Chapter 169. The Land of Fantasy (4)
[Bolt from the Blue(Lv. 1)]
- Calls down a bolt from a clear sky.
- Deals an electric shock of a hundred to a thousand attack power to enemies within a 0.1 kilometer radius, with a chance to inflict temporary paralysis.
- Self-charges after ten uses.
The very definition of a hackneyed idiom unfolded right before his eyes, originating from his own hand.
Pzzzzt—
His consciousness drifted as if his brain were burning out. Dazzling sparks raced through his veins, popping inside his mouth like flying fish roe.
[Ferry Man from the Bureau of Management is left speechless.]
[The Crow from the Bureau of Management cannot close their mouth at your outrageous stunt.]
“Kieeek—!”
[67.5%]
Electricity pierced through the Giant Baboon from the top of its foot to the crown of its head. Every strand of fur stood on end, each pointing in a different direction.
[53.8%]
The Giant Baboon’s eyes rolled back as its massive limbs flailed uncontrollably. Even as it was charred black throughout, it could only scratch at itself in blind panic.
[39.9%]
Its Stamina plummeted in steady chunks. Seeing that, Eun-Ho threw himself forward, slipping past the monster’s thrashing limbs.
Just one more time.
He drove his sword straight into the exposed sole of its foot. “Bolt from the Blue!”
Then the clear sky tore open once more.
Pzzzzzt—!
Thuuuud!
Cracks spread across the Giant Baboon like etched fractures, and its Stamina plunged without pause.
[26.1%]
[13.8%]
[5.3%]
...
At last, the monster’s colossal body collapsed, crushing buildings and asphalt alike as it fell.
Thuuuud—!
[A number of observers cheer at the overwhelming release of power!]
Then came the flood of messages.
[The Crow from the Bureau of Management clenches their fist at the birth of a warrior!]
[A donation of 2,000 Welfare Points has been made!]
[The Brain from the Bureau of Investigation shudders, saying the electricity even reached them!]
[A donation of 1,000 Welfare Points has been made!]
[The Old Guy from the Sales Department applauds, saying it reminds them of their prime!]
[A donation of 1,000 Welfare Points has been made!]
...
The observers’ reactions exploded.
[The Ferry Man from the Bureau of Management is shocked by your explosive growth!]
[The Crow from the Bureau of Management cannot stop admiring your clean, decisive action!]
[The Newbie from the Bureau of Corporate Relations stomps their feet, saying this can’t be watched alone!]
New observers surged in like a tide, donations raining down alongside them.
[An anonymous observer trembles at the power exceeding all expectations!]
The anonymous observer that hadn’t appeared in a long time also casually threw in an enormous donation.
[A donation of 10,000 Welfare Points has been made!]
Huh? Ten thousand points?! Clearly, people like it when I take matters into my own hands.
He had cleared the trial, saved people, raised loyalty, gained buffs through the Puppet Master skill, and even raked in donations. Essentially, he killed five birds with one stone.
My decision was right.
All that remained was cleanup. Once they dealt with the minor monsters still lurking throughout the safari and declared the Sanctuary, it would be over.
Puff!
Just as Eun-Ho was about to shout instructions to the others, a single box appeared before his eyes.
[Congratulations!]
[You are the first in Sector 13 to defeat the Jungle’s Great Bandit, the Giant Baboon!]
[A special reward has been granted.]
A red chest fluttered amid the wind and rain. Wrapped in golden ribbon, its knot swayed like a cat’s tail.
[Check your reward!]
It’s usually something related to the monster itself, like seeds from Drosera, the Ice Golem’s core, and things like that. So what is it this time?
Curiosity stirred as he reached out. As his index finger brushed against the ribbon, the knot loosened on its own. The moment whatever lay inside revealed itself, his vision dimmed.
“What the hell?!”
“Why did it suddenly get so dark?”
“L-look! Look at the sky!”
A massive bank of dark clouds surged in out of nowhere, swallowing the heavens whole.
Wait a second.
Just moments ago, lightning had struck from a clear sky. Thunder had split the heavens open like a drum being torn apart. When thunder and lightning passed, what came next was rain, which these people loathed above all else.
