Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: How to Survive in Fusion Punk
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Jin had three weaknesses.
First was hunger,
second was money.
And last was affection.
If he had to rank them, hunger was off the table for now.
Still, affection edged out money by just a half-step.
So his top two weaknesses were hunger and affection.
And the church had exploited them, seeping in like water through cracks.
Free food (important), plus warm words.
Already, that sense of physical and emotional fullness was something he'd never felt in Downtown.
And with one free meal sorted, he could even save some cash?
That was why Jin kept showing up at a church that didn't suit him at all.
Nepetra? Netflix?
He honestly couldn't care less about a goddess with a confusing name.
He just vaguely noted that she was one of the twelve gods representing the bygone era of Light and Roses—a dazzling old age—and symbolized mercy.
And that made sense.
The doctrine of mercy that the priest spat out with such fervor felt utterly detached from the current state of the world.
No matter how open-minded Jin tried to be, it was hard to buy into, so half of it went in one ear and out the other.
To Jin, the Church of Mercy was just a place for good eats and casual mingling with folks. Nothing more, nothing less—no real faith involved.
So waking up in a dim basement came as a shock.
"...What the hell."
He'd raised his arms in a V for victory, wondering why, only to see them chained at the wrists, pulled up toward the ceiling.
Did the noble goddess of mercy enjoy bondage play?
Sorry, but that's not my thing.
Jin muttered some casual blasphemy as he assessed the situation.
Let's see. He'd hit the church around early evening—
Stuffed himself full as usual, then hid at the back of the prayer hall behind everyone else's backs, drowsing through the boring sermon.
Today, sleep hit harder than usual. Eyes heavy, lids drooping.
Too many fries?
Nah, even the usually fired-up parishioners were nodding off in unison, like they'd all been invited to dreamland.
Sleeping pills in the food?
That was his last thought before blacking out.
Then he woke up here.
"Unbelievable."
Jin let out a hollow chuckle.
Looked like they really did something shady after all.
No other explanation.
And right on cue, like it was agreeing you're right, a neat little window popped up.
(Sudden!) No Such Thing as Free
📍 Objective: Escape the factory.
🎁 Reward: Punk XP 5,000
Jin scowled.
Unwelcome face at an already shitty time, and now this thing was rubbing facts in his face?
He'd started with a death glare at the status window, but soon his eyes softened.
"...Yeah. No such thing as free."
He knew it.
Never was.
He'd just wanted to believe it one time, even if it was a scam.
So betrayal stung less than the emptiness.
Figures it'd end like this.
"What a dogshit world."
Jin muttered, scanning the room.
The homeless guys he'd gotten to know lately dangled like slabs of meat in a butcher shop, while Jeff—decked out in his colorful rags—hung there too.
Head slumped like the rest, dead to the world.
Huh. He got nabbed too. Good.
For a moment, Jin had wondered if Jeff had approached him from the start just to lure him in.
Relief washed over him that his last shred of humanity was safe.
"Hey."
A strange voice brushed his ear—
Jin turned toward it.
"Yeah, over here."
About ten meters diagonally away.
A middle-aged guy shook slightly to signal his presence.
Decent frame, but skin and bones, sweaty rags clinging to him.
Classic homeless look, but Jin didn't recognize him.
From the church?
"Who're you?"
"Me? Your senior."
"...Huh? What're you on about?"
"I got caught before you. Makes me senior."
Huh?
Jin squinted, tilting his head.
He knew cold water had tops and bottoms,
but hierarchy talk after getting nabbed? Like ranking in shit-water.
This guy's nuts too.
Jin chuckled, oddly amused.
"Then quit bragging and explain like a good senior. What's going on here?"
The middle-aged man blinked, then replied.
"Dunno."
"Aren't you the senior?"
"I am. By like... an hour?"
Fuck. Knew it.
Jin sighed deeply.
What'd he expect from a screw-loose type?
Suddenly, it felt unfair.
Normally, in setups like this, there'd be some ragged survivor gasping, terrible things are happening— then croaking.
Convenient, right?
I'll avenge you!
Wait, can't I?
Grumbling inwardly for a bit.
Jin decided to figure it out himself.
"Hey, mister, mister? Senior—?"
"Huh? What."
"You get dragged here after scarfing free chow too?"
"Me? Woke up here from sleep."
