CHAPTER 27
Seomyeon Station (1)
Forward Base
A designated safe zone established outside the main base.
When {activated}, it temporarily exerts the same influence as the declared home base area.
However, {activation} is only possible when a citizen with a title of [Knight] or higher resides in it. If an unauthorized individual intrudes and occupies it for more than a day, it will be destroyed.
Its performance was astonishing.
But as impressive as its capabilities were, so was its cost.
Forward Base (₩1,300,000,000)
1.3 billion won.
"It's worth the investment."
After wiping out the orcs at Jeonpo Station, my bank account was looking quite comfortable. 1.3 billion won wasn't even a burden.
"I still have 350 million won in support funds left, too."
I immediately attempted to construct it.
However, when I tried to build the forward base, something unusual happened—different from the usual construction mode.
Instead of seeing the entire apartment complex from above, I saw Ha Dong-gun's party gathered at Jeonpo Station.
But as soon as a system notification popped up, my anticipation turned into disappointment.
[This facility requires three citizens with a title of 'Knight' or higher to reside during the construction period (7 days).]
[Do you really want to proceed with the installation?]
[Yes / No]
"...."
In other words, I needed to have Oh Won-joo, Kim Da-jeong, and Ha Dong-gun all stay there for an entire week to build the forward base.
"That's too big of a loss."
At this point, the 1.3 billion won construction cost wasn't even the issue.
The expected revenue these three could generate in just a week amounted to tens of billions.
"But the biggest loss is time."
Seven days.
I had just finished assembling the team and was about to send Ha Dong-gun's party to my parents' house.
I couldn't afford to waste a whole week at this stage.
"Besides, Jeonpo Station doesn't really need a forward base."
Thanks to Ha Dong-gun's party and the citizens' efforts, most of the monsters in the area had already been cleared.
There was no need to build a forward base for extra security.
"I won't install it."
As the construction mode ended, my senses returned to normal.
"Still, this was a good discovery."
The capabilities of the newly introduced forward base were definitely impressive.
"If I could build this at my family's home..."
That would give me some peace of mind.
I could ensure my family's safety under the domain's protection.
"Bringing my grandmother and grandfather here won't be easy."
It wasn't just about fighting through monster-infested lands to reach my parents' home. The real challenge would be escorting them back safely.
But constructing a forward base at my family's house? That seemed feasible.
"...Please, just stay alive."
With this, everything was set.
"Tomorrow, I'll send Ha Dong-gun's party to my parents' home."
***
"Wow."
Kim Geon could only stare blankly, watching Oh Won-joo hunt.
"This is insane."
He had felt it before when they went to rescue Moon Byung-ho's grandmother, but Oh Won-joo's fighting style was downright beastly.
"How does a human tear an orc apart with bare hands? Oh, right… she's not really human."
The only difference was that the goblins had been replaced by orcs. But the scene before him was the same as back then.
No—if anything, she was even more overwhelmingly powerful now.
"Well, that makes sense. She was already strong even before receiving Jaehyun's blessing."
She had also awakened supernatural abilities, just like Ha Dong-gun.
Considering how rapidly Ha Dong-gun's combat abilities had improved after being chosen, it was easy to assume Oh Won-joo had gone through a similar transformation.
"But how did Jaehyun manage to convince her?"
Oh Won-joo's obsession with goblins had been excessive, to say the least.
He didn't know the exact details, but the hatred she harbored toward goblins had been obvious.
"She was completely obsessed with killing goblins."
Even when they traveled together, she would recklessly break formation in pursuit of goblins multiple times.
Eventually, after a few days, they had started operating separately because of her.
But now, even when encountering goblin hordes, she didn't immediately charge in recklessly.
She still acted independently to some extent, but it was clear that she was following orders properly.
"Perhaps..."
When thinking rationally, there was only one plausible assumption.
'...Did that woman also gain some new ability?'
Watching his party members awaken special powers one by one, starting with Moon Byung-ho and Kang Deok-su, Kim Geon developed a certain desire.
A desire to awaken supernatural abilities.
And to achieve that, he consciously tried to revere Kim Jae-hyun even more.
Because he believed that was the key to awakening.
'And I succeeded.'
Although he was the last among his party members to awaken, he still managed to gain a special power.
'It seems like when someone receives such abilities, they inevitably become more submissive.'
