Player of a Ruined World - Chapter 54

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Player of the Ruined World – Episode 054
I understand Park Sangha’s feelings, but I have to convey what needs to be conveyed.
I’m not the type to emotionally comfort my companions—I have to lead them forward with reason.
“And one more thing. How much does an upgrade cost?”
I asked while looking at Park Sangha, and he spoke while checking the equipment upgrade window.
“1,000 points per part. Double the crafting cost.”
“After we finish crafting the small modified vehicle and the defense team’s equipment, if there are points remaining, please upgrade the equipment for Team 1 and Team 2 first.”
“We earned so much today that it should be possible.”
“Yes, I’ll take care of it.”
An unexpected episode that occurred before starting the third episode.
Hunting humans would be a burden for everyone.
So we…
‘We have to deal with organized groups only.’
We would target only those who clearly deserved to be eliminated.
So that no one would feel self-blame, so that everyone could remain composed in this situation.
“I hope everyone gets some rest early tonight. Things will get busy again starting tomorrow morning.”
As I briefly summarized the situation, I didn’t hear the vigorous responses from before.
Everyone simply nodded with serious expressions.
I could only hope that in this fight too, the students would hold strong and not break.

* * *
My body was exhausted, but my mind was too troubled to fall asleep easily.
I spoke like a cold-blooded person in front of everyone, but in the end, I’m still human.
Before, I was blinded by rage and dealt with everything, but now I have to face people without any anger at all.
I tossed and turned under the blanket several times, and eventually, unable to fall asleep, I got up from bed.
I walked to the balcony and stared at the pouring rain for a long while.
“Huh? You’re not sleeping?”
At the voice from behind, I turned my head and spotted Hwang Anbae with Park Sangha.
And beside them, the makers of our alliance.
“You didn’t sleep either? And you all?”
I asked while looking at the makers, and Park Sangha spoke with a bitter smile.
“We have to make the modified vehicle, and we’re short on handguns and ammunition.”
“I see.”
“We’re pulling an all-nighter.”
Everyone’s working hard.
Crafting a small modified vehicle takes a full day, and apparently you can’t take your eyes off it until the crafting is complete.
You have to press the point investment button roughly every ten minutes or so.
Since it’s a vehicle, there are many components involved, and it seems you have to input points and confirm each time you use a new part.
On top of that, you have to learn the instruction manual at the same time as crafting the vehicle.
“You’re working so hard. Really.”
As I spoke while looking at Park Sangha and the students, Hwang Anbae smiled contentedly and replied.
“Hard work? This is the least we should do.”
Park Sangha ruffled Hwang Anbae’s hair as he spoke.
“An Bae’s got such great energy. It’s good to see.”
“Ha-ha!”
Then came the sound of footsteps from the entrance.
Could it be a surprise attack at this hour?
Just as I was about to rush toward the entrance in alert, a familiar face caught my eye.
“Listen here, Sangha. This part here… Oh? Doyun, what are you doing awake?”
“Elder, why are you coming from there?”
“Ha-ha! When you get old, sleep abandons you.”
After hearing the full story, it turned out that Elder Chulmin had made a proposal to Park Sangha.
Elder Chulmin, who grew up in the countryside.
When the Elder wasn’t even ten years old, there was no food at home, so he wandered the nearby hills catching and eating frogs and birds.
It was then that Elder Chulmin learned something from his grandfather.
“A crossbow?!”
“I learned it from my grandfather, but the manufacturing method is a bit fuzzy in my memory. I’ve been discussing it with Sangha and the young students here.”
“So… you’re currently creating a blueprint for a crossbow?”
“That’s right. I heard that the Maker profession can craft anything if you just know the method. I’ve also heard that handguns require a lot of points.”
Elder Chulmin, always thinking of various ways to help the alliance.
I could only be grateful.
“Could I take a look as well?”
“Of course. I’m curious about your opinion too, Doyun.”
Looking at the blueprint Elder Chulmin showed me, I couldn’t help but admire it.
It was far more intricate than I expected, with every detail carefully considered in the design.
“What do you think, Doyun? When I asked Sangha, he said the blueprint isn’t complete yet, so it can’t be crafted.”
