♩♬―

[You have reached the 1st floor.]

[Door opens.]

While descending in the elevator, I briefly gave operation instructions to Ha Dong-geon’s party.

“Does everyone understand?”

They all nodded solemnly.

“Well then, please take care.”

“Yes!”

Together, we headed towards the first floor entrance.

“Save us, please, save us, save us…”

“Mom! Ahh!”

“We’re all going to die!”

Chaos was unfolding there.

Even though these people were technically within the homebound area, they were panicking.

Consumed by fear.

Kwoongg—

[Footnote: I feel like I’ve been using this sfx a lot. It is the same word in Korean but should I mix it up with boom, bang, slam, smash, etc?]

The sound of the giant’s approaching footsteps grew louder.

A colossal monster was visible through the gaps of the apartment buildings.

“AHHHHHH!”

“I-It’s coming this way!”

Just the fact that the creature was approaching was enough for people to feel the fear of death.

“I’ll handle this here. Please hurry to the designated positions for the operation.”

We split into three groups and moved.

Oh Eon-ju led the first group with Ha Dong-geon, Kim Da-jeong, and Kang Deok-su.

Kim Ga-young, Moon Byeong-ho, and Kim Geon formed the second group.

Lastly, Seo Ye-jin and I made up the third group.

Confirming that Groups 1 and 2 were rushing to their designated positions, I opened my mouth to address the panicked citizens.

“Ah, everyone, please pay attention for a moment.”

Despite not being particularly loud, I successfully managed to capture the people’s attention.

Simultaneously, I broadcasted my voice to every household through the broadcasting equipment under my control.

“Currently, a giant is approaching our apartment complex. Those with military experience, please gather at the main entrance. The rest of you, take your children and seek refuge in the underground parking lot.”

I spoke with as much calmness in my voice as possible.

As if something like this was nothing.

“Let me repeat. A giant is currently approaching.”

Whether it was the apparent composure or the effect of Dignity Maintenance, my voice seemed to have a soothing effect, gradually easing the panic.

“Right! The underground parking lot! There is an underground parking lot!”

“Would it be safe there?”

“Better than staying here for now!”

People began to move.

“Send the children first! We need to go to the underground parking lot right now!”

As soon as I provided a clear goal, people started moving purposefully.

“Dear! Take Do-yoon and go to the underground parking lot.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll head to the main entrance. I’ve completed my military service.”

“What are you talking about! You’re just a middle-aged man who finished his reserve duty!”

“Don’t nag, just go! Hurry!”

“…Don’t overdo it.”

There were men like him who gathered at the main entrance following my orders, but not everyone had the courage to do so.

Only 121 people had gathered at the main entrance.

Although the proportion of minors was relatively high among the total population of over 1200, the number of adult males exceeded 400.

It was unreasonable that only 100 served in the military.

In the Republic of Korea where military service is mandatory, there wouldn’t be so many sons of gods exempted from service.

‘They ran away.’

Several hundred people pretended not to know and fled to the underground parking lot.

‘Cowards.’

The people gathered here weren’t fools, and they knew that if they didn’t fight, they would all die.

They didn’t gather here to defend this apartment complex.

They gathered to protect their precious families or themselves.

There were even eight women among the 121 people, and I recognized all of their faces.

And all eight of them knew each other

All six members of Shin Yoo-ra’s team, including herself, were present, and the other one was Moon Hae-ri from Kim Minho’s team.

Lastly, there was Yoo Hye-rin.

I asked Yoo Hye-rin.

“Hye-rin, were you in the military?”

“No, but…”

“Then why did you come here?”

“I wanted to be of some help…”

I smiled satisfactorily and nodded.

“Good.”

Then, a short man raised his hand and asked, “But what should we do?”

It was Baek Sung-min, the younger brother of Baek Sung-yeop.

I asked him, “Where is Baek Sung-yeop?”

“Well…”

There was no sign of Baek Sung-yeop and the twins.

“Looks like he ran away.”

“…”

At the same time, a heavy silence settled. Some people were shocked to hear that some had run away.

