Chapter 139: New World Pioneer Generation 1

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When Yoo Seodam opened his eyes, a warm, bright sunlight greeted him. Even though S-rank superhumans' eyes are reinforced to some degree, anyone who faces sunlight the first thing in the morning would always flinch because of the sudden brightness.

However, rather than feeling upset because of the sunlight, Yoo Seodam felt quite refreshed. It was because it had been more than a month since he last felt the warmth of the sunlight.

‘Is this….infirmary?'

Yoo Seodam thought he had to get up and tried to raise his arm. But, he felt something heavy on his arms, pinning it down. As he expected, it was Aracelli. She opened her blue eyes and stared at Yoo Seodam intensely.

“You woke up, Professor.”

"Yeah. How’s everyone?"

“They are fine…. also, the funeral just finished a few hours ago.”

Aracelli briefly told Yoo Seodam about what had happened in the fortress while he was asleep. About Kim Ha-soo's funeral. About how the rain finally stopped after the ‘Colony’ died. And about how there were more people mourning than those who were pleased.

Yoo Seodam could understand those people who mourned Kim Ha-soo’s death. After all, his death changed the history of this world itself. He sacrificed his life to stop the world from running towards destruction, and it was a sacrifice that no one could insult.

Yoo Seodam frowned as Kim Ha-soo’s death kept lingering in his mind.

Why does the mere existence of a protagonist leads a world to its destruction? Was there any reason for it? 

It was a question Yoo Seodam had never thought about until now, he had also never thought about why a protagonist exists. Because most of the protagonists Yoo Seodam had met so far, were all selfish and they were a threat to their respective worlds.

But for the first time, he met a very unusual protagonist. He was really a ‘protagonist-like' protagonist. Yoo Seodam thought, if Kim Ha-soo was actually a hero in a novel or a movie, he wouldn't have had to die that way. Maybe he would survive and witness his dream of a better world.

‘System.'

‘For what reason does a protagonist exist?' 

‘But, the world will perish just because of their existence…, so why does a protagonist still exist?'

After that, the system went silent, so Yoo Seodam stopped asking more questions.

"Are you okay?"

Looking at Yoo Seodam’s blank expression, Aracelli asked with an anxious expression on her face.

Then Yoo Seodam replied to her with a smile.

“Yeah, I’m okay now. Tell me more about what happened.”

Then, Aracelli elaborated further about the current status of the fortress.

With the leader position empty, the fortress needed a new leader. And according to Kim Ha-soo’s will, Park Han-seo from Munhwa Department Store will fill the spot.

No one raised a fuss about Kim Ha-soo’s one-sided election. It was because, when the fortress was first built a few years ago, Park Han-seo had the experience of staying in the fortress for a while and she had supported Kim Ha-soo.

“….And, the educational institutions here were more active than I thought, as there were quite a lot of engineers and scholars. I think, if they decided to move to another land and create a new country, they wouldn’t lack any competent people.”

Kim Ha-soo had told him that he had prepared in advance so that the rest of the people could live on their own, in case he lost his confidence someday.

His preparation bore fruits now. With his death, Shop Window had also disappeared. That means, they could no longer produce weapons and food from thin air. However, Kim Ha-soo had thoroughly educated them on how to make weapons and how to obtain food, as well as essential elements for living, and several related facilities were built in the fortress.

Hearing that, Yoo Seodam sighed.

In one way or another, he had hunted the protagonist. But he still questioned himself whether it was really okay to say that the hunt was ‘successful’ when he, as a hunter, didn't really want to hunt his prey?

He felt like there would be no such funny quest any more in the future.

He pondered for a while before deciding to check the rewards.

‘Show me.'

[2010 days of lifespan has been paid.]

[Your current lifespan: 3901 Days, 19 Hours 31 Minutes]

[Your level has been raised by 5.]

[You absorbed ‘Shooting (A+)’ talent.]

[It has been combined with your talent ‘Shoot(C)' and become ‘Shoot(S)'.]

‘Whaaaaaaat?'

━

[Level: 157]

*Stats

[Strength: 153] [Stamina: 171] [Agility: 155]

[Energy: 1] [Mana: 259]

*Talent

[Swordsmanship S] [Hunting D+] [Shooting S]

[Cooking D-] [Intuition A] [Quick-wit A]

[Insight B] [Vital SS+] [Others…]

*Skill

[Protagonist Hunter Lv. 4]

[White Swordsmanship (S)] [Sixth Sense (B)]

[Inventory (S)] [Dharma Heavenly Wind God Technique (SS+)]

[Concentration (SS)] [Holy Conversion (F)]

[Ara-Sunyoung Mana Circling technique (SS+)]

[Library of the White Witch (C)]

━

His shooting talent had risen sharply. There have been many cases where skills or talents have been combined so far. But it came as a fresh shock to him as he had never gained such a useful talent like this before.

