Chapter 21: Maintenance and Preparation (2)

TL: Hanguk

Basically, monsters only spawn in designated activity zones, and they don't leave this area.

However, there is an exception, specifically when they are aggroed by humans.

When a monster discovers a human, it leaves its set activity zone and continues to pursue them.

This is why the wyvern flew hundreds of meters to attack me when I was swimming to the Gauido island.

There are two ways to avoid pursuing monsters.

Either kill and deal with them, or hide and lose their aggro.

[But high-level monsters are different; they wander around at will, without a designated activity zone, as if they have a mind of their own.]

"So those creatures control other monsters and lead them around?"

[Yes.]

High-level monsters are not officially named by the system.

It's a temporary name given by the government.

I initially speculated that a high-level monster might be something like a ‘field boss.’

Even the boss monster Kallia, that I encountered in the Mongma's dungeon, was a high-intelligence monster that could communicate.

But after hearing more, I thought that might not be the case.

Perhaps because of the nature of the dungeon, Kallia did not leave its designated area.

‘Is it another class of monster apart from boss monsters?’

I'm not sure...

But one definite fact is that people's survival has become more difficult with the appearance of high-level monsters.

First, monsters appeared on the ground, then flying monsters, followed by sea monsters, and now high-level monsters have appeared.

‘Isn't this pushing us too hard without giving us time to adapt?’

If people were leveling up as fast as me, it might be different, but the survival difficulty seems too high.

[Everyone is worried that dragons might appear tomorrow.]

It is said that words become seeds¹.

Although my father's speculation was frightening, it seemed plausible.

“So, the high-level monsters controlled other monsters to destroy the facilities?”

[Yes.]

"Hmm, isn't it strange that, although they have strong individual will, their actions are all the same?"

[True, but after the attack on the facilities, they all move independently, so we can only speculate.]

“What do you mean?”

[That it might be a command from the system.]

System.

Everyone has started calling it that.

The unknown existence that caused the current situation.

"How's the situation over there?"

[What's there to say? It's hell.]

"Raising the level and using safe zones with the system is now not an option but a necessity."

[I think so too. Maybe the situation is getting worse to force humans to adapt quickly.]

"And the countless deaths of people are just a side effect?"

[If they cared about human life, they wouldn't have caused such a radical event.]

My father and I sighed simultaneously.

Afterwards, I asked more about the high-level monsters.

"How many subordinates do high-level monsters usually control?"

[From dozens to thousands, it varies. According to the U.S. military in Korea, some countries have even witnessed movements of tens of thousands.]

"Can high-level monsters be killed with modern weapons?"

[If they are hit, they die. But it seems they are learning about our weapons, hiding better, so it's not easy to hunt them down.]

"What do they look like?"

[Various forms. There are orcs, werewolves, and even human-shaped ones.]

"What's their combat level?"

[One of them annihilated a whole battalion, so they are definitely on a different level than regular monsters. There are reports that some use magic.]

It's probably magic-like skills, not actual magic.

Just from hearing my father's words, I couldn't fully grasp how strong the high-level monsters were.

Wouldn't I be able to annihilate a armed battalion if I used the terrain and skills (such as shields, magic bullets, etc.) effectively?

“It seems more and more fortunate that I am on this island. I can grow without major obstacles here.”

My father agreed with a bitter smile.

Then he said something unexpected.

[By the way, what's this about you clearing a dungeon?]

"What? How did you know about that?"

[A message appeared and it said that a Korean named Seo** was the first to clear a dungeon, and it will be recorded in the Hall of Fame.]

"That, that appeared for everyone to see?"

[Yes, why? Fortunately, the name was hidden. If it had been disclosed...]

"Would it have caused chaos?"

[If they had known who it was, the Ministry of National Defense might have organized a special forces team to capture you, even at the risk of casualties.]

It wouldn't be easy to catch me just because they tried, but it's a relief that the name was hidden.

If I get caught by the government now, it will hinder my growth, and more restrictions will be added to my activities.

It should only catch the government's eye after I've become stronger.

[First, I'll thoroughly hide your existence, so be careful when you're with the people of Gauido Island. Even if they ask about your level, say it's about half of what it is.]

"Understood."

You don't have to say it, as I'm already doing that.

Right now my level is 28, but even if I call myself level 14, it will look incredibly high to the village people.

"I'm worried because the mainland is becoming more and more dangerous."

[Don't worry about us. Even if a strong monster comes, it's hard to penetrate the Gyeryong base defense line.]

"That's a relief."

[Be careful always. Rapid growth is good, but don't forget that the safety of your mother and you, my son, is the most important thing to me.]

"Yes, I'll keep that in mind."

Then a trivial conversation continued for about 10 minutes, and we finally hung up.

When I put down the receiver and turned around, a considerable number of people had gathered.

My father spoke in as quiet a voice as possible, so others wouldn't know the content of the call.

"What's going on?"

Most of the villagers, who were middle-aged or older, greeted me with a kind smile.

"We didn't get a chance to thank you last time because everything was so chaotic. So we came to say thank you."

With Kim Yong-geun's words, people crowded around me, starting to hand me things.

