Chapter 8: Resolve (1)

The distance from the bridge to the pharmacy isn’t far.

Even so, it took quite a while to get there.

Because of the battle with the goblins.

What would the journey from here to Gangbuk be like?

It’s not something that can be judged simply by distance.

So, I need to talk to Jang Hoseob again.

I’ve also shown him a part of my true self.

“Mr. Jang Hoseob, what will you do?”

“Um… can’t I follow you too?”

“You’ve watched me for a day, haven’t you? What kind of person I am… I’m a bit different.”

My intention to kill Jang Hoseob had now disappeared.

I also confirmed that his ability was helpful.

“Yes… a little strange… no, I think you’re unique.”

“And yet, you still want to follow me?”

I look at Jang Hoseob’s eyes.

He hesitates for a moment, then soon reveals his inner thoughts.

“When I first saw you kill people, Hyungnim… it was truly horrifying then. I thought I had to run away.”

Jang Hoseob had originally intended to hide.

But then he was caught by my ‘Target Detection’.

“Now I think I understand. That you didn’t kill those people to make them comfortable, Hyungnim… There’s probably some reason.”

Jang Hoseob is strangely good at asking questions.

Meaning, he’s good at distinguishing between questions I can answer and questions I don’t want to answer.

“Still, I want to be with you, Hyungnim. Actually, I have a favor to ask.”

As expected, he also had a purpose.

“What favor is it?”

“Please save my mother. She works at a hospital…”

Jang Hoseob, proposing a deal.

“I thought if it’s you, Hyungnim, you could save my mother. That’s why I said I’d stay by your side.”

“Is there a reason I should do that?”

“If you just save my mother, I’ll work like a dog. That… wanting to be your right-hand man, Hyungnim. That’s also sincere.”

It’s a deal that’s advantageous to me.

Because I have to go to the hospital anyway.

Also, the hospital where his mother works is said to be on the route to the Hangang Railway Bridge.

‘It seems more likely that she’s dead.’

When I remained silent for a moment, Jang Hoseob spoke again.

“Please. My mother is the only family I have.”

And Jang Hoseob’s added words brought back a memory from the past.

What my mother said to me as she saw her husband off.

‘Son. Now it’s just Mom and Son left.’

It’s not that I feel any particular emotion.

It’s just a thought that his mother must be very precious to Jang Hoseob.

“Alright. What hospital is it? No…”

“Yes?”

“What hospital is it? I’m going to speak informally now.”

Jang Hoseob’s eyes widened.

Then, tears welled up in them.

“Thank you! Hyungnim, sob… Thank you!”

I didn’t particularly want to see a man cry, so I turned my head.

---

I stayed one more day at the pharmacy building.

During that time, I gathered supplies and made a plan to cross the Han River.

Food, spare clothes, blankets, various useful tools, etc.

I even found gas masks at the subway station.

Now, it’s time to leave.

“Oppa… can’t we just stay here together until the rescue team comes?”

A woman in a tracksuit grabs my arm.

She’s an awakened woman in her 20s among the pharmacy survivors.

I shook my head and gently pushed her away.

“Then this… please contact me when things get better.”

Then, the woman hands me a note.

A phone number is written on it.

I took the note without saying anything else.

The woman steps back, and this time the pharmacist speaks to me.

“It’s a pity. If I had my way, I’d want to hold onto you. If we wait for the rescue team together…”

As I say my goodbyes, people look at me with eyes full of lingering attachment.

It seems everyone wants me to stay by their side.

No one mentioned anything about the slit-eyed trio.

“Since you need treatment, there’s no choice. I hope you arrive at the hospital safely.”

“Thank you.”

These people still harbor the hope that a rescue team will come.

Just as I simply took the note with the woman’s number, I also refrained from commenting on their hope.

‘I did hint at it, though.’

Jang Hoseob and I are now almost certain that the world has ended.

It’s thanks to his fundamental skill.

【Veiled Manager】

It’s Jang Hoseob’s fundamental skill.

The invisibility ability is a supplementary ability; the main ability is separate.

Jang Hoseob can actually check information through the System.

It’s a format where if he asks something he’s curious about, the System answers.

However, there are still many restrictions, so there are limits to acquiring information.

“Then, we’ll be going.”

After finishing the goodbyes, Jang Hoseob and I set out.

Since we gathered quite a lot of supplies, they should be able to hold out for a while too.

“Hyungnim. Um… shouldn’t we tell them what we confirmed from the information?”

“I told them earlier. I said it indirectly, but I think they understood.”

After moving a little away from the pharmacy building.

Jang Hoseob speaks in a worried tone.

“Ah…”

“It’s already been three days. Even without your skill, everyone would think something is strange.”

