“…” It’s heavy. Even without opening my eyes, I was 100% sure what is currently pressuring my body: Da-jeong’s legs. When I opened my eyes, I could see Da-jeong’s calf pressed on my chest. She’s really the woman with the worst sleeping habit in the entire world.
I carefully pushed her leg out and stood up. When I opened the door, the horizon beyond the sea near the shelter was slightly red.
“It’s been awhile since I’ve seen a dawn sky like this…”
These days, I spend most of my ti in the Great Labyrinth, so I don’t have much ti to look at the sky. At most, I could only see it when I returned to the shelter. Even then, it was not for a long ti, since mostly I went directly to bed after eating due to how tired I was.
I watched the calm morning sea from the cliff behind the hut.
“There’s another land sowhere beyond the sea, huh?”
The place where our shelter was located was in a peninsula protruding sharply to the southeast from the southern part of the Lotus continent. To the east, lies the sea and to the west, lies the land.
Referring to the map drawn by the Scarab Captain and Chief Stag Beetle, it was said that the land was about 60 km away from shore. It was an impossible distance to cover if we were to rely on rowing only. Well, I doubted that it would be possible even with a motor boat.
The reason I had this thought early this morning was simple. That place was the hotown of the scarabs.
“An unknown underground city…” They wanted to go there, but we couldn’t afford to do it right now. Occupying the Black Forest and blocking the way to the peninsula was our priority.
This peninsula was connected to the continent by a very narrow land. It was located near the volcano that Da-jeong went to. In other words, the area where the monsters passed through to get here was quite narrow. At most it would only be 2km. If we occupy and fortify it, we would be able to live more comfortably in the future.
“Though, once the gryphon appears, we will have to consider going there first.”
If Da-jeong manages to dominate a gryphon, two people would be able to ride it. With its flying ability, traveling 60km would be nothing but a breeze.
“Sooyeon also needs to kill one.” If possible, it would be good for other people to kill it too. Especially Mikyung. After all, with her field of view expanding, she would be able to use her Blink more daringly.
“Ugh.” I stretched out and walked through the silent shelter. After passing through the hut where Sooyeon and Mikyung were staying, a vegetable garden, a flower cage, and a hornbill cage ca to my view. But, what caught my attention the most was a man who was already there this early in the morning.
“What are you doing here this early?”
“Oh! Hyung-nim!” Jiman said with a smile as soon as he turned towards . My eyes then darted towards sothing his arms were hugging: The hornbill. Though, it’s not just one, but two.
“They already hatched, huh?”
“I had a strange feeling last night, so I ca here and found them quaking when I arrived. They are now sleeping after I fed them.”
“By the way, do you know what they are? I an, what species or sothing?”
“Few months from now, they are going to grow really, really big, to the point that we would be able to ride them around.”
“But they can’t replace motorbikes, can they?”
Jimin’s eyes squinted as if my words were nothing but gibberish.
“I heard from Gorgos that they are really quick, though?”
“Who’s Gorgos?”
“The Chief Scarab’s na.”
Ah… Now that I know that he’s from a dwarf-like race, that na suits him well.
Anyway, the hornbill was quite widely used in Lotus Continent. It was said that they were also used for farming, so they were the equivalent to both horse and cattle in our world. But unlike them, hornbills can’t be used as a food source thanks to its at’s terrible taste.
Jiman put the two hornbills into its nest and stood up.
“I need to release the wild boar, would you like to tag along?”
I was surprised at his words.
Why is he releasing it?
“Are you going to release the guys you’ve caught?”
“Yes. If we release them in the morning, they will find their own food and return in the evening.”
“Is that so…” That’s very strange. However, Jiman told that it was possible because of his unique skill.
“Thanks to the additional effect I got, I was able to give instructions to animals. Though, it couldn’t be a complicated one.”
“Let’s go, I want to see.”
“Follow .” Jiman smiled.
We were keeping a herd of wild boar in a dedicated cage. The purpose was obvious: To obtain a stable at supply. Thanks to Jiman’s unique skill, the wild boar cub grew up quickly and did not run away. Managent was a problem, but the diligent Jiman took care of it. According to Geom-in, Jiman’s daily life started with working and ended with working. Even when he told him to take a break, he said he’s fine and just keeps working.
The cage door creaked open and all of the wild boar turned towards Jiman. He walked inside and carefully brushed each one of them. I think they really like that brushing since their squeaking sound was getting louder the longer Jiman brushed them.
“Go out and eat well. Do be careful because there are many maned wolves in the forest these days.”
OIINKKKK~~~~!
It was really strange to see the wild boars answering him in unison. When the barbed wire and the barriers were opened, the guys stampeded out. They would spend all day in the forest and return in the evening.
