Chapter 31

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 31

Chapter Title: Me, the Heroine, and the Slave

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After locking the identified cult followers in the warehouse, I spoke to the remaining survivors.

"I'm heading up to the fourth floor and back, so discuss among yourselves and pick a representative. From now on, I'll only deal with the rep."

The gangsters who'd been tormenting them were gone now. They needed to band together to survive.

To make that happen, they'd need a wise leader to gather all the different opinions and steer the group.

I'm not wise, and besides, I had no intention of sticking around here.

I took the three of them up to the fourth floor and opened my status window.

My level had gone up from 3 to 4.

Looked like the story had progressed a bit.

I spent points to max out my stats.

Bo-ra could borrow 10% of my stats, so she'd leveled up to 5.

This was more than enough for an adult man to handle his share.

"Master, I feel like something's boosted. Did I get some power?"

She must've sensed the level up.

"Yeah. You're the strongest now, so if anything happens, look after the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠other two first."

"Got it."

Yun-ji and Ji-eun gave Bo-ra odd looks for calling me Master, but they didn't press further.

I'd told them we'd talk about it at home.

Her obedience was a nice touch.

The fourth floor was a wreck from floor to walls to ceiling—nothing intact.

All the goods on the shelves had melted away, and the black liquid pooling on the floor was still sizzling.

At the top of the stairs, I focused and scanned for any lingering emotional fragments.

Faint presences flickered in a few spots.

A nauseating mix of terror, murderous intent, and raw survival instinct.

"M-Master... kill me... please..."

A half-burnt gangster was crawling on the floor, clinging to life.

He was done for anyway, but I had no intention of giving him an easy out.

I shoved him into a puddle of black liquid and searched elsewhere.

Scouring the whole fourth floor, I found two more besides the dying one.

Bad burns, but not fatal. I dragged them down to the first floor.

The survivors they'd tormented would dish out worse pain than any burns.

One man approached and bowed to me.

"I'm Choi Ki-ryong."

The survivors' new rep.

He was a student counselor from a nearby middle school.

He'd escaped the school with the principal, only to get nabbed by the gangsters.

The principal, with a busted leg, got tossed to the zombies as bait.

"Just give me your orders from now on."

He'd handle whatever I asked, so long as we left them the bare essentials.

A reasonable choice to protect the rest.

"No need to give me anything. Use whatever's in the mart however you want."

I had stockpiles at home, and survival gear from the Point Shop.

With two more women now, I'd just grab some underwear and feminine products.

Choi Ki-ryong looked shocked.

"You really mean that?"

"Yeah. I took out the gangsters because they attacked me. Not my problem anymore—live however you survivors see fit. Long as you don't mess with me, you won't see me again."

"Thank you. We won't forget this debt."

I'd uprooted them to make sure they wouldn't keep targeting Yun-ji.

The survivors weren't a threat anymore.

I told the three to grab underwear and feminine products and head down to the first floor.

As I went ahead to wait, a message popped up in the air.

I opened the Heroine menu in my status window.

I opened the newly added 'Song Ji-eun'.

'Whoa, erogenous zones are anus. Total maniac.'

I'd definitely lick Song Ji-eun's anus, but who knew the queen of pure innocence and bubbly charm got off on anilingus.

She'd never dream I knew this.

'Wonder what face she'll make when I lick her there. Can't wait, heh heh.'

Heading outside, the two gangsters I'd dragged down from the fourth floor were sprawled on the ground.

Knives and skewers stabbed all over their bodies.

The survivors' rage in action.

The three came down with their clothes and products, flinching at the sight.

"Self-inflicted. Some women here probably got raped by these bastards. This is the only way to vent. That's why I handed them over."

They said nothing.

They knew no one could stay rational in a situation like that.

"Let's go."

"“Yes.”"

We'd left as two, returned as four. Promise kept.

It took four hours to get there, but less than half coming back.

Would've been faster without clearing zombies on the main road midway.

With nothing to do while walking, we did introductions.

The two still didn't know who Bo-ra was.

"I'm Yoon Bo-ra, 21. Worked at a nail salon. You're Yun-ji from Silhouette, right?"

"Yeah. Same age, so let's be casual."

"Still, you're famous, and I'm just a normie..."

"World's gone to hell—what's fame matter now? No stages to sing on, no broadcasts. I'm just a normie too."

Fair point.

No venues or dramas left.

"True. Dropping the formalities then."

"Great! Nice to meet you."

Both extroverts—they hit it off quick, closing the gap fast.

Ji-eun, who seemed least sociable, just stared blankly.

"But why call Oppa 'Master'?"

"'Cause I'm his slave. Gotta call him Master."

"Slave?"

This time, eyes on me.

Demanding an explanation.

"It's the word throwing you off—nothing like what you're picturing."

"Then what is it?"

Slaves inherit part of their master's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠abilities.

Can use skills like the master.

Figured it'd make a good supporter role, so I made her one.

"That's why I made a slave. Rest is same as you guys—no rough treatment."

"Whoa, so if I become a slave, I get stronger too?"

"Probably."

"Then make me one. I can help Oppa from up close if I'm strong. Just call you Master?"

"Title doesn't matter. System told Bo-ra how, but nothing for you. Maybe celebs are different."

"Hmm... complicated. Would be nice to help Oppa more. Right now, all I can do is suck."

"Saying it so casually now."

"What's wrong with it? Who here hasn't sucked Oppa's dick?"

Come to think of it, they'd all done it at least once.

Body's working overtime, but dick gets the royal treatment.

"You haven't greeted unnie yet."

Bo-ra pointed at Ji-eun.

"Oh, Song Ji-eun. Actress, 25."

"Psh, who in Korea doesn't know you? Just wanted to say hi. Call you unnie?"

"Sure."

"Be casual with me too, unnie."

The two chattered ahead, Ji-eun tagging along quietly, listening.

Before we knew it, we were near the one-room.

Heading for the elevator, a message appeared.

Huh?

Totally unexpected message.

'What the hell am I even doing right now?'