53 Episode 53 - Gwangmyeong City, Part III (2/2)

- Health: 198

[Special Abilities]

- Energy: C- Rank

- Mana: C- Rank

- Telekinesis: A Rank

- Defense: C- Rank

- Mana Resistance: C- Rank

[Achieved Abilities]

- Flame-Spewing (Grade 5): The fire is generated by Energy. The power varies depending on the amount of Energy consumed. The nature of the flame follows the nature of the Energy.

- The Hearing of the Bell-tailed Rat (Grade 4): The Hearing of the Bell-tailed Rat can hear even the sound of drops of water.

”Wow, you've done a lot of level-ups! Boss, congratulations. What did you get this time?”

In response to the high-pitched voice of Jang, Kim closed his Eyes instead of answering. Jang looked puzzled at the sight he didn't show.

”Ah.” Jang Sung-hoon, who suddenly understood the situation, lowered his voice. ”I'm sorry.”

The fourth grade was the same as the Eyes of Black Snake in Kim's abilities. It didn't just stop on a level of hearing. He could hear the sound of drops of water, and the sounds which Jang made in front of Kim's nose would have sounded like thunder.

”This ability is adjustable, but not right now.”

”I'm glad to hear that it can be controlled.” Jang lowered his voice as much as possible. ”You got a fourth-level ability, and you found a green-grade monster...”

But he never shut up. He could not just keep silent. But if Kim had wanted him to be quiet, he would not have woken Jang up.

---

The explanation began. Kim told Jang all about his experiences in Gwangmyeong City: from the story of the Messiah to the story of a green-grade monster, a Bell-tailed Rat, found with a hole in its heart.

In the story, Kim earned a huge treasure. He got the body and monster stone of the fourth-grade monster.

However, Jang did not care about the goods.

”We have a great competitor who is stronger than we thought, and the army which owns the National Museum of Korea… but I don't think its the Infantry Division, but the Capital Defense Command.”

”I don't know, and we should not make a wild guess.”

Competitor.

It was the clearest word to express the group that had appeared this time.

The reason for being a competitor is simple. The world had become a zero-sum game where you had to secure as many monster stones as possible, with limited monsters.

”Anyway, if we see them hunting monsters at any cost, they know that securing monster stones is more important than anything else.”

The competitor that appeared this time also knew it. So they ran a special unit for monster hunting.

”But I don't understand, no matter how much they prepared, they did not have enough power to kill a green-grade monster. Moreover, there is surely a Daedongyeojido in the National Museum of Korea and it is not a copy, but the original edition…”

There were, of course, some things that he didn't understand.

”The stats of the Awakeners there were not simply enough to search for a foe like that.”

The National Museum of Korea had a copy, as well as the original edition of Daedongyeojido, and could print some of them, if not all.

If they had a Daedongyeojido, they must have known that Gwangmyeong City had a green-grade monster.

So why did they send a well-trained unit of Awakeners to that deadly place?

”Maybe they did not secure Daedongyeojido?”

Kim did not answer Jang's question. The answer could not be answered by anyone here. Speculation could only make a conjecture.

So Kim discussed something else. He took out a pocket notebook, and immediately opened its fourth page and showed it to Jang.

[Gather at Gimpo Airport on March 3rd]

Jang's expression hardened at the short passage. It was not difficult to understand what it meant.

”There was not one unit, and several units moved out of Seoul to collect monster stones and would gather together on a given date… If it's Gimpo International Airport, are they going to take an airplane?”

”It's an open place without people, and it can be safer than we think to the threat of monsters.”

They got information that meant they could contact the unknown forces. What was left was a choice.

”So are you going to negotiate with them here on that day?”

There are two options: as it is, we just go without knowing about one another, or we can talk after contact.

”What do you think?”

”Doing nothing is a blindfolded thing, and Gimpo Airport is just above Bucheon. No, they are already in Gwangmyeong City, and we can't avoid contacting them.”

But in fact, there was one option to choose.

”Boss, they're much bigger than us, so it's not too bad to negotiate and get under them. There's no reason for them to be hostile to a group of survivors, like the boss and Mac Guild… is my opinion.

”We have to face them someday, anyway. It is better for us to go ahead and talk and negotiate before we meet them, pretending not to know. No, it may be much better.”

'We must seek to survive through negotiations.'

Even if you compete, it is a completely different story to compete in a situation where you have agreed, and to compete in a situation where you live or die.

