[Main Scenario #2 - Encounter]
Category: Main
Difficulty: E
Clear Condition: Meet with the survivor(s) of the first base area.
Time Limit: None
Reward: 500 Coins
Failure: ???
The content of the second Main Scenario received after clearing the Hidden Scenario was simple.
Yes, at least the content was.
[You have entered the second Main Scenario area.]
[The earth of this scenario area is deeply polluted.]
[Hold your breath and move underground as quickly as possible.]
If I don't move underground as soon as possible, I will be exposed to the purple fog unfolding before my eyes, the deadly poison existing in the atmosphere.
However, that didn't become a major obstacle for me.
"Ellain Monkey's Lungs. It's more useful than I thought."
Because the Constellations cheered and sponsored quite a few of these to me after I caught the Sea Commander in one go.
Ellain Monkey's Lungs, which act as a purification device for 20 minutes.
Searching through my pockets, there are about 3 left in total. Let's see…, I received 6 initially, so has 1 hour already passed?
[Using 'Ellain Monkey's Lungs'.]
[Several Constellations puff out their chests, claiming they sponsored it.]
I've already wandered outside for an hour.
It wasn't because I couldn't find the underground. Then why am I wandering around outside instead of entering the underground long ago?
The reason was simple.
"Dismantle (解)."
-Kieeeeeeek─!!!!!
Because there was no reason to go inside when there was so much money to be made outside.
"That makes five. Phew…, it's harder than I thought."
The Sea Commander, a 7th-grade monster species I hunted in the Hidden Scenario.
Honestly, being able to hunt it was almost a miracle.
Because of that, I invested 5,000 Coins to raise my Magic Power, which was LV.20, to LV.30…, growing my Cursed Energy, but.
"1 hour to catch five. Is it 12 minutes per one…."
The efficiency is too low.
Tch. Hunting monsters, earning Coins, and polishing Cursed Energy—should I stop here for now?
[…What, you were still hunting Poisonous Rhinos?]
"What does it matter to you, Dokkaebi? State your business and get lost."
[…Ah, that guy's rudeness. Why are there so many rude guys in my channel…. That guy named Kim Dokja too.]
"…Kim Dokja?"
For a moment, I wondered why that name came up in his words.
I asked him if it had anything to do with the broadcast being turned off for a while just now.
But the answer that returned was a casual whistle, saying I didn't need to know.
…As expected, I don't like that guy.
[By the way, aren't you going to proceed with the Main Scenario?]
"Why, are the Constellations pressing you?"
[N-Not really~. Well, if you do the Main Scenario, it's good for you, so I'm giving advice~.]
"…."
He seems to be a guy who is bad at lying.
Even students these days would do better than that.
"…Haa, I was just about to do it."
[Oh, really!? Where are you heading?]
"…Why are you curious about that?"
[No, well~. I can just be curious. So where are you heading?]
"Gangnam Station."
[…Gangnam Station? Why there?]
"Because there will be a lot of people."
[Aha~.]
The Dokkaebi nodded in his own way, saying that if I go to a place with many people, I can certainly find many reliable companions.
At that sight, I smirked faintly.
Reliable companions? Of course, that is important too, but I don't think I can find them by going there.
In other words, the reason I am going there is different.
But…. There is no need to tell that guy and the Constellations.
"Kuh, kuhu. Kuhuhu…."
[The Constellation, 'Monarch of the Small Fries', laughs insidiously at your smile.]
[The Constellation, 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon', eyes sparkle at your move.]
[The Constellation, 'Demonic Judge of Fire', frowns at the evil deed you are about to commit.]
[You have entered a Safe Zone.]
Arriving at Gangnam Station, I slowly descended while looking around.
The poisonous fog…, it doesn't come down to the underground? And perhaps Gangnam Station doesn't have a proper faction yet, as there isn't a single person standing guard.
However.
"…Ha."
I can feel it with all my senses reinforced by Cursed Energy.
That fishy smell I've smelled every single day without fail since the world perished.
This creepy feeling that makes my skin crawl.
"I don't know who it is, but they killed a lot. A whole lot."
Come to think of it, it had to be so.
The first scenario, Proof of Value. And the second scenario, Encounter.
In that short interval, how many people would have tried to obtain food? How many would have tried to obtain food by piercing through the poisonous fog with a purification device like the Ellain Monkey's Lungs?
Even if there were, it would be only a few.
