Absolute Dweller

[Episode 07] Seomyeon Station (1)

《Outpost》

A safety zone installed outside the homebound area.

When {activated}, it temporarily exerts the same influence as the homebound area.

However, it can only be activated when a citizen with a title of [Knight] or higher is present, and if an unauthorized entity invades and occupies the outpost for more than a day, it will be destroyed.

The performance was tremendous.

However, the price was as immense as its performance.

-Outpost (1,300,000,000 won)

1.3 billion won.

‘Worth the investment.’

With my balance comfortably padded by the orc horde at Jeonpo Station, 1.3 billion wasn’t a burdensome amount.

‘I still have 350 million left in support funds.’

I immediately attempted construction.

But when trying to build the Outpost, a phenomenon different from the usual construction mode occurred.

Unlike the sensation of overlooking the entire apartment area, the sight was focused on the members of the Ha Dong-geon party gathered at Jeonpo Station.

However, the system notification that popped up soon after turned anticipation into disappointment.

[This facility requires three citizens with the title of ‘Knight’ or higher to reside during the construction period (7 days).]

[Do you want to proceed with the installation?]

[Yes / No]

‘…’

So, to build the Outpost, it meant I needed all three–Oh Eon-ju, Kim Da-jeong, and Ha Dong-geon–to stay for a week.

‘The loss is too great.’

The cost of 1.3 billion for construction wasn’t the issue here.

It could generate expected profits in the billions within a week.

‘The biggest loss is time.’

A week.

I had just completed the party formation and was planning to dispatch Ha Dong-geon’s party to my parents’ home.

I couldn’t afford to waste a week at this point.

‘Besides, if it’s Jeonpo Station, there’s no real need for an Outpost.’

Most of the monsters in this area had already been cleared by the Ha Dong-geon party and the citizens.

Building an outpost wasn’t really necessary.

‘I won’t install it.’

As construction mode ended, my senses returned to normal.

‘Nevertheless, it’s not a bad harvest.’

I really liked the performance of the newly added Outpost.

‘If only I could build this at my parent’s place…’

If that were the case, I could feel relieved.

It would protect my family safely within my territory.

‘In reality, bringing my family here won’t be easy.’

It was already a challenge for Ha Dong-geon’s party to break through the field of monsters and reach my parent’s house. However, returning with my family posed an even bigger problem.

However, building an Outpost at my parent’s place seemed like something worth trying.

‘…Please, just stay alive.’

At this point, everything was in place.

‘Tomorrow, I’ll send Ha Dong-geon’s party to my parent’s house.’

***

“Wow.”

Kim Geon just stared blankly, watching Oh Eon-ju’s hunting.

‘Crazy, crazy.’

He had felt it when they went to rescue Moon Byeong-ho’s grandmother, but Oh Eon-ju’s fighting style was truly beastly.

‘How can a person tear an orc apart with bare hands? No, is she even human?’

Although the target changed from goblins to orcs, the scene unfolding before him was the same.

No, it was much more overwhelming than before.

‘…Well, that’s obvious. She was strong even before receiving Mr. Jae-hyun’s blessing.’

Moreover, like Ha Dong-geon, she was a person who awakened superhuman abilities.

After Ha Dong-geon was chosen, he showed a rapid increase in combat power. It could be inferred that she also went through a similar process.

‘But how did Lord Jae-hyun convince her?’

Oh Eon-ju’s obsession with goblins was obvious to anyone who saw it.

Although they didn’t know why exactly, her resentment towards goblins was unmistakably palpable.

‘She was definitely obsessed with goblins.’

Even when they traveled together, she often acted alone, blinded by the desire to kill goblins.

Due to such incidents, after a few days, they ended up moving separately. However, even when encountering goblin groups now, there was no sudden surge in her actions.

While she still had a tendency to act independently, she clearly followed instructions.

‘Could it be…’

Rationally thinking, there was only one plausible assumption.

‘…Maybe she gained some new ability too?’

Seeing each member of his party, starting from Moon Byeong-ho and Kang Deok-su, awakening special abilities one by one, Kim Geon developed a desire.

A desire to awaken superpowers himself.

And to achieve that, he consciously tried to idolize Kim Jae-hyun even more.

Because he believed that was the key to awakening.

‘And it worked.’

Although he was the last one in the party to awaken, he awakened a special ability anyways.

‘If someone receives such abilities, they can’t help but become submissive.’

Now, he was eagerly dedicating himself, wondering if Kim Jae-hyun would notice his talents.

It seemed like Oh Eon-ju was in a similar situation.

Then it happened.

Ding!

《Party Quest》

Quest Content: Return.

