ReLife Player

[Hound]

«1st grade’s field trip destination will be Bukhansan. Why don’t the president and vice president make teams for the kids?» (1)

Morning meeting time. Miss Yoo-Jina gives the kids the agenda from the teachers’ meeting the day before.

I don’t want to work.

Eunha slumped down at his desk and sighed. Even as vice president, he hated to work, and he didn’t like having to organize the children’s groups.

He wants Jin-sena to do it all, but….

Surprisingly, Jin-sena was fulfilling her role as president. And thanks to her manipulation of the kids in the clique, Eunha was able to get away with being the vice president.

Sena wanted to have both power and authority as president, so she scolded him for not fulfilling his vice-presidential responsibilities, but she didn’t ask him to fulfill his responsibilities.

Though it was nice for him to not have to do anything.

«Ha.»

Not this time.

If he let Sena organize the children’s groups, he could see what would happen: she would split up the children she didn’t like and put them in groups of children who didn’t like each other.

He made his way to the table, just in case.

Jinsena, who was already there, looked at him unpleasantly.

«You only work at times like this?»

«Huh? No, I work normally too.»

Eunha responded as if asking what she meant.

He responds with a smug look on his face, and Sena is momentarily flustered. She tried to remember if he’d ever done any work as vice president, but to her knowledge, he hadn’t.

«What work? What do you do as vice president?»

«I help out by staying out of the way, and if I get involved, it’s just more work for you.»

«…That’s ridiculous. If that’s what you’re saying, then why don’t you just stay out of it?»

«…Well, do you think so?»

«Yeah, get back to your seat.»

«Okay, I’ll do the weaving, and you can do the rest.»

«…What?»

What was he talking about?

Sena was dumbfounded at how confident Eunha was acting under the children’s stares.

Regardless, Eunha continued to write down the names of the kids who were hanging out with Minji on the board.

«What do you think you’re doing!»

«This is how we do it in our group.»

Whether Sena was angry or not, Eunha nonchalantly brushed off the chalk dust from his hands. He was so composed that even the children who looked down on him couldn’t help but open their mouths.

Sena couldn’t keep her mouth shut as she watched him engage in shameless behaviour right in front of her.

She tried to keep Eunha from serving as vice president so that she could have the upper hand in Class 4. She had been taught by her father not to embrace those with whom she disagreed, but to tie their hands and feet before they could make a dent in her power.

So she let the vice chairman do whatever he pleased.

He didn’t know where he stood. Sena only wanted to keep him out of the position of Vice-President, not have him take over the job for his own gain.

«It’s good for you, isn’t it?»

«Are you ignoring me now? You’re really clueless, aren’t you?»

«Why? You’re saying you’re going to hang out with the kids you don’t like. Or should I make you the group leader?»

«Not that, but….»

«Then we’re done. Take care of the rest.»

«…What the hell do you believe in?»

«I don’t believe in anything.»

Well, maybe my abilities.

Eunha swallowed the words and returned to his seat.

«I hope you’re sorry now, before I tell my father your name.»

«…You’re going to tell him?»

«…….»

Eunha looked back at her for a moment.

Sena looked into those bottomless, cloudy eyes and held her breath.

It was a strange-no, eerie-sensation, and the moment she met his eyes, she felt as if something cold and heavy was squeezing her tightly.

As if an invisible snake was coiling around her and squeezing the life out of her.

A sensation she couldn’t describe.

Yes, it was definitely fear. Like when I was a kid and faced the chairman of KK Group in a gathering of all my relatives.

They said.

He’s a crouching tiger.

«I’m counting on you»

Eunha saw Sena tense up, and she was spared. He placed a hand on her shoulder before returning to his seat.

«Pfft…!»

No way! I’m scared of him, and he’s got nothing on me?

Senna felt a humiliation she’d never experienced before when he placed his hand on her shoulder, and she bit her lip tightly to stifle the feeling, clenching her trembling fists.

Where the hell is that thing threatening me!

Sena had never had her pride bruised before.

No. Except at the gatherings of the children of tycoons, her pride had never been bruised by a child who had nothing.

She couldn’t take it anymore. Sena decided that this time, she would tell her father the truth.

He’d apologize when the time came, but who would accept it?

He would give her whatever she wanted. Even if it meant ruining the family of a man who had nothing.

