Player of a Ruined World - Chapter 74

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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 074
Elder Chulmin no longer harbored any doubts.
Having lived a lifetime, he’d seen countless people like that before.
“Damn it…!”
In that instant, Park Sangil, who was behind the wheel, startled and wrenched the steering wheel.
Screeeech—! Screech!
Long skid marks tore across the ground, and the second vehicle following behind also swerved desperately.
“GROOOOOOOOOOOOO!!”
The cries of Zombies echoing from ahead.
“There are already this many? How is this possible?!”
The subject was missing, but I could guess what he meant.
In that brief moment.
In less than ten minutes, all the Survivors of The Great Dominion had become subordinates of the Zombie King.
The time it took to transform into a Zombie was usually just a few seconds at most, never exceeding a minute.
Bitten, biting, and the newly transformed Zombie biting the person next to them.
The settlement where over 300 Survivors had lived… became a den of Zombies in just ten minutes.
All because they chose the wrong leader.
The consequence of following a fool.
Park Sangil hastily shifted into reverse and stepped on the accelerator.
Vrooooom—!! Vroom!!
But soon he pressed the brake and clicked his tongue in frustration.
“Damn it… they’re coming from behind too.”
“Just break through the front.”
“Those things have physical stats of 40, right? Our modified vehicle hasn’t even been upgraded once. Is it possible?”
“How many are in front?”
“Looks like about 80. Plus, it’s a one-way street, so I’m not sure if we can make it.”
“The modified vehicle can still win. Step on it.”
Vroooooom—!!!
As the first vehicle surged forward, the second vehicle behind it quickly increased output and followed.
“Hold on tight!”
Crash!! Thud—Thunk!! Crunch—Bang!!
The modified vehicle plowed through the Zombies.
But I could see the speed dropping significantly compared to before.
It was incomparable to facing multiple Zombies with physical stats below 20.
Only 80 of them, but when they all rushed at the modified vehicle at once, the reduced speed was unmistakable.
If we had momentum, it would be different, but breaking through without building speed was difficult.
“Damn it…!”
Park Sangil gripped the steering wheel with both hands, biting his lower lip.
I, sitting in the passenger seat, felt my palms grow damp with sweat.
A battle between Zombies trying to hold their ground and a vehicle trying to break through.
ROOOAAARRR!!!
Fortunately, since there weren’t many of them, I managed to break through all eighty.
Continuing straight ahead, we escaped the one-way street and a two-lane road came into view.
“Huh? Hyung! Isn’t that N Elementary School?! What do we do if we have to go back?!”
“I know! I should’ve reversed out earlier, but the zombies swarmed in so we came this way!”
“….”
“Since it’s come to this, we’ll pass through Sinsa-dong and cross over the Hannam Bridge.”
Park Sangil explained the route while constantly checking his rearview mirror.
Hearing the zombie cries from behind, Park Sangil pressed the accelerator to the floor.
The zombies that had been trying to catch us stopped pursuing once we disappeared from their sight.
Park Sangil finally let out a relieved sigh and asked.
“So what’s the plan from here?”
“We need to find the Zombie King’s Daughter and bring her back.”
“At this pace… it seems like Gangnam will be swarming with the Zombie King’s subordinates within a few hours?”
“That’s right. I told you before. Once the Zombie King’s subordinates increase in numbers, bringing his daughter back won’t matter.”
“Then… aren’t we completely screwed right now?”
“I’m not alone anymore.”
Park Sangil glanced at my face, then spoke with a slight smile.
“Ha, it’s been a while since my blood’s been pumping like this.”
His shoulders must feel heavy.
Now that the Zombie King has gone berserk, this isn’t a situation I can handle alone.
Without the modified vehicle and my companions’ help… I can’t solve this either.
I called out to Park Sanghun behind me.
“Sanghun, has there been any contact from the people at the Safe House?”
“No. Seems like everything’s fine.”
“Let them know we’ll be delayed.”
“Already figured it out. We were planning to take down The Great Dominion’s scouts anyway. How could that possibly happen in a single day?”
Right, that’s true.
I wiped away the moisture on my forehead—whether it was rainwater or sweat, I couldn’t tell—and spoke.
“Tell the defense team at the Safe House to funnel all their Points to Sangha.”
“To my older brother? Right now?”