Time Limit: 1 hour 00 minutes 00 seconds

Reward: Small amount of experience points.

Failure Penalty: None.

The order to return has been given.

“Time to go back.”

As Ha Dong-geon’s command was issued, Kim Geon blew a whistle.

Shiiing―?

Upon his whistle, a crow in the corner of the subway station flew over and perched on his arm.

Kah―

Kim Geon smiled as he petted the crow named Kaman.

“…Good boy, Kaman.”

Communicating with Kaman turned out to be more enjoyable than expected.

Above all, having a presence that could be trusted 100% provided an indescribable sense of stability.

‘…It’s difficult to resist gaining such power.’

At first, he had suspicions about brainwashing, but it wasn’t. After awakening his abilities through Kim Jae-hyun’s blessing, he could still question him if necessary.

If it were brainwashing, his mental state wouldn’t be as stable as it was now.

Furthermore, Kim Jae-hyun was a person who would provide corresponding rewards for achievements.

‘…So, I could trust him even more.’

Perhaps it was due to his mood, but every time his trust in Kim Jae-hyun strengthened, he felt his body becoming lighter and his mind clearer.

In the midst of his wandering thoughts, Ha Dong-geon placed his hand on Kim Geon’s shoulder and spoke.

“Geon-ah, I’ll need you to do some reconnaissance.”

“…Yes, sir.”

[Footnote: Kim Geon calls Ha Dong-geon ‘sunbae-nim’ here. -nim is a respectful suffix like -san in Japanese, and sunbae is how you call someone older/more senior than you.]

While petting Kaman, Kim Geon conveyed his thoughts.

‘Please take care of the reconnaissance.’

Even without speaking, Kim Geon could convey his will to Kaman.

At the same time, Kaman’s will was also transmitted to him.

Although they couldn’t share senses, they could roughly grasp whether the outside was dangerous or not.

After Kaman flew out of the subway station first, he relayed the situation.

“…No problem. We can go out right away.”

“Thanks.”

As they were about to exit the subway station, he noticed something.

‘Huh?’

In a corner of the subway station, where the darkness was thick.

He felt an unknown gaze from that place.

‘…What is it?’

It wasn’t some kind of illusion.

Thanks to the heightened senses from communicating with Kaman, he noticed it.

In that corner, an unknown gaze was felt.

At that moment.

Squeak-

A mouse suddenly popped out of the darkness and disappeared.

‘…What? A mouse?’

Confirming that it was nothing important, Kim Geon followed the group and exited the subway station.

Squeak-

The mouse that had seemingly disappeared was carefully watching their backs.

***

“I hope you can help me.”

When I mentioned I wanted them to go to Nambumin-dong to rescue my family.

[Citizen Oh Eon-ju’s trust has increased.]

[Citizen Oh Eon-ju’s loyalty has increased.]

[Citizen Moon Byeong-ho’s trust has increased.]

[Citizen Kim Ga-young’s trust has increased.]

······

······

For some reason, their trust and loyalty were starting to rise one after another.

When I looked up, there were eyes looking at me sympathetically.

Among them, Moon Byeong-ho’s eyes were opened particularly wide.

“We will help! No, please let us help!”

Seeing their compassionate expressions, I could understand what they were thinking.

“I understand too. That the chances are low.”

It was not hard to guess.

The things that the Ha Dong-geon party showed while scouting around the apartment complex had left an impression.

Shockingly, we were really lucky.

The most common monster we encountered was the goblin.

No matter how many we killed, they kept appearing endlessly, like cockroaches.

That’s why we were lucky. People hiding in the apartment complex had an advantage for survival.

Because it was an apartment, the higher you went, the less influence goblins had, so people could survive.

Conversely, the situation in residential areas was dire.

The residential areas swept by goblin hordes was such a gruesome sight, and practically every first and second floor of houses were the same way.

Corpses, corpses, and more corpses.

Every abandoned house had a hellish scene painted by the goblins.

Yoo Hye-rin said, “If your family is in an apartment complex, they should be okay! We also…”

“But my family lives in a residential area.”

“…”

“Still, the fence is quite high, and the structure is difficult to invade from the outside, so there is hope.”

“Yes, that’s right! Haha!”

Despite her efforts to respond brightly, Yoo Hye-rin’s face was quite dark.

I turned a blind eye and continued.

“We also took care of the orcs that were occupying Jeonpo Station, so please follow the subway tracks to Seomyeon Station.”

Ha Dong-geon nodded in agreement with my words.

“We can transfer to Line 1 at Seomyeon Station and go to Jagalchi Station.”

“Yes.”