Sena looked forward to it. The pleasure of breaking him, when he abandoned his smug face and gave in, burying his head in his hands.

Watch, I’m going to make him regret this for the rest of his life.

It’s no fun to ruin him all at once. She was going to make him spend the rest of his life in despair for inflicting this humiliation on her.

Meanwhile, Eunha had no idea what Sena was up to.

«Huam~»

He stared out the window leisurely with his jaw set.

«…Well, I guess it’s okay.»

There was only one event that came to mind about Mount Bukhansan.

It was the great migration of monsters. The monsters that lived on the edge of Uijeongbu escaped from the monsters of the higher realms and appeared in Bukhansan through the cocoon.

I think it was also in the spring.

I didn’t experience the event myself, only heard about it.

I heard that many people who came to see the flowers died.

«No way!»

There was no way that could happen to me, unless I got lucky.

«It’s not like I’m Conan on a crime spree….» (2)

Yeah, it’s definitely not going to happen.

I just want to live in peace, so leave me alone.

☆

<End of the Century Destruction>. At that time, the government made the decision to abandon some parts of the country. The government sacrificed some smaller cities to save Seoul, arguing that they had to sacrifice the cow for the sake of the calf. It was impossible for people who were not used to destroying monsters to stop the monsters that were appearing simultaneously.

As a result, South Korea lost a third of its population, and the cities that served as satellite cities were taken over by monsters.

«Fucking assholes, kicking me out to this shitty place….»

One of the cities that was taken over by monsters was Uijeongbu, where Im Dohyuk was assigned.

Uijeongbu itself was like a dungeon. Once a military hub, the city was now in ruins to the point where it was unrecognizable.

«Ha, shit.»

A city that nobody was looking for anymore. The city had been abandoned by the government for over 30 years, and it was truly a land of decay and death.

Im Dohyuk, once a high-ranking member of the Changhae Clan, the second most powerful clan in South Korea, was now the head of the management team for the special mission sent by the Changhae Clan to Uijeongbu. It was a position that sounded good only in name, but in reality, it was a job to monitor a city where monsters roamed.

«Why the hell does this matter….»

It was the Clan Lord who ordered him to travel to Uijeongbu.

In order to protect Seoul, Uijeongbu must be monitored.

Clan Lord was right. He was right, but it didn’t change the fact that it was a job.

Uijeongbu was the most problematic city for the current government. For over thirty years, Uijeongbu had been home to powerful monsters. If they were to make their way south, Seoul could become a battleground in an instant.

Some were calling for Uijeongbu to be recaptured as soon as possible.

However, the Seonyeo government was hesitant to take Uijeongbu, saying that the Gangnam region should be stabilized first.

«I won’t do it.»

When he was sent to Uijeongbu, he was attacked by monsters several times a day. It was a place infested with high-level monsters, and the slightest misjudgment could cost him his life.

It wasn’t unreasonable for the Seonyeo government to argue that systematic preparation was needed to retake Uijeongbu.

«Ha, shit.»

He was about to lament again.

«Administrator, we have confirmed the appearance of a high-level monster near Mount Dobong!»

A player rushed over to report.

«So what? How many monsters appear in a day….»

Do-hyuk pricked up his ears and scowled at the player who had been relegated to the sidelines.

Monsters were being born dozens of times a day in Uijeongbu, and with mana everywhere, it was inevitable that monsters would pop up.

What to do then? As a player who had stepped down from his role, he was only responsible for monitoring Uijeongbu, not for destroying monsters, so he wasn’t surprised by how many appeared every day.

«What, are there any second-tier monsters out there?»

«Well, not really, but….»

«Well, that’s no big deal. How many ranks?»

«It’s impossible to tell, but…, according to the navigator’s analysis, it’s a monster of the fifth rank.»

«Then there’s no need to worry. What’s the problem?»

The fifth hierarchy monster was capable of paralyzing city administration. If it had appeared in Seoul, it would have been a state of emergency, but it wasn’t worth reacting to a monster that had lost its function as a city in Uijeongbu.

There were monsters here that exceeded the fifth hierarchy, so it was not a big deal.

«Well…, this one isn’t listed in the database….»

«It must be a new species.»

Do-hyuk was mildly intrigued,

«Shouldn’t we… report it?»

«Report….»