After closing the barrier, Dingo and Dingsoon ca running towards us while panting. Behind the two guys were the chaotic sixtuplets. They looked extrely cute because they were smaller than the size of Dingo when I first found him.
Jiman turned around and sported a warm smile at the family. He went down to his knees and let the sixtuplets jump into his arms.
“Hey buddy, hey buddy… Is that so? Aigoo stop waving your tail, you’ll fly.”
It couldn’t be more peaceful than this.
I went around the garden and harvested so ready buff crops.
“Today’s work…”
When I checked the wooden bulletin board, I saw the schedules of others. Seokhyun and Da-jeong were on the 6th floor of the Great Labyrinth, Geom-in and Jiman were doing so shelter managent, and the rest were monster hunting.
The schedule wasn’t sothing that was set as a rule by soone. Everyone just decided what they were going to do everyday.
I wrote that I’m going to visit the Korean Shelter in my na column. I was going there because I had sothing to receive from Jang Won-taek. But I was worried about so of the bulletin board comnts.
-I looked at the Auction House and it seems that there has been an infighting in the Korea Shelter these days. Be careful. -Yoohyeon.
-There’s a lot of factions created, and they were sohow at odds with the President. -Yeowool
-Soone brought ecstasy to the Korean Shelter. But what does it taste like, really? – Mikyung
– They say it feels aweso when you’re having sex. – A cool older sister.
That fucking ectasy. I’ve told them several tis not to even pay the slightest attention to it, but it seed like I couldn’t stop their curiosity. I picked up the pen beside and wrote the contents under Da-jeong’s comnt.
-Those who use ecstasy will be kicked out of the shelter, so don’t even think about it. -Seongho.
Drugs make society sick. It was not for nothing that many countries designated drugs as illegal goods. The mont we think that it will be okay because our body is strong, drugs will lead us to ruin. It’s best to just not even care.
“Well, even if I say it like this, it’s a bit difficult to just expel them like that.”
Everyone was in a good relationship with each other, so if one of them were to be kicked out, the atmosphere would definitely change for the worse. For , I had no choice but to hope that everyone made the right choice.
They’re not kids, so I hope they will do just fine.
As I was about to go to the workshop and watch the scarabs and stag beetles co out of the house, the sun suddenly shone on the shelter.
More and more people are waking up.
.
.
.
Breakfast at the shelter begins as soon as everyone gets together. Of course, each person had a different morning habit, but no one actually skipped it. After all, the shelter job was quite arduous. Even just walking around leisurely consus quite a few calories, so if they want to tend the garden or even hunt, breakfast is a must. Even the one with the smallest body, Yeowool, ate three als a day, and two bowls of food were common at each al. Yet, she is still not gaining weight.
The ones who were on today’s dinner duty were Sooyeon and Yoohyeon. They rolled up their sleeves and started trimming the ingredients while I sneakily helped out.
Normally, the three stagnant water, including myself, were exempt from dinner preparation duty. But since I was free today, I thought I should help. Without waiting too long, seaweed soup simred in a pot stuck in the brazier, and hot steam puffed out from the other pot.
When the al was ready, we all sat down together. Seokhyun’s head was fuzzy as it had not been 10 seconds since he woke up. anwhile, Da-jeong blankly pressed his chin to my shoulder while occasionally pinching my thighs.
It seed like he’s asking ‘why did you run away in the morning?’
Well, n didn’t always want to do the deed.
I handed out the dishes and asked the two of them.
“How far did you guys go on the 6th floor? You didn’t write it on the bulletin board.”
Da-jeong took the bowl and said, “There was a doppelganger room on the way to the 7th floor.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
“Yeah. It feels disgusting to see 2 RaPwi. So I just left.”
Well, seeing two humans who were neither rabbits nor princesses naked was indeed unpleasant. It even makes shiver when I only imagine it.
Seokhyun said cheerfully, “Actually, we ran away. He’s very strong.”
“He has the sa abilities as him.”
Well, that was the trademark of doppelgangers. They copy the appearance and abilities of other beings that approach them. They copy it to the point of almost identical, you can’t tell the difference until they begin to talk.
Anyway, listening to the two of them, it seed that Seokhyun had traded a few hits with his doppelganger.
“Because the stats are the sa, the fight is quite good.”
“Have you tried using firearms?”
Da-jeong sighed and opened her mouth. “I tried using the grenade launcher you gave , but the fake rapwi just swatted the bullets away.”
Rapwi’s stats have increased trendously due to the additional effect of body reconstruction. It’s even higher than with all kinds of buffs activated. With that kind of stats, swatting grenades should not be the limit. He is probably able to dodge rockets too.
What a monstrous pervert.
The swordsman who had been listening asked.
“Can’t Seongho go alone and open the portal there?”
