Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Recruiting the Vampire
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Crunch!
My kitchen knife pierced the heart of Park Dongpal, who had turned into a vampire.
For a split second, it felt like time had stopped.
Even the zombies lumbering toward us had frozen in place.
“G-Genius Kim!”
Michael’s trembling voice came from behind me.
I’d told him to wait upstairs, so why’d he come down?
I didn’t know the reason, but it worked out fine.
This was the perfect chance for them to grasp just how serious things were.
I’m no hero.
Shouldering all the pain alone to protect everyone? That’s not my style.
And I hate wasting effort on anything that isn’t for my own sake.
I just want to survive.
Yoo Sora let out another scream, her face drained of color.
-Kyaaaaack!
I had no idea what she’d seen first.
But whatever it was, it was all part of my plan.
A slight deviation wouldn’t ruin things.
Let’s keep going as is.
I shouted at Jeongwoo.
“Ma Jeongwoo! Up front!”
“Huh? Oh!”
The zombies started moving again. Jeongwoo, who’d been spacing out, swung his axe to hold them off.
I had to finish Park Dongpal quick, before Jeongwoo wore himself out.
All the skeleton warriors I’d summoned earlier were already down.
I set my cigarette aside and gripped the knife handle with both hands, driving it deeper into Park Dongpal’s heart.
Crunch.
His chest soaked with blood. Maybe because he’d gained vampire powers, it was a vivid crimson.
Not just red—bright scarlet.
The blood kept pouring, drenching his head.
Park Dongpal reached out to shove me away.
His bloodied hand swung at my face.
“Kim… Cheonjae… What the hell…”
My lips quivering, I slapped his hand aside and replied.
“P-Park Dongpal. You can’t… stay alive.”
“Urk… Why… the fuck… why…”
“‘Cause you’re a criminal.”
His face froze like I’d exposed his dirty secret. Veins bulged on his forehead.
“I’m… a criminal?”
“No one else knew. But I did. That room you kept empty, saying it was your daughter’s? Different young women in and out all the time.”
“……”
“I minded my own business, pretended not to notice. But what you tried to do to Yoo Sora today.”
“Th-that was!”
“Shut. Up.”
Park Dongpal began his final struggle.
His right hand grabbed my throat. He swung his left arm—minus the wrist—at my head.
Thwack! Thwack!
It wasn’t many hits, but I could see my HP bar above my head ticking down.
[HP: 132/160]
It hurt.
Hurt like hell.
He’d regained his youth through vampire traits—his strength was insane.
Heard he used to throw a mean punch back in the day.
Guess it was true.
I shielded my head with one hand, picked up my cigarette from the floor, and took a deep drag.
Siiiip—
Puff!!!
I blew a long stream right into Park Dongpal’s face. It blinded him for a moment.
Then I let go of the knife handle in his chest and smashed my fist into his face.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
It turned into a brawl.
Neither of us gave an inch, just kept throwing punches.
I wasn’t great at it, so I hammered down like a mallet.
Sure enough, one of my wild swings nailed him in the eye.
Park Dongpal screamed “Aaaagh!” and released his grip on my throat.
I seized the chance, grabbed his arm, and locked in an armbar.
Crack!
His right elbow snapped.
-Keurk!
Blood-soaked Park Dongpal spat a mix of saliva and blood, roaring in fury.
“Kim Cheonjae, you fucking bastard!!”
His blood sprayed my face like a mist.
I clamped my mouth shut. Vampire blood had a trace of paralyzing toxin.
Then I kept smashing his face with my elbow.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
His HP bar above his head plummeted.
At this rate, I’d finish him soon.
My lungs burned, but I didn’t stop swinging.
Thud!
“Gr… uh… ngh.”
Park Dongpal’s head lolled and hit the floor.
Thump.
“Haa… haa…”
It was over.
A golden light swirled above my head.
I’d leveled up from the experience.
“Damn old fart.”
I placed my palm on his head and whispered.
“Revive.”
[System Message]
▶Revive (Mana Cost: 3)
-Resurrects the dead as undead, equal to the caster’s level.
[Resurrecting player Park Dongpal (Vampire).]
[Population usage: 2 (Player Summon Recruitment).]
*Remaining Mana: 15
A red skull emblem glowed in the air and shot toward Park Dongpal’s neck.
Sizzle!
“Arrrgh!”
The brand.
Proof he was now my summon.
[Summon List]
-Park Dongpal (Vampire) 1/1: Standby
[System Message]
[Acquired title: ‘First Player Subjugator!’]
[Summon Level +1!]
[Summon Level Reached: 3]
[Subordinates’ Attack, Defense, and HP slightly increased.]
“Whew…”
Finally done. Vampire recruited.
※ New Recruit: Vampire
Level: 1
HP: 220/220
Mana: 0/0
Stamina: 22 Attack: 30
Defense: 25 Speed: 18
▶Bloodsuck (Mana Cost: 0)
-Restores HP by drinking enemy blood.
▶Oh! Youth (Mana Cost: 0)
-Reverts body to player’s physical prime.
I’d always wanted to try this, but using this guy? Figures.