According to the rules, he had to report every time a high-level monster appeared.

Still, the fifth level could choose not to report to the higher-ups at the discretion of the head of the administration.

«Hmm….»

«But, don’t you think we should report it? It’s a new monster, albeit a fifth-tier monster….»

«Wait, wait, wait. …Is there really a need to make a big deal out of it?»

If he reported the appearance of a new type of monster to the upper authorities, he could already imagine what would happen in the future. The Changhae Clan would assign tasks one by one, such as investigating the new type of monster, accurately measuring its hierarchy, or subduing the monster.

Even if he did manage to capture a new monster and achieve success, it would be completely monopolized by the other officers.

It was better not to report it. As he looked back on his life, nearing his forties, he didn’t want to risk his life facing a new type of monster at the fifth level. Besides, Uijeongbu was a maze where other monsters gathered during the process of exterminating monsters.

«I won’t report it. That’s what I know.»

«Yes, yes! I understand!»

«Ugh, this sucks.»

After sending the player away, Do-hyuk lit a cigarette and furrowed his brow. There were monsters around the building, and he could smell them.

«I have to prepare for a retreat again.»

When he was first assigned to Uijeongbu, he had cleared out every monster that came his way, but he realized it was a pointless task.

Killing monsters in Uijeongbu was an endless cycle.

«Everyone, pack your things and get ready to retreat!»

Do-hyuk, who had turned away from the window, hissed with mana.

Downstairs, the savvy players had already packed up. Their equipment was lightly packed and they were ready to leave the building at any moment.

Except for one.

«Hey, bunny girl.»

«Hic!»

In the midst of the packed players, there was an Ain that was sprawled on the ground.

Her hair was tousled and dishevelled, her clothes were tugged and stretched, and she wore no underwear underneath.

From the looks of it, I could only imagine what had just happened.

«Anyway, these bastards…»

Do-hyuk sighed and cursed.

Some people couldn’t drink or have sex because they didn’t know when monsters would jump out, but his subordinates were secretly doing this kind of thing.

He felt like slapping them.

«Hehe, would you like to have a round, Commander? This girl gained some weight because she was afraid someone might call her a rabbit.»

«You crazy bastard. Monsters are attacking downstairs, and you say that? Hey, bunny girl!»

«Yes, yes!»

A blue-faced Ain responded. She couldn’t even stand up and was trembling all over.

«Sigh…»

The world that Ain was entering as an outcast from society was mostly the players’ world.

However, Ain was still a rejected presence even in the player’s world.

They could be treated the same way as the woman trembling in front of him.

She had somehow managed to join a large clan, but she hadn’t met the clan’s expectations,

«Deliver this to the members dispatched to Uijeongbu.»

«Yes, yes!»

«On the 9th day of the 4th month of the 3rd year, 16:48, the Uijeongbu Division of the Special Mission Bureau of Changhai Clan will move their base as soon as they receive this message. The current base is occupied by monsters. We will contact you again as soon as the base is relocated, so please maintain combat readiness!»

[April 9, 3, 16:48, Changhae Clan Special Mission Bureau, Uijeongbu Division, will move their base as soon as they receive the message. The current base is occupied by monsters. We will contact you again as soon as the base is relocated, so please maintain combat readiness!

This is Shim Su-ji, a member of the Uijeongbu Contingent of the Special Mission Bureau of Changhae Clan].

«Good job, Bunny. You guys, follow me!»

«Ah, my ears, my ears…»

Ain was dragged away by her ears, without even having time to grab her pants.

As an Ain without any abilities, she was nothing more than a radio.

☆

Changes have occurred in the monster habitat.

A fifth-rank monster born around Dobongsan.

An unidentified monster has disrupted the ecosystem.

Down, down, down.

Down, down, down.

Monsters began to migrate south to avoid new predators.

(1) Bukhansan.

(2) ‘It’s not like I’m Conan on a crime spree’: in this context, it refers to the character «Conan Edogawa» from the popular Japanese manga and anime series «Detective Conan» (also known as «Case Closed» in some English-speaking countries. I LOVE IT!!). The series follows high school detective Shinichi Kudo, who is transformed into a child after being poisoned and takes on the name Conan Edogawa to hide his true identity while he works to uncover the truth behind various crimes. (I recommend it if you are looking for something casual and fun to watch!)