Chapter 169

Chapter 169 – Expansion (1)

Construction on the annex finally came to an end, establishing a secure perimeter extending tens of kilometers in the vicinity of Seoul. This development also meant that Oh Eon-ju and Ha Dong-geon were finally liberated.

“Moving forward, the sole locations requiring active outpost maintenance are the three regions housing nuclear power plants: Yeonggwang, Uljin, and Gyeongju,” Kim Dabin announced.

As for Busan, home to the Gori Nuclear Power Plant, the expansion of the primary territory meant the area was now enveloped within their main borders. Consequently, running a separate outpost in that sector was no longer required.

Regarding Ulsan, the aftermath of the radiation catastrophe had already seen all remaining survivors integrated and moved to Busan, eliminating the necessity of keeping a base there. Because of these developments, the nuclear power plant zones remained the only three locations that demanded active outposts.

“Choi Hyeong-jun will take charge of the Wolseong base, Yoo Han-gil will oversee the Hanul base, and Seo Ye-jin will manage the Hanbit base,” Kim Dabin explained, dividing the responsibilities.

This distribution of roles was highly intentional. Situated in Gyeongju near the Busan headquarters, the Wolseong base was in a sector they already understood well, thanks to persistent creature-hunting expeditions in the vicinity.

Throughout Gyeongsangnam-do, including the territories around Ulsan and Gyeongju, the typical level of beasts hovered in the early twenties—just a bit tougher than those around Busan. With little left to investigate in that territory, Choi Hyeong-jun was the logical choice to be placed there.

Conversely, the remaining two bases were assigned to Yoo Han-gil and Seo Ye-jin, both of whom possessed exceptional scouting talents.

“Utilizing their specialized skills, our objective is to map out the neighboring regions and incrementally evaluate the local beast threats,” Kim Dabin elaborated.

The Hanul base rested right on the boundary line dividing Gyeongsangbuk-do and Gangwon-do, while the other site sat along the West Sea in Jeollanam-do. Both locations contained crucial nuclear facilities but remained largely unmapped.

“We intend to utilize these positions as stepping stones to secure major urban centers, establishing outposts that will lay the groundwork for expanding our borders in the future,” Kim Dabin declared.

Once Kim Dabin wrapped up her brief briefing, someone spoke up with a query.

“What is our precise headcount of active forces?”

In this context, “active forces” specifically denoted the vassals.

The immediate plan was to set up secure outposts in heavily populated metropolitan hubs such as Gwangju, Daegu, Daejeon, and Incheon. While the assistance of active combat divisions would eventually be vital to cultivate these new territories, their presence wasn’t required simply to lay down the initial bases.

“Leaving aside Yoo Hye-rin and myself to manage the paperwork and operations, we have a total of eighty operatives assigned to this mission. This includes Choi Hyeong-jun, Yoo Han-gil, and Seo Ye-jin,” she detailed.

They organized themselves into eight squads of ten members each, a structure designed to optimize productivity during the base-building phase. These eight squads were slated to sweep through the bustling urban zones and crowded districts of Gyeonggi Province.

“What’s the status on Jeju Island or Ulleungdo?” another attendee asked, recalling a topic raised during their previous discussions.

“Should this current phase yield positive results, we will put together dedicated units to handle those offshore territories down the road,” Kim Dabin clarified, keeping the immediate focus strictly on the mainland.

“Understood. What is the timeline for deployment?”

“I believe we should set out once the entire team has had ample time to recuperate.”

“Very well. We will launch the mission following a five-day rest period.”

Consequently, a brief five-day leave was handed to the exhausted vassals, who had been pushing themselves to the limit fighting beasts.

“Let’s get three more orders of sirloin over here!”

“Coming right up!”

Inside a bustling restaurant in the freshly developed commercial district around Sindorim, Yang Ha-young quietly observed her team sharing food, raising glasses, and sharing loud laughs before she quietly slipped out the door.

“Hey, Unni! Where are you heading?”

“To have a smoke.”

“Wait for me!”

Once outside the eatery, Yang Ha-young put a cigarette to her lips and sparked it, while the companion who tailed her flicked open her own lighter. Inhaling deeply to let the tobacco reach her lungs, the tip of her cigarette flared a bright crimson.

