Chapter 11

There’s kimchi here too.

It’s a bit less impressive than what I used to see before possession.

I picked up the kimchi with chopsticks and put it in my mouth.

The taste was a bit sour… well, it was kimchi that had been fermented for a while. Still, it had that kimchi flavor, so it felt oddly comforting.

“It’s delicious.”

“There’s nothing as tough as eating kimchi here. Cabbage is ridiculously expensive around here. But we have to do this much to treat an Important Guest, right?”

“Yeah, people should live on kimchi! Right, Security Chief?”

“Well, yeah.”

“It’s spicy…”

“Is it?”

I guess she can’t handle spicy food well.

No, thinking about it, that’s obvious.

Spiciness is pain, so the more you eat, the higher your tolerance gets.

“If it’s too spicy, it’s better to focus on other side dishes.”

I don’t know what kind of meat it is, but there’s bulgogi, and something similar to namul (vegetable dishes).

There was plenty to eat.

Compared to what I ate before possession, it’s not exactly top quality.

But hey, at least it’s something.

This world is clearly on the brink of apocalypse.

Being able to have this much of a meal is considered living well.

“So, what do you plan to do here?”

“I’m thinking of going into the Gray Forest. I have some information about it.”

The Gray Forest.

Less than half of those who enter come back alive, but conversely, it’s a land of opportunity where half do survive.

Those who make a living by digging up scrap metal or items from humanity’s prosperous era buried there are called Hunters here.

Especially since they occasionally hunt and butcher bizarrely twisted beasts.

It’s a somewhat clichéd setting, but when in Rome, do as the Romans do.

I planned to become a Hunter.

Using my knowledge of the original work, I’d thoroughly loot the Gray Forest and use that money to start a profitable business.

Of course, the business has more risks, but to establish myself securely, that was the better option.

And… to prepare for the events that would unfold in the original work, it’s more advantageous to be a capitalist than a laborer.

After all, even if a third world war breaks out, the world where laborers are exploited and capitalists grow fat doesn’t change.

Of course, since the laborers’ power has grown and the law’s binding force has weakened, it could turn into a “Rise up, those who don’t want to be slaves” situation…

Unfortunately, capitalists can hire Users.

In the end, the structure remains the same.

“If you’re going into the Gray Forest… you should prepare thoroughly. This place doesn’t look kindly on partners, and there are some nasty rumors lately.”

“Rumors… what do you mean?”

“They say there are people who prey on Hunters.”

Ah, those guys.

The Vipers or the Anglers, those looters backed by them.

I recalled the scene where the protagonist raided them for human trafficking and captured them all, adding another danger to my mental list.

“Thank you for the meal.”

“Then get some rest. The room…”

“One is fine.”

“Mina?”

“O…one is fine. It’d be rude to take two rooms.”

“Well, if you say so…”

The bespectacled guy looked at me and Mina with a sly expression.

Even so, doing something with a minor is a bit…

Wait, is she a minor?

“I’m scared to sleep alone…”

“You were alone in the cell.”

“That’s why I’m scared. What if someone takes me again?”

I don’t think that’ll happen. She’s a beauty, but I doubt the people here would barge in and kidnap her.

“Haha, after what she’s been through, it’s understandable.”

The bespectacled guy chimed in with a sly voice, and the bearded guy, who had been focused on eating, also joined in, saying, “Yeah, yeah!”

“Well… I guess there’s no choice.”

The atmosphere made it hard to refuse.

I reluctantly nodded.

—

“This is my first time sleeping in a room like this.”

“Really?”

Mina’s eyes sparkled as she looked around the room like a kid at an amusement park.

To me, it just felt like a slightly old hotel room… but apparently not to Mina.

Come to think of it, I don’t know anything about Mina’s past.

The Seeker died without revealing her past either.

“Do you want to shower first?”

“…Is that okay?”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“Then I’ll go first…”

Mina went into the bathroom with a slightly shy expression. I sat on the bed, then lay down on the floor, staring blankly at the ceiling.

I won’t be staying here for more than a few days.

Staying longer would be a nuisance.

So I need to start working as a Hunter quickly…

But Mina’s a problem.

Mina’s ability is Sight Stealing.

It’s a very versatile and powerful ability, but the problem is it’s not helpful in combat.

To be precise, Mina doesn’t have the strength to fight.

If I gave her a gun, it’d be different, but guns aren’t cheap.

So her role would be purely supportive from the rear.

If she keeps training her ability, she could reach the Seeker’s level of moving sight from eye to eye, greatly increasing her utility.

Add some long-range communication, and she could play a significant role in direct combat too.

If there’s a creature to act as an eye, she could thoroughly monitor the enemy. Depending on the situation, she could find any creature in the same city.

“…This isn’t the time to worry about Mina.”

I need to train my ability too.

Not to Quaker’s level, but I need to get stronger.

At least strong enough to handle a top-tier User.

There are only two Disaster-class Users in Korea besides Quaker, and they’re hard to encounter, but top-tier Users are easier to come across.

Half of the villains the protagonist captured or retired were top-tier Users.

The rest were petty criminals or first-class Users.

“There are still many weak points.”

The range isn’t that wide, the versatility isn’t great, and most importantly, the destructive power is lacking.

Even if the ability gets stronger, without long-range countermeasures, I’d just be a punching bag.

A gun could cover that to some extent… but getting bullets is another issue.

It’s easier to get bullets here than in pre-possession Korea, but bullets aren’t cheap. There aren’t many factories making them either.

It’s easier to get them in Seoul, but relying on guns isn’t a good choice.

Top-tier Users in this work can block bullets. I can block rifle bullets with Repulsion.

“Uncle, I’m done showering…”

“Already?”

Was I lost in thought for too long?

I walked past Mina, who was wearing a slightly old but clean T-shirt and shorts, and headed to the bathroom.

I need to shower and sleep quickly.

“Uncle, wait.”

“What?”

I turned to meet Mina’s eyes.

Mina seemed to have something to say, but after staring at me for a while, she looked away and spoke.

“Ah, it’s nothing. Have a good shower…”

“If you’re sleepy, you can sleep on the bed first.”

“I-I’ll wait.”

If that’s what you want. I shrugged and went into the bathroom.

Is it the steam? My eyes stung a bit, so I rubbed them.

Then I took off my clothes.

“Kya, kya?!”

“Mina, what’s wrong?”

“Ah, nothing, I just got startled…”

“Why, did a bug jump out?”

“…Yeah. A bug…”

“Bugs are tough.”

By the way, her voice is so girly. The disconnect from the original Seeker is no joke.

I pushed away the useless thoughts and turned on the shower.

Wow, hot water.

This is a shower.

The only bath product is soap, but that’s better than nothing.

Buying shampoo or body wash in this damn world is a luxury.

I quickly finished my shower, changed into the clothes I got before entering the room, and left the bathroom.

“…Mina, what’s wrong?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

Why are you avoiding eye contact?

Ah, whatever. I picked up one of the two pillows on the bed and lay down on the floor.

“Ah, Uncle, wouldn’t it be better to sleep on the bed…”

“It’s fine, sleep comfortably.”

I’m used to sleeping on the floor.

I closed my eyes, not wanting to hear any more opinions.

I’ll be busy moving around starting tomorrow.

Eventually, Mina seemed to realize I wouldn’t change my mind and started breathing softly, tickling my ear.

“…Good night.”

A late-night greeting.

I rubbed my no longer stinging eyes and fell asleep.