Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: 8. Prolonged Battle (3)
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The middle-aged guy was sobbing, and the housewife had a blank look on her face.
They didn't say anything else to me.
But with their entire bodies, the two of them were pleading for help.
Haah...
The college girl next door had killed herself, and I wondered about the floor above.
I climbed the stairs to the second floor.
The door was open.
I pushed it open and went inside, and the stench of rotting corpses hit me hard.
Grimacing, I looked around the house. An elderly man lay dead in one corner of the living room, and the door to a small room was smashed.
Only feet were visible, but those were probably the corpse of his grandchild.
Early to mid-twenties?
Looked like they put up quite a fight.
Those 40-50-year-old thug bastards must've taken turns with her in the master bedroom and the college girl's room downstairs.
...Yeah, I get the picture.
Coming back down, the ajusshi was trying to comfort his wife.
Even as he gripped her shoulders, she just shook limply, showing no real reaction.
...If I leave her like that, she'll kill herself too.
I let out a deep sigh and said,
"Come on out. Let's go."
The ajusshi's eyes went wide as he looked at me.
"S-Sir?"
"Sir, my ass. Just get out. How the hell are you supposed to survive here? Come on."
So frustrating, fuck.
Are the other houses like this too?
...Yeah. The other houses are probably pretty bad off.
In some, the dad went out and never came back. In others, the mom did the same.
The families left behind are either withering away or end up looking like this.
...In that light, our boarding house is doing pretty well, atmosphere-wise.
The ajusshi replied with a "Yes, sir" and started packing his things.
As he grabbed clothes and his bankbook, I pressed my forehead in exasperation.
What the fuck are you doing?
"Just come as you are. Body only. No blankets needed. Out."
"Ah, yes, sir. Honey, let's go."
As he helped his wife out, I added,
"What about the axe? Grab it."
"Ah, yes, yes, sir."
He picked up the axe from the kitchen corner, supporting his wife with one hand as he came out.
...Fuck, really.
"Let's go."
I brought them back to the boarding house.
The women were shocked.
No surprise there.
We already had five mouths to feed, and now three more, including a baby.
The women seemed to empathize with the housewife holding the baby, but Grandmother looked thoroughly displeased.
"I'll work hard. Please take us in, just this once, ma'am."
The burly ajusshi was groveling to Grandmother.
Fuck, seriously.
"Huh? Ajusshi, can you do some heavy lifting?"
Combat prowess from this guy seemed unlikely, but his build screamed strength.
The ajusshi straightened his back and looked up at me.
"Yes, sir. I made a living delivering bottled water. I can handle some heavy work."
...A pack mule, then.
I go in, kill shit, and he hauls it. Perfect.
At least the fucker has a use.
Would've been nice if he had some fighting potential, but with his personality, that's impossible.
Grandmother still looked sour.
I said,
"Ma'am, another man around is definitely a plus. There's an empty room downstairs, right? Give it to them."
"...Well. Yeah. If the young man says so, I have to."
Su-hyun, Ye-eun, and So-eun took the housewife with the baby downstairs.
"Come on, sis. We'll bring blankets and stuff."
"The mattress is torn out, but the hot water works fine, so it'll be okay."
I told Grandmother lightly,
"Heading out for a bit."
"Alright, go on. Be careful."
As I left the house and went down the stairs, I tapped the ajusshi's shoulder.
"Ajusshi, hold up."
"Huh? Ah, yes, sir."
"Cut the 'sir' crap. My name's Seong-hun. Han Seong-hun."
"Ah... Yes, sir. S-Seong-hun."
Ugh...
Ajusshi, you stink.
"Go wash up first. You need clothes, right? The short one with glasses is Su-hyun. Tell her I said to give you some medicine, and she'll do it. That clothing store over there. Grab clothes, underwear, whatever you need. Next to it is a pharmacy, empty too. Pick up what you need there."
The ajusshi stared at me in shock.
"...E-Empty?"
I nodded.
"I killed 'em all. Just go grab stuff. Watch the streets. Got it?"
"Ah... Yes, sir. Got it."
...Sir, fuck, from earlier.
Taking forever to adjust.
At the bottom of the stairs, I turned and said,
"When you get time, hit that supermarket where I killed the thugs. Sweep up some food and supplies. Bring 'em to the house, eat some too."
"Ah, yes. Got it."
The ajusshi followed me and asked,
"S-Sir, uh, where are you headed?"
...Hmm.
What to say.
Next target was the mid-sized mart anyway.
"You need diapers, right? Going to get some."
More like, to level up.
The ajusshi's eyes widened, and he stepped closer.
Don't come closer, fuck, you stink.
