Level 4 Human in a Ruined World - Chapter 79

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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 79 22. Show Them Gwanak (3)

 

First Sword Assembly.

 

As soon as Young-woo encountered this term, he recalled the warning he had heard when trying to kill the Gangnam First Sword’s son.

 

– Th… that’s enough. If you go any further, you’ll make all of Seoul your enemy.

 

Make all of Seoul your enemy.

 

‘I thought it was somewhat of an exaggeration, but maybe it wasn’t.’

 

What could it mean for the First Swords to gather in one place here in Seoul, where public-private partnerships had been established?

 

It certainly wouldn’t be to fight each other to the death.

 

“What exactly is this First Sword Assembly?”

 

When Young-woo asked, the police officer checked his watch again and answered.

 

“Every day at 3 PM, First Swords from all over Seoul gather at Yongsan Park. Government officials also observe.”

 

“The government observes?”

 

When Young-woo asked again, the police officer nodded.

 

“Because they need to reflect the decisions made at the assembly.”

 

“Good heavens.”

 

Young-woo made an expression as if he finally understood.

 

While it was said that the First Swords were supporting the government, in reality it was the government that was serving the First Swords.

 

‘Now this makes sense in a logical way.’

 

That’s right.

 

A ‘functioning government’ in the reset world could only work this way.

 

“Earlier you told me to appear at the assembly, but what kind of treatment would I receive there as an outsider?”

 

“As long as you’re not here to harm civilians, you’ll be welcomed in some way. Even someone like me who doesn’t know much can tell you’re not ordinary. Seoul is really a great place for the strong to live.”

 

The police officer carefully looked Young-woo up and down.

 

Then he added an explanation.

 

“If you want a First Sword position, you can challenge anyone present at the assembly, and if you want monster business, you can receive business rights through duels with those who claimed them first.”

 

“Monster… what? You do business with monsters?”

 

When Young-woo’s eyes widened at this unbelievable story, the police officer nodded habitually again.

 

“Yes. It’s one of the reasons Seoul’s order is maintained.”

 

Monster business. Also known as Seoul Rotation.

 

According to the police officer, this was a kind of economic recovery project proposed by Seoul National University at the first assembly.

 

They would select skilled individuals by region and have them lead dozens or hundreds of civilians to complete ‘Scout’ quests.

 

[Daily] “Scout”

 

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

 

【Reward】 3,000 Karma

 

And from the income of 3,000 Karma per person generated this way, the business would take 1,000 Karma as commission.

 

“…That’s an insane idea.”

 

Even as Young-woo said this, he understood that this was the best option at a realistic level.

 

If this was actually feasible, it would be a deal with no losses for people who found it difficult to go monster hunting.

 

Of course, on the flip side.

 

‘Other strong individuals who couldn’t secure business rights would inevitably become dissatisfied. This is essentially no different from controlling hunting grounds.’

 

As Young-woo was thinking this, the police officer smirked.

 

“But this isn’t the end of it.”

 

“…?”

 

“Did you know that Scout quests apply separately to each region?”

 

“No way.”

 

“Yes. Even if you complete a quest in Seocho, you can perform the Scout quest again if you move to another region.”

 

“So that’s why it’s called Seoul ‘Rotation’.”

 

This time Young-woo nodded.

 

Literally, Seoul Rotation was a money-printing business where strong individuals would take customers around various regions of Seoul to help with Scout quests.

 

This way, assuming they visit at least two regions, they would earn over 4,000 Karma per person even after deducting commissions.

 

“An enormous amount of money must be circulating. There must be many people eyeing the business rights too.”

 

“Yes. To prevent sword fights in urban areas because of this, only procedures conducted during assemblies are recognized as legitimate. The same goes for duels between skilled individuals.”

 

In other words, all duels or business disputes outside Yongsan Park were illegal.

 

“It’s incredibly systematic. How is this possible? The reset only started three days ago.”

 

When Young-woo raised this perfectly reasonable question, the police officer held up two fingers and folded one first.

 

Swish.

 

“First, Seoul National University, which serves as the government’s leadership, and.”

 

Soon the police officer folded his second finger and said something terrifying.

 

“Thanks to Gangnam First Sword Jung Hyun-sik. He’s the one who created the First Sword Assembly.”

 

“…”

 

Gangnam First Sword Jung Hyun-sik.

 

The problematic name he had already heard twice despite being in Seoul for less than a few hours.

 

“Is the Gangnam First Sword such an amazing person?”

 

When Young-woo asked while pretending not to know, the police officer checked his wristwatch with a more urgent expression than before.

 

“I can only tell you that he’s the only person who can summon the First Swords together. It’s really time to withdraw now.”

 

“…!”

 

Young-woo also raised his wrist to check his watch and saw that time was indeed running short.

 

’12:29 PM.’

 

In just 31 minutes, monsters and mutants would pour out across all of Seoul.

 

“Immediate withdrawal!”

 

The police personnel who had been controlling Yangjae Interchange were already getting into their vehicles.

 

They all seemed to be trying to evacuate to safe areas before the monsters fell.

 

‘I thought these people would stay here and clean up some monsters, but I was wrong.’

 

Probably in a little while, the ‘monster business operators’ he had only heard about would be wandering around the area leading numerous civilians.

 

What kind of place was Seoul really?

 

Young-woo felt even more confused now that he had actually come to Seoul.

 

Vroooom!