“For a crossbow… it would definitely need to be capable of rapid fire.”
“So this part here—if we attach a spring here, wouldn’t that work…?”
“If you attach a spring there, it seems like you won’t be able to load it. What if we put it underneath instead?”
“Ah? If it’s there…”
We all put our heads together and thought toward a unified result.
An inexplicable sense of excitement rising within me.
Working together with everyone to accomplish something… this was my first time experiencing it.
Even when I worked at the company, there was a team, but as everyone knows, it was no different from a survival game.
Moreover, I often had to hand over the results I created to my superiors.
So putting our heads together and thinking things through for myself and for everyone—this was the first time.
I never knew that doing something together with everyone could be this joyful and happy.

* * *
“You’ve all worked hard!”
“Everyone did great!”
After a full day and five more hours had passed, we clapped our hands and praised each other’s efforts as we looked at the two small modified vehicles parked in front of Building 118.
“Wow, is this the modified vehicle you mentioned, Doyun? The one that exists in No Way Home?”
“Yes, what do you think?”
“That thing looks like it’ll take down zombies real well.”
Park Sangil burst into hearty laughter at the sight of the completed modified vehicle.
Sharp blades were embedded in all four wheels.
Just like the blades attached to the wheels of ancient Roman chariots.
The vehicle’s glass, whatever material it was made of, was harder than bulletproof glass, and an iron grate was attached to its front.
The vehicle’s exterior panels were so sturdy that even when I struck them with all my might, they didn’t dent.
Additionally, the front bumper had sharp triangular spikes attached, making it easy to push obstacles off the road.
The tires, whatever rubber they were made of, only developed minor scratches even when pierced with a sashimi knife.
“This car has good fuel economy? That doesn’t seem possible looking at it!”
Meanwhile, Park Sanghun yawned and inspected the vehicle here and there.
I smiled contentedly and explained.
“Regular gasoline doesn’t give good fuel economy.”
“Then what, diesel?”
“No. The modified vehicle’s exclusive fuel is sold at the Point Shop.”
“Points again? Ugh… it’s a money-eating machine.”
“It’s worth every point.”
The modified vehicle’s exclusive fuel sold at the Point Shop.
Whatever substance it was, it had a brilliant orange hue.
At 100 points per 10 liters, the price was quite reasonable.
“How much do we need to fill it up?”
“For a small vehicle… probably about 40 liters.”
“What’s the fuel economy?”
“At least 25 kilometers per liter, I’d say?”
“Is it a hybrid?”
Park Sanghun chuckled dryly and kept repeating that it was amazing, incredible.
A full day and five hours.
We hadn’t spent all that time just here.
Teams 1 and 2 crossed over into Seongbuk District to survey the surrounding terrain and check for survivors.
We also moved without rest to search for traces of those called the Organization.
The pouring heavy rain had cleanly erased their traces, so we didn’t obtain clear information, but we did find one clue.
“Are we going to Gaeun Mountain today?”
Park Sangil’s question.
Yes, the clue we had found.
A light we discovered while reconnoitering Seongbuk District last night.
I naturally assumed they would have established positions at the apartment complex or university, but I found the clue in an unexpected location.
Mysterious lights were flickering on the mid-slope of Gaeun Mountain.
Lights arranged in a single line, refusing to extinguish even under the pouring downpour.
The presence of tents or canopies shielding from the rain meant survivors were gathered there.
I also confirmed people bound with ropes entering a detached house beside the tents.
I glanced at my wristwatch and answered.
“It’s 6 AM. Let’s eat breakfast and head out right away.”
Not many people would wake up this early anymore, unlike before the world’s collapse.
Sufficient rest was the best remedy for survivors whose nerves had grown frayed.
Since they would likely be rotating watch duties, it would be advantageous to deal with those who weren’t fully alert in the early morning haze.

* * *
After a quick breakfast of sandwiches and bacon, Team 1 and Team 2 gathered at the entrance of Building 118.
The group that came to see us off.
“If anything happens, contact Sanghun.”
Park Sangil spoke while looking at Kim Miyeon.
Leaving his wife and son at the Safe House, his heart couldn’t possibly be at ease.