If it’s that easy, we don’t have to worry like this.
“On the 7th floor, there’s a containnt layer.”
“Ah…”
On the 7th floor, all abilities except our raw stats were blocked. It ans that we have to break through the floor with pure physical strength. The sa goes for monsters, but it was especially a disadvantage for who uses the portal as ans for defending and attacking.
That layer would be the first one among various layers scattered all the way down.
“Next ti, use a rocket. You can kill Da-jeong first and then kill him.”
Da-jeong chewed her chopsticks at my remarks.
“Why did I feel like you’re referring to ?”
“I’m talking about the fake one.”
“Why do I feel the urge to hold you in a cage, I wonder?”
“Just what kind of cage can contain ?”
“Right?” she smiled broadly.
“Anyway, you two have worked hard. Since we can’t go to the 8th floor, the 7th floor will be the last.”
“How about you? What will you do?”
“I will go to the Korean Shelter. Let’s go together, Mikyung.”
From the rumor, it seed like the Korean Shelter is a dangerous place these days, so it would be nice to have her blink to shorten the distance.
“Okay.”
The talk ends here.
The al started, and I scooped out the rice and soup and plunged it into my mouth. We are the only ones in the world who can afford such luxury.
Seaweed soup was indeed delicious.
.
.
.
Leaving the Great Labyrinth requires considerable effort. After all, there were so many people at the entrance. It would not be an exaggeration to say that all the surrounding buildings were filled with people. However, since there’s a totem erected around the entrance, no monster raid happened,
Seongho ca out of the Great Labyrinth and instantly made everyone turn their head towards him. Then, he unexpectedly t two people. It was the very sa people who split off from the gym group back in Busan. Their nas were now vague to him, though.
“Seongho, how are you? Did you…”
Seongho only rembered the nas of the two then. It was Lee Kyunghoon and Kim Bora.
“Ah… yes. Long ti no see. Looks like you two also ca to Seoul.”
Seongho’s words were devoid of any sincerity. It was because he had argued with them a few months ago, and now he had no feelings left regarding them.
Kyunghoon and Bora were also not expecting much. Once they returned to their camp after the brief greeting, the way people looked at the two of them changed. Just being an acquaintance with I Love Gimbap changed the power structure of the refugee camp.
When people proposed a party to the two of them, Seongho went sowhere else and took out his motorcycle.
“Mikyung.”
Seongho opened the portal and called her. In a second, she jumped out.
“It’s a motorcycle… Are you going to ride it?”
“You said you wanted to ride it, did you not? Let’s go.”
“Owkeeeeyyy.”
She quickly got onto the back seat and wrapped her arms around Seongho’s waist. At that mont, she felt the Seongho’s fat-free waist and admired it.
“Oppa, you have lost a lot of weight.”
“Well, the past can be considered fat, right?”
“It’s not that much…”
“It’s still fat.”
Compared to , Mikyung’s body hadn’t changed at all. Her signature short hair was the sa, and her white milky skin was also still the sa. When Seongho pulled the rev, the 650cc motorcycle vigorously ran down the airport road.
“Aaaaah!”
Mikyung smiled pleasantly as her short hair was blown in the wind. The monster saw the two and started running with a roar. anwhile, they could see there’s a ghoul flower with holes in its body right in the middle of the road.
The world had totally turned into a magical world, and the smiles on people’s faces were gone. But Mikyung was still able to laugh. After all, there’s soone as strong as Seongho in front of her.
She clings to Seongho’s back and suddenly shouts.
“Oppa, should I grow my hair?”
“Why all of a sudden?”
“Just because!”
“You’re pretty as it is now, so why!”
Mikyung, who heard Seongho’s answer, tightened her grip on his waist without replying back.
Then suddenly, sothing casted a shadow at them from the sky. The mont Mikyung looked to the sky above, her face hardened.
“Op-oppa!! It’s a gryphon! A gryphon!”
“Yeah, I saw it.” When the shadow turned to another direction, Seongho also entered a different path.
Gryphons had appeared. It probably had nested on the high place nearby. Now they were scouting around to find places with plenty of prey.
Seongho deliberately followed the shadow of the gryphon and pulled the accelerator.
“Oppa, the shadow is getting bigger! It’s coming!” Mikyung said, voice trembling.
“I know.”
Then, there was a sound of wind. Seongho sharply bent the motorcycle handle to dodge the attack.
Giggig-!
The motorcycle slid and a giant Gryphon struck the place they were at just a mont ago. The guy sticks out his thick claws and then sprints back to the sky.
Kiaaaaaaak-!!
Seongho opened a dinsion slot and pulled out a gun.
“Follow , you bastard!”
bang!
The gryphon, which was on its way back to the sky, was not seriously injured by the shot. However, it was enraged.
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