Surviving in the 121st Century - Chapter 98
Only Krnovel
Episode 98
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Usually, a city can be expressed as a narrow space filled with buildings, well-paved roads, and people bustling about.
If it is for defense purposes, you can build a wall there. Of course, then the space of the city will be more limited. It will become narrower and more crowded. In that cramped space, they fight and shout for a little better space while rubbing their bodies against each other. That is how the cities that Jincheol saw were.
The cities of the ancient humans were like that, the city of the Esai, the city of Shiol, and the cities of the Rabitos would have looked like that if they hadn’t been destroyed by war. As time passed and the living beings changed, it didn’t change much.
But here in Karakol it was different.
After passing the yellow sand dunes and black rocks, you will soon come across a flat land that looks like it has been dug up by a huge farm machine. The land, which has been trampled by countless tracks and wheels, is repeatedly crushed and compacted, and it is creaky. When you look at its shape, it seems like the rippling land is writhing and flowing like waves on its own.
A little further along the wavy land, you can see armoured tanks gathered in a sparse manner. If you go closer, you can see the Ologs gathered around a small fire or brazier, and they are either trading among themselves or drinking komrak.
Jincheol and his party also had to park their tank there.
“I’ll wait here.”
The stone fist that had stopped the tank said so. Since the tank could not be dragged all the way inside, someone had to stay behind and guard the tank. Snow, who had seen the Ologs moving around in the distance, also decided to stay.
“Why you?”
“···There are too many people.”
She said just that and went inside the train. In the end, only Jincheol and Shogi entered the car.
Passing the chariots parked on the outskirts, I saw a scene of Uhurs gathered together, similar to the ones that Sho-o-gi was riding. The Uhurs, which resembled cows and horses, were digging the dirt with their noses, as if they were looking for dry grass in the torn up ground. They too were items of trade among the Ologs.
After passing the trams and the Uhurs, the real Karakol appears. It is a place filled with colorful tents and mobile homes.
There are no walls. There are no separate roads. Only one main road in the center remains. Tents and houses are densely built on both sides except for the main road that runs through Karakol. Ologs can be seen selling various goods and food items facing the main road. They are Olog merchants.
Unlike other cities, there were no tall buildings to be found. They were all tents or mobile homes, so there were no buildings higher than two stories. Only colorful flags hung high, fluttering in the wind. It somehow reminded me of a military barracks.
And then, at that moment, someone shouted at Jincheol.
“How dare a southerner enter Karakol without fear?”
When Jincheol turned his head, he saw a large Olog sniffing at him, sniffing. Jincheol stopped Sho-ogi, who was trying to step out, and took a step closer to him.
“Why? Can’t I come in?”
“You! Southerner! What kind of fraud did you come all the way here to commit?”
Had he been scammed by Esai in the south? The guy bared his teeth and snorted as he strode toward Jincheol.
“You swindlers, all southerners are swindlers···”
The guy who had come closer with a fever hesitated slightly after seeing Jincheol’s appearance, contrary to his momentum. He seemed to sense some danger at the sight of Jincheol, who was taller than the average Esai and was looking at him with an indifferent look in his eyes.
But it would be humiliating to start a fight first and then back down. And that Olog didn’t back down for petty feelings. Jincheol didn’t move from his spot either, so naturally the two stood tall and faced each other.
Alloug immediately shouted.
“This is the land of Olog! Southerners, get out!”
“I came to meet those Ologs.”
“What does it matter who you came to see! Get out!”
Jincheol snickered at the guy’s stubbornness.
“I don’t like it.”
Seeing Jincheol’s smile and attitude, Olog opened his eyes wide and puffed out his shoulders and chest. It was like beasts growing bigger before a fight to scare their opponents. He took another step closer and growled.
“Do you want to die, Southerner?”
“okay.”
“···?”
Olog blinked, as if he hadn’t expected Jincheol’s answer.
