Chapter 34

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 34

Chapter Title: Don't Touch Oppa!

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Oppa, don't touch him!

I soothed Stella until she calmed down.

"We're family. It's okay."

It's fine to show a weak side.

I'll always be on your side.

'If I, an only child, had such a cute little sister.'

I'd definitely buy her everything she wanted and spoil her rotten.

Even though we're not siblings who grew up together since childhood, and not connected by blood,

still, I like protecting my little sister as her big brother.

"You done crying?"

"......"

Seemingly embarrassed now that it was sinking in, Stella turned her head away.

"Want to change?"

"Use that room over there."

"Don't peek..."

The building walls weren't doing their job anymore, full of holes everywhere, so just turning her head let her see almost everything.

Including the sight of Stella lifting her skirt and pulling down her panties.

Of course, I didn't look. I was just keeping watch for zombies and happened to catch a glimpse.

"Oppa, you still there?"

"Yeah."

Rather than suspicious, Stella seemed anxious that I might have vanished.

'...She's gotten so docile.'

Is this the effect of the pads?

Compared to her constant snark and aggression before, the current Stella was like an angel.

"Need any help?"

"No. How'd you know my underwear size exactly?"

'That old man...'

How did he know Stella's underwear size? Using transcendent power for something like that...

I'd confirmed it was a new, unopened package, but it still felt weird.

Once Stella finished changing, her expression looked much brighter.

"Can you walk?"

"If I grit my teeth, a little."

Blood was already seeping through the bandages.

Slow movement might be okay, but if she had to run suddenly, the wound could tear open wide.

No chase or mobile combat, then.

"What about magic? How much can you use from now on?"

"Plenty of that. Even if hundreds of those zombies from earlier swarmed me, it'd be fine."

As expected of an A-rank mana holder.

Her firepower was reliable.

'Treating Stella as a designated sniper—no, a fixed artillery battery—might be the best strategy...'

But it required mutual trust.

Could we say we were united by that level of trust right now?

"How about I go ahead and draw them all in, then you sweep them?"

"Too wasteful."

If Stella's mana ran out, we'd be in crisis immediately.

Especially since this dungeon might still be hiding a rank-up anomaly, we needed to use mana as efficiently as possible.

'Might as well suggest it.'

In the end, I'd have to talk it over with Stella.

"Let's head to an open area. I'll draw attention with the pistol, wait for my signal, then blast them."

Zombies reacted to sound, so stealth was out anyway.

Firing my gun would definitely pull them in.

The plan was to use that and wipe them out at once.

'Problem is, with Stella's legs not working, she's insanely vulnerable if things go south.'

"Even if the plan fails, I'll get you out of there."

"You?"

"Yeah, I won't leave you behind. Trust me?"

"......"

Pull the horde toward Stella, who couldn't run, and maximize her spell's effect.

If you couldn't trust your ally to save you in a pinch, no mage would ever say yes to that plan.

There were tons of variables.

If more zombies came than expected, or her spell lacked power and didn't wipe them...

Either way, failure meant encirclement—extremely dangerous.

"If it works, we wipe them all."

"Exactly."

"I'll do it."

Touching.

The Stella from entering the dungeon would've said, "Entrusting my back to a D-rank? Are you insane?"

But she accepted my plan without complaint.

A trust that hadn't existed between us,

the moment a precious bond of faith formed.

'Then. I have to live up to expectations.'

No matter what, I'd protect Stella—even if things went wrong.

If the gun jammed, I'd use feet or fists. Even if swarmed by zombies.

I wouldn't leave Stella alone.

...Of course, avoiding the worst-case was best.

Supporting her, we exited the ruined building. Stella looked up at my face and said,

"What're you thinking right now, Oppa?"

"I kinda regretted not buying that revolver on the way here. Didn't want to make you wait..."

I'd planned to collect pistols and rotate them when one jammed.

Especially revolvers—manual loading, magazine and chamber integrated—no jams structurally.

Wish I had one now.

"...Pfft."

Tension eased, Stella let out a small laugh.

"You think it'll be your turn? Underestimating me much?"

"Mana-all-in dud mage, hard to trust."

"What's wrong with mana-all-in? Mages speak with firepower."

"......No. Seriously. In a manga I read, there was this explosion-obsessed female mage who said the exact same thing?"

Just got chills thinking about ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it.

"Otaku."

"...I can talk manga sometimes!"

"So what happened to that girl?"

"Squeezes out all her power and collapses... Protagonist carries her every time."

Stella gripped my sleeve tightly.

"Then you're the protagonist, Oppa?"

"......"

Suffocatingly cute.

Slightly wet eyes, moist voice.

Even the shy blush on her cheeks— was this really the Stella I knew?

"...I'll carry you if you collapse."

Nod.

Before the big operation began, we shared one last look.

My dungeon runs so far had been like picnics.

No real sense of crisis, thinking it normal to Perception-find high-rank dungeons casually.

Pro hunter Yuuna's embrace had been that warm.

'This is the life-risking industry, huh.'

Stella was a novice at dungeon clears too. First crisis, first alliance.

