Chapter 72 – Concerns

Chapter 72 – Concerns

Lately, I had been busy with Defense Preparations.

The goal of this operation was to install about eight more mana facilities, increase Defensive Structures, and completely annex the forces near Southwest Seoul.

Of course, the core of it was definitely Seoul National University.

As the translation work for the production workshop’s library progressed, researchers, their curiosity about the Underground City piqued, directly entered the Dungeon to explore it.

Also, because it was immediately profitable, everyone started recruiting brains, and they were definitely being absorbed and integrated into our faction.

Although these talented individuals were practically within our sphere of influence, it was still necessary to incorporate Seoul National University itself into My Faction.

The biggest reason was the Seoul National University library, which boasts the largest scale among domestic university libraries, and an equally important reason was that it was a complex space housing numerous laboratories equipped with a vast array of experimental equipment.

Meanwhile, with such a wide area to defend, people were needed to take charge of various regions. So, I was busy planning operations with Sua and Choi Yongjin.

“I’ll take the north, including Yeouido.”

Sua said confidently. It seemed she intended to wage a defensive battle using the vast waters of the Han River.

“I’ll trust you with it, Ms. Sua.”

“Hehe…”

Sua giggled. Yongjin, seeing Sua’s smile, also grinned and added in a confident voice,

“Then I’ll take the South.”

“The front line you’ll have to cover is quite wide, are you sure you’re okay with that?”

I implicitly asked him.

Recently, the Volunteer Knights had been moving towards a slightly different form. This happened with the construction of the Large Production Facility.

It was because as the number of Breakers gradually increased, quite a few Bikers became unemployed.

All regular Ability Users were reorganized into an Infantry form using Magitech Armor, and the remaining Bikers were only those with vehicle-related abilities.

Similarly, this was made possible by the large-scale armored transport aircraft guaranteeing their mobility.

In response to my question, Choi Yongjin merely nodded his head.

“It’s enough. I’ll show you directly.”

It was none other than Choi Yongjin. With my Past Life Memories, I knew for sure. If he said it was okay, then it was okay.

“Then I’ll trust you.”

I nodded to him.

It was at that moment, after the three of us had discussed and decided on specific operational matters for a while and then dispersed, that a small pink-haired head peeked in from behind the war room.

“Siwoo-oppa, are you done?”

“Yep.”

I replied casually. Seoyeon looked at Su-a with a look of Fire Manipulation for a moment, then saw Choi Yongjin and smiled.

“Oh, is that Seoyeon?”

“Yes! My sister said to come quickly when you’re done.”

The woman who called her sister was Choi Yongjin’s Fiancee.

However, the woman still had a tendency to not trust people easily. This was especially true for those who weren’t her comrades in her Previous Life. It seemed her heart would only open if she was confident that they would like her.

‘That’s why she’s not very close with Su-a and Minju, I guess…’

But fortunately, she was getting along well with the original members like Yongjin and Seongjae. And… among them, the person the woman was most comfortable with was, without a doubt, me.

I confessed to her that I had memories of my past life, partly because she already had a pretty good idea, and also because I thought she would be more comfortable with it.

After all, in this life, I was the only one who already had a relationship, at least on one side, compared to others with whom I had to build a relationship from scratch.

“Siwoo-oppa, you know that thing you mentioned last time.”

The woman started speaking with a bright smile.

“What?”

“That thing, that thing!”

“Ah, that thing?”

It seemed to be about her past life.

“I have a few questions…”

“Okay. See you in a bit.”

“Okay!”

The woman disappeared, seemingly happy.

***

Meanwhile, Su-a, who had witnessed all of this firsthand…

felt a little conflicted.

‘Oppa, huh…?’

Su-a had been quite shocked when she first saw Seoyeon call Siwoo “Oppa.”

But that wasn’t all.

They’re going to talk alone again this time…

There was clearly something secret between the two of them. Rumors even spread that ‘Siwoo had hidden a girlfriend in Chuncheon’.

However, Siwoo completely denied such rumors.

It seemed she was a kind of childhood friend he had known since way back.

‘I’m jealous……’

She also wanted to get closer to Siwoo. For example, her way of addressing him was different compared to Seoyeon.

But for some reason, the word ‘Oppa’ wouldn’t come out.

‘I think I could just do it that way, but……’

They had gotten quite close by then. They had also been through a lot together. It didn’t seem strange to do it now.

“Right. I’ll just do it.”

Siwoo happened to be standing right in front of her.

“Uh… Siwoo… I…”

It was just as she opened her mouth.

“Oh! Yes, Ms. Sua. Let’s end the strategy meeting here for today. See you at dinner!”

Siwoo waved a couple of times and left the room.

“Ah…”

Sua was left alone in the room, frustrated.

* * *

I briefly examined the military map spread out on the large table.

Sua would be in charge of the northern Han River Line.

The south would be handled by the Volunteer Knights.

The sea to the west was being diligently patrolled by submarine chasers, so there seemed to be no need to worry about it.

The urban warfare in the east would be handled by newly emerging Ability Users within My Faction, along with my machines and fire manipulation. This would establish a defense line encompassing all directions: east, west, north, and south, but…

There was still one more place I had missed.

“The problem is Mr. Gwak Sangyong’s faction.”

There were 8 mana facilities to be expanded this time. They were to be installed additionally over a very wide area, and there were many of them.

However, they weren’t only installed in the Seoul Area. They also occupied the empty space between Incheon, Geumhwa, and Bucheon, and included Gimpo City to the north.

While I could sufficiently stop the monsters, Gwak Sangyong’s Faction could not.

