Chapter 93 – Contaminated World (2)

The three summoners who split from Sun-woo’s party were running rapidly along the road.

They had a map, but since Empire citizen Diane knew the way, they could run without worrying about getting lost.

Though not as much as Diane who could move as if flying through gravity control, the knight and Jung-hyun were also powerful summoners, so they could run quickly.

Excluding the knight whose expression couldn’t be known thanks to the helmet, the two people were running with very serious expressions.

Unlike Diane who had a hardened expression due to worrying about her hometown and the Empire, Jung-hyun was serious because of Sun-woo.

Among summoners and the Association, Sun-woo had become somewhat famous. Especially among Korea’s summoners, Sun-woo was famous in a bad way.

He was famous as someone who wasn’t even affiliated with the Association but only took the Association’s support, and as someone who played a part in chasing out Korea’s branch manager.

Especially even now standing on the side of the current branch manager who was a foreigner and sticking beside Caroline, there wasn’t a single thing to look upon favorably.

‘But ultimately the problem is jealousy.’

Though his exact abilities were unknown, his appearance of having completely different abilities from others and growing absurdly aroused jealousy and envy from other summoners.

Jung-hyun, who actually performed missions together with Sun-woo’s party, viewed Sun-woo somewhat favorably unlike other Korean summoners.

But seeing Sun-woo again today, he couldn’t help but feel surging jealousy.

The skills that had grown differently from when they last met, and the ability that even changed his appearance, were enough for Jung-hyun to feel jealousy too.

Compared to himself who barely grew this much after surviving long military service, mercenary life, and numerous missions, the problem was Sun-woo strengthened absurdly quickly.

‘When I return this time, I should talk with the summoners.’

He repeated in his mind that such thoughts definitely didn’t arise because Sun-woo became handsome.

At that moment, the knight running beside pointed forward. It was a signal that enemies appeared.

From a small village ahead, contaminated humans holding shovels and pickaxes were running over. As expected, contaminated beings had tremendous ability to detect summoners.

It was about time for enemies to appear. Rather, just safely coming this far was fortunate. Probably all the contaminated humans from around had all rushed to the castle.

“Let’s break through.”

Looking at their running speed, they might avoid them if they dodged, but running around avoiding things, who knew when they’d arrive at their objective. It was better to quickly break through.

To the three people who boasted top-level skills even among summoners, ordinary contaminated people were no match at all.

The humans who rushed over screaming in their own way all died without even swinging their weapons, and the summoners ran forward even faster, leaving the dead contaminated humans behind.

And…

While they gradually moved away, beside and behind the dead humans, and toward the running summoners, contaminated humans and monsters began gathering after hearing the screaming sounds.

***

Sun-woo’s party that departed at a similar time couldn’t move quickly unlike the other summoner team that departed first.

The party was moving with Sun-woo in the lead, parting through bushes at a rapid walk through places that weren’t roads.

“Moving like this will take quite a long time.”

“It’s okay. It’s okay. I’ve crawled for a week smeared with mud before. What. As long as it’s safe, I’m grateful for this much.”

When Daniel who was following at the very back of the party spoke as if somewhat worried, rather Michael opposed his words.

Sun-woo’s party also initially moved quickly along roads. But after moving like that for a while, Michael warned the party saying he had a bad feeling, and soon after, human presence was detected in Sun-woo’s sorcery.

Fortunately, with Sun-woo’s internal energy increasing, the sorcery surveillance network could also increase, and thanks to that, they could change direction before the contaminated humans discovered the party.

The problem was that avoiding contaminated humans like this meant traveling through rough places without roads.

“But what’s going on with the contaminated people? I really don’t understand.”

Nan-seol who was following behind Sun-woo opened her mouth with a puzzled expression. She seemed unable to understand well the scene she saw a moment ago.

The party that was moving avoiding contaminated people could steal glimpses of contaminated people from far away.

And they could see the appearance of a rural area living ordinary lives.

The appearance of a farmer going to fields holding farm tools, a woman hanging laundry in the yard, and children running between houses. All looked like ordinary sights.

But such appearances were mixed with the world stained in murky color, blood and corpses scattered around the village, and the appearance of a woman on one side bursting into tears while butchering another person, creating an eerie sight.

“We didn’t know because contaminated people didn’t appear on such a large scale, but if there are no uncontaminated people nearby, contaminated people seem to continue similar behavior as before. Farmers continue farming, merchants continue merchant work, it seems.”

Hayden who was walking third answered Nan-seol’s question.

“But even so, they looked different from before. There are people who give up work filled with anger and wander around killing surrounding people, people who keep crying and laughing, getting angry and happy at small things, unable to suppress emotions.”

Hayden laid out information that people they rescued and scavengers who scouted the surroundings learned to the party.

“Of course, when an uncontaminated being is felt, they set everything aside and rush over, but when not, they seem to live in their own way.”

“You’re saying they don’t just transform into monsters.”

Daniel frowned at Hayden’s words. It seemed they needed to redefine what contamination was.

While others were immersed in thought at Hayden’s story, Sun-woo was engaged with something else.

Because while descending the cliff using lightness kung fu following Nan-seol, he felt a tingling sensation like something would change.

It definitely seemed lightness kung fu would grow like other martial arts too, but because contaminated humans were felt around, he and the party came to move like this holding their breath.

Penetrating through a forest thick with brush and shrubs, they could move for a while without encountering contaminated humans, but the problem was this world didn’t only have humans.

