath that judgment lay the survival instinct of wanting to live first.

Byeong-cheol was human before being a police officer, after all.

“Yes. I chose the 3 million.”

Byeong-cheol deliberately puffed out his chest to hide his conscience.

Young-woo nodded as if that was perfectly understandable.

“Not a bad choice. Of course, I couldn’t do that, so I suffered quite a bit.”

“…!”

Byeong-cheol showed an expression of disbelief at Young-woo’s follow-up.

“You chose the 30,000?”

More precisely, he couldn’t believe that someone had given up 3 million Karma and still became the Gyeongbuk First Sword.

However, the truly unbelievable statement came next.

“Yes. Four times in total so far.”

“Four times…?”

Byeong-cheol repeated Young-woo’s words as if entranced.

“No, that’s really absurd. Then you must have killed at least four Mutants…”

Byeong-cheol, who had been speaking according to his stream of consciousness, suddenly noticed Young-woo’s bizarre attire and closed his mouth.

He realized that very appearance was the result of accomplishing that absurd feat.

“Wh… what happens when you choose the 30,000?”

Eventually, Byeong-cheol, who decided to believe the outsider’s statement, asked vaguely.

However, since Young-woo had no remaining commemorative coins nor any way to show his Achievement window, the best he could do was point toward Seoul and say this.

“Golden Rain falls. You’ll understand faster if you see it directly.”

“…Ah.”

Golden Rain.

Naturally, it would be a sight he had never seen once in his life.

“But the First Swords in Seoul wouldn’t want to choose the 30,000.”

“First Swords?”

Young-woo asked again, having heard Byeong-cheol express First Sword in plural form.

“Are there multiple Seoul First Swords?”

“Each district has a First Sword. Of course, someone might be the Seoul First Sword. Just like how you’re the Gyeongbuk First Sword.”

“Wow, then there really is a Gangnam First Sword.”

Jong-su, who had been listening to the conversation, interjected.

A story he had once joked about with Young-woo turned out to be true.

Seoul, consisting of a total of 25 autonomous districts.

Since each district held more population than most provincial cities, it might be natural for each district to have a First Sword.

“Ah, then since each district has a First Sword, Mutants also…”

Byeong-cheol completed Young-woo’s sentence.

“Mutants would also fall in each district.”

“That’s incredible.”

Twenty-five Mutants falling from the sky every day. And 25 First Swords waiting for them.

“Hyung-nim, Seoul might be much more terrifying than we thought.”

Jong-su shuddered as he imagined the horrible scene.

Young-woo also felt his blood run cold imagining 25 red light pillars shooting down.

But what was even more concerning was.

‘If twenty-five Mutants fall each day… assuming no one made Golden Rain fall, that means 75 million Karma was released daily.’

Of course, there was also the possibility that the city had been overthrown by the massive number of Mutants and Monsters.

Though Young-woo definitely didn’t think that was the case.

‘Judging by how they’re coming down from Seoul to target even Monsters in the Gyeonggi region, that’s definitely not it. Right now, Seoul is completely handling all the volume allocated to them.’

In other words, some of the First Swords in Seoul would have secured tremendous amounts of Karma.

“If you’re really going to Seoul to scatter that Golden Rain, Young-woo, you won’t live long either.”

Byeong-cheol let out a hollow laugh.

It was actually a self-deprecating remark, since his own situation wasn’t much different.

Young-woo shrugged his shoulders and began speaking.

“That’s why I’m telling you this.”

Swoosh.

When Young-woo stroked the Iron Horse Negwig’s back, the creature raised its head and its eyes gleamed.

“Since we’ll both be hated in Seoul… how about we form an alliance?”

* * *

An alliance with Gyeongbuk First Sword Jung Young-woo07.

In fact, for Byeong-cheol and Tae-young, who only had two bullets, it was a proposal they had no reason to refuse.

At least Jung Young-woo, who wasn’t showing hostility toward them, would be better than Seoul’s thugs.

Of course, this outsider could also become vicious once conflicts of interest arose, but that was unknown for now…

‘It’s better than being slaughtered the moment we arrive in Seoul. It’s the lesser of two evils instead of the worst.’

And in the truly worst case scenario, there was always the option of eliminating Jung Young-woo with his pistol.

“….”

Byeong-cheol looked at the pistol in his hand, then looked at Young-woo and nodded.

“Alright. Let’s go together, to Seoul.”

At this, Tae-young showed a worried expression, while Jong-su looked like things were getting interesting.

“Then we need to move quickly.”

Young-woo checked his wristwatch while gauging their next route.

Current time: 8:49 PM.

The lodging service would start in about 10 minutes.

‘Isn’t this area near Yongin? We should be able to make it to Yongin easily as long as we check in before 11 o’clock.’

