#52 Horses, Horses
Cheol-du, Jin-tae, and Choi Jun-seop set out on their journey.
All three carried their inventories with standard supplies, eliminating any need for special expedition preparations.
Since their destination lay west, they exited through the camp's nearest western gate.
After signing the gatekeeper's logbook, they stepped outside.
"Ha, your information's probably already leaked. No point being discreet now."
"Huh?"
"New Seoul must have informants here. They'll report our movements, so sneaking up like bandits is impossible."
"Ah, I thought—"
Cheol-du turned to Jin-tae.
"You've got maps, right?"
"Huh? Yeah."
"Hand them over."
Cheol-du accepted dozens of maps and activated his World Map.
<Meticulously crafted map detected. Can store 88% of terrain features. Activation cost: 7 coins.>
As Cheol-du pressed coins against the World Map, the paper maps glowed briefly before vanishing.
Like a hologram, the map's black terrain gradually cleared like dispersing fog, revealing detailed landscapes.
"Whoa!"
Jin-tae and Choi Jun-seop gaped at the shared display.
"It's the World Map."
"You know about this?"
"Obviously. I'm a Ranker."
"You have one too?"
"Haha, no way. That thing's pricey."
"Ah."
While the others chatted, Cheol-du systematically absorbed each map.
When the last map disappeared, New Seoul's surrounding terrain was fully revealed.
"The government office has more maps. Should've grabbed those too."
"Hehe, we'll get those later."
Even civilian maps filled most blank areas, displaying everything within ten days' walking distance.
"Why's this area blank?"
"Hmm... Oh, that's Cyclops Mountain."
"Huh?"
"New Seoul's forces can only handle ogres at maximum effort. And that requires raid-level mobilization - at least two Rankers and ten high-level Novices."
"Really? That many?"
Captain Choi chuckled at Jin-tae's innocent question.
"Obviously. Cheol-du's just abnormal."
"Cheol-du?"
"...Cheol-du hyung's abnormal."
Cheol-du nodded smugly.
Choi Jun-seop slung an arm around Jin-tae.
"You've only traveled with Cheol-du, so you lack perspective. Frankly, your growth makes you research material."
"Me? Really?"
"Yeah. Reaching your level in under 40 days as a Novice is ridiculous."
"Well..."
Jin-tae glanced at Cheol-du.
"Anyone would grow fast traveling with him."
"...?"
"You get stronger by surviving his beatings."
"...!"
Choi Jun-seop shook his head.
This kid wasn't quite right either.
"This where the bandits operate?"
"Right."
"Good."
Cheol-du touched the holographic map, planting a marker.
The displayed shortest route functioned like perfect navigation.
"Wow... I'm buying a World Map next."
"Hehe, that duel arena sounds interesting too."
Cheol-du studied Cyclops Mountain in the corner.
'I'll challenge that later.'
If even New Seoul couldn't handle that monster, it must be an unhunted boss - possibly with first-clear rewards.
Even Korea's most developed city still had unexplored zones.
As they walked, Jin-tae kept eyeing the map enviously before asking:
"Why's the whole map square?"
"No clue."
Cheol-du didn't know either. The absorbed maps simply formed this square shape with blank spots.
"That's the map boundary."
"Huh?"
"You'll understand when we get there. New Seoul's territory is literally square."
"There's an edge?"
"Yeah, blocked by translucent walls. Like the Final Trial."
"Ah!"
Every Novice remembered that ordeal.
"So each portal gets a square zone?"
"Exactly. Teleportation circles connect them, but none are found in Korea yet."
Cheol-du and Jin-tae exchanged glances.
"No teleportation circles? Then how do you know?"
"Other countries have them."
"Huh."
"Hehehe."
Their mysterious laughter made Choi Jun-seop frown.
"Why are you two—"
"Cheongju has one."
"What? Who told you?"
"We discovered and reported it."
"What?!"
Choi Jun-seop looked stunned.
"Holy shit! Does this mean we can finally trade internationally?"
"Huh?"
"Teleportation circles enable cross-border trade. Damn, Cheongju might surpass New Seoul!"
Those words decided it.
"We're going to Cheongju."
"If I get stationed there, I'm transferring immediately."
This being classified information explained why even frontline officers didn't know.
Choi Jun-seop suppressed his excitement.
'A teleportation circle...'
Nova's regions were finite maps. While the dividing walls would eventually disappear, that day remained distant.
'It'll become Korea's Novice capital.'
Currently underdeveloped, but poised for explosive growth.
