Chapter 34

It was finally the promised time .

I gathered on the line 3 platform with the party . Every member was checking their weapons . Lee Hyunsung seemed to have handled it properly .

“I did as Dokja-ssi asked . ”

Since the weapons they had used so far were very old, I asked Lee Hyunsung to produce new weapons . The materials were from the grade 8 underground species, the groll that were killed in the struggle last night . The blades and spears were made by cutting the horns of the groll . They weren’t long enough but they were appropriate as a temporary measure .

Jung Heewon smiled like she was satisfied .

“Isn’t this much lighter and durable?”

“Ah… Dokja-ssi, Hyunsung-ssi . Thank you very much . ”

Yoo Sangah bowed . The groll’s horn couldn’t be used to make a blunt weapon so only Lee Gilyoung was still carrying a weapon from a ground rat . Lee Gilyoung was silently gazing at the ground . This sulking child… I stroked his head and said .

“It won’t be easy . This situation can be more dangerous than yesterday . Are you all ready?”

The party members nodded .

“Then we will start . ”

From now on, it was a fight against time . We had to work as quickly as possible before the Landlord Alliance noticed the situation . Jung Heewon, Yoo Sangah and Lee Gilyoung disappeared to their respective floors for their missions, while I started climbing the stairs with Lee Hyunsung .

Lee Hyunsung spoke in a voice without any confidence .

“Dokja-ssi, I am unsure . ”

…He was the core of this operation . He shouldn’t be talking like this . I deliberately answered in a strong voice .

“It will be fine . ”

However, Lee Hyunsung’s face was still timid .

“I think that people are relying on me more than they should . I’m not sure I can do well . ”

“Hyunsung-ssi is a dependable person . ”

“…Thank you for saying so . In fact, this is my first experience . When I was in the army, I never got someone’s trust like this . ”

It was the first time I’ve heard this story . That reminded me, I didn’t really know about Lee Hyunsung’s army life . Ways of Survival only mentioned it in passing .

“Once this is over, I want to hear Hyunsung-ssi’s story . ”

I said it casually but Lee Hyunsung was more shaken than I thought .

[The character ‘Lee Hyunsung’ has started to open his heart to you . ]

[Your understanding of the character ‘Lee Hyunsung’ has greatly increased . ]

“Sometimes I feel strange when talking to Dokja-ssi . ”

“Huh? Why…?”

“It seems like you knew me from a long time ago… I can’t explain it well…” Lee Hyunsung scratched his head and trailed off . “Ah, I don’t mean anything strange . I just…”

“I know what you mean . ”

“Thank you . I’m also curious about Dokja-ssi’s story . ”

“My story?”

“Yes . I have never seen a person like Dokja-ssi before . I’m curious about what you did before this happened . ”

Somehow, I felt a bit strange . The ‘supporting cast’ of the novel I read was curious about me . I had a bit uncomfortable and had an itchy feeling .

“It isn’t very interesting . ”

“I still want to hear it . ”

Suddenly, a question popped into my head .

If Ways of Survival hadn’t become reality, would Lee Hyunsung be living in the same world as me? Or did the novel suddenly emerge as a reality? I didn’t know . One thing was for sure . Lee Hyunsung was now a ‘living person’ in front of me .

“Oh, Yoo Jonghyuk’s friend . Did you come to negotiate?”

At this time, a number of middle-aged men came forward . Chungmuro’s Landlord Alliance .

“Hmm…but where are the women?”

The middle-aged man who spoke was holding a woman by her hair . She was part of the group that had been in the five spaces green zone just yesterday . The man laughed at my gaze .

“Ahh, this friend didn’t see her land… This matter doesn’t concern you . ”

“S-Save me . Help me!”

The woman was gazing at me pitifully . In my head, the constellations of the ‘absolute good’ started clamoring . But I waited . It was because I had someone who would act instead of me .

“Let her go . ”

It was Lee Hyunsung .

“Who are you?”

Lee Hyunsung looked at me after the middle-aged man’s question . It was like he was asking for permission . I nodded .

[The character ‘Lee Hyunsung’ wants to practice justice of his own will . ]

[The character ‘Lee Hyunsung’ is about to evolve . ]

The allied members pulled out their weapons and exerted a tremendous momentum . I checked the time . It was time to begin . I raised my stats with my coins .

[1,200 coins have been invested into ‘physique’ . ]

[Physique Lv . 15 -> Physique Lv . 18]

[Your physique level has increased dramatically!]

[1,200 coins have been invested into ‘strength’ . ]

[Strength Lv . 15 -> Strength Lv . 18]

[Your strength level has increased dramatically!]

This was the maximum efficiency with minimal investment .

[Coins Possessed: 20,450 C]

I had another place to spend the remaining coins .

Kwaaaang!

Small blasts were heard all over the subway . A big and small uproar followed . It was the signal .

“Hyunsung-ssi!”

