Chapter 102

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

Chapter 102: Finally, Disaster (1)

“Emergency? What’s going on?”

As Yongsan’s Strongest Sword recognized the face of the other person and inquired, the sweating inspector spat out his words along with rough breaths.

“People came from Gwangjin and Jongno. They couldn’t stop the mutants.”

“What…?”

Gwangjin, Jongno.

Although they belonged to the existing Seoul Federation, the areas that couldn’t attend today’s meeting.

Also, due to the current system where communication is impossible and Pavels are used, there was always a time lag in all news.

In other words, the decision that Gwangjin and Jongno Districts were no longer safe was made tens of minutes ago.

“Gwangjin is right above our area. I guess I should go and see for myself.”

Sensing the seriousness of the situation, Songpa’s Strongest Sword, Oh Yeonhee, proposed to suspend the meeting.

She meant to go and protect her own district.

“There’s still no news from the Jung-gu district… It’s probably a similar situation, right?”

Jo Sangik, mentioned another area that hadn’t attended the meeting yet.

Upon hearing this, Sungbuk’s Strongest Sword, Lee Yoobin, and Dongdaemun’s Jang Jeongho widened their eyes.

Their districts were adjacent to both the central district and Jongno.

“What’s going on… What’s happening right now?”

“Don’t we need to go too?”

If you want to use the strongest in each district, then that district must exist.

The Strongest Swords in the crowd were trapped in a different type of fear than they had felt before.

“So, does that mean there are mutants alive in Gwangjin, Jongno, and the Jung-gu? It’s already well past 3 PM, isn’t it?”

Finally, someone voiced the fear that had been kept inside, and from that point on, the atmosphere began to grow restless.

“Uh… Then it’s been abandoned for almost two hours, right?”

“….”

Mutants.

And they would likely be very fierce mutants.

They would have realized it as soon as they returned to this world.

That damned world was still hostile to them.

What the feelings of those mutants would be if as soon as they opened their eyes, they would have to fight against the Strongest Swords waiting for them.

And if such a mutant succeeded in defeating the swords sent by the world to kill them.

“….”

The Strongest Swords who had reached this point in their thoughts each turned their heads in the direction of their own districts.

And seeing this, Yeongwoo quickly proposed the next course of action.

“Let’s split into three teams and go to the problem areas. Since we can’t hold a meeting in this situation, as Yeonhee said.”

“Th… That’s fine.”

“Let’s do that.”

The Strongest Swords accepted Yeongwoo’s proposal as if they had been waiting for it, and soon, Gwanak’s Strongest Sword, Jo Sangik, announced to the nine Strongest Swords gathered around him.

“Let’s split into groups of three based on nearby districts and go. If there’s any issue that requires a majority decision, we’ll send someone from Seoul National University. Let’s all stay alive.”

“Let’s do it.”

Since this issue was a common concern for all Strongest Swords, no one objected.

“Yeongwoo, you come with us to Gwangjin. Gangnam is also near Gwangjin.”

Soon, Oh Yeonhee invited Yeongwoo to accompany them.

And behind her was Choi Namhee from Seocho, who was already raising her fighting spirit.

“Huh.”

As a former detective, her hostility had risen sharply.

It was obvious that mutants left unattended for over two hours would have committed a significant number of murders.

“Now, let’s go. Once the issues in each area are resolved, send reports to Seoul National University or Yongsan!”

With Jo Sangik’s words, the nine Strongest Swords of Seoul scattered in three directions.

* * *

Seocho, Songpa, Gangnam.

It would be appropriate to call the Strongest Swords of these three areas the “Gangnam Trio.”

Thud!

The three Strongest Swords dispatched urgently to investigate the situation in Gwangjin raced recklessly without checking each other’s speed, as if in a race.

The first reason was naturally because there was a high risk that the problems in Gwangjin would spread to their respective areas.

The second reason was…

‘Why are they so fast?’

It was the pride typical of Strongest Swords.

Generally, if your abilities are high, your running speed will also be fast.

So, when Strongest Swords run side by side like this, the superiority of their abilities naturally becomes evident.

Yeongwoo had experienced this once in Chungju.

Of course, he wasn’t running with his own two feet now, but you get the idea.

Clack! Clack! Clack!

As Yeongwoo sat on Negwig’s back and looked back, he saw Oh Yeonhee and Choi Namhee, both looking angry for some reason, and their expressions stiffening.

And they were getting further and further away.

It was because the two of them couldn’t catch up with Negwig’s running speed.

Even if they were Strongest Swords of Seoul, they couldn’t defeat a top-grade vehicle from outer space.

‘I feel a bit sorry.’

While thinking this way, Yeongwoo resolved the problems one by one that he had been unable to do due to the situation at the meeting hall.

Among them was…

「Rock Guardian」 – Mutant Gem

【Slot: Reduces all physical damage】

It was the task of equipping the gem obtained by defeating Kim Taejoon as the mutant.

‘I wonder… Should I attach this to my armor?’

It was an absurd line, but it made sense to Yeongwoo.

「Self-Generation」 – Mutant grade

【You can live without eating.】

【Energy is self-generated】

【–Empty slot–】

There was actually a gem slot in his armor.

