The Veteran Architect

The new weapon was a grade higher than the Shadow Fang I had been using. A sleek, crimson shortsword drifted down through the air. It had the eerie appearance of compressed bone.

The stats were clearly a cut above the C-grade gear. Just as I reached for the hilt, crackle—the Shadow Fang in my right hand crumbled to dust. It seemed its durability had finally reached its limit. "You served me well." I brushed the remaining iron filings from my hand and gripped the floating shortsword tightly. Hummm! A heavy vibration surged through my palm.

"Phew..." My body felt light as a feather, filled with an explosive power that surged through every limb. Just as a smirk began to form on my lips, new notification windows flooded my vision.

'Huh?' I read the text and let out a dry laugh. I didn't know who it was, but they deserved it. "If you'd just left things alone, you wouldn't have had to interfere." It was a relief, at least. Information about unknown entities watching us, the item grade upgrades—it had been beneficial in the end, but if such interference continued, I never knew when it might become dangerous. "What a strange world." But the notifications didn't end there. Another line of text appeared.

"And this..." I shook my head and muttered. It felt like I was receiving all the attention I’d never had in my entire life at once. I was curious about these 'someones,' but I stopped thinking about it. I wouldn't get an answer right now anyway. "Status window." I tucked the sword into my belt and spoke.

I scanned the numbers. The increases were significant, especially the Agility. "Not bad. Thanks for the meal." I looked up at the sky and laughed. Well, even if they couldn't intervene, they might still be watching. I headed toward the subway station, simultaneously pulling up the community window to check the overall situation.

Various posts were popping up, a mix of useless spam and actual information. Mentions of this place appeared occasionally, too. Then, suddenly— "..Huh?" My gaze locked onto one post.

The smile faded from my lips. Konkuk Univ Exit 3. Two girls. "These bastards." I slammed the community window shut and kicked off the ground. Thud! The asphalt cracked slightly as I launched myself forward. Thanks to my increased Agility, my speed was beyond imagination. The scenery blurred past me. As I neared the waiting room, the roar of a crowd became distinct.

"No, get out of the way! Didn't you read the rules!? It was made to be challenged, what the hell are you doing!!"

"Yeah! We're about to die to monsters outside, is it fair for you to just hide in there!? Move, you assholes!"

"I'm challenging it first!!!! You guys go after me!!!!"

"They said you can only challenge 3 times a day!! If you lose, there might not be a chance left!"

"Like I'd lose, you idiot!!!"

It was a scene of pure chaos, mixed with curses and shouting. I kept my presence hidden and took in the scene. Inside the glowing blue magic circle, Lee Seol-ah stood with a pale face, hiding Yu-ah behind her. Just outside the boundary, seven or eight survivors were shouting, weapons in hand. A crowd driven mad by greed and the fear ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of survival.

"Are you all crazy!!!"

Between the crowd and the magic circle, a man stood blocking the path, gripping a pipe wrench in both hands. A middle-aged man in work clothes. He was trembling slightly, but his teeth were clenched tight. "Even if the world has ended, does it make sense for grown adults to swarm in and attack a place with kids inside!"

"And who the hell are you to stop us!!! Are you just acting tough because you want to get in first!?"

"T-tough? I ran away because I was scared too, but this isn't right! Swarming kids to steal their place by force isn't something human beings do!"

One of the crowd scoffed at the man's desperate plea. "Human beings? People are being ripped apart outside, and you're worried about morals?! If you want to die for your ethics, go die alone!"

"Push him aside! They said we can only challenge 3 times a day anyway! Whoever takes it first is the owner!"

The crowd raised their weapons in unison. Just before they could rush the man, "You guys are a real handful, aren't you?" A low voice cut through the waiting room. A new voice. Everyone turned in the same direction. "...Who are you!"

I drew the bone shortsword from my waist and walked slowly toward the light. Covered in the dark red blood of monsters, my appearance made their faces stiffen. "O-oppa...!" Yu-ah cried out. Lee Seol-ah slumped to the ground, letting out a sigh of relief. I stood calmly between the crowd and the magic circle.

"W-what the...!" The man with the kitchen knife stepped back, shouting. I scanned them with indifferent eyes.

