Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: 17. Ulterior Motives (3)
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"Hup!"
Skull pierced!
As I pulled the sword from the woman's head, drops of blood scattered in the air.
Thirteen beasts.
Acceleration, three times.
"Hoo."
A rumble, followed by the crashing sound of bodies collapsing all around.
Blood droplets spraying up.
I looked around.
Snacks, drinks, bottled water.
Even if a bit of blood splashed on them, it's probably fine since it's on the boxes.
I searched the bathroom too, confirmed no one was there, and left the third floor.
A shame there weren't more.
Greedy, I know, but it'd be nice if each floor had around two hundred.
It's just a warehouse and office, though—what can you expect?
With this, remaining: Strength 9, Acceleration 7 times.
Still plenty of leeway.
I went down to the second-floor stairs and knelt on one knee.
Krrr— krrr—
Hmm.
The chair's in the way a bit.
No.
Leave it.
I stood and descended the stairs.
Rounded the corner.
Light flooded my eyes.
People appeared right in front of me.
"Gah?!"
"Sssup."
Acceleration
[Auto-cast: Acceleration]
I charged straight in and thrust my sword.
The blade struck wherever my eyes landed.
The sensation of piercing skulls transmitted through my hand.
Crack, crack, crack, crack!
Right as the first Acceleration ended, I triggered the next instantly.
I wove through them, piercing heads nonstop.
Acceleration twice, then three times.
Nine heads.
All pierced, I spun around and leaped over the chair.
As I passed the side door and crunched over the shattered glass.
"—Gaa—k!"
A rumble, crashing sounds.
Nine beasts toppling at once.
"Kraaaak!"
More were coming.
Acceleration
[Auto-cast: Acceleration]
I bolted forward, vanishing from their sight.
Ran all the way to the convenience store and stopped.
Glanced back—yeah, I'd shaken them off for sure.
Catching my breath, I pulled out my phone.
Ugh, blood on it.
Around one in the morning?
Not yet. Forty-nine minutes.
I swung the sword down to shake off the blood, then sheathed it.
Shing—click.
"Hoo..."
Running like mad since the first day of the apocalypse, killing Human Beasts every day—my Stamina's definitely improved.
Not even winded after that sprint.
......Something feels off?
I headed into the road beyond the convenience store.
Hard to see.
Climbed onto a car.
Thud, thump.
Stepped on the roof and looked out into the distance.
A crowd of people swarming far off.
Looking closer...
They've got some formation going?
Mostly guys, holding stuff in their hands.
Baseball bats, wrenches, that sort of thing.
...Ah.
They're looting the convenience store.
One bolts out.
A few Human Beasts chase him.
The men charge the Human Beasts.
Swing what they're holding.
Dozens of people beating down three Human Beasts.
Ooh...
Hold on.
Dozens?
Dozens of men alone...
No way.
...Aha.
They're luring people out of their homes.
Building up their group.
Fighters banding together, systematically scavenging food.
As long as they don't make too much noise and attract Human Beasts from everywhere, they can pull it off if they're careful.
And damn, they've toughened up.
Last time, one got bit and got beaten to death by his own guys. Guess they've kept at it since.
Yeah, no choice.
To drag people out of hiding, you gotta feed them. And they need food for themselves too.
With dozens of men there, adding women, elderly, kids—probably around a hundred total.
Even one convenience store won't last long.
Our group's small, so we live comfortably off what we have. Only one fighter—me—so even a few can live plush.
But they're different.
One store's worth, and even against two or three Human Beasts, they need double digits of burly guys.
One finger bite, one drop of blood from grazing teeth, and they're done—beaten to death by allies.
Gotta smash from all sides before it bites, subdue in seconds.
Needs numbers. But more people means more supplies.
Endless looting is all they can do.
That's their strategy.
Well, without someone like me who can solo dozens, it's the surest way.
I smirked and hopped down from the car.
Cockroaches got their own way to survive.
Let those guys do their thing.
Even if one of theirs gets bit—buddy, brother, dad, son—they'll beat 'em dead.
Not my problem.
I passed the convenience store and entered the boarding house alley.
Hm?
......Supermarket at the alley's end.
