Chapter 60

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

Chapter 60: The Pestilent Sword (1)

Advertiser.

A mysterious presence summoned by the certificate Yeongwoo purchased from an extraterrestrial merchant.

Of course, Yeongwoo didn’t summon the advertiser willingly.

Following the advice of the Serpent of Greed, he did purchase the certificate, but the fact that it would summon something from another world was not disclosed anywhere.

「Morning Star」 – Ancient Scroll

【Activated in the Open Door state.】

Moreover, the certificate was used automatically, unrelated to Yeongwoo’s will.

Through this, all Yeongwoo could know was that this world was currently in a ‘Door open’ state.

So naturally.

‘No, is he coming unilaterally and asking me to prepare a return gift?’

Yeongwoo couldn’t help but feel unjust.

He was a bit scared and annoyed.

「In one hour, the advertiser will visit.」

「Prepare a return gift for the guest.」

Considering the system’s instruction to prepare a return gift, it was clear that the advertiser, unlike the extraterrestrial upper class Yeongwoo could meet with basic welfare, was something different from the beginning.

And above all.

‘This isn’t part of the regular reset procedure. Whether it’s bad luck or not, it’s something close to an accident.’

The visit of the advertiser would not have happened if Yeongwoo hadn’t purchased the ancient certificate.

Therefore, unlike when he first encountered the extraterrestrial merchant, this meeting might not be protected and mediated by the system.

‘Fuck.’

With the situation like this, the instruction to prepare a return gift felt more like a warning than guidance.

“…Jongsu.”

Calling his partner in a somewhat subdued voice, Yeongwoo looked back as Jongsu held the steering wheel.

“Yes, Hyung-nim?”

“Someone might come in an hour, and there’s a bit of a problem.”

“…Yes?”

Momentarily, Jongsu stepped on the break, causing the car to jerk.

“Suddenly?”

“Well, not exactly sudden…”

Only now did Yeongwoo, scratching his chin apologetically, start explaining about the advertiser.

The certificate that broke in Yeongwoo’s hand when Jongsu first joined was the one summoning the advertiser.

It came from across the vast universe to this place.

“No, Hyung-nim! Why are you telling me this now?”

Sure enough, Jongsu furrowed his eyebrows and raised his voice.

However, the next line was completely different from what Yeongwoo expected.

“That’s what I’m saying, an extraterrestrial is coming to sign an advertising contract with you, Hyung-nim! The more I think about it, the more exciting it gets.”

Jongsu’s eyes twinkled.

He was excited.

Probably in a good way.

There’s no guarantee when the dragon he so eagerly wanted to see might come, and the extraterrestrial advertiser is said to arrive within an hour.

‘Is he really out of his mind?’

Looking at Jongsu’s excited shoulders as if possessed, Yeongwoo mumbled.

“But we need to prepare a return gift.”

“A return gift…? Like, ‘Welcome to Earth, is this kind of thing?”

“Well, something like that. Anyway, if they’re really an advertiser, we’re in a position where we have to sell.”

Even as he said this, Yeongwoo didn’t feel the reality of what he was saying.

Meeting an extraterrestrial and making an advertising contract in the midst of this chaotic world…?

‘I just can’t adapt to this world.’

However, if it’s an advertising contract, there must be some compensation.

After all, the reason this started was because of the Serpent of Greed that ‘looks at rare things,’ so there must be some rare compensation.

“A return gift… What would an extraterrestrial coming for an advertisement want?”

Jongsu pronounced the seemingly crazy words seriously.

“Like a souvenir, shouldn’t we give something like a specialty product unique to Earth?”

“A specialty product?”

“Yes. Something that the advertiser aristocrat can’t get anywhere else. We also buy souvenirs when we travel abroad.”

“Well, that makes sense.”

Yeongwoo nodded in agreement with Jongsu’s opinion.

It seemed like a reasonable suggestion.

From the other party’s perspective, they might be on a business trip overseas.

‘A souvenir unique to Earth….’

As Yeongwoo looked out the window, the dim outside scenery overlapped with the inside of the vehicle.

Inside the car was brighter than the dark outside, as the sun had set.

And it was only now that Yeongwoo realized that the vehicle he was driving was quite high-end.

Swoosh.

Turning his head to look at Jongsu in the driver’s seat, the Audi emblem gleamed in the center of the steering wheel, radiating a presence.

“….”

Upon this, Yeongwoo said as if enchanted.

“How about an Audi?”

“Huh?”

“As a souvenir. What if we give them this Audi?”

“Oh.”

Upon hearing Yeongwoo’s words, Jongsu made a bewildered expression for a moment, then nodded.

“It wouldn’t be bad, surprisingly. It might look fascinating to an extraterrestrial. Isn’t this some kind of craftwork?”

“That’s right. And we’ve been driving it ourselves. Depending on the perspective, it might be a used item, but…”

On the other hand, couldn’t it be considered a Gyeongbuk Strongest Sword Edition?

Yeongwoo’s unconventional thinking was greatly influenced by the meeting with the intermediary Kubu.

―Greetings to the human of Earth, Mr. Jung Yeongwoo07, the strongest in Gyeongbuk.

Before Yeongwoo could introduce himself, Kubu had already defined him as the ‘strongest in Gyeongbuk.’

In other words, he already knew where Yeongwoo stood in this world.

Which means.

‘The advertiser probably knows who they are contracting with.’

So, if the opponent highly values the position of the Gyeongbuk’s Strongest Sword, there was a good chance that the value of the item the Gyeongbuk’s Strongest Sword used would also be high.

