Chapter 157
Chapter 157. Cattle Herding
“Nam Ho-yeol, how are you feeling?”
“There are really a lot of amazing people here!”
In response to Kim Si-hu’s question, Nam Ho-yeol, who had been assigned to the support team, replied with a slightly flushed face.
The blacksmiths who had departed as advance scouts along with him numbered about 11, all possessing several years more experience than Nam Ho-yeol.
Engaging in conversation with such experienced individuals about equipment crafting was quite beneficial for him.
“They shared various know-how and gave me information about newly discovered materials. I gathered a lot of useful information in just a few hours.”
“That’s great to hear.”
“I heard the blacksmiths from the Dice and Red Hole guilds hold meetings every now and then. They even invited me to a meeting in a few weeks, and I’m considering attending… Is that okay?”
“Of course! You can take a vacation whenever you wish.”
“Thank you!”
Yoo Ji-han nodded at Nam Ho-yeol, who showed an enthusiastic attitude. Bringing him on this expedition seemed to have been a sound decision.
“This is a transaction item. Please do not break it under any circumstances.”
“Leave it to me.”
Park Jae-kyung, standing in front of the fertilized eggs that Yoo Ji-han had found, entrusted them to her guild members.
They planned to store them in the nearby Warehouse of Dice until the expedition was over.
The rescued civilians were also decided to be protected near the warehouse.
‘It’s about time they arrived.’
Park Jae-kyung looked down at her mobile phone.
The screen still displayed that there was no signal.
Just then, the personnel sent to Jeonju Station returned.
“Vice Guild Master! We went to Jeonju Station.”
“How was it?”
“To summarize the important details, there was one engineer and a Magic Levitation Train waiting at the station.”
“There was an engineer and a train?”
“Yes. I confirmed with my own eyes that the lights in the control room were on.”
There was an engineer hiding within Jeonju Station, along with a train that was waiting without departing.
The control room, seen through the window, appeared ready to depart at any moment.
“Did the engineer not come with you?”
“That… He was extremely anxious. He seemed very reluctant to come out of the station because of the monsters.”
“Is he capable of operating the train?”
“He said it was fine to board the train.”
“……”
The news of an engineer and an operable train put Park Jae-kyung in deep thought.
“Vice Guild Master! You must join up with Red Hole first!”
“Since we’re unable to contact them, let’s move as quickly as possible.”
“We might even arrive before Jung Gi-jun!”
As several heroes urged Park Jae-kyung to make a decision, Yoo Ji-han shook his head sideways.
“It’s better not to take the train.”
“Pardon?”
“Let’s rather move along the tracks. The support team can carry those who need help.”
“Hm…”
“I don’t want to fall into another Space Distortion.”
Yoo Ji-han worried about falling into Space Distortion again while moving on the train.
The surrounding heroes responded with resistance.
“If we do that, arriving will take much longer! No matter what, we’ll only get there after the sun has set!”
“Even if we leave today and arrive tomorrow, it’s better to go as safely as possible.”
“We can detect Space Distortion from the train.”
“Detecting magic and having the high-speed train stop will be way too late.”
“Hey! I’m a Rank 2 Hero! Don’t you think I can find one little spell?”
“With all due respect, I don’t think you can.”
“……!”
Yoo Ji-han’s firm response caused a female mage’s face to contort.
It sounded like a blatant dismissal to her.
But Yoo Ji-han continued, unfazed by the reaction.
“Some of you may know, but I was the first to recognize the illusions and mental magic on the first train.”
“That’s…!”
“If it weren’t for me, the advance team would still be on that train, right?”
“Gah!”
Despite various objections, Yoo Ji-han stayed firm to his stance.
“Let’s follow Ji-han’s suggestion. Right now, safety must be the priority.”
Ultimately, Park Jae-kyung sided with Yoo Ji-han.
Following this, some unfriendly gazes were directed at Yoo Ji-han.
However, he maintained a very relaxed demeanor.
Thanks to the sampling that had unconsciously activated.
‘This is the right answer.’
No matter whether the opposing side was Rank 3, Rank 2, or even if they were as prominent as Kim Hyun-tae, he would not easily back down from making the right decision.
“Let’s proceed along the train tracks and cross any flat plains that aren’t steep.”
“This area has tightly packed houses, so we can cross freely.”
