The Regressor Only Protects Me [EN]: Chapter 177

177. Nurturing Disaster (2)

Ogres, each the size of a building, began to move towards the border between Gangnam and Metro.

The sight of twenty ogres moving in a line was truly spectacular.

The earth and sky shook with their movement, and mountain birds took flight all at once.

Dongwang, Kang Da-hye, watching this scene, frowned.

‘That’s definitely an immense sense of pressure.’

Is this how humans feel when they face a giant dinosaur?

The ogres’ presence was overwhelmingly impressive.

And the hero of Mangyeong who can control these ogres like chess pieces…

Kang Da-hye looked at Kang Si-on, who was giving orders to the ogre forces.

She realized.

‘We must not make him an enemy.’

That would be suicide.

He might possess weapons even greater than the Metro forces.

Kang Si-on gave some orders to the troops and then approached Kang Da-hye again.

Kang Da-hye quickly relaxed her stern expression and greeted him.

“Fulfill the promise. Bring the payment along Line 4 within a week. Otherwise, I will withdraw immediately.”

“Is there any doubt? Southern King. But could you teach me how to control the ogres?”

“It’s classified. Now, go.”

Si-on lightly ignored her absurd request and issued the order to depart.

The ogres began to advance again.

The ogres each carried wooden backpacks on their backs, which contained various weapons and soldiers.

The ogres’ appearance had changed.

It was a combination of living creatures and mechanical devices.

In old RPG games, you might have seen scenes where people ride on boars and control them by dangling carrots on fishing rods.

Taking inspiration from that idea, Mangyeong’s engineers installed long poles (rebar) through the ogres’ right shoulders to direct them.

By inserting huge rebars into the shoulders of young ogres and letting them grow, these ogres grew into such adults.

Of course, wooden machinery was needed to move the poles.

The ogres moved forward, only looking at the bell hanging at the end of the pole.

Moving the pole itself was quite difficult.

Mangyeong’s engineers created bells connected to the driver’s device with strings, making them move left and right.

Because it required delicate control, the drivers had no choice but to use devices made of wood.

Also, huge utility poles were mounted on the ogres’ backs.

The ogres’ main weapon was the utility pole.

The power of the utility poles wielded by the ogres was truly formidable.

They were truly ultimate war machines.

The ogres could easily win even against modern tanks.

“This is the ogres’ food ration. You’ll have to prepare this much every day.”

Kang Si-on handed a piece of paper to Dongwang.

Dongwang examined the list and was shocked.

“One ton?”

“That’s for one. Since there are twenty, you need to prepare twenty tons. Mangyeong has a ranch; the ogres there eat monsters summoned around them, but even that’s not enough. Of course, it’s possible because Mangyeong’s production supports it. If you can’t manage the ogre unit, I’ll withdraw immediately.”

The amount an ogre eats in a day is one ton.

Mangyeong has 512 ogres, so the daily maintenance cost for the ogres alone is 512 tons of food.

Of that, over 200 tons of food is covered by the ogres grazing, but Mangyeong had to supplement the remaining 312 tons.

Ha Yun-ha, who managed the ogres in the past, was cautious about increasing the number of ogres over five years.

He increased them one by one, only increasing the power to a level that the city could handle.

The maximum number of ogres that Mangyeong can currently afford is 567, and to avoid exceeding this limit, they were restricting the ogres’ breeding environment and maintaining the population.

Of course, if you only consider food, there were many alternative food ingredients that came out as the world was destroyed, so it might not be such a large number.

The problem was whether Gangnam could immediately handle 20 ogres.

‘It’s okay. I expected it anyway, and we have some stockpiled food.’

Gangnam had many resources.

Dongwang judged that she could afford the cost of maintaining about 20 ogres.

“Take our investigator with you. This friend here.”

Choi Hyun-ji peeked out from next to Kang Si-on, waving her hand in greeting.

“……”

Dongwang squinted and looked at Kang Si-on.

‘A spy. You son of a bitch.’

Dongwang cursed inwardly.

“Okay. Then I’ll go.”

Dongwang was guided by her subordinate and boarded the carriage.

Troops from each faction were moving steadily.

This meant that the Second Great War was approaching.

* * *

The beast grew day by day.