“That’s right. Yes… I guess they just want to believe that.”

Perhaps we’re being reckless.

In those people’s eyes, we, setting out on the road in this situation, might look like suicide aspirants.

“Because one makes their own choices.”

“Yes. That’s right. And I chose you, Hyungnim.”

There seems to be no right answer.

Everyone has to find their own way to survive.

Thinking that, I threw away the note I received from the woman.

“Huh? Isn’t that Ms. Jeong Hye’s contact number?”

“It is.”

“No, why would you…”

“We won’t be able to contact her anyway.”

Jang Hoseob looks at the note I threw away with an expression of regret.

“No, still. You never know.”

“It’s fine. I still don’t need it.”

“What a waste… It’s the first time I’ve seen a woman give a man her number…”

Jang Hoseob even stops walking.

Why does he regret losing that meaningless number?

“I have preferences too.”

“Yes? Ah…”

When I lightly tapped his shoulder, he finally started walking again.

“This is why all handsome guys should just die…”

Jang Hoseob mutters quietly.

“I can hear everything.”

“Yes? Ah… Hehe. Hyungnim, it’s a joke. You know, right?”

I also know that what he said wasn’t sincere.

Still, I remained silent with a hardened expression.

“Hyungnim? I really just said it for fun. If you look on the internet and stuff…”

It was a little amusing to see Jang Hoseob making excuses anxiously.

---

Even though it rained heavily, the sky is still full of dark clouds.

Jang Hoseob and I are silently walking amidst that gloomy atmosphere.

“Let’s go back.”

“Yes.”

We considered various routes before starting.

It’s because of situations like this.

Monsters, collapsed buildings, destroyed roads, etc.

That day, or according to Jang Hoseob’s expression, the day of the ‘Great Cataclysm’.

After the Great Cataclysm, the paths made by humans lost their meaning.

Because of that, our pace is slower than planned.

“Woof woof!”

While detouring around hard-to-climb building debris.

Suddenly, the sound of a dog barking was heard.

“Huh?”

Jang Hoseob makes a pleased expression upon hearing the dog barking.

It’s like that even though only his eyes are visible because he’s wearing a mask.

“Shh.”

I signaled Jang Hoseob to prepare for battle and quickly climbed up the debris of a collapsed apartment.

When I reached a certain height, the chaotic scene of Olympic Expressway came into view.

“Woof woof woof!”

It truly is a dog’s mess.

It means the road is broken and chaotic, but also…

Tap tap.

I came down and informed Jang Hoseob that there were monsters.

I take out a notepad and write characters.

– Dog heads? Monsters. Approximately 30 of them.

The reason I was sure they were monsters was because they were all walking upright.

Jang Hoseob’s eyes widen.

Then, he also writes a few characters below what I wrote.

– They’re Gnolls.

– Gnolls?

– No. The monster’s name is ‘Gnoll’. In my opinion.

It seems we’ll have to take a much longer detour.

There are too many of them.

And we have no information about what kind of monsters they are.

– Let’s fall back.

I put the notepad in my pouch and was about to turn back the way we came.

“Woof woof woof!”

But the sound of dogs barking started getting closer.

---

We’re caught.

A few Gnolls are sniffing the air and heading this way.

Seeing them approach with accurate direction despite the considerable distance, it seems their sense of smell is well-developed.

“Kuhuhung Woof!”

The one at the very front barks loudly.

That was the signal.

“Hwooooaaang!”

“Hwaaang!”

The Gnoll pack makes strange crying sounds.

This isn’t a dog’s bark.

It’s similar to a cow’s moo, but with a slightly thinner tone.

“Hyungnim!”

“Towards the Starbucks intersection.”

“Yes!”

We retreated the way we came.

If we have to fight, a slightly familiar terrain is better.

I run, matching Jang Hoseob’s speed.

While running, I kept glancing back.

‘They’re not as fast as I thought.’

The Gnolls maintain bipedal locomotion even when running.

“A little slower.”

“Pant… pant… Yes.”

Jang Hoseob starts gasping for breath just 30 seconds after starting to run.

There was more leeway than I thought, so I adjusted the pace.

“Why is your stamina like that?”

“That’s, pant… I… sob. Office worker constitution…”

Jang Hoseob and I had decided on a few countermeasures in case we encountered monsters.

How to act based on the number and size of monsters, any peculiarities, etc.

The problem is that all the monsters are unfamiliar.

Therefore, judgment in that moment is crucial.

While running, I tried hard to grasp the outwardly apparent characteristics of the Gnolls.

‘Their size is small.’

Gnolls are larger than Goblins and smaller than Orcs.

Their heads are especially large, and their mouths are big too.

Their bite force seems correspondingly strong.