Confused thoughts. I tapped my shoulder with the flat of the shortsword and said, "Challenges, huh?" Killing intent crushed the waiting room. I smiled and took a step forward. "Come on in. There are only two spots left." Silence descended.

"Let's decide whose head rolls first." My gruesome appearance and raised sword made the group hesitate. But they had nowhere to retreat. Human greed always paralyzes reason. "D-don't talk shit! He's alone!" Kim Sang-hun, the man ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with the kitchen knife, screamed with his eyes rolled back. "It's the same whether we stay here or go outside!!! If we get kicked out, we die to monsters!! Everyone, attack!!!"

His shouting was the trigger. The crowd rushed toward me, swinging their weapons. Ding!

'Too slow.' The movements of my opponents, displayed by the Spoiler trait, were dull. Kim Sang-hun swung his knife at my neck first. I ducked, stepped into his guard, and slammed the hilt into his solar plexus. Thud! "Gah, ugh...!" He collapsed. I stepped on his shoulder to leap, twisted in the air, and planted a kick into the chin of the next man. Crack! "Aaaargh!" The sound of a jaw shattering echoed. He rolled on the floor, spitting blood. I landed, lowered my body to dodge a baseball bat, and kicked the back of the attacker's knee. His leg snapped at a grotesque angle, and screams erupted. "Aaaah! My leg! My leg!!!"

Three were down in an instant. The difference in physical ability was overwhelming. Lee Seol-ah’s jaw dropped. "Wow... he's really good at fighting. Wait, do you get like that when you level up...?" Yu-ah, who had been clutching her hands, smiled and added, "My brother was a Taekwondo athlete when he was younger!" "He was a Taekwondo athlete? No wonder he fights so well..."

Unlike the peaceful commentary inside, the reality in front of me was gruesome. "H-hieek...!" The remaining four froze. Their weapons clattered to the floor. "Why, aren't you coming?" I stomped on Kim Sang-hun's head. "You said to attack together." Their pupils trembled. Then, "P-please spare us! We were crazy! It was just so scary outside...!" "I'm sorry..!! I'm sorry!!" They knelt and begged. I looked down at them coldly. I didn't intend to kill them anyway. I didn't want Yu-ah to see that.

"Spare you." I flicked the shortsword and raised an eyebrow. "Fine. But..." They gulped at my trailing words. "I have to be paid for your lives, right?" "Y-yes! We'll do anything!" "Give me everything you have. From coins to food and usable equipment. Then I'll spare you." They hesitated for a moment. "What are you doing? Or do you want to die? I'm counting to 10. 10, 9..." "W-we'll give it to you! We'll give you everything!"

Nothing was more precious than life. They scrambled to hand over their copper coins. A few bottles of water, ramen, and chocolate bars were laid on the floor.

'Sweet.' I pointed to the exit with my chin. "If you're done, get lost. Before I kill you right now." I flicked the sword and added, "Be grateful I'm sparing you." "Y-yes!!! Thank you! Thank you!" They scrambled up the stairs, not even bothering to help their injured comrades. Only when the last person dragged his broken leg away did I look away. Now, only my party and the middle-aged man in work clothes remained.

"..." The man stood against the wall, face pale. As I turned my gaze, he waved his hands frantically. "T-there! I didn't challenge you! As you just saw, those guys were trying to touch the kids, so I just blocked them!! It's the truth!!" His voice trembled. He seemed completely terrified by the situation. I silently pulled up the Spoiler window. You never know what's in a person's heart.

I let out a soft exclamation to myself. It was genuine kindness—he had stood against the crowd to protect people he didn't even know. And. 'A Veteran Architect...' It was the first time I'd seen such a high grade. But it wasn't a trait I particularly coveted right now. The Safe Zone ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠already existed, and this place ran solely on coins. There was no reason to take someone in and consume extra resources. 'It's a bit much to take him in...' But it was also awkward to kick out someone who had protected Yu-ah without giving him anything. 'Can't be helped. Should I give him something?' I checked the copper coins I'd just obtained. This would be enough to buy what he needed right now. Just as I finished calculating and was about to speak, Ding! The Spoiler window updated with a sound.

"...What?"