Even he, just in case Kim Jae-hyun decided to take away his power, was instinctively acting obedient.
Ohn Ju was probably in a similar situation.
At that moment—
Ding!
"Party Quest"
Quest Objective: Return.
Time Limit: 1 hour 00 minutes 00 seconds
Reward: A small amount of experience.
Failure Penalty: None.
The return order had been issued.
"We're heading back."
As soon as Ha Dong-geon gave the command, Kim Geon whistled.
Whistle—♪
At the sound, a crow perched in a corner of the subway station flapped its wings and landed on his arm.
Caw—
Kim Geon stroked the crow, which he had named Kkamang, and smiled in satisfaction.
"...Good boy, Kkamang."
Bonding with Kkamang was surprisingly enjoyable.
Above all, having a being that trusted him completely gave him an indescribable sense of security.
'...If someone gains this kind of power, it's hard to resist.'
At first, he had suspected mind control, but it wasn't that. Even after receiving Kim Jae-hyun's blessing and awakening his ability, he could still question things.
And if it were mind control, his mental state wouldn't be this clear.
Moreover, Kim Jae-hyun was someone who rewarded results appropriately.
'...Which made him even more trustworthy.'
Maybe it was just his imagination, but every time his faith in Kim Jae-hyun grew stronger, his body felt lighter, and his mind felt sharper.
While he was lost in thought, Ha Dong-geon placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Geon, can you scout ahead?"
\"...Yes, senior."
Kim Geon stroked Kkamang and conveyed his intent.
'Go scout ahead for me.'
He didn't even need to speak. His will was naturally transmitted to Kkamang.
At the same time, Kkamang's will flowed back to him.
They couldn't share senses, but he could at least tell if it was safe outside.
After Kkamang flew out of the subway station, it relayed the situation back.
"...No issues. We can head out now."
"Thanks."
As they moved toward the subway station exit—
'Huh?'
Kim Geon suddenly sensed something from a dark corner of the station, a place submerged in deep shadows.
'...What is that?'
It wasn't just his imagination.
Thanks to his heightened senses from his bond with Kkamang, he had picked up on it.
Something was watching them from there.
At that moment—
Squeak—
A rat scurried out from the darkness and disappeared.
'...Was it just a rat?'
Seeing that it was nothing significant, Kim Geon followed his party out of the subway station.
Squeak—
The rat, which had seemingly vanished, remained, watching their retreating figures intently.
***
"Please help us."
As soon as he asked them to go to Nambumin-dong to rescue his family—
[Citizen Oh Eon-ju's Trust has increased.]
[Citizen Oh Eon-ju's Loyalty has increased.]
[Citizen Moon Byung-ho's Trust has increased.]
[Citizen Kim Ga-young's Trust has increased.]
······
······
For some reason, trust and loyalty kept rising across the board.
When I lifted my head, I saw eyes filled with sympathy looking at me.
Among them, Moon Byung-ho, his eyes red, spoke.
"We'll help you! No, please let us help!"
From the expressions of pity on their faces, I could tell what they were thinking.
"I know. That the chances are low."
There was no way I couldn't know.
After all, Ha Dong-geon's party had been scouting around the apartment complex, revealing many things.
Shockingly, we were actually among the lucky ones.
The most common monsters we encountered were goblins.
No matter how many we killed, they kept appearing endlessly, like cockroaches breeding out of control.
That was why people hiding in the apartment complex had a better chance of surviving.
Since it was an apartment, the higher the floor, the less influence the goblins had, which allowed people to survive.
Conversely, the situation in residential areas was catastrophic.
The houses that the goblin hordes swept through were utterly devastated, leaving behind a horrifying sight that reminded one of a graveyard.
Corpses, corpses, corpses.
Abandoned homes blossomed with death.
The goblins were so ruthless that they left no house untouched, painting each one with a scene straight out of hell.
Yoo Hye-rin spoke.
"If your family is in the apartment complex, I'm sure they'll be okay! We also…"
"My family lives in a residential area."
"..."
"But the walls are quite high, and the structure makes it difficult for intruders to enter, so there's still hope."
"R-right! Haha!"
Though she answered brightly, Yoo Hye-rin's face was dark with worry.
I forced myself to ignore it and said,
"We've already cleared out the orcs occupying Jeonpo Station, so follow the subway tracks to Seomyeon Station."