‘Do I have to eat this too? Or…’

As Yeongwoo held the gem in his hand and brought it near his abdomen, Choi Namhee, the Strongest Sword from Seocho who was watching from behind, furrowed her brow.

“What’s that bastarf up to now…?”

The Oh Yeonhee, who had overheard her, let out a strange laugh.

“Watch your words. If the ears are good, what will you do?”

“….!”

Meanwhile, despite bringing the gem near his abdomen, nothing happened, and Yeongwoo was making another decision.

‘Let’s try eating this too.’

Then he immediately threw the “Rock Guardian” into his mouth.

“Ugh!”

Because the gem was larger and sharper than he expected, it caused cuts in his throat, but it wasn’t a big problem as it would heal soon.

The important thing was solely…

‘Will it work…?’

Piiiing!

「Self-Generation」 – Mutant Camouflage

【You can live without eating.】

【Energy is self-generated】

【Reduce all physical damage】

‘…Oh, it worked!’

After confirming that the tooltip of his armor had changed, Yeongwoo let out a relieved sigh.

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

If this method hadn’t worked as expected, he would have had to cut open his own abdomen this time.

‘Now, all that’s left is…’

[Jeweler’s Touch]

|Wear two rings of hero grade or higher on your index and ring fingers each. (3/4)

It was the achievement he had been holding onto for a long time.

Yeongwoo took out a memento from Jeong Hyunsik that he had carefully stored in his pocket.

「Wave」 – Unique Ring

[Voice transmission to the Strongest Sword of the acquisition area.]

| Area: Seoul

Then he carefully slid the ring onto his ring finger.

Swish.

Suddenly, both of Yeongwoo’s hands grasped the air.

Piiiiing!

“What?”

He was so startled that he almost fell, but there was a worthwhile gain.

[Achievement Unlocked: Jeweler’s Touch]

|Achievement Grade: Epic

|Rank Achieved: #2

‘At last.’

A line of achievement cleared after a long time.

However, it was unexpected that the rank achieved was second.

This meant that someone had gathered four hero-grade or higher rings before him.

‘Who could it be…? I don’t recall seeing anyone at the meeting wearing four rings each.’

Of course, it wasn’t immediately important.

Plop!

Soon, achievement rewards appeared in the air.

‘What’s this?’

Because the objects generated were smaller than expected, Yeongwoo hastily reached out to grab them.

Thud.

In his hand appeared circular objects even smaller than a crimson coin.

These items, about the size of a ten-won coin, were none other than…

「Void Stone」 – Epic tool

【Add slot to equipment.】

And there were even two of them.

‘Oh… Can they be added to any equipment? Can I punch two slots into one piece of equipment?’

Whatever the case, it was clear that it was a tool that allowed something previously impossible.

‘I should keep it for the equipment I’ll use for a lifetime…’

Yeongwoo naturally thought of the word ‘lifetime’ but then stopped abruptly.

“….”

Lifetime.

It was a thought that arose from wondering how long he could live in this world.

|Created: April 8, 1992, 11:41 PM, with involuntary intentional modifications.

|Extinction: November 7, 2028, 8:36 PM, beaten to death by a drunken attacker while returning home.

According to the original fate record before the reset, Yeongwoo could only live for three more years.

It was a story about living those three years in anticipation of the moment he would be beaten to death by an attacker on his way home.

But now…

Creak.

As Yeongwoo unknowingly tightened the reins, Negwig, sensing it, turned his head slightly.

Although they hadn’t spent a long time together, at least the density of that time was high enough for Yeongwoo to notice that something was different from usual.

*Squelch*

When Yeongwoo didn’t give any further instructions, Negwig turned his head back to the front.

And around this time…

Paaaah!

There was a change in the corner of the vision of the three Strongest Swords.

|Currently staying in the area: ‘Gwangjin’.

|The Strongest Sword in this area is ‘Kim Sangyoung 66’. 294th, 0 defenses.

They had finally arrived in the problematic district, Gwangjin.

“What the fuck.”

And soon, a string of coarse curses poured out of Choi Namhee’s mouth.

“294th? This bastard…! Is this some kind of error?”

Although she seemed extremely angry, in reality, she was scared.

Choi Namhee knew well that there could be no errors in the system that constructed this world.

|The Strongest Sword in this area is ‘Kim Sangyoung 66’. 294th, 0 defenses.

“Are you telling me the Strongest Sword has changed 293 times…? Is that possible?”

Oh Yeonhee, too, seemed incredulous at the state of affairs in Gwangjin, her mouth hanging open as she stared into space.

Still, she continued to follow Yeongwoo on the other side.

And Yeongwoo, leading the group, remained silent.

“….”

He had a more miserable expression than anyone else in this place.

From Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do, to Seoul.

Having passed through countless regions, he had witnessed such phenomena for the first time.

*Kwoong!*

Suddenly, a rumble was heard from a considerable distance, and the region status they were observing changed.

*Pat.*

|The Strongest Sword in this area is ‘Kim Sungwoo102’. 295th, 0 defenses.

At this, one word escaped Yeongwoo’s tightly closed lips.

“Ah.”

The horrific incident in Gimcheon was being replicated in Seoul.

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]