Absolute Dweller

[Episode 07] Seomyeon Station (2)

For Seo Ye-jin, today was a series of surprises.

‘What on earth is going on?’

As usual, she had released mice in all directions to find food.

However, she felt fear from a mouse that had been wandering around Jeonpo Station and immediately shared its senses.

A shocking scene unfolded before her eyes.

‘Those are people slaughtering orcs.’

She had seen orcs slaughtering people, but today was the first time she witnessed the opposite.

A woman transforming into a bear.

A man summoning armor.

A woman imbuing arrows with a faint light.

A man teleporting.

A man controlling crows.

In particular, the presence of the woman transforming into a bear was overwhelming.

The man fighting with just a spear also seemed extraordinary. Although he didn’t use any special abilities, she could sense that he wasn’t an ordinary person at a glance.

‘Maybe they are all Awakeners…’

Until now, she had discovered countless survivor groups.

Most of them were ordinary people, and even if Awakeners were included, there was only one per group.

The probability that the whole party was composed of Awakeners was impossible.

‘Is that even possible?’

However, the true shock began from now on.

It happened when she followed them out of Jeonpo Station.

“There! Let’s go!”

“Push them!”

“Squeeze them tight―!”

Seo Ye-jin was momentarily stunned by the scene.

‘What in the world is happening?’

Humans were hunting goblins.

‘What…?’

Over the past month, she had witnessed countless scenes of people fighting goblins.

However, most of those were struggles for survival. The hunters were the goblins, and humans fought back to resist them.

But the scene unfolding before her eyes was the complete opposite.

“Kill them!”

“Kieeak―!”

A group of humans was systematically hunting goblins.

They efficiently drove the goblins into a dead-end and mercilessly attacked them.

The motions seemed so familiar.

As if they had done it several times already.

The weapons carried by the people were diverse.

Hammers, kitchen knives, golf clubs, aluminum bats, and more.

Starting with common items, there were even people carrying spears or bows.

‘Those are the weapons the orcs carry.’

The few men holding them were unmistakably wielding glaives, the weapon frequently favored by orcs.

It didn’t seem like they had acquired them from hunting orcs, as they didn’t appear particularly powerful.

Sure enough.

“Hey, they’re here!”

“Deok-su!”

They seemed to be familiar with the party that slaughtered the orcs.

The party that had been killing orcs greeted them naturally.

‘Were they in the same group?’

If that were the case, it made sense that they also had the orc’s glaives.

“Mister, take this! Many people still don’t have spears. Share it around!”

They began distributing the orc’s glaives, loot they had been carrying.

‘As expected.’

They began walking in the direction of a massive apartment complex.

Now, things were starting to make a bit more sense.

‘That party of Awakeners is the leader of a large survivor group.’

A survivor group formed by eight Awakeners.

Just thinking roughly, there must be at least a few thousand survivors.

Considering the awakening ratio to be roughly one in a thousand, that made sense.

‘Maybe I should join them?’

Managing everything with her own strength alone was becoming increasingly difficult.

Running a shelter with thousands of people meant having an abundance of food and water.

If so, it was worth making contact.

‘With my abilities, I can definitely make a strong case.’

The group of roughly thirty survivors she led would surely be welcomed.

Seo Ye-jin knew her value well.

‘Let’s observe a bit first.’

After distributing the glaives, she cautiously followed the Awakeners party heading back to the apartment complex.

As soon as Seo Ye-jin entered the apartment complex, she was faced with yet another shocking scene.

“Kyahaha!”

“Let’s go!”

“Mom! Look over here!”

Seo Ye-jin was confused whether the scene she was witnessing was real or fake.

‘Kids playing in the playground?’

Of course, it was a common sight before the world fell apart.

However, the world now was one where monsters roamed everywhere.

‘What the heck is this…?’

She couldn’t believe that this place was the same world she had experienced over the past month.

It was then.

