Chapter 28: Well, that’s shit.

People tend to get angry when things don’t go their way.

Lee Seong han was no different.

It seemed hard for him to understand that there was another emergency quest, just after he barely survived Kang Miyoung’s not-so-subtle threats.

These guys don’t give him a break.

“Shadow magic, Major, did you bring a flashlight?”

“No.”

Kang Miyoung, who was waiting on the street, shook her head.

Lee Seong han snorted as if he expected that, and casually tossed a spare flashlight and batteries from his backpack.

Kang Miyoung caught the items that flew in an arc.

She inserted the batteries into the flashlight, then narrowed her brows as if worried.

They can’t just leave like this.

Around Gongbang-ro, a large barricade was erected during the Great War, making it impossible to penetrate with ordinary equipment.

You could call it a fortified area.

“You’re not thinking of going in there with just your bare body, are you? You, it’s too dangerous.”

“I know.”

“As your superior, I can’t allow it.”

“We can’t just go back like this, can we?”

“Well, that’s true.”

Kang Miyoung replied, swallowing a groan. Unlike her face, her low voice was mixed with a calm rationality.

Was she under hypnosis?

Is it dangerous?

Every word is true. Lee Seong han admitted it himself.

It would probably be safer to stick a metal fork into an electrical outlet.

Doll-obsessed Hong Seomin.

In other words, it’s the magic that the doll maker mainly uses.

It’s not that the Hunter Association didn’t know about this and suffered.

Lee Seong han folded his arms and replied.

“Major, there’s no other way. We have to do emergency quests no matter what, right? If we fail, who knows what kind of retribution will follow.”

That place is already like Hong Seomin’s sanctuary.

Seong han knows it too.

It’s common knowledge, even written in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, that you should avoid attacking the enemy’s main base unless it’s an all-in or you avoid it.

“You seem to have made up your mind.”

Kang Miyoung’s meaningful words. Lee Seong han shook his head.

“Let’s go. Inside.”

“…You’re crazy.”

He knows.

“I’m going in because I’m crazy. Would I ever come up with such an idea again? I have to use it a lot while I can.”

“Is that so.”

“That’s right.”

He didn’t add unnecessary embellishments.

Because it’s a fact that he’s crazy.

If you stay in the military for too long, your body and mind start to rot.

In the end, you become a monster who only knows about promotions. It’s better to deal with it quickly.

Moreover, if it’s that person, Hong Seomin?

It’s no big deal for her to get rid of most people. There are also recent missing person cases.

[『Emergency Quest』 has been updated.]

Lee Seong han opened the quest window.

[『Emergency Quest: Doll Play』]

[Gakryeong Market was once a place where many people came and went. It is unknown what schemes Hong Seomin is plotting here, but she must be stopped.]

[This quest requires ‘Kang Miyoung’.]

Damn it, why are there so many updates for emergency quests?

Can’t you just add a few main quests?

Lee  Seong han thought so as he walked to the front of the market.

The system’s coercion is weaker than expected, but the results, whether intentional or not, converge to a certain extent.

Total loss.

Loss.

Break-even.

Profit.

Huge profit!

Roughly five outcomes.

“I can assure you this time, Major. I have a good feeling.”

Lee Seong han turned on the upgraded [Auto Battle].

Maybe it’s because he crossed the line of death and fought, but [Auto Battle] has already reached level 4.

Level 1 is the default.

Level 2 is evasion.

Level 3 is information.

Then what is level 4?

[You can know the degree of the quest reward.]

An ambiguous explanation.

He tilted his head.

You can know the degree of the reward? He’s not sure what that means.

Lee Seong han raised his head. A UI that hit all the stimulating elements like an illegal adult advertisement caught his eye.

Right next to the trait window, two consecutive quests he received today were displayed prominently.

[『Emergency Quest: Doll Play』]

[Huge profit probability greatly increased! An unimaginable result may be waiting?!]

[『Emergency Quest』]

[Kang Miyoung’s approach is temporarily suspended.]

Well, it’s believable!

****

The system is the constitution of the tower.

The law that forms the basis of every nation.

If such a law is absent, the state organization cannot function properly.

The system is the same.

It doesn’t mix in lies.

It only delivers the necessary information.

But this time, the system hinted that it’s a huge profit.

Lee Seong han licked his lips.

Why is he already looking forward to what kind of reward he will get?

“Ugh, it’s so dim.”

The market was dark.

So much so that he couldn’t see ahead properly.

It felt like being swallowed by darkness. His head is also hazy. Like he took strong cold medicine.

Lee Seong han tightened his tie to clear his head.

“By the way, is the market always like this? It doesn’t seem like the Gakryeong Market I know. The one with lots of people and goods!”

Seong han casually asked Kang Miyoung.

“That’s the old days. It’s said that it’s hard to even find the bodies of those who died alone in the old town of Gongbang-ro. It’s a pity.”

The market inside the gate has long been destroyed.

It had a dreary atmosphere.