Drip. Drip.
“Rain,” Eun-Ho muttered.
Drip. Drip. Drip!
“N-no!”
“Fuck!!”
Shaaaaa—!
The raindrops thickened in an instant, pouring down over their heads. Survivors abandoned everything they were holding and sprinted toward any roof they could find.
“Kyaaaaaaah!” a woman screamed shrilly and curled in on herself.
“Min-Young! Are you okay?!”
Her fear-filled eyes shook violently. She wrapped her thin arms around her lower abdomen, trembling uncontrollably. “O-Oppa! The rain!”
Hmm?
“It’s okay. This isn’t the black rain.” Eun-Ho said calmly, reassuring her first. Instead of addressing the woman lost in panic, he looked at the man holding her. “The trial is still ongoing.”
“Ah!” Understanding dawned instantly, and the man met his lover’s gaze, whispering urgently, “Min-Young! T-this isn’t the black rain. Don’t worry.”
“Huh?”
“It’s okay. It will be okay. Once the trial ends, we’ll hide right away. Got it?”
It seemed neither restructuring nor torrential rain could tear the couple apart. They clung to each other’s hands as if they were oxygen tanks inside a spacesuit. From their gazes alone, one could see how precious and irreplaceable they were to each other.
As an unfamiliar, ticklish feeling stirred in Eun-Ho’s chest, a flash of light pierced through the dark clouds. The rain thinned and the darkness lifted.
[Congratulations!]
[The Sanctuary has been completely purified.]
The world opened its eyes once more.
[The trial Sanctuary Declaration has been completed successfully.]
“Ha... It’s finally over.”
“How many did we even kill?”
“Had to be at least a few hundred, right?”
Compared to the flood of injuries at the beginning, the trial ended more smoothly than expected. All of Neverland, the land of fantasy, was bathed in gold.
True to its name, glittering paths stretched as far as the eye could see, covering every corner of their vision. When they finally lifted their heads, a translucent veil began to rise from the edge of the Sanctuary.
[A barrier has been generated.]
Like peering into clear water, the pale barrier expanded upward, slowly enveloping the entire area in a dome. It was a shield, a last line of defense that would protect their fragile lives that would otherwise fall away as easily as autumn leaves.
“It looks similar to the barrier that covered Namsan Tower.”
“Oh. So that must’ve been this kind of barrier too.”
As they exchanged those idle remarks, the barrier finished spreading, enveloping the vast area and becoming a new sky overhead.
[Barrier generation has been completed.]
[Please check the barrier’s effects.]
“Check barrier effects.”
[By the authority of the barrier, you may designate which entities are permitted to enter or exit.]
[Only believers who participated in the trial may designate entities. Authority transfer is not permitted.]
If one could designate who was allowed in, then one could also designate who wasn’t. In other words, Neverland could be opened or sealed off based on the type of trial.
That’s far better than sealing it blindly.
On top of that, the defensive effect exceeded expectations.
[Enemies defeated: 512]
[Defense Power: 512]
“Five hundred and twelve?!”
“That defense power value’s insane!”
[As long as you defend the sanctuary until the trial ends, a barrier will form. Its strength increases with the number of enemies defeated.]
It had said the strength scaled with kills, but he hadn’t expected the exact number of defeated enemies to be converted directly into defense power.
“With that level, it should block ordinary monsters easily. That’s great news,” Eun-Ho said.
“Thank you! This is all thanks to you, Eun-Ho Hyungnim!”
“Huh? You can just call me Eun-Ho—”
“If it weren’t for Eun-Ho Hyungnim, we’d all be dead by now. I don’t even know how to repay this debt.”
Hmm... They don’t need to be that grateful. After all, I had gained plenty myself.
[Number of actual survivors have significantly exceeded simulation predictions.]
[Additional trait-exclusive rewards have been awarded due to your trait, Rebel.]
[Resistance stat has been increased(+260).]
His resistance stat had stacked up nicely. If he poured it all into Counterattack, even a light scratch could be returned as a fatal wound.
Well, hopefully I won’t need to use it.
