Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: 3. Base Camp. (2)
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I fiddled with the screws while lost in thought.
Could I use this utility knife as a weapon?
...The thought vanished in ten seconds.
The blade snapped right off.
Damn it.
This thing could barely scratch their skin.
I needed to smash their heads, not prance around with a utility knife that breaks on impact.
I set the box back on the shelf and unscrewed one after another, racking my brain the whole time.
Think.
Think hard.
This metal pipe was probably stainless steel or something similar.
Meaning it was light.
Not some solid, hefty iron bar packed tight inside.
So how the hell do I attack with this?
Smash their heads?
This thing's too light.
Hell, it might hit weaker than a telescoping baton.
Could I really land a fatal blow with this?
The more screws I removed, the less faith I had in this metal pipe.
......No.
It's not hopeless.
Not swinging it—thrusting.
Use it like a spear.
This pipe was about 1.5 meters long.
Perfect length, and if I thrust right, it shouldn't bend or snap.
A telescoping baton folds up if you thrust wrong, so no good as a spear.
Only works as a blunt swinging weapon.
Yeah.
Let's make a spear.
With this.
I undid all the screws.
"Hoo..."
The shelf was half disassembled.
All I needed was one pipe.
No need to take it all apart.
I gripped the pipe and swung it around lightly.
......Ah.....
A bit tricky.
If my hands get sweaty, it might slip.
It had powder coating, but better prepare for the worst. Wrap it in something...
"...Hm."
I immediately unbuckled my belt.
Cut a hole for the buckle with the utility knife.
Damn, tough as hell.
Sliced a bit front and back until it gaped enough for a screw.
Lined it up on the pipe, screwed it into the hole, and tightened the nut hard.
Wrapped it tight around the pipe with all my strength, then screwed and tightened the end hole too.
...Belt handle.
Cowhide, sticks right to my hand.
The holes were spaced wide, so 0.5 meters of the 1.5-meter length became the grip, but whatever.
Better than nothing.
The belt seemed securely fastened.
Now...
Time to sharpen the spear tip...
If possible, I'd grind down the metal to a deadly point like a boar spear, but no tools or time for that.
...Stomp on it?
Nah.
Unless my shoe sole's solid metal, these soft sneakers won't dent it.
Ah, damn it.
Just a convenience store stockroom.
No fancy tools here.
This is it, fuck.
I put the boxes back on the shelf and slumped against the wall.
"...Haa, status..."
......Gonna take a while to recover.
Using this as a spear sounds good, but with Mental Power at 3, I can't move rashly.
Better secure Acceleration first.
I picked up the spear and leaned my head against the wall.
"...I'm Han Seong-hun. What's your names?"
The plainclothes woman eyed me with a raspy voice.
"Kim Ye-eun... This is Kim So-eun. My little sister."
Ye-eun, So-eun.
Got it.
I nodded and glanced at the status window.
How long till Mental Power hits 5?
Earlier, I woke up in a daze. No idea how long I slept.
I glanced at the women.
Ye-eun had long straight ponytail hair.
So-eun had a bob cut.
Couldn't see So-eun's face clearly, so no clue if they resembled each other, but Ye-eun looked pretty decent.
Her figure? Didn't check closely, but nothing eye-searing, so not bad.
Better than ugly, but screw pretty or not—the real issue is whether they'll pull aggro.
Listen up from now on. No aggro-pulling bullshit.
"About getting out of here."
Ye-eun looked at me.
So-eun flinched.
"I'm gonna stab those bastards with this."
I pointed to my forehead.
They'd get what that meant.
Ye-eun's face went pale.
I said quietly,
"No time for 'that's gruesome' bullshit. Surviving this is what matters. You know what those things did to others."
I looked at them both in turn.
Only Ye-eun's face was visible.
"We'll rest a bit, then start. No screaming—just help me out."
Ye-eun trembled faintly as she spoke.
"H-how can we help..."
I glanced at the door.
Let me think.
How many were there?
They came pouring in—how many exactly?
Off the top of my head, at least four.
Maybe more, maybe exactly four.
"Hoo..."
I nodded and looked at Ye-eun.
"...When I open that door, the ones outside will rush in. After I stab with this, shut the door again."
Best if I didn't need their help.
"I'll handle it if I can, but if I need backup, close the door. Got it?"
Ye-eun bowed her head lower, scared shitless.
No answer.
So-eun didn't move either.
Ah......Fuckin' hell.