“But if we give this as a gift, we might have to buy a new car.”

Jongsu, looking disappointed, caressed the Audi emblem with a regretful expression.

However, Yeongwoo wasn’t particularly interested in foreign cars.

“Yes. Next time, let’s switch to a car with better fuel efficiency.”

* * *

It could be seen from the moment they entered the vicinity of Icheon that the advertiser was by no means a trivial existence.

Gooo…!

Suddenly, a sound like a cry was heard, and the sky over the Icheon area began to ripple.

Due to the darkening sky, it appeared as if the entire sky had become turbulent like the sea.

“What, what is this?”

Only now did Jongsu, scared, look at the sky with an anxious gaze.

However, not long after, he had to avert his gaze.

It was because he felt an unbearable eeriness.

It was like seeing a giant silhouette pass under you while swimming in the sea.

Graaah…!

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

This time, a sound slightly different from before scratched the inside of the sky.

Perhaps it meant that the advertiser was getting closer.

And around this time, the local status window changed.

|The current area is ‘Icheon.’

|The Strongest Sword in this area is ‘Kim Byeongcheol139.’ Rank 2, 6 defenses.

Kim Byeongcheol139.

There was a Strongest Sword in Icheon.

“….!”

As the status window changed, both Yeongwoo and Jongsu widened their eyes.

“Oh, Hyung-nim.”

“Yes, I saw.”

Yeongwoo met eyes with Jongsu through the rearview mirror and then shifted his gaze outside the window.

Although the stay area had changed to Icheon, the landscape was still filled with rough mountains and fields.

“After passing through Icheon this time, where’s the next destination?”

In response to Yeongwoo’s question, Jongsu looked up into the sky and answered.

“Um… it’s Yongin. And then it’s Seongnam.”

If it’s Seongnam, it’s right below Gangnam, so practically, they would be on the outskirts of Seoul.

However, as they entered Gyeonggi Province, the number of abandoned vehicles on the road significantly increased, causing the actual travel distance to extend much longer due to the need for evasive maneuvers.

Squeak!

Just now, Jongsu was sweating profusely trying to avoid the zigzagging cars.

“Do you think we can reach Yongin by 8 o’clock?”

In response to Yeongwoo’s concerned question, Jongsu grinned.

“Well, I’m not sure. If the road continues like this, we might be late…”

Current time, 7:26 PM.

In about 30 minutes, the advertiser would arrive.

And an hour after the advertiser’s arrival, the lodging would begin.

‘It’s getting ambiguous. If we don’t go into the city, we’ll have to secure a room near the outskirts to handle the lodging problem in time.’

It’s decision time.

Should they continue past Yongin, or should they meet with the advertiser near Icheon and then deal with the rental issue more stably?

‘Still, it would be better to meet the advertiser in a less populated area, so let’s try to get as close to Yongin as possible…’

Ultimately, at the moment when Yeongwoo’s mind leaned towards Yongin.

Kwagwang!

A thunderous roar from the sky, followed by a crimson pillar of light shooting down.

And this was right in the middle of Icheon.

“Huh!”

Surprised, Jongsu slammed the brakes, bringing the car to a stop, and Yeongwoo also looked at the formidable pillar of light with a perplexed expression.

Goooo…

From the sky, a deafening noise rang out, and a crimson pillar of light descended.

It was undoubtedly the arrival destination of the advertiser.

“Is that the advertiser? Seems like he already decided on the location himself.”

“He’ll be arriving soon.”

After taking a deep breath, Yeongwoo made a quick decision.

“Well, we can’t help it. Let’s go to Icheon.”

“…Alright.”

Although there was a problem of how to handle the Icheon’s Strongest Sword, Jongsu didn’t insist on making a detour.

* * *

Not long after entering Icheon along the central road, Yeongwoo and Jongsu saw cars rushing out, blaring their horns.

Bang, bbaaang…!

They were all cars leaving Icheon, in other words, evacuation vehicles.

Startled by the untimely pillar of light, they were leaving the city.

“This is causing tremendous inconvenience unintentionally.”

As Jongsu mentioned, the fact that Yeongwoo was passing by Icheon at this particular time was a significant disaster for the citizens.

Moreover, the lodging was about to begin soon.

Leaving the city at the moment when they needed to secure a room was akin to risking their lives.

Bbaaang!

Another vehicle from the opposite side approached, honking its horn.

And this time, Yeongwoo noticed that the face of the other driver was stern.

But it was unlikely that they were carrying their family in the back seat.

Just the sight of the sky heaving like the night sea was enough to instill fear.

Kurrung!

Thunderous sounds reverberated loudly from somewhere above the pillar of light.

Then, people on bicycles appeared in a line this time.

Floating in an orderly manner, they were also leaving the city.

‘Bicycles are the last resort. Running won’t get them to the next city on time.’

Yeongwoo turned back to look at the procession of bicycles, already far away.

At most, only three groups had left by car.

Those on bicycles were not even in their twenties.

It meant that everyone was struggling with financial difficulties.

“Hyung-nim, we’re almost in downtown Icheon now.”

As Jongsu said this, a ticking sound came from inside Yeongwoo’s pocket.

Kkigik.

It was the Epic-grade compass, ‘Fearful Cat,’ making a noise.

‘Surely.’

Yeongwoo took out the compass from his pocket, and there, a crouching tricolored cat with open eyes was visible.

Somewhere nearby, there was a threatening presence.

And the direction was as expected.

Quaaaa…!

A crimson pillar of light was spreading in the center of Icheon city.

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]