Some regretted their decision to come to the main entrance.

‘I need to narrow down the group.’

Deciding to give them another chance, I spoke again.

“I will calmly explain the current situation.”

My gaze swept over their troubled faces.

“Honestly, I’m not sure we can defeat that monster. In the worst case scenario, we might all die together.”

As I spoke about the possibility of death, the eyes of those who were wavering shook.

“I respect individual choices. If anyone wants to run away now, please do so. I won’t stop you.”

I turned my back, facing the main entrance.

“I’ll count to ten. After that, you won’t be able to run away even if you want to.”

Kwong!

Meanwhile, the giant continued to approach, pushing down buildings along the way, creating a path of destruction.

“10, 9, 8…”

Baaaannggg!

While I counted, the remains of a destroyed building collided with the ground after being smashed by the giant’s hand, creating a thunderous noise.

Immediately after the loud collapse, the sound of a man standing up and running could be heard.

Once the first person moved, those who were wavering began to move one by one.

“…3, 2, 1.”

After counting to 10 and turning around, the number of people had decreased from 121 to 101.

Their eyes were still shaking, and their limbs trembled.

Nevertheless, they stayed.

“More than I expected.”

Someone made that comment.

Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to act without yielding in the face of fear.

In order to survive in a world filled with fear, more courageous people were needed.

Therefore, I would favor them.

This was not discrimination but fair treatment for those who chose to face their fears.

“Thank you for staying. Please take these.”

I purchased 101 handguns and bullets from the store and distributed them to the people.

“Guns?”

“Real guns?”

“It’s real!”

It was just a single handgun for each person.

In reality, the firepower was insufficient to deal with the giant.

Nevertheless, there was hope on the people’s faces.

“I respect individual choices. However, different choices will lead to different outcomes.”

[Citizen Park Jong-chan’s trust has reached 50.]

[Loyalty is now open.]

[Citizen Lee Hyuk-jin’s trust has reached 50.]

[Loyalty is now open.]

…

…

There was an explosion of notifications about trust and loyalty increases for the 101 people.

Among them, there were several who surpassed 30 loyalty in one go, meeting the conditions for vassal registration.

‘Raise the experience and settlement distribution rates to 100% for those here.’

Since the appearance of the ‘Basic Salary’ skill after the number of citizens exceeded a thousand, the distribution rates for experience and settlement money for all citizens had been adjusted to 0%.

Now, these 101 people would grow twice as fast and earn twice as much money as other citizens when hunting monsters.

At that moment.

-GRAAAHHHHH!

The angry shout of the giant shook the heavens and the earth.

‘It’s started.’

I observed the situation of Team 1, where Oh Eon-ju was, through the Absolute Dweller’s Eyes.

***

Stab!

The Cyclops, with a spear stuck in its calf, howled and swung around.

Ha Dong-geon grabbed the spear conjured in mid-air and threw it at the giant once again.

Wooong—

With the attack power increased fivefold due to his skills, the spear penetrated deep into the Cyclops’ calf.

-Graaaah!

Having reached level 36 after killing the King Snake at Seomyeon Station and with Kim Da-jeong’s blessing, Ha Dong-geon was inflicting quite a bit of pain to the giant with his spear throwing.

However, that was the limit.

His spear throwing couldn’t threaten the giant’s life.

The enraged Cyclops locked onto Ha Dong-geon.

As their eyes met, Ha Dong-geon quickly moved away. After leaping from the third floor building, he started sprinting at full speed.

When Ha Dong-geon disappeared into the forest of buildings, the Cyclops let out a furious roar.

-Uraaahhhh!

Just as the Cyclops was about to crush the entire maze of buildings.

Swoosh!

This time, it felt a stinging pain in its Achilles’ heel.

-Aaaah!

It was a strike made by Oh Eon-ju, who had transformed into her werebear form.

Oh Eon-ju licked her lips as she observed the wound on the giant’s Achilles’ heel.

‘Too shallow.’

It was just a mere scratch on the skin.

