Chapter 38

: Strange People 1
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Elise was reading the newspaper with ease when her subordinates showed up making loud noises.

Some of our people just went to the battlefield!


How many of them?


Five.

Her subordinate handed her a tablet, and she looked at it and saw five people on the screen. She checked on their personal details report and asked:

What is their survivability rate?


It’s about three percent.


What if the five of them work together?


Then, it’s about ten percent.


That sounds good.

Minions had about 0.01 percent survival rate on the Dimensional Battlefield, but if they trained at a high level and fought together, the survival rate increased to ten percent.

In an hour, one of them might have survived, so get their bodies in one place.


OK.

Her subordinates went away, and she placed her hand on the left side of her desk. The desk sensed her hand, and five screens were produced on it.
They all focused on Elise.

We got people who went to the Dimensional Battlefield.

On the far right screen, an old man spoke:

How many of them?


Five.

The people on the screens responded optimistically.
On the far left, Doyeol Kim spoke:

What’s their chance of returning alive?


They have a three percent chance, but, if the five of them work together, it could increase to ten percent.


Do they know the rules of the battlefield?


We taught them well.

On the far right, the old man smiled and said:

I’ll be waiting for the hour to pass.


I will give you good news.


I look forward to it.

The five screens disappeared, and Elise got up from her seat. It was not the time to read her newspaper.

So, shall I go?

The Robotics Lab’s top director, Elise, wore a white gown and went out of the room.
—
He had his hands up, trying to calculate the time it took for the light to disappear. When he opened his hands, Junhyuk looked around the white-lit room. On the side of the wall, there was a number.
It said 8834G.
During the last siege, he had been targeted by heroes, and his contribution to killing heroes had gone up, so there was quite an amount.

I just need a little bit more.

His target was 10,000G. All he had to do was contribute in killing one more enemy.
Junhyuk checked himself out. His armor’s color had darkened. The deep green armor was far lighter than the one he wore when he was a novice.
It was so light, he worried about it’s defensive power. It did not feel heavy at all.

Nevertheless, armors have no meaning against heroes.

His armor had gotten stronger, but it was still like a piece of paper to a hero, so he shouldn’t even worry about it, and it would still protect him against minions’ attacks.
Junhyuk finished his gear check when a soft voice spoke again. It was already the third time, but he didn’t want to hear it.
[Welcome. You are being summoned to the Valley of Death.]
Junhyuk was waiting to receive his two-handed sword, but, instead, two swords showed up.

Two swords?

He had practiced using a two-handed sword like crazy, but now he was an expert, and received two swords. He didn’t know anything about dual-wielding swordsmanship.

Nothing ever goes as planned.

Junhyuk sighed and picked up the two swords. Soon, a door appeared. When Junhyuk went through, he heard the voice again:
[You’ve activated two powers and became an expert. You have right to reincarnate one time as an expert.]
He wasn’t expecting it, so he asked:

Is that for real?

The voice did not answer and, instead, continued as usual:
[Expert 01 deployed.]
That meant he was the first human expert, and he had no intention of becoming a missing number.

I will survive whatever it takes.

Outside, he saw people crowded against each other. Junhyuk looked at the large crowd, and his attention stopped at a group of people who looked suspicious.
Most people did not understand what was taking place, but the group of people acted differently. They must’ve known each other and gathered up in one place.
They didn’t look surprised at all. They looked trained for any possible situation.
Still, this was a dangerous place for minions to survive, but if anyone had the will to survive, they might be of help. Junhyuk continued to look around him.
Since he became an expert, he grew to be six feet, five inches, so he could easily look at the minions. Junhyuk looked and heard a voice:

Big brother!

Junhyuk felt glad, yet disappointed. He did not know Sarang would be summoned again. Maybe she was called back because she survived with him or for a different reason, but they were together again.

Excuse me.

Junhyuk went by the other minions and stood in front of Sarang. She was holding a magic staff and a shield and was looking at Junhyuk.

Big bro, did you get taller?


Yes.


Your armor has also completely changed.

His armor looked totally different from the other armors. Junhyuk smiled bitterly.

I think it’s for experts.

Sarang stood next to him and said:

Will you keep your promise?


Of course. We will return together.

He did not want to lose a comrade with whom he had fought together. They waited for a moment, and the door opened. People walked in. One was the eight-feet-two-inches Artlan, and the other was the six-feet-five-inches Vera.
They saw Junhyuk and went over to him.
Artlan and Vera stood in front of him, and Junhyuk spoke first:

Starting with the expert level, one reincarnation is possible. Is that true?

Artlan and Vera looked at each other and shrugged.

We begin as heroes, so we are not sure. You should ask Bebe.