“Don’t worry about us. Just come back safe.”
Kim Miyeon was the one concerned for Park Sangil instead.
Moving toward a place filled with madmen, the hearts of those sending us off couldn’t be peaceful either.
Park Sangha seemed to feel the same way, alternating his gaze between Park Sangil and Park Sanghun as he spoke.
“If anything happens, tell me right away. Sanghun’s sending you to report the situation.”
“My younger brother worries too much. That’s the problem.”
Since we needed a way to contact the defense team, one Maker from Team 2 was replaced, and Park Sanghun joined us.
It was an unavoidable choice due to insufficient Whispers.
“Then, we’ll be going.”
As I boarded the vehicle first, the attack team exchanged farewells with the defense team and boarded one by one.
“Uncle Doyun!”
At that moment, Kyeongeo called out to me and ran over.
“Kyeongeo, hurry inside. You’ll catch a cold.”
“Take this with you!”
A chocolate bar that Kyeongeo handed to me.
A child who loved chocolate was giving up a chocolate bar.
How long must she have deliberated? The chocolate bar had become warm.
“You’re giving Uncle something this precious?”
“It’s okay for Uncle Doyun!”
Kyeongeo smiled brightly and returned to Kim Heejoo’s arms.
As Kyeongeo waved at me, Park Sangil boarding the second vehicle burst into hearty laughter.
“Son! Won’t you give one to Dad?!”
“I only have one!”
“Are you giving that to Uncle Doyun?”
“Dad gets his turn next!”
“Haha! That kid, I tell you.”
Park Sangil’s face was smiling, but inwardly he felt disappointed.
And so we all boarded the vehicle amid their farewells.
Click—
“Huh? Why is Doyun hyung here…?”
Kim Suhan opens the passenger door and jumps in surprise.
I was startled too, sitting in the passenger seat.
“You need to drive, Suhan.”
“What?! Me, me drive?”
“You’re the Shooter. I can’t even see ahead—how am I supposed to drive?”
“But I’m a high schooler without a license…”
“Don’t you want to try driving without a license?”
As I ask with the corners of my mouth raised, Kim Suhan’s mouth corners rise in turn.
He hurries over to the driver’s seat and climbs into the vehicle.
Rubbing his hands together like flies, he starts pressing various buttons with murmurs of “Let’s see here.”
Since it’s a modified vehicle, there are several buttons that don’t exist in standard cars.
I’ll check those later. For now…
“Press the brake and start the engine first.”
“This one?”
“No, that’s the parking brake. The ignition is here.”
“Oh, right! The right one is the brake, yeah?”
“…What?”
“Haha! Just kidding, just kidding. It’s the left one, right?”
“You’ve never played a driving game?”
“Just joking, joking. I know. It was a joke.”
He says it’s a joke, but looking at Kim Suhan’s expression, I can tell it’s not.
His face is tense with zero confidence visible.
A single bead of sweat rolls down Kim Suhan’s forehead.
I hope it’s rainwater and not cold sweat.
This… will be okay, right?
Anxiety washes over me before we even depart.
Vroom! Screech—! Vroooom— Screech!
Sudden acceleration and sudden braking, then sudden acceleration and sudden braking again.
My upper body lurches back and forth repeatedly. Looking at Kim Suhan, he swallows hard and speaks.
“H-haha! T-test. Brake test.”
“Imagine you’re gently stroking a chick with your foot. Press the brake slowly.”
Vroooom! Screech! Vruuoom—! Screech!
Does this guy have no learning ability?
Kang Haneul, sitting in the back seat, began making the sign of the cross.
Do Sohee clasped her hands together in prayer to a god she didn’t even know, while Hwang Anbae stared ahead with a vacant expression.
“Suhan, imagine you’re gently stroking chicks with your foot…”
Vroom—!! Squeak! Screech— Squeak!
“Do you have any idea how many chicks you just crushed?”
“Ah… This isn’t easy.”
It would be different if we were actually moving.
All he had to do was press down slowly—what was so difficult about that?
“Just start driving.”
I sighed and shook my head, and Kim Suhan laughed sheepishly before slowly pressing down on the accelerator.
Still, after a few practice attempts, I could see him improving little by little.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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