Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Appetite
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I hadn't put any strength into it.
Just lightly propped myself up to get out of bed.
Dry saliva slid down my throat.
A thirst that burned like my throat was on fire.
I figured I should at least drink some water to calm down, so I carefully took a step forward.
Fortunately, I could walk by relaxing my legs.
I opened the fridge and pulled out a two-liter bottle of water.
Grabbed the neck to twist off the cap, turned the lid with my other hand.
Splash-!
"...Ah."
A cheerful sound, and a waterfall of water poured down.
The cap hadn't opened.
The plastic bottle couldn't withstand the grip of my left hand on the neck and burst right open.
The floor was drenched.
But I couldn't even think of grabbing a rag, just stared blankly at the crumpled PET bottle that looked like a rag itself.
"It's real."
I can't control my strength.
This is the power of Unique grade.
Not just some muscle bulk— it utterly transcended the laws of physics I knew.
I shook off my wet hands and stepped up to the full-length mirror.
"...Insane."
The man reflected in the mirror wasn't the Han Yujin I knew.
The turtle neck from hunching over games all day was ramrod straight, and my narrow shoulders had broadened like the entire frame had been rebuilt.
Above all, the savage outline of muscles showing through my wet T-shirt.
Not puffy gym balloons, but battle-hardened, compressed steel-wire muscle.
My face had changed too.
Skin flawless and smooth, no more dull fish eyes— now a beast's fierce glint flashed there.
'Is this... me?'
I swallowed hard at the unbelievable sight.
I needed a real test.
A grip strengthener shoved in the corner of my desk caught my eye.
Bought ages ago to "get fit," then abandoned.
I gripped it.
Felt like squeezing soft sponge.
Just a bit... a tiny bit of strength.
Crunch... Clang-!
The metal screamed.
The spring shot out, the sound ringing through the room.
The steel frame bent like taffy, the handle utterly crushed and shattered.
"Haha..."
Laughter leaked out.
It's real.
This is beyond human limits.
Unique-grade power-up.
A perfect body overhaul.
Suddenly, my computer screen caught my eye.
The monitor displaying the tutorial clear screen right before I got dragged into the dungeon.
Still on.
But the content had changed.
[Tutorial Clear Complete.]
[All data has been synchronized.]
Screen center: a new button blinking red, calling to me.
[Stage 1-1: 'Abandoned Cemetery' Entry Possible.]
My heart started pounding again.
'Careful, careful.'
I gingerly gripped the mouse.
This time, feather-light so it wouldn't shatter.
Moved the cursor over the entry button.
Click.
Screen transitioned, loading bar for the new map filling up.
Eerie graveyard backdrop.
And my character standing there.
The moment I opened the status window, I was convinced.
Name: Han Yujin
Level: 5
My real-world status reflected perfectly in the game.
Conversely, everything I face in this game is reality headed my way.
"As expected."
My lips split into a grin that reached my ears.
This computer was no longer just a gaming rig.
A prophetic dream to preview the future, retry endlessly, die and learn patterns— an infinite training ground.
While others huddled under blankets in terror, clueless when the next drag would come...
I could lounge in my comfy chair, sip sweet instant coffee, and grind strategies for the next stage.
"This is way too unfair."
I said it, but my eyes on the monitor gleamed like a predator eyeing a prey's throat.
"Alright then. Time to start the real game."
Gurgle.
Thunder rumbled in my gut.
Not mere hunger.
Stomach acid surged violently, like my gut was digesting itself.
"Ah... I'm starving."
I'd gone days without eating, glued to games, no appetite at all— how long since I'd felt hunger this brutal?
Finally, my senses snapped back to reality.
Unique-grade body overhaul.
Like swapping a supercar's engine for a monster— gotta pour in the fuel accordingly.
I opened the fridge.
Just the same bottled water I'd burst and some shriveled kimchi scraps.
'Ah, cup ramen's all gone too.'
My lifeline instant coffee down to a few packs.
Wallet? Dust.
[Balance: 3,240 won]
"Damn. Games can wait— gotta refuel first."
I fired up my trusty delivery app on my phone.
The savior app whenever rent was late or food money dried up.
[Current time: 01:20]
[Late-night surcharge + Rain surcharge (raining) + Distance surcharge]
Past 1 AM.
Lucky break.
Most riders clocked out, call rates double the norm.
And...
[Tas Villa 5F (No elevator)]
[Wa Luxury Tower 21F (Elevator under maintenance)]
[Daehan Bldg 7F (No elevator)]
'Shit calls' I'd normally ignore piled up.