Utility pole in front.
Something there?
Person's shadow?
I tilted my head and slowly walked into the alley.
A few steps in, rustling sounds.
Definitely a person.
What the?
...Scouting us out?
What's their game?
I couldn't help but chuckle in disbelief.
Laughed so hard I cackled all the way back to the boarding house.
Scouting, huh...
Come here and what? Start shit?
Please do.
I'll happily lop their heads off.
Grinning, I opened the gate and went in.
They have no idea what I can do.
In our group, only Uncle Hoon and Jung Eun-seo have seen me in action up close.
Hell, even Shit-stink—trapped in there himself—didn't see me wipe them all out.
...Hmm...
...Show 'em tomorrow?
If they're scouting like thieves, they've got plans. If they raid the house while I'm out, it'll be a hassle.
How many left at the mart entrance?
About twenty, I think.
Time to move.
Washed up, lay down, and checked my status window.
Always one point short.
Mental Power at 17, so a good sleep till morning should max it out.
Seven a.m.
Washed up and headed downstairs—breakfast prep in full swing.
Shit-stink—no, Han Tae was there too.
Hm, guy's got that "never miss a meal" vibe showing in his build.
"Han Tae."
"Yeah, hyung."
"After breakfast, tell the others—Uncle Hoon, the noonas—to pack up for the move."
Uncle Hoon and the women all turned to stare.
I smiled.
"Time to go. Eat up, then pack your stuff."
Su-hyun smiled.
"Faster than I thought. Figured it'd take ten days or so."
"What, ten days? Oh, right—grab all the tools. Haven't checked the residential floors yet. Some houses empty, some not. We'll check 'em out together today."
Apocalypse hit midday.
Single folks probably at work, houses empty. Unoccupied units too, likely.
Plus, dozens more at the mart entrance.
Probably residents who came down and got hit.
So, plenty of empty houses up there. Our group size should fit easy.
Su-hyun and Uncle Hoon nodded.
"Got it. Anything else?"
Hm... anything else.
Thought a sec.
"Clearing the mart entrance today, so block it off so nothing gets in from outside. Inside can wait, but open entrance means someone could climb the stairs if they try."
Su-hyun exchanged looks with Uncle Hoon and nodded.
"Auntie moved those aluminum sheets we've been collecting—I'll weld 'em up."
Han Tae asked, surprised.
"N-Noona, you weld too?"
Uncle Hoon turned to her.
"Come to think of it. Learned in school?"
Su-hyun smiled.
"Nah, family scrap metal business. Been tinkering with machines and welding since I was a kid with Dad. Got hooked, went Mech Eng."
I smiled.
"Huh. Thought girls didn't go for Mech Eng much. That's why. Any other girls there?"
"Zero girls. Lone flower, me. One in Electrical too, that's it."
I chuckled.
"Must've been popular."
Su-hyun twisted her lips.
"Ugh, enough. Dated one guy, done. I just wanna game and chill."
Then sighed deeply.
"Miss WoW."
Hm.
She said it was on hiatus, not quitting.
Never played, but looks like it was fun.
After breakfast, everyone started packing.
Tying up aluminum sheets scavenged from cars with rope, gathering belongings—lunchtime snuck up.
"Aigoo, ma'am. No need for chopsticks and such—we got it all in the mart. Pots, pans too."
Uncle Hoon coaxing Grandmother.
He's right.
Metal stuff, tools from the mart—last forever if maintained.
Consumables are the issue.
Hard to replace once gone.
Packed bags of food, TP, etc.—move prep done.
Inline folks with light loads fit better.
Inline guys still had blue bruises on their faces.
But looked feistier.
Eyes alive.
"How you feeling?"
"Lots better, thanks. Gimme that. I'll carry."
Reached for my Adidas backpack.
I smiled and handed it over.
Better empty for mart entrance anyway.
Thirteen bags/bundles stuffed with food and TP. Plus Uncle Hoon's heavy tools bag.
Everyone grabbed theirs by number, headed out.
Only one empty-handed: me.
I eyed the utility pole by the supermarket from the front.
No one there.
Scout's gotta eat lunch too.
"Let's go."
Swords at my waist, I led the way.