At that time, other merchants and Ologs around the area were gathering around, muttering as they saw the clash between the two. Olog, who had been blinking, looked at their gazes and was taken aback, but soon saw Jincheol’s smiling expression and thought that he was teasing him, so he blushed and grumbled. His already red skin was now almost black as it heated up.
In a moment, the anger exploded.
“Khuu …
The fist of Olog, the size of a pot lid, suddenly struck Jincheol’s jaw. The sound of bones cracking resonated loudly, and Jincheol’s face fell back, and the Ologs who were watching let out a cheer of “Wow!”
“Is this a fight?”
“Fight!”
“It’s a fist fight!”
In an instant, a circle of people formed around Jincheol and Olog. Olog, who had been hit in the jaw by Jincheol, was a little flustered by the sudden attention, but soon raised both his fists and shouted.
“Get out, you southern lady!”
“Wow!”
Sho-o-gi, who had been watching the guy’s shouts and cheers, covered his forehead. Among the cheers, there was no one who really agreed with Olog’s words and cheered. They were just cheering along because the guy who was fighting was yelling something.
Without even knowing it, the guy was happily laughing at the cheers of the people. Then, as if he suddenly realized something, he quickly turned around to look at Jincheol. Jincheol didn’t fall down. He was standing up straight and scratching his chin that had just been hit.
“you!”
“Does my face look that good to hit? Why are there so many guys who hit first?”
The bastard didn’t listen to Jincheol’s mutterings. He thought he had to defeat him anyway, so he had no intention of listening to anything he said. He quickly walked up to Jincheol again and swung his fist like before.
The fist was caught in Jincheol’s palm.
“···?”
Olog’s eyes widened at the sight of the palm that was motionless as if it had hit a rock. Jincheol tightened his grip on the fist. Olog’s fist, which was like a pot lid, began to crumble like tofu.
“Ughh …
With a loud crack of bones, Olog, who had been throwing punches, fell to the ground. The confident man’s expression changed to confusion, pain, and shock. The cheering spectators suddenly became quiet.
Jincheol looked back, holding his crushed hand. There was Shougigi looking at him with surprised eyes.
“How do you usually handle trouble here?”
“···If you draw a knife or a gun, it’s your life.”
“What about fist fights?”
“Until one of them passes out.”
Jincheol’s gaze returned to the kneeling Olog. The man, who was unable to do anything because of his fist held in Jincheol’s grip, met Jincheol’s gaze and shook his head.
“I, I’m sorry… I made a mistake…”
At that moment, Jincheol released the fist he was holding. The bastard quickly grabbed his hand and looked at Jincheol with a puzzled look. Jincheol saw that gaze and smiled and said.
“I’ll just hit you once.”
“Okay, wait, I’ll compensate you-”
With a crack of a whip, Jincheol’s fist struck the bastard’s face. The bastard’s nose and face were sunken in, and he froze with his face crumpled, then fell forward.
Jincheol shook his hand and the onlookers who had been watching quickly dispersed, muttering in dismay.
Sho-ogi shook his head as he watched Jin-cheol waving his hand while looking at the unconscious man.
“It’s not a good start. Let’s finish what we need to do and leave quickly.”
“You’ve finished the initiation ceremony in one go. Let’s do that.”
The two men left the Olog lying there like trash on the side of the road and went deep into Karakol in search of their target merchant.
The commotion from earlier may have been due to the short-lived rumor, but the Ologs did not pick a fight or block the road while glancing at Jincheol. Still, the merchants did talk to Jincheol as he passed by.
“Madam! There’s something good here! Buy it!”
“What is it?”
“It’s a garment made from Uher leather.”
At first glance, it looked like it was made of a tough and durable material. However, it was so roughly made that it was difficult for Jincheol and other Ologs to wear. Jincheol glanced around and passed the clothing merchant.
There were as many items as there were Ologs coming and going, from various craft items such as bowls, ornaments, and clothing to edible food, food, medicine, armor, weapons, etc. Jincheol muttered in surprise at seeing so many items.
“These guys act more like people than you think···”
“Most of them come from the South.”
