Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Next Target: The Protagonist
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Next target: the protagonist
"Haa!"
The moment the fight ended, Hye-na collapsed onto the floor with a thud.
Looking closely, her white blouse was soaked through with sweat.
"You okay?"
"Y-yeah. I guess all the tension released once I relaxed."
It wasn't surprising.
From the moment the zombies first appeared until now.
She'd been desperately fleeing from them the whole time.
"Take it easy and rest. We should be safe for a while."
I turned my head after saying that.
I had some business of my own to attend to, after all.
'Even just reading through these is going to take a while.'
A sigh escaped me as I looked at the countless messages floating before my eyes.
But it wasn't a bad feeling by any means.
After all, I'd solidly claimed the reward for taking down the mid-boss.
'Let's start by checking the status window.'
I wanted to properly confirm the rewards I'd gotten.
And what effects they had.
'Status window.'
▶ Stats
▶ Traits
▶ Skills
'Not much has changed, surprisingly.'
My level had gone up to 3, sure.
But the stats were the same as before.
Normally, you'd get stronger as you level up.
But this novel didn't seem to have that direct effect.
'No way the only value of levels is recovering vitality and mana.'
There had to be some hidden secret.
Unfortunately, it was info I couldn't access at this point.
Next, I checked the titles.
A slot that had been empty before now held the newly acquired 'Great Pioneer'.
▶ Name: Great Pioneer ▶ Grade: A ▶ Acquisition Conditions
- Achieved stage conditions in early progression
- Indirectly or directly influenced 10+ people
- Saved the life of 1 other person
▶ Effects
: Growth rate and potential +50%.
: Saved target's trust +100%.
'Hm, an effect that boosts potential, huh?'
It was a bit disappointing that there were no direct effects.
Of course, faster growth was plenty good on its own.
More importantly, the 'tentacle monster' had definitely been the 'mid-boss'.
'Which means there's a real boss somewhere else.'
I had no idea what it could be.
But it was sure to be more dangerous than the tentacle monster.
I needed to get stronger than I was now.
In that sense, a title that boosted growth rate was pretty valuable.
'In this world, strength means survival. And to get strong, I have to use the system.'
I moved on to check the reward items.
▶ Name: Devourer's Essence ▶ Type: Essence ▶ Grade: S ▶ Effect: ???
▶ Description
The essence dropped by a monster. When used, it settles into the user's body. Fully absorbing the essence grants a special effect. The granted effect varies based on the user's potential and traits.
'Oh, jackpot?'
It was another growth-type item from the tentacle monster.
The description suggested it granted some special ability.
This one would take time to see its effects, too.
Were the early rewards focused on character growth, maybe?
'Could be meant for the protagonist.'
The mid-boss was a monster no ordinary human could handle.
I'd only barely taken it down thanks to my traits, skills, and weapon.
'If it weren't for that streak of luck piling up multiple times, it'd have been impossible.'
If the protagonist was originally supposed to defeat the mid-boss.
Then I'd stolen his growth opportunity.
'Whatever, no time to worry about that. I'm too busy surviving myself.'
That was when I was thinking that.
"Whoa, Ji-hoon! I got 50 coins! It says it's the reward for defeating the monster!"
Yoo Hye-na, who'd been beside me, shouted.
She'd gotten credit for her contribution and received a reward, too.
50 coins.
It felt a bit small compared to what I'd gotten.
"What do these coins even do? Buy stuff? I hope I can get a good weapon!"
She seemed happy, so I decided to leave her be.
No need to ruin the joy of survival.
"What'd you get, Ji-hoon? You took down that monster, so it must be way better, right?"
"Hm, not bad."
For now, I kept quiet about the title and coins.
But I couldn't just hide the 'Devourer's Essence'.
'The 'Poisoned Dagger' that killed it belonged to Hye-na.'
Plus, the dagger had reverted to a normal weapon after its effect wore off.
It felt a little wrong to hog this all to myself.
When I told Hye-na about it—
"Of course you should take it, Ji-hoon!"
"You sure?"
"I'd be dead already without you. Even if I had the dagger, I couldn't have fought."
I'd been planning to save it if she wanted, but.
Hearing that made me grateful.
"But then you've just got the 50 coins and lost your only weapon's effect."
"Hehe, it's fine. I'm happy it helped you. Plus, I'm alive thanks to you!"
Hm, a bit burdensome.
Of course, being trusted didn't feel bad.
'Well, since I plan to stick with Hye-na for a while, it'll be okay.'
I made up my mind and swallowed the 'Devourer's Essence'.
A tingling energy spread from my stomach.
"How is it? Feel like tiger energy surging or something?"
"Not yet. Guess it takes time."
I was excited to see what ability it'd grant.
But also a bit anxious.
It meant no immediate effects until it digested.
So I'd need other ways to survive in the meantime.
Hye-na tapped her legs rhythmically.
"Sigh, can't we just hide here?"
"Probably not a good idea."
I'd become convinced while taking down the mid-boss.
This place had distinct 'stages'.
And clearing them gave rewards.
'That's the core story of this novel.'
Like any apocalypse tale,
peace wouldn't come easily to this world.
Hiding would just leave us behind the story, getting weaker.
We needed to actively intervene in events.
"Wanna head out of the school? There might be police or military."
"Hold on."
Before deciding, I chose to use 'Comment Check'.
I had plenty of coins thanks to the rewards.
"Agree."
'A comment with 'protagonist' in it?'
This was a different type of option than before.
Did picking it mean I'd get info on the protagonist?
'The highly recommended ones are tempting from experience, but...'
I ultimately selected option 4, the 'protagonist-mentioned comment'.
This was a web novel world, after all.
'In web novels, the protagonist hogging early hidden pieces is standard fare.'
I'd been wondering how to proceed anyway.
Following the protagonist might lead to good info or items.
Plus, I was purely curious.
What kind of person was the protagonist of this damn novel?
[Selected comment 4.] [Comment 4 content follows.]
[Content: Wasn't the protagonist ex-knight? His actions scream thug though?]
[Recommendations: 11, Opposes: 6]
'Oh, this info looks pretty useful.'
The protagonist had a psycho-like personality, at least.
That alone gave a sense of the story's style.
More importantly, the first part.
The protagonist was 'ex-knight'.
'Meaning this novel's protagonist is a reincarnator or possessor.'
Where in 21st-century Korea would you find a knight?
Sure, maybe one exists.
But as I said, this is a web novel.
Higher chance he's a knight from another world.
'If he's an ex-knight, he probably uses a sword. And a strong one.'
That would make the recent weapon selection a setup to highlight him.
Extras who picked guns all dying.
While the protagonist solos hordes with his sword.
Music to a reader's ears.
'Regrettable that I might've been one of those extras.'
Anyway, I'd gotten info on the protagonist.
The issue was how to pinpoint him with this.
"J-Ji-hoon."
"Sorry, I've got something on my mind."
A sword-using reincarnator protagonist.
Could I find someone based on that trait alone?
If I at least knew where he lived...
"Um, sorry... but I think you need to see this..."
"Hm?"
Hye-na cautiously tugged my sleeve.
Only then did I stop thinking and look where she pointed.
"...What the hell is that?"
Out the window, on the sports field.
A single person was swinging a blade at dozens of zombies.
Extraordinary swordplay.
Zombies slicing apart with every swing.
One glance told me he was no ordinary fighter.
This was way beyond 'pretty good'.
"Amazing..."
Hye-na muttered unconsciously.
I nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, amazing."
Who would've thought the protagonist was a student at our school.
...Then what the hell were the 1st and 2nd place who cleared the mid-boss faster than me?