Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: 15. Sensibly. (2)
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Crunch.
Shattered glass crunched underfoot.
"Grk?!"
Their heads whipped around.
Acceleration
[Auto-cast: Acceleration]
Everything slowed to a crawl.
I bolted straight for the outdoor stairs, bursting through the wrecked glass wall.
Twisting my body, I grabbed the stair railing and leaped up.
Five seconds!
I reached the second floor in just five seconds.
Thud thud thud!
Footsteps echoed belatedly behind me.
Sounds like a shotgun blast.
"Grraaagh! Grrrk?!"
The human beasts growled.
Something was there. But I couldn't see it.
They'd be searching for it.
I couldn't stay here.
They might climb the stairs.
Move.
"...Hoo, sss."
I drew in a breath and ascended the stairs.
Third floor.
Mart warehouse and office area.
Later for this place.
Fourth floor, kendo dojo and Pilates studio.
I eased open the steel door.
Pricking up my ears.
A faint sound.
High-pitched growling.
Sounds from women.
I slipped cautiously inside.
To the right, the kendo dojo.
Where I'd farmed the real sword.
It was empty now.
Couldn't see inside the Pilates studio from outside. Probably because the women were changing or wearing tights or something.
I crept along the wall of the Pilates studio.
The growling grew louder as I neared the entrance.
The Pilates door was a sliding glass one.
Grrrowl— grrrowl—
Peeking through the glass, I spotted the reception desk. Beyond it, two female human beasts stood.
Nice figures.
Their faces must've been pretty in life.
Now one side was torn off, blood crusted from their heads across their faces.
I turned to look at the kendo dojo.
...Not much use as a hideout in a pinch.
They'd made it so you could see inside from outside.
The beasts could break in if they wanted.
...Stairs it is for a hideout.
Need to save Acceleration for that.
If things go south, chain-cast Acceleration to escape.
I drew my sword.
Shing—
...Just the two?
...Hoo...
"...Sss."
I slammed my shoulder into the door and shoved it open.
Bang!
"Kyarrk?!"
The women's heads snapped around.
One that had been crouching shot to its feet.
"Kyaaaak!"
Acceleration
[Auto-cast: Acceleration]
One step forward!
"Hup!"
I thrust with all my might.
Pierced both their heads at once, then yanked my left hand free to stab the one beside them.
Splurch! Crunch!
I pulled the sword out.
Blood droplets arced through the air.
I scanned the room.
Lockers to the right, changing room beyond.
Pilates studio to the left.
One step right.
"-Kya-hng."
The women crumpled against the reception desk. Blood splattered onto cheeks and ears.
Damn.
No idea how many more inside.
Bolt?
I paused and waited.
Focused on my ears for sounds.
Grrrowl— grrrowl—
...No reaction.
From killing them nonstop, I'd noticed: they ignore sounds from their own kind.
Good.
I crept carefully to the changing room door.
Growling came from inside.
Grrrowl— grrrowl—
...Weird.
Just the one changing room?
Where's the men's?
Looking around, I saw a flyer on the wall: women-only Pilates something.
Ah, women only.
Got it.
I opened the changing room door and stepped in.
Wooden lockers lined up in rows.
And,
"Kyarrk?!"
Aunties' heads spun wildly around.
Those eyes.
Glinting fiercely from torn, shredded faces and bodies.
The human beasts' faces twisted.
"Kyaaaak!"
Acceleration
[Auto-cast: Acceleration]
Large step, mighty thrust.
"Hup!"
Crunch, crunch!
Seven aunties in the changing room.
All dealt with, I exited.
Blood splattered everywhere; it dripped from my hair.
Damn.
Blood dried black on the skin, but clear blood still inside their bodies.
Freaky monsters.
"Hoo..."
Three Accelerations in Pilates.
One on entry.
Ten kills.
Seventeen left.
Count carefully.
Couldn't see inside the Pilates room either.
Walked over, cracked the door.
Blankets or something dangling from the ceiling.
Strange equipment everywhere.
Grrrowl— grrrowl—
One... two... three...
...Sixteen.
...A bit short.
One shy, damn.
...No greed.
Can't burn Acceleration chasing one more.
Shoulder-slammed the door and charged into the Pilates studio.
"Kyarrk?!"
