- Volume 3, Chapter 656. Earth. Return (4) “Alright, everyone, wake up.” The people rubbed their eyes and slowly got to their feet.
After counting them, Jung-geun spoke quietly.
“This is the last stretch. Let's hurry.”
They began to move once more. The people's expressions were bright. Although their pace was slow, they had been traveling for nearly two days.
They would soon arrive at the City Hall. And then, a problem occurred.
Grrrk.
[Monster No. 8995421675 has appeared.]
A snake-like Monster appeared before them. Jung-geun stopped the people and raised his sword. Jung-geun could handle a single Monster.
Everyone waited without tension.
Grrrk.
“Huh?”
A second Monster with the same number of digits appeared. But the people were not particularly flustered. A second Monster had appeared quite a few times before, but it had always been dealt with in some unknown way.
A vague thought that it would be the same this time dominated their minds.
Grrrk.
However, when a third Monster appeared, the story changed.
“Uh, uh-oh?”
“Wait.”
Three Monsters surrounded them. Jung-geun swung his sword fiercely, pushing back a Monster, and shouted.
“Run!”
Two, he could somehow manage. But three was absolutely impossible. The people ran with screams.
A race for their lives had begun.
Grrrk.
The Monsters aimed for the people's backs. Just as one was about to crush the head of the child lagging farthest behind, Jung-geun rushed in and blocked it.
Kwoong!
“Keuk!”
Jung-geun gritted his teeth against the raw power. The people were fleeing desperately, but they would eventually be caught by the Monsters. He had to buy time until they reached the City Hall.
The three Monsters lunged at Jung-geun simultaneously. Jung-geun caught his breath.
[You have activated No Breath Attack. For the next 10 seconds, you have freedom of breath.]
Kagak.
Freedom of breath was his. He moved his arms and legs to block the Monsters' attacks. He quickly opened his Inventory.
He threw a blue powder.
Pwoong!
The powder exploded, forming a physical barrier. Powder of Stillness. An Item that exploded upon contact with an enemy to create a tangible barrier.
It was an expensive Item, costing a whopping five hundred Gold. It was tearfully expensive, but thanks to it, the Monsters were pushed back, creating an opening. One Monster twisted its long arm in every direction and struck at Jung-geun.
Instead of dodging, Jung-geun blocked with both arms.
[Jung-geun has taken 6 Damage.]
“Keuk!”
He took Damage, but it allowed him to throw his body backward. Jung-geun immediately ran toward the people. It was a perfect response that surprised even himself.
He had bought some time, and if he could just hold out a little longer, they would reach the City Hall. As Jung-geun headed in the direction the people had gone, he flinched. His eyes trembled.
“Why…?”
The people were not moving forward but milling about. Soon, Taesan also understood the reason.
Grrrk.
[Monster No. 5123198777 has appeared.]
Two Monsters were blocking the people's path.
“Th-this is…”
“Jung-geun!”
“S-save us!”
Tearful voices cried out, but Jung-geun couldn't answer. From behind him, the three Monsters were approaching. Surrounded by five Monsters.
Jung-geun gritted his teeth.
‘Are they that determined to kill us?’
Grrrk.
A Monster with large tentacles moved its body. As it was about to sweep up the people, Jung-geun hurriedly went and blocked it.
Kwoong!
Jung-geun's body was pushed back. The other Monsters attacked him. He desperately blocked, but he couldn't even handle two of them in the first place.
Wounds began to appear all over his body. In this desperate situation, Jung-geun's mind was calmly assessing it.
‘I can't possibly win.’
Even if he used everything he had, the outcome wouldn't change. If he tried to hold out here, the only result would be everyone's death. In that case, could he escape alone?
The answer came quickly. It was possible. His strength and speed were nearly equal to the Monsters'.
If he struck quickly and moved, it wouldn't be difficult. His sword moved fiercely.
Kaang!
The Monster was momentarily pushed back. Another Monster filled the gap. Jung-geun's face contorted savagely.
He had to abandon them. A hundred people. Those who had trusted and followed him.
And of his own free will. Jung-geun felt sick. He was a good person.
He had led the hundred burdensome people toward the City Hall. He had taken on the trouble himself and strived to save them. Some might say it was the obvious thing to do, but in a world where no one did the obvious, he could be called a good person.
But he was also someone who could coolly assess reality. He was not so good as to sacrifice his life for others. That was what pained him so much.
Everyone was like that, but it was worse for him. He was disgusted with himself for being unable to abandon them when he didn't have the confidence to take responsibility to the end, and yet, also unable to abandon them coolly.
If he was going to abandon them like this, wouldn't it have been better not to save them in the first place? If you're going to save someone, shouldn't you save them until the end? He barely managed to still his trembling hands and averted his gaze.
The hundred desperate pairs of eyes looking at him. The faces of those who relied on and depended on him alone. He had to abandon them all.
He had to ignore the screams they would utter as they died and their resentment toward him.
‘If only I could sacrifice my life for them.’
Then it would be so simple. It was a problem that would be solved if they just died together. But Jung-geun was not that kind of person.
In the end, he could not choose death. The reason he had calmly accepted death in the previous world was partly due to the self-loathing that had accumulated from experiences like this.
‘If only I had power.’
The power to protect them all. The power to defeat the Monsters and move forward. But he didn't have such power.
Jung-geun stopped fighting. Seeing him standing still, the people stammered.
“J-Jung-geun?”
“What's wrong?”