-Thud, thud….
There is a saying that environment makes the man.
Then, what kind of person does a ruined world make?
-Thud….
If you don't kill, you die. If you don't take, you are taken from.
Was his name Kim Namwoon? Just as that male student said, wouldn't it create a monster-like person who does anything to survive?
-Thud.
Then, let's go back to the first question.
How many people actually obtained food? No, before that, I should redefine the word 'food' itself.
Food. Something to eat necessary for survival.
In a ruined world, does 'food' have the same meaning as the food we know?
"Well, I can just ask."
[Constellations of the Absolute Evil alignment shudder at Kang Yuhyeon's smile.]
[Constellations of the Absolute Good alignment swallow their saliva unknowingly at Kang Yuhyeon's smile.]
After the successive messages from the Constellations, a scenario window floats up.
I took a stance with an unknown sense of euphoria at that scenario window.
[A Bounty Scenario has occurred at the request of several Constellations!]
[Bounty Scenario - 'Monster' Hunting.]
Category: Bounty
Difficulty: E
Clear Condition: Hunt all 'Monsters' present in Gangnam Station.
Time Limit: None
Reward: 500 Coins
Failure: ???
"Come, monsters. I'll take you on."
"It's foooood—!!!! Catch him, kill hiiiim!!!"
"Uooooooo—!!!"
What emerged from the darkness was a multitude of monsters.
They had the form of humans, the voices of humans, and acted like humans, but they were definitely monsters.
Because their eyes were bloodshot, their faces were filled with madness, and their mouths and teeth were covered in blood and flesh.
Since humans wouldn't eat humans, those must undoubtedly be monsters.
So.
"Dismantle (解)."
-Seo-geo-geo-geok—!!!!
I am not a murderer.
Even if their heads fly off brutally.
Even if they are shattered into pieces while scattering blood on the walls and floor.
"Cleave (捌)."
From the moment the world perished.
During the Proof of Value scenario too.
Even now.
Certainly.
"Come, cooome. Try harder~."
-Seo-geok, seo-geok! Seo-geo-geok—!!!!
-Splatter—!!!
"Kuhup, kuha. Kuhahaha. Kuhahahaha—!!!"
"Phew…, damn it. Yoo Joonghyuk, that psychopath bastard…."
A man was heading towards Geumho Station through the poisonous fog, carrying an exhausted woman on his back.
It was that man who introduced himself as Kim Dokja in the subway.
"Not content with dropping Kang Yuhyeon, he drops me too? Truly a crazy bastard."
He surely must have entered Oksu Station by crossing the even-numbered bridge with the others, so why is he currently running hurriedly outside filled with poisonous fog instead of being with the rest of the group?
The reason was as follows.
Unable to resolve his question due to Kang Yuhyeon's struggle, he tried to resolve that question directly once again.
While strangling the man named Kim Dokja who was staying still, threatening to drop him just like he did to Kang Yuhyeon.
"…By the way, Kang Yuhyeon, I wonder if that guy is doing well."
Before the world perished, his favorite web novel, Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World (TwSA).
Kang Yuhyeon, one of the characters appearing in TwSA.
When he actually saw him with his own eyes inside the subway and exchanged names, his heart dropped just like the moment he first met Yoo Joonghyuk.
Because he was a strong individual with skills comparable to Yoo Joonghyuk. To the point where he competed with Yoo Joonghyuk for 1st and 2nd place in the '100 Strongest'.
However, if there is one problem, it was that he appeared as a villain in the novel.
"…No, to be precise, calling him a villain is a bit strange too…."
Jujutsu Sorcerer, Kang Yuhyeon.
He was the worst mass murderer who killed hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of people, but he didn't commit murder indiscriminately.
When he committed murder, it was only when he deemed the person in front of him to be an evil person based on his own standards.
In other words, he didn't kill those he had no interest in or those he considered good people.
Of course, since there is no right or wrong in the act of murder, it cannot be an indulgence.
"Still, I must recruit him as a companion."
Strength comparable to Yoo Joonghyuk.
That was attractive enough that his flaws couldn't be seen.
Although he is weaker now compared to Yoo Joonghyuk, who has obtained various skills through transmission due to regression, if he obtains Barrier Techniques and other techniques besides Dismantle and Cleave later.
Yoo Joonghyuk would only triumph over him after reaching the 1000th regression turn, and even then, in the mid-1000s.