He’d also obtained the absurdly powerful skill, Bolt from the Blue. Besides, even the Puppet Master skill had leveled up.
[The proficiency of the skill Puppet Master(Lv. 1) has increased!]
[0% → 10%]
“Can we call you Hyungnim?”
“Eun-Ho Hyugnim is our lifesaver.”
“We’d like to treat you somehow. Do you need to head back right away?”
He was about to say they didn’t need to go that far, but shifted the topic. “We still have tuna cans, right?”
“Yes. We protected everything we brought today.”
“Good. Open those first and gather all the different kinds.”
People raised their voices, scrambling to pool together what little they had. Seeing their flushed faces, he realized this wasn’t just gratitude. It was a chance for them to finally let go of everything and enjoy themselves.
“If it’s just for a bit, that’s fine.” Eun-Ho agreed and followed them to the hostel where they were staying.
“It’s our first time having a guest, so there really isn’t much.”
Tuna cans rusted in places, likely from exposure to black rain. Stickers stained with grime, the brand name on the canned peaches barely legible. Then, there were cans of sweet corn so dented, they seemed ready to spill their contents.
“There really is nothing,” Eun-Ho muttered.
He had come because they asked, but he hadn't expected things to be this bad.
“Is this okay for you to eat?” Eun-Ho asked.
The woman shrugged as if forcing herself to sound fine. “Ah yes. I liked it. I can eat it even when my stomach’s upset.”
“Have you been eating only things like this?”
She nodded.
Even though the world had ended, canned food couldn’t have been the only way to survive. There had to be better ways to eat the same canned goods.
Did abundant supplies end up becoming poison instead?
He swallowed the sigh that rose up and said, “Everyone, go wash your hands.”
“Pardon?”
With one last dose of meddling kindness, Eun-Ho offered to help. “This is a cooking class.”
“Uh, you’re going to teach us?”
“Yes.”
They probably didn’t trust him as he’d never shown any cooking skill before. Well, he wasn’t completely clueless at least. “I used to be a top-ranked mukbang and cooking-stream BJ, you know.”
“What?!”
***
Choi Min-Young was baffled. “That person—I mean Mr. Eun-Ho is...”
“What about Eun-Ho Hyungnim?”
“How is he even good at cooking?”
There were people like that sometimes, who were good at everything. For example, idols fluent in foreign languages on top of singing, dancing, and acting; or good-looking, elite college students who partied hard and still excelled at sports. That sort of thing was still within the realm of understanding. However, this was different.
“How about a hamburger steak?” Eun-Ho asked.
“Pardon?”
“You will need protein. If we slice canned peaches instead of pineapple, it should work pretty well. Want to try?”
“Huh?”
Chop, chop, chop, chop, chop!
He sharpened a blade with his bare hands and cut meat from a bear’s belly.
“Beacon Fire.” He even lit a fire and grilled it. “And... done.”
Just like that, he produced a proper dish. “How is it?”
“Wow!”
“I-it’s delicious! Try it, Min-Young!”
“Go ahead. I made sure it’s cooked through, just in case,” said Eun-Ho.
Following her boyfriend, who had accepted it without hesitation, Min-Young put a piece of well-grilled meat into her mouth. The moment she bit down, rich juices spread across her tongue. Although it was cooked thoroughly with no trace of red, it was unbelievably tender, practically melting.
Min-Young felt like she would cry. “It’s delicious.”
“That Hyungnim really seems insanely talented,” said her boyfriend.
“No. It’s not that...” She searched for the right word to answer her boyfriend. “He’s like clay.”
“Huh?”
In one moment, he was in one shape and in the next, another. He was just akin to clay carefully molded by the creator to adapt to any circumstance. That was the kind of person Eun-Ho was, their savior.
“There’s more here. Eat as much as you like,” said Eun-Ho, offering.
“R-really? Thank you so much!”
“You two had good aim, but you looked a bit lacking in strength. For now, focus on building muscle. Train until you can hold a bow for over thirty minutes without shaking.”
“Ah yes! Got it.”
“And...” Eun-Ho opened his mouth, then closed it again. Each time he seemed about to speak, all eyes turned to him, making him hesitate.