Ha Dong-geon nodded and added,
"From Seomyeon Station, we can switch to Line 1 and head to Jagalchi Station."
"Yes."
Jagalchi Station was the closest subway station to my family's home.
"Exit through Exit 2. Once you're outside, I'll guide you to the exact location."
At that moment, Kang Deok-su raised his hand and asked,
"Why the subway? Wouldn't it be faster to just go above ground?"
Instead of answering, I got up and walked toward the living room window.
From Unit 2901, we had a clear view of Seomyeon's state, much like from the rooftop.
Swish.
I pulled back the blackout curtains and spoke.
"Look."
The ruined city lay before us in a single view.
Collapsed buildings, shattered glass, and monsters roaming around as if they were the rightful owners of the land.
"If we go above ground, we'll be overwhelmed by endless swarms of monsters and die.
On the other hand, even if there are monsters in the subway tunnels, their numbers will be limited.
And we'll have places to escape to if necessary."
Seeing the devastated city, Kang Deok-su nodded in agreement.
"You're right."
"I'm not saying you should get to Jagalchi Station in one go. That would be too much to ask."
Turning back, I met each of their eyes and continued,
"For now, focus on securing Seomyeon Station."
"Understood."
Fortunately, they all accepted my request.
Some seemed to mix in feelings of sympathy or pity, but I didn't care about that.
As long as I could save my family, I would do anything.
"Thank you. Get some rest today, and start the mission tomorrow morning."
With that, the strategy meeting concluded, and I returned home.
That was when it happened.
♬♪♬♩~
The sound of the doorbell rang.
Checking it, I saw Oh Won-joo waiting at the door.
Click.
"What is it?"
"I have a question."
"Go ahead."
Oh Won-joo hesitated before speaking carefully.
"Can't you use your ability to bring your family here?"
"..."
It wasn't that I hadn't considered it.
A quest reward that allowed me to teleport a target.
In fact, I was excited when I saw Moon Byung-ho's awakening ability because of this.
If I could amplify his ability, I might be able to instantly transport my family here.
[This is an impossible quest reward.]
The result was a complete failure.
I could only guess, but perhaps it was because Moon Byung-ho's grandmother was outside my sphere of influence.
Just like how the goblins that should have been dead weren't counted in the system's calculations.
This also explained why Oh Won-joo's son could be resurrected.
If he died within my sphere of influence, then it made sense that I could bring him back.
But if my parents were dead… there would be nothing I could do.
'Because they would have died outside my sphere of influence. Damn it.'
For that reason, Ha Dong-geon's party had to go rescue Moon Byung-ho's grandmother themselves.
"I'm not omnipotent. Unfortunately."
If I were all-powerful, the first thing I would've done was escape this wretched place.
I would have granted myself teleportation and gone straight to my family.
But my abilities had limits, and I wasn't free from them.
All I could do was struggle with everything I had.
To use every possible means at my disposal.
"There are things I can do with my ability, and things I can't."
I reassured the anxious-looking Oh Won-joo.
"You don't have to worry so much. The promise I made to you is one I can keep. As I showed you before."
Oh Won-joo was a trustworthy person.
The fact that she came to ask me privately, concerned that others might doubt my ability, proved it.
She was considerate.
She also never mentioned her son's death or the resurrection I promised her in front of the others.
She was discreet and thoughtful.
That was why I told her the truth.
[Citizen Oh Won-joo's trust has increased.]
"Thank you for being honest with me. Have a good night."
"You too, Oh Won-joo."
After she left—
[An unauthorized individual is attempting to enter.]
A familiar alert popped up.
New citizens were joining all the time, so it wasn't unusual.
[A subject meeting the conditions for citizenship has approached the vicinity.]
[Would you like to offer citizenship?]
A woman with long hair tucked under a beanie, carrying a sharp impression.
'Offer it.'
[You have offered citizenship to Seo Ye-jin.]
[Seo Ye-jin has accepted the offer.]
The entire process—from offering citizenship to her acceptance—was seamless.
But then…
『Name: Seo Ye-jin (Lv. 31)
Trust Level: 7
Awakening Ability: Queen of Rats
EXP Share Rate: 0%
Settlement Fund Share Rate: 0%
★Grant Quest Expel』
'An awakened one?'
I immediately activated the Absolute Eye on where the sensation hit me.
But—
Squeak—?
What was there wasn't Seo Ye-jin.
It was just an ordinary rat.
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