The party members who heard Kim Dokja's words looked at him with concerned expressions. However, soon, with determined looks as if they had steeled their hearts, they descended below the platform and stood on the railway track heading toward Yaksu Station.
"Are you planning to enter the railway?"
Just as everyone was about to move, following Kim Dokja who stood at the front, a voice sounded from the platform above. Because of that voice, the party members stopped in their tracks and looked up toward the platform.
"Well, in the long term, we do need a team dedicated to scenario攻略. Go and come back safely."
On the platform, Cheon Inho and some people from the mainstream group stood with their hands behind their backs, looking down at Kim Dokja's party with sly smiles.
"While you're at it, could you take one of our group members along? We'd also like to get some information on the攻略."
"D-do I have to go?"
Han Myung-Oh hesitantly stepped out from behind Cheon Inho and spoke to him.
"Hey, why are you acting like this now, Han-hyung? Didn't you keep clinging to me since last night saying you wanted to make up with Dokja-ssi?"
"Th-that's...…."
At Cheon Inho's words, Han Myung-Oh cautiously gauged Kim Dokja's reaction and spoke to him.
"Um, the thing is, Dokja-ssi. If it's alright, can I also come along...."
"Sure. Let's go together."
When Kim Dokja looked at Han Myung-Oh and readily agreed with an impassive expression to go together, Han Myung-Oh stared at Kim Dokja with a surprised face.
He probably thought Kim Dokja would naturally refuse.
"Thank you so much for readily accepting our group member, Dokja-ssi."
"Not at all. Well then, we'll be on our way."
"Go and come back safely. Please return safely."
In response to Cheon Inho's words, Kim Dokja nodded once and then moved his steps toward the tunnel path leading to Yaksu Station. Following his action, the party members hurriedly followed behind him.
"Wow, Sangah-ssi. You're really well-prepared, aren't you? I can't believe you had a flashlight. But where did you get that flashlight?"
"I picked up this flashlight on the way here to Geumho Station. I brought it just in case. I'm glad it's useful."
[A few Constellations admire the preparation of Incarnation 'Yoo Sangah'.]
If necessary, I was going to spend 3 coins to buy a flashlight from the shop, but thanks to the thoroughly prepared Yoo Sangah, there was no need.
"Kyaaak!!! A c-corpse...!!"
When Han Myung-Oh pointed somewhere with a trembling hand, the party members turned their heads in the direction he pointed and their expressions hardened. Because, as Han Myung-Oh said, the corpses of people were visible there.
"Y-Yoo Sangah-ssi! It's dangerous, so hold my hand!"
"......It seems the Manager is more scared than me though?"
"Th-that's n-not it! Eeek! D-didn't you hear something just now?!"
"....Damn, can't even kill that guy...?"
I glared at Han Myung-Oh, who was putting on airs while being much more terrified than Yoo Sangah, with a cold gaze and muttered.
"Dokja-ssi, is it really okay to bring that person along...?"
"He's a person who is neither a threat nor a help, so it should be fine to leave him be."
Lee Hyunsung looked at Han Myung-Oh following behind at the very back and spoke to Kim Dokja in a worried tone, but Kim Dokja answered Lee Hyunsung with an indifferent expression that there was no need to care about a human who was neither a help nor a threat.
"More than that, are you really okay, Jung Heewon-ssi? Your body isn't fully healed yet..."
"I'm more worried about Gilyoung than myself."
Kim Dokja looked at Jung Heewon with a worried gaze, and at his words, Jung Heewon smiled slightly and turned her head toward Lee Gilyoung, saying she was more worried about him than herself.
"It's really dangerous ahead. We're not just going like this, right?"
"Actually, I've been concerned since a while ago too. Sending back Gilyoung and the women even now..."
"Lee Hyunsung-ssi. I may not be as good as you, but I know how to fight quite well too? I used to do kendo before."
"But..."
At the moment when the atmosphere was about to overheat due to the unnecessary argument between Jung Heewon and Lee Hyunsung, Kim Dokja intervened in the two people's conversation at an appropriate timing.
"It seems both of you have forgotten. A few days ago, the world we lived in completely changed."
Kim Dokja, who had been leading at the front of the party in the dark tunnel path, stopped walking, turned his head to Lee Hyunsung behind him, and spoke.
"The idea that women and children are physically weaker is now prejudice. Anyone can increase their stats and become stronger. Gilyoung-ah, show these people your ability."
At Kim Dokja's words, Lee Gilyoung nodded once, stepped forward, and moved to stand beside Kim Dokja. Then he crouched on the tunnel floor and placed his hand on the ground.
"My goodness, what is that?"
"Sh-shit! It's cockroaches!"
"Ah.... damn.... can't even kill that one..."
Shortly after, at the sight of black cockroaches approaching their surroundings, Jung Heewon and Yoo Sangah opened their eyes wide and took a few steps back, while Han Myung-Oh screamed in terror.
Because of that, I, who was nearby, suffered eardrum terrorism from Han Myung-Oh and soon genuinely started to consider, should I kill him?
"My trait is 'Insect Collector'. I can have simple conversations with insects."
Lee Gilyoung muttered something to a single cockroach that had approached right in front of him, acting as if having a conversation, then turned his head to the party members and continued speaking.
"It says there's nothing ahead. It should be safe for the next hundred steps."
The party members who saw Lee Gilyoung's ability looked at him with dumbfounded expressions. Lee Gilyoung observed the adults' faces for a moment and then continued speaking to the party members.
