Chapter 33. The Hunt (5)

Jae-Hyuk slung an old shovel over his shoulder and grinned. "Hyungnim! What do you need me to do next?"

He had long since ditched his T-shirt, and rolled his pants up, showing off his muscular calves. He seemed like a seasoned laborer straight out of a construction site.

“

Huh?

”

Well, this place really isn’t much different from a construction site,

Eun-Ho thought.

In less than an hour, they had carved out a dry trench and built up a barrier wall from the dirt with just a handful of guys.

"You’re saying you want to do more?” Eun-Ho asked.

"I can keep going, no problem!" Jae-Hyuk replied.

[The Crow from the Bureau of Management nods approvingly, proud of Eun-Ho’s subordinate’s tenacity.]

[Ferry Man from the Bureau of Management is impressed by Eun-Ho’s foresight in unlocking Jae-Hyuk’s potential.]

At this rate, it felt like they hadn’t just created a reliable worker, but an industrial warrior.

“You said it’s called Ultra Regeneration?” Eun-Ho asked.

“Yes! I finally unlocked a skill!” Jae-Hyuk beamed with pride.

That’s a solid ability indeed,

Eun-Ho thought.

He could recover from injuries almost instantly, and his stamina bounced back just as fast.

“Congratulations.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Hyungnim! You told me to boost my recovery stats!”

As if being built like a tank wasn’t enough, now Jae-Hyuk was basically a stamina monster. The rest of the group chimed in with congratulations.

“Way to go, Jae-Hyuk!”

“Thank you, Noonim!”

“Congrats, Mister!”

The only one not celebrating was Sol-Ah. She stood off to the side with her arms crossed, clearly unimpressed. “I could’ve healed him myself.”

“

Huh?

What’s that?”

“Nothing.” She pouted, turning her gaze toward the hunting ground stretching out behind them.

On top of an empty wisteria tree, a small rock suddenly tumbled down.

Clatter. Clatter.

To anyone else, it’d have seemed like a paranormal activity. However, they learned to assume that it was a little girl who was playing an intense game of hide-and-seek.

“Looks like Yul is having a great time playing with her dad.”

“Her ability really is amazing,” Ji-Eun murmured, staring at the tree with no visible signs of life.

Eun-Ho nodded and added, “She’s the core of this whole plan.”

“And the fact that you came up with that plan, Eun-Ho, is even more amazing.”

He scratched his head, slightly embarrassed. “

Haha...

”

The project they were running followed a few strict rules.

First of all, monsters would regularly appear in areas shrouded by the black mist, or what they referred to as the "hunting grounds."

According to Ji-Eun, who had been the first to observe the pattern, one appeared roughly every ten minutes.

The second rule was that if a person entered the hunting ground, monsters would spawn, regardless of the usual timer.

The third rule was that as long as there was a survivor after a monster was killed, another would appear.

Now, factoring in Yul’s ability, we can trigger monster spawns without ever being targeted. That means, for maximum hunting efficiency, we just have to kill them the moment they appear.

Even if a monster got taken out immediately, Yul would ensure the next one showed up right away.

“All done!”

“They were the last group!”

The custom-built hunting ground was complete—a clearing filled not with bushes but chopped tree stumps, thick with dark, murky smoke. Dozens—no, hundreds—of spearheads coated in poison were embedded into the ground like a deadly forest.

To top it off, surrounding the entire perimeter was a trench and wall made from dirt and sweat, in case anything went wrong.

Our hunting ground is complete.

The last two participants, one man and one woman, had just finished planting their final spears. They hurried to exit the area, carefully navigating the maze of deadly traps.

“

Uh...

What should we do now?”

“Should we shoot arrows or something?”

The pair approached nervously, each clutching a bow so worn it seemed like it’d snap at any second. Probably something cheap from the shop.

They seemed anxious that everyone else was just standing back and watching. Glancing between the air and Eun-Ho, they were clearly checking their interface and the remaining time.

Eun-Ho understood the urge to give them something to do, but there was nothing else to do.

“Nope, we’re done.”

“

Huh?

But...”

Their plan was to auto-hunt.

“Look over there!”

