Chapter 154
Chapter 154
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: The Hardware Store and the Nest
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Having just dealt with one of the white monsters, Lee Si-woo spoke in a wry voice.
“We’re out of bullets.”
After confirming that the last five bullets had been used, Luctator spoke.
“Do you know where this welfare center or whatever it is is located?”
“I don’t. That’s why I was planning to find a survivor and ask around. These things are tricky to deal with, but thankfully, they don’t seem to be contagious, so there should be some survivors.”
“Hmm, finding survivors is a good idea, but the most important thing is to secure our own safety first. At this rate, we won’t even make it to the welfare center; we’ll be worn down and killed by their surprise attacks.”
“We need weapons.”
“Couldn’t we find guns at a police station or a place like that?”
“I’ve heard you can in other chapters, but this is such a small town that I heard you can’t get anything other than a Taser.”
“A Taser? That’ll be useless. Hmm… then what should we do?”
As Si-woo pondered with Luctator, a system message appeared before his eyes.
[Deceased History detected nearby. Would you like to view it?]
Deceased History.
Si-woo had heard a brief explanation about this from the users in the plaza.
The Deceased History was a system that allowed one to acquire helpful information by viewing the history of someone who had died nearby, providing tips to help clear the chapter.
When Si-woo touched the YES button, the scene before him changed, and a video began to play.
-Uwaaaah!
A burly man with the build of a bear charged forward, holding a chainsaw.
WHIIIRRRRRR!
The man, who tore through the white monster’s leg with the roaring chainsaw, shouted.
-I got its leg! Back me up!
At the man’s words, men dressed like construction workers, wielding axes and hammers, rushed in and hacked the white monster to pieces.
After struggling to deal with the white monster, the man turned off the chainsaw and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.
-Any more?
The construction workers silently pointed forward with their fingers, and the man’s gaze followed their direction.
Soon, seeing countless white monsters pouring out from the alleyways between buildings like spiders crawling out of the shadows toward the light, the man turned and began to sprint with all his might.
-Run!
But unlike the man, who reacted quickly, the workers were frozen in fear, their legs stiff, and they couldn’t respond properly. The price for their hesitation was steep.
A dozen monsters opened their maws in unison, and a volley of white tongues rained down upon the workers.
Glancing sorrowfully at the workers collapsing with holes in their bodies, the man dropped even his chainsaw and started running.
He crossed a street so familiar he could run it with his eyes closed and reached his hardware store, opening the door with trembling hands.
But unfortunately, there was already a guest inside.
A long, white arm shot out from inside the store, grabbed the burly man by the waist, and dragged him in.
A tearing scream echoed inside the store for a moment.
The store quickly fell silent.
As if silence had always been its only owner.
[The history of the deceased, ‘Antonio,’ has ended.]
When the video finished, Si-woo understood what the Deceased History was.
The core of this system was the ability to acquire useful information by viewing the history of someone who had died nearby.
Si-woo said to Luctator.
“Elder. Follow me. I think I know where to go.”
Si-woo led Luctator, moving as stealthily as a cat in the night.
Recalling the geography of the street the man had run down in the video, Si-woo soon found the old sign of a hardware store.
Seeing the sign, Luctator spoke.
“Oh, a hardware store? Interesting. Yes, we should be able to find something useful in a place like this.”
“You won’t be disappointed. Let’s go in.”
Luctator followed Si-woo into the hardware store.
It seemed a commotion had already taken place inside, as shelves were overturned and all sorts of junk were scattered on the floor.
Walking across the floor littered with nails and screws, Si-woo muttered.
“If we go further inside, there should be a small room…”
Luctator grabbed Si-woo’s trousers as he tried to go deeper.
“Wait a moment. There is someone inside.”
At the words of Luctator, who had sensed a presence with his keen senses, Si-woo froze and took a defensive stance.
Just then, a man holding a logging axe burst out from the back.
A man with a build that looked like he wrestled bears in Russia.
It was the hardware store owner, Antonio.
“Who are you! Who the hell are you to barge into someone else’s store… huh? What’s this? Some cosplay weirdo and a little kid?”
Luctator snapped with a pout.
“Who are you calling a little kid! This one is Luctator! Of the great empire…”
Si-woo cut Luctator off with a wry smile.
“Elder, that’s enough. You know NPCs can’t understand that, right?”
“…Tch, but can I not at least explain my greatness and history?”