Human beasts' heads whipped around wildly.
"Kyaaaak!"
I smirked.
Acceleration
[Auto-cast: Acceleration]
Second-floor stairs.
I peered down over the railing.
No beasts in sight.
But I heard them.
Growling.
Head right down the stairs, and they'd be right in my face.
"...Hoo..."
Cautiously descended step by step to the first-floor corner.
Acceleration
[Auto-cast: Acceleration]
Sprinted full tilt out of the mart.
Crossed the driveway to the sidewalk, running, when growling came from behind.
Acceleration!
[Auto-cast: Acceleration]
I charged straight ahead.
Acceleration ended only after reaching near the convenience store.
My running speed had improved quite a bit.
Killing nonstop must be boosting my Stamina bit by bit.
One Acceleration left.
"Hoo, haa."
Back at the boarding house, I opened the front gate.
"Ah!"
Something right in front of me.
Startled gasp, flinching back.
Jeong Eun-seo.
I glanced and smirked.
"Why scare like that at a person."
Panting, I turned toward the stairs.
Running winded me.
Jeong Eun-seo spoke.
"Ah, s-s-sorry. The blood..."
Hm?
Oh, right.
Bit splattered.
Dripping from my hair too.
I glanced back at Jeong Eun-seo.
"You saw me fight before. No need to freak now."
"Ah... yes..."
Blood-soaked probably uncomfortable.
Even I smelled rank and sticky.
Time to wash.
Oh, yeah.
"How're the guys?"
Jeong Eun-seo averted her eyes as she answered.
"Ah... a bit better, I think. Lots of medicine... They had high fevers all night, kept changing wet cloths..."
Hmm.
I nodded.
"Don't worry. They'll be up soon. Got the nurse auntie too. Oh, how was she?"
"Yes, she stitched the wounds well..."
Hm.
Skilled, huh.
"Got it."
Hoo, deep breath.
"Crowded with so many in one room, right? I'm clearing the mart across now, but it'll take time to move. Cleared the house opposite—stay there."
Jeong Eun-seo bowed her head.
"Ah, yes. Understood. Thank you."
Ugh, sticky.
"Gonna wash up."
Said that and headed to the rooftop room.
Up and down these damn stairs.
Cleaning that whole building...
Ugh.
Back in the room, Su-hyun was still asleep.
Probably short on sleep from waking a few times last night.
Yanked off blood-soaked clothes, tossed in trash, straight to bathroom to rinse off the gore.
"Haa..."
Nice.
Oh, right.
Three level-ups.
Three points.
Dumped them into Strength, hit 30.
Thirty beasts.
Three levels per raid.
Not guaranteed, but I'd set up for it.
Ah, still far.
Survival Expert max level, too distant.
Damn.
After breakfast, moving the new folks started.
Grandma had nursed hard all night; eyes sunken. But face much better than yesterday.
Type who gains energy caring for others.
Maybe not so different from the inline skating club folks deep down.
The locked door in the new house? Su-hyun cut the handle off with the grinder, rehung the hinges fresh.
Uncle Hoon hefted the heavy door, helping; new place ready before lunch.
Lock was old-school.
Drilled hole in frame with electric drill, iron rod to bolt it shut.
Su-hyun, seriously all-purpose.
Inline guys staggered to new house, faces puffy like doughboys.
Swin flushed, total mess.
Still, way better than six-seven crammed tight.
Couples together, guys together, girls together.
Need nurses for the guys too, of course.
Grandma ended up staying in the main house master bedroom.
This grandma, house empty.
No one waiting, no food.
No reason to go back.
Seemed reluctant, but better with people.
I helped with moving a bit, then went corpse-collecting with Uncle Hoon.
Can't leave those rotting.
Rats plague now would screw us.
No hospital, ambulances, doctors.
Epidemic and we're done.
Burn later, but clear bit by bit now.
Hours gathering corpses, back home for solid rest.
Today's pretty normal.
On rooftop, smoking, scanned street.
Nothing stirring.
What're other groups doing?
Fighting themselves to death?
No screams though.
Hmm...
Not my problem.
Rest up, raid tonight.
Elbow on rooftop rail, eyed mart building.
Fourth floor cleared.
One floor a day...
Possible?
Flicked smoldering cig to street.
Then back to rooftop room.
Rest.