Sweet potatoes, potatoes, kimchi, soybean paste, etc.

I strenuously declined, but they were so insistent that I ended up with shopping bags full in both hands.

There probably aren't many neighborhoods as peaceful as this in the chaotic world.

‘Only slimes come out near the village.’

It contrasts with the tense situation outside I heard in the conversation with my father.

I suddenly thought that Gauido's environment was blessed.

‘Unless a high-level monster appears on the island, this peace won't be broken.’

*

"What do you think of the proposal?"

"There's no reason to refuse."

I gathered the village chief, Kim Yong-geun, and other key figures on Gauido Island and proposed a plan to secure food for the upcoming winter.

I will provide materials for greenhouses, and they will build them to produce food during winter.

Around 250 coins were needed to build a greenhouse of about 50 pyeong (1 pyeong = 3.3 square meter).

It's the cost I could cover by defeating 20 Grand Dire Wolves or 10 Succubus.

"First, we'll build six 50-pyeong units and two 100-pyeong units."

After discussing with the village map spread out in front of us, we concluded that we could build a total of 500 pyeong of greenhouses.

"Is that the maximum area?"

"We can expand more, but it’s problematic because we can’t guarantee safety like in the places we designated."

I stared intently at the map they handed me.

There were areas marked in red, which were places where one could be attacked by somewhat dangerous monsters like goblins or kobolds.

I pointed to two areas on the map and said,

"If we build concrete walls here and here, can’t we build two more 50-pyeong greenhouses?"

The people readily agreed to my suggestion.

By building walls where I said, not only could more greenhouses be built, but the village's safety would also be enhanced.

"But is it okay? It will cost a lot of coins."

"We have to prepare everything we have. In return, we'll definitely have food, right?

"Of course. And although it's a small amount, we'll also contribute the coins we've collected so far. It won't be much compared to your spending, though."

"Haha, good. I won't refuse."

Currently, there are 28 people in the village.

Out of these, 24 people can be used as labor force, 3 are elderly lying in bed, and 1 is a 10-year-old boy.

We ultimately decided to create a 600 pyeong of greenhouses, and decided to allocate 2 people in a 50-pyeong greenhouse, and 4 people in a 100-pyeong greenhouse for management.

"Each person managing 25 pyeong. it's not too much, right?"

"Of course not. Besides, we're mainly planting sweet potatoes and potatoes that don't require much care. It's just a trivial amount of work, so don't worry."

The conversation ended smoothly.

With the business on Gauido Island finished, as I was about to return to Wolgwang Island, when...

"What was your level again?"

"14."

"That's incredibly high."

Even though I called it half of what it was, they admired that it was high.

Then they looked at each other as if scheming something and brought up something unexpected.

"We learned a definite lesson from the incident with those crazies last time."

"What's that?"

"If you're weak, you get eaten."

What are they trying to say?

I tilted my head, and then three relatively young men and one woman appeared compared to the others.

"Last time I saw you, not only did you have a high level, but you also seemed like someone who specialized in fighting. Is that right?"

"Yes, well..."

"Can you teach these young people how to fight?"

None of the people he called young looked younger than me.

Kim Yong-geun's son and the village chief's daughter were in their mid-20s and were close in age to me.

"Um... Okay. Let's do that. I can't invest a lot of time, but I'll take an hour a day to teach."

"Oh!"

I accepted their request without much thought.

Because Gauido is a major base for food production, I judged that it was necessary to have a force that could respond to emergencies even in my absence.

And more importantly, if I trained them well, it could be helpful someday.

The tense youth of Gauido relaxed and smiled at my approval.

However, I can guarantee that once they start training with me, their smiles will disappear.

I am not the type of teacher who is particularly kind.

"I will start the training and supply of materials from tomorrow. Is that okay?"

"Yeah, take it easy."

I quickly got up from my seat.

Because I remembered Willia, who would be sitting in front of the grill in the Wolgwang Island's safe zone, for the pork belly party.

***

As Seo Baek-ho headed to Gauido, something caught Willia's eye as she was waiting quietly in front of the grill.

A black lump was lying in the spot where Seo Baek-ho had been sitting.

"What's this?"

She approached to pick it up to return to Seo Baek-ho when he came back.

The object was made of a soft fabric, small enough to be grasped with one hand.

So, without thinking much, she unfolded it, thinking it looked like a handkerchief...

-Flutter!

She was surprised to find out what the cloth really was.

"......"

It was unmistakably a woman's swimsuit.

Startled, she crumpled it up and threw it back where Seo Baek-ho had been sitting without even checking the item information.

Thanks to that, Willia was lost in thought until Seo Baek-ho returned.

Fortunately, she was the type to try to understand someone rather than curse or ignore them.

'He must be very lonely. Well, it's a lonely island, so it makes sense.'

And a little later.

When Seo Baek-ho, who returned from Gauido, discovered the swimsuit on the ground, he was startled, and quickly put it in his pocket. it.

Then, awkwardly smiling, he began preparing the food, and Willia thought.

'I need to treat him better from now on.'

This was the beginning of Willia starting to feel sympathy for Seo Baek-ho.

***

1) korean proverb: be careful of what you say; if you say something bad, it might come true