Above all, there was not one competitor now.

There will be many survivors in Korea, and on a larger scale, there will be strong competitors in Japan, North Korea, and China. If you looked at it globally, Europe, Russia, and the United States could also be competitors.

Compared to them, the survivors of the Republic of Korea lacked sufficient power even if they held hands with one another.

'Because they are soldiers, they are fully aware of other countries as potential enemies, and the chances of success in negotiations are high.'

The group that had now settled in Seoul was centered on soldiers. Soldiers are a group that exists because of their enemies. Of course, if they are soldiers, they will know how many enemies are around the Republic of Korea.

The only problem is one.

”They'll have to negotiate, but the problem is… If the negotiations break down, the boss will be in trouble.”

There was no guarantee that good results would come out through negotiations. And the possibility that Kim would be in trouble was not small.

”Sister Sun-mi's hair is still short, so you won't die right away. Don't worry.” Jang said the words to reassure Kim, and Kim laughed at the remark. The smile on his lips disappeared immediately.

He couldn't forget the dream.

”I sent a signal to make Gyeongju the destination, not Seoul.”

In his second dream, Kim made a wish list for himself. He hid information in the wish list: make Gyeongju or Buyeo your destination, not Seoul.

Of course, that didn't mean Seoul was completely in danger; it might mean that you should not waste your time on the occupied land, and should find the unoccupied land and be the owner.

'It is possible that those in Seoul will be dangerous for me in the future.'

But there was no guarantee that it was not a warning.

'It might be dangerous to meet them at Gimpo Airport that day.'

This decision may result in narrowing the distance from death.

Kim closed his eyes for a while.

'It's hard to adapt to this kind of situation.'

The fact that every moment's choice could cause his own death, and nevertheless, he should make a choice, made Kim's lips dry.

”If I have a problem with myself, I'll be prepared for it.”

However, Kim did not give up his choice. He would just prepare for the outcome of his choice.

If you have a problem with your own personality, you must take precautions against it, for even if the dead become dead and rotten, living must continue.

”Get the technicians together.”

”We've already got a list, and all you have to do is give them a job.”

”Recover the data of the smartphone in that bag first, there may be other information in it.”

”I understand.”

”And give the Clans a mission. Transport the available solar power generators in Gwangmyeong City to Bucheon.”

”It won't be easy because the conditions of the road are not good.”

”Use the subway tracks.”

”Is the track okay?”

”Except for the dead ones, the sound of monster hearts was so loud that I couldn't bear it.”

Jang admired Kim's words. He'd finished cleaning up the subway tracks on his way.

”That's great. Starting with Bucheon City Hall Station to Cheolsan Station... however, it's going to be hard right now, since the distance is considerable.”

”It's something we have to do someday.”

”Yes.”

”Gather the reliable ones and secure the dead body of the Bell-tailed Rat. Send them first. That's the top priority.”

”Yes.”

Jang laughed at the appearance of Kim, who did not stop speaking of his future plans.

The conversation between the two went on until dawn, and the morning sun streamed in. That's how the day began.

8.

'Ah.' Kim couldn't feel anything on his right arm.

'Did I have my arm cut off? Shoulder first?'

He felt as if his right arm had been cut off. But it was not possible to confirm that. His eyes were fixed in front of him. There were two women in sight.

'Twins.' They had the same look, one holding a lute in her hand, and the other holding a sword.

”You are absolutely the dragon slayer. You're holding out against us so far. Isn't that great?”

'Chinese.' Chinese came out of the mouth of the woman holding a sword.

”I just want to bite you to death.”

Of course, Kim didn't understand Chinese very well.

'Let's just memorize them.' I just reminded myself of what she said a little while ago to put it to my mind somehow.

Then he heard a voice behind him. ”If you have something to say before you die, say it. Still, you've achieved this feat, so we will let you say a word of your will.”

Only then did Kim realize that a man was stabbing his heart with a sword behind his back.

”Kuck!” And Kim also knew that not many words were left at this moment.

'I was stabbed in the heart. My blood is not up to my neck. I can say a few words.'

Therefore, he listened to the last words of his dying future

”Here are six snakes- the name of the traitor is Oh Se-bum. Remember his voice. And use him…”

At that moment, the reaction of those around him changed.

”Shit, kill him fast!”

”Cut off his head!”

His dream was that far in the future.