Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: How to Survive in Fusion Punk
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Shadowy figures had begun slinking around the burning transport ship.
Ragged clothing. But they were armed.
Scavengers.
Parasites dwelling on the city's outskirts, in what was known as the Outlands.
A massive clan that had carved out territory in the uncultivated wilds, developing their own culture far from civilized zones.
Weak sense of camaraderie.
They shared a name, but outside their own turf, they neither banded together nor clashed much.
In short, each zone had wildly different tendencies.
For example, the scavengers near Downtown generally avoided entering the city, so they often paired off into crime duos.
That was exactly what had happened when Jin got ambushed in his motel.
Here, though.
Zone 41's scavengers were a different story.
They were far more insular.
Isolated by choice, you might say. They rarely set foot in the city.
Aside from their shoddy self-sufficiency,
their main source of food was robbery.
They'd loiter around highway rest stops day by day, preying on easy marks—vehicles or drivers.
And today, they'd hit the jackpot.
Or rather, a burning plane had crashed right in their territory—public land, technically.
Depending on the model, you could usually strip the hull and sell it for good money.
So the nearest ones had swarmed in one by one—
leading to the current scene.
The greenhorns were busy putting out the fire,
while the veterans smacked their lips over what used to be their brothers—now just chunks of meat.
"...Fucking idiots. How do you screw up so bad you let sky-fallen trash wipe you all out?"
A irritated mutter.
Followed by grunts of agreement.
In the midst of it, someone tilted their head and crouched down.
"But why's this guy's face the only one smashed like that? Looks like he got hit different from the rest."
"For real. What the hell?"
As more scavengers crowded around the Gravis-ravaged corpse to poke at it,
someone pointed out a long blood trail on the ground.
"What do we do? Chase it? Looks like just one guy."
"If he's gone, we're out of luck, right? And check the blood. He's probably toast already. Worth it?"
"Still, he killed our boys and bolted. Gotta check."
"Eh, too iffy. He's probably dead by now anyway."
In the deadlock, one scratched his head furiously before snapping his fingers.
"Send the kids."
Cue more grunts of agreement.
Somehow, not a single one mentioned, "What about the guys busting their asses on the fire?"
That was why the young ones suffered across all ages and eras.
As if it were the most natural thing, the loudest-throated scavenger whipped his head toward the transport.
"Hey, you!! Get over—"
And his words cut off.
"...Huh?"
"What's up?"
The rest followed his dumbstruck gaze, turning one by one.
What they saw was
shredded bodies, pooling blood, steaming guts.
A chaotic mess of flesh and bone that had once been human.
The red glow before them now—sunset? Flames? Or blood?
No one spared a glance for the silent craft hovering in the air.
Their eyes were fixed only on the man striding over the remains of their dead brothers.
He looked their way.
In that instant, every scavenger felt the same chill.
Their guts churned.
As if craving freedom.
As if ready to rip through skin and burst free.
And that's exactly what happened.
Pffft!
Skins burst, blood sprayed.
An unbelievable silence descended.
At its center, the man stared into the void and spoke.
"Looks like he already ran."
Not a mutter to himself.
The next moment, a light blinked in his neural port, and a voice chimed in.
If Jin had heard it, he'd have yelled, "Wait, that voice?! It's that half-corpse bastard!"—
But the man just replied casually.
"Chase him?"
"Why?"
"Don't think Killgit's gonna let it slide."
"Killgit?"
The man furrowed his brow.
The bizarre tattoo-pattern covering his forehead crumpled with it.
"Hard to picture."
"Found it? That pure flame crap? What a joke."
Click.
Comms cut.
"......"
The man stood motionless for a while, then reached into his pocket.
Pulled out a long foil packet, peeled it, and popped the contents in his mouth.
Chew chew.
Pffft—
Too calm for a guy who'd just massacred over a dozen. He turned his head somewhere.
His gaze traced the straight blood trail.
Scuff marks suggesting a limping escape.
Finally, pop! The gum burst.
The man leisurely headed back to his transport.
Control variables this, personal ability that.
Whatever.
Was Kalifa a goddess?
Jin was in awe.
How the hell did she know to come here?
Is this what makes a linker?
So many questions, but his mind was already sinking.
He collapsed, head drooping. Last thing he remembered: a pale hand supporting him?
He learned the full story three days later—
Kalifa had made it in time thanks to Eric.
Three alerts to Anecdote:
When he realized no crew aboard.
When he spotted the berserk-infected merc.
When Killgit showed.
Not wordy messages,
but nav data pinpointing his beacon. Kalifa decoded it and was en route before the second ping.
"Of course, without you, it'd have been pointless."
Kalifa eyed Jin in his hospital bed.
"How'd you even think to drag Eric along in that state?"
Normally, Jin would've gushed about the next Solo King's grace or whatever. Instead, he just weakly raised a thumb.
Too much pain to speak.
Breathing hurt. Cheating, right?
Maybe from the misery, his eyes welled up.
Kalifa looked awkward. Then a middle-aged woman approaching snorted.
