Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: 3. Base Camp. (3)
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I panted heavily, then muttered softly.
"...Let's... rest a bit. Then again."
I'll kill them all.
I'd made up my mind, but my jaw was still trembling.
My teeth chattered noisily.
I've gotten into fights before.
But killing someone?
Never even crossed my mind.
I just killed a person.
No, not a person.
...He was a high schooler.
Wearing a uniform and all.
No, not a person!
I gripped my spear tightly and slowly sank to the floor.
"Haa, haa, haa."
So-eun whimpered and sobbed. Ye-eun stroked her little sister's head and back, trying to soothe her.
She glanced at me while doing so.
"...Thank you."
Thank you?
I looked at Ye-eun.
Her eyes...
Half-lidded with tears, on the verge of breaking into sobs, yet she stared straight at me without blinking.
It was a face full of resolve.
Resolve to survive and get out.
And trust in me, too.
...That look gives me a bit of strength.
I nodded.
Forget the horrific feeling of that metal pipe piercing a skull.
I'll have to do it dozens, no, thousands, tens of thousands of times from now on.
I pressed my lips together, glared into empty space, and slowly breathed.
"...Seong-hun."
A hoarse voice.
I turned to Ye-eun again.
"How many more are out there?"
I silently held up three fingers.
Then said,
"...I just killed a person."
Ye-eun and So-eun flinched.
I spoke softly.
"...We'll rest a bit, then do it again."
Neither Ye-eun nor So-eun replied.
I looked back at Ye-eun.
She was looking at me, too.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
I didn't know why she was crying, and had no thought to tell her to stop.
I said,
"...Let's get out alive. Together."
Ye-eun nodded faintly at my words.
Yeah.
Let's get out alive.
I set down my spear and closed my eyes.
This warehouse we'd rushed into in a panic.
Tight enough that three people sitting inside felt cramped.
None of us—me or the girls—had imagined we'd be holed up here like this for so long.
Hold on.
Keep holding on until we survive.
"Hoo..."
Sitting there steadied my nerves a bit.
As we rested, Ye-eun spoke up.
"Um... Seong-hun."
I turned to her.
Ye-eun said,
"There are three... out there... It's dangerous, right? And... at our house... Grandmother's... alone..."
......Yeah......
From her tone and expression...
She's basically pleading for me to hurry up...
Does she think I'm doing this because I want to stay stuck here?
I want to stretch out my legs, too.
How do I explain that I'm waiting for Acceleration to recharge?
I thought for a moment, then answered.
"We're waiting for those things to calm down. Earlier, they were just collapsed. If a few suddenly swarm, this shelf might not hold."
"...Ah..."
Ye-eun nodded as if convinced.
Yeah, just stay put like that.
Oh, right.
I leveled up earlier.
I opened my status window.
...The stats...
...Fuck, suddenly I'm hesitating again.
Securing Acceleration uses is important, but recovery matters too.
Pumping Mental Power won't help if recovery can't keep up; I'd just have to rest longer, and I want to get out of here as fast as possible.
......There are three outside.....
If I kill them all, that's 4 points total.
...Alright.
I put 1 point into Stamina and closed my eyes again.
Even if it only boosts recovery by 0.1 per hour, better to heal faster and get out quicker.
After putting the point into Stamina...
Ugh... Stamina was at 3.
It was 5 earlier.
About an hour's passed.
Should be 6 normally.
But it's 3.
...Recovers 3 times per hour, then.
Every 20 minutes, loses 1 Stamina while other stats recover?
...If that's the case, Stamina efficiency is huge.
Stamina, huh...
Anyway, got it.
Strength dropped by 1 too.
From thrusting the spear so hard earlier?
Body feels fine, though.
...No way killing one costs 1 Strength...
...Please, fuck, don't let it be.
If so, no matter how many Acceleration charges, I can only handle 5 at a time.
If that's true, just pumping Mental Power won't cut it.
No matter how much Acceleration, Strength hits 0 and then?
Fuck!
Crazy, please no!
"Hoo..."
Irritation building, I grimaced and leaned my head against the wall. Ye-eun must've thought I was scared.
"...Ch-cheer up. Okay?"
I chuckled and looked at Ye-eun.
Just nodded.
What could I say?
She's telling me to cheer up, so I nod.
"Just a bit more rest."
"...Okay..."
Two more hours passed before I secured 5 points.
Phone said 3 a.m.
So-eun had fallen asleep in Ye-eun's arms.
Sorry, kid, time to wake up.
"...Let's do it."
I stood.
Ye-eun and So-eun startled awake.
Ye-eun patted her sister's head, then stood and came behind me.
Hm?
Ye-eun looked at me and said,
"I'll help. With the door... closing it."
Oh.
Nice.