Figures I didn't know him.
Kidnapping methods varied.
Jin nodded and asked again.
"Downtown local?"
"...Downtown? That's Area 47, right? I'm from Area 43. Legitown."
Hold up. That's off.
Different district?
Nationwide kidnappers?
As Jin pondered, the man muttered about needing to piss. Bodily functions in this mess. Tension did that.
Jin was about to suggest peeing in bits when—
His senses caught something—
"Shh!"
Sharp hiss as Jin shut his eyes.
Thud.
Footsteps closing in, unnoticed till now.
Presence beyond the sealed iron door. Then a cold scrape of unlocking, chains sliding, rusty hinges creaking open.
Three figures entered.
All in long robes dragging the floor, hoods pulled low—faces hidden.
Outfit straight out of another era.
To Jin's narrowed eyes, they looked like cosplaying medieval monks.
A low voice rose from them.
"How many total?"
"Thirty-two."
"...Thirty-two. Not enough."
"Sorry. Best we could do for now."
One asked, the other two answered in turn.
The apologetic voice sounded familiar.
May our mother's embrace enfold you.
The priest's warm smile flashed in Jin's mind, twitching his brow unwittingly.
The trio drew closer, oblivious.
"Less than ten days till the deal. No room for shortages. Hurry."
"Yes."
The reply came right in his face.
Next instant, Jin's eyes snapped open.
Whoosh!
Insane core strength anchoring into empty air, legs exploding upward to snake around the rearmost monk's neck.
"...!"
Lightning speed.
More like snatching than striking.
Gurk!
Face turning beet red, forced onto tiptoes—
Hands clawing desperately at the thighs choking him, futile resistance.
Snap—
Crunch-crack—
Feeling the breath snap between crossed thighs, Jin released.
Clanking chains made the front two whip around.
"H-how?!"
"...Shadows of fathomless darkness—!"
Our priest panicked,
the senior one started chanting.
No wonder he gets the fancy treatment!
Thinking that, Jin slammed his bound arms down with all his might.
Bang!!
Chains ripping from the ceiling like a stake pulled free.
Focus sharpening, he paid the mana toll to his target spot—sucked into the void—
Next instant, vision shifted, body materializing behind the chanting monk.
Arms already swinging down.
Splat!!
Whip-like chains swept the head.
Not supersonic, but destructive force enough to smash a human skull like tofu.
Stagger... thud!
Monk face-planted.
The bubbling red pool at his feet vanished, concrete returning like a lie.
Jin didn't care what it was.
Quickly unraveling wrist chains with mana,
only our priest left.
Flinching between the corpses front and back.
As his lower face peeked from the hood, lips parting—
Jin kicked his shin.
No need for Blink up close.
"Agh!"
Collapsing, Jin grabbed the hooded head, palm-smashing the face! Crack!
Superhuman force.
Like a divine hammer to a normie.
And sure enough.
Face caved in, blood and yellowed teeth spilling.
"Whoa. Priest, snap out of it."
Jin feigned surprise, palm coming down again.
Crack!
Fight fire with fire.
Priest retched blood, mind evaporating then snapping back.
"...Guh, gehk."
"Awake now?"
"You... yooou..."
"You? Brother, brother. All smiles when calling me that. Don't hurt my feelings."
Jin squatted, matching eye level, yanking the gripped head back.
"Where are we?"
Flat question, no emotion.
Terror filled the priest's eyes.
That same handsome face, always grinning while wolfing food—more frightening unchanged.
"Tch, honorifics stuck to your tongue..."
Tsking alone, Jin switched questions.
"Whatever. Kidnapping folks for a factory—what's the play?"
"F-factory... how..."
Even foggy-brained, doubt lingered—same question hammered in.
"What is this place?"
"...Mu-tants... mutants..."
Fake priest mumbled, slumping. Face pulped from first hit. Miracle he'd lasted.
Jin released, stood.
"......"
Middle-aged man stared in shock, ignored.
Patting his pockets empty-handed, then belt—nothing but air. Nose wrinkled.
"...Shit."
Growling at the status window popping up in his periphery, on cue.
"Quit nagging me to escape. Gotta find Gravis, cash too."
Neck cracking audibly.
"I'm flipping this place. Up the reward. Or fuck off."
A sly glint flickered in Jin's eyes.