Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Berserker at Rum Pump Pump
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"...Customer? Customer?"
Jin blinked awake as someone tapped his shoulder.
He swallowed dryly and looked around.
Where the hell was this?
Anyway, the car was parked. Natasha was staring at him. And everything around was pitch black.
Then came her voice.
"Sleep well?"
Jin flinched.
It had been ages since he'd heard that line from someone else.
He hurriedly wiped his chin and asked,
"How long was I out?"
"Who knows? Until we hit the destination?"
"Ah."
Only then did he recognize the dim scenery outside the window.
In what he'd thought was just darkness, he spotted chaotic neon lights and suffocating rows of chicken-coop buildings.
"...Junk Plaza."
"We hit Anecdote and kept going, and here we are. Figured a cargo truck like this couldn't squeeze into the main area, so I parked out here."
"Man. You didn't have to go this far."
Jin scratched the back of his head sheepishly, having received full-service treatment against his will.
"By the way, your sleep-talking was kinda cute."
Natasha's murmur hit him like a sucker punch out of nowhere.
...Sleep-talking?!
His face flushed with the embarrassment of a kid caught peeing in public.
"W-what'd I say?"
"Secret."
"Come on. If you're gonna say that, why mention it?"
He hadn't expected to be stonewalled like that.
For a moment, he stammered, at a loss for words.
Then, with a soft sigh, he shook off the last of his drowsiness and rummaged through the money bag.
He grabbed a thick wad of bills and plopped it on the dashboard.
"Thanks for the ride. This is for gas."
"No thanks. Keep it."
"Aw, come on—take it."
"I said no."
A brief tussle ensued.
Of course, Jin won.
No one beats Korean stubbornness like that.
Who hasn't whipped out cash or a card like a magic trick at the end of a good drinking session?
Nah, it's cool. I got this. No, really—I said I got it.
Check, please!
Sure, this was a bit different.
But in the end, it was the same sentiment—wanting to end on a good note.
Anyway, after forcing about 300,000 credits on Natasha, Jin flashed a relieved smile.
He ignored any grumbling about how he'd end up short of the full 9 million that way.
If you didn't want it, you shouldn't have given me the ride.
Strange logic, but at that point, she had no choice but to let it go.
"...You're unbelievable."
Natasha let out a hollow laugh.
Jin massaged his stiff neck and glanced back at her.
"Since you're here anyway, wanna show your face?"
"Where? Anecdote?"
"Yeah."
"Pass."
Against his expectations, she shook her head.
"Planning to freelance for a while. Got a few named requests on the Solo intranet already. Plus, I still have unfinished business with that guy back there."
She jerked her thumb toward the cargo bed. Jin naturally realized this was goodbye.
Of course, there was one ritual left first.
"Number."
"Hm?"
Natasha reflexively took the old-model terminal Jin thrust toward her chest.
"This thing's ancient."
She said that, but tapped away at it just fine.
Though for just entering a number... it was taking a while...?
As Jin tilted his head at the unexpectedly long wait,
"Here."
Natasha handed the terminal back.
He glanced at the screen.
Her full name was there.
[Natasha Vermouth]
"Ooh. Pretty name."
"Suits its owner."
"...?"
Jin looked up.
His gray eyes reflected a golden-haired, blue-eyed woman with a faint smile.
"See you at Anecdote next time. It's a bar too, right? Martini on me then."
Jin blinked.
Then nodded.
"Sure. But I don't drink, so cola for me. Anyway, drive safe. I'm off."
He gave a casual wave, popped open the passenger door, and stepped out.
The door slammed shut.
The man in the flight jacket melted into the street's darkness without a backward glance—
Vrrr. Natasha rolled down the window to watch him go, murmuring in confusion.
"...Did she just turn me down?"
Martini.
A cocktail mixing gin and vermouth 6:1.
Anyone who knows, knows.
The classy version of "Wanna see my cat?"
Of course, Jin had no clue.
He just hated booze because it left him starving the next day.
His vague reply left Natasha all mixed up.
Maybe that's why.
It was quite a while later before the cargo truck's engine roared to life in the darkness.
Surprisingly, Jin skipped Anecdote.
It was too late for chit-chat.
...Excuses. He was just dead tired.
How exhausted must he have been to pass out cold in front of someone else?
He yawned every ten steps, collapsed into his motel bed, and slept not just half a day but even longer before finally stirring.
Grrrrowl!
Even then, hunger woke him.
Hold up. Shit.
Still half-asleep, he clutched his protesting stomach and bolted out of the motel toward the nearest street vendor.
"The usual!"
A first-timer yelling that might throw anyone off, but the Downtown vet vendor wordlessly thrust out pre-made chicken skewers without batting an eye.
And magic happened.
Skewer in, gone. Another in, gone.
What black hole was this?
"Starved for ten days or what?"
Jin nodded, cheeks bulging as he chomped.
"Feels like it."
His freakish body didn't run on dirt.
Nutrition was essential for growth, and a body dreaming of eternal evolution couldn't be called fuel-efficient, even as a compliment.
And it sure skimped on the lower half.
Anyway, after inhaling twenty 30cm skewers on the spot, the vendor reaped the benefits of Jin's voracious appetite.
Passersby gathered: "What's that guy eating so tasty? Gimme one too." Soon the place was mobbed, lines forming.
...What? Why so many people?
The only one oblivious paid up quick and slipped away.
"Whew. Good eats."
They say a full belly breeds a sound mind.
With clearer eyes, Jin strode to Anecdote.
Grabbed the Manticore, loaded the money bag in the trunk—pure relief.
Too bad he missed chatting with Kalifa and Poh.
The boss was out for some reason, and the lone bartender was briefing a male Solo on a job, so Jin quietly left a message and bounced.
[Took the bike]
He fired it up.
No hesitation.
Destination set.
Vroooom!!
Racing the Manticore down the road, he arrived at North Downtown.
"...Already bolted."
Staring at the gutted ex-church, Jin scowled.
He'd planned to smash whatever was left, but they'd smelled trouble and fled with the sign long ago.
"Figures from those shady bastards."
As he clicked his tongue in frustration,
"...Big Dick? That you?"
A cautious voice from behind.
Jin whipped around and spotted Jeff shuffling closer. He roared without thinking.
"You asshole! Where the hell you been?!"
"Whoa, scared me. Why yell?"
"'Cause...!"
Honestly, Jeff hadn't done anything wrong.
But Jin was irritated anyway.
"You have no idea what I went through."
"Nah, I don't."
"...Fair."
Quick agreement. Jin felt deflated and continued.
"So nothing comes back?"
Jeff stammered in response.
Basically this:
Huge memory gap. Fell asleep praying, next thing—woke up collapsed in an undeveloped landfill on Downtown's edge. Nothing in between.
Other homeless who woke around then were the same. Panicking, groping for cheap implants replacing their guts while asleep?
"Others freaked and scattered... I came here 'cause you were gone, just in case. Been two days."
Jeff finished mumbling and flipped the question.
"Where you been? What's with the church? Where's the priest and deacons?"
So Jin explained.
The church's true face—luring homeless with free food.
The ugly truth.
"...No shit? For real?"
"Yup."
"So that super-strong guy dumped us back in Downtown."
"Probably."
"Why didn't he bring you?"
"Right?"
Jin shrugged.
Why Rokhan left him? Still a mystery. But the guy didn't seem to have any grand plan.
What motive would a lunatic who went along for fun need?
Anyway, glad you're safe.
No more free food traps.
Wait, you followed me into this mess.
Hilarious—you ate the most.
Such warm banter followed. Finally, Jin shook his head with an "Ehh, whatever," revved the bike, and peeled out.
Jeff paused mid-rant about the guy's attitude.
Somehow, bills were in his hand. His eyes widened.
"What the—?"
Too small in the distance now for thanks, Jeff wiped his nose watching his homeless bro go.
A few days passed.
Jin stuck to what he did best.
Eat, sleep, fight.
Kalifa's two-week wait still had time left.
Wandering would just stir trouble, so he lounged in bed most days—only moving for meals or the john.
Luckily, the status window stayed quiet.
No random pop-ups flipping his world. This was real rest.
Jin savored true mind-body abundance after ages.
Blissfully thoughtless.
One of the rare nights he could sleep without blasting music.
And so, today.
Woke late afternoon, lukewarm shower, back to bed rolling around a bit.
Stomach growled. He got up, left the room, footsteps leading to Rum Pump Pump.
Wednesday, 7 PM. Second floor, right corner seat.
Where battered speakers crooned old tunes.
He arrived early out of guilt.
The siblings always waited first.
Not to mention bolting mid-meal lately. And that unintended no-show last week.
So today, he'd treat—table piled high already.
About 20 minutes till meet time.
Jin crossed his arms, tuning into the lyrics brushing his ear.
Or trying to.
Bang!!
If not for the gunshot shattering his eardrums.
"...Huh?"
A sound that should never echo in Rum Pump Pump.
Jin snorted in disbelief and looked straight ahead.
A man's back.
Arm extended diagonally, gun barrel at the end spewing smoke.
Follow his gaze.
A corpse. Temple pierced.
Blood sprayed like fireworks, splattering the window.
Then screams erupted.
"Kyaaak!"
Bang!
A hole punched through the screaming woman's forehead.
Her rigid body toppled.
The shooter finished his burst and suddenly threw his arms up.
"A’hhhhhh!!!!!"
A deafening roar. Intense heat condensed into his body—
In that slowed breath, Jin drew Gravis.
Bang—!!
Thunderous gunshot toward the man's head.
That instant,
(Precursor!)(Sudden!) Contagious Will
📍 Objective: Subdue/kill the Berserker.
🎁 Reward: Perk XP 3,000
The status window floated up.
Simultaneously, massive flames engulfed the entire second floor of Rum Pump Pump.