Chapter 94
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Zombie Parade
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My poised stance made the thugs hesitate.
"...What the hell? What's with that ridiculous pose?"
Only the boss, who'd been talking to me this whole time, stayed put and spoke up. Underestimating my martial arts skills wouldn't end well for him, no matter what. Killing intent boiled up inside me. I had to kill that bastard no matter what.
"Hold on, boss. Isn't that guy a martial artist?"
"A martial artist?"
"Look at his stance. It sure seems like it."
"Then what's with the sword?"
They started whispering among themselves. They looked pretty rattled. What idiots. It was too late to recognize my true value now. I was a monster who'd mastered Taekwondo up to 3rd dan, and on top of that, I'd learned professional swordsmanship from the guild. I was a killing machine.
A back-alley thug was nothing more than dog chow to slaughter.
There's an old saying: once a man draws his sword, he must cut down at least a blade of grass.
Time to live up to that ancient proverb.
"A martial artist with a sword... No way!"
"No way?"
"He's a Sword Martialist!"
"Sword Martialist!"
Then they started collapsing in shock.
What the hell is this?
Call me a Taekwondo Swordsman, you morons.
"Hmph!"
I swung my sword wide at the fools making asses of themselves. The blade sliced through the air with a ferocious whoosh! Just the sound alone made it seem like it could cleave through a pile of flesh effortlessly.
"Guh!"
The slash made all the thugs except the boss flinch.
As expected of the boss—he had some guts. But that was it. All brawn, no brains, no judgment. That's why he wasted his life as a thug.
To begin with, picking a fight with someone like me proved it.
"Heh, heh heh... So what? You gonna take on all six of us alone? Whatever. Sorry you got pickpocketed by our little kitty here. But we gotta eat too, right? How about we settle this nicely before things get ugly?"
"You're the ones getting ugly. Hey! Kid!"
The black-haired girl was hiding behind the boss. She seemed to firmly believe he'd and his goons would handle me somehow. I called out to her.
"...What?"
"Final warning. Hand over my wallet."
"N-No way! Bros! Kill this jerk quick! He's got 5 silvers—5 silvers in his wallet!"
"What?! 5 silvers?!"
Sigh.
"5 silvers...!"
The mention of 5 silvers made their eyes glaze over. They couldn't resist that kind of temptation. Poor bastards always lost it at the sight of money—no stopping them.
"Heh heh, that's a fortune we can't pass up! Get him, boys!"
"Waaah!"
At the boss's command, all five thugs charged with knives out. Were they stupid or fearless? I couldn't tell. The black-haired girl stood behind them, arms crossed, watching like it was a show.
Detestable little shit.
"You morons really think you can beat me?"
Seizing the chance to run, I bolted in the opposite direction.
Even for me, five at once was risky. Money-crazed slum rats could fight like fanatics sometimes.
I needed to create an opening on my terms.
If I'd worn armor, I could've tanked it with defense and counterattacked. Lacking that, it sucked.
"He's running!"
"Chase him! Guy with 5 silvers—he might have more!"
Me running got them hyped; they cheered as they pursued. Glancing back, the most eager one shoved past the others to take the lead.
"Kekeke!"
This was my chance.
Thwack!
"Idiot!"
I spun without hesitation and thrust at the lone guy. He froze in horror at my sudden pivot, face paling as he tried to stop. Too late. My gleaming blade tip aimed straight for his gut.
"Hngh?!"
Squelch!
With a gruesome death cry as his last words, he was skewered. I yanked the blade out his back, and blood gushed from the hole. It splattered my precious casual clothes—pissed me off.
The thug, who'd hurried 5 minutes to his death and ended up 50 years early, met his end.
"Let's not jaywalk, folks. Obey the traffic laws, humanely."
"Guh... ugh..."
I kicked the fallen body. Now six left, including the girl. Looking around, the chasing thugs had stopped long ago.
Seeing one die instantly killed their will to fight.
They weren't soldiers—just scum who extorted slum folk, too scared of monsters to leave the walls. No way they kept their nerve here.
Take on five alone?
Nah.
Just drop one, and it's over.
"P-Pyton’s dead!"
"..."
The bold chasers cowered and looked to their boss. The black-haired girl looked shocked too. In her little world, these big bros were the strongest, scariest guys around.
Of course, I was dozens of times stronger than these thug bastards.
"Boss!"
"...!"
When had these punks ever faced a real powerhouse? They'd at best killed a couple of starving slum dwellers. No way they could beat me, a hero risen from the true depths of hell.
