Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Vampire Detective
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“Wow. Life feels worth living. For real. If this were reality, it’d be even better. Heh.”
I muttered to myself as I staggered down the street at dawn. Once I strayed a bit from the bustling entertainment district, I emerged onto a deserted road without a soul in sight.
Normally, I would have headed to a nearby motel to crash. For the past ten days, shuttling between rooms and motels had become my daily routine.
But tonight, I was deliberately stumbling along like a drunk. I’d knocked back what felt like five bottles of whiskey, but my mind was steady, and my vision sharp as ever.
Three of them. Two tailing me carefully on foot, and one driving a van.
The tails latched on the moment I left Cableplex.
As far as I could recall, I hadn’t made any enemies in this world. Sure, I’d scrapped with the gatekeeper at Yeonghyejeong once, but that was done and dusted. Park Chan-seong, the security manager, wouldn’t let some underling stir up trouble.
The girls I’d slept with in the rooms? I’d never forced them. I paid them fair and square for their services.
Vampires sent by Kang Wook-seong? …Nah, that old-timer wouldn’t go for something this sloppy. Besides, we’re still in a legit business deal. No bad blood yet.
My mind whirred. Suspects popped up, then got crossed off one by one.
Worst case: my Taker identity leaked. That’d cramp my style big time.
Black Cross Society vampire hunter? Did the bus terrorism blow up? No way it did.
Too amateur for vampire hunters. Just gangsters like the ones at Cableplex.
Then I remembered the backpack slung over my shoulder.
Money. Specifically, 320 million won stuffed inside.
Aha. The cash. That gangster saw me settle up with the madam.
320 million. Split three ways, over 100 million each.
All in cash, too. No wonder greed kicked in.
What a hassle. Carry cards from now on? …No can do. How would I splash tips?
I decided to smash them good. If word got around, the small-timers would slink away on their own. The big shots wouldn’t bother with me over pocket change like 320 mil.
I veered toward an alley sans CCTV. A narrow gap between shops. The workers were long gone, so I could yell my lungs out. Rarely used—trash piled everywhere.
I figured they’d jump me right away. Nope.
They only showed deep in the alley.
Three total, van driver included.
Weapons: machete, baseball bat, sashimi knife.
I eyed the sashimi knife guy. The gangster from the club earlier.
“You bastard. You’re dying here today.”
“...Dying outta nowhere? Just say it straight. It’s my money you’re after.”
I casually dropped the backpack from my shoulder. The two gangsters’ eyes flicked to it, but the knife guy kept glaring at me.
“Money’s a bonus, but you gotta go. Bastard. Snapping those pics?”
“...Ah. You saw? Camera in the room too?”
Looks like money wasn’t the goal. So what? I pondered, then chuckled. Only Ra-young had snapped real pics—back when we bet.
“Ra-young? You her boyfriend? Jealous. Damn, Ra-young was tasty. Pussy and tits so tight and springy.”
“This fucker...”
The knife guy’s grip tightened. Trembling. Dying to ram that blade into my gut.
His lackeys glanced around confused, peeking at him. I got the picture. He was the ringleader.
I curled my lip in a sleazy grin and jiggled my phone.
“Gonna blackmail Ra-young into fucking me daily. Girl like that’s too good for a one-off. …Fuck. Just thinking about it gets me going. Spank those cheeks, and her pussy clamps down so...”
“Kill that fucker!”
He charged first. His flunkies startled, following late.
I let out a short breath, balled my fist, and advanced.
“Die!!!”
The sashimi knife thrust at my gut. I grabbed his wrist to twist the blade free.
Crack!
Grabbed the wrist fine. As I went to wrench it, the machete swung in from the side. I recoiled in panic. Then the bat whipped around—I barely blocked with my arm. No block, and it’d be my skull.
Thwack!
“...Urgh.”
They must train steady. The bat packed real power. Felt a hairline crack in my right wrist. Swallowing a scream, I retreated fast.
Figured three gangsters were cake. Wrong. Real combat hit different.
...Damn. These guys ain’t pushovers?
Bare hands, I’d mop the floor. But weapons, and coordinated—not random swings. Trained moves.
“Think we haven’t drowned punks like you before?!”
Knife guy charged again.
Shit. This ain’t the plan.