I stood, catching my breath, and yelled at Jeongwoo.
“Ma Jeongwoo!”
Whoosh—whoosh—!
Jeongwoo, fending off zombies, glanced back at me.
“What!”
“Fall back! Fall back! Fall back! Get over here!”
“…Got it. Hold on!”
Whoosh—
Crunch!
Jeongwoo finished off a nearby zombie and retreated. Golden light danced above his head—he’d leveled up too.
Panting hard, he said to me.
“We’re screwed. Only fifteen minutes left.”
“…Don’t worry. Hey.”
The blood-drenched vampire rose, eyes blazing with rage.
I pulled the cigarette from my mouth and stubbed it on his forehead.
Sizzle.
“Grahhh!”
[‘Brand’ Activated]
[‘Vampire’s Loyalty forcibly increased.]
“As your master, I command: Clear a path to the first floor, fast as you can.”
Under my order, the vampire tore into the zombies.
Like Lu Bu from Romance of the Three Kingdoms mowing down common soldiers—one man against a hundred.
His bloodsuck ability and youthful prime unleashed monstrous power.
Plus, as an undead reborn by my power, zombies were child’s play.
“See that, Ma Jeongwoo?”
“You’re insane. A vampire in the tutorial… You’re really nuts.”
I wiped the blood from my face with the back of my hand.
“Whew—Gotta be crazy to survive from here on out.”
Michael and Yoo Sora huddled behind me.
“Genius Kim.”
“Michael. I said radio if something’s up. Why’d you come down?”
“‘Cause I was worried, yow.”
Worried enough to come down—nothing to say to that.
I nodded curtly.
“…Good call.”
“Genius Kim. You okay, yow?”
“I’m fine. You, Michael? No zombies up top?”
“Nope, yow.”
“Whew… Right. Sora, you okay?”
Yoo Sora, pale as a ghost, replied.
“F-Fine.”
“What’d you see first?”
“Huh?”
“What just happened.”
“……”
Yoo Sora bowed her head.
“No clue where you started watching. But the guy I killed—no, the zombie. That was Uncle Park Dongpal.”
“Huh?!”
“That young guy over there, revived and fighting zombies. Park Dongpal.”
My finger pointed to the muscled vampire shredding zombies with razor claws.
Yoo Sora swallowed hard.
“That’s Park Dongpal… that psycho pervert fucker?”
“Yeah. That’s him.”
* * * * *
While the vampire cleared zombies and opened a path,
We followed, explaining everything to Michael and Yoo Sora.
No idea if this was a dream or reality, but everything matched ‘Land of Ruin: Last Game’ perfectly.
And what we had to do next.
Michael, having heard it all, gave a bitter smile.
Like a gambler who’d lost everything finally accepting reality.
But as an ex-soldier, he quickly sized up the situation and started planning with Jeongwoo.
“Monkey Jeongwoo. What now, yow?”
“Shut up and follow.”
“Shut up again? Okay.”
Yoo Sora, meanwhile, kept sighing heavily.
“N-No… way…”
I scratched my head and replied.
“What about this makes sense?”
Rattle.
I opened a window, showing the outside.
Zombies spotting the light screeched toward us.
-Kieeeek!!
Yoo Sora, terrified, clung to Michael.
“How…”
Descending the stairs, I asked her.
“Sora. Like I said before, you gotta decide now.”
“…What decision?”
“If you’re coming with us, you need to steel yourself.”
She hesitated, then looked at me softly.
“…I’ll do it.”
Half-hearted.
Like she was cornered and just tagging along.
It pissed me off for a second.
If she didn’t step up, she’d be dead weight.
Better clear it up now.
Frowning, I continued.
“Sora. When I stabbed Dongpal’s heart earlier. Know what I felt?”
“…”
“Heart pounding like it’d burst. Went crazy. ‘Stabbing someone feels like this. This sensation lingers in your fingertips.’”
“…”
“Know why I’m telling you this?”
“No…”
“To survive with us, you need this resolve too.”
Yoo Sora hung her head.
Michael, listening, looked at her pityingly.
But he didn’t butt in.
As an active soldier, he got why I was laying it on thick.
Yoo Sora, teary-eyed, stared at me.
“K-Kill… people?”
“Might have to someday.”
“……”
“Can you do it?”
If she said no now, I’d ditch her without mercy.
She bit her lip, holding back tears, and answered.
“I… I can.”
Determined face.
Surprising.
I’d just wanted confirmation, but she showed real grit.
I nodded slightly.
Then walked ahead.
Jeongwoo tapped my shoulder, whispering.
“Good job.”
“Whatever. Go console her.”
“Michael’s got that covered.”
Jeongwoo grinned back, jutting his chin at Yoo Sora. Michael caught the signal.
“Sora-yow.”
“…Yeah…”
“I’ll protect you, don’t worry, yow. I’m a soldier—super strong, yow. Lotsa muscle.”
Yoo Sora wiped her tears and smiled brightly.
“Thanks.”
And so, our four players were assembled.
Me. Ma Jeongwoo. Michael. Yoo Sora.
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