"You're next!"
Whoosh!
That's what seizing momentum means.
I charged and slashed down at the frontmost one. He twitched to dodge, but once in my range, death was certain.
"Gahk!"
His shoulder split in half; he clutched the stump and collapsed. Blood sprayed.
"U-Uwaaaah!"
Then screams erupted from behind. The thugs panicked at their comrades' deaths and fled. Even the boss realized something was wrong and turned to run. The girl too.
"Run!"
Total rout.
They scattered like hens from a yard, each seeking their own escape.
I tracked only the boss and the girl. The rest didn't matter. Unfortunately, they split directions. Had to pick one.
"I never forgive wallet thieves!"
My real target was the pickpocket bitch. Ignoring the others, I pursued her. She glanced back, terror-struck, stammering a yell.
"W-Why me?!"
"Run faster. Once I catch you, you're dead."
A bit regrettable.
This shitty world forced even kids to steal to survive. A boy could become an adventurer or thug, but girls faced higher barriers.
Extremely, slum girls had only whoring. So pickpocketing—less risky than selling body.
Adventurer or slum rat, everyone bets their life from their spot.
Lose, and it's death.
"Rookie, run faster. The bros you trusted were useless."
"Guh!"
"Shitty world, but gotta live longer. Faster. Keep going."
Just bad target choice. Me, with 5 silvers. Unlike the tiring girl, I was calm. Fresh blood dulled any fatigue.
"Hah...! Hak! Hak!"
She fled desperately. I pursued coolly. The maze-like alleys meant losing focus lost her—and my 5 silvers.
Mental focus! I locked in.
Big earnings lately, but 5 silvers wasn't pocket change. Worth my life.
Chased a good while,
"Gotcha."
Caught the collapsed, exhausted girl.
"Aw, my pretty lil sis."
Grabbed her collar, hoisted her. Hood fell, revealing black hair and face. Cute enough to surprise, but no mercy. Her face twisted in pain.
"Guhk, kuh!"
How to kill this bitch?
5 silvers warranted ripping guts out raw.
"B-Bro!"
"Huh?"
Mid-constructive musing, she shrieked hysterically.
"I-I'll do it, so spare me once? I'll return the money!"
Her nonsense hit like a hammer—head rang.
What the fuck is she saying?!
"You tryna make me a criminal?!"
"I'll be good! Do whatever! Match your hobbies! You'll love it! S-So, let go..."
Any bastard thinking that with a girl like her deserves death. Sellers too. Rage surged; I slapped her repeatedly.
Smack!
Smack!
Smack!
"Fucking whore!"
Crisp slaps burst her lip. Thick palm on soft cheek felt damn good. She screamed—like a girl dying from stepdad's endless abuse.
"Know what to say and not!"
"Kyaa, kyaak! Hurts! Let gooo!"
"Time to die. It'll hurt a bit. Money from the corpse."
"Bro pleeease...!"
Cute girl begging with bloody lip might soften some, but 5 silvers trumped that.
Human life cheaper than copper here. Spare her, survivors spread word—attract scum.
Law punishes harshly.
I pressed blade to her throat. Miserable life ends here.
May you reincarnate a democratic citizen.
"O-Okay! Money! I hid the money!"
"What?"
Hid it?
"Please, bro! I'll return it, just spare me! Can't get it if I die! Right?"
"Hid the money? Where?"
"Promise to spare me first!"
Still clueless, she bargained. Useless.
Break a couple fingers, they spill kindly.
"Bullshit, you dumb bitch. Bargain with me? Tell before I gouge eyes. Depart this shitty world cleanly."
"But..."
"Gouging."
"Kyaaaaak! Stop! Stop!"
Then from her tearful mouth:
"I'll give everything! Spare meee!"
"Everything?"
"I-I saved up! All yours, forgive me!"
...For real?
Paused judgment, asked:
"How much exactly?"
"With yours, about t-ten silvers..."
"Ten silvers!"
Miraculously, anger vanished.
Set her down, dusted her thoroughly. Dust puffed. Terrified she thought beating; my gentleness puzzled her.
"F-Forgiving me?"
"Of course! Hurt bad? Sorry. Okay? No injuries?"
"..."
That fortune? Can't not forgive. No, must reward her sincerity—adult way. Kids stray for money sometimes.
Yeah.
10 silvers worth it.
"Alright, lead on? Lie to me, can't control violent urges!"
"..."
Grinning, I took her hands.
She led resignedly.
Anyone'd think sweet siblings.
Per international law, 10 silvers makes anyone siblings.