I stepped aside and pointed at the shelf.
"Stand here."
Ye-eun pressed tight against the shelf.
I gripped my spear and grabbed the door handle.
Remember.
That ponytail fucker's head—how much force I used.
One clean thrust per skull.
Would be easier with a proper blade.
But no.
This is all I got.
All my strength into each thrust.
One per hit.
Time given to me: 5 seconds.
"...Opening."
"Yes."
She's got resolve now.
Her tone's to my liking.
I unlocked it.
Click.
Then slowly turned the handle.
...Creak...
Ugh. Hinges are busted.
Those bastards pounded it so much.
A few hours later, quiet again.
Peeking at the floor: yep, three sprawled out.
Right at the counter's edge.
Practically under my feet.
......Hold on.
Right at my feet.
The head...
A bit far.
About a meter away.
Tangled up from rolling over each other, tricky.
Only legs visible on two; barely the nape on the third.
I eased the spear forward.
Maybe I can take one without Acceleration.
Aimed at it, pulled back slowly.
Kill one without Acceleration.
One shot.
I inhaled.
Kept inhaling.
Until my chest swelled full.
Held my breath.
Gripped hard.
Downward thrust, all at once.
All my power!
"...Hup!"
The metal pipe slammed dead-center into its nape.
Splurch!
The tip pierced through!
Pull! Quick!
"Puha!"
Exhaled as I yanked the spear with all my might.
At the same time, two roared and rose.
"Krarrak!"
"Kraaaak! Krarrak!"
Both whipped heads toward me.
Spear pulled back!
They charged!
Torn, mangled faces rushed in!
Fuck, Acceleration!
"Krraa-aa-aa--"
Plaid-shirt frog-leaping full-body. Suit guy with only grotesque face and hands visible.
Both froze.
I gritted my teeth and thrust at plaid-head with everything.
"Hup!"
Splurt!
Pipe nailed the crown perfectly.
Pulling—stuck!
"Kuh!"
All strength to yank again!
Out!
No time!
Aimed spear at suit-face.
"---aa-aa-"
Fuck!
"Krap!"
Slammed the spear down on its head full force.
Crack!
Hard crunch shattering, then soft mush tearing—transmitted through my hands.
Horrific.
Fucking hell!
"-a-rak!"
Boom!
Roaring pair slammed into the door and collapsed.
Then, silence.
"Haa, haa, haa."
Mind blank.
No thoughts.
Gripping pipe-spear two-handed, I stood glaring into nothing.
Breathing ragged.
Is this my breath?
Moment later, a sound.
"...Eeeng... Aaang..."
...Who's crying?
Sounds like sobbing?
"Huk, haa, haa, hoo."
Looked aside.
Neck stiff, hard to turn.
So-eun whimpering in tears.
Ye-eun holding her from who-knows-when.
"Don't cry. Don't cry. It's over now."
I panted, staring at them.
Half out of my mind.
In one go.....
Erased three in one go.
Ah.
Leveled up.
"Haa, haa, hoo, haa."
Clang.
Spear dropped.
Strength drained; grip went slack.
Fuck, no!
I bent and snatched it up.
"...Urp!"
Fuck, gonna puke!
Hands clamped over mouth, head thrown back.
"Krup!"
Fucking hell!
Nothing to vomit, but it comes anyway!
Hands over mouth, endured.
Fuck, don't puke.
Go back down!
Stomach's empty anyway, shit!
Ah.
Passed.
Nausea gone.
Released hands, knelt.
"Haa, haa, hoo. Ha."
Head spinning.
Killed... three people.
No, four.
No, five.
......Killed five.
In this convenience store.
...No.
Don't delude yourself.
Keep slipping into it—snap out of it.
Those aren't people.
Not people.
"Hoo... hoo..."
I grabbed the shelf, spear in hand, stood.
"Hoo... hoo..."
So-eun still whimpering beside us.
Snap out of it.
It's over now.
Just get out of here.
"Hoo... heup!"
Get it together!
Pulled the spear.
Thud!
Something hit the door.
...Fuck, suit guy's head.
Still impaled on the spear.
I looked at Ye-eun and So-eun.
"...Don't look."
Ye-eun's face paled; she nodded and buried So-eun's face in her chest.
I pushed the door while yanking the spear.
Splort!
Pulled free.
"Hoo, haa..."
...Done.
It's done now.
Mind's gone.
Can't think anymore.
Killed five in one day.
Never imagined it.
...Trauma incoming...
I tapped my forehead with my fist.
Snap out.
Snap out.
I survived. That's all.
I'm alive.
"Squeep... hoo."
Deep breath, then turned to the women.
They must be shocked too.
Especially Ye-eun—she saw everything I did.
I said,
"...Let's go. Home."