Chapter 73

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Translator: Ace

Chapter: 73

Chapter Title: Subduing the Gorilla Gang

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Gorilla's face twisted in disbelief at my words.

"C-Coins?"

"Yeah. Hand over ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠every last coin you've got. If you're coming under me and I'm sparing your men, that's the least you can do."

"A-Alright."

Gorilla handed them over with a resigned sigh. It came out to a little over 3,000 coins—about the same amount I'd just spent upgrading Yejin's skill, so I was back to square one.

"Normally, I'd charge you for treating your men on top of that, but since I promised to heal them, this one's on the house. Next time, you'll pay up."

"Th-Thank you."

"Oppa~ All done with the healing!"

While I was talking to Gorilla, Yejin hopped down from the truck and ran over to me.

"Good work. How many did you save?"

"Um... probably around seven or eight. The others were already gone by the time I got to them with my skill."

Yejin glanced at me nervously as she spoke. I'd told her to save everyone, and she was worried about how I'd react to the ones she couldn't.

I gave her shoulder a light pat.

"You did great. Those guys are going to be my subordinates now anyway."

"Your subordinates? Them?"

Yejin sounded incredulous.

"For now, yeah. I've gotta talk things over with Gorilla here about what comes next."

I pointed back at Gorilla, who was watching us.

He'd agreed to join me, so we needed to hash out the details, right?

"U-Ugh... I'm alive?"

"N-No wounds at all..."

"I thought we were dead..."

Just then, Gorilla's men—the ones Yejin had healed—started waking up one by one. They sat up, looking confused about why they were on the truck, then spotted me and froze in shock.

"Wh-What? U-Uwaaah!"

"M-Monster!"

"P-Please spare us!!"

They scrambled to leap off the truck and flee from me as far as possible.

"Everyone, stop! Don't say stupid things—come here to me!"

Before I could even speak, Gorilla stepped up and halted his fleeing men. They noticed their boss, stared between him and me in astonishment, then cautiously approached.

"B-Boss, what the hell is going on...?"

"Sigh. I'll explain the details later. Bottom line... we're joining him now."

His men looked stunned all over again.

"Yeah, that's how it is. Let's get along from here on out. And..."

I vaulted onto the truck. Thanks to Yejin's healing, the hole in my leg had closed up, letting me spot the little rat trying to sneak away.

"Where do you think you're going, rat?"

"Th-That is..."

The rat couldn't even form words, trembling violently as he prostrated himself on the ground.

"P-Please spare me! I beg you..."

"You should've picked your opponents more carefully. Why come at me, of all people?"

I wasn't planning to kill him right away since I'd turn him into a zombie anyway, but suddenly Gorilla rushed over and dropped to his knees.

"Seo Taeil was definitely in the wrong, but could you give him just one chance? His abilities are useful."

"Abilities? He's a Weapon Crafter, right? Anything special beyond that?"

Hearing me, the rat perked up, sensing a slim chance at survival, and quickly replied.

"Y-Yes! I can craft bullets with coins right now, and I can reinforce weapons themselves!"

The weapon reinforcement part caught my interest.

"Weapon reinforcement? What does that do? Exactly what it sounds like?"

Overhearing my mutter, the rat hurriedly shared his status window with me.

Sure enough, there was a Weapon Reinforcement skill.

It looked like a skill for reinforcing weapons I'd use later to take down tougher zombies.

He even had the Bullet Crafting skill that Sohee had picked up.

On paper, his abilities weren't totally useless. It'd be a shame to just toss him aside...

"How'd you get this Weapon Reinforcement skill?"

"I unlocked it after leveling Weapon Crafting to 6."

The rat answered immediately, desperate for a shot at living.

"I see. So it's a standard skill for Weapon Crafters. In that case, no reason to keep you alive."

I'd considered sparing him for the reinforcement skill, but if every Weapon Crafter could learn it, that changed things.

I could always grab someone else for it.

If it were something like Bullet Crafting—tied to killing zombies—I might've hesitated. Killing someone unique like that would be a loss.

But I already had the orb for Bullet Crafting, and reinforcement came from just leveling the base skill. This rat wasn't adding much value.

Hearing that, he grabbed my leg in panic.

"Spare me! I'll do anything! Just let me live, and I'll give it my all!"

"I gave you a chance, and you threw it away. Now take your punishment."

With that, I drove my fist into his gut.

"Guhk!"

The impact left him gasping, collapsing face-first onto the ground.

"Seo Taeil!"

"Just knocked him out. I'll handle him. Now, let's talk about what you guys are gonna do next."

I could drag the rat off and do whatever. Time to settle things with Gorilla and his crew.

"Your base isn't here—it's down below, right? You're under me now, so pick: head back to your old spot, or move here?"

Gorilla frowned, unsure. Made sense—he'd never been to my place, so he had no idea what he was choosing between.

"Never mind. Come to my base now. You won't last the 7th Zombie Wave in your condition anyway. Stay safe inside."

"A-Alright."

He nodded, still dazed.

"Gather any weapons you dropped during the chaos and bring 'em here. This is my base. I'll head back first with Yejin and this guy."

I told Gorilla the location, picked up Yejin and the unconscious rat, and raced home.

We got back quick thanks to running into them en route. I sent Yejin inside and dumped the rat outside the base—bound with rope from my Subspace so he couldn't bolt. Tomorrow, I'd toss him to the zombies when they showed.

Once sorted, I headed in. Sohee eyed me worriedly.

"Is it over? What about those guys? They were all armed to the teeth— you okay?"

"Of course. Toys like that can't even scratch me. No need to worry~"

The rat's bullet had nearly pierced my barrier, though. Probably thanks to reinforcement effects.

Even so, for a basic magic barrier—even a low-level one—to nearly get breached by a single shot was impressive. Breaching something made by someone like me takes serious power.

If I run into other Awakeners with reinforced gear, getting complacent like today could get me killed.

Better safe than sorry. Next time I face an Awakener, watch out for reinforced weapons or similar boosts.

Meeting the rat taught me that much. Good to know.

A bit later, Gorilla and his men rolled up in their truck.

"This is... the base?"

"Yeah. Come on in."

I registered them all as residents and let them inside—but not my officetel building. Another one.

Electricity and water still worked, so they'd manage.

They might turn hostile inside, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠watching how they flinched away from me, they clearly weren't planning anything. They saw me as a monster after the black magic slaughter.

"Stay here till the Zombie Wave passes. Then decide: back to your base or stick around."

"Got it."

"As my subordinates, you'll hunt zombies and earn coins. I'll set a monthly quota—hit it however."

They all nodded.

I added that living here cost 200 coins per person, but they'd be safe from zombies.

They mulled it over, said they'd consult Gorilla and let me know. Things seemed settled, so I headed to my room.

As more subordinates pile up, I might not even need to hunt zombies myself anymore.

They'll bring me coins on a platter. Why bother roaming outside?

One downside: no Demonic Energy income. Coins flow in, but without killing zombies personally, no magi. Can't fully hand off the hunting.

Wonder if there's talent out there who can farm magi for me...

Maybe teach black magic to someone else. Have them gather it instead.

Could work. Not a bad idea.