Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: How to Survive in Fusion Punk
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Right now, it was something unimaginable.
In the past, during the era when the city government was pouring everything into expanding residential areas, Area 40 was seen as prime real estate with guaranteed success. All sorts of corporations and construction companies had spared no expense on investments.
That's why the urban planning map was packed with names that sounded downright luxurious: Boutique Street, Entertainment Mega Tower, and so on.
If things had proceeded as planned, Area 40 today would surely have been a haven guaranteeing a prosperous life, a tourist hotspot basking in the spotlight for ages.
If not for the sudden war that erupted between corporations and families.
The clash of those two whales turned everything upside down.
The land that had dreamed of paradise plummeted into hell overnight.
Leaving behind countless monstrosities.
From a historian's perspective, the 33-story building the resistance used as their base was a perfect example of that era's sinister legacy.
In a world line where the war never broke out, it would have been a glittering five-star hotel. But after endless modifications, it had long since been turned into a fortress.
Training rooms, barracks, operations centers, armories—packed in tight like muscles on a frame.
Jin, seeing it all for the first time, let out an awed whistle.
"This is a real army..."
"You thought we were just some kids playing vigilante?"
Albus, leading the way, chuckled softly.
Then he turned back and asked,
"Anyway, do you really have to check it out right now? You're a critical case. You were on death's door just a few days ago."
"I'm curious."
The moment he heard about the reward, Jin had bolted upright in his hospital bed.
The doctor in charge—a woman—had freaked out at the sight of him dragging the wheeled IV stand along, clattering everywhere. She insisted he rest more, but who was she to block a man's path forward?
He'd insisted on having Albus lead the way, following stubbornly behind.
Muscles aching, legs trembling all the way.
"What if you get disappointed?"
"Eh, so what? It's free... no, a bonus. Be grateful they offered."
Jin replied to Albus's half-worried, half-joking words, then suddenly glanced back.
The attending physician, trailing a few steps behind, ducked behind a nearby pillar in a flash.
What the heck? Why's she acting like that?
Jin hadn't done anything particularly charming or rational to warrant it.
Maybe she's just worried? He tilted his head.
He turned forward again and dragged the IV stand along like a stubborn cart.
Following Albus, they took the elevator down. With a ding, the doors opened on Basement Level 4.
A massive garage thick with the scent of gasoline welcomed Jin.
From compact cars to armored personnel carriers, it had it all. Albus raised his voice.
"Ben!"
No response.
"Must be working..."
Albus muttered under his breath and started walking with heavy steps.
A faint music drifted from somewhere as they went.
At the source, a car sat with its hood open. Two legs poked out from underneath. Albus nudged them with his foot.
"Ow, what the hell?"
A grumpy voice. Then, someone lying on a flat cart slid out from under the vehicle.
"Albus?"
The soot-blackened face scowled once before its owner stood up.
Scruffy beard, headset blaring loud enough for everyone to hear. He took it off and spoke.
"What do you want? Can't you see I'm working?"
"This is part of the job too... Turn down the volume first."
Ben made a sour face and killed the music.
"Quit nagging... So, what's the deal?"
"This Solo here dragged his sick ass over to see your stuff."
Albus jerked a thumb over his shoulder. Ben and Jin's eyes met naturally.
A brief silence.
Then, with an "Aah," the hairy guy nodded.
"You're the one, huh? Heard all about you."
"My exploits already...?"
"They say your dick's huge?"
"What?"
Even as Jin flustered, he clasped the thick hand approaching him.
"Nice to meet ya. Got the goods ready anyway. Follow me."
After a vigorous handshake that shook them up and down, Ben strode ahead with heavy thuds.
"......"
"......"
A weird silence hung between Albus and Jin, with the doctor standing off in the distance.
Albus cleared his throat awkwardly.
"You were covered in blood. Clothes were total rags, had to change 'em. Rumors... not my business."
He hurried off.
Jin glanced at the doctor, scratched the back of his head, and moved on.
"Here, this is it."
Ben clapped his hands. In front lay something draped in white cloth.
Jin guessed the contents from the silhouette alone and widened his eyes.
No way, is this...?
"Your buddy said you're a walker? A Solo hoofing it on foot in this day and age. Too honest, ain't ya?"
Ben grinned and whipped off the cloth.
Sure enough, a motorcycle appeared with a flourish.
A matte khaki body with a hefty, futuristic design. But it looked rough rather than sleek, heavily modified.
"Whoa. Wow. Suck in that breath, damn."
Ben watched Jin blurt out exclamations with a smug look.
"Cool, right? Base frame's a Nocturne Industries Ryan XR, but I gutted and rebuilt the rest. Weighs a bit more than stock, but engine output makes up for it—no real difference."
Even without asking, Ben rattled off specs and tech details, clearly excited.
Of course, Jin barely understood most of it.
Injector spray pressure this, variable valve timing that.
This guy's just like old man Brof.
Jin decided to remember Ben as young Brof from now on.
Still, nodding appreciatively at the guy's enthusiasm.
