The Regressor Only Protects Me Chapter 135

Episode 135. Traces (1)

“You are welcome as guests. Make yourself at home.”

Chang smiled kindly, as if he had thrown away all the grudges he had accumulated so far.

Chang walked straight ahead.

“Come in. I will show you around.”

I followed Chang obediently.

But it never let its guard down.

New environment and new people.

I took everything around me in with my eyes.

'Like cavemen.'

That's how I felt about it.

And let's summarize the characteristics of the villagers once again.

First of all, they all stick to long, disheveled hair.

And they all have bright smiling expressions.

As if there were no worries or concerns whatsoever.

At that moment, children playing in a tree from afar discovered Zion and his group and approached them.

“Gyaruruk! Come here! Come and eat this!”

“What is it? New person. Come in.”

Each of them was holding in their hands an ornament carved from a tree fruit or an unidentified bone fragment.

I looked at them carefully.

'I've only just gotten a little bit out of Anyang, but this is a plant I've never seen before.'

It is true that it has become difficult to see familiar plants since most of the plants that used to grow in the original world have gone extinct.

But the plants that the children were handing out now were the first I had seen since the world changed.

When I first entered the forest, I was told to look for traces of the witch.

It would also be good to look into the connection between witches and this town.

Anyway, staying in this town seemed good for the time being.

The expedition team's stamina has also decreased significantly, and it is possible to find traces of the witch, and even traces of Jun-ho.

of course.

If only they treated me 'kindly'.

“Tseng. I’m giving this to new people. Can I give it to them?”

“Wait a minute, guys. I’m guiding the guests right now.”

The children quickly retreated with their faces pale.

Chang seemed to be a very influential figure among the children here.

A position similar to that of the only kindergarten teacher in this town.

I was not in the right state of mind to walk on my own two feet at the moment.

Before we knew it, the expedition team, Chang, and the children gathered around them.

One thing that was unusual was.

These children, regardless of gender, also had long hair.

“Brother. If you call the kids and have them cut down the trees here, it will be useful. In particular, there are no trees needed for the castle walls.”

Choi Myeong-jun looked at me and said with an excited face.

In fact, the trees here were different from ordinary trees.

Its depth and breadth were enormous.

Most of the huts in this village were made by digging out wooden poles.

Inside, some people were cooking over a fire or weaving leaves to make clothes.

At some point, I was looking around here and there as if it were a habit and making an evaluation.

I followed behind Chang's back and touched his temple.

‘… … I need to stop thinking too. My head.’

Is it because of frequent thoughts?

Or maybe it's because of this forest.

Anyway, I really wanted to rest.

“Oh, the village chief is coming over here.”

Chaeng bowed his head.

In the direction he bowed his head, there was an old man standing.

Although he was clearly the village chief, his attire was no different from that of other villagers.

As expected, she had long hair and was wearing clothes roughly made of grass.

“Hehe, young guests have arrived. Welcome. This is a shining forest of peace and healing.”

The village chief approached us with a blank smile.

“Chaeng. Where do you come from?”

“We met in the forest.”

“In the forest? You’ve come a long way. Yes.”

“That’s right. So… … .”

At that moment, Choi Myeong-jun interrupted Chang's words and stepped forward.

“Hey. Clean everything up and tell me how to get out of this forest.”

Choi Myeong-jun glared at the village chief with a very serious expression on his face.

Then Jin Jae-hee pulled Choi Myeong-jun's shoulder and said.

“Just be quiet. Just.”

The village chief, who was watching the scene, laughed it off as if it was okay.

“Hehe, the forest outside the village is very dangerous. Let’s rest here for a while and then go. After you rest, I’ll send you a guide.”

I felt Jin Jae-hee's gaze looking at me.

A look that seems to indicate that something is uneasy.

Because since the world turned upside down, I had never felt such unconditional hospitality.

“Ugh, let’s take a break! I’m so tired!”