“Yeah, modifying the vehicle takes time and is difficult, but from now on we’ll need a lot of bullets and bolts made from Points. We’ll need to reinforce the protective gear too.”
“Got it.”
Party members can trade Points even if they’re not in the same location.
Once the party members at the Safe House transfer their Points to Park Sangha, he’ll craft equipment here.
After finishing my explanation, I checked my current Points.
[Current Stats: Stamina 60(+5), Strength 60(+5), Agility 60(+5), Skin 150, Mentality 160]
[Points Held: 25,128]
[Coins Held: 4]
Over twenty-five thousand Points in total.
I’ve gathered quite a lot in the meantime.
Twenty-four hours remain until the second episode concludes.
Once we advance to the third episode, the Zombie King’s physical stats will increase further.
The problem is that my physical stat restrictions won’t be lifted until the third episode ends.
In other words, after twenty-four hours, I’ll be in a state where I cannot stop the Zombie King.
So no matter what happens, I must find the Zombie King’s Daughter within twenty-four hours and bring her here.

* * *
I had intended to use the Hannam Bridge, but there were far too many Zombies and obstacles blocking the way across it.
The vehicle had already sustained considerable damage, so I turned the wheel toward Apgujeong.
To use the Seongsu Bridge instead.
Scattered campfires and traces of Survivors appeared intermittently.
Since they didn’t attack us, we ignored them and continued forward along the road.
“Which way from here?”
“Keep going straight. If you see any obstacles or markers, let me know.”
After crossing the Seongsu Bridge and entering Majang-dong.
Park Sangil proceeded while reducing speed and surveying the surroundings.
When I had met Hong Yeonhui, I marked the Safe House’s location on the 3D terrain map.
If the coordinates I entered are correct, the Safe House should be appearing soon…
Screech—!
At that moment, Park Sangil suddenly slammed on the brakes.
He stared intently ahead, then tilted his head and asked.
“What is that?”
“What do you mean?”
“There’s writing on the sign. You all are… surrounded… by us?”
Surrounded?
All of a sudden?
Bang—!
At that moment, gunfire erupted from somewhere.
Ping!
Sparks flew from the vehicle’s front bumper.
Did they just… shoot at our vehicle?
Park Sangil looked at me with a bewildered expression.
As if demanding I explain this situation.
What do I do?
If I show my face, will they stop attacking?
No, that won’t work. If Hong Yeonhui isn’t nearby, there’s no one who would recognize me.
Since there wasn’t any other option, I took a deep breath and spoke.
“Wait here.”
“…”
I carefully opened the passenger door and jumped out of the vehicle, shouting.
“Don’t shoot! We’re friendlies!”
None of the Survivors here would consider us allies.
We’d look like raiders arriving in a dangerously modified vehicle.
But I needed to show I wanted to talk, so I raised both hands high and shouted.
“I came to meet Hong Yeonhui!”
“…Who?”
A muffled voice echoing through the hazy mist.
Looking toward the source of the voice, I heard an unfamiliar voice call out.
“What’s your name!”
“Baek Doyun! If you hear that Baek Doyun came, you’ll know!”
“Baek Doyun?!”
Then I heard multiple footsteps approaching this location.
Several figures emerged from the hazy mist, and gradually I could make out their faces.
“Huh? You are….”
“Everyone, lower your guns! It’s Baek Doyun!”
These were the people who had shot at Elder Chulmin back when we were moving to Dongdaemun History and Culture Park Station to hunt the Giant Zombie.
The man who had been wearing a police uniform back then was now standing before me.
Had I ever told this person my name?
I had no memory of us introducing ourselves to each other, so how did he know my name….
Tap tap! Thud!
Following that, I heard footsteps from the building on my right.
The moment I turned my head.
“Baek Doyun!”
A woman suddenly threw her arms around me.
It was Hong Yeonhui.
Shocked and frozen in place, Park Sangil, who had gotten out of the vehicle, shaded his eyes with his right hand and asked.
“What? Doyun, you had a woman too?”
“No? Ah, that’s not it.”
“Then who is she?”
“Do you remember when I went missing after using Frenzy last time?”
“The people who helped you then are these people?”
“Yes.”
I gently took Hong Yeonhui’s arm and put some distance between us, noticing her slightly flushed face.
She probably wasn’t interested in me like that… but could she want something from me?
