First Skill Acquired

It wasn't because this was a police station that I'd told her to buckle up.

The law had already collapsed in this world, after all. Nobody was going to lecture anyone for skipping a seatbelt.

I'd still made her put it on for a very good reason.

KWAANG!!!

Just like we'd confirmed back at the station, the roads were already choked solid with cars. The only way through was to smash a path open by ramming them.

"Kyaaaak!!! You crazy bastard!! Drive more carefully!!!"

"Then get out and walk carefully yourself!"

"Kyaaaaak!!!!"

I wrenched the wheel and slammed into a car sitting dead still. The driver's-side mirror went flying, but the car shoved sideways and opened a narrow gap.

Screeeeeeech!!!!!

Metal scraped metal along the flanks of the cars pressed together, a sound that made you want to clap your hands over your ears. I didn't ease off the wheel. I kept pushing straight through. Hell, I even yanked the wheel harder toward the car stuck against us as we surged forward.

Screeech!!

KWAANG!! KUGUGUNG!!!

We scraped along the bumper of the car beside us and smashed into the brake lights of the one ahead, carving out a path. The racket of our wild charge drew zombies from every direction. The ones that had been chasing us from the police station were only the start—front, back, left, right, an enormous swarm was pouring in.

Shaking every last one of them and putting as much distance as possible between us would have been ideal, but when does life ever go the way you want? You just thrash with everything you've got.

KWAAANG!!!

I nearly cracked my skull on the steering wheel. I'd tried to cut across to the far side that looked more promising, but the car that hit the median barrier failed to break through and simply stopped dead.

"I-if we stop here…"

"Get out."

"What…?"

No time or room for explanations. I just shoved the driver's door open and climbed out.

"Kraaaah!!!"

"Kraah!!"

"Kraaaaah!!!"

"Kraaah!!"

"Kraaaaaah!!!"

Stay calm. You can find it. A way out of this mess.

I spun around. We were right on the center line. The sidewalks on either side were more than ten meters away, and beyond them, of course, stood buildings. Could we get inside? No. So what method would keep us safe from this many zombies right here on the road?

Kugung!!

I scrambled up onto the hood for the widest possible view. That was enough—my tunnel vision, stupidly narrow until now, finally locked onto the one safe zone.

"Th-this!!"

"……"

I'd really been out of my head. I'd left it behind when I got out. From below, O Jihye held up the entrenching tool and the collapsible baton; I took only the shovel.

"You keep that. Hit them if they come."

"W-we're going to fight…?"

"Follow me."

"W-wait for me!!"

I leapt off the hood and sprinted forward.

"Kraaaah!!!"

"Kraah!!"

No blade attacks right now. I couldn't spare the seconds it would take to yank a stuck shovel free.

Thwung!!

The swung entrenching tool caught a zombie and sent it flying clean over the median barrier. The reverse swing smashed into the head of another that was coming around the back of the car beside us.

"Kyak!! Die! Die! Die!!"

"What are you doing! Hurry up!"

"Y-you said to hit them!! Kyaak!!!!"

O Jihye, who had been clubbing a spinning zombie with the baton so it couldn't even fall, screamed and came running after me. Was she really that scared? She was swinging the thing pretty damn well.

"How far are we going?!!"

"……"

"Please just answer me!!!"

"No time to—"

"Kraaaah!!!!"

"—talk!!"

"Kyaak!!!"

I shoved O Jihye's head down with my left hand and swung the shovel in the same motion.

Thwung!!!

If she hadn't been yapping and distracting me, she'd be dead right now. The few seconds I burned saving her put me in more danger, sure—but we'd already reached the destination. That was why I finally had room to look back.

Kukung!!

I climbed onto the hood of an SUV and stretched my left hand down. O Jihye lunged up and grabbed it; I clamped tight and hauled with everything I had.

"Eut..!!"

Her legs flailed until she finally scrambled up. I let go of her hand and brought the shovel down.

Puhk!!!!

Right. Think of it as Whac-A-Mole. A filthy, endless game of Whac-A-Mole.

"Kyaaaaak!!! Die!! Die!! Die!!"

"You climb!!"

O Jihye, crouched on the hood and smashing every zombie face she could reach with the baton, glanced around, then scrambled up the windshield onto the roof.

"I'm up! You hurry too!"

One last overhead smash with the shovel—this time the blade split a skull clean. Then I spun, stepped on the windshield, and climbed onto the roof myself, twisting to face the bus beyond the median barrier.

"Haaah.. haaah... hoooo....."

"W-why are you looking over there..? Don't tell me… I can't go! I can't jump that far!!!"

"So what."

"What..?"

O Jihye, who had been screaming her head off a second ago, blinked her round eyes in a daze. I carefully tossed the entrenching tool onto the bus roof, checked behind ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me, and slowly backed up. The moment both feet reached the edge of the roof, I charged the bus with everything I had.