Lee Hyunsung nodded . We ran forward towards the men in the front row . The confused alliance members shouted .

“What, you bastards!”

[The exclusive skill ‘White Pure Star Energy’ has been activated . ]

Sukakak!

“Kyaaak!”

The arm of the middle-aged man holding the woman’s head flew away . The middle-aged men froze at the blood that emerged . Lee Hyunsung and I ignored them and kept running . The middle-aged men belatedly chased after us .

“These crazy guys! Stop them!”

A corridor on B2 . It was the private land of Gong Pildu .

[You have invaded private property!]

“Surround them!”

The alliance members waiting in front discovered us . Some of the alliance members were missing, so there were less than expected . 20 in the back, 12 in the back . However, it was still a lot of people .

Well, I had no intention of dealing with all of them .

The moment I was about to clash with the alliance members, Lee Hyunsung moved ahead of me with a steel shield .

[The character ‘Lee Hyunsung’ has used the stigma ‘Great Mountain Push Lv . 1 . ‘]

Kwakakakak!

Lee Hyunsung used his tremendous muscle strength and they fell like dominoes .

[The character ‘Gong Pildu’ has activated ‘Armed Zone Lv . 4!]

Turrets started to rise from all over the territory . The turrets were charged with red magic bullets and were prepared to fire . There were five mini-turrets . The level of Armed Zone had rised again .

“Dokja-ssi!”

I overtook Lee Hyunsung and at the same time, I received his shield . As soon as the solid shield entered my hand, a stunning shock from a bullet pushed me away .

Kwang! Kwaang! Kwaang!

It was heavy, as if I was hit by a cannon . The arm holding the shield was in pain . The level 19 magic power was strong . But I had to hold on .

[The compensation effect of Unbroken Faith has increased physique to level 20 . ]

[A toughness that is one step higher has protected your body . ]

“A cheeky tenant is here . ”

Beyond the voice, I heard Gong Pildu’s gruff voice .

Our feet were tied up by the powerful magic bullets while the alliance members were still chasing us . The durability of the iron shield was falling . Now it could only block a dozen magic bullets in the future .

Gong Pildu spoke like it was interesting .

“I don’t think you came here to pay a fine . What is going on?”

“Now I will quit being a tenant . ”

“How interesting . Are you coveting my land?”

“We’ll see . More than that…”

[Some of the trespassers’ stats are reduced by the effect of Gong Pildu’s private land . ]

…It had started . This was why Gong Pildu’s power was scary . The special effect of Armed Zone was a ‘private land debuff . ‘

Red magic power started condensing on the turrets .

[The character ‘Gong Pildu’ is preparing the ‘strengthened magic bullets . ‘

As long as the combo of ‘private land’ and ‘armed zone’ wasn’t broken, there were very few incarnations who could deal with Gong Pildu .

“Die . ”

The moment that the enhanced magic bullets were about to be launched, I heard the screams of people from far away . The wounded landlord alliance members were rushing to this side .

“P-Pildu-ssi! The land…!”

There were signs they were injured by something sharp . Lee Jihye had moved . Now was the time . I looked at Lee Hyunsung .

“Hyunsung-ssi, now . ”

Lee Hyunsung’s eyes were shaking .

“Smash it . ”

Lee Hyunsung raised his fists up high . He looked uneasy and irritated, but there was also a firm determination not to retreat .

[The character ‘Lee Hyunsung’ has evolved . ]

There was a blinding light and silver aura started to appear around Lee Hyunsung’s bdoy .

I was a bit emotional at the sight . Lee Hyunsung’s ‘character evolution’ was one of the scenes I liked most in Ways of Survival . It was the reason why Steel Sword Lee Hyunsung was called one of the strongest supporting characters . That is―

[Due to the character evolution, a new stigma has been opened . ]

When it came to ‘one blow’, Lee Hyunsung was considered one of the strongest in Ways of Survival .

[The character ‘Lee Hyunsung’ has used the stigma ‘Great Mountain Smash Lv . 1 . ‘]

Pale magic power gathered around Lee Hyunsung’s fist and within seconds, Lee Hyunsung’s arms became big enough to transcend common sense .

“Haaaat!”

Lee Hyunsung’s fists flammed down onto the ground .

Kwaaaaang!

There was a loud sound and the fragments of the broken floor scattered in the air . The alliance members screamed .

“W-What?”

Jjejejejeok!

Dangerous cracks spread across the ground and the positions of the turrets started to twist . The magic bullets were fired towards the wrong place . An explosion spread and dust clouds rose . Then after a while .

Ku ku ku ku!

There was a great vibration and the ground of B2 started to collapse .

[The green zone has been destroyed . ]

[The character Gong Pildu’s private land has been destroyed . ]

I looked at the collapsing ground and grinned towards Gong Pildu .

“Let’s go back to the days when we didn’t have our own land . ”