Jagalchi Station was the closest subway station to my family’s home.

“You can go out from Exit 2. I will provide you with specific directions after you leave the station.”

At that moment, Kang Deok-su raised his hand and asked.

“Why the subway station? Wouldn’t it be faster to go above ground?”

Instead of answering, I got up and headed for the living room window.

Unit 2901, here, it was structured so that you could clearly see the situation in Seomyeon from the rooftop.

Clack.

I pulled aside the blackout curtains and said.

“Look over there.”

The city, which had turned into a mess, came into view at a glance.

Collapsed buildings, shattered glass windows, and monsters wandering around as if they were the original owners of the place.

“If you go above ground, you will face an endless horde of monsters and likely die while dealing with them. On the other hand, even if there are monsters along the subway tracks, their numbers would be limited. You can also escape in the middle.”

Kang Deok-su, who saw the disastrous cityscape, nodded in agreement.

“I see.”

“I’m not asking you to go straight to Jagalchi Station. It’s just a suggestion.”

I turned around, making eye contact with everyone slowly.

“Right now, please aim to occupy Seomyeon Station as your goal.”

“Understood.”

Fortunately, everyone accepted my request.

There seemed to be a mixture of pity and sympathy, but that didn’t matter.

If I could save my family, I could do anything.

“Thank you. Get a good rest today, and the mission starts tomorrow morning.”

With that, I concluded the strategy meeting and went back to my home.

That’s when it happened.

????~

The doorbell rang, and when I checked, Oh Eon-ju was waiting in front of the door.

Click.

“What’s wrong?”

“There’s something I want to ask.”

“Go ahead.”

Oh Eon-ju cautiously spoke.

“Wouldn’t it be possible to bring your family using Mr. Jaehyun’s abilities?”

“…”

It’s not that I didn’t try.

Using the quest reward to teleport the target.

In fact, it was because of this I was so excited to see Moon Byeong-ho’s awakening ability.

I thought, if done well, we could maximize that ability and instantly bring over our families.

[Quest reward is impossible.]

The result was a complete failure.

It was just a guess, but maybe Moon Byeong-ho’s grandmother was in a place beyond my influence.

‘Just like a goblin that clearly should have died wasn’t settled.’

Moreover, this hypothesis could explain why Oh Eon-ju’s son was able to resurrect.

‘Because the place where her child died was within my homebound area?’

If that was really the reason, then even if my parents had died, I wouldn’t be able to do anything.

‘Because they would be considered dead outside my sphere of influence. Damn it.’

Anyway, for this reason, Ha Dong-geon’s party had to go rescue Moon Byeong-ho’s grandmother directly.

“I’m not all-powerful either, unfortunately.”

If I were omnipotent, I would have been able to leave this damn homebound area.

I would have given myself the ability to teleport and immediately gone to meet my family.

My abilities had various limitations, and I was not free from them.

However, I will struggle as much as possible.

By any means I had.

“There are things I can do with my abilities and things I can’t.”

I spoke towards the uneasy Oh Eon-ju.

“You don’t need to worry too much. The promise with Ms. Oh Eon-ju is a promise I can keep, as I demonstrated before.”

Oh Eon-ju was someone trustworthy.

Just by the fact she came to ask separately in case the others in the group grew doubts about my abilities.

She was considerate.

Moreover, she was a person with deep thoughts and a tight-lipped mouth, as she never mentioned the story of her deceased son or the promised resurrection in front of others.

That was why.

What I honestly told Oh Eon-ju was rewarded.

[Citizen Oh Eon-ju’s trust has increased.]

“Thank you for being honest. Have a good night.”

“You too, Ms. Oh Eon-ju.”

Right after I saw her off.

[Unauthorized entity attempting entry.]

A familiar notification appeared.

Since citizens were constantly joining, it was not unusual.

[An entity that satisfies the conditions to be considered a citizen has approached the area.]

[Would you like to offer citizenship?]

She was a woman that gave a sharp impression with long hair and a beanie.

‘Offer it.’

[Offering citizenship to Seo Ye-jin.]

[Seo Ye-jin accepts the offer.]

The process of offering citizenship and the recipient accepting it was smooth.

However.

『Name: Seo Ye-jin (Lv. 31)

Trust: 7

Awakening Ability: Queen of Mice

Experience Distribution Rate: 0%

Settlement Fund Distribution Rate: 0%

★Quest Assignment ??Expulsion』

‘Ability user?’

I immediately directed the Absolute Dweller’s Eyes to the place the notification had come from.

However.

Squeak―?

What was there was not Seo Ye-jin but an ordinary mouse.