 

Soon the patrol cars carrying all the personnel began hurriedly leaving the road.

 

Thanks to this, the exit toward Sadang that Young-woo’s group needed to enter also became clear.

 

“…Let’s go. We need to hurry too.”

 

Young-woo also said this to Tae-young and Jong-su behind him and grabbed Negwig’s reins.

 

* * *

 

Leaving Yangjae Interchange and entering Gangnam Ring Road.

 

Since they were moving along Seoul’s outer perimeter, they could see the districts changing quickly.

 

Pop!

 

|You are currently staying in ‘Dongjak’.

 

|This area’s First Sword is ‘Lee Han-wook09’. 2nd generation, 8 defenses.

 

‘Dongjak First Sword… Lee Han-wook.’

 

Would the Dongjak First Sword also be a participant in the First Sword Assembly?

 

Young-woo’s perspective on viewing regional situations had already changed.

 

‘Come to think of it, I never asked how many regions are participating in the assembly.’

 

Judging from the warning that harming Gangnam First Sword’s son would turn all of Seoul into enemies, it seemed certain that the number of regions participating in the assembly was by no means small.

 

The nuance of the police officer I just spoke with also suggested that the assembly’s power was considerable.

 

However, Seoul consists of as many as 25 regions.

 

No matter how great Gangnam First Sword might be, could the First Swords of all Seoul really have united their will in just a few days?

 

‘There must be regions that haven’t joined the assembly yet.’

 

Then what would happen to such regions?

 

Enemies of the assembly? Or would they be classified as unexplored territory for now?

 

‘The more I learn, the more complicated this place becomes.’

 

Young-woo shook his head and shifted his gaze to the downtown area that had begun to appear on the right side.

 

Then he noticed countless people rushing into a large white building in the distance.

 

‘What’s that?’

 

As he frowned, he finally saw the red logo embedded at the top of the building.

 

It was none other than Homeplus.

 

‘Could it be one of the shelters?’

 

Given the timing, that seemed to be the only explanation.

 

Or perhaps it was being used as a waiting area for ‘customers’ until the monster appearance locations were determined.

 

‘Everything here is quite impressive.’

 

As Young-woo muttered this brief impression to himself, his surroundings suddenly became pitch dark.

 

Whoosh!

 

He had entered Bongcheon Tunnel, which cut through the northern edge of Gwanak Mountain.

 

‘Crazy. All the lights are out.’

 

The lighting installed on the ceiling and walls had all been petrified as well, making the inside of the tunnel truly pitch black.

 

“Young-woo sir, are you alright?”

 

Tae-young, who had entered the tunnel belatedly, illuminated Young-woo with his vehicle’s headlights, and Young-woo waved his hand to signal that he was fine.

 

Come to think of it, Negwig, who was carrying him, had been running quite well even after entering the tunnel.

 

Perhaps this iron horse had the ability to perceive surrounding objects even without light.

 

‘I received a proper gift indeed.’

 

When Young-woo patted Negwig’s neck as if to say he trusted only him, the creature slightly raised its head and made an incomprehensible sound.

 

-Kwii…!

 

Then it began carrying Young-woo at an even faster speed than before.

 

Kwakwak, kwakwak!

 

“Y-Young-woo sir!”

 

Tae-young, sensing that Negwig had accelerated, made a worried sound, but that voice quickly faded from Young-woo’s ears.

 

The distance from the vehicle had already widened considerably, beyond the reach of the headlight beams, and soon the regional status window updated again.

 

Flash!

 

|You are currently staying in ‘Gwanak’.

 

|This region’s First Sword is ‘Jo Sang-ik01’. 1st generation, 22 defenses.

 

He had already left Dongjak and entered Gwanak.

 

‘Jo Sang-ik… 01?’

 

The first among all the Jo Sang-iks nationwide to make contact with the Exchange Center.

 

Young-woo stared blankly at the regional status glowing brightly in the pitch-black darkness.

 

And around this time, the other end of the tunnel gradually began to brighten.

 

He must have finally approached the end of the tunnel.

 

Kwakwak!

 

As Negwig increased its speed even more at the same time, Young-woo felt as if he was being pulled into the light.

 

Whoooosh!

 

Then the surroundings became dazzlingly bright.

 

“…Ugh.”

 

He had finally emerged from the tunnel.

 

The relatively fresh air wrapping around his face was proof of that.

 

However, fresh air wasn’t the only thing that greeted Young-woo outside the tunnel.

 

Pop!

 

As soon as Young-woo’s temporarily paralyzed vision returned, he found himself looking at about a dozen young people.

 

“What, what’s that?”

 

“A monster…?”

 

“How can there be a monster at this time?”

 

These people, who looked just as bewildered as Young-woo, were skilled individuals who, despite their youthful faces, each wore an Early Bird at their waist.

 

And most importantly.

 

“…Ah.”

 

They were wearing jumpers in this hot June weather.

 

Was it his imagination that the emblem carved identically on all the jumpers didn’t seem unfamiliar?

 

“…”

 

Young-woo stared intently at the young people gathered in front of the tunnel.

 

Then, recalling which region he was currently in, he came to one conclusion.

 

“Are you perhaps from Seoul National University?”

 

“…!”

 

At this, everyone in the assembly flinched their lips.

 

Rumble!

 

A tremendous roar came from the sky and countless pillars of light began to strike down to the ground.

 

4th-Class Human in 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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