Recently, there were even rumors that they had lost Hanam City to a villain located in Namhansanseong Fortress… It was clear that they would be swept away if I started the defense battle in earnest.

Just like a shrimp’s back breaking in a whale fight.

‘I should contact them soon.’

Gwak Sangyong’s Faction in my previous life boasted considerable power, enough to become the core of humanity even after losing much.

If I could fully ally with their forces before they weakened… it would definitely be a great help.

‘Well… should I start by eliminating the villain?’

Eliminate the villain of Namhansanseong Fortress and recover Hanam.

It would be an offer Gwak Sangyong couldn’t refuse.

Besides that…

There was one more offer I could make to him.

‘He said his wife and two children were trapped in a Jeju Island villa.’

This time, I planned to prevent him from losing them.

‘Let’s see if he can resist coming to my faction.’

I grinned.

***

A moment later.

Sua went to the market for a change of scenery.

Lately, there was more and more to see in the market.

“Wow…”

She looked at the material processor’s shop, where monster heads hung in abundance, for a moment, then…

“A-a dog!”

She also saw a pet store selling puppies.

“Oh my goodness…”

I can barely support myself, yet I’m adding another mouth to feed. It was something I couldn’t have imagined just a short while ago.

Besides The Man, clothing stores, shoe stores, and the like were also becoming common.

Perhaps these were ordinary stores in Capital City, but what was interesting were the phrases The Man had written as advertisements.

[Guaranteed Unused]

[Absolutely Not Used Goods]

In the previous world, this was a given… but not today. Who knows if someone looted a corpse and brought the clothes? Su-a shivered at the terrible thought and then-

‘I’m glad Siwoo provided me with clothes…’

She felt grateful for her Loyalty situation.

However, stores selling wearable Water items were not limited to clothing or shoe stores.

Recently, a Magitech Armor rental shop had newly opened…

It was a place where you could rent not only Worker Bugs but also Magitech Armor for a week with Worker Bug Coins.

The Man’s defensive capabilities, of course, included firearms that used an explosive function, and although it was confidential, only Su-a knew that small cars and other vehicles might also become operable.

Besides the Magitech Armor rental shop, Artifact crafting workshops were also active.

From blacksmiths who made swords and armor like in medieval times… to enchanters who performed enchantments using vast amounts of Mana Stones.

‘It’s like some kind of fantasy…’

Su-a smiled anew.

However, The Man did not need to visit the workshops. She had already received an Artifact from Siwoo that had far superior Castle abilities than mass-produced items…

Because The Man had a different store she was looking for.

‘Are there any new stores?’

No matter what anyone said, the highlight of the market was food.

After the world changed and everyone experienced food shortages, they were obsessively focused on food, even more than clothes or shoes.

This was especially true not only for those living in Fortified City but even more so for people from other regions who were drawn by The Man’s abundance.

In a world where Monster Invasions were ongoing in the Hyung style… from chicken and baeksook, stir-fried squid at cheap prices, to, if you wanted something a bit more luxurious, even Mane Deer kimchi stew.

The act of buying and eating food was becoming the only oasis in a world where it was becoming unfamiliar.

Su-a, who had lived here since the beginning, was familiar with the market, strolling through it and looking at the shops.

Then, one shop caught her eye.

“E-egg bread!”

It was a dish rarely seen these days… and with the cold weather, the sight of egg bread made her mouth water.

“How much is it?”

When she asked the price, the woman inside the food stall smiled happily and began to add details.

“Oh, two pretty young ladies came by one after another! Two for one Worker Bug Coin, five for two.”

“Huh?”

Su-a turned around in surprise, just as Min-ju was leaving the food stall in the opposite direction.

“Wow! Min-ju, unnie-“

It was the moment Su-a called out to her.

Whoosh- whoosh- pop!

She disappeared in an instant, as if something was very urgent.

‘What, again?’

Su-a made a bitter face. It felt as if no one would listen to her all the way through when she called them today.

“Give me five.”

Feeling gloomy, Su-a bought egg bread and headed down the street.

And… when she reached the 6th floor of the Shopping Mall.

She understood why Min-ju had hurried so much. She was chatting with Si-woo, each holding an egg bread in their hands.

“So you flew right from the market?”

“Yeah, why! You said it didn’t matter.”

“Aren’t you overusing your abilities now that you’ve gotten permission to reveal them?”

“Aaaah, I don’t know. Anyway, it’s tastier because the egg bread is warm, right?”

“That’s true… but there was no need to go this far, was there-“

“Hey, my favorite. It’s a gift from a fan, so just shut up and take it.”

“She practically lives next door, isn’t that a stalker fan?”

“You didn’t know?”

The two laughed loudly, their voices echoing through the hallway. The two of them, who were the same age, had decided to speak informally to each other a few days ago, and they seemed to have become much closer since The Man.

Sua was shocked.

‘That’s right, Minju said she was a huge fan of Siwoo….’

In fact, thinking about it, it was more surprising that The Man hadn’t approached Siwoo more actively.

“See you like The Man!”

As Minju also passed by like The Man-

Sua felt a sense of crisis.

‘Am I… the only one falling behind?’

What kind of thought was ‘falling behind’? It was a time when she was filled with confusing emotions, wondering if it had even been a competition from the start.

Thump-

Siwoo came out of his room.

Sua, who met The Man in an awkward posture-

“Oh, Ms. Sua. Is something wrong?”

“Oh, uh, The Man-.”

She made up her mind.

“The Man Siwoo-oppa. I have a question about this operation-.”

Her brown hair swayed against The Man’s hesitant back.

* * *

Meanwhile… a little later.

“You’re going to Jeju Island?!”

The Man’s astonished voice echoed through the hallway.