If I Survive and Get Back, I'll Propose to Her
Gripping the baseball bat I'd swiped from the convenience store, I charged straight at the monster. Times being what they were, I hadn't paid for it—no spare cash for that—but surely they'd understand. Keeping my running speed, I threw my full weight into swinging the bat with everything I had.
The monster was too fixated on the man sprawled on the ground to react, not even flinching as the bat smashed into its head. Thwack—a heavy thud echoed out.
And that was that. Only then did the monster react to the pain, whipping its head toward me.
"Uh… hey?"
"—GRRAAAAAHHH!!!"
"Gah!!"
Those vicious teeth, looking ready to shred human bone and flesh to bits, lunged at my head like they meant to chomp it clean off. I rolled across the ground in a flash, dodging the attack.
I hadn't charged in blindly. I had superior physical abilities compared to most, some confidence in handling my body, and real combat experience honed against villains. Plus, with my overwhelming regenerative powers, I figured I could just buy time until a hero showed up.
But facing it head-on, I got it bone-deep: even a pathetic monster I could kill in one hit transformed was beyond what a bare human body could handle. One solid blow, and I'd be dead instantly.
The monster switched targets to me, ignoring the man and barreling forward in a frenzy. I yelled at the fallen guy to run, then bolted at full speed to lure it away.
Luckily, the thing's movement speed matched a person's sprint. With my enhanced physique, I could keep ahead without getting caught.
Should I lead it all the way to where Marie was? As I pondered, I spotted another monster attacking people up ahead.
I deliberately slowed until the one chasing me closed in dangerously, then slid low through the legs of the monster in front of me.
The pursuing monster couldn't stop its momentum and slammed right into the one ahead, chomping down.
"SKREEEEEE!!"
The bitten monster twisted around and started brawling with its attacker. I hadn't been positive it'd work out this smoothly, but hey—I'd succeeded in turning them on each other.
With my current strength, killing a monster outright was impossible. But dragging things out like this? Totally doable.
Seo Chaerim had filled me in on most monsters' abilities and habits. The ones swarming the busy streets were mostly small fry. No major screw-ups, and I could survive this.
"Th-thank you for the help…"
"I'll lure them away—run while you can!"
"Y-yeah!"
Saving everyone solo was a pipe dream. Too many monsters had popped up out of nowhere, and people were dying to them in real time. But I had to do what I could in my reach.
I dashed out and swung the bat at another monster preying on people. It turned to glare at me, and I bolted without looking back. Same trick as before—pitting them against each other—then on to the next.
Some had higher intelligence, but they were all in a hyper-agitated state for some reason, making them easier to bait than expected.
"What are you, some kinda pro? That's impressive."
A muscled guy who'd been desperately fending off a monster until just now approached, full of admiration.
"I lured 'em for you—why aren't you running?"
"I'll help out. Easier with two, right?"
What a hero. Stepping up like this in a crisis.
He looked plenty tough, like he worked out, but against monsters? No contest.
"Don't wanna die? Then scram. You'll actually get killed."
"I know. I won't push it. My life's precious too."
His tense face split into a bold grin—real manly stuff. The world was full of scum scheming to stab backs, but when shit hit the fan, guys like this stepped up to save folks.
"Don't die on me. Would suck if the guy I saved kicked it."
"If I make it back alive, I'm proposing to her…"
"Cut the ominous crap."
"Kidding. I'm single!"
The guy grabbed a steel pipe from somewhere, clutched it two-handed, and charged a monster, luring it just like I had—smoothly.
Whoa, this dude's fast. Almost as quick as me. Athlete maybe? Great reflexes and instincts too—no need to worry much about him.
With two of us, things got way less hectic. We could even support the injured, hauling them away from the monsters.
Plenty had already died, but we'd saved a good number too. The infighting had thinned the monster ranks a bunch.
But now came the real problem. Even hyped up, survivors had brains—the trick stopped working. And "survivors" meant the strong ones; battle scars or not, they weren't pushovers.
The monsters charged us both.
"This is bad, huh?"
"What're you waiting for? Run!"
One at a time, we'd managed clever lures. But a pack gunning for us? Only option was haul ass.
Nonstop sprinting had my lungs burning, heart ready to burst. But stopping even a second meant getting torn apart, so I squeezed every last drop of stamina in a desperate flight.
In the chaos, I glanced at the guy running beside me. He was at his limit too—face flushed beet red.
This wouldn't cut it. We were a tad faster, so no catching us, but stamina was capping out. We'd lured long enough for bystanders to mostly evacuate.
Mission accomplished. I led him into a building. We bolted up the stairs; the monsters piled up at the narrow entrance, tangling uselessly and losing us.
We climbed higher just in case, then collapsed, gasping and wiping sweat.
"Huff… huff…"
"Holy shit… Thought we were goners."
"Told ya. Actual death."
"We lived—good enough!"
His jokes earlier, that unshakable smile even now—this guy had guts of steel. Kinda curious what he did for a living.
"Anyway, what's with this mess? Monsters hitting in broad daylight? And they're all berserk like their tails are on fire."
"Yeah. Even lone types grouping up—smells fishy."
"Whoa, you know your monsters? No fear charging 'em—you some expert?"
Shit. That line sounded way too informed for a civilian. Gotta cover.
"Just stuff from the internet. What about you? Not your average joe."
I hadn't checked, but a quick search might turn up something. If not, whatever. He wouldn't nitpick.
More curious about him.
"Me? Just an association desk jockey."
"Wait—you're a hero?"
"Nah. Wanted to be, but no awakening, so office work it is."
"Those muscles… for desk work?"
"Muscles disqualify you from desks?"
"Nah, but it doesn't fit."
"Brat's got no filter for a stranger. And not 'ajusshi'—hyung."
"How old?"
"Thirty-three."
"Damn. Total ajusshi."
"Not married—still hyung."
Guy probably turns ajusshi post-army. Did this world have mandatory service for men? I'd been discharged already, so ignored it. Might check later. If my body's still pre enlistment and a draft notice hits… I'd ditch my identity and go full villain. Funny way to turn crook—hating the draft. Hwang Yerang and Seo Chaerim would roast me forever.
Stamina recovered enough to stand and peer out the window. A few still loitered at the entrance, but the rest had given up chasing, heading elsewhere. Locals had evacuated; heroes would arrive before more kills.
"Phew. Hunker down now? Gonna brag to the buddies if I get home."
"Quit planting those anxiety flags…"
…Monster.
Eye contact. That tall, eerie thing—like darkness sculpted into human shape from before—was suddenly in our room.
Its belly riiiipped open, revealing jagged teeth. It rattled toward hyung beside me in a blink.
Fast. No time to think—instinct hurled me at him, shoving with all my might before he noticed.
"Huh? What the—"
Crunch.
"AAAAAARGH!!!"
The monster's teeth crunched my torso. Ribs shattered, flesh tore free. Agony threatened to black me out.
Damn it. That's why I said no weird flags.