Choi Hyun-ji sat down on the floor and threw a tantrum.

Choi Myeong-jun glared at Choi Hyeon-ji.

“Another bitch who doesn’t have that kind of case. Brother, this bitch. Let’s just leave her here and go! She’s been babbling since a while ago.”

“… … .”

"older brother?"

I ignored Myeongjun's words and looked at the village chief standing in front of me.

The village chief who always has a kind smile on his face.

It was never a good thing to trust someone who approached you with a smile.

Especially in today's world.

But it was difficult to refuse their offer, as they still needed help to get out of the forest and to Suwon.

Besides, it wouldn't be a bad idea to investigate the villagers living a primitive life in this strange forest.

Because it might be of some use later on.

As I had originally concluded, I nodded my head while looking at the village chief.

“Then I will accept your kindness.”

“Good idea. Hehe. Chaeng. Take good care of these people.”

“Yes, village chief.”

Chaeng smiled brightly and took the lead.

“Let’s go eat. We will serve the best food in Bitnam.”

* * *

Chaeng walked between the kitchen and the living room with excited steps.

After receiving a brief tour of the village from Chang, Kang Shi-on and his party sat around Chang's house.

His house was a huge tree that seemed to have grown into the shape of a house.

It was a house that suited the picturesque scenery of this place.

“Okay, everyone, I brought out your food. There’s nothing on the table, but please eat plenty.”

“Wow! It looks delicious!”

Choi Hyun-ji whetted her appetite as she watched the food being served one by one on the table in the living room.

A side dish made with oddly shaped leaves and meat with a mysterious red glow.

From one to ten, there were only foods that the group had never tried before.

Unlike Choi Hyun-ji, who had already turned on the double-edged sword and was reaching for the food, the rest of the group, including Kang Si-on, hesitated to eat the food.

“Haha, you don’t have to be careful. I won’t put poison in it or anything.”

Chang, who had been watching them, was the first to pick up a piece of meat from the table and put it in his mouth.

Choi Myeong-jun, who saw that sight, also immediately put his hand on the food.

Myungjun took a big bite of meat and opened his eyes wide.

“Wow- F*ck. This is really good. Bro! Try it.”

Kang Shi-on slowly reached out and grabbed some food.

“Eat it. I won’t mess around with something like this.”

Zion spoke to Jaehee, who was hesitating to eat.

Only then did Jaehee take a bite following Zion.

Zion looked at Jaehee like that.

She took two or three more bites to see if the food suited her taste.

Chang smiled happily when he saw the group.

“Wow, it’s rewarding to serve our guests such delicious food.”

“Hey, did you say Chaeng? Uh, is there anything like alcohol? I feel like I want to drink after eating something delicious.”

Choi Myeong-jun looked at Chang with expectant eyes and said.

“Alcohol? Of course we have. There is another thing that our Bitnam is proud of. Please wait a moment.”

Chang stood up for a moment and then brought a large bottle.

It was an antique-designed gourd decorated with woven tree branches.

Chang took out a cup he had carved from a tree and poured each of them a drink.

“This is a liquor made from the fruit of the star tree that only grows here. I am proud to say that it is a liquor that receives favorable reviews wherever it is sold.”

Choi Myeong-jun emptied the contents of the glass in one gulp as if he had been waiting.

“Whoa! This is killing me! Hey. Give me another drink, bro! Try it. This is killing me! Man! When was the last time you had a drink like this?”

Myungjun kept exclaiming in admiration.

Fragrant fruit flavors and rich alcohol aromas.

A smooth yet clear, heart-pounding finish with a refreshing aftertaste.

Even before the world turned upside down, it was definitely something that could be considered a pearl.

“Haha! This is our pride, ‘Star Cluster.’ It’s so delicious that if you keep eating it, you’ll get so drunk that you’ll start to see stars in front of your eyes, so it’s called Star Cluster.”

At some point, Choi Hyun-ji took out a cola, mixed it in her glass, and was drinking it.