No pioneering town worldwide had broken their walls yet.
"Anyway, focus on our current mission."
"Right. Jun-seop's correct."
Choi Jun-seop nodded.
"Bandit leader Kim Chun-bae won't be easy."
"Horses, huh."
Their simultaneous remark made them lock eyes.
"Huh?"
"Hmm?"
Cheol-du asked:
"Why no horses in New Seoul?"
"No one knows how to get them."
"So only bandits know."
"Specifically, only Kim Chun-bae."
"Hehehe, we absolutely can't kill him then."
Cheol-du didn't strategize about fighting Kim Chun-bae at all.
He only envisioned himself galloping across plains.
"Hehehehe."
His heart raced with excitement.
"Woooooh!"
"Damn it, you scared me!"
"What? Why?"
Cheol-du's sudden roar startled everyone.
"Hehehe, let's run!"
"Why?"
"Hyung, just run."
Cheol-du sprinted ahead with the others following.
They maintained blistering speed until sunset, then switched to brisk marching.
Despite the moonless night, torchlight enabled steady progress.
Normally, travelers would camp early in such darkness, but Cheol-du's World Map changed everything.
They simply followed the glowing guide.
They finally camped near midnight.
"Damn, we covered two days' distance in one."
"We'll arrive by noon tomorrow."
"Informants or not, we'll beat them there."
"Cheol-du, you planned this all along."
"Hehehe."
Cheol-du just laughed.
He'd simply been too excited to walk slowly.
"So what's the plan?"
Cheol-du nodded at Jun-seop's question.
"Simple."
No reason to complicate things.
"Find the bandit leader fast. Beat answers out of him about horses. Then kill him."
"...Straightforward."
"Foolproof."
Kim Jin-tae's interjection made Choi Jun-seop laugh.
"Right. Why couldn't we manage something so simple?"
Rustle.
A disheveled swordswoman emerged from the bushes.
"It's not that simple."
"Huh?"
"Major Lee Eun-young? What brings you—"
"I tracked you. Damn, didn't expect night marching. Almost lost you."
Grumbling, she approached the fire, brushing off leaves.
"Kang Cheol-du."
"Speak, auntie."
"Damn it! Call me noona!"
"Respecting your thirty years."
"You little—!"
She reached for her sword.
"Chuckle."
"Ugh, whatever. Damn it."
Lee Eun-young gave up and turned to Captain Park.
"Got food?"
"Here."
"Hehe. I don't get it."
"What?"
"What takes priority—age or rank?"
"Military follows rank."
"Then in this dog-eat-dog world, is it strength or age?"
"...Your point?"
"Fight me."
"Ha!"
Lee Eun-young scoffed.
Choi Jun-seop intervened.
"Hyung, why escalate?"
"Best humble her before she gets cockier."
"But—"
"Fine."
Lee Eun-young stood.
There's limits to arrogance.
I'm Joseon's finest swordsman.
Damn, I'm New Seoul's Rank 1.
"Beating Jang Ho-cheol went to your head? Bring it."
Choi Jun-seop shook his head.
Major, you don't understand. This guy's real.
"Hehe."
Cheol-du stood, grinning.
He drew his sword.
Whoosh.
"I'll let the rookie strike first."
"You brat! Now you're cute."
Major Lee drew her blade.
Whoosh.
"Think Stats are everything?"
She could double her acceleration instantly.
If her Speed was 50, she could momentarily hit 100.
Strong opponents?
Jang Ho-cheol's double power?
Just don't get hit.
"Strength means nothing against my speed."
Fwoosh.
She vanished, reappearing beside Cheol-du with a slash.
Clang!
"Not bad."
Cheol-du blocked every attack without moving.
"Tch, going serious now!"
She maxed her acceleration with Mana.
Fwoosh-fwoosh-fwoosh!
"Now you see me—"
Clang-clang-clang!
"—now you don't!"
Yet Cheol-du still stood unmoved, parrying everything.
Lee Eun-young backflipped away, stunned.
"What...?"
"Hehe, rookie done?"
Cheol-du sheathed his sword.
"Now try blocking this."
Whoosh.
He vanished.
Her enhanced senses failed to track him.
Where—?
She turned—
Whack!
A massive palm sent her crashing down unconscious.
"...!"
Choi Jun-seop's jaw dropped. Kim Jin-tae just shook his head.
"Grin. Cute auntie. I'm faster."
Speed: Cheol-du wins
Sass: Cheol-du wins
Age: Auntie wins
Overall: Cheol-du wins
"Hehe."
No problem.
