Stagnant Water of Apocalypse

As you guys know or maybe not. Kig had been scheduled to receive a surgery pretty soon, so please hope him a speedy recovery everyone!

And in his stead, Aaghna will be in charge of editing. So, if you find any names which was different from the , or just any problem with the translations, just ping asta in discord. TYTYTYTY

The members of Dot Island had left for the government shelter with only some of their supplies in the bag. They did so because I told them that I will keep the rest of their supplies in my shelter for future use. I also put all the chicken that Jiman had raised into the portal and put them together with the Hwajo .

As I went to the front of the dormitory, Da-jeong, who was drinking coffee while gazing at the sea, uttered.

“It’s really interesting to see you having fun while working.”

“Well, it was because I consider this as some kind of farming in a way.”

“Do you know what I am most curious about?”

“The root of all this chaos?”

“Wrong.” Da-jeong chuckled. “It was how you build your shelter inside your portal.”

“Well, the shelter there wasn’t anything special.” I answered. It only consisted of a cave, a free lot, and warehouses that acted as a storage for the suppli… No, wait. Now that I think about it, there’s also a vegetable garden, a basement, a barbed wire fence, and a lot more of this and that there. But for now, let’s just say to Da-jeong that it was nothing special.

Anyway, it was quite a lot of work to move all the supplies in the island because the members of Dot Island worked hard in searching for supplies. I’ll give it back to them someday, but as of now, it could be said that all of their supplies have become mine.

Da-jeong sighed at that moment. “You are really a supply pervert. By the way, will we have our lunch only when the two others arrive?”

“Yeah. We should wait for them. Don’t worry, those two will arrive soon. They are quite fast on their feet, after all.”

Yeowool’s childhood friends, Park Junho and Kim Doyoung, had gone to Changwon a few days ago. It’s not for a grand purpose of going to a dungeon whatsoever, but they went there just to look for something to loot. But, since Yoohyeon had sent them a message using his doll before he went to Seoul, they should arrive soon since their unique skill was a cheat skill in terms of pure mobility. The farming dungeon portal will remain here for at least two or three days, so I will wait for them before moving again.

While waiting, Da-jeong was bored out of her mind because of the peaceful atmosphere. So she wandered around the island and found the vegetable garden that Jiman tended.

“Hiaaah~ Poor Man’s unique skill is just insane~ farming strawberries in this weather?”

“It’s insane, isn’t it?” Though, I was also surprised by the size of the garden and the number of types of the crops. They all grew up so well to the point I began to think about making business out of it. Out of all the crops, my eyes especially gleamed at the strawberries. After all, there were a lot of them which had grown to the size of a child’s fist.

If my garden back in the shelter could grow crops well thanks to the mysterious power of the forest itself, this garden could grow the crops this well entirely thanks to Jiman’s unique skill.

Da-jeong squatted, plucked some strawberries from the stems and put them into her mouth.

“Uwah! It’s really sweet and refreshing. This is my first time eating strawberries like this. Seongho, have one too.”

I ate the strawberry that Da-jeong put in my mouth. And at that moment, the burst of sweetness really makes me regret my decision of sending him to Seoul. I had an ominous feeling that Jang Won-taek would never let him go.

“Da-jeong. Does the government have extra land? I mean, land that could be used to grow crops.”

“They have. Do you remember the time when the government tasked me to slay plant monsters before? It was on that island. They said that once the situation stabilized, they would use that island to farm some crops.”

“I remembered that. Was the name of the island, Bam Island?”

“Yep. That’s the one.”

“Where actually is it, though?” I queried. However, without waiting for her answer, I opened the map and checked its location. Turns out, it was a small island in the middle of the Han River. Therefore, its distance from the mainland was quite close.

With that distance, wouldn’t the monsters be able to cross by swimming? No, wait… This is just my guess, but I think monsters cannot cross through water, based on what the government called ‘server separation’.

“Da-jeong, were there any monsters on Bam Island?”

“There’s nothing but plant-type monsters there. Are you perhaps curious about whether monsters can cross through water or not?”

“Yeah. I know that your ghouls can do it, but what about the other monsters?”

