Chapter 27: Seomyeon Station (1)

Chapter 27: Seomyeon Station (1)

[Episode 07] Seomyeon Station (1)

《Outpost》

A safety zone installed outside the homebound area.

When {activated}, it temporarily exerts the same influence as the homebound area.

However, it can only be activated when a citizen with a title of [Knight] or higher is present, and if an unauthorized entity invades and occupies the outpost for more than a day, it will be destroyed.

The performance was tremendous.

However, the price was as immense as its performance.

-Outpost (1,300,000,000 won)Gét latest novel chapters on nov(e)lbj/n(.)c/om

1.3 billion won.

‘Worth the investment.’

With my balance comfortably padded by the orc horde at Jeonpo Station, 1.3 billion wasn’t a burdensome amount.

‘I still have 350 million left in support funds.’

I immediately attempted construction.

But when trying to build the Outpost, a phenomenon different from the usual construction mode occurred.

Unlike the sensation of overlooking the entire apartment area, the sight was focused on the members of the Ha Dong-geon party gathered at Jeonpo Station.

However, the system notification that popped up soon after turned anticipation into disappointment.

[This facility requires three citizens with the title of ‘Knight’ or higher to reside during the construction period (7 days).]

[Do you want to proceed with the installation?]

[Yes / No]

‘...’

So, to build the Outpost, it meant I needed all three–Oh Eon-ju, Kim Da-jeong, and Ha Dong-geon–to stay for a week.

‘The loss is too great.’

The cost of 1.3 billion for construction wasn’t the issue here.

It could generate expected profits in the billions within a week.

‘The biggest loss is time.’

A week.

I had just completed the party formation and was planning to dispatch Ha Dong-geon’s party to my parents’ home.

I couldn’t afford to waste a week at this point.

‘Besides, if it’s Jeonpo Station, there’s no real need for an Outpost.’

Most of the monsters in this area had already been cleared by the Ha Dong-geon party and the citizens.

Building an outpost wasn’t really necessary.

‘I won’t install it.’

As construction mode ended, my senses returned to normal.

‘Nevertheless, it’s not a bad harvest.’

I really liked the performance of the newly added Outpost.

‘If only I could build this at my parent’s place...’

If that were the case, I could feel relieved.

It would protect my family safely within my territory.

‘In reality, bringing my family here won’t be easy.’

It was already a challenge for Ha Dong-geon’s party to break through the field of monsters and reach my parent’s house. However, returning with my family posed an even bigger problem.

However, building an Outpost at my parent’s place seemed like something worth trying.

‘...Please, just stay alive.’

At this point, everything was in place.

‘Tomorrow, I’ll send Ha Dong-geon’s party to my parent’s house.’

***

“Wow.”

Kim Geon just stared blankly, watching Oh Eon-ju’s hunting.

‘Crazy, crazy.’

He had felt it when they went to rescue Moon Byeong-ho’s grandmother, but Oh Eon-ju’s fighting style was truly beastly.

‘How can a person tear an orc apart with bare hands? No, is she even human?’

Although the target changed from goblins to orcs, the scene unfolding before him was the same.

No, it was much more overwhelming than before.

‘...Well, that’s obvious. She was strong even before receiving Mr. Jae-hyun’s blessing.’

Moreover, like Ha Dong-geon, she was a person who awakened superhuman abilities.

After Ha Dong-geon was chosen, he showed a rapid increase in combat power. It could be inferred that she also went through a similar process.

‘But how did Lord Jae-hyun convince her?’

Oh Eon-ju’s obsession with goblins was obvious to anyone who saw it.

Although they didn’t know why exactly, her resentment towards goblins was unmistakably palpable.

‘She was definitely obsessed with goblins.’

Even when they traveled together, she often acted alone, blinded by the desire to kill goblins.

Due to such incidents, after a few days, they ended up moving separately. However, even when encountering goblin groups now, there was no sudden surge in her actions.

While she still had a tendency to act independently, she clearly followed instructions.

‘Could it be...’

Rationally thinking, there was only one plausible assumption.

‘...Maybe she gained some new ability too?’

Seeing each member of his party, starting from Moon Byeong-ho and Kang Deok-su, awakening special abilities one by one, Kim Geon developed a desire.

A desire to awaken superpowers himself.

And to achieve that, he consciously tried to idolize Kim Jae-hyun even more.

Because he believed that was the key to awakening.

‘And it worked.’

Although he was the last one in the party to awaken, he awakened a special ability anyways.

‘If someone receives such abilities, they can’t help but become submissive.’

Now, he was eagerly dedicating himself, wondering if Kim Jae-hyun would notice his talents.

