Chapter 14

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Translator: Ace

Chapter: 14

Chapter Title: Ridiculous Weaklings

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Truly ridiculous. I thought he came in so confidently that maybe he had a decent level or something.

Even while listening to his nonsense quietly, part of me hoped he might actually be strong. I wondered if there was someone out there who'd leveled up massively in some corner I didn't know about.

But turns out, he's just trash at level 3?

"Guh, grrr! You bastard, let go of my wrist now!"

As I gripped his wrist and squeezed, he grimaced and glared at me, shouting. But I could sense the fear in his voice toward someone overwhelming his strength.

"Nah, don't wanna."

"Gah, graaaah!!"

"B-Bro!?"

I tightened my grip further, and he couldn't hold on anymore—his knife slipped from his weakening hand and clattered to the ground. The guys who'd come with him stared at me in shock.

The way they called him "bro" and their surprised faces at him getting subdued like this... He must be the strongest here, which means these guys are all trash too?

It's only been about five days since the zombie apocalypse hit. What the hell have they been doing all this time?

Ah, maybe I'm just way too overpowered compared to them? Even with a Technician trait unrelated to combat, my physical stats are higher than his, plus I can use black magic...

In this world right now, I'm pretty much an outlier.

This is normal for me, but to them, I must look utterly impossible.

So, what to do with this guy now? He's just hanging his head, enduring the pain squeezing from his trapped wrist, unable to do a thing. Seems like two options here.

First: kill him right away since he pissed me off. Second: let go of his wrist and warn him never to come back.

But the second one? Guys like that always forget their place, come crawling back raging about killing you. Reminds me of back when I first got isekai'd—not long after. I forgave some idiot who attacked me out of ignorance, let him go, and he shows up with his "bro" and a bunch of guys to jump me.

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sent them all straight to the afterlife without mercy back then. And this guy's got the exact same face as that one.

"S-Sorry... about that..."

While I pondered with my grip still tight, a small voice leaked from him.

"I-I was cocky... s-sorry..."

Huh, feeling the power gap and backing down? Makes my resolve waver a bit.

Alright, let's try letting go and see.

I released his hand at his words, and he clutched his wrist like he thought his bones were shattering, gasping for breath.

"You worthless shit, don't get cocky when you're nothing. Just fuck off, got it?"

"Hah, hah... Die, you bastard!!"

He glanced at me, judged I was off guard, snatched up the knife he'd dropped, and thrust it at my gut.

Whoa? He suddenly got faster. Compared to his movements before, this felt noticeably quicker.

He mentioned being a Combat Specialist earlier—probably related to that?

While I watched curiously, his knife reached my stomach. He grinned like he'd dealt a fatal blow.

But,

Clang!

Unlike what he expected, the blade didn't pierce my gut. Not even close—it rang out like metal on metal, the sound you'd never hear stabbing flesh.

"Heh, faces really are scientific, huh? Tested it just in case, and yep, spot on~"

I'd let go out of curiosity to see his reaction, and he attacks right away. Kinda fun how predictable he is.

I'd preemptively cast a simple barrier over my body assuming he'd try something, so no issue. A transparent film of demonic energy coated me—his attack wasn't even worth dodging.

"Wha-what the... guhuk!"

Stunned by what happened, before he could hide his shock, I plunged my knife into his gut. Didn't stop there—I twisted it while embedded, shredding his insides.

"Gaaaaah!"

I pulled the knife out as he writhed in agony. Blood gushed from the wound; he clutched it, collapsing to his knees. I grabbed his hair, yanking his head up.

"Hey, got a question. Why'd you suddenly speed up back there?"

"Guh, guhk... Wh-what?"

"Don't play dumb—answer me."

I pressed the knife to his throat; he flinched, spilling it quick.

"I-It’s my skill! One of the Combat Specialist skills enhances the body—I used it!"

Now he's really thinking he might die, switching to polite speech naturally. Huh, so Combat Specialists get body enhancement skills? Awakeners already have better physical specs than normals—guess the trait boosts it further with skills?

"And? Any other skills?"

"Th-that's... all I have..."

"Got it. Thanks for the info~"

I granted him a painless death as thanks for the useful intel.

"H-Hiiik!"

"R-Run!!"

The others who'd watched me kill him bolted screaming the second I looked their way, not even glancing back.

Could chase and wipe them all out, but...

Too annoying.

As I mulled it over, Yejin caught my eye—standing there alone, staring at me.

"You holding up okay? You look like shit~ Definitely not."

I remembered sending her to Taeyang Apartments all fresh and clean before we split. Now she's a mess, like she hasn't washed properly. Only a few days passed, but she looks pale and worn.

"Yeah... not really..."

"Figured~ But aren't you going with those fleeing guys? Wandering alone's dangerous."

She's an Awakener, but Medical Specialist—no way she handles zombies well. Probably only roamed outside because those thugs protected her.

"Or want me to take you back again? No skin off my back."

Of course, if she asks, same terms as before. No free rides in a zombie apocalypse.

-Grrrrowl

-Groooan

While chatting with Yejin, zombies closed in around us. Probably drawn by the dead guy's noise or the runners' screams.

Fine by me. Zombies are my sustenance.

Handled the roughly ten: half with Mana Drain, the rest by slitting throats with my knife.

Alright, back to Yejin—

Oh? What's this?

The zombie apocalypse so far was just a tutorial?

Felt off somehow.

Achievements mentioned mutant zombies, so I figured they existed somewhere. But despite killing tons of zombies, I'd never seen one.

Wondered why—turns out the tutorial skipped the strong ones on purpose.

What thoughtful consideration for us Awakeners, huh?

Zombie spawns increase daily too.

For folks barely hanging on now, this is a disaster. No idea how strong mutants are, but if they hit a spot with flimsy barricades... total wipeout?

Need to check mutant zombie strength. Can't rule out ones even my black magic can't handle.

Judging from current zombies, this is just Main Quest 1 starting—if they unleashed unbeatable monsters now, it'd be like telling other Awakeners to die. Probably manageable.

So, next moves...

"Hey!"

Yejin called out as I stared at the quest window, plotting in my head.

"Th-that... Oppa, you got the Main Quest window too, right?"

Oppa? Oh, right—she asked my age last time; I'm 28 in this body. Mentally, 10 years in isekai makes me 39-ish, but yeah, older than her, so oppa fits.

"Yeah?"

"...Then, can I stick with you and live together?"

What? Thought she'd ask to go back to Taeyang Apartments.

She's saying she'll stick with me?

She's grubby now, but cleaned up, she's got a pretty face and figure—no big deal keeping her around.

Room for one more, food stocked plenty.

But can't take her for free. I don't do freeloaders who just eat.

Right as I was about to ask what she could offer,

"If I can stay by Oppa... I'll even be your... onahole ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠doll."

Quite the satisfying ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠proposal.