Helping to Save Lives - 8

"Oppa!!!"

On a bright morning, I heard a girl's voice welcoming me.

"Yeah, Heea. Have you been well?"

"Yes!"

I pulled fresh vegetables and meat from my carrier and neatly organized the ingredients in the hospital room's fridge.

"You brought a lot. Is it really okay to give us this much?"

"It's just a variety of types—the quantity itself isn't that huge. And this is for our Heea to eat, so of course I can spare this much. Right, Heea?"

"Thank you!"

Roa frowned.

"Don't think of it as a favor. This is purely a transaction. You're offering this to me in exchange for me taking good care of your woman."

"Yeah, whatever you want to think... Anyway, is the medicine ready?"

"Of course. I explained the precautions back then, right? This isn't a drug that actually makes you stronger."

"I'm not taking it because I lack strength or anything. This should be plenty."

I took the small pill case from her. It was a plain paper box without any label, but it was the most essential medicine for me right now.

"Also, I won't be able to come for a few days. Just so you know."

"Why?"

"I've come to a solid realization while running the dungeon... Oh, mind if I brew and drink a cup of coffee? It's from what you brought anyway."

"Do as you like. Cups are on the shelf over there, and make sure to wash them."

"Yes, ma'am."

I filled a cup with hot water from the purifier, brewed some coffee, and took a sip that wouldn't scorch my tongue.

"Can I have some too?"

"You couldn't sleep last night, so let's wait until you're a bit older, Heea?"

"Okay..."

I gently stroked Heea's head.

"Anyway, I've gained one solid certainty."

"What certainty?"

"That if things stay like this, I won't be able to clear it no matter how many I beat to death."

Over the past few days, I'd taken down hundreds, maybe thousands of zombies. But the respawn time for monsters hadn't slowed a bit, and their density still filled rooms to the brim.

"If I take them out slowly, it'll never end, so I have to push through all at once. Ha... If only I had a skill or something."

"No skills?"

"Yeah. Something popped up, but it's just an empty window sitting there."

Roa tilted her head.

"It's an exaggeration to say you have none at all... It'll probably generate the most suitable skill for your situation. No need to rush."

"That's a relief, then."

"Still, it might ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be dangerous if you don't fill out some skills right away. Clearing a dungeon isn't easy—"

Heea approached me with teary eyes.

"You can't get hurt because of me... It can't be dangerous..."

"It's fine, it's fine. I'm super strong. Just swing this staff whoosh-whoosh, and the zombies all drop. Promise."

"Really? Liar's a bad person..."

"Really. Anyway, I won't be coming for a few days, so listen to your sister and wait. I'll definitely make you better."

"Okay!"

After bidding them farewell, I headed to the dungeon. The women waiting at the entrance greeted me.

"You're here, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sir!"

"Yeah. Made some money?"

"Honestly... no chance in hell. How the fuck does that bitch expect us to scrape together this much from the dungeon..."

I let out a hollow chuckle and encouraged them.

"Come with me next time. If I talk her into it, she might cut you a deal."

"I trust you, sir, but that bitch's character? I trust her even less. That cunt would offer her pussy to a monster if it spat out cash."

"Her personality's a bit rough, sure, but if I sweet-talk her right, it might work."

I couldn't be certain, but I suspected it. All her actions might not be just for money, but to clear this dungeon. If that was true, the moment I saved Heea, she'd have no reason to shove others into it.

"Anyway, let's work hard today. And sorry, but this'll probably be the last time."

"R-Really?"

"I'll give you enough rations, so hang around nearby for a few days. I'll talk to Roa for you."

"Got it!"

And with that, I entered the dungeon again. A boring, repulsive wall of monsters awaited me.

/////

"Good work, sir!"

At the end of the second underground floor, in the safe zone, the women and I caught our breaths. It wasn't dangerous, but it was exhausting.

"Yeah. Thinking of resting a bit before heading up?"

"Yes!"