Dodged the slashing knife slicing air. One-on-one, I’d win easy. Problem: they didn’t play fair.
Focus the knife, and the others pounce like they’d been waiting.
I’d done one-on-one goblin scraps, but never outnumbered—even in training. These guys synced like pros.
This drags on... I lose. Fuck.
The razor-sharp sashimi knife grazed my right forearm. Red blood soaked my shirt.
The wound burned, and something drained from my body.
“...”
Blood loss sharpened my head cold.
I locked eyes on the knife guy. Sweaty face, grinning.
“Shouldn’t have touched Ra-young. We’ll take good care of your cash. Phone too.”
My face went blank. Then I charged.
“What the fuck. You rushing? Big deal.”
He was cocksure of victory.
I admitted it. I’d been cocky. High stats over normals made me think invincible. Delusion.
One-on-one? No weapons? Pointless what-ifs. Reality laughs at assumptions.
I growled low.
“...No holding back. You die.”
Knife stabbed in. Machete and bat timed from flanks.
I sacrificed my right arm gladly. Left hand clamped the blade. Blood poured, ignored. Blade stuck—my physique stronger.
“Kill him!”
“Got it, boss!”
“Die!”
Raised right to block machete and bat. Gritted through agony, then booted the knife guy’s groin.
“...!!”
Excruciating pain folded him wordless. Grip loosened; I snatched the knife left-handed.
“Boss!”
“This fuck!”
I muttered under my breath. Right arm good as new, pain vanished. Stamina topped off. Ducked the machete, jammed the knife into his throat, yanked out. Blood gushed from his neck. Machete guy crumpled.
“Cheol-woo!”
I didn’t stop. Twisting aside dodged the bat by a hair, then plunged the knife into his gut over and over.
Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab!
“Aaaagh!”
Seven stabs, then slashed the throat to finish.
I spun. Leader still knelt shaking, balls busted. Tough bastard—not passed out.
“Ugh... u...”
Kicked his face into the wall.
“...Ah. F-fuck...”
Finally clocked it. I crouched bloody-knife in hand.
“Thanks.”
“...Huh?”
“You taught me my place. But.”
Knife sank slow into his shoulder.
“Gaaah!”
“That’s that. This is this.”
Twisted the hilt—scream amplified. Had torture in mind, but his face killed the urge. Waste of time on trash.
Jam knife into solar plexus. He convulsed and died.
“...Hah.”
Sighed, rifled their pockets.
Ma Bong-cheon. Park Cheol-woo, Kim Dae-hyun.
IDs gave names.
“...Now what?”
Unarmed vs three armed gangsters? Had to kill.
Bodies the issue.
Story early days. Long way to ‘Orb of Life.’ Didn’t fancy fugitive life.
Can’t hit rooms with cops on tail. They wouldn’t let me in anyway.
Thinking girls mid-crisis? Classic me.
Mulled it over, pulled phone, fired up Playful Life app. Inventory specifically.
“Right. Forgot the sword. Should’ve pulled it.”
Small sigh. Heat of moment blanked it. Even if remembered, probably skipped. Tried subduing first.
“Oho.”
Jackpot—Ma Bong-cheon’s corpse slotted in.
Dead body counts as item, not creature.
“Live humans no-go, but small animals? Test later.”
Pulled Ma Bong-cheon’s out again.
Couldn’t just dump here. Worst move. Better leave than haul elsewhere.
“Toss in another Play world?”
Best. No body, no murder—just missing persons. Perfect crime starts and ends with vanishing the corpse.
“...Nah. Handle it here. Don’t wanna trash other Play worlds.”
No desire to use another world as dump for this.
Plus, my ‘inventory’ power. Breeze for perfect crime. Minimal effort.
“Gonna need prep though. Back to reality first.”
???
Back in reality, I checked my body first.
No blood, no wounds. Paused ‘Vampire Detective’ time and sat at the computer.
Points later. Priority...
“Body disposal methods. Search.”
Freaky murder lists scrolled up. Nothing useful. Tongue click, brainstormed solo.
Two options pop: sea or bury in mountains. Sea safer. But sea means trip.
Tie bricks, sink. Fine.
...Sea’s too far. Gotta hit rooms—no time for beach runs.
Sea idea soured it.
Just Han River. Won’t get nabbed.
I’ve got Playful Life app. Confident I’d skate.