‘Shooting talent, huh….'

He believed that Kim Ha-soo also enjoyed handling firearms. He somehow felt strange knowing that he inherited his shooting talent.

Should I be happy about it or not?

In order to soothe his confused mind, Yoo Seodam unknowingly stroked Aracelli's hair. Somehow, it had already become a habit of his. As he felt her body temperature, his mind became calmer.

Aracelli leisurely enjoyed the touch on her hair, and then she said.

"Professor, because It’s morning… Can’t you kiss my forehead once?”

“…How come your demands have become bolder and bolder?” 

“Just this once, please Professor!!”

"No."

Regardless of her actual age, Yoo Seodam couldn’t do it because currently Aracelli looked too young.

When Yoo Seodam, who had always been in her heart, refused, Aracelli pouted and looked down, feeling dejected.

Looking at Aracelli, Yoo Seodam’s conscience took a slight hit. But he couldn't help it since from what had happened before, he knew that if he granted her wish here, her demands would only get bolder and bolder in the future.

(T/N: way to go Aracelliiiiiiiiiii.)

So, Yoo Seodam continued to gently stroke her head.

Then, Aracelli, with a smile, as if she felt slightly better, buried her head in Yoo Seodam's chest.

Badump!! Badump!!

Aracelli’s heart thumped wildly. She enjoyed this moment as she lightly bit on her own lips.

‘If only I could stay like this…'

Then, when a foreign scent leaked out from the arms of Yoo Seodam, Aracelli creased her forehead as she smelled it. It was a smell that some might say was fragrant, but was absolutely unpleasant for her.

‘Scent of other women….'

Because she’s a 9th Circle Wizard, Aracelli was very sensitive to the energy of other people. And she was particularly sensitive to Yoo Seodam’s energy.

She didn't know how about Yoo Seodam’s life on earth. However, she could guess his relationship with other female to some extent.

‘At least two… No… is it three?'

The fact that the scent was deeply engraved in his body means that they maintained a relationship where their body mixed together quite often. The fact that there were three such women made Aracelli's heart anxious.

She didn't want to be separated from her professor. She was anxious about the possibilities of her professor's mind turning to other women.

She felt that it would be great if she could go to Earth.

Then, a sudden knock on the door awakened Aracelli from her inner turmoil. She said as she slightly raised her head to look towards the door.

“Who is it?”

-It's me, new recruit. Lee Seong-soo.

"Ah yes. Come in.”

Lee Seong-soo opened the door and then groaned as soon as he saw Aracelli clinging onto Yoo Seodam.

“Damn it. I didn't come here to see this shit.”

“But I’ve never asked you……”

"Shut up. Or I’ll get offended.”

Lee Seong-soo said and looked at Aracelli.

‘What?'

Lee Seong-soo's special ability was ‘Emotional Empathy'. He could feel the emotions of monsters or others as if it were his own once and he could sympathize with them. Thanks to that, he became a master of sniping. However, strangely enough, he couldn’t use his ability against Aracelli, as if there was a huge barrier around her.

But now, for some reason, he could feel that the barrier around Aracelli had weakened. And the way she stared at Yoo Seodam was something he could never have expected.

‘You're off guard.'

A mischievous thought passed in his mind. Then, Lee Seong-soo began to sympathize with Aracelli’s feelings. He wasn't reading her mind, he was just going to brush through her feelings on a surface level, so there wasn't much harm to the other person.

And then, the moment he activated his ability.

Badump!! Badump!!

His heart began to beat wildly, his cheeks turned red, his lower body got hot, and it was hard to keep his mind from going crazy. Moreover, his gaze kept turning to Yoo Seodam.

[E/N: Pfft! He turned gay]

‘What, what, what is this…?!'

When he looked at Yoo Seodam, his lips felt like a sweet, exotic fruit. He felt it would be great if he could take a bite of it. He also didn't like his gaze going elsewhere, he wanted to dominate that gaze. He wanted him to call his name.

Yoo Seodam. Yoo Seodam. Yoo Seodam.

And even more Yoo Seodam.

“What is it?”

“…!!”

As soon as he snapped back to reality, he realized that he was approaching Yoo Seodam with his hand reaching out towards him. His heart, which was beating like crazy just a moment ago, disappeared and returned to normal.

"Uh…?"

Lee Seong-soo could not utter any words. He was shocked. What he felt just now was just empathy, not his real feelings. Despite knowing that, he still couldn't control himself. It was such an intense emotion.