“Hmm… should we experiment?”

“If you are willing, then yes please.” As she heard my answer, she dispatched some of her ghouls to catch some wild ghouls and goblins. It will take quite a while for them to swim there and bring them back here, so in the meantime, I decided to move the whole garden to the shelter.

Some time later, the two monsters which were caught by Da-jeong’s ghoul landed on the island and were instantly surrounded by her other ghouls.

“I just have to make them swim, right?”

“Yeah.”

Da-jeong snapped her fingers and the giant ghoul tossed the wild ghoul into the sea. It floundered and flapped its arm around, but it wasn’t swimming at all.

Were zombies and ghouls unable to swim? Well, I have never seen any of those two monsters appearing in the wetland labyrinth back in the game, so it was probably correct.

“By the way, you didn’t teach your ghouls how to swim, right?”

“Are you crazy?” Da-jeong snapped back at me with her eyes wide open. “Do you think I’m that diligent? Guys, push the goblin.”

When the ghouls walked closer towards the goblin, it took a step back. However, although it was clear that it was terrified by the ghouls, it did not even think of running away to the sea. A ghoul even came close to the goblin’s nose and threatened it by opening its mouth. However, the goblins seemed to be more afraid of the sea.

Looking at the sight, I concluded. “They seem to perceive the sea as the boundary of the server.”

“What do you mean?”

“If you play a game, users can freely connect to whichever server they want, right? But for NPC monsters, that’s impossible. In other words, those monsters perceive the sea as the boundary of the server and do not want to approach it.”

Da-jeong squatted down and placed her chin on her knee.

“Does that make sense? They’re monsters. They weren’t something which was programmed by someone.”

“They might have been influenced by some force, just like we, humans who were awakened because of the system.”

“Hmm… I don’t like it.”

“It’s the reality, so it can’t be helped. By the way, where is the nearest river…”

The Nakdong River in the north of the island should be sufficient for another experiment. The goblin, who refused to the end, was then being thrown away by the ghoul. Just like the ghoul earlier, it floundered a lot before sinking into the sea.

Now, It became clear that land monsters were weak against the sea. If I combine it with a shelter which could withstand zombie raids made with Geom-in’s unique skill I wonder how strong it would be…

At that moment, Da-jeong sat on the bench and took off her padding and cotton pants. At the sight, I couldn’t help but think that it was nice to live in the warm southern part of the country.

“Why haven’t those two come yet?” Her slender legs danced in the air as she said that.

“I know right.” I smirked. They are really late

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The two still did not come until evening. Therefore, both me and Da-jeong decided to just have our meal without them. After eating, we set ourselves around the bonfire and looked at the sky.

Suddenly, Da-jeong who sat next to me said something out of the ordinary. “Did you see the faces of the doctor and Mi-kyung during the day?”

“No.”

“You are too much… The two of them are in love with you, you know? How can you didn’t even care about it?”

“I already expect to some extent if it’s Mi-kyung, but Sooyeon is like that too?” I asked. She’s a person who doesn’t express herself at all, after all.

Da-jeong straightened his legs and murmured. “When people were packing their bags. I asked them about their willingness to do 3P.”

“Hey, you crazy….” I was surprised by those words and snapped my head at her as quick as acceleration unique skill. However, Da-jeong didn’t even flinch at it.

“They are adults, aren’t they? So what’s wrong with asking them that question? Anyway, the doctor looked completely disgusted.”

“Who will like it?”

“Me! And for your information It doesn’t matter if it’s a woman or a man.” As I got used to her antics after traveling together for so long, I forgot for a moment that she had a few screw looses. No wait, this is not even a screw loose, tthis is a question of sexual orientation…

Anyway, I wanted to changed the subject quickly, but I failed miserably as Da-jeong seems to enjoy the topic.

“Actually, I’m fine with women. So I tried to seduce the doctor and Mi-kyung. but I failed.” Da-jeong said as she put her legs on top of my thigs.

“You were determined to make me hated you, huh?”

“Are you really hated the idea being together with them? So, why did you let Mi-kyung touched your hair for an hour?”

