Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Constellation Gallery EP.7
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I strode toward the ghoul without a moment's hesitation.
The ghoul up close swung its dagger at my head.
A predictable move. I sidestepped one step and swung the frying pan hard.
THWACK! THWACK! THWACK!
If it takes three hits, then land them quick and clean.
The ghoul tumbled away.
My hands tingled, but it wasn't an unpleasant sensation.
If anything, it felt familiar.
Oh, it dropped! Rewards are dropping!
But whether it's random is still unclear.
Of course, from the community posts, it's most likely the gun that's the issue.
'But the gun doesn't drop at all, while other methods might or might not, right?'
I need to confirm it properly against low-level monsters.
THWACK! THWACK! THWACK!
That's right. This is it.
"Next."
More came rushing in without a moment to catch my breath.
Three, no, four of them.
"Ha... there's really a ton. Even better."
I gripped the frying pan tightly.
The first one charged with its mouth wide open. Rather than dodging, I calmly aimed for its head.
THWACK! THWACK! THWACK!
The second one thrust its dagger at my side.
'No time to dodge...'
I'd forgotten, in my fearlessness, something crucial.
Just because my passive skill made me cool-headed didn't mean my physical stats had improved.
Crunch!
The ghoul's dagger was blocked by something.
"...Ah."
It was thanks to the bulletproof vest.
"I lived. You're dead."
With a surge of relief, I gripped the frying pan tight and smashed the back of its head.
THWACK! THWACK! THWACK!
Then the third and fourth right after.
Swing the frying pan, dodge the dagger, slam down again. Repeat.
This kept working. It wasn't as hard as I'd thought.
"Ngh!"
It hurt every time a dagger grazed my skin, but I wasn't afraid.
I already knew in my head that I could handle it.
THWACK! THWACK! THWACK!
As time passed, monster corpses piled up.
.
.
The only uncomfortable feeling now was one.
My arms were getting a bit sore.
But looking at the gold piling up, I couldn't help but grin.
How many more did I take down?
Before I knew it, the area had gone quiet.
"All done?"
I panted heavily as I looked down at the frying pan.
It gleamed, covered in blood and brains.
The old me would've been horrified, hands shaking. But now, not a tremor.
More importantly, the gold.
Not a single one missed during the frying pan kills.
How many had I killed?
Way more than expected.
More left than before spending any.
'Frying pan was the right call after all.'
But that meant a lot of wounds on my body too.
I recalled the attacks blocked by the vest.
'Hmm... I'm not invincible, but I keep forgetting.'
If I drink a low-grade potion after all the hunting, this method isn't that efficient.
Kill 30 ghouls for 300 gold, then drink a 300 gold potion? No profit, just manual labor.
'Gold seems most important right now.'
You can get things that are hard to find otherwise.
Even irrational stuff like potions.
Which means... secure what I can without gold directly.
'Save points when I can.'
There are convenience stores in 1999, but from my three months here, they're rare.
So where to? Supermarket? Mart? School vending machine?
'Supermarket's safest bet.'
I headed there, hoping it hadn't been looted.
The streets were deserted.
Where's everyone hiding? Or dead.
While walking, I checked the Constellation Gallery.
......Someone's tailing me now?
I pretended not to notice even though I knew, and kept walking casually.
But my hand naturally gripped the gun tight. The cold revolver handle.
Kept walking slowly, naturally.
Passed another block.
Turning the corner now.
Whirl!
I spun around, gun barrel aimed.
"......!"
The stalker froze, face panicked.
A woman.
The moment our eyes met, she threw her hands up high.
"D-don't shoot!"
The world was a mess, but her clothes were relatively clean.
Bright short-sleeve tee, worn backpack slung over her shoulder.
But tense, sweat staining her pits, face exhausted.
I kept the gun trained on her.
"Why were you following me."
The woman gasped for breath as she answered.
"I saw you."
"Saw what."
"The monsters... handling them without hesitation. I want to live too. Please..."
I stared at her silently.
Couldn't trust her easily.
"Just hole up at home. Why stick to me? Trying to kill me and take my stuff?"
She shook her head frantically, panicked.
"N-no! My... my house is gone..."
"......Gone? Not like you don't have one, it got destroyed?"
"......Nothing to say if you don't believe me..."
She bit her lip and continued.
"...A plane crashed into my house."
My eyebrow rose.
"What?"
"It's true... this morning... suddenly..."
This morning. I'd seen the passenger plane crash.
'Her house got hit by that?'
Plausible. But.
'Could be bullshitting about seeing the same thing.'
I didn't lower the gun.
"Cut the crap. I don't have the luxury to help anyone in times like this, so survive on your own."
She bit her lip hard. Eyes reddening.
"Don't cry. Before I kill you. I barely have food myself, having some unpredictable human next to me is just stress."
I said it firmly.
This was right for survival.
I checked the gallery and looked back at the woman.
'Not an incarnation?'
Less likely targeting my neck then... but who knows when she'll snap.
Still, for now.
"Please... please let me live."
"Who's killing you?"
"You said you'd kill me if I cried earlier..."
"......I'll let you live. But on one condition."
"Condition...?"
"Yeah. There's something you gotta do for me."