It seemed like Oh Eon-ju was in a similar situation.

Then it happened.

Ding!

《Party Quest》

Quest Content: Return.

Time Limit: 1 hour 00 minutes 00 seconds

Reward: Small amount of experience points.

Failure Penalty: None.

The order to return has been given.

Instead of answering, I got up and headed for the living room window.

Unit 2901, here, it was structured so that you could clearly see the situation in Seomyeon from the rooftop.

Clack.

I pulled aside the blackout curtains and said.

“Look over there.”

The city, which had turned into a mess, came into view at a glance.

Collapsed buildings, shattered glass windows, and monsters wandering around as if they were the original owners of the place.

“If you go above ground, you will face an endless horde of monsters and likely die while dealing with them. On the other hand, even if there are monsters along the subway tracks, their numbers would be limited. You can also escape in the middle.”

Kang Deok-su, who saw the disastrous cityscape, nodded in agreement.

“I see.”

“I’m not asking you to go straight to Jagalchi Station. It’s just a suggestion.”

I turned around, making eye contact with everyone slowly.

“Right now, please aim to occupy Seomyeon Station as your goal.”

“Understood.”

Fortunately, everyone accepted my request.

There seemed to be a mixture of pity and sympathy, but that didn’t matter.

If I could save my family, I could do anything.

“Thank you. Get a good rest today, and the mission starts tomorrow morning.”

With that, I concluded the strategy meeting and went back to my home.

That’s when it happened.

♬♪♬♩~

The doorbell rang, and when I checked, Oh Eon-ju was waiting in front of the door.

Click.

“What’s wrong?”

“There’s something I want to ask.”

“Go ahead.”

Oh Eon-ju cautiously spoke.

“Wouldn’t it be possible to bring your family using Mr. Jaehyun’s abilities?”

“...”

It’s not that I didn’t try.

Using the quest reward to teleport the target.

In fact, it was because of this I was so excited to see Moon Byeong-ho’s awakening ability.

I thought, if done well, we could maximize that ability and instantly bring over our families.

[Quest reward is impossible.]

The result was a complete failure.

It was just a guess, but maybe Moon Byeong-ho’s grandmother was in a place beyond my influence.

‘Just like a goblin that clearly should have died wasn’t settled.’

Moreover, this hypothesis could explain why Oh Eon-ju’s son was able to resurrect.

‘Because the place where her child died was within my homebound area?’

If that was really the reason, then even if my parents had died, I wouldn’t be able to do anything.

‘Because they would be considered dead outside my sphere of influence. Damn it.’

Anyway, for this reason, Ha Dong-geon’s party had to go rescue Moon Byeong-ho’s grandmother directly.

“I’m not all-powerful either, unfortunately.”

If I were omnipotent, I would have been able to leave this damn homebound area.

I would have given myself the ability to teleport and immediately gone to meet my family.

My abilities had various limitations, and I was not free from them.

However, I will struggle as much as possible.

By any means I had.

“There are things I can do with my abilities and things I can’t.”

I spoke towards the uneasy Oh Eon-ju.

“You don’t need to worry too much. The promise with Ms. Oh Eon-ju is a promise I can keep, as I demonstrated before.”

Oh Eon-ju was someone trustworthy.

Just by the fact she came to ask separately in case the others in the group grew doubts about my abilities.

She was considerate.

Moreover, she was a person with deep thoughts and a tight-lipped mouth, as she never mentioned the story of her deceased son or the promised resurrection in front of others.

That was why.

What I honestly told Oh Eon-ju was rewarded.

[Citizen Oh Eon-ju’s trust has increased.]

“Thank you for being honest. Have a good night.”

“You too, Ms. Oh Eon-ju.”

Right after I saw her off.

[Unauthorized entity attempting entry.]

A familiar notification appeared.

Since citizens were constantly joining, it was not unusual.

[An entity that satisfies the conditions to be considered a citizen has approached the area.]

[Would you like to offer citizenship?]

She was a woman that gave a sharp impression with long hair and a beanie.

‘Offer it.’

[Offering citizenship to Seo Ye-jin.]

[Seo Ye-jin accepts the offer.]

The process of offering citizenship and the recipient accepting it was smooth.

However.

『Name: Seo Ye-jin (Lv. 31)

Trust: 7

Awakening Ability: Queen of Mice

Experience Distribution Rate: 0%

Settlement Fund Distribution Rate: 0%

★Quest Assignment ????Expulsion』

‘Ability user?’

I immediately directed the Absolute Dweller’s Eyes to the place the notification had come from.

However.

Squeak―?

What was there was not Seo Ye-jin but an ordinary mouse.