"I appreciate your concern, but I didn't follow along to be a burden to my hyungs and noonas."
"Ah, I see."
At Lee Gilyoung's words, Jung Heewon nodded with a somewhat awkward face. After finishing speaking, Lee Gilyoung stuck close to Kim Dokja's side, and Kim Dokja patted his head.
"By the way, it seems those people were attacked by something. Is it okay to proceed further?"
"Even if we want to go further ahead, it's pitch black ahead as if some barrier is up, so I can't see anything."
Jung Heewon glanced at the people's corpses once, then turned her head to Kim Dokja and expressed reluctance about moving forward. Yoo Sangah also spoke in a tone mixed with worry about the dark tunnel path, no matter how much she shone the flashlight ahead.
As Yoo Sangah spoke, when Lee Hyunsung stretched his hand toward the dark ahead.
Ding!
[A new sub-scenario has arrived!]
Category: Sub
Difficulty: E
Clear Condition: Hunt a monster that can be utilized as food yourself and then cook it.
Time Limit: None
Reward: 500 coins
Upon Failure: ???
As if some barrier was cleared away, the sub-scenario appeared before the party members' eyes.
"Eeek! M-monsters...!"
After clearing the sub-scenario messages from before their eyes and looking ahead, the corpses of quite large monsters came into view. Looking at those monster corpses, Han Myung-Oh screamed again.
A monster with the size of a full-grown wolf, front paws similar to a mole's, and spines growing on its back. Grade 9 Underground Species, Ground Puppy.
A large number of Ground Puppies had been killed by someone, to the extent that the word 'slaughter' was fitting.
And that someone is 1000% likely to be Yoo Joonghyuk.
"Dokja-ssi, with this, can't we clear the scenario?"
""It said we have to hunt it 'ourselves,' so probably not."
"......Then that means we have to catch these monsters ourselves. But catching them is one thing, what about cooking them? Do we just grill them over fire normally?"
"How about using the Magic Stove I have?"
"Aha! You have that!"
Then, while looking at the Ground Puppies' corpses, Kim Dokja suddenly remembered something and asked Jung Heewon.
"More than that, Heewon-ssi, you said you're good at kendo, right?"
"Well, to say I'm good at it is a bit..."
Kim Dokja looked at Jung Heewon, who was trailing off, then turned his head to look at the Ground Puppy's corpse. Then he crouched in front of it, pierced the Ground Puppy's corpse with the Stone Hog's spine, and began to dress the corpse using a knife he was holding. The party members, including Jung Heewon, quietly watched Kim Dokja's actions.
Although clumsy, somehow Kim Dokja managed to dress the Ground Puppy's corpse, and now he was holding its spinal bone in his hand. The party members alternated their gazes between Kim Dokja and the Ground Puppy's spinal bone with interested expressions.
"What are you going to use that for?"
"To hunt monsters, you need weapons."
Kim Dokja answered Jung Heewon's question and then began to sharpen the Ground Puppy's spinal bone. It was a crude handiwork, but as he sharpened the spinal bone bit by bit, it gradually took the shape of a blade. Soon, as if finished, Kim Dokja handed the spinal bone he was holding to Jung Heewon.
"......Suddenly feels like we've gone back to the Stone Age."
"You'll need to sharpen it more for it to be useful, so use stones around here to sharpen the blade well."
"Hehe, understood. Chief."
At Kim Dokja's words, Jung Heewon began sharpening the blade with stones nearby in a slightly excited voice. The party members watched Jung Heewon's actions and then sharpened the blade of the Ground Puppy spear Kim Dokja had just made for them.
"By the way, Yuseong-ssi, your weapon is—"
When Yoo Sangah asked worriedly, I took out the E.G.O - Bullet that I had newly acquired this time and said.
"Huh? What did you say?"
Upon seeing my gun, Yoo Sangah immediately shut her mouth.
For reference, I obtained this E.G.O - Bullet through a gacha pull on the way here.
And the rest were the Phantom Liquid from Build, Laser's Rampage Bike Gashapon, others like a watch and glasses, the Beast Transformation from Tensei Slime, Toriko's Knocking, the Hamon skill, E.G.O - Red Flame, the cursed Kaiserium weapon and Dragon Slash skill from Maple's Kaiser.
Additionally, the E.G.Os were treated as Stigmata.
"......You all have coins saved up, right? If possible, invest everything in Strength, Stamina, and Agility, leaving only enough for the survival fee. If you don't do that, you won't be able to survive."
"I'll keep that in mind."
At Kim Dokja's words, the party members except for me immediately opened their status windows and began raising their comprehensive stats.
Rustle
Then, a rustling sound from behind. At that sound, the hands of the party members who were raising their stats all stopped simultaneously, and they turned their heads toward where the sound came from.
Kim Dokja looked at such party members and began to speak again.
"It may sound cruel, but honestly, I don't expect all of you to survive. Still, everyone, please survive."
The moment Kim Dokja's words ended, the figures of Ground Puppies crawling out from various places on the floor became visible.
At the sight of the Ground Puppies gradually approaching them, the party members swallowed dryly and tightly gripped the weapons in their hands.
Grrrrr....
"The number of monsters in front of us right now is 25! It's more than expected. Everyone, be careful not to get surrounded by the Ground Puppies while fighting!"
Graaaaaaa...!!
Soon, the fight between the Ground Puppies and us began.