“You know, Unni, you look incredibly striking when you’re smoking,” the woman teased.

“Back off a bit. You’re invading my space.”

“No way! I’m staying right here!”

Utterly unbothered, she leaned in even closer and blew a cloud of smoke right toward Yang Ha-young’s face. Oddly enough, the girl grinned, happily taking in the stray fumes.

“Ah, nothing beats passive smoke~”

With a firm shove, Yang Ha-young finally forced some space between them. The girl took a step back with a pout, sparked up her own cigarette, and inquired,

“Is there something on your mind, Unni? We finally get some time off, yet you look so gloomy. What’s bothering you?”

Yang Ha-young paused before speaking.

“Choi Soo-bin.”

“Yeah?”

“Are you content with your life right now?”

Caught off guard by the abrupt inquiry, Choi Soo-bin wore a puzzled expression and paused to ponder.

“What kind of question is that?”

“Exactly what it sounds like.”

“Content…?”

Giving the matter some genuine reflection, Choi Soo-bin finally replied.

“Well, I suppose I am? I don’t go hungry, my living situation is fantastic, and even if slaying beasts gets tedious, my strength has shot through the roof. Plus, I can drink and smoke to my heart’s content!”

Choi Soo-bin tapped the ash off her cigarette, her face lighting up with a grin.

“Honestly, what more could I ask for?”

“I see.”

Silence stretched briefly as Yang Ha-young pondered those words.

“Well, I’m glad to hear that then.”

Yang Ha-young mused internally. The reality was that she was likely the abnormal one. Ever since that traumatic event, her mental state had been deeply fractured. Finding joy in simple, everyday moments felt entirely out of reach. She felt as though she were floating through an ethereal dream, completely detached from reality.

Conversely, her grief remained painfully sharp. The recollection of that specific day haunted her sleep night after night.

It was bizarre.

Why had she revealed her past to that man? She had never spoken to anyone about what happened to her parents before. Even Choi Soo-bin, the person she spent the most time with, was completely in the dark. Come to think of it, Choi Soo-bin knew almost nothing personal about her—she didn’t even know how old she was.

“How old are you, Choi Soo-bin?”

“What?”

“Weren’t you twenty-two?”

“Yeah, what about it?”

“I’m actually nineteen.”

Choi Soo-bin’s jaw dropped, and her half-smoked cigarette slipped from her fingers to the ground in sheer disbelief.

“Wait, seriously?”

“Yes, really.”

People had always assumed she was older than her actual age. Her height likely played a part, given she was 178 cm tall. In a collapsed world, looking older was far safer than seeming youthful, so she had never bothered to correct anyone.

“That’s a massive plot twist, Unni.”

“…Why are you still calling me that?”

“Does it bother you?”

“No, not exactly…”

“Then I’m going to stick with it. I’m already used to it anyway. But hey, Unni.”

Choi Soo-bin wrapped her arms around her chest with a playful glint in her eye.

“What made you suddenly share your age? Is this some kind of sign?”

“I just felt like saying it.”

Even as the words left her mouth, a sudden realization hit her. She had bared her soul to that man for the exact same reason—simply because she felt like it in that moment. And even now, the words kept flowing.

“My parents lost their lives because of me.”

“…What?”

“In truth, I was the one who killed them.”

“……”

Perhaps because she had already unburdened herself once before to a stranger, she found herself recounting the tragedy with far more composure and ease this time. The horrors that plagued her sleep every single night were shaped into words, escaping into the cool air. Choi Soo-bin offered no interruptions, simply listening in quiet contemplation.

An undisturbed silence enveloped them for several minutes as their cigarettes burned down to nothing. The distant, lively chatter of the restaurant patrons was the only sound breaking the quiet. When the embers finally touched the filters, Choi Soo-bin broke the silence.

“Unni, squat down like this.”

“…Why all of a sudden?”

“Just do it, hurry!”

Given Choi Soo-bin’s petite stature, whenever she tried to embrace her, her head would only reach Yang Ha-young’s midsection rather than her chest. Shrugging off her reluctance, Yang Ha-young lowered herself to the ground, instantly flipping their dynamic. Now, she was the one peering up at her companion.

