Chapter 110

Chapter 110
The weather cleared instantly once the rain ceased. Where storm clouds previously hovered, a full moon now dominated the sky, casting its glow over charred Christmas tree remnants, ash-covered monsters, and human onlookers whose minds had turned entirely blank from shock.

“You…” Argon managed to utter first, his voice trailing off into a near whisper. “You… what on earth… are you…?”

As it leapt down from the meteorite and approached, Argon instinctively retreated. The other villagers hesitated, briefly considering flight before freezing in unison. Escaping such an entity independently seemed entirely out of the question. Through the carved gaps in the snowfield, blue-lit glaciers shone sharply under the moonlight, making the prospect of fleeing that domain feel impossible.

The figure swept its gaze across the crowd before its mouth slowly parted. Argon felt certain that whatever demands it made—even their lives—they possessed no ability to resist.

“So…” it finally began, speaking clearly. “Shall we… eat something?”

I devoured the monster meat provided by the Candy Zone villagers like a possessed individual. Even so, it dissolved into blue particles upon contact with my lips, just as always. The sole alteration was my hunger—an authentic, unprecedented hunger. Whether it was the aftermath of expending massive power or something else, my stomach roared with vicious intensity, a sensation so foreign it hit me hard.

Regardless of the quantity consumed, the craving refused to abate: the desire to sink teeth into solid food and swallow a cold beverage. So long as meals functioned via the player mechanic, that hunger would never quiet down. Unsure of how much I had ingested, I only stopped when I recognized more food wouldn’t help, and surveyed my surroundings.

The Candy Zone NPCs stared at me with abnormal expressions, almost as though anticipating I might consume them. Luna, currently residing within the ring, offered a quiet murmur.

[Honestly? Even I was scared for a second.]

Clearing my throat, I stood up. “I seem to have made quite a spectacle of myself.”

“A spectacle?” Argon, who had stared with a dropped jaw throughout my meal, scowled as though insulted. “A minute ago you summoned rain like a deity and slaughtered dozens of monsters, and now you’re stuffing your face like a starving ghoul. What even are you? Are you human?”

I couldn’t precisely recall my actions, but the devastation around me made it clear ordinary people couldn’t replicate them. Argon’s suspicion was entirely reasonable; I could hardly claim humanity with a straight face anymore. Could a standard human body handle such power, or experience a thirst unquenchable by ordinary food? Could I truly classify myself as the same species?

Consequently, I offered the only reply available. “I am simply the son of Commander Hayden Goodman.”

“Then either your father isn’t human, or your mother isn’t. Or both.”

He possessed quite the sense of humor, considering I had just saved his life. “Instead of questioning my humanity, go locate the arsonist. They’re likely one of your own.”

“Are you claiming you didn’t start the fire?”

“I nearly killed myself extinguishing it. Do you seriously still suspect me?”

When surrounding villagers flinched and shook at my glance, I abandoned further explanations and opened the chat window. Messages from Han Yeo-bom awaited. While I had been gorging myself, he had verified the Christmas Forest flames were extinguished and wondered why I had delayed checking in. The messages contained some positive developments.

ROOM CORNER HUBBY
Found 2 Candy Zone residents outside the zone.

ROOM CORNER HUBBY
One of them is the Dentist.

That was a relief; the Dentist was already secured near the airship. I had previously wondered why he wasn’t inside the zone, though he didn’t seem like someone who would abandon his people to flee alone.

ROOM CORNER HUBBY
But the other one’s a little sus.

ROOM CORNER HUBBY
He came stumbling out with the unconscious Dentist on his back, so I figured an NPC had rescued him…

ROOM CORNER HUBBY
I checked Character Info. He’s a player.

Another player existed in the Candy Zone alongside the Dentist? Han Yeo-bom continued writing.

ROOM CORNER HUBBY
He doesn’t seem to know some players have the System unlocked. Zero clue we can already see what he is. Not that I blame him-the Dentist didn’t even know how to run Character Info.

ROOM CORNER HUBBY
If the fire’s out, come back already?

ROOM CORNER HUBBY
Hey.

ROOM CORNER HUBBY
You okay?

ROOM CORNER HUBBY
No reply in 5 minutes and I’m flying the airship over there.

The five-minute window had already elapsed. Looking up, I spotted the airship flying directly toward us. The Candy Zone NPCs noticed it too, gathering together in nervous murmurs. I turned my attention back to the charred forest. By smothering the flames before they reached residential structures, the houses remained intact, but the Candy Zone’s survival had always relied on the Christmas tree forest. Without trees to deter monsters, a handful of residents relying solely on bows and arrows faced an impossible future—especially since the raw materials for those weapons had just burned away.

This outcome diverged from my original plans, yet rescuing solely the Dentist and departing would have left a bitter aftertaste.

[You had a conscience?]

Ignoring Luna’s voice—or perhaps my own internal monologue—I turned to Argon. He recognized that their home was no longer secure, heavy worry etched across his face.

“Hey, mister.”

“Mister? It’s Captain Argon to you, you crafty little brat.”

“And I’m not a crafty little brat—I’m Captain Haydam. Anyway.” I let a smirk touch my lips. “Got somewhere to go?”

“Somewhere to go…?”

“This meteorite. Hand it over to me, and I’ll relocate you somewhere safe.”

Technically, the meteorite belonged to the Dentist as a player, but its prolonged service powering an entire zone meant it belonged to everyone. That accounted for seeking Argon’s agreement.

