Chapter 7
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Highway Rescue
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As promised, Emily brought back a motorcycle. The MT 338, a model from the game *Motor Bike 338*, was known for its high stability, making it perfect for beginners.
「MT 338」
Durability: 40/50
Speed: 10
Stability: 13
Description: A mass-produced motorcycle from Cassiopeia Co. Its speed is low, but its high stability makes it easy for even beginners to handle.
I climbed onto the motorcycle's seat and awkwardly gripped the handlebars. The leather grips felt different—something I'd never experienced in a VR game.
"You've never ridden a motorcycle before, have you?"
Emily noticed right away. Was it that obvious...?
"Maybe?"
Emily gave me an incredulous look.
"What's with that half-assed answer? If you can't ride a motorcycle, why'd you ask to borrow one?"
"I can't ride it now, but I will be able to soon enough."
"What do you—"
I placed my hand on the motorcycle and closed my eyes. One of the Mechanic's basic corrections was that if it was made of metal, you could handle it proficiently—no exceptions.
Naturally, motorcycles fell under that "made of metal" category. All the general knowledge about motorcycles flooded into my previously blank mind.
*Is this how it's done?*
I started operating the motorcycle according to the knowledge streaming in.
Twenty minutes later, I was riding it smoothly—even though I couldn't even grip the handlebars properly before. Emily's exclamations were just a bonus.
"Wow, is that a superpower too?"
I nodded.
"That's cheating."
This was why I loved being a Mechanic.
Vroom. With a roar from the exhaust, the motorcycle tore down the road. Our destination was the highway. As soon as we hit the road, zombies started appearing one by one.
Of course, they couldn't keep up with the motorcycle, but if they gathered, they might form a wave, which could be trouble. I raised my Screw Gun to clean them up.
But before I could pull the trigger, the zombies dropped. I glanced back. Far behind, Emily was waving at me. I nodded in thanks.
As I sped along the road, I scanned it carefully. Zombie corpses littered the way. They didn't look too decayed, so they must've been freshly turned.
Someone had swept through here thoroughly—not a single one left. Maybe I didn't need to come rescue them after all.
*But their AP has limits too.*
Not being able to use skills would be fatal for beginners like them. It hit other classes hard, but Psychos especially.
I stuck to the inner lane.
Finally, I reached the highway, where cars were lined up like in a drive-in theater.
Open car doors and blood-soaked hoods told the story of what happened here before the zombie virus spread.
Of course, I'd seen this scene countless times through my VR gear, so it didn't faze me. I stopped the motorcycle and surveyed the area. Zombies were here.
Others had probably cleared through once or twice, but there'd definitely be some hiding under cars or in blind spots. I raised my Screw Gun and peered underneath.
*There should be one around here.*
Uwooooh.
Spot on. A zombie with its lower half mangled—maybe crushed under a car—dragged itself toward me, reaching out. It wasn't fast, barely faster than walking.
I pulled out the cue stick I'd gotten from Neulpureun High School. No need for the Screw Gun against something this impaired.
I charged at it and stabbed its head with the cue. Thunk! It fell backward. I raised the cue high and smashed down on its head.
Thunk! Thunk!
I kept hammering until it stopped moving completely and the experience message popped up.
「Job experience increased. (Solo party bonus +150%)」
Only then did I lower my arms and catch my breath.
Suppressing my disgust, I searched the upper half of the zombie's body but found nothing useful. Just a bloodstained cigarette pack, which I pocketed.
「Acquired Mandrake Cigarettes x1.」
I pushed the motorcycle deeper in. Farming was nice, but checking on the survivors came first.
How far had I gone?
I spotted the group, their faces grim. Their numbers had already dwindled by three. Idiots. I cursed them inwardly as I took stock.
Three Gunners, two Bladers, three Psychos, two Healers.
Ironically, I felt relieved the Healers were still alive. Looked like one each of Gunner, Blader, and Psycho had died. All nobodies with no presence anyway.
"What? You're a Mechanic?"
