Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: 24. Humans Who've Lost Their Minds. (2)
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The wooden tub filled with bows and arrows was still sitting right by the side entrance to the mart on the first floor.
No one had taken anything.
They weren't in the right state of mind to, anyway.
I stared at the bows and the quiver of arrows, then let out a smirk.
People these days, no curiosity at all.
Fine, whatever.
Handling weapons is still awkward for them.
At least for the guys in line and the women.
There were five bows, excluding the one I'd use. That meant at least five of our people could arm themselves.
On the flip side, it also meant at least five of us had to arm up.
After what happened last night, people needed to be able to defend themselves.
...Hold on.
Didn't the arrows increase a bit?
Were there this many?
Looking closer, there were arrows spilling out of the tub too.
Like they'd overflowed from being too cramped.
I realized what happened and chuckled.
The quiver wrapped in feather bindings.
I'd left it just like that when I went up.
It was early dawn now, so that meant at least dozens more arrows had appeared.
Good thing it only added three per hour— if it'd doubled whatever was slotted in, there'd probably be a hill of arrows piled up here by now.
...That might've been even better.
I yanked out the tightly packed feather-bound quiver.
Arrows poured out beside it with a clatter, scattering next to the tub.
I kicked them roughly into a pile with my foot, then picked up the bow I'd been using.
Alright, now...
How should I rig this up?
I glanced down at the lifting belt strapped to my waist.
Two swords on either side.
...Hmm.
I pondered for a bit, then picked up the quiver.
A somewhat flat quiver.
Sturdy leather that gripped the arrows firmly yet flexibly.
I tested the bow against it.
No good. It wouldn't fit.
It'd be perfect if it did.
Anything around?
I rummaged through the wooden tub.
Amid the pile of arrows, I found a few cylindrical quivers and flat ones.
The flat quiver.
A little wider open than the feather-bound one.
The shape was slightly different too.
...This one might work.
Slipping the bow in, it slid deep inside. The more I pushed, the more pressure it applied, holding it securely.
It wouldn't come out unless I tugged hard.
Jackpot. This was a bow sheath.
I thought it was just quivers.
I smirked, then slung the quiver and bow sheath straps around my body, crossing them in an X at my back.
Better secure them tight.
For now, this'll do. I'll ask Su-hyun to reinforce it later.
Once geared up, I raised the shutter and stepped out of the building.
Han Tae, on watch from the second floor, poked his head out the window.
"Seong-hun hyung. Heading out now?"
I turned and waved.
"Yeah. Lock the shutter."
"Take care out there, hyung."
"Will do."
Seeing him on watch duty meant he was starting to find his place.
He was still too scared to go out with the hyungs to fetch aluminum sheets, but he helped with the garden and ran most of the errands. People seemed to like him for it.
Would be nice if he could pitch in on combat too.
But he was too small and chubby, with no arm strength.
From trying the bow myself, I could tell—he had no talent for archery.
Jeong Eun-seo, who enjoyed workouts, or Su-hyun, who loved tinkering, would pull the bow way better than him.
Han Tae needed to grow more to shake off that rookie vibe.
With all the gear weighing me down, walking felt a bit off.
I'd get used to it lugging it around.
Current time: 2 a.m.
Wild Hunter Level 2.
Since I was at it, I dumped a point into Senses to make it 3.
Three arrows slotted in the quiver on my back.
Senses at just 3—no need to carry dozens.
What I wanted was to mow down dozens at a time, not hone archery skills to pick them off one by one.
No telling how much practice it'd take to reliably headshot from afar.
First time fighting with a bow.
Today, I'd test long-range shots. Once Senses ran dry, switch to sword.
The streets were pretty deserted.
No cockroach howls from them killing each other.
They must be down after the string of losses.
Not my problem.
I headed down to the underpass, hopping over corpses until I reached the fountain.
The stench of rotting bodies hit me.
Worse in summer, probably.
"Hoo."
Ahead, from the shops all the way to the subway path, Human Beasts swarmed densely.
I reached back, hooked my fingers on the bowstring, and drew.
It slid out with a smooth shwoop.
Grabbed an arrow with my other hand.
Nocked it.
First time killing a Human Beast with this.
Senses: 1 point.
Headshot guaranteed.
Let's see what happens.
I stood at an angle, raised the bow.
Pulled back the nocked string.
Then, something impossible happened.
I flinched and lowered my arm.
What the hell did I just see?
...Wait.
Again.
Raised the bow, aimed ahead, drew the string.
And right in front of my eyes, beyond my bow hand...
