Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Constellation Gallery EP.10
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The blade filled his entire field of vision.
Twisting his body or leaning his upper body back wouldn't save his face from being torn open.
Even in this dire moment, his mind remained ice-cold.
'Block it first. That's the best option.'
But what to block it with? The frying pan? No.
Given the speed of that incoming blade, he lacked the confidence to slip it in between the gaps quickly enough. His hand, maybe.
'Wait, hand?'
Right. His bare left hand, holding nothing, was the best choice.
He raised it without hesitation.
Screeech!
The blocked dagger sliced across his palm.
In that instant, a searing heat surged from his palm up to the back of his hand.
Blood streamed down as a bonus.
The heat quickly turned into a stinging burn.
"Tch...!"
The pain was so sharp that he involuntarily swallowed hard.
'At least I blocked it.'
No more room for carelessness.
He clenched his left hand tight around the dagger that he'd blocked.
He felt the edge digging into his flesh, but it didn't matter.
Grabbing it loosely might let it slip out and sever his fingers entirely.
So he gripped it even harder.
"You fucking bastard."
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Gripping the dagger firmly, he smashed the frying pan into the ghoul's head.
But something was off.
This was a mob that normally went down after three hits... yet resistance still came through the gripped dagger.
"What the hell is this fucker? Won't die?"
Once more: Bam! Bam! Bam!
On the third strike, before he could even put full force into the downward blow, the ghoul lost its balance and collapsed.
And then, a notification appeared, different from any before.
"Mid-grade ghoul?"
No wonder.
Even mid-conversation, it was strange that he hadn't heard the ghoul's signature grotesque breathing, even at such close range.
And another thing: his hand.
'...It's holding up better than expected?'
It had definitely been cut. Blood was flowing.
But he'd blocked a knife barehanded?
For that, the injury was remarkably minor.
Looking closer, the mid-grade ghoul's dagger... wasn't the rusty one used by the low-grades.
It was a properly sharpened, pristine dagger.
Yet he'd blocked it head-on with his bare hand... and this was all the damage?
He spread his palm open.
The flesh was slightly torn, exposing the inside.
But that was it.
'Is this what increased Endurance means?'
If that was the case, without pumping Vitality, the same decision would have turned his hand into a rag.
He'd braced for potion use, but this wound didn't even need one.
"......"
He clenched and opened his hand.
Of course, it stung like hell and burned fiercely.
More precisely, like the pain when flesh tears across paper, exposing raw skin.
'Better than a gash needing stitches...'
Small pains were still a bitch all the same.
More importantly, he needed to learn about this ghoul that gifted him this bitch of a sting. Time to post.
Posting as a third party seemed effective this time—no hooks like last time.
He'd gleaned some scant info on mid-grade ghouls too.
'Alright, so this is thanks to boosting Vitality.'
But why was the higher-grade ghoul's knife cleaner? Isn't rusty supposed to risk tetanus?
Tougher and sharper difference? Or everyone gets tetanus shots in this era? Fuck if he knew.
"A-Are you okay?"
The child's voice rang out cautiously.
He glanced at his bloodied left hand and answered flatly.
"No. Not okay."
More like, he should be the one asking if she was okay.
The kid shivering on the bed didn't look like she'd adapt to this situation anytime soon.
"Soon enough, pretending to be dead won't cut it here."
She flinched.
"That monster just now? More evolved than I thought."
The child clamped her mouth shut.
Yeah, hard for a kid freshly facing humanity's extinction to accept easily.
Even if all humanity had believed in doom.
"Go home."
He said it bluntly.
"No one here to protect or heal you anymore. Home's safer for now."
Worry deepened on the child's face.
She averted her eyes, speechless.
He clicked his tongue inwardly.
Looked young, facing this shit world before blooming.
But no time for pity.
'That's their fucking problem. Mine too.'
Did he have any better lot?
Forced to abandon modern civilization he'd enjoyed, watching the world he'd barely adapted to collapse.
Pure fucking bullshit.
'Can't drag her along out of sympathy.'
Staying in this hospital meant she was sick.
Dragging her? Delays movement, adds risks.
'Might turn werewolf anytime.'
Without solid protection himself, he couldn't act rashly.
"Do whatever."
He turned his back.
"I'm out."
"Th-Thank you for saving me."
He replied without turning.
"Didn't save you. Saved myself."
No intent to endanger himself for a moment's pity.
As he thought that and moved to leave—
"......?"
His eyes narrowed instinctively.
Sponsor something bigger? For real?
His ears perked up.
Dilemma time.
Give it or not.
Free gain, sure, but... 1500 gold was too hefty a loss.
That could boost unupgraded stats by two full levels.
'Falling for a bait and wasting it would piss me off big time.'
They said no fabricating facts.
And objectively, even if saved now, without his care, she'd knock on death's door again soon.
No food, no shelter, no way to survive this monster world.
'If rewards are guaranteed, I wouldn't mind.'
Then, a new post appeared in the gallery.
"......"
Setting aside the rest, "needs companions" stuck with him.
Right. Guns won't work later.
No clue how bad it'll get... but soloing everything might be suicide.
'Better recruit someone reliable now.'
Patient now, but potion would heal her per them.
Girl or not, awakening lets her stat up.
Could be some help.
After agonizing, he summoned the potion from inventory.
A transparent glass vial appeared smoothly on his hand.
Golden liquid inside—the high-grade potion he'd never drunk himself.
'Sigh... Good deed in this world. What a pain.'
But investment for rewards and allies? Worth it.
Even if recovery fails, he'd bear the risk.
He turned back.
Held out the potion to the child.
"Drink."
She looked up at his hand.
"......Pardon?"
"Take this and gulp it down. Might hurt, so brace yourself."
Only then did she see the object, eyes widening.
"What... is this?"
"Healing potion. Believe it or not, your call."
Her hands trembled as she took the vial.
Small fingers shook faintly against the golden liquid.
She gulped dryly, pondered long, then mustered courage and uncorked it.
'Won't pass out, right?'
As he thought that, she downed the potion in one go.
What happened next made him doubt his eyes.
"......What are you?"