Chapter 34
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: The Shop Awaits
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My words made the thug boss scowl.
"What? A shop owner? There's no way... that exists!"
The thug boss raised his baseball bat once more, gripping it with both hands and swinging down at my head with all his might. But it was pointless against me.
I blocked his attack the exact same way he'd blocked Sohee's just moments ago—with one hand.
He couldn't hide the shock on his face when I deflected his strike so effortlessly.
But he quickly dropped the bat and tried to hammer me with the same fist he'd buried in Sohee's gut earlier. I clenched my free hand into a fist and met his punch head-on.
"Gahhh!"
His finger bones shattered, along with the bones in his hand, bursting out through the back. He collapsed to the ground, unable to bear the pain. My hand, of course, was completely fine.
"Urgh! What... the hell are you? How did you block my Bong Fist..."
Huh? His voice dripped with disbelief that my fist had overpowered his. Bong Fist? As if this street punk had learned some Chinese martial art.
Then a thought struck me.
"Wait, don't tell me you've got a skill beyond just body enhancement?"
I wondered if this "Bong Fist" he kept yapping about was some skill I didn't know of.
He didn't answer my question, just glared at me in silence. Not like I asked expecting a reply anyway.
His reaction alone told me enough—"Bong Fist" was something special. That might explain why Sohee, who bounced back from hits by other goons, went down after taking that one.
Still, to me, it was nothing impressive. The overwhelmingly strong can't accurately measure the weak's scale. It's inevitable.
Like trying to measure microns with a 30cm ruler.
Time to deal with this guy? Tossing him to the zombies to turn him into a mutant and then killing him would be ideal, but the shop takes priority today. No time to waste—finish him quick.
Thwack!
I gripped the bat he'd dropped and swung it just like Sohee had, cracking the thug boss right in the head. The difference? Sohee's swings only dropped the thugs. Mine sent his head flying clean off his neck, spinning far away.
"B-Bro!?"
"R-Run!!"
Seeing their boss decapitated in one hit, his stunned underlings bolted without a backward glance. I could chase them down and slaughter the lot, but I've got the shop to check out. Let 'em go.
Trash like that is doomed anyway—whether by me later or someone else.
So, are the shop-blocking pests cleared out now?
I turned around and caught sight of Sohee staring at me blankly.
"You okay?"
I held out the bat's handle toward her as I spoke. She snapped to, startled, grabbed it, and staggered to her feet.
That punch from the boss must've hurt bad. My fist that clashed with his felt nothing, but then again, I'm way beyond normal. Guess I have to chalk it up to that.
"Urgh... uh..."
As she stood, I let go of the bat. She clutched it tight, her face flushing a bit as she stared right at me.
What? Staring contest? I held her gaze without flinching.
"Wh-what was that? Ahem... I mean... th-thanks..."
She broke eye contact, turning her head and mumbling so softly I barely heard it from this close.
Looks can be deceiving—she's super shy. Yesterday, she coolly thanked me and bowed after I saved her mom. This seems to embarrass her more.
"Yeah. Next time you're feeling weak, don't act tough. You might bite the dust~"
"What?! Hey, you jerk! I'm not weak!"
She yelled back at my sincere advice, her thuggish vibe making the reaction fit perfectly.
No time to babysit her now. Gotta head into the shop ASAP. They said only one person at a time inside—wonder how that works.
From the outside, it looks like a regular building. Anyone could just walk in together.
As I headed toward the shop, I heard someone shouting from behind.
"H-Hey? Wait! Where the hell do you think you're going?!"
I glanced back, puzzled. Besides Sohee, the folks who'd been facing off against the thugs were approaching.
"Where? Into the shop."
"What? No way! I got here before you! Wait your turn!"
"Yeah, right! We should go in order of arrival, yeah?"
"Cutting in line ain't fair!"
One idiot started the bullshit, and the rest piled on like sheep in a herd mentality. Why do these types stay quiet alone, then yap in packs the second they think they've got backup?
Someone needs to study what's rattling around in their skulls.
I ignored their yelling, took a deep breath, and bellowed,
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!!"
I roared at the top of my lungs. The echo bounced off nearby buildings.
They all clapped hands over their ears on reflex.
I grabbed the ringleader by the collar and yanked him close.
"So damn noisy. What's this about 'taking turns'? If you wanted to go first, you should've ignored the thugs and gone in earlier. Why bitch at me?"
"Th-they wouldn't listen to reason..."
"So you think I'm a pushover who will?"
This was pissing me off.