"Exactly. Who told you to push till you looked like that?"
She checked the vitals monitor and muttered.
"HR normal, NIBP and ABP a bit high but fine, SpO2 good, RR fast but... whatever."
Kalifa spoke to her focused profile.
"He's good?"
"Yeah. Can't comprehend it, though."
She spun away with a mutter of, "What kind of freak body is this?"
Jin watched her go.
Doctors allowed to be like that?
"She's prickly, huh? Mama's always gruff."
Kalifa nodded knowingly and kept talking smoothly.
"Eric's recovering elsewhere. His usual doc's handling it. Not sure you can call her that... Oh, Eanna's back at her family. Probably overdue. She seemed rushed."
Kalifa met Jin's eyes.
"Says she'll visit soon. Some promise?"
Up came the thumb silently.
"Curious. What is it?"
Nothing secret, but Jin couldn't speak.
Thumb drooped weakly. Kalifa watched, then spoke softly.
"Not great for talking now. Come to Anecdote when you're better. We'll chat then. Rest up."
She stood, asked Mama to look after him, and left.
"That girl's dropping hints and dipping. Figures."
Mama huffed at Kalifa's retreating heels. Jin finally closed his weary eyes.
Ten days.
Time for Jin to rise from bed.
Miraculous recovery to outsiders,
but he scratched his head: Why so long?
Still hurt!
Bearable enough to move, though. Mana circuits just past rag status.
Shouldn't he stay and heal more?
No way! Absolutely not!
Jin steeled himself.
"I'm checking out!"
"Says who!"
Mama chased his rogue ass out.
"When'd he yank the IV?!"
Not one to get caught easy. Superhuman even in pain. He fled down stairs like wind, yelling back.
"Can't take the hunger anymore!!!"
Whipped head around—familiar face?
"Gah!"
Hard brake. Jin to Eanna:
"Why're you here?"
"...Heard you were."
"Huh?"
Flustered but figuring Kalifa tipped her, Jin added,
"Eaten?"
"No."
"Perfect. Follow."
Straight to Rum Pump Pump with Eanna in tow.
Second floor still under repair, so corner table on first.
Post-chaos, place was dead.
Jin ordered freely.
Mountain high.
"...All that?"
"Might not cut it."
Jin split a hot dog wide,
stuffed fries tight,
chomped huge.
Whoa! Salty, sweet, sour(?). Total chaos in his mouth!
That's Rum Pump Pump!
Weird thrill hit. Jin demolished it fast. Eanna hesitated, then reached.
Tried pizza, quietly grabbed water.
"...Spicy."
"Spicy? Usually salty. Huh."
"......"
Next, her eyes locked on Jin stacking five pizza slices.
Pupils widened with... expectation? Bafflement?
Whatever, Jin delivered.
Mad bite.
Brow furrowed slightly.
Damn, spicy for real.
Still, no spit—chewed bulging cheeks. Eanna watched silently, then spoke.
"Your favorite spot?"
Jin cocked his head.
"...Favorite?"
Uh. Well. Kinda...
Words tangled.
Why so hard?
Scratched cheek idly.
Truth was, Jin knew.
Rum Pump Pump sucked.
But he remembered.
Clutching weird bill found on ground, sneaking that door.
Diligent mech arm didn't scold the smell or kick.
Suddenly, warm waffle in hand.
Jin's gaze drifted to stairs.
Fear of theft, bolted up to second floor, window seat by old speaker crooning. Munched waffle.
Taste? Forgotten.
Just teary, desperate chomps—the first meal he ate carefree in this world.
Forget that moment? Doubt it.
"...Yeah."
Eyes off stairs, Jin nodded slowly to Eanna.
"Favorite place."
"Got it."
Short reply. She reached, picked at foods.
No complaints, no fuss.
Meal dragged on.
No real talk.
Just clinking plates.
Time passed. Food gone.
They left.
Under thick night sky, Eanna spoke.
"Walter was like you."
"......"
"Seemed fine, laughing—then gone. Found him trembling in a corner. Asked why, he'd always say the same: Don't ask, just say it's okay."
Jin flashed to transport panic. Her words matched.
Awkward sniffle—
"Gonna go. Oh, this."
Eanna shoved something in his hand.
Palm opened: fancy glass vial.
Shimmering liquid inside. Jin:
"What's this?"
"Gift."
"Huh. Just drink?"
"Yeah."
She turned away. Backpedaled, facing him: one step, two, three.
Then spun. Faint voice trailed.
"It'll be okay. You, me."
Like that.
Jin watched her fade into dark. When gone, slow steps.
Unmanned motel, tossed grimy body on bed. Sleep wouldn't come tonight.
Stared ceiling forever. Abruptly, pop! vial lid, gulped contents—
Soon, eyelids softly closed his world.
*
Body felt weirdly refreshed.
Gasp! Jin bolted up.
Strange feeling.
Forgotten sensation.
Familiar yet alien.
What is this?!
Slowly looked down.
Wait—why three legs?