The dimensional merchant Bebe should know, and Junhyuk nodded.

I just need little more money. I will ask him then.

Artlan chuckled and glanced at the crowd.

From here to there follow me!

Artlan spoke and stepped forward, and Vera said:

Sarang Kim, I summoned you.

Sarang knew Vera was looking after her, but she wasn’t sure how to feel about the situation. Should she feel resentment or gratitude for being summoned? She did not say a word.
Vera gave her a big hug and said:

Even if I hadn’t summoned you, they would’ve done it anyway, but other heroes wouldn’t know how to utilize your power. It’s better to be with me than die needlessly.

Sarang answered meekly:

Thank you for summoning me.

Vera looked at Junhyuk:

And Junhyuk will be with you. It will be less dangerous.

Junhyuk shook his head.

This time they will target me. Wouldn’t it be more dangerous to be next to me?


We have to wait and see.

The smiling Vera put her arm around Junhyuk. Now that he was six feet, five inches, he could stand next to her.

Let’s go. We have to walk a lot today.

Junhyuk moved without hesitation. Artlan took the lead, and Junhyuk followed him and also noticed that the suspicious people were among the group.
The group was made up of thirty people plus Sarang and Junhyuk. It was a large number, so Junhyuk asked Vera:

Are we going to Watchtower immediately?


No,
Vera smiled and answered.
We are going to the enemy’s forest.


So, we will hide in the forest and hit them?


Yes, just like last time. We will hide and hit.


Then, why do we need so many minions?


We need them,
Artlan said upon reaching the castle’s gate.
From now on, don’t lag behind. We are entering a forest. If you’re slow, it will mean your death.

Junhyuk noticed Artlan explain it more considerately. Artlan started running fast when the gate opened. To keep up with Artlan, the minions had to run very fast. It was like a near-death experience.
Junhyuk matched his pace and asked:

Why are we running so fast?


We have to be in position and seize their route, so we have to hurry.

Vera spoke and looked at Sarang.

Magician minions lack physical strength. You should help her.

Junhyuk offered his hand and grabbed Sarang by her wrist. Vera looked at her and asked:

Did you train hard?

Sarang nodded, and Vera added calmly:

Ordinarily, one has to activate a power to become a novice, but a magician minion who trains continuously will be acknowledged as having a power. Of course, it’s difficult to be acknowledged as having a power, but training makes a difference.


Can she become a novice, then?


Yes.

Vera looked at Sarang again.

You only have the energy bolt ability. If they consider that ability deadly enough, you could become a novice.

Junhyuk listened and looked at Sarang. Novices had different survival rates from minions. Of course, if she were attacked by another novice, she would have less of a chance, but she wouldn’t die easily by the hands of the enemies.
Sarang looked at Vera.

What do I have to do?


Practice what I’ve taught you and practice hard.

Sarang made up her mind.

I will do my best.

Junhyuk became an expert. When he was a novice, he was matchless against minions. Sarang had to work hard to increase her survival rate.
The group advanced to the forest. Previously, they used to look for monsters, but, this time, they wanted to avoid monsters.
Junhyuk helped Sarang’s with the running and noticed some people were lagging behind. They slowed down considerably and soon would be out of the group.
Junhyuk let go of Sarang and approached the slow group.

Look here.

The five of them looked at Junhyuk: four men and one woman. Their eyes looked full of strength, and their breathing was regular. They didn’t look tired at all.

If you fall behind in the forest, you will die. Speed up.

The five of them looked at each other, and a man stepped forward.

Don’t mind us and be on your way.

Because of the interpretation pill, Junhyuk understood them completely. He looked at the man and said:

I am not joking. You don’t look tired, don’t lag behind. If not, you will die.


We will follow you soon.

Junhyuk saw others in the slow group holding their weapons. If he continued to goad them, they might attack him.
Even though minions couldn’t hurt him, he didn’t want to fight allies.
Junhyuk did not have a chance to say anything because Vera laughed and said:

Don’t mind them. You and Sarang are lagging behind.

Junhyuk knew Artlan wouldn’t wait for them. He smiled bitterly and spoke for one last time:

Follow us. I will lead.

Junhyuk and Sarang were about to run, and the man asked:

Are you human?

Junhyuk looked really surprised and answered:

I’m human.

After he finished speaking, Junhyuk, Sarang and Vera left. The man spoke again:

That guy isn’t a minion.


There is a person who isn’t a minion among humans?

The man nodded and said:

Try to remember his face. If one of us survives, make sure to report him.

Everyone nodded.

We will follow them.

After the man spoke, they cautiously entered the forest. They looked at ease with their situation, but this was the Dimensional Battlefield.