Absolute Dweller

Chapter 98

Lee Ho-beom was a survivor from Ulsan.

Tadadadak.

As he cracked two eggs into a frying pan greased with oil and turned on the gas stove, he thought to himself:

"I never thought I’d be able to live like this again."

An utterly ordinary life.

Compared to the days spent in group shelters or makeshift camps, this felt like a dream he hadn’t dared imagine.

Each day was new, filled with gratitude and wonder.

He still vividly remembered the moment he first arrived here.

When he’d reached the apartment complex, he had been skeptical.

In Ulsan, apartments were excellent spots for scavenging essentials like clothes and food, so he assumed the same logic applied. When the guides said they would show him to his accommodation, he expected to be led to a gymnasium or a basic shelter.

But when he discovered that the entire apartment complex had working gas, electricity, and running water, it was like someone had struck him on the back of the head with a hammer.

Although the apartment required some cleaning, it was equipped with essential appliances: a rice cooker, washing machine, dryer, refrigerator, and even a seemingly useless TV.

The kitchen came fully stocked with basic utensils, and food and water were easily accessible from the nearby store.

Although money was required to purchase these supplies, they’d initially received financial support, so he hadn’t worried about it.

“I still can’t believe this is real.”

There were moments when he wondered if he had actually died at the hands of the vampires and this was just a hallucination conjured by his dying brain.

"That all of this comes from the power of one man is unbelievable."

He first learned about that man, Kim Jaehyun, through the rescue team.

The rescuers often mentioned his name when treating the wounded.

At first, Lee Ho-beom had dismissed it as fanaticism, suspecting them to be part of a cult. But when he witnessed gravely injured individuals recover miraculously, his skepticism wavered.

Having been personally saved by Ha Dong-geon, it wasn’t difficult for Lee Ho-beom to believe in such stories.

He had seen with his own eyes a man who wielded mysterious powers to obliterate berserk monsters in an instant.

And when he believed in Kim Jaehyun’s existence—

"Strength surged through my body."

Exhausted from carrying Choi Do-yeon on his back, he suddenly felt vitality return to his limbs.

It was an experience he’d never had before, as if his faith had been tangibly rewarded.

He clearly remembered the moment when his weak, malnourished body had been invigorated in an instant.

Choi Do-yeon hurriedly shoveled food into her mouth before rushing off to the bathroom.

Shwaaaa—

The sound of the shower echoed through the apartment as Lee Ho-beom finished his meal and cleared the table. He prepared for their outing.

“Goblin Dungeon, right?”

Over the past week, they had attended training sessions on firearms and Goblin Dungeon strategies. Today was their first field practice.

Each team consisted of eight members. For Lee Ho-beom and Choi Do-yeon, their teammates were three married couples.

Although all eight were first-timers and understandably nervous, an overseer would accompany them, so there was no need for excessive worry.

Lee Ho-beom glanced at his hand, deep in thought.

“Should I say something?”

At that moment—

Crackle!

A faint spark of blue electricity flickered across his hand.

He had discovered this ability only four days ago.

He had felt an odd energy stirring within him, and through experimentation, realized he could generate electricity.

“It was definitely back then.”

Just before stepping through the flaming portal called Namdaemun, he had felt a terrifying aura emanating from across the Taehwa River.

Everyone present had felt it.

The oppressive killing intent had sent everyone into a panic, with some descending into chaos.

“Ever since that moment, I’ve sensed this strange power inside me.”

He was certain it was connected to the vampires.

If this power truly originated from them, it might be a precursor to turning into one.

He had heard rumors of vampires possessing mysterious abilities.

The thought chilled him, but he buried the suspicion deep inside, sharing it only with Choi Do-yeon.

“If this power really comes from them, I might not survive.”

For now, he kept it a secret.

“No good will come from revealing it. I need to hide it as much as possible.”

He tried manifesting the power again, this time more strongly.