Jincheol looked at Showogi. She was speaking with a slightly cynical expression, as if she had heard Jincheol muttering.
“Very few of them make things themselves. Most of them either buy things from the South and fix them up, or they hire Southern craftsmen to do the work.”
“You’re using slaves?”
“There are a few of them. They don’t think about moving on their own, but hunt their prey and force them to do the work. They are the worst.”
Sho-ogi, who was looking at the sight of a certain Olog lined up in leather armor, shook his head as if he didn’t want to see it any longer.
“Okay. Let’s quickly go find that merchant. While I’m at it, I need to buy some medicine too.”
But the two men’s steps soon stopped again. This was because they found a merchant selling various types of ammunition.
“Are you looking for a bullet?”
The Olog had a table set up in front of a white tent, and various bullets were lined up on it, one by one. If you went there and pointed to the bullet you wanted, they would take it out from inside.
Jincheol took out the revolver he had been carrying around empty. It was something he had been saving and using in a plane battle, but after firing four shots that time, he had run out of bullets of the correct caliber, so he had been carrying it around as a decoration.
The merchant who saw the gun said.
“Is that a Sandesiya pistol? Everything here was bought there. There should be one that fits.”
As the merchant said, there was a bullet that fit the revolver. A large, thick bullet the size and thickness of a thumb. Jincheol asked as he filled the revolver.
“How many feet are there?”
“These are bullets from Tomodasu Workshop. There’s a box.”
“how much?”
“At least two Uhurs. I won’t sell less than that.”
“Is this okay?”
Jincheol took out a piece of gold that he had crushed into small pieces and showed it to me. The oracle narrowed his eyes at it, then nodded.
“That’s quite a lot. I’ll give you the bullets for free.”
“···?”
Sho-ogi, who was watching from the side, accidentally received ammunition for the rifle.
The box the merchant had mentioned wasn’t that big, but he was still able to secure about a hundred bullets. Jincheol filled the empty revolver with bullets and closed it. He could finally use the gun he had been saving and cherishing for so long.
“···thanks.”
Sho-o-gi, who had been shot while watching, lowered his head slightly and said. Jin-cheol waved his hand while putting away his revolver.
“Don’t worry about it. I guided you all the way here, so this is nothing.”
“Is that so? Then I will quickly guide you to that merchant.”
Jincheol followed Shogi, who was leading the way, feeling a little satisfied with the weight on his waist that had become heavier. He thought that if he went out into the wilderness again, he would have to do a few practice shots.
As they passed through the crowd again, Sho-ogi, who was leading the way, stopped for a moment and looked around.
“why?”
“···for a moment.”
She looked around with a stern expression, then approached the potter next to her and spoke to him.
“Where did the merchant who sold tank engines and parts here go?”
Instead of answering, the potter just stared blankly at Shogi. Even when Shogi asked him a few more times, he didn’t answer and even averted his gaze. When Shogi saw that, his face turned red.
“You! You’re ignoring me right now···”
Jincheol stepped forward and put a piece of gold into the potter’s bowl. The potter opened his mouth only after seeing the gold rolling around inside the bowl.
“They left two days ago. If you need any of their stuff, go to the hardware store at the beginning of the main road. It seems like they left all their stuff on him before they left.”
“Thank you. I hope you sell a lot of dishes.”
As Jincheol turned around after greeting, he saw Sho-ogi with a dull expression. Jincheol smiled slightly upon seeing that expression. This Olog woman seemed much younger than he had thought.
Jincheol and Shogi went back the way they had come. The merchants they had already seen as they passed by, as well as the merchants they had not spoken to, were squeamish towards them again. However, Shogi stepped forward and glared at them, so it was not difficult to get them off.
Jincheol, who had returned to the entrance of the main road, was able to find the hardware store he was looking for only after giving another piece of gold to the merchant selling komrak.
“···?”
The hardware store owner, who had been groaning with a bandage wrapped around his nose, Olog, who had just been hit by Jincheol for picking a fight, quickly approached him and fell backwards upon seeing Jincheol laughing.
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