Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: 8. Long-term Battle. (1)
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Back at the rooftop room, I stripped off my blood-soaked clothes and jumped in the shower right away.
Seeing the blood dripping from my hair made my blood boil.
Fuck, I'm so pissed.
Not only did I burn through two Accelerations, but I had to toss the clothes Su-hyun gave me too.
Borrowing clothes from the host family isn't something I can keep doing forever—I've already returned several outfits soaked in blood.
...Fuck.
Time to go find some new clothes.
For real.
Something light and easy to move in.
A t-shirt and shorts should do it.
Wear 'em, toss 'em, wear 'em, toss 'em.
From downstairs, I could hear Su-hyun clanging around. Probably dismantling stuff for barricades or putting them up.
She'd already blocked off most of the second-floor windows.
If we keep this up for a week, it'll be pretty solid.
I need to bring her more hardware for all the work she's doing, but fuck, those punks made me waste two Accelerations.
Maybe I should go back and stomp their heads a few more times.
I'm so fucking mad.
Taking three hours to fully recharge Acceleration sucks.
Haah...
Still, with Stamina boosted, I recover 2.3 per hour, so the drain isn't too bad.
Recovery's too damn slow.
Shit.
Around eleven.
Lay down, rest a bit, then head out.
Eleven o'clock.
Stamina 21, Acceleration 3 uses.
Recovered plenty.
Time to grab those clothes!
Heading down from the rooftop, I ran into So-eun hanging laundry on the balcony in front of the second-floor door.
She flinched when she saw me.
Uh-huh...
The stuff I'm wearing is splattered with blood.
Whatever, no need to explain.
"Heading out."
"...U-um."
As I tromped down the stairs, So-eun called out.
I looked up.
She was gripping the railing, staring at me.
"...Be careful."
...Uh-huh.
My pissed-off mood was easing up a bit.
I smiled.
"Yeah. Finish hanging the laundry and get inside quick. It's dangerous."
I waved and headed out.
Clothes, clothes.
There was a clothing store on the way to the big mart.
Hand on my sword, I took the convenience store route toward the mart.
A green sign for a herbal clinic.
...How many are inside?
Hmm...
Anyway, I have to pass the clinic and rice cake shop to get to the clothing store, so maybe check them out.
Couldn't see inside the clinic from outside.
Pressed my ear to the door crack—low growling.
...Three or more.
...Open the door?
Nah...
No point risking eye contact and wasting another Acceleration.
Goal's the clothing store.
I turned and reached the rice cake shop.
Couldn't see inside here either.
Sign says "Sesame oil, chili powder for sale."
Hmm...
Ear to the door.
...No sounds?
Anyone in there?
Rice cake shop...
Nothing worth grabbing anyway.
Pass.
Uwaaaagh—
A man's scream from somewhere.
I don't even care anymore.
Die far away for all I care.
Cautiously scanning around, I approached the clothing store. A pretty big building loomed ahead.
The big mart was right in front.
...Not the mart in the building, but a real mega-mart like Homeplus or E-Mart—I'd love to hit one someday.
Guaranteed swarms of human beasts.
Hundreds at least.
Me clearing one out? ...Thinking about it kinda excites me.
Smiling, I leaned against the wall and peeked inside the store.
Hard to see past the hanging clothes.
But they're there.
Human shapes flickering between the clothes.
Arms, legs, heads visible.
Separate ones.
...Three.
That's what's visible at least.
...Need to confirm more.
Properly.
I crouched low and peered at the floor.
...Arms and legs.
...One's sprawled out.
Got it.
I ducked low and moved to the door.
Drew my sword at the same time.
Shing—
"...Hoo..."
Tomahawk?
...Nah, just sword here.
Squatting, I placed my hand on the clothing store door.
Deep breath.
Sip—hoo.
—Sip!
Shoved it open hard!
Door slammed, bang!
"Kyarruk?!"
Heads whipped around!
Acceleration!
"Kyraa—a—a—"
Their eyes widened, mouths gaped, noses wrinkled up.
Slowly.
Auntie standing in front of women's panties.
Thrust hard!
Splurch!
Pulled the sword from her temple!
Below!
The young woman sprawled out!
Splurch!
She lifted her head and got pierced through the crown.
With the auntie?
Twisted my body pulling the sword free.
Black-clothed woman straight ahead!
Employee?!
"—A—rrong!"
The women's arms jerked up!
Acceleration!
They slowed mid-charge.
Thrust the sword in hard.
Splurch!
Pierced the employee's head.
Right through the eye to the back of the skull!
Yanked it out hard—blood droplets wobble into the air.
Next, auntie at the counter!
Big leap, stomped the ground hard.
Kuu—a—a—
Even the stomp echoes slow.
Twisted my whole body, thrust the sword!
"—Kyar, kwek!"
—Boom!
Splurch!
Acceleration wore off.
Stomp echoed then.
Sword pierced from the eyebrows in.
"Hup!"
Pulled the sword free—bodies crashed down all around at once.