"S-Sir, I'll go with you."
...Agh, fuck...
Mid-sized mart.
At least 20 of those bastards in there.
This ajusshi gets spotted by a pack of Human Beasts, no way he escapes.
Don't care if he dies, but if he croaks somewhere, what about that housewife and baby?
Just more mouths, shit.
Grandmother and the girls would love that.
I glared at him and said,
"...Ajusshi, you go there, you die."
He flinched with a sharp intake of breath.
I said,
"...Got it? Just go where I tell you. Convenience store up front. Clothing store that way. Pharmacy this way. Supermarket over there. All safe, so sweep 'em clean. Grab the axe when you go out."
Earn your keep.
"...Ah, got it, sir."
...Ugh, fuck.
"Good. See you later."
"S-Sir!"
...Loud, fuck.
I turned, and he was bowing 90 degrees to me.
"Thank you, sir! Thank you for helping! Thanks, sir!"
...This guy...
...Focusing outside, no growling sounds.
Is that a relief?
...Fucking frustrating...
"...Keep it down."
His face fell.
...So dense.
I left the house and walked toward the supermarket where the old thug corpses lay.
Fuck.
I figured his bulk could make a meat shield if needed, so I took him on the mart raid idea, but the more I see, the less useful he is beyond hauling.
He's strong, so dump all supply runs on him, and I just grind levels.
Map showed the supermarket, one block further in, then right down the road to the big street.
Mart's right by the road.
Could go via pharmacy street, but it's lined with shops, so I'd have to clear each one.
This way's faster.
The row of detached houses was pretty quiet.
Occasional growls every few houses, but unless I go in and smash, they won't come out.
No point wasting Acceleration on nonsense.
The houses ended, and a parking lot appeared.
Pretty big.
Mart parking lot, probably.
The mart next to it was a single-story warehouse-style building.
Decent-sized mart.
...Growls audible from quite a distance.
A shit ton in there.
I stopped and glanced at the parking lot.
...Parking lot seems quiet.
To raid the mart, need a spot to hit-and-run and recover Acceleration.
I crouched, hand on my sword hilt, and slipped into the parking lot.
Gravel crunched underfoot.
Deeper in...
Some cars parked here and there, but not great for hiding.
Parking office?
Tiny shack, like an outdoor restroom.
Steel door, small window.
...Not bad.
Checked around, pressed ear to the steel door.
...Quiet?
Empty?
Tugged the door; locked.
Fuck.
Sighed and moved slowly into the lot.
Gravel sounds louder than expected.
Crunch-crunch.
Pasted against the office wall, deep breaths, a few steps forward. Now I could see the back of the lot.
A person stood between cars.
In uniform.
...Parking attendant.
What the fuck is he doing there...
...Ah, got bit guiding cars, looks like.
...Might be one inside too.
Focused, moved to the opposite wall.
Slow steps.
Minimal noise.
Crunch-crunch.
Against the left wall.
Black Accent headlight interior visible.
Seems empty for now.
Slowly toward the Accent, drew my sword.
The parking attendant hadn't noticed me yet.
Reached the Accent, peered through the gap opposite.
Be careful.
Anything could be between cars.
Not like the open road.
Slowly between cars, checked every parking space.
All empty elsewhere.
Just the attendant and one sprawled in front.
Two, as expected.
Back across cars, approached the attendant's back slowly.
Right on his back.
Straight line.
"Hoo..."
Crunch-crunch.
...About 5 meters away.
Attendant twitching slightly.
...Just charge and stab?
...No.
Play it safe.
No greed.
Acceleration
[Auto-cast: Acceleration]
"Hup!"
In two strides, stabbed the attendant's occiput.
Splurch!
Half the blade pierced his skull.
"Hrngh!"
Yanked it out hard, strode past him.
Thud—whoosh—
Auntie.
Facing me, sprawled.
I swung down with full force.
Crunch!
"Kyak?!"
Splurch!
As the auntie jerked,
Acceleration ended,
Blade pierced her occiput.
Thump!
Attendant hit my shoulder, flopped onto the auntie.
"Hoo, haa."
...Used one Acceleration.
Searched the attendant, found keys.
Unlocked the office door; ajusshi stink hit me.
Agh, fuck.
Blood stench bad enough, why all these smells tormenting me.
Still, pretty sturdy.
Good cover spot.
Right next to mart, good for holing up if needed.
Sat in the chair by the small window, sighed.
"Hoo."
...No clue how many inside the mart.
Growls alone say plenty.
To take the mart, gotta play the long game.
Wiped my sword with a towel off the wall, thinking.
Hit and run.
Recover Acceleration, hit and run again.