“We also need to think about the support team following behind…”
The opinions to avoid riding the train led to heroes skilled in reading maps huddling together.
As a result, a rough travel route was completed that occasionally diverged from the train tracks and roads.
“Let’s set off again.”
“Okay!”
Park Jae-kyung got all the resting heroes on their feet.
The heroes with some spare capacity and the pets of tamers each took turns carrying the support team members.
Among them, Nam Ho-yeol’s spot was on Chilla’s back.
Leaning on Chilla’s fluffy fur, he said, “I’ll ask you one more time.”
“Chirp chirp!”
Bang!
After smashing open the locked cafe door, they entered the storage room inside.
The storage contained unopened water bottles and chocolates, among various supplies needed for the store.
Yoo Ji-han and Chilla grabbed some of the items and quickly exited the building.
Min Yu-ri looked at what he was carrying and asked, “What’s this?”
“We need to eat something to keep moving. Here, take this.”
“Oh, thank you!”
“Just charge the bill later to the Hero Department, and everyone, please take one too!”
High-calorie snacks like chocolate and cheese.
Yoo Ji-han distributed them among the people.
His instinct as a supporter to take care of his fellow party members surfaced.
“This cheese tastes good.”
“I hear Imsil cheese is delicious.”
Just as the group was enjoying a brief rest, suddenly—
Dududududu…
The ground began to shake slightly out of nowhere.
Everyone, with snacks in hand, froze in their actions.
Dududududu!
The intensity of the vibrations felt from the ground grew stronger.
Yoo Ji-han recalled memories of a giant stone rolling in a dungeon.
However, what he felt now was markedly different from that time.
Woooo!
At that moment, the Sylph moved toward the main entrance of Imsil Station.
The Water Spirit, Aqua, and several pets followed closely behind the Sylph.
‘That way.’
The heroes who had stood up followed the spirits into the station.
And when they crossed the tracks where the trains ran, making their way to the opposite roadside.
Everyone’s eyes went wide.
“Moooo!”
“Moooooo—!”
“Meeee!”
Cows with white and black spots on their bodies.
Goats with beards on their chins.
The two groups of monsters that had turned into beasts were charging towards Imsil Station in an excited manner.
Crash! Kwang!
Kwahwahwahwah—!
The cows, numbering beyond counting, continued in endless succession.
Their size filled the wide road as two of them ran side by side.
Because of their size, those that were forced off the road barreled forward, crashing into utility poles and buildings.
‘There are people stuck in there.’
Could it be that they were showing hatred towards the humans who had raised them on the farm?
Yoo Ji-han spotted bodies impaled on the cows’ large horns.
Some of them were still clinging to life.
“It feels like a stampede is coming!”
“Stop spouting nonsense, and quickly get ready!!”
Amidst the panic caused by the monsters they had never seen before, everyone hurriedly took formation.
At that moment, Yoo Ji-han, who was calmly assessing the situation, noticed a large tent spread out near the station.
He rushed over, lifted the frame from the tent, and tore away the red cloth with his hands.
Upon seeing this, Park Jae-kyung widened her eyes.
“What are you doing?”
“I’ll lure the cows into the field.”
“What?!”
Facing so many cows head-on would lead to a brawl.
Some citizens in the area must still be in hiding like in Jeonju, anxious in their hearts.
For their sake, it was safer to keep the agitated monsters confined in one place.
“Why should Yoo Ji-han do this?”
“Because he has the best mobility here.”
In response to an answer that could not be denied, Park Jae-kyung bit her lip.
Then Yoo Ji-han spoke to reassure her.
“I’ve done something similar with a MonBull before, so don’t worry.”
“What did you say?”
“Ah.”
MonBull refers to the term for a bull that has turned into a Rank 2 monster.
Having inadvertently mentioned what had happened with the Kim Hyun-tae party, Yoo Ji-han flinched but quickly pretended not to say anything and looked elsewhere.
“Just borrow that friend for a moment!”
“Chirp?”
A large sparrow perched on Yoo Ji-han’s shoulder and soared into the sky.
After ascending to an appropriate height, Yoo Ji-han let the cloth he was holding flutter downwards.
“Moooo!”
“Moooooo!”
“Moooooo——!”
The thoroughly excited cows cried out upon seeing the suddenly appearing red object.
Yoo Ji-han waved the red cloth in his hand, intent on getting them even more worked up.