The run-up was too short for real speed. So I took as many tiny steps as I could, planted on the dropping edge, and launched.

Fall and you die.

But after fighting zombies until I was sick of them today, I'd learned one thing for certain: exactly how far this body could perform. And I had an ace up my sleeve.

Tak!!!

My right hand, stretched as high as it would go, just barely caught the bus roof. Only one hand—but my Non-slip Gloves, the ace I'd been counting on, did their job perfectly and held.

"You rotten bastard!!!!!"

"Ugh...!!"

I ignored O Jihye's curses from behind. All my focus went into hauling my left hand up so I could hang with both, then planting both feet on the bus window and climbing the rest of the way. Result: complete success. For me, anyway. Not for her.

"Hooo... Thought I was gonna die..."

"Kyaaaak!! Stay away!! Don't come near me!!!! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠You rotten bastard! I swear I'll kill you!!!! Kyaak!!!"

On the SUV roof, O Jihye was doing a frantic tap-dance to avoid the hands zombies were stretching up from below while she issued death threats.

"Hey."

"What! You rotten bastard!!"

"Throw them."

"What?!"

"The baton and the phone in your pocket."

"You son of a bitch..!!! You think I'll give them to you?! Even if I die I won't hand them over!! You rotten bastard!! How could you leave me alone and go by yourself...!"

"Then bring them with you."

"What..?"

"Jump. I'll catch you."

"How the hell am I supposed to jump that far?!!!"

"I said I'll catch you. Trust me."

"B-but if I fall..? Kyak!! Something touched me!!"

O Jihye lifted her foot and shook her ankle wildly, spotted the zombie reaching for the roof, and stomped its head flat.

"Then spend the whole night dancing up there. They're about to climb up too—think you can manage?"

"Ah...."

"Krrr..!!"

"Kraaaah!!!"

"Kraaah!!"

Zombies were starting to haul themselves onto the hood. Seeing that, O Jihye looked at me with a tearful face and a pitiful voice.

"I really.. won't die..? Hic!! Hwiing..!!"

"You won't die."

"Really..? Can you promise..?"

"Yeah."

If you die I'll apologize for real. This is the best I can do—help with everything I've got. I can't take responsibility for the result. All I can do is leave it to O Jihye's physical ability and luck.

Snatch—snatch—

The baton and phone she'd sworn she'd never give me came flying. I caught them, set them neatly aside, and watched O Jihye back up to the edge of the car roof the same way I had.

"Haa..! Haa..! Stop grabbing me already!!!"

"Kraaaah!!!"

She shook off the hand clamped on her ankle, stomped that zombie's head, and took off.

One, two.

That short?

After only two steps of run-up she launched. Her face seemed to rise for a moment, then plummeted hard.

"Kyaaaaaak!!!!!!"

"Kraaaah!!!"

"Krah!!!"

"Kraah!!"

"Kraaaaaah!!!"

O Jihye was dead. Torn apart by the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠swarm of zombies. If I hadn't caught her.

Kwaaaak!!!!

I barely managed to grab the thrashing arm she flung out and hauled with everything I had.

"Stop flailing!!!!"

"Then what am I supposed to do?!! They keep grabbing me!! Kyaak!!! Don't grab me!!!!!"

"Fuck..!!!"

She pulled both legs up like she was sitting in a chair and kicked wildly every time a zombie hand brushed her shoes or ass. Each thrash made me want to let go, but I had zero intention of releasing that hand.

"Uwaaa!!!!!"

"Kyak!!"

With a shout I heaved her up until her armpit caught on the edge of the bus roof. She shoved against the window with her thrashing feet and climbed a little higher; I grabbed her crotch with my left hand and yanked hard.

"Haa..! Haa..! Haa..! Haa..!"

"Haaah.. haaah.. haaah.. I told you I'd catch you, right?"

"Hey!!!"

"Uwak!!"

O Jihye, still sprawled and panting on the roof, lunged at me while I was resting with my hands braced behind me. She shoved her lips straight at mine. My hand blocked them, of course.

"This again..!!"

"You stop doing this too!"

"Why the hell do you hate it so much?! Just fuck me already!!! And... don't leave me behind...!!"

"……"

She clenched both fists against my chest and twisted the fabric of my T-shirt. Tears spilled from her eyes and wet my face.

"O Jihye..."

"I know..! I was a bitch to you.. And... honestly you're not even my type, I'm just saying fuck me because I want to live....."

"……"

She was being way too honest for no reason.

"But I still want to live!! Without you I'll die!!! So... please just fuck me... and let me stay by your side.... Hic.."

"……"

O Jihye, still clutching my shirt and thumping my chest, looked truly desperate. I wasn't sure how she'd take what I was about to say, but...

