Chapter 46 – Harvest

“It’s been a while since we’ve actually met in person, Minju-ssi.”

I greeted her calmly.

“I-I guess so.”

She checked her appearance once, then suddenly turned her head away with a startled expression. It seemed she didn’t want to show me her face, which was swollen from crying.

I made an excuse to keep her from feeling embarrassed.

“Actually, I just stopped by while passing through to refill supplies and tidy things up… and I noticed someone was here.”

“Ah… yes.”

Instead of her usual neat ponytail, her hair was now let down, as if she were trying to hide her face behind it. I decided to get straight to the point.

“By the way, is something going on?”

“No. Nothing is wrong. I’ll be going now.”

Minju answered with a speed that was almost reflexive.

But immediately after, her eyes trembled. She looked as if she regretted saying those words.

I decided to test the waters.

“Minju-ssi.”

“Ye-yes?!”

She jumped at the sound of me calling her name softly.

“I might be able to help you.”

“B-but, I have to have some shame…”

“No, I will help you.”

I drove the point home. She had no way of knowing, but this was the last chance I was giving her.

I had shared light advice with her until now, considering the old affection from when she cheered for me during my pro gamer days and the potential of her ability.

But if she truly had no intention of joining me, she was ultimately a stranger. I have my own life, and there are people who rely on me. I couldn’t invest too much in her.

As I looked at her calmly.

After wearing a conflicted expression for a while, Minju—

“No matter what it takes, I will definitely repay this debt. Please, I beg you just this once.”

—made the right choice.

“Alright. Explain the situation to me.”

I grinned.

* * *

Minju composed her sobbing voice.

She began to explain slowly.

The core of the matter was that her brother, Minho, had lost a political struggle within the Daesaengyeon (Daegu Survivor Alliance), which she had helped lead.

Specifically, as supplies became increasingly scarce, the Survivor Alliance had gradually become corrupted. With the Monsters becoming much stronger recently, the situation worsened…

Eventually, they split into one massive Plunderer Group and several smaller survivor groups that had broken away.

Minho, who had passionately opposed this, was now captured and facing the risk of public execution.

Minju had quickly realized the situation and used her spatial ability to flee to this cafe in Seoul, as far from Daegu as possible.

‘Well… a common story.’

That was my one-line review.

I felt sorry for Minju, but it was the truth.

Humans are ultimately social animals, and unless they possess overwhelming power like I do, they inevitably form smaller groups within larger ones.

Especially in the Apocalypse, people die or the most rational options are discarded due to this kind of political influence.

Having seen all of this to the point of exhaustion, I found it almost fascinating that people could do such things even while risking their own lives.

And the idealists who refuse to face this truth usually end up like Minho. They spend their lives doing things only for the benefit of others.

Meanwhile, this was the moment the puzzle pieces I couldn’t fit together—due to not receiving enough information from Minju—finally clicked.

The reason she was alone in my previous life was that she had been betrayed by her group and lost her only remaining blood relative.

It was because she could no longer trust anyone.

Also, the reason there was a massive Plunderer Group in Daegu in the previous life wasn’t that it existed from the start, but that it was formed after Minho was executed.

I hadn’t changed the past…

I was changing the future that was to come.

‘Good. Whatever. Let’s give it a try.’

I grinned.

* * *

Meanwhile, I listened to a detailed explanation from her regarding the situation in Daegu and the conditions of her ability. Unlike before, where it was limited, she gave me all the information I needed.

Perhaps because her mental barriers had vanished, she explained everything to me without complaint. Along with that, I confirmed whether she intended to stay with me.

“Once this is over, you’ll come over to my side, right?”

“Yes. I’ll bring my brother back even if I have to beat him. If he says he hates it, then this time I’ll just leave him to his own devices.”

She huffed.

For some reason, it seemed she had a lot of pent-up frustration toward her brother.

Having received her confirmation, I contacted Sua, Seongjae, Deokchan, and the others, informing them that I would be away for a while.

Of course, I told them I would return within the three days required for the Defense Battle in Bucheon. Having handled everything—

“Minju-ssi. Can you use your ability to take me back with you?”

“So… you mean to Daegu?”

“Yes.”

“Um, I’ll try!”

“Good, then. Let’s head out.”

I decided to get to work immediately. As if waiting for my word, she began to draw up her mana.

Whoosh—

And the moment that mana enveloped her and me.

Swoosh—

We became a single small point and began to move.

* * *

Swoosh— Pop!

Upon arriving, I looked around for a moment.

Under the dark night sky after sunset, in a place where thick brush provided cover. As I had requested, it was a small hill behind a neighborhood in downtown Daegu.

It was obvious that her residence would be under surveillance.

Furthermore, since there were survivor groups derived from Daesaengyeon and a massive Plunderer Group inside the city, I figured it was better to start safely, even if it was slightly inconvenient.

“Haah. Haaaah.”

Meanwhile, perhaps the amount of mana used was too taxing. I left Minju alone for a moment to recover as she breathed heavily with a pale face.

I began to set my immediate priorities.

‘Now… then.’

The biggest immediate problem was that all my foundations were currently in Geumhwa New City and its vicinity.

Of course, the Main Base had production facilities and people to handle the work, so it would run fine on its own for a few days even without me, but I had nothing here in Daegu.

That said, trying to build a proper foundation here would be a mistake.

No matter how much Minju was here, she still had limits on her mana, meaning there was a limit to the transport volume. In the end, I would have to travel back and forth personally.

With no transport means secured yet, that would be too inefficient. Ultimately, the travel itself would be more exhausting and wasteful.