Blood sprayed everywhere, splattering clothes and underwear.
...Ah.
This kinda defeats the purpose of coming for clothes.
"...Haa..."
Nice. 4 levels up!
Small shops are perfect for leveling.
Just in case, check for more.
Sword at the ready, I prowled every corner.
...None.
Would've charged when I burst in if there were.
"...Hoo."
Time to grab clothes.
I wiped the blood from my arms, face, and sword on a few women's panties, then stuffed my backpack full with clean t-shirts, shorts, men's underwear, whatever.
...Panties, huh.
I stood in the bra and panties section, admiring for a sec.
"...Hmm..."
Some nice ones.
...What to get Su-hyun...
...All good, can't pick.
Don't know women's sizes anyway.
Su-hyun's pretty big. C? D?
...Fuck if I know.
I'm a guy. How the hell would I know bra sizes.
Found some paper bags under the counter, pulled a few out, dumped in a pile of bras and women's panties.
Grabbed dresses, shorts, skirts—swept a bunch into big paper bags.
This should do.
Tell Su-hyun to pick what she wants...
...Or just dump it all in front of the women.
Too much hassle otherwise.
If sizes don't fit, they'll come loot more or use 'em as rags.
Shouldered my bag, loaded up with five or six bulging paper bags full of clothes, and left the store.
Quiet.
Silent.
Hands full of bags, scanning around warily, I slipped back to the convenience store.
No Acceleration, so if shit hits, drop the bags and run.
But nothing happened.
The streets always stay dead quiet.
Back at the boarding house, I knocked on Su-hyun's place.
Yes—
Response came.
I spoke to the door.
"Su-hyun. Come to the host house real quick."
Then bolted up the stairs.
Setting down the six bags stuffed with clothes and underwear— the women's eyes went wide.
Su-hyun, arriving late, stared in surprise too.
"My clothes were getting too filthy, so I went to grab some for myself and brought extras. Didn't know sizes, so just grabbed a bunch. Pick what you like."
Ye-eun's eyes rounded as she looked at me.
"...Th-thank you."
"Thank you."
So-eun said it too, looking stunned.
Both shocked, but faint smiles crept on their faces. They're happy.
Grandmother came out too, fussing happily.
Good enough.
Left the women chattering and digging through the clothes, headed back to the rooftop.
Fuck this blood-soaked baggy-ass t-shirt and shorts—toss 'em.
Yanked 'em off, shoved in the corner trash, opened my bag and dumped it out.
T-shirts, men's panties, shorts spilled everywhere.
This'll last ten days or so.
Showered off the blood again, then flopped onto my bedding.
...Hm...
Round trip was quick.
Not even noon yet.
Could hit another run tonight.
Those 4 points I got...
Hm...
Where to tonight?
...Wait.
Pharmacy had like three, I think.
Chicken place next door.
Chicken joint... how many?
Two visible at least.
...Go there tonight.
Thought it over, dumped 2 points in Strength, 2 in Mental Power.
Needed Strength eventually, and Acceleration security—split 'em to avoid choice paralysis.
Now, level 30.
Strength 7, Mental Power 17.
Around nine, mostly recharged.
Could use a couple more hours for full, but 3 Accelerations is plenty.
Left the house, headed down the convenience store path.
Passed the store, two shop sales spots.
Pharmacy appeared.
Shing—
Drew the long sword.
"...Sssip!"
Inhaled deep, shoved the door hard and burst in.
"Kyarrak?!"
White coat behind the counter.
Old man in front of bottled drinks.
Auntie at the supplements corner.
Acceleration.
"Kroaa—a—a—"
Rising hands,
Gaping mouths,
Charging legs slowed.
"Hup!"
Splurch!
Pierced the old man's head instantly.
Pulled out, blood trailing, leaped over the counter.
"Hup!"
Stomped the ground, thrust hard.
Splurch!
Doo—oo—oo—
Pluck! Rushed to the supplement shelf.
One step forward,
"—A—kyarrak!"
—Thud!
Acceleration.
Auntie lunging at where I was, clawing hand outstretched.
Leaped in from the side, thrust hard.
Splurch!
Temple pierced clean through.
Pulled the sword—blood droplets wobble slowly into the air.
"...Hoo."
So slow.
Everything in slow motion.
Human beasts collapsing, countless blood droplets flying, all dancing leisurely like trapped in thick jelly.
I scanned around, waited a moment.
"—A—rrrk!"
Acceleration ended.
Crash, clatter!
I flinched, shut my eyes.
Blood splashed my face.
Damn it.
Wiped my face with the back of my hand, walked to the pharmacist, grabbed the coat and wiped my sword clean.
Clothes I got stacks of—toss the dirty ones. But the sword? Gotta keep it clean.
"...Hm..."
Quick one.
Getting used to it.
Glanced around the pharmacy.
Anything worth taking?
Grab some Bacchus?
Ah, Grandmother's been walking funny.
Sheathed the sword—shing. Headed to the pain relief patch section.