On the first day, its height was only 10cm [~4 inches], but after three days it was 20cm [~8 inches], and on the seventh day it became 1m [~3.3 feet].

Now, its height changed so rapidly that it was different even between morning and afternoon.

“Quack-! Quaaack-!”

The cute beast that used to make squeaking noises now cried like a fierce duck.

People who initially saw the beast as cute now shook their heads, saying it was disgusting.

In the meantime, the beast’s size had grown tremendously.

It wasn’t quite as big as an ostrich yet, but with its height grown to 1m [~3.3 feet], it couldn’t be seen as cute anymore.

The beast was burying its nose in the feeding box, gobbling it up.

The managers around it were running around busily.

“The amount of food it eats in a day is enormous. In terms of people, it’s the daily ration for four adults.”

I looked at the ceiling while listening to Ha Yun-ha’s report.

The height here seemed to be about 3m [~10 feet].

At this rate of growth, the farm would have to be larger.

“How about removing the roof?”

“I had the same thought.”

“Are there any workers we can spare?”

Mangyeong was producing an average of 1,050 tons of food per day.

The reason why it was possible to achieve such abnormal food production was all thanks to new crops and the dwarves’ machinery.

New crops are produced in buildings.

Roughly 30-story concrete apartment buildings remained strong without collapsing even after the world was destroyed.

A total of 21 apartment buildings.

One apartment complex was entirely devoted to agriculture.

On each floor, soil mixed with finely divided red ore was cultivated in rooms on each integrated floor, and taro was planted there and watered every day.

Taro was a revolutionary alien crop that kept people from starving even in a world where food was scarce.

So it wasn’t easy to take construction workers from the agricultural workforce, which had a daily work quota.

“It’s okay. This is our top priority in Mangyeong. Moreover, since the hero has ordered it, we will definitely do it.”

“Then I’ll ask you to do it.”

I looked at the ceiling again.

The problem was how far this monster would grow.

If this beast ate so much that it exceeded Mangyeong’s daily production, it would be a real national emergency.

Of course, there was a solution.

Kill the beasts of the Western and Northern Kings before the food storage was depleted.

That’s what those kings would be thinking too.

We couldn’t turn a blind eye to the fierce spy operations either.

Now I was beginning to understand a little of what A had said.

Information, production, military, territory, unity.

All the elements that make up a nation were put to the test.

This beast was just a beast with a great appetite, but it was testing everything about the forces.

‘Interesting.’

The situation was certainly flowing interestingly.

What should I do?

A clash with the Western King was inevitable.

But no matter how highly I valued the Metro forces, they could not exceed Mangyeong’s production capacity.

They would surely try to kill this beast by force.

If conflict was inevitable, there was no choice but to accept it.

One month from now.

I had three plans and would achieve them.

The first was to increase crop production.

The second was to train the regular army to a level comparable to the elite forces.

The third was to raise this beast well.

I would seize the victory in this round.

Not the victory between other players and lords.

I would seize the victory from those supreme and high beings.

* * *

After crossing the hill, Jung Hyun-soo returned to Mangyeong after two years.

“Wow-! What is that!”

“Woah……. Captain. Is that a bird? No, no. A dragon? Or a pig?”

Even though it was a panoramic view of Mangyeong from a fairly high place, the beast was particularly noticeable and easily visible from anywhere.

A huge mass that could easily occupy a soccer field.

In fact, the beast’s nest was also a soccer field. Although its belly was swollen like a mountain and sticking out of the soccer field.

Its appearance was clearly that of a bird, but because it was so fat, it couldn’t even walk properly and was just opening its beak like a baby bird, only receiving food.

When the ogres carried food and put it in, it moved its chubby cheeks and ate it.

“Actually, the reason why the Metro bastards have been trying to do something lately and then became quiet is all because of that bird.”

One of the elite soldiers chewed on a twig and said.

Jung Hyun-soo looked at the bird and said.

“The hero must have a lot of trouble.”

“……Come to think of it, Captain. Isn’t it the first time in 5 years that you’re meeting the hero of Mangyeong again?”

“Didn’t you guys know?”

“Yes……. Well, we’re originally wanderers who were beaten to death by the captain and entered the elite squad. Well.”

“Ah……. Is that so? Was it?”

“Please, Captain. Pay some attention to your subordinates.”