He shrugged and pointed toward the hunting ground. The two turned just in time to see it.

“

Roaaaar—!

”

[Defeat the Hungry Brown Bear!]

From the black mist, a monster slowly emerged.

At first, it was barely visible—like a smudged status window hovering in the air. However, then, it began to take shape, gaining color, weight, and presence.

Soon, it turned to a hulking, blazing Brown Bear, eyes burning with hunger and rage.

Thwack!

However, as soon as it walked out, the beast stepped directly onto one of the poisoned spearheads.

“

Roaaaar—!”

It howled in pain, thrashing its claws, shaking its massive head in fury. However, no matter how much it flailed, all it did was step on more traps.

Thunk!

The ground was so densely packed with poison-tipped stakes, it was impossible for something that big to avoid them.

[You have defeated the Hungry Brown Bear!]

[You have earned 20 Welfare Points.]

Oh?

Apparently, one of the five spears the Brown Bear had stepped on belonged to Eun-Ho.

The man and woman beside him widened their eyes in shock and then lit up with joy. They had likely gotten credit as well.

“Twenty points! It actually worked!”

“This is insane!”

[Defeat the Hungry Brown Bear!]

Before the system notification even finished, the next monster had spawned.

“

Roaaaar—!

”

Thwack!

Shlunk!

Just like that, it dropped dead too.

[You have defeated the Hungry Brown Bear!]

[You have earned 20 Welfare Points.]

[Defeat the Venomous Sky Tiger!]

[You have defeated the Venomous Sky Tiger!]

[You have earned 10 Welfare Points.]

[

Defeat the Hungry Brown Bear!]

[You have defeated the Hungry Brown Bear!]

...

[Multiple observers are in awe of your ingenuity!]

“I did it! I maxed out my points!”

“I only need three hundred more, and I’m done!”

Cheers rang out all around the hunting ground, echoing the nonstop system messages. One after another, people shouted in celebration. It was hard to believe they were the same people who had been on the brink of violence just a few minutes ago.

Just 200 points to go,

Eun-Ho thought.

Two hundred more, and he could clock out safely.

“

Um...

Thank you! Honestly, I wasn’t sure this would actually work.”

“You saved our lives. Really, thank you!”

Thank-yous poured in from all sides, and Eun-Ho gave a quick nod in acknowledgment.

When he was about to check the map, there came more system notifications about a sponsor.

[An anonymous observer wishes to see more of your madness!]

[You have been sponsored 1,000 Welfare Points!]

A sponsor?

Eun-Ho wondered if they were the same person who had given him that strange item—Electric Oil—during the Seoul Station mission.

“Thanks. That’s twice now you’ve helped me out.”

[The anonymous observer laughs, saying it’s nothing.]

Yep. Same guy.

That brought up the bigger question.

What even are these things watching us from the other side of the scre

en

? Are they human? If not, what are they? And why are they observing all of this like it’s a game?

Eun-Ho let out a slow sigh. The unanswerable nature of the question made him frown.

[After administrative fees, 500 Welfare Points have been deposited.]

Perhaps, it was the outrageous transaction fee that made him frown.

Fifty percent cut? That’s robbery. Still that makes 5,050 points.

Most people had been running around until their feet bled just to earn five thousand points. Meanwhile, he had burned through ten thousand points upgrading the shop, yet still managed to grind his way back all over again.

“Hey Mister, you maxed out your points again,

huh?

”

“Yup. You two are done as well, right?”

“We finished ages ago thanks to you,” Sol-Ah said confidently, with Yeo-Jin nodding behind her.

Eun-Ho turned back to the map. Among the fifty-plus dots displayed, none had fewer than five thousand points.

Then, it was time to wrap up.

[Defeat the Hun... Brown Bear!]

Wait.

Something about that last announcement felt off. He was about to brush it off as a misheard message when apparently, others noticed it as well.

[Defeat the Hun... Br... Bear!]

“What was that?”

“Is the system glitching?”

People were glancing around, eyes wide, exchanging uneasy looks. Then the sound hit.

Beeeep—!

[Error detected!]

[Excessive entity generation in current zone!]