As he mimicked agreement, young Brof suddenly tossed out a question.
"So, what's the name gonna be?"
"Huh?"
"Name. Any ride worth its salt needs a cool one. Can't call this reborn beast a plain Ryan XR, right?"
He stopped and stared expectantly.
Jin furrowed his brow at those eager eyes.
Damn, why make me do this? So embarrassing.
Brainstorming frantically to avoid awkwardness, he finally got his lips moving.
"...Uh, what was the base again? Ryan something?"
"Ryan XR."
"Yeah, Ryan XR. Means lion, right? You added wings and a spiked tail. Upgraded it."
"Mm, sure?"
Confirming Ben's nod, Jin continued.
"A monster lion with huge wings and a barbed tail. How about Manticore?"
He blurted the first thing that came to mind and peeked at the reaction.
"Ooooh! Perfect! Spot on! Monster lion! Manticore!"
Ben burst out laughing, baring his teeth.
"Naming skills on point! Alright, Solo. From today, you're Manticore's owner. Go rip it up!"
Ben flicked something with a ting! Jin snatched it midair and opened his palm.
Car key confirmed, he sighed.
"Earning this reward was a workout."
Now that he had the key.
It would've been nice to kick up dust and ride off into the sunset.
But Jin was still in patient garb, lying on the stiff-backed hospital bed.
In movies, the hero wakes from injury, yanks the IV, throws on a jacket, and bolts.
Unfortunately, Jin's body was too wrecked. He decided to obediently finish the drip.
Every drop costs money. Can't waste it.
How much time passed like that?
Gazing at the steady drip, a face flashed in his mind, making Jin flinch.
Black leather longcoat, tall beak mask.
To him, the Plague Doctor monster.
This time, it had been truly dangerous.
If Fenrir hadn't been there,
if the bomb hadn't gone off in time,
if the barrier hadn't miraculously held.
One variable off, and he'd be dead for sure.
Surviving by lucky coincidences he couldn't control felt fortunate, yet deeply unsettling.
Above all, the Plague Doctor hadn't died.
Not instinct— no EXP gained.
Jin's EXP came only from quest completion rewards. So the bastard survived the blast and lurked somewhere.
His palms grew slick at the thought.
Restless, Jin sat up abruptly.
Leaning against the headboard, he exhaled long—
then cautiously tried to stir his mana.
Or tried to.
If not for the agony of ten thousand needles stabbing inside.
"......!!"
Unable to even scream, Jin collapsed, body shuddering.
Fingers and toes curling in endurance, someone parted the curtain, entered, and injected him.
Soon calmed, Jin rasped toward the woman adjusting the drip.
"Th-thanks..."
"Be careful. Your circuits are shredded. Stir mana recklessly, and you could go into shock."
Spot on.
Even in pain, Jin asked,
"......Said you were a doctor. You're a mage?"
"If this pitiful talent qualifies."
She hesitated, then—like Albus—pulled a chair bedside.
"Grace."
"...Jin."
Out-of-nowhere introductions. As Jin blinked,
Grace, fidgeting fingers, spoke.
"Jin. Do you know your body's condition?"
"My body?"
What, terminal?
Tensing at the doc who'd trailed him all day,
like any anxious patient, he babbled excuses.
"What's wrong? Not that bad, right? My recovery's insane. Even coughing like this now, few days and..."
"Yes. Insane."
Grace cut in, swallowing hard.
"You were definitely dead."
Not terminal— dead?
Jin stared, unsure how to process.
"I'm alive?"
"Yes. Alive. 'Dead' was... sorry, too harsh. Just shocked. Protein denaturation, organs coagulating—then opening eyes again."
"Told you. My recovery's top-tier."
"No, that doesn't explain it. Reconstitution, maybe."
Jin shut his mouth.
The Plague Doctor had said the same.
"Reconstitution?"
"Healing's higher form. Urban legend stuff. In impossible recovery scenarios, body at extreme limit destroys damaged parts and rebuilds. Not just repair—stronger than before."
Grace relaxed, having agonized over sharing.
Hard to tell urban myths to someone who died and woke.
As Jin thought that,
Grace's face hardened again.
"If I'm not wrong, and it's real reconstitution. Jin. You might keep getting stronger every time you survive. Like... evolving."
Evolving.
Jin recalled his trait.
The one playable character starts with. Can't pick multiples like skills, can't swap later.
Core to playstyle.
Irregular
He finally grasped the vague "breaks species limits."
Nietsche's "what doesn't kill me makes me stronger," hitting home like this.
Complex feelings, Jin rubbed his dry face.
Recalled an old game recommend post,
its anonymous author.
And his brother's face, suggesting Street Rat build.
Did they foresee this?
No.
Project Neo was just monitor data to them.
Just a vet helping noobs with safe builds.
Irony: someone reading that got kidnapped to this mad world.
Yeah, that's it.
A story only he knew, unrelatable to anyone.
Chuckling hollowly awhile, Jin muttered.
"Goddamn world."