“Relocate us somewhere safe…? Is that even possible?”

“Did my recent actions look impossible?”

That argument hit home. Argon deliberated briefly, realizing a rock of that magnitude was immovable by their own power and that a safe zone rendered the meteorite unnecessary. Alternatively, witnessing my manipulation of it convinced him of its hazard. In any case, his decision came quickly.

Upon Argon’s agreement, I messaged Han Yeo-bom.

— DOPAMINE ADDICT
Yo.

— ROOM CORNER HUBBY
What the hell, dude.

— ROOM CORNER HUBBY
You’re fine and you just didn’t answer??

— DOPAMINE ADDICT
Ask Miki Parker.

— ROOM CORNER HUBBY
Ask him what?

— DOPAMINE ADDICT
How many people that airship can hold.

—

“The airship’s back?”

In the Cola Zone, Commander Hayden Goodman received the unexpected update and rushed from his office toward the perimeter walls. Just as Major General Platon indicated, an airship approached from the distance, heading straight for the fortifications.

“They’ve returned only two days after leaving.”

Commander Hayden had mentally prepared himself for Haydam’s runaway excursion to last weeks or months. The boy certainly wouldn’t stage a kidnapping fabrication merely for a two-day trip. Others gathered at the news shared identical expressions of disbelief mingled with subtle relief. While Haydam always handled trouble, the looming apocalypse three years away made every shared moment precious.

“Living long enough to witness everything. Maybe the Captain finally realized running away is a hassle,” Colonel Bones muttered from behind. Commander Hayden allowed brief optimism that his son boarded that vessel—until the craft dropped altitude well before the walls, disembarked a crowd, ascended, and veered away.

“What…” The Commander’s mind went blank momentarily before he clung to the hope that his son remained among the passengers.

“Th-there were so many getting off. Surely he’s among them?” Major General Platon stammered, uncharacteristically losing his composure regarding Haydam.

As the arriving group drew closer, Commander Hayden struggled to believe his eyes. The limping man leading the procession possessed a painfully familiar face: Argon, leader of the Candy Zone.

“Funny. I don’t see our Captain anywhere.”

“Who even are those people? Their attire differs entirely from ours…”

“Doesn’t the guy up front resemble General Max?”

“How long has he been a general while you still use that title? Besides, didn’t he mention calling him Father?”

“Father, my a—”

“Why feel so embarrassed saying Father?”

“Shut up! I’m telling you that guy looks like General Max!”

“In what way?”

“The part where a bird could build a nest in his beard.”

“…General Max would execute you for hearing that, Bones.”

While Bones and Lucas whispered, the delegation shortened the remaining distance. Platon raised a hand to signal guards to ready weapons, but Commander Hayden intervened.

“People you recognize, sir?”

“They originate from the Candy Zone.”

“The Candy Zone? Then why disembark from Haydam’s airship?”

Lacking any explanation for their presence on his son’s transport, Commander Hayden could only await Argon’s direct explanation. At a respectful distance, the Candy Zone villagers halted, bowing politely to the Cola Zone inhabitants at Argon’s cue.

Unable to wait further, Commander Hayden stepped forward. “What is the meaning of this, Argon? Why arrive on my son’s airship?”

Argon appeared equally surprised. “What, he didn’t even discuss this with his old man? Unbelievable little bastard.”

A sharp wave of dread struck Commander Hayden, which he suppressed before asking, “What is that supposed to imply?”

“Last night, the Christmas Forest burned down completely.”

“What?”

“Your son saved our people.”

“…Who saved whom?”

“He offered to relocate us to the Cola Zone after we lost our homes. We accepted.”

“…What did you just say?”

Regardless of whether the Commander comprehended the statement, Argon pressed onward. “Our weapons manufacturing doesn’t match yours, but we excel at processing monsters. Your boy mentioned you discard everything except monster meat and hides?”

“Wait. Are you stating you relocated here permanently as zone residents?”

“Correct. Not that I’m thrilled, but opposing fate holds no appeal.”

Despite Commander Hayden’s frozen posture, Argon grinned broadly enough to twitch his beard. “So let’s put past grievances behind us. Looking forward to working together, Hayden. Or should I say—our Commander, sir.”

Only yesterday, Argon gnashed his teeth at the sight of him, yet he had flipped his attitude overnight without hesitation. More importantly, Commander Hayden sought his son.

“Where is my son, then, if only the rest of you arrived?”

“Your son? Hang on—he provided a written note detailing my lines.”

“Haydam wrote you a note?”

“Ah. Here it is.”

Unfazed by the expression on Commander Hayden’s face, Argon retrieved a crumpled paper fragment, cleared his throat, and began reciting.

Father, while the kidnappers’ attention slipped for a moment, I managed to save the people of the Candy Zone—but I failed to escape myself. Raised until seventeen like a greenhouse flower… it’s too cold and too frightening out here for someone like me. Pfft-ahem. To secure my release, I require your full and active cooperation. Father, I miss you. Please, faithfully carry out the kidnappers’ demands…

The line declaring “Father, I miss you” nearly broke his composure briefly. Ultimately, Commander Hayden confronted reality: his runaway son had successfully saved an entire zone within two days, dumped a massive population onto their territory without consultation, and immediately departed back onto the airship—all while maintaining an absurd, unconvincing kidnapping narrative.