Chapter 20

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Translator: Ace

Chapter: 20

Chapter Title: Lacer Encounter

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What the hell is this?

The mutant zombie's slashing attack was way faster than any regular zombie I'd seen so far. Anyone who'd gotten complacent around normal zombies could end up dead in an instant if they weren't careful.

Well, it wasn't fast enough that I couldn't dodge it, so I watched its swinging arm, shifted my body to evade, and put some distance between us.

A mutant zombie popping up out of nowhere like this? I'd only wanted to check if Awakeners turned into zombies, but I hadn't expected to run into a new type.

- Kraaaah!

This thing didn't give me a moment's rest after I dodged—it closed the gap immediately, like it had no intention of letting up.

"Hya!"

I twisted my body to avoid the strike aimed at my throat, then thrust my knife at its neck for a counterattack. Up until now, zombies had always fallen to counters like this.

But this one spotted my attack and twisted away to dodge. It wasn't a perfect evasion—the blade just grazed its neck, leaving a shallow cut.

What? I thought I'd take it out easily with that strike, but it dodged? It can even react to counters? The difficulty just shot up compared to regular zombies.

A zombie that exploits openings and dodges attacks...

Any ordinary person would be dead on the spot. Imagining a pack of these things swarming would be a nightmare.

For now, let's finish it off and think later.

This time, I struck first, before it could come at me. It didn't even try to dodge—instead, it raised its claws and charged to kill.

As it swung its arm down in a slashing arc, I raised my arm to block midway, then drove the hand holding my knife toward its neck. I could see it reacting to my attack, trying to dodge just like before.

Stupid bastard. A zombie's still a zombie, after all.

Reading its movement, I halted my thrusting arm mid-motion and slammed a low kick into its leg, toppling its balance. No way a zombie would ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠anticipate a feint.

Even as its leg bent grotesquely and it floated briefly into the air from my kick, it swung its other arm, claws aiming for my throat. I dodged easily, then finally plunged my knife deep into its neck.

- Kraaak!

I twisted the blade to widen the wound, yanked it out, and kicked it away.

It crashed into the nearby building wall with a loud thud. Its half-torn neck left it trembling, unable to move properly. It was still trying to come at me, but the fight was basically over.

I approached to finish it, ripping out what remained of its neck.

Phew, this thing took more time than I expected.

Since the zombie apocalypse started, this was the first one that made me focus. Was it tough? Not really, but for a zombie to force me to take it seriously—impressive, I guess?

Part of it was the hesitation mid-fight. Seeing a new type, I debated killing it by hand or sucking out its demonic energy with Mana Drain. How much demonic energy does a different zombie hold, anyway?

But killing it with Mana Drain might glitch the system, preventing identification. Better to know what this red-skinned, claw-swinging freak was, so I opted for the hands-on kill.

Then a system window popped up.

So it was a mutant zombie after all. They call it a Lacer?

I handled it easily because it's me, but anyone else spotting this would get shredded in seconds, even in a group. It was that strong.

Time to claim the achievement reward.

I smiled seeing the 50 coins added to my total, but something felt off. I definitely had 251 before.

With the achievement's 50, that should be 301, but it's at 331—30 extra. I did kill some regular zombies before this mutant, so some increase makes sense, but not 30.

From experience, 30 zombies drop about half that in coins—around 15. So this means mutants give more coins than regulars? Gotta hunt every mutant I find.

Pleased with the unexpected bonus, I checked my status when a new achievement appeared.

Ah, so like the regular zombie kill chains, mutants have follow-up achievements for more coins. Better clear these quick.

These easy coin farms are perfect for upgrading my skills fast.

But I'm busy enough killing regulars—no way I'm hunting mutants separately...

Then it hit me: no need to hunt them down.

Why search when I can make them? I was already pondering what to do with the live bait traps. Tomorrow, let zombies at them—if they mutate like this one, I can wipe them out and knock out another achievement. Win-win.

No need to roam alone.

Great idea.

So, those guys I left hanging earlier? Toss 'em some food tomorrow to keep 'em alive. I skimped with just water before, but for the experiment, a bit of rations is fine.

Decision made, I threw food to the dazed captives staring at the sky in their traps. Starved over a day, they devoured it greedily.

Six in total—if the experiment works, up to six mutants tomorrow. That clears the new achievement easy.

Oh, wait.

That Haedong Faction guy asking if I'd join? Keep him alive. Raid their base later, grab their stuff, and put their members to use.

Been so busy, the day's almost gone.

Time to head home.

"Oppa, you're back? Great job out there today~"

Han Yejin greeted me warmly on arrival. Her clothes showed she'd settled in—super comfy loungewear.

"Oppa, did you find the cookbook?"

"Ah, forgot. Tomorrow for sure."

After washing off the day's grime, we ate dinner together while I recounted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠events.

I'd told her about the live bait yesterday; she gave a look like "Is that okay?" But hearing today's zombie count?

"Whoa! Over 400? If it lures that many, we gotta keep it going!"

She was thrilled. She knew my coin farming tied directly to her survival.

I also mentioned the mutant.

"So you're saying you saw proof today that Awakeners might turn into mutants? A mutant zombie... I'd be dead instantly."

"Probably. Not just you—any randoms would've had their throats ripped out. I took it easy."

"Hmm... What are you, really, oppa? Definitely not normal."

From her view, clueless about black magic, my powers must seem weird. No plans to spill my secrets yet. Maybe later if needed.

"Doesn't matter. Just be my onahole doll and provide the hole."

"Tch... Fine. Tonight too?"

"Tonight? Right now, you slut!"

"O-oppa!"

Ignoring her squeals, I stripped us both and dove right in.

I woke the next morning to sunlight.

Stayed up late pounding Yejin's pussy like a maniac again.

Time to hunt zombies outside—and don't forget turning the bait into mutants for that achievement.

Groggy from just waking, I sat up when a system window appeared.

Whoa, a ton of additions?

Eh? More below?

...Is this targeting me?