Chapter 74

Chapter 6: In the Name of Glory (10)

***

Squish—

Clunk.

“Ughhh...”

Sometimes, when I browse the community, I see comments like, “How can those game streamers make money so easily these days?” But that’s something only those who haven’t tried it would say. It’s as if you can just stroll around with any large-caliber gun in a dangerous area and not get infected by variants like the Mutes.

“Hapban? You’re out early?”

“Did you come to eat? Perfect timing. Let’s eat together.”

As he stretched after getting out of the connection device, Vex and Ian, who were sitting in the living room, greeted him warmly. They were drenched in sweat, probably from working outside. The decompression room was whirring, indicating they had just returned from outside.

“Food? What food?”

“I mean lunch. The connection device has a meal function, but it doesn’t feel as satisfying as eating out here.”

“Oh...lunch. So it’s only noon, huh?”

One of the biggest problems with GG is the time discrepancy. I started the game in the morning, woke up with Anaya at the inn, and walked to the pulpit on my own, which was around 2 PM in-game time. After being judged by Senadis and wandering around, I finally found and talked to the new companions by the time it was well past sunset. If I calculate from around 6 AM to 8 PM, that’s about 14 hours. With the 1:5 ratio of real to game time, it means only 2.8 hours, or 2 hours and 48 minutes, have passed in reality.

“Hapban? You look really tired.”

“Ughhh— I feel like I’m dying. My body is fine, but I’m mentally exhausted. You know, like when you have to stay up all night, but you can’t sleep at 5 or 6 in the morning, and your head feels foggy.”

“Ah, I know that feeling. I’ve had insomnia before.”

“Damn. When I can’t sleep at night, I just nap during the day. I’ve hardly ever had a proper night’s sleep in my 35 years.”

“Don’t go saying that to anyone. If you don’t want to get shot by the many insomniacs in the Wasteland.”

“Hahaha. Bring it on. I’m not scared of a truckload of idiots who can’t even breathe properly.”

Still, talking nonsense with these guys made my headache a bit better. I could just sleep if I was tired, but lying in bed at midday would disqualify me as a Wastelander. I’ll feel better if I do something.

‘When I feel better, I’ll go back in. There’s a time limit, after all.’

The Professor wiggled his thumb, which felt a bit strange, and thought. From the thumb to the ring finger, all but the pinky had shifted to Hyde’s side, effectively losing a hand. It’s a situation that would normally make someone scream and go crazy, but I didn’t feel any danger or urgency. Maybe it’s because Hyde is being so cooperative.

‘Is this intentional?’

[What do you mean?]

Instead of answering my question, the guy chuckled softly. He’s as perverted as ever. I wonder who he takes after.

[Do you enjoy cursing at the mirror?]

‘Shut up, Hyde. Don’t compare me to a decent person like me.’

At that, his left hand twitched, and the middle finger shot up. Even as I joke with him, seeing this makes me realize how dangerous my condition really is.

‘I don’t need to be in a hurry, but I shouldn’t be too relaxed either. If I lose an arm, I might have to start negotiating with Hyde.’

[Looking forward to it. Hehehe]

The Professor ignored Hyde’s ominous words and reached for the warm calorie bar Corduro had placed on the table. It’s sweet with a slight fibrous texture. Is it sweet potato and carrot today? Did he put some effort into it?

It seems Vex is enjoying it, but Ian looks like he doesn’t like the calorie bar. He swallowed it in one bite, and his face crumpled even more as he chewed.

“Damn. I can’t eat this.”

“Why? It’s good, isn’t it?”

“Try it yourself. How dare you say it’s tasteless in front of me, who grew the ingredients for this calorie bar. Chew it and swallow.”

“That’s right. To insult the crops we’ve nurtured is to insult the farmer’s hard work. Perhaps the new owner needs a direct education on this.”

Crack— Crack!

“Ugh— Professor, your AI seems a bit off.”

With a small welding tool, Corduro’s drone sparked, and the Professor alternated between pointing at Ian and the fertilizer container, threatening him. In the end, Ian managed to eat the calorie bar provided for him.

“Ugh. Eating the most important meal of the day like a rabbit. You brats.”

“What about you? What have you been eating all this time?”

“I? Raptor combat rations or whatever I’ve looted from my travels. I can eat potatoes, at least.”

“[Looting] while [trading]... Isn’t that already an error from the moment you say it naturally?”

Swallow, swallow,

Sigh.

Forget it. I have money now, anyway. I can just buy meat and feed them.

“Corduro, two more glasses of water.”

“Sure!”

Still, filling my stomach and drinking water to freshen my mouth made my tense nerves relax a bit, and I started to notice my surroundings. There’s a shadow over the greenhouse, which I usually don’t see, so I have an idea of what they were doing outside.

“Did the shelter parts arrive already?”

“Hmm? Oh, those? Yeah. They were delivered not long after you went to work. It’s fun to live here and make a lot of noise, but it’s a bit cramped for the three of us. Your sofa is a bit small for me to sleep on. My back hurts.”

“We haven’t set it up yet. We just put up one wall and decided on the location. Hapban, how about over there?”

“Hmm... I need to do some calculations. We need to consider the active defense range of the defensive turrets.”

“Of course, we’ll buy and install a turret on our side too.”

“That’s the thing. If the turret defense ranges overlap, it’s a waste. It’s better to expand the range and create a proper kill zone.”

So, we argued about the shelter location for another hour. When I lived alone, time didn’t pass, and it felt like someone was trying to kill me just by staying at home. But seeing how quickly time flies now is quite amazing. No matter what, it’s reassuring to have someone to rely on.

‘Hmm. Since I’m relying on them, should I ask them something?’

“Vex.”

“Yeah? What’s up?”

“You said you’re from the 3rd Division.”

“Yeah, the 3rd Special Forces Division.”

“Ian, you’re probably a former soldier too.”

“Ah, I didn’t mention it? I was a mercenary. Since the war started in North Korea, I ended up in South Korea, the most intense battlefield. Why, do you want to hear about it?”

“Hmm... Next time. My head is too cluttered to take in other people’s stories right now. Anyway, since you all have military experience, you must know something about running a unit. If you survived until the end of the war, you must have at least been a platoon leader.”

“Mm-hmm. That’s right. I—”

“I went up to battalion commander. Not during the war, though.”

.

.

.

.

What? Battalion commander? That bombastic guy?

“Eh?”

“Ian. You were a star? No, a battalion commander doesn’t have a star, right?”

“Hahaha, how does it feel now? This head of mine, you greenhorn. What are you doing, not saluting?”

“Stop it, you old fart!”

“G-Good! During the major war, the higher-ups were constantly being replaced! They needed someone to fill the positions! And I was in a special operations unit, so rank didn’t matter!”

While thinking that, the Professor imagined Ian in a fancy uniform with medals. Wearing dark sunglasses and holding a cigar, he would laugh and press a big red button. Damn, he looks so fitting. It’s like he was born for it.

Anyway, it’s good. As a battalion commander, he must know a lot more than me.

“Alright. Then help me out.”

“Hmm? What’s up all of a sudden?”

“It’s about the game. I’m running a kind of... special unit in the game, and there’s a problem.”

Ian, who had a deflated look at the mention of the game, started to show interest again at the word “special unit.”

“Special unit. Number of personnel, types of soldiers