Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Operation Name: It's the Police
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Level 6 must be pretty high up there.
The suit guy looked at me with a smug expression.
'Jang Ho-seop's already at 9...'
The fact that he'd revealed his level without hesitation.
The way he'd approached a blood-soaked adult man without a second thought.
And on top of that, his arrogant attitude.
The suit guy didn't seem to even consider that I might harm him.
'Or maybe he's just trying to psych me out.'
It was incomprehensible to me.
In any case, I decided to take advantage of his carelessness.
"Mind if I ask something?"
The department store in front of us was massive.
The building stood firm despite the earthquake.
How many people could be inside?
They were probably the largest survivor group I'd seen so far.
"What do you mean by 'attack skills'... exactly what kind?"
I raised both hands as if surrendering, gathering intel.
The suit guy snorted.
"Hah... This guy's clueless."
"Yeah. I don't know much."
My attitude only boosted his ego further.
At the same time, it erased whatever small doubts he had.
"You shouldn't go around asking that stuff."
Now he was openly using informal speech.
He slicked back his rain-soaked hair, replying dismissively.
"Officer, you should head out now. Oh, and don't even think about the department store."
He waved me off and turned away.
Not a total idiot, then.
"Lee Yu-na. Don't make this hard. Come nicely. No need to fuss."
Too bad.
It could've been easy.
'Still got more to ask.'
The suit guy reached for the hooded girl.
She let him grab her limp, like someone who'd given up.
Her eyes stared at me, hollow and empty.
"Right? Where you gonna run to anyway?"
I glanced around.
The group of men still had us surrounded.
No tension on their faces at all.
Whooosh.
I swung the iron rod lightly.
No wind-up, pure surprise attack.
Thwack—
The rod's tip cracked into the suit guy's occiput.
A casual one-handed swing, but with plenty of force.
Thud.
He collapsed flat.
"Huh?"
For a split second, our eyes met with the hooded girl.
Her face said she couldn't process what just happened.
Crack.
The other men were the same.
Just wide-eyed and dumbfounded.
Stab.
I charged the nearest guy, thrusting the rod into him.
It pierced his chest and burst out his back.
"Wh-what? Crazy bastard!"
Now they scrambled into action.
One pulled a small hand axe from his belt.
Another thrust out empty hands and opened his mouth.
Someone else lunged straight for the hooded girl.
Whoosh.
I was faster.
Dropped the rod, spun, and hurled my backpack.
Thump!
"Gah?!"
The empty-handed guy took the heavy pack to the face and screamed.
Memories of the goblin shaman, maybe.
I judged the empty-handed one more dangerous than the axe guy.
"Fuck!"
I rushed him after chucking the pack; the axe wielder cursed and swung wide.
His telegraph was huge, like he was announcing it.
Whooosh.
Dodged easily and kept charging.
The pack-hit guy raised his hands again.
Slapped them aside and drove a backfist into his jaw.
"Gurk..."
He rolled his eyes back and dropped.
At the same time, I felt Jang Ho-seop take out one of them.
'Gotta keep that one alive.'
The axe guy stared blankly at his falling buddy.
I met his gaze, drew a small knife from my pocket.
Stab.
Slowly sank it into the unconscious man's neck.
"Surrender?"
The axe guy dropped his weapon.
We won without a scratch.
Captured the axe guy and dragged him to the bank building across from the department store.
"Yeah? Tell me more."
"The Representative sorted the people. Kicked out kids and old folks..."
I was extracting info from him.
Didn't even need torture; he was fully cooperative.
"So you've already got an organized structure?"
"Yes..."
"Awakened folks are in hunting teams... how many total?"
"Was twenty, now eighteen left."
Nearly a hundred survivors in the department store, he said.
Used to be way more, but Kim Representative drove out a bunch.
Kim Representative was this guy's old boss.
The foundation for that was awakening Fundamental Skills.
He and his loyal employees awakened them, recruited other Awakeners, and took over the store.
"Attack skills?"
"We've only got four with attack skills. One's a former pro fighter..."
I grilled him on department store details for contingencies.
How they lived, what skills and levels the Fundamental Skill Awakeners had, etc.
"Today's a rest day?"
"Yes. Boss said to unwind today..."
Finished the interrogation and stood.
"Um... sir? So now for me..."
Stab.
Killed him and stepped out.
Jang Ho-seop and the auntie sat in the lobby chairs.
"Mom, I'm fine, really."
Jang Ho-seop spoke softly to his mother.
The hooded girl stared blankly into space in the corner.
"Bro made the best call. Can't think like before."
"But..."
"I know it's scary now. But if bro hadn't? He did it to protect us all."
The auntie must be in shock.
Probably from Jang Ho-seop and me killing people.
"So look in the mirror and use your skill. Bro did it for me and Mom. It's okay. No need to be scared."
I approached them.
Jang Ho-seop spotted me first and stood.
"Oh, bro. About that..."
"It's fine."
The auntie turned to me.
Her face was calmer than expected.
From what I'd overheard, I thought she was struggling hard.
"Yi Hyun-ssi."
"Yes."
"Got a question. Can I ask?"
Kim Soo-jung stared straight into my eyes.
No fear in her vibe.
"Were you trying to help that guy?"
