Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Choose Your Job
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"You too? A reincarnator?"
Lee Yoo-ri narrowed her eyes.
Her face mixed bewilderment and confusion.
No wonder she was shocked.
A guy had just shown up out of nowhere, knowing her secret.
"What? Can't believe it?"
"I do... believe it. I never thought a miracle like this would come just to me."
She's definitely a reincarnator.
I let out a quiet sigh of relief inside.
Honestly, I'd been half-guessing.
"But I don't get it. How do you know I'm a reincarnator?"
Killing intent poured from her body.
She still hadn't given up on killing me.
"It wasn't that hard."
I forced a cocky grin, bluffing with all I had.
One wrong move, and I was done for.
Is this what it feels like facing a predator?
"Some girl mercilessly slaughtering zombies? That's weirder if she's just a normal modern person."
"......"
"Happened to be a reincarnator myself, so I figured you were too."
I shrugged casually, trying to look relaxed.
Had to sell that I was chill.
"Call this a proposal from one survivor to another."
I took a deep breath.
This was pure bluffing from here on out.
"Even someone as strong as you wanted that 'Devourer's Essence,' right? Means you know surviving alone in this world is tough."
"......"
"How about teaming up at least until we take down the boss?"
Lee Yoo-ri stared at me instead of answering.
Like she was trying to read my intentions.
Made total sense.
In an apocalypse, you couldn't trust people lightly.
Her pale pink lips finally parted.
"......If you've beaten the mid-boss, the next stage should start soon. And before that, we get to pick a 'job.'"
Huh, new info.
Jobs were something you chose yourself.
'Come to think of it, the status window had an empty job slot.'
Like the weapon from the zombie raid,
this would hugely impact survival and roles.
'Like warrior or healer in a game?'
No, way more important than weapons.
A job defined your abilities best.
"I'll decide after seeing your choice."
"Prove you're useful?"
"Think what you want. I decide."
Prickly protagonist to the end.
Meaning she'd ditch me without mercy if it sucked.
Perfect timing for the message.
I took a deep breath and read the popup in front of me.
First message, and already disappointed.
More options would've been better, but just two?
'Extra perks not cutting it?'
After all that action, I'd hoped for more.
Beating the mid-boss and still so few.
Though what they were mattered most.
I stared at the two jobs for a bit.
Poked around, but no extra details popped up.
Expected at least ranks or effects.
That list was it.
'Tch, pick based on names alone?'
Could guess, though.
'Zombie Hunter' specialized in zombies.
'Detective Amidst Corpses' for deducing clues from bodies, probably.
Seemed based on my actions.
'No point testing skills this time.'
'Comment Check' showed random comments.
Unless the protagonist picked the same, slim chance.
I pondered the two options.
Tough call, honestly.
Zombie Hunter would help survival for sure.
Detective might combo with my skills, not bad.
'Combat or info. That's the dilemma.'
I glanced at Lee Yoo-ri.
She was deep in thought, staring at her window.
Two options for her too, apparently.
Couldn't see the details, sadly.
'Kinda surprising.'
With protagonist status, more candidates wouldn't shock me.
Her swordplay was insane.
At least 'Swordmaster' or 'Zombie Slayer'?
'Wait.'
Mid-thought, I looked at Lee Yoo-ri again.
And realized something.
'......I see.'
Decision made.
No point overthinking anyway.
Didn't take long for the end message.
Lee Yoo-ri, sword still at my throat, asked.
"So? What job did you pick?"
"Kill me if it's useless?"
"We'll see."
I swallowed hard.
Hoping my choice was right.
"I didn't pick any."
"......"
Hunter or detective.
I picked neither.
Not sure if right, though.
If wrong, Lee Yoo-ri might actually kill me.
"Ha."
She stared, incredulous.
Then the corner of her pretty mouth twitched up faintly.
"Knew your head worked fast."
She withdrew her sword and foot.
I sat up and looked at her.
"I pass?"
"Why that choice?"
She sheathed her sword as she asked.
Her actions spoke louder, huh.
Dishonest girl.
Tsundere protagonists went out with the tide.
"Jobs can't be changed once picked."
Huge for future survival.
Couldn't risk 50/50 odds.
"Better jobs likely later than early ones from minor feats."
Lee Yoo-ri nodded, convinced.
'Her options sparked the idea, though.'
She showed insane power solo.
Two candidates for her? Didn't add up.
This was a novel world; she was the protagonist.
Her job—most important—wouldn't be chosen so casually.
'Plus, she didn't look conflicted at all.'
Aware of my gaze, she focused.
But only focused.
'She never planned to pick.'
So I skipped too.
If the protagonist did, it had to be correct.
Still a gamble.
If final chance, risky.
Luckily, more coming.
"Safest to skip here. Next chance soon anyway."
"Huh?!"
Sudden gasp nearby.
Hye-na stared at me, eyes wide as marbles.
We both turned; panic and tears welled in her eyes.
"W-what? I picked right away."
No need to tear up like that.
Not life-or-death.
"What'd you get?"
"Best Driver. B-rank. Lets me pilot any vehicle freely."
"Sounds solid."
Lucky, could snag a car or truck.
Mobility huge in apocalypse.
Seemed better than hunter or detective.
Reflected her cycling club captain gig.
'Or ride the bus with me?'
Shook off the dumb joke.
"That's good. Mine sucked, so I skipped. You're fine."
"Y-Yoo-ri too?"
Hye-na asked Lee Yoo-ri.
Surprisingly, she nodded easily.
"Yeah, nothing I needed right now."
"Phew, okay."
She sighed in relief.
Being the only picker hit hard.
"So, you and Hye-na teaming with me now?"
"Don't flatter yourself. Just not a hindrance. Not comrades."
"Ah, sure. Of course."
Whatever. I'd leech off Lee Yoo-ri regardless.
Admit that, she'd boot me for real.
"One question, then."
I brushed off dust and asked again.
"Would you really have killed me over a bad job?"
"......I don't kill without reason."
Implying reasons were fair game.
Fair. I wasn't different.
'Metafiction' dulled my reality sense.
Didn't flinch at the first death.
Won't in the future either.
Never killed, but.
If needed, I could.
Without guilt.
"And don't act buddy-buddy. I don't trust you."
"Got it."
Like done talking, she turned away.
"Where to?"
"Securing food. Time before next raid."
Despite words, maybe a bit accepted.
Answering properly now.
Stocking food.
Apocalypse 101.
"Why that way? Vending machines over there."
"......"
Lee Yoo-ri turned silently.
......Can I really trust this girl?