"Okay, fine. You got here first, so you go in first, right?"
"Y-yeah! I beat the thugs here, but they blocked me!"
"Got it. I'll send you in myself."
His face lit up, thinking I'd caved.
I hoisted him up with one hand and hurled him at the shop with everything I had.
"Aaaahhh!"
Splat!
He flew straight, face-planting into the shop wall. Bones crunching loud enough for everyone to hear, he slid down, smearing blood.
"Oops, my bad. Meant to toss you inside. Oh well. Who's next? I'll personally send you in—no refusals."
I flashed a grin. The mob that'd been howling shut up and backed off.
Why do they only wise up after a show of force? Didn't they see me decapitate the boss? That human lives mean jack shit to me.
Thinking I'm some hero who beat the bad guys? Big mistake.
No more whiners. Time to stroll into the shop leisurely.
Standing at what looked like the entrance, a system window popped up like in a game.
Would you like to enter the Shop?
[Yes] or [No]
Obviously, Yes. I selected it, felt the space shift around me, and in an instant, I was transported to an entirely different place.
It had looked like a tiny neighborhood convenience store from outside, but inside? Way bigger than any supermarket chain.
Some kind of subspace principle, huh. The entrance links to a whole other dimension.
The shop brimmed with all sorts of goods.
Weapons stood out the most, in every variety imaginable.
The kitchen knife I'm using is just that—a kitchen tool. These? Real killing instruments.
Short military knives, ancient-looking swords, even those katanas that pop up in every Japanese novel. Massive greatswords too.
Blades galore, and not just that—modern guns too.
Pistols, rifles, sniper rifles.
Didn't expect firearms in here.
In this brutal zombie apocalypse, selling these could be a goldmine.
Surprisingly few food items, though.
I figured it'd be stocked with rations over weapons, but barely any filling, energy-giving stuff. Some spices and salt, sure, but not much else.
"Welcome, customer."
As I browsed, a voice came from deeper inside. Human? Kinda off—felt like something imitating a person, modulating its voice.
Heading toward it, I spotted a figure in a black hood perched at a counter. The hood's depths were pitch black, nothing visible. Definitely not human.
Obvious shopkeeper. Time to chat.
"Talk to you for purchases?"
"Yes. Take a look at this while browsing."
As the clerk finished, a new system window opened—a simple menu listing items and prices.
"Hmm, all coin-only, huh. What? A gun for 1,000 coins? And ammo separate? Insane. Guns are just coin sinks."
To me, who slaughters zombies barehanded, guns are a total waste.
Heck, using ammo burns coins. Killing a regular zombie with one? Pure loss if it doesn't drop coins—which isn't guaranteed. Might as well flush money down the toilet.
Unless you need it for survival. But if you can face zombies head-on, no point buying.
Or raid a military base for free ammo.
Either way, no guns for me now. I fight fine unarmed, and my black magic outclasses them.
Then I spotted something unexpected.
"Oh... they sell this in the shop?"
Zombie Infection Antidote. Checking the details:
📦 Zombie Infection Antidote (1/1)
💰 Price:1,000 Coins
📝 Effect:Cures infection from zombie bites. Grants immunity for 1 hour.
Jackpot item.
With this, fight zombies worry-free about infection.
Not that I ever get bitten. But for others? Priceless.
1,000 coins!? Same as a gun?
Ridiculous. No Awakener could afford it now. Burn 1,000 coins for one hour of safety? You'd need to earn that much in combat just to break even. Good luck.
Not for fighting—backup for if you do get bit. Might snag one someday.
But I don't have 1,000 coins yet. Save up, buy later. Shop opens weekly on Saturdays anyway.
The quantity next to the price bugs me, though.
"Hey, what's with the stock numbers on the menu? If it's limited, once it's gone, tough luck?"
"Yes."
"When does it restock?"
"Once a month."
Oh... So someone flush with coins sweeps the shop first, then resells at markup? A month is plenty of time.
The shop's got some wild mechanics.
Why didn't you open sooner, shop? Should've farmed coins like crazy.
Next time, max out coins first.
Nothing worth coins now. On to the next tab?
The menu has tabs. This one's labeled "Coins." The others? "Points."
Means other tabs for point purchases!
I tapped Points. First thing: exchange rates. As expected, spend points for coins—1 point = 100 coins. Reverse? 200 coins per point. Arbitrage is stupid.
Points from level-ups are rare. Coins? Daily zombie grinding. Makes sense.
So point items must be premium...
"Oh... points unlock the good stuff."
Skills and Traits for points.