In the forest, contaminated beasts had taken positions. Unfortunately, beasts each claimed certain areas as their territory, and the party that kept moving avoiding them eventually arrived at a place difficult to avoid further.

“It’s a river.”

“And quite a wide river too.”

At Michael’s words, Daniel chimed in. Before the party, a wide river spread out.

“It’s the Oder River.”

Looking at the river flowing before their eyes, Hayden stated the river’s name.

“The river’s name isn’t what’s important. How do we cross? Isn’t there a bridge nearby?”

“If we go downstream about 10km, there’s a bridge.”

At the story Hayden brought up while checking the map, Michael was delighted.

“But at the point where the bridge starts, there’s a not-so-small city.”

“Damn, then it’s useless information.”

“Well, it’s natural for villages or cities to be near where bridges are built.”

“That’s your world’s story.”

Michael grumbled at Hayden’s words.

“Still, if we cross this river, there doesn’t seem to be a big river blocking the way ahead to the objective? It seems we just need to pass here.”

Hayden folded the map and told them fairly good news.

“How’s the underwater?”

Nan-seol who was looking at the river asked Sun-woo, but Sun-woo had no choice but to shake his head.

“Unless they’re on or underground, it’s difficult to figure out. Unlike sorcery, water magic can’t be used for reconnaissance purposes.”

At Sun-woo’s words, the party made disappointed expressions. Until now they traveled safely thanks to Sun-woo’s sorcery, but underwater seemed impossible.

“If we run while throwing floating branches or wooden pieces, it seems we might barely get across.”

Nan-seol spoke without much thought, then her voice gradually diminished. She realized only she and Sun-woo were capable of that.

“Well, if only the underwater is safe, we could swim across though…”

The party eventually decided to make a raft. Not a sturdy raft like when crossing the sea before, but a simple raft just enough to cross the river.

“I hope nothing appears, but that’s too big an expectation, right?”

While cutting down trees with his greatsword, Daniel asked everyone, and at his words Hayden shook his head.

“Like the New Continent, many beasts transformed into monsters. Most changed to just somewhat stronger, but some beasts seemed to strengthen like monsters from legends, dominating regions.”

At Hayden’s answer, Michael grumbled while carrying trees.

“Don’t say such things! Words become reality.”

Seeing Hayden immediately close his mouth at Michael’s words, similar stories seemed to exist in Hayden’s world too.

Anyway, the party completed the raft in an instant.

“Is this the second raft?”

“Hmm, shall we name the boat? Enterprise Mark 2.”

“Bismarck II is good.”

“Then, one vote for Galactica.”

At Michael’s playful remark, the party each added a word, and eventually the party carved the names they said with swords on each side of the raft.

Thanks to that, the party could relieve tension, but Nan-seol shook her head at the men’s foolish behavior.

Fortunately, no contaminated beasts were visible in the forest and riverbank around this river. That’s why Sun-woo came here avoiding contaminated people and beasts.

The party walked to the riverbank carrying the raft made by cutting several trees. The river was very clear, but the depth was also very deep, so unfortunately the inside wasn’t visible.

“Let’s cross quickly.”

As Michael said, the party immediately floated the raft on the river and got on top. And Hayden took position at the rear and told the party.

“Everyone hold tight!”

As soon as the words ended, the raft shot forward parting the water. Hayden’s telekinesis pushed the boat forward.

“Wow, it seems faster than before. We’ll arrive soon.”

Michael looked at the raft parting the river and gave Hayden a thumbs up.

Everyone made somewhat relieved expressions at the raft running like a boat with a motor. Running this fast, it seemed they could arrive at the opposite riverbank before being attacked.

But things couldn’t pass so easily.

A black shadow gradually widened below the raft, then long legs with huge suckers shot up above the water in front of the raft.

“I knew this would happen! I told you not to say such things!”

Michael shouted at Hayden in surprise, but he had no mind to respond to those words.

Hayden desperately tried to turn the boat’s direction, but the distance was too close. At this rate, they would immediately collide and the raft would definitely sink.

Nan-seol shot sword energy and Michael sprayed bullets, but to that degree they couldn’t cut the giant legs.

That’s when it happened. Sun-woo leapt forward in front of the raft and shouted to Hayden.

“Keep running! I’ll break through!”

Sun-woo who jumped off the raft ran forward just like that, kicking off the water. The surprised voice of Nan-seol was heard in Sun-woo’s ears running on the water.

“Water Surface Flying (Su-sang-bi)!”

At the amazing lightness kung fu realm of running on water, Nan-seol exclaimed in admiration, but unfortunately Sun-woo’s appearance running stepping on water wasn’t because of lightness kung fu.

It was Water Walk, a 2nd-class magic that made one person float on water. Unlike magic that could only float on water, he was running excitedly using lightness kung fu, but the foundation was merely water magic.

‘Whether magic or lightness kung fu, as long as I can run on water, that’s fine.’

Sun-woo consoled himself like that and swung his sword toward the monster’s legs blocking ahead, and the red-stained sword instantly cut through the monster’s legs that shot up like pillars.

Kuaaaaaah!

The monster’s scream burst from the water, and simultaneously the boat passed over the cut legs and ran toward the riverbank.

Immediately other legs shot up from the water, but this time the target wasn’t the boat but Sun-woo standing on the water.

And Sun-woo smiled looking at the monster’s legs reaching toward him.

“Is this the first real combat with my changed body?”

As if bursting the frustration built up through training alone, Sun-woo also ran on the water toward the monster.