And without warning…

Choi Soo-bin wrapped her arms tightly around her. Small, gentle hands reached out to stroke Yang Ha-young’s hair. Then, a soft voice murmured,

“It’s alright, Unni. None of this was your fault.”

In that single instant, everything clicked.

“I’m sure your parents were just incredibly grateful that you made it out alive.”

Those were the exact words she had spent so long yearning to hear. And then, a memory surfaced.

A vivid image of her mother’s face in her final, agonizing moments flashed before her eyes. She had been desperately attempting to speak. Even while enduring excruciating agony from shattered bones, she had managed to summon a faint smile to convey a final message.

(Thank goodness… I’m so glad you’re safe…)

The realization struck her like a wave. A burning sensation welled up behind her eyes, and before long, hot tears began streaming down her cheeks. Yielding to the emotion, she buried her face deeply into Choi Soo-bin’s shoulder.

“You’ve been carrying such a heavy burden, haven’t you?”

A gentle hand patted her back rhythmically as she let her silent tears flow into the night.

“Kuaaaagh!”

“This is an absolute nightmare!”

A desperate wail pierced the air of a nearby rebuilding zone.

“This cannot be real!”

A truly baffling scenario was playing out. Over the past several days, construction efficiency had skyrocketed, entirely due to the presence of a certain human. Thanks to a lady who cruised around in her vehicle rapidly repairing damaged pathways, the overall labor requirement had plummeted.

Best of all, the grueling task of restoring roads had been completely taken off their plates. To make matters worse—or better, depending on who you asked—her supernatural power had surged even further, enabling her to reconstruct entire collapsed structures. Naturally, this sudden automation caused a wave of grumbling among the laborers, though the individual currently screaming was actually overjoyed on the inside.

“I actually believed I was going to get a real break this time!”

In short, it had all been a beautiful, temporary illusion. Long before their current tasks could be completed, the designated territory they were responsible for had multiplied in scale.

“It’s got to be a bad dream! There’s no way!”

But no matter how much they tried to reject the truth, the facts remained. The crumbling ruins of the metropolis surrounding them made it painfully obvious that their chores had multiplied. Nearby, other workers who were cheerfully wiggling about as they hammered away echoed their thoughts.

“That human female nearly ruined the whole routine! I was genuinely stressed about what I would do with all that tedious free time!” one laborer bellowed while patching up a fractured wall.

“Oho! Did the word reach you that she’s officially on leave now? She deserves it!” another worker added with a huff, never breaking their rhythm.

“Did you catch her doing that? She basically swept up all our labor, cleared it out in a blink, and then waved at me condescendingly! The sheer embarrassment still stings!”

“Totally! She made a fool out of me too!”

A chorus of complaints arose from those who had suffered similar blows to their pride.

“I hope she stays on vacation forever!”

“Exactly! Keep her away from our construction zones!”

But listening to this bizarre exchange, one overworked laborer finally snapped.

“Well, I actually want a break too!”

Enraged by the illogical workaholism of his peers, the lazy laborer barked at the nearest worker.

“Fine! If you’re so obsessed with labor, why don’t you take over my shift?!”

A brief hush fell over the group. And then…

“W-Wait, really?! You’re handing it over?!”

The eager laborer didn’t waste a single second, lunging forward instantly.

“I’ll gladly take your workload, and anyone else’s too!”

Caught off guard by the response, the lazy worker simply blinked and asked,

“…Are you actually serious?”

Instantly, the work-hungry laborer beamed.

“You are hands-down the best person ever!” he cheered, crowding closer.

Suddenly, the others joined in.

“Hey, me too! Give me some of your tasks!”

“Back off! I claimed this labor first!”

Observing this absurd turn of events, a brilliant idea struck the lazy worker.

“Alright, alright! Line up in an orderly fashion! Who wants to bid on taking over my duties?”

The surrounding crowd shouted enthusiastically.

“I do! Let me! Choose me!”

Witnessing this absolute victory, the lazy worker wore a massive, satisfied smirk.