We'd clumsily play hunter and attempt the clear.

Bang! Bang!

Confirming Stella reached the designated point—the widest spot downtown—

I fired a few shots into the air.

I darted around the outskirts centered on Stella, firing nonstop.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

'They're gathering—a lot.'

Perception skill check: over 200.

Definitely all the zombies in this dungeon.

'Boss not here yet?'

'Giant zombie. Found it.'

Now wait for enemies to enter Stella's attack range, then signal!

Unlike me with vision correction seeing the whole field, Stella must be terrified.

Standing still, hearing zombie groans closing from all sides...

"Oppa! Not yet?"

"Wait a bit more!"

A bit more. Draw more in.

When the optimal timing for one-shot clear arrived...!

"Go!!"

Bang!

The moment I signaled with gunfire, crimson lightning burst from Stella, lighting up downtown.

Incredible.

I could feel the mana churning in the air on my skin.

Like a storm raging!

'Rare talent.'

I teased her as mana-all-in, but her talent's top-tier. My little sis.

Way cooler and stronger than Onahole Collector!!

Zzzt zzzt zzzt!!

The released 「Crimson Thunder」 turned hundreds of zombies—and the boss—into charcoal in one go.

Amazing...!

C-rank and below dungeons are a cakewalk!

Stella grinned thrillingly.

"Told you, no turn for you, Oppa?"

Not a clear.

Rank-up still pending!

"Stella!"

I rushed to her.

The boss zombie I thought dead was breaking out of its chrysalis like a butterfly reborn,

its body tearing apart and regenerating.

"Oppa?"

Bzzz.

The winged ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠zombie shot up, lunging at Stella.

I used 「Yaksha Charge」 to intercept,

but

"Guh!"

The collision flung me rolling across the ground.

"Oppa!"

Wait, my arm's bent weird?

Huh? Healed? Before I could even feel pain...

An unknown authority manifestation. 「Usable 3x/day, unavailable while Erin tends child」... it says.

Don't know who, but felt a twinge of guilt for taking time from a busy mom.

"I'm fine!"

Stella's the one in danger...!

Flat on my back, I drew Glock, emptying the mag at the flying zombie.

Bang, bang, bang, bang!

Slide locked back fast, casings flying.

Just need one hit—but it wouldn't oblige.

'Gotta break its stance!'

Zombie drew a bone sword in its right hand, charging me.

"Argh!"

Zzzt zzzt!

Stella's 「Crimson Thunder」 grazed past me. Zombie couldn't close in.

Stella glared furiously, huffing.

"Don't touch Oppa!"

Mana incomparably vaster than for hundreds of zombies swirled wildly.

As Stella prepped a big attack, it darted skyward, hiding.

"Stella, conserve mana! Ranged won't hit!"

But Stella wouldn't stop. Mana focused. A lightning spear like a lion's mane formed, flickering.

Fired straight,

the skyward spear impaled the flying zombie with immense force.

"Keeeek!!"

Like embodying Stella's rage, wild discharges painted the ruined sky red.

"Magic doesn't miss."

Stella's first targeted attack spell, beyond mana bursts.

"Kek! Kiiiiek!"

Impaled zombie writhed; more spears generated.

Stella gestured, spears stabbing from all angles.

Once lodged, they discharged spasmodically. Currents fluttered like a maiden's hair.

Krzzzzzt!

"Kiiiiek!"

"Die, die!!"

More spears stabbed the monster zombie.

Lodged ones twinkled like Christmas ornaments, periodically scorching the body.

Over in an instant...

"Stella!"

Dungeon collapsing.

I dashed, catching the falling Stella, checking her over.

Stella, having poured everything out, smiled faintly, refreshed.

"See? Told you. You're not even 1%... against me."

"Yeah, that's my Stella."

I hugged my proud little sister tight.

"Still, level up strength and stamina. Enough to force off your choke."

"......Advice. Just carry me, protagonist......"

Stella passed out.

Aftermath of squeezing all mana.

'Gotta think ahead.'

Pass out happily? What if the perv bro does something?

I carried her to the nurse's office.

"Oppa. What happened?"

"Stella got hurt protecting me. Watch her till she wakes."

"Stella...? Tell me the story later!?"

Left her with Serena, eyes sparkling for juicy gossip,

and headed to the student cafeteria.

Hena and Yuuna saw my state, mildly shocked.

"...Dungeon clear tough?"

Looked like I'd rolled on the floor.

"Yuuna... I belatedly realized how precious you are."

"W-W-W-What? Suddenly... People everywhere!"

Blushing Yuuna.

I clung to her.

"Eek, eek. K-K-Kim Sanghyeok. What's up... Something happen?!"

"Teacher Yuuna... Keep taking care of me..."

"Oh, geez... Fine. Fine, so..."

My turn to order.

"......Lend me money for food first. Hena."

"Student ID here."

"Aren't you rich...?"

"Spent it all on pads."

"Pads?"

Hena tilted her head curiously.

That was the whole truth—no more to say.

"Yeah, they were stupidly expensive pads."