Beeeep—!

A deafening screech filled the air, like someone had cranked a campaign truck’s loudspeaker right next to their ears. It was the kind of pitch that made the skull vibrate.

Eun-Ho staggered.

“Did the ground just—”

“The ground is shaking!”

Rumble—!

The earth quaked beneath them, and the people standing on it wobbled like branches in a storm.

“

Aaaargh!

”

“Hold on to something!”

A system announcement followed through the chaos.

[Brace for impact!]

The hunting ground was already descending into mayhem.

Wait, Yul! Yul is in danger!

Eun-Ho remembered.

***

“Yul! Cancel your skill!”

Fwoosh—!

A small figure, hand in hand with a taller silhouette, came into view as they descended from a tree. The moment Eun-Ho spotted them, he swung his sword.

Whoosh—!

A gale shot forward, slicing through the air. The poison-tipped stakes scattered like autumn leaves caught in a storm.

[Skills]

Wind Blade(Lv. 1)

- Current charges: 2/3.

“Han-Wool! Please carry Yul on your back!”

“Got it!”

Rumble—!

A huge crater opened in the center of the hunting ground, now blanketed in thick, black smoke. A chill crawled down his spine—an ominous feeling, clinging to his skin like hot asphalt on a midsummer day.

He moved faster, slicing away another cluster of obstacles in his path.

[Skills]

Wind Blade(Lv. 1)

- Current charges: 1/3.

However, clearing the way didn’t help for long. The smoke beneath his feet darkened, thickened, taking on a strange, sticky consistency.

Squelch!

The ground tugged at his soles like chewing gum stuck to the bottom of a shoe.

Schluk!

It clung tighter with each step, trying to peel his shoes off entirely.

Squelch! Schluk!

Finally, it gave way beneath him, sucking him down like a shallow swamp.

Han-Wool staggered under the sudden weight, struggling to stay upright with Yul on his back.

“Eun-Ho! This way!”

From a distance, Ji-Eun waved frantically. She seemed to be standing on solid ground.

So this error zone has a boundary. If only they could just get out...

Eun-Ho thought.

“Ji-Eun! Get Han-Wool up!”

“On it!”

She didn’t hesitate. Her eyes shut for a brief moment then snapped open, burning with unwavering focus. Dead leaves scattered around her as Han-Wool slowly floated from the ground, steady and sure.

Fwsssh—!

Well, that takes care of them. Now for the last part...

Eun-Ho gripped his sword with everything he had—weight, strength, and will—and swung it as if to slice through the air itself.

Whoosh—!

The black smoke—no, the sludge—split apart like a receding tide. He charged through the thinning muck, but the hairs on his neck stood on end.

Zzzzt!

“

Huh?!

”

He jerked backward as if gravity had flipped, pulling him toward the back.

“Mister!”

“Hyungnim!!”

Sol-Ah and Jae-Hyuk came running, arms outstretched.

It’s too far!

Their hands did not reach. And worse, the pull behind him was growing stronger like something was trying to rip him away from the earth.

This is bad but not impossible.

Thunk!

He drove his blade into the viscous ground, anchoring himself. Then, he jumped like a pole vaulter aiming for the bar.

Thump!

Just before letting go of the hilt, he shouted the command.

“Store!”

Then he grabbed hold of Sol-Ah and Jae-Hyuk’s wrists mid-air.

“Pull!”

“

Aaargh!

”

Thud!

The two of them were dragged backward from the force, crashing into the dirt. However, Eun-Ho had made it. He collapsed beside them on solid ground with his heart pounding.

Then, system announcements followed.

[Attention all survivors in the Yongsan District.]

𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

[Daily point collection will begin shortly. Please be prepared.]

[Clocking out in 10 seconds, 9 seconds, 8 seconds...]

“It’s time already?”

“We made it! It’s finally over!”

It was 6:00 PM. For the prepared, nothing was sweeter than clocking out.

[Subject Lee Eun-Ho has submitted 5,000 points as daily quota.]

Clink—!

The cheerful chime of coins echoed in his ear.

[Congratulations! Project Hunt has been completed.]

