Chapter 23

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 23

Chapter Title: Zombie Apocalypse (20)

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As the spear wielders' spears drew even closer, the gangsters slowly retreated.

In what seemed like a situation where they had clearly seized the upper hand, the gangster boss opened his mouth once more.

"We just washed it off while killing that spear human! Even if you get stabbed, you won't turn into a zombie! Even if your gut gets punctured, just stab the heart and it's over!"

"A hole in your gut means you die. You idiots."

While the gangster boss was trying to boost morale, I countered by crushing it.

"Go! Fight! Don't bunch up in one spot!"

"They gave us their best weapons because they didn't want to fight zombies themselves, told us to stab zombie heads, and now it's their turn to get stabbed! Bunch of morons."

This was the gangsters' biggest mistake.

Even if they lost due to a lack of real combat experience against people, how could they have thought to hand over spears?

"Better to die honorably stabbed in a corner than like cowards! Go kill them! Kill themmmm!!!"

The old gangster screamed, veins bulging in his neck.

Only then did the gangsters finally charge with their knives, and the spear wielders panicked, giving up ground.

No matter how good the weapon, you can't let them grab the spears.

When a gangster who had seized a spear looked thrilled with wide eyes and lunged to stab with his knife, I hurled my baseball bat with all my strength.

Thwack!

"Gahk!"

I'd aimed for his head but figured it might miss, so I went for a body shot—and it hit perfectly.

With a loud thud, the gangster crumpled to the floor. The one who'd lost his spear dragged it toward the body and thrust it in deep.

"Aaaargh!"

The stabbed gangster risked turning into a zombie, so they stabbed him repeatedly. Spotting me without my bat, the gangsters shouted.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"That guy's unarmed! Beat him down!!!"

"Beat him down!!!"

Don't they see my bag?

I grabbed my bag and swung it at the first gangster charging in.

Clang!

Since I'd gripped it loosely, the sound of the baseball bats inside clashing was louder than any skull-cracking thud.

"Fuck! There's more in that bag!"

"Still, beat him! Fuck! A knife stab means death!"

The gangsters, on the verge of losing their will to fight, charged at me again.

I casually extended my hand backward, and Na-eun quickly tossed me the bat she'd been holding.

Crack!

I swung the bat hard with my right hand while using the sports bag in my left to block one gangster's attack.

If you can block an enemy's attack, it's a shield!

Crack!

Stab! Stab!

The momentum had shifted.

As I bashed another gangster's head, the now-confident spear wielders began stabbing gangsters to death.

The last one standing motionless in place was the Bulkwang Gang leader, wearing only his underwear.

"Ha. Fuck. This is because of that crazy bastard with the baseball bat? Huh? You fucking idiots!"

"I told you, you're the biggest moron for handing over spears and making them fight zombies. Hostages aren't all-powerful."

I said this while eyeing the woman bleeding from her throat below the Bulkwang Gang leader, dying.

As I approached slowly, he pulled his sashimi knife-holding right hand back slightly, poised to thrust.

My reach was longer, but I couldn't perfectly block that attack.

Could I block it with the bag containing the baseball bat?

No. No need.

I tossed the bag to the floor, and the bats inside clashed noisily.

Using that as a signal, the Bulkwang Gang leader charged fast.

He pulled his right arm back with the sashimi knife, maximizing rotational force to plunge it deep into my gut.

A desperate charge, willing to take one of my swings to gut me.

I gripped the baseball bat with both hands and swung at the gangster boss.

A big swing from right to left, and the Bulkwang leader thrust his sashimi knife using rotational power.

Composure and Insight.

Using Insight, I was certain the sashimi knife wouldn't touch my skin.

I applied the same power control I'd used on zombies outside against the Bulkwang Gang leader.

The moment the bat connected, I released power, then slammed it in full force on contact.

Thwud!

It nicked my clothes slightly but didn't cut flesh.

The Bulkwang leader, who'd thrust to sacrifice flesh for bone, only grazed my shirt—but I sent him flying back into the wall with my full power.

Crash. Clang clang clang.

He slammed into a display rack on the wall, then slumped powerlessly against it. I walked slowly toward the motionless old gangster.

As I drew near, I teased him playfully.

"Dead? Or alive?"

Crack!

I stomped his shin, shattering the bone.

"Gaaaaah!"

"Alive."