Hearing what she says, I coldn’t find any rebuttal. I mean, Mi-kyung spend one full hour to cut my hair. And to be honest, For me, who believed that men’s hair could be cleaned in 20 minutes, it was a bit too long. But I don’t have heart to stop her in the middle because she look serious.

“When I look at the two of you from the side, she treat your face as if it were a bottle of wine. She keep caressing your face.”

“She just shaved my beard.”

“Isn’t she a hairdresser? Can you cut your beard at a hair salon too?”

“No…” I don’t know if it was in an expensive hair salon. But most of the time, the cut will ends with them washing my hair.

Da-jeong leaned her upper body and looked at me.

“Even though the doctor said no, Mi-kyung still remains. Someday we’ll do 3P with her!”

Looking at her, I couldn’t help but to let a long sigh. The good things is, I’m sure it would’t happen because Mi-kyung wouldn’t agree to it.

By the way, what kind of life did she have to be this crazy?

“Da-jeong, you know that before the end I ran a snack bar, right? Can I ask what you did in the past?”

“Hmm… It was something a lot of people do, but it wasn’t normal at all. But it’s better for you not to know or we’ll be uncomfortable with each other.”

“Ah okay…” She said it in a somewhat complicated tone. Therefore, I should keep my mouth shut from this point. However, my curiosity about her past did not leave my mind. I’m sure just like Seokhyun, she had led an unusual life. But as of what kind of live… I don’t know.

We leaned against each other and looked at the moon hanging in the night sky.

“Those two troublemaker still not coming yet.”

“I know right.” Seems like we wou;d have to go find them as soon as we wake up in the morning.

At that moment, Da-jeong snuck into my arms.

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We woke up early in the morning and prepared to leave the island. It would be impossible for the two to move to Seoul using the Farming Dungeon if we didn’t find them by tomorrow.

Leaving the beloved Dot Island behind, I walked for a long time on the industrial road with the ghouls in front. As we entered Yanggok-dong, we heard the chorus of zombies and ghouls shriek. It seems like a zombie raid is happening near here.

“I think there’s people living in this area.”

“Are they the same as the Japanese from yesterday?”

The Japanese who attacked the island were only a few. Therefore, there is no need for us to kick a fuss here. We turned northeast without stopping at Yanggok-dong. While we were looking at the empty industrial complex at the intersection, someone passed by.

Who is it… I forgot his name, but this movements were vivid in my memory.

“Junho!” After tying my best to recall his name, I called him. The guy stopped and climbed over the iron sand.

“Huh? Seongho hyung?” I think he’s really Junho. He ran quickly and gasped in front of me.

“Wow, Seongho-hyung, it’s been a long time. By the way…” It seems that he forgot Da-jeong’s name. Well it’s only natural since even though the two of them met in the farming dungeon, they barely spent time together.

“I’ll give you 10 seconds. Say my name in ten seconds.”

“No-noona I’m sorry…”

Da-jeong covered Jun-ho’s face with her hands at that moment and pressed it hard.

“It’s Da-jeong, Choi Da-jeong. If you forgot again in the future, I’m going to shove something into your ass. Do you understand?”

“…” Seeing his face blushed, it was unknown whether he loved it or not.

I pulled him away from Da-jeong’s clutch and asked. “Did you guys get the paper airplane?”

“What paper airplane?”

Ah, It seems like the paper airplane couldn’t found them. Then, I briefly explained the circumstances to him. And his expression turns urgent in an instance.

“That can’t be… We have to go too.”

“Don’t worry, there is still time. Where’s Do-hyeon?”

“Do-hyeon is with the Japanese now.”

With the Japanese?

Seeing that my impression was getting worse, Junho hurriedly corrected it. “They are not bad people. We were treated well by them even though they didn’t have much.”

Ah… It seems like they were different kind of Japanese from the crazy Japanese we met. From what I hear from Junho, theit number was about a dozen. Moreover, the two who appear to be brother and sister were the one who lead the group.

“From what I hear from the siblings, they come from family of Japanese nobility. It was a high-standing family to boot.”

“Nobility?”