[You have been rewarded with three points and a thousand Welfare Points following successful completion of the Project Hunt.]

[Please check your rewards.]

It was over. It was strangely quiet and almost anticlimactic, given the chaos that had led them here.

“That’s it?”

“We did it! We survived!”

[The Eye is now closing.]

The moment the workday ended, the Eye snapped shut like clockwork. Cheers of relief broke out from those who made it.

Just as Eun-Ho’s knees nearly buckled from sheer exhaustion, a message—meant for him alone—came through, clear and unmistakable.

[Attention Subject Lee Eun-Ho.]

“

Huh?

”

[Number of actual survivors have significantly exceeded simulation predictions.]

[Additional trait-exclusive rewards have been awarded due to your trait, Rebel.]

A trait-exclusive reward...?

Eun-Ho wondered.

[Resistance stat has been increased (+52).]

What?! Out of nowhere?

Eun-Ho remembered the time he heard the message about the Resistance stat.

[An exclusive stat, Resistance, has been generated.]

[The Resistance stat increases when you produce results opposing the Greater Cause, and points cannot be allocated to it.]

So basically, the system thinks I went against the Greater Cause during this project? When? And why such a weird number? Why is it fifty-two and not fifty or sixty?

“Fifty-two...”

Eun-Ho frowned and muttered under his breath.

Ji-Eun chuckled softly nearby. “You really are quick with numbers, Eun-Ho.”

“Sorry?”

“You were counting how many people made it, weren’t you?”

“Wait... How many...

Oh!

”

He jerked his head up and started counting.

“... Fifty-one, fifty-two, fifty-three!"

Without counting himself, there were a total of fifty-two survivors scattered around the area.

That’s the number of people I saved. So if the system defines opposing the Greater Cause as saving people, then the system’s idea of the Greater Cause is deletion? So really, reducing headcount?

Realizing the true nature of the trait Rebel and the stat Resistance, Eun-Ho shook his head in disbelief. Just then, he overheard strange whispers.

[Entity overpopulation? Why?]

[That’s strange. It requires a separate report.]

[We’ll get in trouble. We need to assess it first.]

Who are they?

Eun-Ho heard unfamiliar, strange voices, with an unnatural cadence. It felt like a continuation of the earlier error message. However, what unsettled him most was that no one else seemed to hear a thing.

“

Whew

, we actually made it.”

“Guess it’s really over, right? I mean, it’s clock-out time!”

“Ji-Eun. You don’t hear those voices right now?”

She tilted her head, completely unbothered. “Voices? What voices?”

Tap!

Footsteps echoed through the haze. And then, emerging from the smoke were two boys, about Yul’s age.

“... Kids?”

They had identical faces, matching bowl cuts, and wore pristine white outfits.

Twins?

Eun-Ho wondered.

“Kids? Where?”

“Don’t you see them?”

“I mean... Yul’s right over there with her dad. Are you okay, Eun-Ho?”

Oh, I’m definitely not okay. Far from it,

thought Eun-Ho.

Suddenly, the twins sprang into action. With three bounding steps, they launched into the air, soaring to second-story height, as if jet engines were hidden in their shoes.

“You seriously don’t see those flying kids?”

“Flying? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You too, Jae-Hyuk?”

“Yes, Hyungnim. It’s just clouds up there.”

So it’s just me...

“Jae-Hyuk. Do I look crazy to you?”

“W-what?! Of course not!”

“Then follow me. I need backup.”

Whether it was because of his Rebel trait or something else, it had to be due to the ability he alone possessed. That meant, only he could uncover the truth behind who they were, which superior they were reporting to, and what exactly they were reporting.

He thought about the strange messages he heard just a while ago.

[Entity overpopulation? Why?]

[That’s strange. It requires a separate report.]

[We’ll get in trouble. We need to assess it first.]

This is my chance.

Unlike people down here, the ones up there knew everything about the world they were trapped in. If he was going to find out what the hell this damn restructuring was all about, this was the time.

“Wait, what? Where are you going?”

“Ji-Eun, I’m counting on you to look after the others.”

“

Huh?

Oh yes, of course!”

“Hyungnim! Hyungniiiim!”