The stores were all closed with metal shutters, and some places were impassable due to collapsed buildings or piles of debris.

Even though it was daytime, it was like night because of the awnings. It’s like a scene from a horror movie.

“Are you following well?”

“Of course.”

Kang Miyoung turned around and watched his condition. Her expression was full of worry.

She took the lead, and Lee Seonghan followed behind, assisting her.

Kang Miyoung looked as if she was scanning the darkness before answering belatedly.

“Right. Isn’t it a mess? Since gates open frequently, everyone just accepts it. It’s also dangerous. Now, if you go into the left alley, it’s the central square.”

“Yes.”

As they entered the Gakryeong Market gate, all communication devices became useless.

It was fine in Gongbang-ro, but it turned off as soon as they arrived.

Now the only support they can rely on is each other.

Or something unknown in Gongbang-ro.

“It’s like sticking your head in front of a man-eating tiger. Don’t you agree? Ah, watch your step.”

“Ah, thank you. Since Hong Seomin has appeared, safety is not guaranteed. Her target is me, isn’t it?”

Lee Sunghan summarized the events and persuaded Kang Miyoung.

Gradually, Kang Miyoung’s attitude became more relaxed.

“That doll maker’s target is you. I can’t figure out what she’s up to.”

“One thing for sure is that she wants to cut off my limbs and use them somewhere.”

Kang Miyoung had a deep, thoughtful expression, then frowned.

……..

“Well, since she even took off the head of the association president, she’s not a normal person. She’s famous because she’s S-rank, but she needs to be dealt with.”

He didn’t bother saying that he would die if she wasn’t dealt with.

The smart Kang Miyoung would be able to infer that much.

Just then, Kang Miyoung raised her arm reverently as if to tell him to stop.

“Alright. From this time on, we will carry out our official duties. Move quietly. To the safe zone… it’s about 100m left.”

Lee Seong han turned on his flashlight and walked along the market street.

He heard that this is where Gongbang Street started.

Of course, now it’s completely deserted, but he heard that there are a few artisans and residents.

「Welcome to Gakryeong Market!」

As Lee Seong han turned the corner, he realized that he could see light.

At first, he thought it was an enemy.

But he was relieved to find that it was sunlight coming from a collapsed ceiling.

[You have entered the safe zone.]

“Let’s rest for a moment. The quest is pointing to a deeper place. Probably the center.”

“Is that so?”

“Hmm, the fountain is stopped. It seems to have been stopped due to aging. I don’t know if it will serve its purpose.”

Dust particles shimmered in the sunlight in various places.

The marble fountain in the center of the intersection was completely lifeless. It was so dull that it was gray.

Square.

Several stores were clustered together. Lee Seong han opened the closed stores and rummaged through usable equipment.

“This is about it, I guess?”

[Mass-produced Longsword (B)]

[Ordinary Leather Armor (C-)]

[Mana Enhancement Amulet (C+)]

He picked out items that were in  good condition. Lee  Seong han wiped away the beads of sweat.

Since it has come to this, he had to take everything that was usable.

Since it’s going to be discarded anyway, he’s just using it for its intended purpose.

“Major?”

“Ah, you. Ahem. What is it?”

Lee Seong han casually sat on the fountain.

Crack crack.

A strange noise could be heard.

[‘Auto Battle’ is activated.]

‘What is it.’

A black figure flew from the shadows. Lee Seong han quickly rolled away from where he was sitting. It felt like he was pushed away.

A black afterimage passed by where he had been sitting just moments ago.

Damn it, is it Hong Seomin?

“Enemy!”

“Confirmed.”

Kang Miyoung drew her longsword and stabbed it down. The beast hanging on the tip of the blade cried out in pain.

“Gr, grrrr!”

As the sound subsided, Kang Miyoung examined the blade.

“It’s a digger. They usually dig holes underground and live there.”

“It’s a monster.”

“That’s right. It’s a monster. It seems this place no longer serves as a resting place.”

“The fountain should have been fixed more often.”

“That’s true.”

A four-legged beast covered in black fur. He heard that it was a mole transformed by magic.

It lives in dark areas. It wasn’t in Gakryeong Market for nothing.

“More are coming.”

“Got it.”

Diggers attacked from all sides. After dealing with them, the area became quiet. As Lee Seong han was relieved.

“H-hey?!”

A voice echoed from afar.

It’s a person.

There’s a person!

A woman bleeding profusely approached. As she got closer to the fountain, Lee Seong han carefully helped her.

Kang Miyoung stared at it blankly. She must be distrustful. Of new people.

“Are you okay?”

“Gasp, gasp. I’m okay.”

He laid the woman down on the fountain and finished the first aid. Then he checked the hunter ID hanging on her belt.

[Kim Seojeong]

Lee Seong han read the ID for a moment and felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

‘What is it?’

He looked around. Then he found the cause of the déjà vu.

[‘(EX)’ can read the memories of objects.]

Is it because of that?

‘Read.’

Lee Sunghan, who was reading the memories. He swallowed hard for a moment, then trembled.