‘A peculiar thing is that they use tools.’

What’s creepy is that the Gnolls are carrying various weapons.

Some are holding large stones, and some are holding clubs.

Bipedal locomotion, hand structure capable of gripping things.

And a running speed not as fast as expected, etc.

‘Should I consider them like apes? Though they look like canids…’

I pondered while observing the Gnolls.

The first decision is whether to fight or not.

‘I need to get closer for Target Detection to work.’

Through Target Detection, I can grasp the magnitude of their energy.

Knowing the magnitude of their energy is a great help in deciding whether to fight or not.

Looking at the Gnolls’ running speed, it seems I could get closer.

At the same time, I also think I should be careful as their intelligence seems high.

“Pant… pant…”

Jang Hoseob looks overwhelmed just by running.

I was wondering if I should reduce speed on my own, as it seemed I couldn’t get help from him.

“Woof woof!”

The large-bodied Gnoll barks like a dog, just as before.

Then, suddenly, the Gnoll pack gives up the chase.

“Kkiihihiik!”

“Kkik kkik kkik kkik.”

The Gnolls stop, sticking out their long tongues.

This time, they make a crying sound like frivolous laughter.

That sound seemed to be mocking me as I ran away.

---

The Gnoll pack turns back.

The largest Gnoll, which appears to be the leader, guards the rear, wary of us.

“They definitely live in groups.”

“Yes? Pant… pant…”

“They have a command structure. That big Gnoll is the leader.”

I took out water from my backpack and handed it to Jang Hoseob.

He takes the water and drinks it with an embarrassed expression.

It’s because my backpack is much larger and heavier than Jang Hoseob’s.

Even though Jang Hoseob is lighter than me, he looks sheepish because he’s more exhausted.

The reason I have more luggage is because of Jang Hoseob’s invisibility ability.

If the backpack exceeds a certain volume, he can’t use invisibility.

Of course, I also considered the physical aspect.

“Kyaah… Hyungnim. Looks like those things have poor stamina?”

“Seems like it, right?”

“Yes. They look even worse than me.”

Looking at the backs of the Gnolls trudging away, it doesn’t seem like a trick.

There’s no reason to trick us either.

From what I’ve observed so far, monsters consider humans as prey.

So, it seems the Gnoll pack simply gave up on us.

“What are you going to do?”

Now, we have options.

Either give up on the Olympic Expressway route occupied by the Gnoll pack and go back.

Or fight the Gnoll pack.

“I want to try fighting them.”

Jang Hoseob nods.

“Well… if we give up this path, we’ll have to take too long a detour.”

We don’t know what kind of monsters might be on other paths.

I also think the Gnoll pack might be manageable.

“Their heads are big. And their arms are short.”

“Uh… you saw even that?”

Jang Hoseob is surprised.

I told him what I had figured out.

“It’s not just big; it’s so large that it looks like they have trouble balancing because of their heads. A lot of energy is probably used for that.”

The Gnolls’ heads are so big they look like they have a 3 or 4 head-to-body ratio.

Moreover, their arms are short, and they are bipedal.

“Perhaps they’re not good at quick changes in direction… but if they bite, it’s dangerous.”

“That could be true.”

Of course, since they are monsters, such speculation might be meaningless.

“Let’s prepare. We can find out by checking.”

“Yes. You’re going to lure and attack, right?”

“Yeah.”

For survival, one must avoid danger.

At the same time, from a long-term perspective, becoming stronger through leveling up is the path to survival.

So, when there’s a possibility like now, we must take risks.

“And those things… they had a lot of people with them.”

“Yes? Really?”

“Yeah. I confirmed it when I first saw them.”

Jang Hoseob and I quickly formulated a battle plan.

We chose a location advantageous to us and also secured an escape route in case of an emergency.

“I’m going.”

“Be careful.”

After that, leaving Jang Hoseob behind, I headed towards the Gnoll pack alone.

The Gnoll pack was gathered in the same place where I first found them.

“Kkiihihiik!”

As I approached, the Gnoll pack made laughing sounds like before.

However, they only made sounds and didn’t seem to intend to move.

I moved closer.

“Kkiihiik.”

Are they hoping I’ll come within their range?

The leader Gnoll gets up and approaches a captured person.

Kwajik!

Then, it bites off the person’s entire head.

It seems like a threat or a provocation.

“How absurd.”

Watching the leader Gnoll, I let out a smirk.

Because the energy I felt from them was only slightly greater than that of Goblins.

Rustle.

I took out a piece of scrap metal I had prepared and threw it hard at the leader Gnoll.

I hit the leader Gnoll accurately.

“Woof woof!”

The Gnolls get excited and start rushing forward.

My heart pounded.