“Ye-jin.”

She broke the sensory link with the mouse and opened her eyes at the familiar voice.

“What’s going on, Jung-soo oppa?”

“I think we’ve really reached our limit. The most important water is completely gone. What should we do?”

Seo Ye-jin let out a bitter laugh.

She had just seen children playing in the playground, but now she was hiding in the basement of a building, worrying about drinking water.

From a fairy-tale-like world, they were suddenly thrust onto the cold floor of harsh reality.

‘It was foolish to hesitate.’

Thanks to this, she was able to make up her mind.

Han Jung-soo, who had been observing the situation, spoke.

“Sorry, I’m ashamed. I’m always relying on you like this.”

Seo Ye-jin responded with a smile at Han Jung-soo’s words.

“It’s not like that. I think I somehow found a way.”

“A way?”

“Yeah. I’ll tell you the details later, so tell people to get ready for now.”

“What kind of preparation?”

“Preparation to go outside.”

Han Jung-soo widened his eyes and asked, “Outside? We’re going outside?”

“Yeah. Otherwise, are we just going to wither away and die here?”

“Well, that’s not…”

“If you want to live, stop nagging and go prepare .”

“…Okay.”

After confirming that Han Jung-soo was leaving, Seo Ye-jin closed her eyes again and activated her ability.

Due to her conversation with Han Jung-soo, she missed the Awakeners party, but it was relatively easy to figure out where they had gone.

Because there was a place where people came and went the most frequently.

‘Why are there so many people in this building?’

She was waiting to sneak in secretly, but there was no opening.

After waiting for a while, the opportunity finally came.

‘Now!’

The moment the mouse tried to enter the apartment under Seo Ye-jin’s command using its tiny limbs.

Thump!

Squeak!

The mouse banged its head against the invisible wall and bounced back.

Then, a strange window appeared in front of Seo Ye-jin.

[Access denied.]

‘…What’s this?’

Just as she was confused by the situation.

[Would you like to acquire citizenship?]

[Yes / No]

The invisible barrier and citizenship.

Children and parents playing leisurely in the playground a little farther away.

Understanding the context of these things, Seo Ye-jin could only nod her head roughly.

“Yes! Yes! Definitely yes!”

It was clear that there was an ability user here who protected the people.

They were clearly united around that person.

This citizenship seemed like a qualification to enter under that person’s protection.

Ding!

[You have acquired citizenship.]

Was it done?

Seo Ye-jin cautiously sent the mouse into the apartment.

This time, she didn’t feel any transparent wall blocking its way.

However, as soon as she entered the apartment, she ran into people.

“It’s a mouse!”

“Ahhh!”

For some reason, there were more people on the first floor than she expected, and she had to run away desperately.

“It’s running away!”

“Stop it!”

People, unaware of the situation, went crazy trying to catch the mouse.

‘Ugh!’

Swiftly, the mouse fled towards the emergency exit and began to climb the stairs with all its might.

Once it entered the emergency exit and reached the second floor.

‘!!’

An unexpected sight unfolded.

Treadmills, bench presses, chest presses, seated rows, and numerous other exercise machines filled the space.

What was even more surprising than that was the brightly lit LED bulbs hanging from the ceiling and the lively music playing throughout the gym like background music.

♪♬―♩―!

‘This is…’

It felt as if she had traveled through time.

As if she had stumbled into a gym somewhere before the world went awry.

The scene was so unimaginable that it felt like a dream.

At that moment.

Thunk!

“Ugh!”

With a sudden impact, the sensory sharing was forcibly cut off.

It meant that someone had caught the mouse present there.

‘Oh, my head.’

Thanks to that, she felt a headache as if her head might burst, but even so, a smile bloomed on her face.

“Haha, hahaha!”

She found a way to survive!

‘The problem is how to get there…’

This was Seomyeon.

Realistically, it was too far to reach that place.