Crack!

Humans have two shins.

"Kill me! Just kill me!"

The Bulkwang leader, who would never walk again, screamed in agony, begging for death. I stepped back briefly to check the blue window in front of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me.

The world wants you dead.

Thwud!

I swung the baseball bat with both hands, exploding the old gangster's head.

After confirming he was definitely dead, I slowly turned around.

The gangsters were either stabbed dead or incapacitated, so the spear wielders had successfully subdued them.

I approached the dead hostages slowly and closed their eyes.

"We've had our revenge."

As I passed the spear wielders to reach the crying hostages and Na-eun comforting Yeongeun, one spear wielder spoke to me.

"Um, what should we do with that half-tattoo guy you pointed out earlier? We kept him alive."

"He's still alive? Kill him."

At my words, spears flashed into the hearts of the remaining live gangsters.

Shluck!

"Fuck... It hurts so fucking much..."

"Acting cool."

One spear wielder quickly retrieved my thrown baseball bat, and I nodded in thanks as I took it.

I approached the hostages violated by the gangsters and quietly called out to Yeongeun.

"Yeongeun. You okay?"

"Sian. Yeah. You got revenge, right? Just think of it as a dog bite. I'm alive. Yeah, I'm alive..."

Yeongeun nodded weakly, tear tracks clear on her face.

"Na-eun, let's go."

"What? Leave right now?"

I felt like we should leave now.

I had no intention of becoming the mart's leader, and even if Na-eun, Yeongeun's closest friend, comforted her, I doubted it would help much.

Na-eun hugged Yeongeun tightly, then reluctantly stood.

Na-eun took the baseball bat I handed her and followed me, glancing back repeatedly.

At the mart entrance, a man covered in wounds stood supported by others.

His head was wrapped tightly in bandages; it looked like he'd lost an ear. He was probably the mart's original leader.

"Thank you... for helping us..."

"Don't let it get taken again."

"Yes..."

"Oh, and can I take one thing? We came all the way to the mart; feels wrong to leave empty-handed."

"If you need anything... we'll give it."

"A gas burner and a box of gas. Possible?"

"Of course."

The modest request drew a strained smile from the mart leader.

*

We stuffed the bag full of gas canisters and took an extra box, which Na-eun carried.

I held two gas burners in hand as we headed back to the officetel, when Na-eun called me.

"Sian."

"Na-eun, what's up?"

"Um. You're not disappointed in yourself or anything, right? For not saving all the hostages..."

Na-eun asked cautiously.

She thought I'd left the mart quickly out of guilt.

I'd left before people could start depending on me since I had no plans to stay long.

"As long as Yeongeun survived, it's fine. It's a bit painful that I had to kill all the traitors due to an unforeseen mistake."

"You really didn't plan that?"

Na-eun seemed to think I'd orchestrated the traitors' execution.

"Yeah, I really didn't think of that. I figured there'd be some sacrifices my way, but I thought the boss would kill hostages to avoid looking weak, at least."

"Should we be glad Yeongeun didn't get caught by the boss?"

Na-eun said in a gloomy voice.

"If that had happened, who knows. I'd have to find another way, but nothing comes to mind right away."

If I had a ranged attack power, maybe, but my Survival Rules kept strengthening.

I quietly summoned the status window.

Using Insight to blast the Bulkwang Gang leader cleared the combat power quest earlier.

Right before finishing him, the human elimination quest appeared and was cleared immediately.

Clearing those two upgraded Survival Rules, resulting in this status.

The new entry, Presence ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Detection.

I'm using it now on the way back to the officetel; I can sense zombies even at some distance.

Hard to detect stationary foes, but since zombies keep moving, it works well against them.

And Homeostasis—it's not just plague; it says diseases, so useful in all situations.

Resistance to colds or food poisoning would be a huge help.

'Skills come this easily?'

Even rolling like a dog for 4 months at Global Academy, it was just Possession, but Lower World Possession upgraded skills to two A-grades, one B.

The two A-grades relate to Possession—active and passive—so not huge for combat, but Survival Rules feels beyond ordinary.

Maybe Possession lets me acquire skills in batches like this?

I should try more possessions in the lower world to learn, but it's strengthening my main body too.

Walking home slowly with Na-eun, 48 hours have passed since the Plague Seed was sown.

I hope the remaining 72 hours pass uneventfully.