Kang Shi-on was a little surprised when he tasted the alcohol with only the tip of his tongue.

'It's delicious. It's a good drink.'

Although it is possible to make alcohol in today's world, making such high-quality alcohol is quite difficult.

If we could figure out a way, it would definitely be beneficial.

If there is alcohol, it will also be of great help in raising the morale of the workers.

Even in modern times, alcohol and cigarettes are important luxury items that can satisfy one's needs at a low price.

“Can you teach me how to make this liquor?”

New technologies encountered in a new environment.

It was something Kang Shi-on would covet.

“Haha. It’s not that difficult. I’ll introduce you to the brewers later.”

The meal, accompanied by good alcohol, slowly matured.

As the meeting was coming to a close, Zion decided that now was the right time to get to the main point.

“Tseng. The village chief said he would send out guides before. Do you all understand the geography of this forest?”

“Chaeng answered, sitting up straight with his legs crossed.

“Yes. We know everything except where some dangerous monsters live.”

“Then you probably know the fastest way to Suwon.”

Kang Shion wanted to slowly figure out a way to utilize all the resources of this forest if possible, but it was not yet time.

Because finding my younger brother was the top priority right now.

“Suwon? Where is Suwon?”

At that time, Chang's answer, which came back, surprised everyone gathered there.

Everyone stopped eating and froze in place.

While the group exchanged glances, only Chang looked confused.

“Oh, is that the name of a place? Is it nearby? Am I the only one who doesn’t know?”

Choi Hyun-ji mumbled as she spoke, unable to chew the food in her mouth, at Chang's awkward smile.

“You don’t know Suwon? It’s right down here.”

“I don’t know… … I don’t know. Oh, maybe? The village chief might know.”

Chang stuck his head out the door.

“Anyone there? Can anyone come?”

There was a moment of silence, then the sound of a child running was heard, and the door flew open.

"call!?"

“Yeah. I called.”

It was the child who gave the 'water-drinking hippopotamus' to Choi Hyun-ji in the forest.

“Hanaya. Can you bring the village chief over? The guests said they wanted to ask the village chief something.”

“Ask! Bring it!”

One of them left the house in a flash before even hearing Chang's answer.

It was childlike energy.

Not long after, a noise was heard outside the door.

“Yes, please come in.”

The door opened and a familiar old man with white hair entered the house.

He was the village chief.

“Chief, I apologize for interrupting your busy schedule. The guests have something they would like to ask you.”

“Heh heh, no. No. Young and lively guests have arrived, and I was wondering if there was anything more I could do for them. So, you’re going to Suwon?”

Choi Myeong-jun spoke drunkenly in front of the old man who was laughing hysterically.

As the name of the drink suggests, Choi Myeong-jun was already staggering as if he was looking at a constellation.

“Okay. No-ttang. Where should I go to get to Suwon?”

“What? No-ttang… …? What is No-ttang?”

“Don’t worry about this idiot. We need to go to Suwon. Can you tell me the way?”

Jin Jae-hee asked, joining in the conversation.

The old man had a small build, so much so that his eye level was similar to that of Kang Shi-on, who was short.

“Oh, yes. I also just recently found out where Suwon is. This is true. Our people live only in the forest, so we are not familiar with the geography outside the forest. I also first heard about Suwon recently while talking to a guest from outside.”

The old man looked into space with eyes that seemed to be wandering in a hazy memory.

“Let’s see… … . Apparently, a wanderer with the last name Kang came a while ago and said he was going to Suwon, so I guided him to the dragon’s nest. He said that their quest was to catch the dragon. That’s right. That’s right. His name is… … .”

All the attention of the group was focused on the old man.

And the village chief continued speaking, running his hand through his bushy mustache.

“Kang Jun-ho… … He was a really small kid. He said he was going to Suwon. Yes.”

At that moment, Zion's eyes wavered.

(Continued in the next episode)