Jung Hyun-soo didn’t even listen to his subordinate’s words and put his nose inside his scarf.

He was deeply moved.

Hero, Kang Si-on.

To be able to meet him again.

Jung Hyun-soo still hadn’t forgotten his memories with him at the Pamian Apartment Complex.

The great scenes that Kang Si-on showed Jung Hyun-soo that day became the driving force of his life.

Hyun-soo wanted to become a man like him.

He wanted to run to him in one step, but as the former captain of the elite squad, he had to finish cleaning up the subjugation area.

“Let’s go. I’m hungry.”

Jung Hyun-soo took his subordinates and went down the mountain.

The subordinates carried bundles on their backs, complaining.

“Cap-tain! The captain moves so fast because he doesn’t carry anything, but what about us?! Huh?!”

The subordinates’ complaints echoed from all over the place, but Jung Hyun-soo went down without looking back.

“Tsk. He always only thinks about himself.”

The subordinate spat on the ground and slowly went forward.

At that time, one of the elite soldiers behind dropped a bundle.

What came out of the bundle.

Rustle rustle rustle…….

It was human finger bones.

A total of 4,801 people.

The elite soldiers counted the number by engraving numbers on the hunter’s bones.

In addition, the ogres following behind them carried numerous guns and bullets on their backs.

Those were the spoils of war won by catching hunters.

It was also a gift to be given to the hero.

The elite squad had been hunting hunters for the past several years.

“Ouch-. Take care of it.”

“I, I’m sorry!”

One of the elite soldiers picked up the dropped finger bones and put them back in the bag.

Before he knew it, Jung Hyun-soo had gone down to the foot of the mountain.

* * *

“Captain Jung Hyun-soo…….”

“It’s Captain Jung Hyun-soo.”

“No, isn’t he the former captain now?”

“That’s right. Choi Myung-joon is the captain now.”

As Jung Hyun-soo walked down the hallway, many officials whispered among themselves.

But Jung Hyun-soo walked forward as if he was listening or not.

A man with a large build was standing in the distance.

The man greeted Jung Hyun-soo happily.

Jung Hyun-soo also smiled broadly and ran to him.

“Commander!”

“Hyun-soo.”

Hwang Min-jae took Jung Hyun-soo’s hand and patted him on the shoulder.

“Have you been well? No……. You couldn’t have been well.”

Hwang Min-jae looked at Jung Hyun-soo’s face and gave a bitter smile.

Because there was a scar on his face that he hadn’t seen before.

From the left temple to the neck and to the left collarbone.

It was a huge scar.

In addition, he was limping a little, and it seemed that the wound from being shot had not yet healed.

“You’ve worked hard. Thanks to you, I’m reminded once again that Mangyeong is still standing strong.”

“It’s nothing. Commander. Is the hero inside?”

“That’s right. He’s waiting for you.”

“M-me?”

“Yes. Everyone is waiting for you.”

“Why someone like me? The hero must be very busy since he came back.”

“You are another hero of Mangyeong. Welcoming the hero is another duty as a leader, isn’t it?”

“I haven’t done much. What.”

“Yes, yes. Anyway. Let’s go in. Oh, that gun……?”

“Ah, this?”

Jung Hyun-soo neatly presented a well-oiled rifle.

This was a trophy to be given to the hero.

“I had to bring something when I came home, right? The condition is A-grade. I also brought a gift for the commander, so don’t worry. It’s liquor. French. 12-year-old wine! Crazy, right? Let’s have a drink together tonight?”

“……”

In Hwang Min-jae’s eyes, Jung Hyun-soo still looked like a child.

But Jung Hyun-soo was the best player in the force, and his strength was essential for national defense.

Of course, the hero was already well aware of Jung Hyun-soo’s efforts and sacrifices.

Hwang Min-jae opened the door to the throne with force.

“First, we have to report. Then, let’s share the next thing after reporting.”

Jung Hyun-soo looked at the place through the opening of the door.

The throne.

Kang Si-on was sitting there.

Many officials were only looking at Jung Hyun-soo, and there were some familiar faces.

The moment he looked at Kang Si-on, Jung Hyun-soo realized that he had returned.

Si-on, who was looking at Jung Hyun-soo, smiled faintly.