"Alright. Take care. I'll push on with the rest."

"Be careful!"

"Yeah, yeah."

Leaving them behind, I descended further. The moment I entered the first room, I couldn't help but grin.

"Whoa, what's this?"

It was huge. A massive monster that would tire out an ordinary person just to look at loomed, making the room feel cramped.

"Goliath, was it?"

Besides it, there were several grotesque, enormous zombies. A large zombie with green tumors bulging from its lumpy, squishy belly. A spider-like zombie with long, thin limbs crawling around. Elites that other survivors would flee from even one of—in swarms.

But I was comfortable.

"This seems manageable."

Killing zombies was no challenge for me. Cleanup was the only hassle. But with no small fry and just these big ones, no need to waste time on confirm kills.

A welcome change for me.

"Grraaaaaah!"

"Yeah, loud voice you got there."

Four or five Goliaths howling like that was ear-piercing enough. But I wasn't scared. I'd heard roars from far larger, stronger beings in my time—this was just a cat purring.

"Ha."

My mana-infused staff plunged into the charging one's torso.

"Groooooh!!!"

Not textbook, but my staff brimmed with mana. No matter how fast it regenerated, it couldn't dislodge what was embedded inside.

I yanked the staff out slightly and slashed another Goliath's leg.

"Nice high ceiling here."

If it were normal height like other rooms, these Goliaths couldn't even run—they'd crawl. Spacious and comfy.

I weaved freely between their legs, slicing them clean one after another.

"Kweeeek!"

"Oh, you too."

The big-bellied zombie with green pus tumors erupting everywhere. No name I knew, but tough-looking.

It spewed green juice from its mouth. I dodged nimbly.

"Groooar!"

From where I'd just stood, a Goliath's leg melted with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a sizzle. A clear sizzle of flesh dissolving in something nasty.

"Huh."

I reprioritized, smashing the pus zombie's head with my staff.

"Ngh!"

Green liquid burst like a fountain from its exploded skull. I dodged, then shattered the long-limbed zombie cluttering my path.

"That should do it..."

Not too dangerous. But that green pus zombie needed watching. My body could handle it, but my clothes? Ruined for good.

"Alright, back to it!"

I charged the remaining intact-legged Goliath. Sliced legs, dodged thrashing, crushed heads one by one.

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠long-legged ones annoyed me, but they couldn't do more than that. I methodically killed them off.

Soon, the door opened.

"If only every room was like this..."

Grinning hopefully, I moved to the next. My expression soured immediately.

"What the hell is this..."

Red-painted zombies I'd seen hundreds of times in this dungeon, lined up endlessly.

"Kreeeek!!"

"Ha, fuck..."

They looked faster and stronger than any before. But still, disgustingly endless numbers.

"Heave-ho."

Holding my staff horizontal, I swept them like cleaning. Getting routine. Even boring.

Griping about how many there were, I cleared silently. They were fast, but cleanup was quick.

Door didn't open. Had to finish processing.

"Now... where'd I put the medicine."

I'd gotten the drug from Roa before coming. My little trick for breakthroughs like this.

"Okay... Hm?"

But the door still didn't open. Even with +10 levels, it didn't register as "100% zombie clearance capable."

"Wait. Duration—"

I hurriedly swung my staff, smashing the zombie corpse pile.

Plenty of potion left, but no wasting it pointlessly.

"Phew..."

About three minutes later, I finished and sighed in relief. Door opened.

"Still, pretty good."

Previously, cleanup took at least 30 minutes. Now, whole room in five-ish. Elite-only rooms like the first on the third floor meant I could speedrun from here.

"Gotta... end it in one go."

Chipping away monsters one by one to "safe" the dungeon was impossible. Dive in, blitz to the boss. Probably the deepest one.

"This... seems doable."

I smiled faintly. Time saved plenty. Day Seohee regained her limbs, Heea her health—not far off.

Staff in hand, I moved to the next room.

To break through the dungeon.