Chapter 48: Toward Yangju

Chapter 48: Toward Yangju

1.

Initially, I had no intention of lying down. However, Shin Jihas hacking went on for much longer than I expected.

Without saying how long it would take or that she would tell me the results next time, she started focusing on the computer.

Suddenly, she even took out round glasses and wore them, concentrating solely on the monitor, making it awkward to talk to her.

Is her eyesight bad?

Looking closely, the lenses were not distorted. Judging by the absence of prescription and the yellowish tint, they seemed to be blue light-blocking glasses.

I thought she wouldnt care about things like that, but it seems shes more concerned about her health than I thought

The hacking attempt continued for over an hour afterward.

Tap- tap tap-

Apart from the occasional sound of the keyboard, it was utterly quiet.

Time passed, and it became late at night, and I eventually lay down on Shin Jihas bed. Since the host herself said it was okay to lie down, it must be fine.

A pleasant smell

Shin Jihas warm body scent filled the entire bed. Breathing in the fragrance and lying there, sleep gently overcame me, and I drifted off.

2.

Hmm

I rolled over with my eyes still closed.

My body felt quite refreshed, having slept deeply, but the soft touch of the blanket made me want to wallow just a bit longer.

I reached out for Serena, who should be lying beside me.

My palm caught a soft skin texture, but there was no response.

Usually, the sleeping Serena would respond like a ghost and tightly hug me, but

I held her in my arms without much concern, even though I thought something was strange.

!

I felt Serena twitch in my arms. She must have been having a nightmare.

With calming intent, I slid my hand under her clothes and gently stroked her stomach.Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

A few minutes of this and Serena would fall back into a peaceful sleep with a relaxed expression.

And then, I would always move my hands further up to play with her ample chest, but

Heuk!

Something was off.

The chest I was holding was clearly less blessed.

Smaller than Serenas, of course, and even smaller than Ciel or Baek Seonas. Among the chests Ive recently fondled, this was the smallest.

I fondled it once more for confirmation.

Heuuuuuk

A moan escaped from the person within my embrace.

It was Shin Jihas voice.

I suddenly remembered that I had fallen asleep in Shin Jihas room.

Did she finish hacking and come to bed too? The room only has one bed, after all

This was bad. Shin Jiha was already shy and hard to get close to, and I had accidentally hugged her and fondled her chest.

No wonder it felt small. Wasnt her physical specs around 161cm and 42kg, according to the previous status check?

More than that, if Shin Jiha had been awake, it would have become blatantly awkward between us, enough to not speak for a week.

I held my breath for a moment and waited for a reaction, but Shin Jiha must have been asleep.

Really it was a great relief.

I carefully pulled my hand out from under Shin Jihas clothes, released my embrace, and pretended to sleep again.

I had already slept enough, but it seemed wise to continue feigning sleep until she woke up.

Time passed that way, and

After waiting about 30 minutes, I heard the sound of someone stretching from next to me.

Heu-eum!

Shin Jiha, waking up from her sleep, grabbed my shoulder and shook it.

Captain. Captain, wake up. Its already lunchtime.

I acted with all my might, rising naturally like someone who hadnt done anything inappropriate.

Ah, ah? Already?

Chefs at the canteen who were responsible for every meal.A minority of technicians who periodically inspected and maintained the marts facilities.Other than these categories, hundreds of ordinary people had nothing to do. In other words, they were all surplus labor.

Ack! Over here! A huge rock has appeared!

Yes, coming!

Outside, sturdy men were each holding a pickaxe or shovel and worked to level the land inside the Land of Hope.

They were sweating profusely and struggling, but their faces were full of vitality.

The work was called land clearing. It was the process of tilling barren land to convert it into rice paddies that could be used for farming.

Of course, the task of smashing the well-paved asphalt floor and moving it outside the Land of Hope was entrusted to Serena and Lee Jinah.

Lee Jinah was perfect for this task, as she could freely manipulate things like soil and rocks using an ability similar to Earth magic.

Heh!

As Lee Jinah reached out with a shout, a massive rock was pulled out.

Rumble!

Woah!

Its amazing every time I see it.

How would we have moved that rock without Jinah?

Wed have to tie it with a rope, carry it on our shoulders, and pull it all together.

Just thinking about it feels like our shoulders would be shattered.

Crash-Bang!

Whooosh Nice!

Great job, Jinah!

It was indeed a cheerful work scene.

So what was I doing while neither catching zombies nor helping level the ground?

I had a very important mission.

The growth acceleration effect of the Land of Hope applied not only to crops but also to livestock.

That meant to get delicious fresh meat, we needed to raise livestock and to do that, we had to go to the livestock farms on the outskirts of the city and bring the animals back.

Since zombies only sought and attacked living humans, the likelihood that the livestock was still alive was high, as long as they hadnt starved to death.

So currently, I was ready to depart from the marts rooftop with Serena and Ciel to airlift the livestock.

Are you ready, Ciel?

Yes, Master.

Hows your magic?

Ciels eyes widened at my shameless question, and she patted her stomach.

Her lower belly was protruding like a pregnant woman in her third month. That was because I had filled it to the brim with magic energy this morning for this flight.

It was literally filled to the brim with magic energy.

That seems sufficient.

Doesnt it?

As I nodded, Ciel laughed bashfully.

Next to us, Serena was gathering her strength in her arms.

Im ready too! It would be even better with Masters magic energy, but

Hold off today, Serena. Its uncomfortable for you to move when youre filled to the brim.

Yes

Good. Everything was progressing without a problem.

Serena and I clung to Ciel like childish kids pestering their mom to buy snacks.

Shall we depart, then?

Lets go!

Ill increase the altitude. Hold on tight so you dont fall.

Whoosh- Whoosh- Whoosh-

As Ciel began to flap her wings, she sent the dust on the rooftop of D-Mart scattering in all directions.

The wind pressure grew stronger, and our feet lifted off the ground.

Whoa Whoa Whoa!

The altitude rapidly increased, and the people below us started to look smaller and smaller.

Woahhhhh!

An excited scream from Serena.

Our destination this time was Yangju, Gyeonggi Province.