Though the vehicle they’d been using was no longer available, they had the Iron Horse from outer space instead.

Wouldn’t this be a good opportunity to test that creature’s performance?

“….”

As Young-woo stared intently at the Iron Horse Negwig, Byeong-cheol, suddenly afraid of what he might do next, asked him.

“…Is there another problem?”

“No, it’s not that, but I don’t think all four of us can ride it.”

“Where… ah, you don’t mean that thing, do you?”

Byeong-cheol pointed at Negwig as he spoke.

Then he made a horrified expression and shook his head.

“We have our own vehicle to ride.”

In the corner of the parking lot that Byeong-cheol looked toward while saying this, a patrol car was parked.

They were planning to enter Seoul in that car that would obviously draw everyone’s attention.

‘Word will spread quickly. That some strange people came from somewhere.’

Young-woo’s eyes widened significantly.

Well, they were going one step further by planning to head to the capital on an Iron Horse.

“Do whatever’s comfortable. The important thing is getting to Seoul before 1 PM tomorrow.”

1 PM. The mutant appearance time that Young-woo had learned through experience.

Of course, he didn’t know if that rule would apply to Seoul, which had as many as 25 districts.

“1 PM… we’ll need to move quickly.”

Though Byeong-cheol had encountered mutants as a First Sword, this was his first time seeking out mutants from other regions, so he was inwardly nervous.

Moreover, they were going to Seoul of all places.

Therefore, the First Swords from various parts of Seoul would likely be much bigger obstacles than the mutants.

“Anyway, so… we just need to go straight to Yongin?”

Byeong-cheol asked Young-woo this, and meanwhile Tae-young started running toward the patrol car.

“Yes. I think it would be safer to find lodging around Yongin. No more mutants will appear today anyway.”

“Understood. But are you really going to travel on that thing? It would be a disaster if it’s much slower than a car.”

Byeong-cheol expressed concern while looking at Negwig.

It was indeed the kind of worry befitting a middle-aged man.

At this, Young-woo looked at Negwig’s legs made of gleaming black steel and smiled.

“Well. Is the patrol car fully fueled? You might need to floor the accelerator all the way to Yongin.”

“Haha, is that so?”

Though Byeong-cheol laughed at Young-woo’s humor, he soon hardened his expression and instructed Tae-young to check the remaining fuel.

* * *

「Lodging service has begun.」

「From now on, all buildings classified as ‘Residential Buildings’ will be in an inviolable state under the lodging system’s influence.」

9 PM sharp.

As soon as Young-woo’s wristwatch made a beeping sound, messages announcing the start of lodging appeared in succession.

「Anyone can pay Karma to occupy desired residential buildings for a certain period.」

「During lodging time, you can control access to that space and charge lodging fees.」

The content was identical to what he’d seen last night.

Therefore, tonight would see similar events to last night unfold.

People who couldn’t secure lodging in time knocking on others’ doors, and abnormal weather sweeping away those who ultimately couldn’t enter anywhere.

「For reference, tonight’s weather will be a heat wave.」

「Beware of extreme burns.」

‘A heat wave…’

Finally, the weather announcement was displayed, and by this time Young-woo’s group, having completely finished their departure preparations, stood side by side on the road connecting Icheon and Yongin.

Young-woo and Jong-su were on the back of the Iron Horse Negwig, while Byeong-cheol and Tae-young had gotten into the patrol car.

“Ah… but what if this guy really isn’t as fast as that old man said, hyung?”

Jong-su, sitting close behind Young-woo, looked back and forth between the patrol car and Negwig as he spoke.

No matter how much Negwig came from outer space, could it run faster than a car while having the form of a horse?

‘Of course it’ll be fast.’

Unlike Jong-su, Young-woo wasn’t worried at all.

“If this couldn’t run faster than Earth’s transportation, Dogo wouldn’t have engraved their logo on it. This moment is probably a kind of indirect advertisement too.”

“…Advertisement? Who’s watching this right now?”

While Jong-su tilted his head and looked around, the patrol car finally sent a signal to depart.

“Let’s depart first! We’ll match our speed to yours!”

The approximately 30-kilometer road connecting Icheon City to Yongin City.

An Iron Horse from outer space and Earth’s patrol car would run side by side on this road.

-Kwiiii…!

Seeing the road stretching ahead, Negwig seemed excited and let out a sharp cry.

Then.

Swish!

Suddenly it spewed black bands from its sides that wrapped around Young-woo and Jong-su’s lower bodies.

“Ugh?”

“Huh!”

This thing that firmly secured the riders’ legs to Negwig’s waist was probably.

“Don’t tell me this is a seatbelt…!”

Just as Jong-su widened his eyes and was about to shout the identity of the ‘bands’, Negwig shot forward like a bullet.

4th-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 │ Seoul Guro-gu Digital-ro 288, 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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