Despite receiving Kim Da-jeong’s blessing, the power was insufficient.

However, the moment she saw blood oozing from the giant’s wound.

“Rahhh!”

Her eyes turned bloodshot and her muscles swelled.

Based on the sharply-increased physical abilities, she rushed in again and swung her claws.

Phuck!

This time, she could leave a much deeper wound than before.

-Graaaah!

The Cyclops let out a scream of pain.

‘One more hit…!’

The giant’s Achilles tendon was exposed through the wound.

Although she couldn’t completely sever it, attacking it would effectively limit the giant’s mobility.

As Oh Eon-ju prepared to strike again with her claws.

Boom!

The giant’s foot rose at an incredible speed, and her claws, missing the target, cut through the air.

Immediately after.

Slaammm!

Falling faster than it went up, the foot completely shattered the ground where Oh Eon-ju had been.

“Cough…!”

While she managed to avoid being directly stepped on with agile movements, getting caught in the ensuing turbulence was inevitable.

Baaaaang!

Her body flew like a shell, smashing through the wall of a building before finally coming to a stop.

“Groan!”

As the Cyclops approached to finish Oh Eon-ju.

[Hey! You stupid monster!]

Kang Deok-su, wearing his shining armor and a spear, taunted the giant.

His voice echoed loudly due to the megaphone.

The Cyclops’ eye gleamed as it noticed Kang Deok-su holding a shining silver spear, reminding it of Ha Dong-geon who had just thrown spears at him. This time, it was determined not to let him escape.

The giant started running towards Kang Deok-su.

Kwooong―!

Having successfully provoked the Cyclops, Kang Deok-su sprinted at full speed towards the apartment gate.

Meanwhile, Kim Da-jeong, who had been hiding nearby and observing the situation, was running towards the building where Oh Eon-ju had been thrown.

Having watched this far, I addressed the 101 citizens armed with guns.

“Get ready, everyone.”

The citizens lined up with their guns, swallowing nervously.

“G-Gasp!”

Behind Kang Deok-su, who was running with all his might, a furious Cyclops with an angry face chased after him.

Thanks to the Achilles tendon wound created by Oh Eon-ju, the distance between them was not quickly closing.

Kwong― Thud!

‘Here it comes.’

The role assigned to Team 1 in this operation was “bait.”

Their role was to lure the giant into the optimal location to deal with it.

And Team 1 completed the mission very successfully.

Kwoong!

As Kang Deok-su safely entered the protective shield, the enraged Cyclops reached right in front of the main gate.

Kim Geon’s crow, Kaman, rushed towards the giant’s eye.

-Aaargh!

Surprised by the sudden attack on its eye, the giant stopped in place and stared in the direction Kaman was flying.

At that moment.

Swooosh― Chook!

Kim Ga-young, who was waiting on the roof of an apartment near the main gate, released an arrow that pierced through the Cyclops’s hand, accurately digging into its only eye.

-GRAHHHHHHH!

The giant covered its eyes with both hands and leaned its head back, screaming.

Its mouth was wide open.

Swoosh!

Moon Byeong-ho appeared in front of the giant’s mouth, holding a mouse in his hand and threw it down the Cyclops’ throat.

‘So far, everything’s going according to plan.’

Although Oh Eon-ju’s injury wasn’t part of the plan, it was unavoidable.

I wanted to hand the finishing blow to her for the sake of completing the quest and for the overall benefit. Unfortunately, the giant in front of them wasn’t an opponent they could afford such leisure.

‘Finish it when we can.’

Seo Ye-jin, sitting next to me, had already connected her senses to the mouse. The target, of course, was the mouse inside the Cyclops’ throat.

The Absolute Dweller’s Eyes illuminated the giant’s dark esophagus.

‘Summon gas.’

The gas stored in the warehouse filled the giant’s esophagus and stomach.

In the next moment, I imagined the largest possible flame as I could in the darkness.

Woosh―

A flame bloomed in the darkness.

BAAAANNGGG!

Becoming the starting point of a massive explosion.