Chapter 10

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 10

Chapter Title: Predator's Qualification

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The numbers on my smartphone screen changed, announcing midnight.

Day 7.

According to info from the internet and communities, the second summoning happened exactly every seven days after the first.

I sank deep into my chair, tapping my toes.

It wasn't anxiety.

Quite the opposite.

'About time.'

The past week.

I'd practically lived in front of my monitor, except for eating and sleeping.

Hundreds of simulations had etched a perfectly mapped route into my brain.

Now it was time to prove theory in the real world.

Of course, it wasn't flawless yet.

30 random matches. Mixed in with other races and killers. And all those wild variables.

No way to account for every possibility in just a week.

But.

'The key is how quickly I can recruit solid party members... right?'

The damp smell of earth stabbed into my lungs.

Thick fog obscuring my view, and the eerie silhouettes of tombstones.

I dropped into a low stance the moment I opened my eyes.

The cool leather of Specter Leather Armor—my tutorial clear reward—hugged my body instead of my regular clothes.

'30 random spawns.'

The area around me was dead silent.

I didn't care where the other players had dropped or if they were screaming in terror.

Right now, only one thing mattered.

Snag the hidden piece before anyone else.

Kuduk.

I kicked off the ground, cratering the dirt.

Unique-grade power and Rare-grade agility exploded in tandem.

−Tszzt!

My body ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shot forward like a bullet.

The speed of charging through the fog far exceeded human limits.

It wasn't the wind slapping my face—I was the one ripping through the wind.

Clatter.

A clashing of bones echoed from the fog.

A single skeleton soldier with a rusty sword staggered into my path, blocking clumsily.

"Move."

It didn't dodge.

I didn't slow down, slamming my shoulder straight into it.

Kwajajak!

A dull explosion rang out as the skull shattered, bones scattering into the air.

I burst through the flying shards, vaulting over tombstones.

3 minutes.

That was all it took to reach the central mausoleum—10 seconds faster than I'd estimated.

A white stone building glowed faintly through the fog.

'No one's here.'

Of course.

By now, the others were probably lost in the fog or risking their lives against a single skeleton.

I leaped inside without hesitation.

A dusty altar held a stately angel statue.

I smashed my fist down without a second thought.

Karduk!

The statue exploded, shards flying everywhere.

From the debris rolled a glassy vial emitting a crystalline glow.

The stage's one-and-only panacea item.

"Secured."

I smirked and tucked the potion bottle into my worn bag.

'Whew. Got my life insurance. Now to hunt some prey.'

The moment I turned to leave.

"Kyaaak−! Let go! Let me go!"

A sharp scream pierced from outside the mausoleum, nearby in the graveyard.

Not a monster's death cry.

A human voice laced with clear refusal and terror.

'A woman?'

My feet halted.

The tone sounded vaguely familiar, but maybe not.

What mattered was someone under attack.

'Monster? Or human?'

I silenced my footsteps.

Curiosity and the scent of opportunity flashed through my mind.

Specter Leather Armor's stealth only worked while still—useless on the move.

I slipped behind a tombstone's shadow and crept stealthily toward the sound.

A fog-cleared cliff edge.

Two shadows were tangled there.

"Haa, haa…."

The woman was backed to the precipice.

No proper gear at all, barely draped in the tattered, hole-ridden rags from the tutorial.

A burly man loomed before her.

"Heh heh, miss. Rough tutorial, huh? Your outfit's a masterpiece."

The man smacked his lips, eyes gleaming lecherously.

A club-like bludgeon dangled from his hand.

"D-don't do this…! Why to another person…!"

The woman pleaded, but the man ignored her completely.

As if her begging fueled his excitement, he lunged roughly.

Rip−!

"Kyak!"

His grip tore the ragged cloth effortlessly.

Her already precarious top slid down past her shoulders.

In the chilly graveyard fog, her pale skin lay starkly exposed.

"……."

From my hiding spot, I narrowed my eyes.

Not just the skin.

Through the rip: unrealistically voluptuous curves, a cinched waistline.

And that young face trembling in fear.

'Park Yumin?'

Definite.

The college girl from the tutorial.

Overwhelmed by shame and terror, she clutched her chest with both arms, crawling backward on the ground.

A cold tombstone blocked her back.

No more room to retreat.

"Aw, playing coy. No laws here–let's have fun. Big bro'll carry you out after?"

The man grinned greedily and seized her ankle.