Alicia widened her eyes.
"How'd you get here? What's with the motorcycle?"
I shook my head.
"That's why I came to rescue you. Veterans or not, who takes the highway route? Are you insane?"
Johnson, still dazed, snapped irritably.
"Damn it! It wasn't my fault!"
"What happened?"
The American woman Healer, Olivia, shook her head.
"We ran into a zombie horde. At least a few hundred, looked like."
The zombie wave I'd worried about. Just regular zombies, sure, but getting surrounded on an open highway like this? Game over. I scanned the surroundings at her words.
No horde, not even a single zombie.
"We had no choice. To survive, we had to sacrifice them!"
In the chaos, they'd thrown their own comrades to the zombies as bait. They'd barely escaped in that moment.
I wasn't about to judge. Even in the game, you ditch stragglers. Let alone in a life-or-death reality.
"If there's a zombie wave nearby, we should get out of here fast."
No room for complacency if it was close. Getting surrounded, and this highway becomes Team Apocalypse's graveyard.
"Damn it, no way! The truck first!"
Johnson, still not grasping the situation, objected. That lunatic. Truck obsession even now.
"Your lives come first."
Goyle, the one I'd hoped would die, suddenly grabbed my collar.
"No, the truck first, you shitty bastard!"
I slapped his hand away irritably and cursed back. I'd planned to hold back, but I couldn't swallow this.
"Fine, damn it. Go die if you want."
I regretted it instantly. This psycho wouldn't use telekinesis on me, right?
"You wanna die? With that monkey face!"
I yelled back. No more holding back against this newbie punk among newbies.
"You watch your back at night! Unless you want a bullet!"
Zixuan and Olivia pulled us apart. Perfect timing—I was starting to worry my head might explode.
"Don't fight!"
"This isn't the time for us to be fighting!"
The others didn't speak up directly but looked like they wanted it stopped. Goyle finally dropped his hand, noticing the stares. Thud. I hit the ground.
"We're going for the truck."
Johnson pointed his pistol meaningfully at the ground. But Alicia aimed hers at him and sneered.
Long live big sis!
"Us? Don't make me laugh. We're following him."
The others eyed them warily, worried about trigger fingers. But no shots fired.
"Decide for yourselves! But damn it, if we get the truck, you won't get shit. Let's go, Goyle."
Goyle, some nameless white guy, and a white woman hurried after Johnson. The rest hesitated but stayed put.
*Our odds just went up.*
Too many followers, and getting the truck would've been impossible. But three? Decent shot. Though failure was more likely.
If they succeeded, it'd be their luck.
"But the motorcycle only fits two?"
I shook my head.
"No need for the bike."
"What do you..."
I rallied the group to find a mid-sized truck among the stalled vehicles on the highway. Smaller than a big rig, but the cargo bed could hold them all.
I fiddled with the keyhole by hand. Checked the lock, pulled out some wire, and used Metal Transformation. My AP, drained earlier, had recovered with time.
Only lasted one use, though. The wire bent into a key shape. I inserted it and turned.
Rumble rumble. The truck started.
"Whoa."
"Anyone here know how to drive a truck?"
The Asian guy raised his hand.
"I can."
Stunned by his dialect, I stayed silent, so he added awkwardly.
"Was a driver in the army."
Definitely Korean.
"Okay. You drive, then. Everyone else, clear a path for the truck."
"What about you?"
"I'll take the motorcycle."
Once the path was clear, I hopped on the bike. Helmet on, throttle twisted. Rumble rumble. It took off, followed by the truck.
Zombies hidden on the highway, plus stragglers from the wave, started chasing us. I cranked the radio to max.
Would've been nice if music played, but no stations broadcasting—just static.
Szzzzt. The shrill noise drew the zombies my way. No desire to make a new wave, so I looped around to lead them off.
In the end, we made it back to Shelter A safely.
"Thanks."
The survivors thanked me. Some had sneered at me yesterday. No smugness here.
Forgiving ignorant newbies was Veteran basics.
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