He looked at the people forlornly. Sensing something ominous, fear crept onto their faces. It was when Jung-geun was about to make his decision.
“Leaving?”
Taesan spoke to him. Jung-geun, who was about to bolt, flinched. Taesan was staring at him blankly.
Even in a situation where everyone was about to die, he showed not a hint of agitation.
Taesan muttered.
“So this is what happened.”
In the previous world, Jung-geun, who had returned to the City Hall alone, refused to speak with anyone and secluded himself. He only came to his senses after the Second Return. Realizing that Taesan had noticed what he was about to do, he gave a bitter smile.
“Are you going to blame me?”
“Why would I?”
The incredibly light words instead flustered Jung-geun. Taesan truly looked like he saw no reason to.
Grrrk.
As if it disliked their conversation, a Monster moved its arm. As the attack headed for Taesan's head, Jung-geun reflexively tried to block it.
Kwajik.
But before he could even move, the Monster was crushed.
[Monster No. 5123198777 has taken 60 Damage.]
“Huh.”
“60?”
The eyes of the despairing people widened.
Jung-geun froze.
Taesan shook the slime off his sword.
“Whatever choice you make, I won't blame you. I was just curious.”
What had happened? That was the one reason he had stuck around. It served as a decent way to pass the time.
Taesan's arm blurred. In the moment it seemed to disappear, the Monsters' heads exploded.
“Uh, uh-oh?”
Jung-geun was aghast. He had struggled to kill even a single one. Against two, he couldn't do a thing and had no choice but to flee.
Five such Monsters had exploded all at once. He hadn't even seen how the sword moved.
“You. Don't tell me…”
It was the moment suspicion turned to certainty.
Grrrk.
[Monster No. 45677521 has appeared.]
An eight-digit Monster appeared. It looked bigger and stronger than the others. An E-Class Monster.
A Monster you could only catch after reaching the Depths in Easy Mode. Taesan lazily moved his sword.
“Waaaah…”
“We're finally at the City Hall…”
Sobbing, the people arrived at the City Hall. A woman who was standing guard, perhaps having volunteered as a Gatekeeper, opened her eyes wide.
“Oh, huh? Why are there so many?”
Seeing the hundred or so people, she hurriedly looked them over. Then, spotting Jung-geun, she let out a cry of admiration.
“Ah. Jung-geun! You were here too.”
“Yes. Hello, Hwi-yeon-nunim.”
Jung-geun welcomed her with a bitter smile.
Kim Hwi-yeon.
A Hard Mode Player, she was one of the few people who were acquainted with Taesan. She had died during the Third Return.
“Wow… I've never seen such a large group before.”
She couldn't hide her admiration as she looked at the people. She had watched people come into the City Hall, but the largest group among them was five at most. A group of this size was simply marvelous.
She looked at Jung-geun with a proud expression.
“You protected them?”
“No, it wasn't me, it was…”
Just as he was about to speak about Taesan, Taesan shook his head slightly. Jung-geun closed his mouth.
“Hmm? Not you?”
“…No. It's thanks to everyone working together.”
Hwi-yeon tilted her head but didn't press further.
“Then I'll guide you. Come this way.”
She paid no particular attention to Taesan. It was because she thought he was just one of the hundred people. She led the people inside the City Hall.
Jung-geun was amazed.
“There are… so many people.”
A considerable number of people had gathered outside the City Hall as well, but inside the building, there wasn't even enough space to lie down comfortably.
“Everyone from Anyang gathered here. When you think about it like that, this is a small number.”
Hwi-yeon clicked her tongue. Understanding the meaning behind her words, Jung-geun's expression darkened. The population of Anyang is five hundred thousand.
Normally, a number that couldn't possibly fit into a single City Hall. But the fact that they did fit meant that that many people had died.
“Still, we survived. We did.”
She comforted Jung-geun.
“Thanks to you, a hundred more people survived. You have every right to be happy.”
“Haha…”
Jung-geun gave a vague smile and glanced at Taesan. He changed the subject.
“By the way, with so many people, who is the representative?”
It's a hundred thousand people. A number large enough to deafen you if they all spoke at once. Someone had to lead and manage them.
“Ah…”
Hwi-yeon clicked her tongue with a vague expression.
“My head is aching because of that right now. Some strange guys keep spouting nonsense…”
“Strange guys?”
“They're fighting amongst themselves, it's a mess. I'd like to beat them up, but I can't.” She heaved a deep sigh and waved her hand.
“For now, just rest. You must be tired, right? I'll explain later.”
“Yes.”
Though curious, Jung-geun obediently nodded. He was truly exhausted. Having fought continuously for two full days without sleep, he felt like he could collapse at any moment.
Hwi-yeon smiled kindly and patted Jung-geun's head.
“I'll take the others to their families. For now, get some sleep.”
The hundred people each found their own families. They embraced each other with tears.
“Brother!”
Ahn Jung-hee cried, clinging to a man who resembled her. Taesan watched the scene from a distance. He didn't care if they all died, but still, it wasn't a bad sight.
Noticing him from afar, Ahn Jung-hee offered her thanks through tears. Taesan turned and walked away. Not everyone found their family.
There were those who despaired after hearing of a death, and those who bit their lips, not yet giving up hope. They would all adapt as time passed. Taesan left the City Hall and looked outside.
He could feel one or two presences heading this way. Soon it will be a majority. A new Quest will begin.
“So you were here.”
Taesan replied to the voice that sounded from behind him.
“Not sleeping?”
Jung-geun was looking at Taesan with a tired face. Leveling up through battle