However, doing absolutely nothing would make life inconvenient. Establishing a temporary base here would be sufficient.

‘First, let’s check what I have.’

First, I had water and food. This was because I came with the items I had prepared in advance at the cafe. Additionally, I had bedding for the night and a change of clothes. Two Worker Bugs that had been managing the cafe were also with me.

In other words, the basics were prepared.

‘Then I just need to solve the housing.’

I looked around the area.

It was the forest I had requested. Of course, if it were urgent, camping out was an option, but with my abilities, there was no need for that.

Since I didn’t plan to stay long anyway, a place just good enough for a short stay would suffice. Finding such a shelter was no trouble for me.

‘I need to see from a higher vantage point.’

Naturally, using an Observation Probe.

‘What should I use for materials?’

I looked around for materials, and then…

I spotted a fallen old tree and smiled.

‘I’ll use this.’

They were just things to be used temporarily and then discarded.

I didn’t need to agonize over it as I did at the Main Base.

‘Summon [Observation Probe].’

It felt like it had been a long time since I summoned one directly instead of using a production facility. Of course, the Observation Probe wasn’t the only thing that needed its numbers increased.

‘Summon [Worker Bug] as well.’

This time, also made of wood.

Krik— krik—

“Ding?”

The two Worker Bugs that came with me tilted their heads, looking at the wooden Worker Bug. Meanwhile, the created Observation Probe immediately flew into the air.

Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat—

Perhaps because the wings were wooden, it made more noise than the much more flexible plastic ones.

Moreover, it was far more visible than the translucent PET plastic, so I felt I had to be careful not to be spotted.

Fortunately, however, the darkness of the night hid them.

I steadily produced Observation Probes to increase their numbers, instructing them to find a place for us to stay while simultaneously scouting the surroundings.

‘This place looks good.’

It didn’t take long to find a suitable spot.

It was a shabby-looking private house, but the walls were high so the interior wasn’t easily visible, and the structure overall looked sturdy.

“Minju-ssi. Can you move us over there?”

“I think it’ll be difficult for now.”

Minju informed me that Spatial Teleportation would be hard, as she still needed time to recover her mana.

‘Well… that makes sense.’

She had moved both of us from Seoul to Daegu in an instant. She had mentioned that she could barely cover this distance normally, and with me added, it was even more taxing.

I instructed the Worker Bugs to move the luggage.

Then, I walked toward the house.

* * *

Minju looked on in admiration as the Worker Bugs silently followed, carrying the luggage.

“Wow… these things are really convenient. I should have gone to Mr. Siwoo sooner.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“I know. If only it weren’t for that brother of mine…”

She punched the air and gave a small, sheepish smile.

As I began to deploy my abilities and project my influence rapidly, she seemed to start feeling relieved.

Thinking it was okay now, I cautiously brought up the fact that since rescue was the priority over deploying a large force, the two of us would have to stay in the same house for a while.

She seemed slightly flustered at first, but…

“What do you take my fan-heart for? This is an industry reward!”

Soon, she was even making jokes.

* * *

Afterward, having quickly tidied up the house with the help of the Worker Bugs.

I left a couple of Observation Probes to continue scouting the perimeter and sent the rest to check Kyungpook National University, which the Looters had reportedly seized.

According to Minju, since Daesaengyeon was originally a group centered around university students, that place was their main base.

Of course, it seemed that all the normal people had left and only the Looters remained.

‘Now, where did they hide the brother…’

I focused on gathering information.

Minju’s ability had a restriction where she could only teleport to places she had personally visited or seen with her own eyes. But she was originally from Daesaengyeon.

In other words, she had personally visited most of the university. To put it differently, if I could pinpoint her brother’s location, I could rescue him.

I could skip all the tedious cutscenes and finish this immediately.

It was while I was scanning the university buildings.

“What the hell did you do to let that bitch get away!”

Boom!

A harsh shout echoed from somewhere.

‘Hmm?’

I turned the Observation Probe’s screen toward the sound. In a small alley between buildings, I saw a man who had gathered people around him and was scolding them.

The ones being scolded seemed dissatisfied as well, as they were talking back to him in low voices.

“Hyung, we really searched her house without leaving a single—”

“You missed her because there WAS a gap, you blockhead!”

The subordinates’ eyebrows twitched. Then, a woman who looked like a university student spoke up, sounding annoyed.

“Mu-Museong-oppa, Minju hated you anyway—”

Zzzzzzap!

In an instant, a powerful light flared.

Sizzle!

The light lightly tore through the woman’s chest.

K-boom—

It then pierced through the building behind her.

“Ke-cough!”

“You. Say that one more time.”

My eyes widened, naturally.

“A Laser Ability User?”

The Essence of the Laser Ability was one of the essential essences useful for upgrading machines that fire photons, such as the Interceptors and Assault Cannons that were the core of my current military power.

I had been searching for this ability with burning intensity. Therefore… I harbored a tiny glimmer of hope.

“Wow, if that guy is a Villain, it would be perfect.”

That level of power and strong violent tendency. It wasn’t impossible.

I decided to check immediately.

‘Start [Mana Sense].’

At my command, the Observation Probe split into four directions. I adjusted the Mana Lens and focused on the guy called Museong.

‘Let’s see…’

The moment the focus locked—

“Oho.”

An exclamation escaped my lips. His mana…

It was a color similar to a Monster’s, different from a human’s.

He was definitely a Villain.

“Well now. This is an unexpected harvest.”

It was the moment a secondary objective for my time in Daegu was created.