"No."
"Then why kill him? To me, those men didn't look like they wanted to fight."
Her voice didn't waver.
The dominant emotion from her was still gratitude.
"I can sense opponents' energy and emotions."
"Yes."
"Felt malice from him."
I lowered my voice so the hooded girl wouldn't hear.
"Malice? You can sense that?"
"Yes. Disgust, malice, annoyance. Those three meant trouble later."
All just possibilities.
Normal people don't always act purely on emotions.
I knew that.
But the cataclysm hit the world.
And I ended up with this skill.
So I adjusted my standards accordingly.
From the pharmacy to now, I'd acted to avoid unfavorable situations.
"I see. Got it. Ho-seop-ah, Mom's mirror."
She used her skill without hearing more.
Telling herself not to fear me.
"Mom? You... get what bro said?"
She shook her head.
Then looked at me again.
"Yi Hyun-ssi, you've changed a lot."
"Yes."
"But right now, what matters to me is Ho-seop surviving."
"Yes."
"So I'll help you for that. Understand?"
"Understood."
She just needed grounds to judge if I was sane or not.
More important than me killing people.
"Whew. Good."
Jang Ho-seop sighed in relief beside us.
"So, can we talk about the department store now?"
The auntie nodded.
Stepped back a bit to give Jang Ho-seop and me space.
"Bro, how'd it go?"
"Barter looks tough."
"Agh."
If they'd claimed the store, I figured we could trade for supplies.
But intel said otherwise.
"They've got someone who flies."
"Ah... so they know the situation pretty well?"
"Yeah. Super closed-off. Won't share resources."
I shared what I'd learned.
Jang Ho-seop frowned.
"Then safest to just pass by?"
Two options.
Do as he said and bypass, or at least try bartering.
"Shame. Not many places with that much loot..."
"Yeah, but Kim Representative's control is iron-tight."
If it was just a loose group, it'd be fine.
Lucky they didn't know we existed yet.
"Those guys were guarding this entrance. We can slip away easy."
"Yeah. No choice."
Not impossible entirely.
Not everyone there backs Kim fully.
But no need to risk it.
Opponents were human.
Even low-level, humans could be deadlier than monsters depending on the situation.
"Um... Officer uncle."
Mid-conclusion.
The hooded girl in the corner spoke up.
"Could you kill Kim Representative for me?"
Unexpected from her.
Jang Ho-seop's eyes went wide.
"Please. Help me out."
She stood and went to the window.
Rattle.
Opened it; rain poured in.
"Then I'll help you too, uncle."
Suddenly waved at the air.
Amazingly, the rain merged at her gesture, forming a water stream.
"Whoa. Insane... water control?"
Jang Ho-seop gawked.
The hooded girl was a Fundamental Skill Awakener.
Jang Ho-seop and I quickly reached the same conclusion.
"Prime talent."
"Sure is."
The woman briefly explained her Fundamental Skill and situation.
Locked her in a room after.
"Morally, we should help."
"Morally?"
"Yes. I think so. She's had it rough."
Jang Ho-seop changed his tune.
He'd wanted to bypass earlier.
"But! Bro probably doesn't think that way?"
"What do you think I think?"
"Pity her, but ignore? Too risky. Too many people there... and she's a stranger anyway."
I nodded.
He lit up and kept going.
"But following you around, I know that's not the end of it."
"Then?"
"She joins, we benefit."
Water was essential for survival.
Fine now, but it'd get scarce later.
We agreed on that.
She'd be useful then.
"So to get her, you'd slaughter the whole department store..."
Kim Soo-jung eyed Jang Ho-seop worriedly.
Didn't like her son's word choice, maybe.
"So conclusion?"
"Dunno. Who am I to guess bro's thoughts?"
I was a bit surprised.
He knew my mind better than I thought.
"But bro."
"Yeah."
"She's essential for our party."
"Why?"
"Mage! Water element, one of the four! Perfect balance..."
Odd wrap-up from Jang Ho-seop.
But same conclusion as me.
"Yeah. Hear her out more, then help."
"Huh? Really? Wait, why?"
"Why? 'Cause morally we should, right?"
"What? No, you?"
Jang Ho-seop blinked huge.
Kim Soo-jung smacked his thigh.
"There's this Kim Representative."
"Yes."
"Super greedy. Close to our place too. Just cross one bridge."
Businessman type.
Dabbled in entertainment, shady character.
Axe guy told me.
How many he'd driven to death lately.
"Villain vibes, huh?"
"Yeah. Villain. Can't have a villain next door. Cut him off before he grows."
Jang Ho-seop clapped.
Didn't think that far.
"Kya~ Don't know who's calling who villain, but anyway, I'll follow bro!"
Jang Ho-seop grinned.
Felt disoriented for the first time in a while.
"Getting comfy with me now?"
"Of course. I'm your right-hand man."
Speechless.
But not mad.
"Bro, not nitpicking, but... too reckless? Feels riskier than monsters?"
"Why you waffling so much?"
"Heh. Yeah, their force is huge."
Even now, his emotions were pure goodwill.
"Find weaknesses."
"Yes. Oh, call her?"
"Yeah."
They didn't know we existed yet.
But we had intel on them.
We began preparing to fight the massive group.