"You stink."

"....What..?"

"I said you stink. Especially your breath—it's fucking disgusting... Kek..!! A-air...!!!!"

"Die!!! Die! You son of a bitch!!!!!!!"

I'd barely survived, said one wrong thing, and almost died for real. My neck felt like it was about to snap from the choking.

"Sseee..!! Sseee...!!"

"Stop! That's enough already!"

"Your breath reeks too, you know?! Your whole body smells like rot!"

"I know! So let's wash first! Brush our teeth too! Then I'll fuck you senseless!"

"Forget it!! I'm never doing it with you! You rotten bastard!!! Trash..! Pervert..! Virgin loser..!!!"

"Ha..."

I wasn't a virgin, and I didn't talk to other women like this. This was just how things had ended up between me and O Jihye. But I was too tired to keep arguing, so I didn't answer. Something far more important needed attention.

"Status Window."

The Status Window I'd received as a reward for escaping the police station bloomed in blue light before my eyes. Of course O Jihye, glaring at me from over there, couldn't see it. By the way, why were my stats this good?

The only initial stats I knew were those of the protagonist's party. Measured against them, mine were excellent. The strongest guy in the protagonist's group started at Strength 4, and the only person who received a 5 in any stat was the protagonist himself. Same Mental 5 as me. Everyone else maxed out at 3 on a good day; the baseline was 2.

Of course those people stuck to the protagonist and got nonstop quests and insane stat growth. Still, setting Mental aside, men averaged 2 and women were lucky to hit 2. Compared to that, I was basically an early-game cheat character.

Was it the quest's influence? Had I been rewarded generously because I'd cleared the hidden conditions too? Maybe. Or had the protagonist party's starting stats been deliberately nerfed for balance? If that were the case, there was a way to check.

"O Jihye, come here."

"Why? So I can smell your breath? Ha!"

"You really gonna keep that up?"

"Sseee..! It wasn't even five minutes! Not even five!!! You rotten bastard, seriously..!!"

Grumbling, she peeled her ass off the roof and sat beside me. I casually held out my hand.

"What..!"

"Hold it."

"If you want to hold hands, you grab mine!!"

"Sigh.. for real... Fine, I'll hold it. Now say 'Share Status Window.'"

"Say it after you grab it.... S-Share Status Window.."

I received the shared Status Window of O Jihye, who was still pouting. And I learned something. The protagonist's party hadn't been specially nerfed after all.

It was a garbage Status Window, but the women in the protagonist's party were about the same. Actually, this was pretty good. She was a woman and still had two stats at 2 outside of Mental. And Mental itself was a solid 3. Yeah—this was the kind of mental fortitude you needed to hide under a desk for two straight days.

"Share Status Window."

"Huh..?"

"Even without holding hands, if you're in physical contact and say 'Share Status Window,' the other person can see it."

"Ah... th-then how do you know all this stuff..?"

I'd seen it in a webtoon. But saying something that absurd would only make her louder, so I fudged it.

"I just read a lot of webtoons and web novels like this."

"Ha... so that stuff actually helps... But why are yours so high..?"

"Difference in talent."

"....You're so annoying..!"

That part was actually true. Initial stats were assigned based on current physical and mental ability plus latent talent. So had I been meant to be an athlete and just taken a wrong turn into the liberal arts? Whatever—no answer there. Time to open the boxes.

"Check Rewards."

Two hologram-like boxes appeared in front of me. One blue, one red. The blue was the regular quest reward; the red was the extra reward for completing the hidden condition. And it was a special box that only dropped skills.

"First, lay down a sacrifice."

I raised a hand and lightly tapped the blue box. The lid sprang open and the reward dropped.

Did I see that wrong? I rubbed my eyes hard and checked the reward that had fallen between my legs again.

"Fuck! I already have these!!!!"

"Th-then.. can I take them..?"

"....Do whatever you want."

"Heh~"

I had no idea why O Jihye looked so smug scooping up the gloves. I'd been the one swinging the entrenching tool bare-handed. Fine—better this way. Think positive. This was the perfect sacrifice. How good must the real prize be if trash like this came out first? My heart pounded with anticipation.

"Hoooo....."

I exhaled hard, stood up, stretched, even yelled once for good measure, then raised my hand toward the red box.

Please..! Please..!! Please...!!!

I tapped the red box lightly, yanked my hand back, clasped both hands together, and prayed. To whom, exactly? That piece-of-shit god had dragged me here just because I left a half-assed comment. Right—no praying. Demand it outright.

"Hand it over!! Give me something good!!!!"

The red box lid seemed to shake for an unusually long time before it exploded open. And I acquired my first skill.

……

……

……

"You sons of bitches!!!!!!!!!!"