When Da-jeong asked, Junho told her everything he knew. In summary, the family the siblings came from was a family which had been a Japanese nobility for a long time. Though the class itself had been abolished a long time ago, its influence was still there.

“Go to Da-hyeon now and tell him to come with you. You two should go to the government shelter too.” I said so, but Junho groaned.

“But hyung… I’m on my way to a pharmacy right now…”

“Why?”

“The noble girl, Yuzuka was sick… so I want to find some cold medicine for her…”

“Oh my gosh. Our Junho fell in love with a Japanese noblewoman.” Da-jeong chuckled. At her teasing, Junho’s face turned red.

“It’s not like that noona…”

“Then what?”

“I just want to help…”

“Okay, okay.” Da-jeong laughed. Even though she’s crazy most of the time, she’s still sensible enough to not downplay his desire to help others.

By the way, haven’t I seen the name Yuzuka before?

“Ah, from the auction house!”

“What auction house?”

“Long time ago, someone asked if there were any Japanese people at the auction house. At that time , I was looking for someone, so I checked her ID too, and the name Yuzuka came up.”

“Ah, so if someone doesn’t have a Survival Life ID, their real name will appear, huh?”

“Hyung, Noona, what are you talking about?” Junho tilted his head as he asked. Ah right, he still doesn’t know who I am…

“You should ask the others later, bur for now, let’s go.”

Da-jeong intervened. “Why, will you help them?”

“Because they are people from high rank, I think they will have some good information.”

“What they have should only be information about Japan. Hang on… Don’t tell me?”

I said what I had in mind. “Aren’t we going to go to the Japanese server someday? Remember those foreigners who come to our server from a speedrun labyrinth? We should do it like them”

“Nice! By the way, I’ll use the ghoul to beat the monsters, you just need to get the last hitt. I will take you to level 27 here.”

I should say at this point that her tenacity to go inside the portal was commendable. With that in mind, we hurriedly headed to Yanggok-dong.

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Led by the Shiraishi brothers and sisters, Japanese nomads waged an arduous battle against the zombies. Most of those Japanese didn’t know about zombie raids. It was only Yuzuka and Kenji who knew about it thanks to the auction house. However, they often forgot that it was not allowed to gather more than 5 people in one place. And every time, the result was always like this.

“Hiyap!” Shiraishi Kenji’s long knife and wooden sword violently cleaved the zombie’s skull. He was someone who was strong enough to fight several zombies or even one or two ghouls, but the current situation was still a bit too much for him as there were too many zombies. On top of it, there was a ghoul mixed amongst them, making it far more harder.

“Kenji-sama, we can’t continue like this any longer!” Screams were heard one after another. As the icing on their misery, the number of people who were only a few continued to decrease.

Kenji clenched his teeth as he glared at the ghouls running towards him. Those bizarre twisted limbs, no matter how many times he saw it, he still couldn’t get used to it. He wanted to run away in all honesty, but behind him stood his sick sister. So, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

“Even if this becomes my grave! I will not fall!” He shouted after taking a rough breath.

Finally, the ghoul in front of him jumped towards him. Kenji’s eyes shook as he saw its long claws and sharp teeth. However, just before his long knife collided with the ghoul, something really amazing happened.

Someone was grabbing the ghoul by the ankle.

“Wh-who?”

Kenji and Yuzuka’s mouths fall to the ground. What they saw was a man of great size. That man casually grabbed the ghoul’s leg and slammed it to the floor.

Kieeeek-!!

Blood and bodily fluids gushed out of the ghoul’s mouth as it screamed.

“You can endure this, huh?” The man said in an even tone as the ghoul struggled to free itself out of the man’s hand.

“Eutcha!” Finally, the ghouls freed itself. However before long, a long knife greeted it.

Swwwosh-!!

In the air, the ghouls were dismantled into pieces. Kenji couldn’t keep his mouth shut at the sight. The man just casually cut the strong ghoul into many pieces!

Oblivious to his thoughts, the man wiped the blood off his long knife and looked at the siblings. At his eerie and cold gaze, they couldn’t help but swallow a dry saliva. They realized that the men in front of them was a league above them in terms of power.