“Go on.”
Eun-Ho shook his head and stood. “No. I should get going.”
Though curious about his hesitation, Min-Young simply watched him as he was about to leave.
“... I probably won’t be able to come back,” Eun-Ho said at last. His expression was bitter, but not overly emotional. “I hope we can meet again up there.”
With that, he vanished, as suddenly as he had appeared.
In his place, the missing personnel reappeared. “Is everyone okay? I-I was suddenly dragged into some weird office and—”
“More than okay. You’re not hurt anymore either.”
However, in reality, those who remained were no longer the same.
“Min-Young.”
“I want to follow after him. Don’t you?”
Beyond his encouragement, something else had taken root, a desire to grow stronger, and to become like him.
“He is incredible...”
“Yeah, he sure was. Let’s become permanent full-timers no matter what.”
Ding—!
Then, the announcement that followed extinguished even the warmth of that newly lit flame.
[A new bill has arrived.]
That damned yellow notice had come again.
[Salary has been paid.]
[Please settle maintenance costs!]
They received their first salary as contract workers and the cleaners of Earth. The maintenance costs they had to pay was five thousand points.
“Five thousand points!”
“Our pay is only one thousand so how does five thousand make sense?!”
“Still, with what we gathered today, we’ll barely make it.”
While some of the people in the group murmured in relieved voices, Min-Young was not.
[Salary: 1,000 Points]
[Maintenance Cost: 10,000 Points]
[Final balance: - 9,000 Points]
Min-Young staggered, barely managing to keep herself from collapsing. “O-Oppa.”
“Huh?”
“My maintenance cost is ten thousand.”
“What?! Why is yours so high?!” Jung Min-Gyu whispered in shock. “Don’t tell me it’s because of—”
Their gazes met in midair. Understanding struck instantly, and as if by agreement, both fell silent. Her maintenance cost was double everyone else’s, which meant it was for two lives.
Our baby.
Even this damned system had figured out about their baby.
“Oppa, how much do you have?”
“I’ve got 6,500 Points. What about you?”
“I only have 7,000. We’re short.”
“Then that means we’re short by 1,500 Points.”
One thousand five hundred Welfare points was not an impossible sum. However, there was no time to gather that many points right now.
Ding!
As their legs trembled, a box descended from the sky.
[A gift has arrived!]
[Would you like to check it?]
“A gift?”
Slip—
As the flustered Min-Young reached out, the ribbon unraveled on its own, revealing what was inside.
[You have obtained the Sky & Sea Special Sushi Set.]
[You have obtained the Braised Short Rib Set.]
[You have obtained the Warm Honey Water.]
...
She received lunchboxes stacked like a royal banquet, along with the price of two lives.
[You have earned 10,000 Welfare Points.]
She accepted it.
- From: Lee Eun-Ho
- Message: There were a lot of lunchboxes left. I thought you’d need them the most, Min-Young.
Min-Young’s hands began to shake.
- From: Choi Min-Young
- Message: How did you know?
Even they themselves hadn’t been certain for very long. Furthermore, she had hidden it carefully in fear they’d become a burden or be cast out once she grew heavier.
How did he know?
Then, the reply came immediately.
- From: Lee Eun-Ho
- Message: The gagging, the way you held your stomach whenever you were startled, only eating canned fruit. Your morning sickness was bad, wasn’t it? And I figured it wasn’t the weather you’d catch a cold in from the start.
A cold? Ah!
She remembered the day they first met at Namsan.
“Why the healing?”
“You have a cold.”
He had suddenly brought over a female student and healed both her and a model woman, who had lost Stamina chasing a terrorist.
Back then, we weren’t even sure yet... Yet he had remembered all of that? Someone who had nothing to do with us? Min-Young thought.
- From: Lee Eun-Ho
- Message: Congratulations.
“I’ll give you my points. Instead of me, you and our bab—”
“Oppa.” Min-Young embraced her lover, wiping away a tear she hadn’t noticed falling. “I think I’ve chosen the baby’s name.”
In a fantasy land with no dreams or hope, in a world reduced to ashes, a sprout had taken root.