‘…..Oh my god. She actually lives with these feelings?’

Lee Seong-soo looked at Aracelli without even knowing.

‘You are able to keep your reasoning despite having those feelings?’

It was such an impulsive and greedy emotion, but above all else, there was a pure and clean ‘love’. And because her love towards Yoo Seodam was so great, Aracelli did not do anything that Yoo Seodam did not want.

Lee Seong-soo was really amazed by the fact that one human being could have such a passionate and intense emotion for another. Moreover, she was living just fine while holding that feeling back.

Aracelli was hoping for nothing. She was just waiting quietly for him to reciprocate to her love.

Somehow, it was a heart breaking love.

Then, Lee Seong-soo said to Aracelli.

“…Lieutenant Aracelli. I don't think I've talked to you very much, but… I support you. I hope it goes well. You deserve it.”

"Pardon? Ah….."

Soon after, she said with a light smile.

“Thank you for your support.”

* * *

That afternoon, I was getting ready to leave right away.

Jay Company had many things to do. They had to appoint a new leader, organize a team to reclaim the northern plains, and also to supply and produce resources without the presence of Kim Ha-soo.

They looked pretty busy.

In a perished world, it was an unimaginable thing to do.

Everyone was energized, forgetting the sadness of the past, and trying to move towards the future.

“We are the post-apocalypse generation.”

These were the words that Kim Ha-soo often said.

“Our generation, which had nothing to pass to future generations, has now ended.”

Special Forces members, including Lee Seong-soo, who had been together with me for a month, gathered to see me off even while they were busy.

“Oh, new recruit. If you remain, it would be very helpful.”

“Will you really go? Your girlfriend remained here, though.”

“But, I’ll be following him soon.”

“Please, no! Without you, we will have no one beautiful in our team.” 

As the soldiers started hitting on her, Lee Seong-soo couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

“…I have nothing more to say. Even though we only met briefly, our goodbye will be forever. You will live as you are, and we will live as we are.”

There’s no longer a hopeless future waiting for them. So, they could laugh and talk like this at the moment. They could look forward to a brighter tomorrow with no rain.

“The post-apocalyptic generation ended together with Captain Kim Ha-soo. So now…… how about wrapping it up a little nicely and calling it the ‘New World Pioneer Generation’? We will rebuild our land and tread on a new land and pioneer it.”

“The ‘New World Pioneer Generation’…. I think it's good.”

I said as I looked back at the fortress.

It was a short time, but as I walked through this destroyed world, I thought about many things. Maybe it was because this world resembles the Earth so much.

I saw how terrible the world changed because of monsters.

I witnessed how far a human could fall, how ugly humans could be, and what kind of madness consumed humans in a destroyed world.

But I could also see people who were striving to live with hope.

And, most importantly.

I saw someone who carried the same beliefs as me.

“Looking at how you are still leaving even though your girlfriend wants you to stay and yet she didn’t say it… I guess you really have a goal in mind.”

She’s not my girlfriend…. It seemed meaningless to deny it now.

“Go, I hope you achieve that goal.”

After he said that, Lee Seong-soo glanced at Aracelli who was busy talking with other soldiers before quietly whispering to me.

“And, take care of Lieutenant Aracelli a bit more. She loves you with all her heart.” (P/N Trust him, he knows best lmao)

“……”

“From time to time, try to listen to what that girl wants. She is thirsty for your affection. If you keep refusing… it will be hard to deal with later okay?”

From the looks of things, it seems like Lee Seong-soo used his special ability ‘Emotional Empathy’ on Aracelli. I don't know what he saw from her, but… I will accept his words because it seems like a sincere word of advice.

Then, Lee Seong-soo smiled brightly and stepped back, the other soldiers then set the mood.

It's my time to leave.

When I offered them my salute, they received it. In a deserted place without anyone, it was a quiet goodbye to the soldiers. I didn't need to say anything else.

Aracelli simply said with a bright smile on her face.

“Professor, see you next time.”

"Yeah. Don’t cause any accident while you are here. Try to get along with everyone, too.”

Eventually, when I turned around and took a step, the world began to distort.

[10…9…8….]

I feel the sensation of being sucked into a completely, black space.

[5…4…3….]

Suddenly, the system said urgently.

‘Suddenly? What kind of problem?’

‘What are you talking about?'

[2…1…0….]

After a while, a familiar scent greeted my nose. The system said again.

‘WHAT!?!?!?'

[Successfully return to the original world.]

As the landscape of Earth and the familiar house came into my view, I turned my smartphone on and checked the news portal in a hurry.

[Day 78 after hunter Yoo Seodam disappeared… Will he ever return?] 

The news of my disappearance greeted me.