Feeling awkward, I let out a nervous cough first.
“Um… I don’t think we were this close before…?”
“I knew you’d come. I knew you would come!”
She knew I would come?
Hong Yeonhui turned around and called out to someone loudly.
“Siyun! Jeong Siyun!”
A child poked their head out through the window.
It was the same child who had dropped the noodles earlier.
So her name was Jeong Siyun.
Above Jeong Siyun’s head, I could see text displayed.
[Zombie King’s Daughter (Easter Egg)]
Like a title displayed beside a game character’s name.
That text was hovering above Jeong Siyun’s head.
No wonder she looked so familiar from the photograph I’d seen.
My memory had been correct.
“Baek Doyun, you understand what needs to be done now, right?”
Hong Yeonhui stared directly into my eyes and asked.
Her expression was excessively excited.
I took a step back and spoke.
“First, calm down. You’re way too worked up right now.”
“How can I not be worked up?! The Siyun who was in our shelter is the Zombie King’s Daughter?!”
“When did that label appear?”
“It suddenly showed up thirty minutes ago. Did you already know?”
“I didn’t know either.”
“Then you… ah, never mind. Just come inside. Let’s talk once we’re in.”
….
“Everyone, lower your weapons! This person is safe!”
Several people holding rifles and pistols looked at Hong Yeonhui and spoke.
“We’ll keep watch out here, so please go inside first.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
Hong Yeonhui’s shelter was a converted public parking garage.
Since there was plenty of space to park the modified vehicle, we drove into the shelter.

* * *
As I ate the ramen with steam rising from its surface, the fatigue of the day seemed to wash away completely.
“So Hee, is it delicious?”
“Yes! It’s so delicious.”
Do Sohee smiled brightly as she ate her ramen.
Hong Yeonhui, watching her, smiled contentedly and spoke.
“If you need more, just say so. I’ll give you some.”
“Oh, no, that’s okay.”
“Don’t be shy. Just ask.”
“Then… could I have just one more bowl?”
“Should I get you some kimchi too?”
“Oh? Yes! You have kimchi?!”
“I’ll get it. Wait a moment.”
“Thank you so much!”
As Hong Yeonhui went to fetch the kimchi, Do Sohee smiled contentedly and spoke to me.
“Hong Yeonhui seems like such a good person.”
“Already calling her an aunt?”
“Well… she seems like such a straightforward and friendly aunt.”
Do Sohee had already fallen for Hong Yeonhui’s charm.
Then Elder Chulmin beside her burst into hearty laughter and spoke.
“A daughter-in-law like Yeonhui would be welcome anytime.”
Park Sanghun also seemed to think well of Hong Yeonhui, nudging Park Sangha’s side and speaking.
“Older brother, cheer up. She’s a beauty.”
“What?”
“You need to get married too.”
“Making jokes at a time like this? When the Zombie King has gone berserk?”
“Man, you’re only strict with me.”
Then Park Sangil, who had been gulping down the broth, spoke with a satisfied smile.
“He’s shy about it. Sangha always gets flustered around women.”
“No, I’m not…”
“When he’s shy, he talks coldly like that. It doesn’t suit him.”
At the cunning words of Park Sangil and Park Sanghun, Park Sangha’s face turned red.
Though he grumbled on the surface, it seemed he actually liked Hong Yeonhui at heart.
Since Hong Yeonhui appeared to be in her early thirties, she would seem to match well with Park Sangha.
“Well, everyone eat your kimchi and let’s continue talking.”
Hong Yeonhui set the kimchi on the table, then looking at the man beside her, spoke as if she had forgotten something.
“Oh right, you all know him, don’t you?”
“We met at Dongdaemun History and Culture Park Station.”
As I spoke matter-of-factly, Hong Yeonhui asked with interest.
“He told you to come this way?”
A man who had been waiting for an opening to join the conversation.
He spoke while bowing at a ninety-degree angle.
“I’m Park Youngsu. I’m truly sorry about last time… and grateful.”
Yes, I had told him to go to Majang-dong and survive.
That Hong Yeonhui would find him first.
That’s how I had instructed him.
It seems he managed to find his way here without incident.
I responded with a bland smile.
“That apology should be directed to Elder Chulmin over there, not to me.”
“Ah, then that person is…”

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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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