Me and my squad returend to Chuncheon using the railway.
“It hasn’t been that long, but everything seems so different now.”
“Was it really that chaotic when we left?”
Though only a short time had passed, the landscape of Chuncheon had changed significantly. Monsters still wandered through some areas, and certain buildings had become no-go zones where approaching was strictly prohibited.
However, there appeared to be regions where people had come together to create safe spaces.
One such area was ironically close to our squad.
As we approached the building designated as our temporary base, we noticed a makeshift sign hanging in the nearby collapse of a shopping district.
[Various Useful Items for Sale]
[All Items Operationally Tested]
[No Refunds for Buyer’s Regret]
“Wait, what?”
After all, this was a city consisting of thousands of awakened individuals and where there are people, a society is bound to form.
“It seems like trade is becoming more active.”
“This feels weird,” one of my squadmates said.
The communities that had formed near the ammunition brigade in Inje-gun were more about cooperative living, sharing resources, and a sense of unity. The idea of trading didn’t seem prevalent there.
Chuncheon, however, had a different atmosphere. The awakened individuals were scattered among various groups, and the lingering tension from their dungeon experiences led to awkward relational dynamics.
They had exchanged necessities while in the dungeons, fostering some level of interaction, which now indicated that trading was ramping up.
“Not a bad thing, I suppose.”
In reality, most items could be purchased through point shops. But those offerings were often overpriced and of questionable quality. Therefore, if awakened individuals traded items they no longer needed for something useful, they could save points.
‘Using those excess points to increase their stats or buy random skill books is definitely a better investment… right?’
Suddenly, something unuSoo-ahl caught my attention.
[Camping-Grade Large Power Bank (Operational Check Complete)]
[Price: 3 Combat Ration]
The cracked window of a dilapidated store displayed a large portable battery intended for camping.
It was surprising to see such an item still intact, but even more surprising was the price listed.
“Three combat ration?”
Not Won, but combat ration?
“Is this some kind of throwback to the Joseon Dynasty?”
I paused, perplexed as I absorbed the implications of that strange currency.
“How much for the battery?” I asked.
“It’s written right here, isn’t it? 3 combat ration,” the clerk replied.
“You’re telling me this battery costs 3 combat ration?”
At that moment, someone entered the store and began to haggle.
“It’s already been tested, and it has more than 90% of its capacity remaining. And you know, the electricity is completely out now.”
“I get that, but isn’t the price way cheaper? This used to be a product that costs around 300,000 won!”
“What does that matter? Just the other day, I saw someone using a 100 million won bill as toilet paper.”
“Ugh…”
“Well, if you don’t want to buy it, you don’t have to. I’m not forcing this on anyone. You could just find a generator and some gasoline to produce your own electricity. Just know that a generator makes a lot of noise and will attract monsters and zombies.”
After a brief moment of contemplation, the man haggling produced something from his pocket and handed it over.
“You’re lucky you’re in a rush for electricity; otherwise, I wouldn’t even have glanced at this ridiculous price.”
“Thank you for the great transaction!” the vendor replied cheerfully as he accepted the exchange.
Watching the transaction unfold, I couldn’t help but scowl.
‘Why is that here?’
This was something I recognized all too well.
Of course, I should have recognized it—
I made that!
‘It’s combat rations!’
* * *
“Oh, that? I know, but I’m letting it slide for now,” Min-jae said nonchalantly when I finally returned to the base and broached the subject of my combat rations being treated as currency.
“Letting it slide? Is it okay that my combat rations are being traded like this?”
“Oh, well… I guess it’s a bit strange for a chef?”
“To be honest, yes.”
“Still, you seem to care more about ensuring as many people survive as possible, right?”
“Well, yeah, but…”
I’m not the kind of person who accepts the death of innocents easily.
It’s just that, right now, the invasion of monsters calls for more humans in the fight against them.
Having more survivors means more potential recruits for our squad.
Which translates to a growing number of customers who could taste my cooking.
“At first, I was also shocked. Initially, it seemed like there were just small exchanges, but it quickly turned into a full-blown currency system.”
“Using food meant to prevent starvation for trading just feels… off.”
“It’s understandable, but ultimately, the food has been made using the monsters we’ve hunted. For those without combat skills, securing combat rations through whatever means is the only way.”
Ah.
I hadn’t considered that angle.
I was processing only the monsters we hunted into combat rations. While we benefitted from the dwindling count of monsters in the city, the others were directly gaining access to food.
But not every awakened individual was combat-ready.
“I guess they want to secure combat rations, even through barter, since it could very well save their lives in critical moments.”
Apparently, the uptick in trade activity around here was attributable to the non-combat awakened individuals.
‘Non-combatants may lack offense against raiders, but nobody will have the audacity to forage near our well-guarded base.’
And those combat rations are being issued here.
It was the perfect storm for commerce.
“Trading escalated from there until my combat rations became currency?”
“To be precise, it’s still largely barter-based. Sure, in a prior barter-driven economy, it became standard to determine prices. It’s a matter of necessity.”
Unbelievable.
Though traditional currency has lost so much value it’s even dubious for practical use, the remaining structures in this fallen world make it hard to determine what currency still holds weight.
Conversely, combat rations can be consumed and offer buffs.
The fact that having them will undeniably provide a benefit sustains their value as currency.