A circle appeared.
Dinner-plate sized.
Transparent.
But definitely there.
Human Beasts teemed inside the circle.
One glowed faintly red.
It was positioned exactly where my arrow tip pointed.
"Huh..."
I lowered my arm again.
The transparent circle vanished.
Looked ahead without it.
No red glow on any Human Beast.
"...So that's how it works."
The red one was my target.
The one in the arrow's path.
The one I aimed at with my projectile.
It locked on perfectly.
I took a deep breath and stared ahead.
Since getting the status window, impossible things kept happening, but the more I experienced, the more it amazed me.
Time to get used to this too.
I raised the bow again.
Drew the string.
Circle appeared.
Arrow tip's direction.
Human Beast glowed red.
I inhaled deeply.
"Sseup."
Released.
Twang.
The bow snapped open, propelling the arrow.
Faint whoosh.
The arrow streaked away.
No.
Not enough power.
Should've aimed higher...
I couldn't believe my eyes.
The arrow, dropping from weak draw tension, suddenly curved upward.
Like a swallow riding the wind, it arced high and pierced the Human Beast's skull.
The beast crumpled like a puppet with cut strings.
"...Insane."
Was this even possible?
The arrow mid-flight changed direction.
I stared at the bow in my hand.
Guaranteed hit.
...So this is what it meant.
A laugh bubbled up.
I chuckled for a moment, then drew another arrow from my back.
...This is fun.
Nocked it, drew.
Bow bent into a C.
Transparent circle.
Red-glowing Human Beast inside.
Released.
Shwooo—
That instant, the Human Beast shifted.
Turned its head.
Oh god.
It had moved way off the original spot.
But the arrow anticipated it, curving bizarrely like a motorboat slicing water, pursuing the zombie.
From behind, it'd look like circling in a loop.
It pierced the head.
"...Haha."
I'm losing it.
I clutched my knees, laughing.
What the hell is this?
Impossible to hit that trajectory.
Even with all that dodging?
The arrow did?
Reminded me of a game.
Titanfall? Part 2 maybe?
Smart Pistol that curved bullets to hit targets.
100% accuracy.
What's the difference?
Shoot and it always hits.
Wild Hunter?
What kind of crazy specialization is this?
I laughed a bit longer, then stood.
Alright, one arrow left.
Fire it off.
I shot the last one, dropping another beast, then opened the status window.
...Huh?
Strength didn't drop.
The strength that always drained on evil body kills...
...Only depletes on melee kills?
...Wait.
That means...
When Senses hits zero, I can't kill with ranged weapons anymore.
Strength for melee kill count.
Senses for ranged kill count.
...Is that it?
"...Ha."
Of course.
Had a hunch.
Damn.
Status window wouldn't be that broken without limits.
Suddenly curious.
...Strength.
I'd raised the stat for kill count.
So what skills tie to Strength?
Senses stat itself is kill count.
But I slotted a skill on it.
Strength must have a kill-count skill too.
Remaining specializations.
Space Explorer and Shadow Warrior.
...Shadow Warrior.
Gonna go nuts.
So curious!
Pick Shadow Warrior next time.
Can't hold back.
I looked up.
Anyway, ranged test: success.
Wild Hunter skill: hit guarantee.
I like it.
Love it.
Can carry more arrows from now on.
Thinking that, I stowed the bow.
Drew my sword.
Shing—
A smile on my face, I walked forward.
Grinning, I shouted at them.
"Hawkeye!"
Krawr!
Human Beast heads whipped around wildly.
Kaaack!
They charged.
Grabbing, tangling, trampling, leaping—forming waves of humans.
Smiling, I strode toward the hundreds-strong human wave.
In one breath, I swept to the underpass entrance.
"Haa, hoo, haa."
Out of breath, damn it.
One Acceleration left.
Rumble—
Like an earthquake.
Dead ones and those tumbling into them collapsed together, shaking the underpass.
I wiped the blood and sweat dripping from my chin with the back of my hand, then shook off my sword.
Splatter!
The spray of blood felt damn good.
Shing—click.
Sheathing my sword, I turned to head back when a distant rumble echoed.
Far away. Really far.
What was that?
Looking up, something flew beyond the night sky.
A small propeller plane.
Think I saw it yesterday too?
I paused, watching the tiny speck of a plane drift leisurely.
Between distant streetlights, something like dust flickered—probably spraying again.
...Weird feeling.
There are other survivors besides us.
Cockroaches are still around, so obviously.
That thing flying means more people somewhere.
Who?