If I just had one tough guy who's thrown a punch or two.
With decent teamwork and Acceleration boost, four might be doable, fuck.
But these chicks... Haa...
Fine, no expectations.
I said my piece.
If they help, lucky me. Otherwise, solo it.
Fuck.
"I'm off."
I set my bag down as a pillow and lay back.
One or two hours should recover something.
Took four hours to hit 5 Mental Power.
Plenty of time to watch the status since waking.
Figured out the recovery too.
10% per hour.
Stamina recovers 10%, other stats scale to it.
Max Stamina 6, so 0.6 per hour. Once over 4, it costs 1 Stamina to restore 1 to others.
Full Stamina from 0: 10 hours.
Others too: at least 15 hours.
...Damn.
Need a ton of rest.
Level up stats quick to boost recovery.
Acceleration uses need Mental Power first.
Then Stamina.
Strength and Senses? No clue.
Seem to drain with Stamina during activity, but unclear.
I sat up.
As I did, the women stirred and lifted their heads.
They dozed off too.
Sleeping sound in this mess.
"Hoo..."
Ye-eun eyed me as I stood.
"...You doing it?"
"Gotta."
I placed the telescoping baton on the nearby shelf.
Bent, won't collapse back.
Leave it.
Gripped the spear in my right hand, grabbed the door handle.
Leave the shelf in front for now.
Just enough gap to thrust.
Ah......Fuck, tense as hell.
"...Opening."
Heard a woman swallow.
Slowly lowered my hand from handle to lock.
Turned it.
...Click.
...Quiet.
Heart pounding like mad.
Screw up, we all die.
"...Hoo..."
Gently turned the handle.
Well-maintained—no squeak.
Nice one, store owner.
Cracked it open.
Store interior visible.
Triangle kimbap display, beyond that coffee and hot bars lined up, fridges after.
No human beasts.
Where'd they go?
Looked down.
"...!"
Fuckers on the floor.
Face-down or passed out? Unclear.
Why like that?
...Too risky to check.
What now?
Vision sharpens.
Heart thumps.
Stray thoughts gone.
I licked my lips.
Pursed them, whistled.
Wheee!
"Grrrrr!"
With growls, the sprawled ones shot up. Heads whipping side to side.
Plaid-shirt college kid, suit salaryman, jeans newbie, high schooler.
Four.
All guys.
Hunting the sound source.
Haven't spotted us yet.
Door's just ajar.
Gawking won't help.
Whistled again.
Wheee!
"Grrk!"
Four human beasts whipped heads this way.
Fuckin' ugly mugs.
Neck flesh chunks gone, t-shirts torn, nose and cheek ripped off...
"Graaah! Graaaaah!"
They charge!
Fuck, Acceleration!
Now!
"Graa—ahh—aaa—"
Plaid leaped over counter, suit vaulted it, jeans slammed wall, high schooler barreled toward stockroom.
Time stopped.
No—slowed.
Again.
Same distance!
Always freezes here!
I raised the spear at the high schooler's head.
Sorry, not sorry, you fuck!
"Urraaah!"
Thrust full force into the punk's forehead.
Splurch!
Fuck!
Won't go in!
Not piercing the skull!
Yanked the spear back.
Thrust again with everything.
"Graaah!"
Squelch!
Vile sensation traveled up the spear to my hand.
Spear pierced the high schooler's skull.
His eyes bulged like popping out.
Creepy as fuck!
Yanked it out hard.
"—Ahh—aaaah!"
Acceleration ended!
Slamming the door shut with all my might.
BAM!
Closing force met charging force—thunderous boom.
Screeches and wails mixed: Kyaaak! Euwaaang!
Locked it fast.
Clunk!
"Graaah! Graaaaaah!"
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Huk, huk, huk!"
Fuck!
I backed up a step, spear in hand.
Heart... about to burst.
First time killing for real.
"Huk, huk, huk!"
So-eun crying, Ye-eun soothing.
Spear slick with blood and hair, mind reeling.
I just killed a person.
Jaw chattering.
"Graaah! Graaaaaah!"
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Door vibrating visible.
"Hoo, hoo, hoo."
No.
That wasn't human.
Right to kill.
I gritted my teeth, deep breaths.
I clamped my mouth, gritted teeth, deep inhale and exhale.
Kill 'em all.
From now on, keep going.
Wipe out every last one.
Apocalypse?
Fuck that.
Think I'm dying?