In the past, it might have been a fifteen minute walk, but not now.

‘Since we’d have to break through a monster-infested field.’

If she actively utilized the mice, she and a few others could move.

However, bringing more than thirty people would be impossible.

They would be wiped out for sure.

‘Just need to get to Jeonpo Station somehow.’

From there, there were almost no monsters.

That Awakeners party had cleared them all.

So, if she somehow made it to Jeonpo Station, the way to the apartment would be wide open.

‘There’s no other way.’

During this time, she had consistently used mice for reconnaissance, so she was well aware of the surrounding situation.

A way to safely escort over thirty survivors to Jeonpo Station.

There was only one method available.

‘Using the subway tracks.’

According to the information gathered through the mice, surprisingly, there weren’t many monsters inside Seomyeon Station.

However, there was a good reason for that.

‘…Because that 〈Monster〉 is in Seomyeon Station.’

Just thinking about that creature sent shivers down her spine.

It was such a formidable presence, far beyond goblins or orcs.

‘However, there might be a chance because of that.’

It was still a living creature after all.

If she seized the moment while it was sleeping, it seemed possible.

Since the goal wasn’t to fight that thing anyways.

They just needed to sneak away.

‘If I make good use of the mice, it’ll work out somehow.’

***

‘Huh?’

My heart sank when I saw the mouse stepped on and killed by Choi Hyeong-jun in the gym.

Because I thought it was Seo Ye-jin who had transformed into a mouse.

However.

[You have hunted a Tamed Mouse (Lv. 2).]

[Gained a small amount of experience.]

[1,416 won has been deposited into the Absolute Dweller’s Wallet.]

‘Hm?’

Fortunately, that wasn’t the case.

Checking the citizen management window, Seo Ye-jin’s name was still intact.

‘Phew.’

Examining her awakening ability, I could grasp the whole story of the incident.

Queen of Mice (Grade A)

All mice faced by her pledge loyalty to the Queen.

Once tamed, mice can be controlled like limbs, and sharing senses is possible.

‘She was controlling the mouse.’

That said, it wasn’t direct contact, but it was interesting that citizenship could still be offered in such cases.

At that moment.

“Huh?”

Outside the living room window, a familiar figure appeared.

‘What?’

In a way, it could be considered a creature that saved him.

Of course, not the creature itself but its species.

‘Kellican.’

I wonder if there was a designated meeting place for those Kellicans near my house.

This was already their third appearance.

‘Well, thanks to them, I’m still alive.’

If it hadn’t been for the first one that showed up, I would’ve been helpless and died.

In that sense, I felt a bit grateful to the Kellicans.

But this time, the creature’s gaze wasn’t directed at me.

It was observing the playground below with the eyes of a hunter.

It seemed to be targeting the ordinary citizens playing in the playground.

‘That won’t do. Invisible Hand.’

A transparent hand emerged from my body, violently opened the living room window, and reached out towards the creature.

Grasp!

-Keaack!?

I grabbed one of its wings and forcefully pulled it towards me.

Bang!

[Unauthorized entity attempting entry.]

The creature struggled against the invisible wall, trying to escape my grasp.

I looked at the creature and muttered.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

-Keaeaaack!

“Vassal Summon, Ha Dong-geon.”

Shushuk.

“Hm?”

Ha Dong-geon, who was suddenly summoned, looked at the struggling Kellican through the living room window.

“Should I take care of it?”

“Yes, please.”

I bought a spear from the shop and handed it to Ha Dong-geon.

Puk!

Ha Dong-geon swiftly stabbed the spear into the Kellican’s neck.

[Kellican (Lv. 25) hunted.]

[You have gained experience.]

[38,567,987 won deposited into the Absolute Dweller’s Wallet.]

[Skill level has increased.]

The same time I leveled up.

Zzing―

‘Ugh.’

The homebound area exploded outwards, engulfing the two nearby buildings on both sides.