I ran the calculations briefly.

Save her or not.

Honestly, dead weight combat-wise.

But.

'Sniper.'

This stage had a probable hidden heterorace sniper lurking.

Solo? I'd be the sole target. 100% focused fire.

But in a four-man party?

My odds drop to 25%.

Plus, Yumin was already cowed by me from the tutorial.

No backstab risk. Perfect safe meat shield and pack mule.

She'd even hand over her items if asked.

'And above all.'

Take out that guy, rescue her? Boosts my rep.

Later, when recruiting talent, she'll be my vouching megaphone.

Calculations done.

Intervene.

'Someone… please, anyone….'

Park Yumin squeezed her eyes shut in despair.

That instant.

"Wrong time and place, don't you think?"

A cool voice sliced the fog.

"……!"

The man flinched and froze.

Yumin opened her teary eyes and looked up.

Atop a tombstone, backlight casting his face in shadow, a man gazed down at them.

Unfamiliar armor, but that silhouette and overwhelming aura were burned deep into her memory.

"Y-Yujin oppa…?"

An exclamation burst from Park Yumin's lips.

The sole savior who'd guided her through tutorial hell.

Han Yujin.

"Tch. You."

The man clicked his tongue and backed off from Yumin.

He thought fast.

That guy's eyes weren't ordinary.

High-end weapon at his waist, top-tier armor at a glance.

And she knew him.

The man's face twisted into a sycophantic grin in an instant.

He launched into shameless theater.

"Oh, you two know each other? Don't misunderstand. I wasn't assaulting her…."

He raised both hands innocently, as if wronged.

"She came onto me first! Offered her body for help, started stripping. I refused, and she screams. Total gold digger!"

"Wh-what…?"

Yumin was dumbfounded, speechless.

Clutching her torn clothes, she screamed desperately.

"L-lie! He forced himself on me…!"

"This girl's lying to the end! Bro, it's true! I'm the victim!"

The man approached Yujin with an aggrieved look.

Flashing a friendly smile, he reached out as if to clap his shoulder.

"Men can tell at a glance. Girls like her everywhere these days, stripping guys for cash…."

Academy Award acting.

But it couldn't fool Yujin.

Not the subtle tension in the man's right arm behind his back.

Nor the sharp knife gripped there.

'Predictable.'

He could end him in a heartbeat.

But Yujin waited.

Yumin was watching.

Kill without question here, and she might see him as just another killer.

But if the guy struck first?

Yujin becomes the hero who righteously defended his ally.

And Yumin would open her heart completely, offering blind loyalty.

"Oh? A misunderstanding, then."

Han Yujin feigned gullibility, dropping his arms to show an opening.

'Hooked.'

Killing intent flashed in the man's eyes.

'Stupid bastard. Dropping guard this close?'

"Die!"

He whipped out the hidden knife, thrusting at Yujin's gut.

"No!"

Yumin's belated scream.

But just before the blade touched armor.

Yujin's lips curled in a wicked smirk.

"Slow."

−Peureok!

Faster than the knife.

A lightning knee strike nailed the man's chin.

"Grrk!"

His body launched into the air.

Teeth shattered, jawbone crushed.

Yujin snatched his collar midair and pile-drove him ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠into the dirt.

Kuwoong−!

"Khek…."

Dust billowed.

The man couldn't even scream, foaming at the mouth as his eyes rolled back.

One blow.

Overwhelming power gap.

Silence fell.

I glanced at the fallen trash like garbage, then approached Park Yumin, trembling and clutching her rags.

"You okay?"

"Hic… sob… Oppa…."

Yumin's legs gave out in relief, and she collapsed.

In her eyes, I was no longer frightening.

The absolute protector in this hellhole, the only one who'd shield her.

Her moist, quivering pupils held only my clear image.

'Good. She's hooked.'

I pulled the old leather armor set from early tutorial out of my bag and tossed it to her.

Junk just taking inventory space anyway.

Plop.

"Cover up quick. Don't know where to look."

"Thank you… really, thank you…."

She clutched the leather, sniffling.

It'd feel warmer and more precious than any designer coat.

Just as planned.

Obedient pack mule and human shield: secured.

I extended a hand to her on the ground.

"Get up. No time to sit."

Yumin grabbed it without hesitation.

Warmth transmitted through our clasped hands.

She was ready to fake her death if I commanded.

"Y-yes, oppa!"

And so, my first party member joined.