Plague to others, but to me now?
"Jackpot."
I snatched my helmet and headed out.
My beat-up scooter sliced through the night streets.
Engine wheezed, but the body riding it was peak condition.
"First call."
Shabby villa district.
Dark alley, streetlights dead.
Five floors, no elevator.
Screech.
Parked the scooter, hefted the heavy double-chicken set, and bolted.
Tatadak-!
Footsteps thundered like a machine gun on the stairs.
One to five floors: seven seconds flat.
No thigh-searing pain, no breath choking my throat.
Breathing steady as a stroll on flat ground.
"Delivery."
Sleepy-eyed customer rubbed his eyes and took the goods.
"Usually takes thirty minutes— super fast today."
No time for chit-chat, I flew down the stairs.
Going down: grabbed the railing, practically soared.
[Earnings deposited.]
"Next."
Snagged the next call right away.
This one: 21F officetel.
Elevator busted, delivery fee over ten grand— prime shit call.
Parked at the 1F lobby, flung open the emergency stair door.
'Perfect chance for a speed test.'
Powered my thighs, kicked off the floor.
Concrete stair landing cracked faintly.
Body launched like a spring.
One bound skipped a dozen steps.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh-!
Wind whistled in my wake as I blurred through the floors like a shadow.
10F, 15F, 20F.
Door knock in under a minute.
"Delivery."
The guy who answered gawked at my sweat-free self.
"Uh... heard the elevator's busted. You really walked up?"
"Yep. Dig in."
Flashed a grin, dove back into the stairs.
Burned through the dawn like that.
Three deliveries to others' one; humming while they stank of sweat.
By daybreak.
After the last drop-off, plopped at the convenience store parasol— my bank showed an unbelievable sum for one night.
[Deposit: 321,000 won]
"Whew."
Neighborhood convenience store.
Swept up three lunchboxes, two cup ramens, five hotbars, hit the counter.
Skipped home for the microwave and water station— clerk shot me a 'all this solo?' look, ignored it.
Shoveled food like mad.
Stomach sucked it down like a black hole.
Still ravenous.
"Haa..."
Ding after microwave ding, a dozen times.
Sigh at the mountain of empty lunchbox trays.
All-nighter hustle for 300k, food already burned 70k+.
To sustain this beast, ten times a normal guy's intake minimum.
"What am I, a Saiyan? Food bills'll break my back at this rate."
Delivery's got limits.
Need a bigger, surer jackpot.
Chopsticks dangling from my lips, tapped my phone.
Search: [strength flex], [prize money], [challenge]
Videos flooded in.
One thumbnail hooked me.
[Helchang Bros Challenged. Beat Me, 1M Won. (Arm Wrestling, Big 3 Lifts)]
Mega gym YouTuber with 800k subs: 'Hulk Hong TV'.
"This is it."
Muscled dude in the vid swaggered, flashing cash stacks.
Video appearance required, but that dough covers food awhile— full game focus.
Mask allowed.
Dialed the number in the description pronto.
- Yes, Hulk Hong TV manager speaking.
"Wanna challenge. Possible today?"
- Sure, we take apps, but... workout history? Weight class? Our bro's a beast, regular folks kinda...
"I'll smash records. You'll see."
Short and hung up.
Appointment: 2 PM.
Time to kill.
Munching hotbar, keyed in new terms.
[Abyss Phenomenon], [survivor missing], [dungeon]
[Govt Forms Emergency Committee on Mass Disappearances]
[Returnees Showing Mental Breakdowns Confined to Isolation Wards]
'As expected, the world's still clueless.'
Public panicking, govt clamping down.
Scrolling deep, spotted an intriguing link in an obscure community board.
Admin approval required.
Verification: Tutorial boss's name?
'Hooh.'
Real survivors' spot.
Info swap couldn't hurt.
Hand hovering over [Mutant Hobgoblin]...
Bzzz— bzzz—
Unknown number lit the screen.
Not unknown.
Unsaved, but nightmare familiar.
"...Landlady."
Timing impeccable.
Deep breath, hit call.
"Yes, hello."
- Student! Know the date? Rent's late again! Last month too, this time...
"Ah, ma'am. Sorry. Sending it today."
- Actions, not words! Not by end of day, pack up!
Click.
Dead air.
Bitter smirk, stood up.
Communities later— urgent fire first.
Glanced at time: appointment closing in.
"Let's go. Time to earn some rice money."