“Explaining that will only complicate things. Now, leave this to me.”
Si-woo stepped forward and spoke to Antonio.
“You must be aware that something unusual has happened in this town. Correct?”
“…If you’re talking about those white monsters, then I know all too well. They’re wretched things that have already killed several people.”
“We are travelers who happened to stop by this town and got caught up in this commotion. That’s why we came to this hardware store. We were hoping to find something we could use as a weapon.”
“Travelers? But what kind of traveler walks around in such a strange outfit? A weird mask. And that skin-tight…”
As he spoke, Antonio finally noticed Si-woo’s trained physique and furrowed his brow.
As someone hardened by labor and weightlifting, he wasn’t an expert on bodies, but he had a decent eye.
He knew well that such a solid, muscular build couldn’t be achieved through ordinary training.
‘This… looks less like body management and more like he’s undergone training. A body built for practical use, not for show… Is he a fighter?’
Antonio narrowed his eyes and asked.
“You there. You’re no ordinary traveler, are you?”
Si-woo scratched his neck.
Perhaps it was because he was a man bold enough to face monsters with a chainsaw in a town gone mad.
He was quite perceptive.
Si-woo shrugged and replied.
“What does it matter whether I’m an ordinary traveler or not? At the very least… I’m human, just like you, aren’t I?”
At Si-woo’s words, Antonio let out a smirk.
“True, in this mess, anything that’s not a monster is a blessing. Fine, you’re looking for something to use as a weapon? So you plan on fighting those monster bastards?”
“It’s not just a plan; I’ve already taken down a few. With this.”
Si-woo shook his fist, putting on a bluff.
In truth, he had used a gun, but he was putting on an act to get on Antonio’s good side.
Antonio spoke with a dumbfounded look, as if to say, ‘What kind of person is this?’
“…With your fists? Are you serious?”
“I’m a better fighter than I look. So, about that… do you have a decent sledgehammer? A really slick one.”
The eyes behind Si-woo’s mask sparkled with anticipation.
* * *
After a brief discussion, what Antonio requested in exchange for giving Si-woo a weapon was the rescue of his friends.
“To be honest, I was in need of backup anyway. I have a few friends, and I couldn’t get in touch with them, so I was thinking of going to their houses to check.”
Saying so, Antonio picked up a huge chainsaw that was mounted on the warehouse wall.
“Well, I figured with this, I might stand a chance against those monster bastards.”
His intentions were admirable, but it was reckless.
The creatures Si-woo had faced were agile, clever, and strong.
Charging at them with just a chainsaw?
It was a suicidal act, no different from begging to be killed.
Indeed, in the video, Antonio had managed to save his friends, but he had died in the end.
Did he sense the meaning behind Si-woo’s gaze?
Antonio spoke with a bitter smile.
“Don’t look at me like that. I know full well it’s a crazy idea. But they’re the friends who always shared a drink with me so I wouldn’t be lonely, since I have no family. I can’t just let them die. Got it? Sometimes… you have to do things even when you know they’re reckless.”
“As long as you know it’s reckless, that’s enough. And don’t worry. As long as I’m here, you’ll be able to save your friends.”
As if pleased by Si-woo’s confidence, Antonio grinned and said.
“Yeah? That’s a relief. So, does that mean I might even survive?”
“That’s up to you. I’ll help you out sincerely, but I can’t go risking my own life to save yours.”
At Si-woo’s refreshingly blunt answer, Antonio scratched the back of his head.
“Well, you’re so honest it’s almost disappointing.”
“More importantly… this. It’s too light.”
Si-woo said, handling the sledgehammer Antonio had given him as lightly as if he were swinging a toy hammer. Antonio replied with a stunned face.
“That’s light? Do you even know what that’s for? Sledgehammer training! It’s something meatheads use to train their bodies by slamming it against a tire stuck in the ground! It weighs over twenty kilograms!”
“Elder. Try holding it.”
When Si-woo casually tossed the sledgehammer in his hand to Luctator, Antonio freaked out.
“Are you crazy! Why would you throw something so dangerous at a little kid… huh?”
Luctator caught the sledgehammer and, though not as easily as Si-woo, handled it as if it were a wooden sword.
“Tsk, it is a bit light. If it lands properly, it could inflict sufficient damage, but it’s not enough to deliver a fatal blow in one strike.”
Whether it was Luctator with his Extreme Body Talent or Si-woo with his suit and power gauntlets, both of them were already beyond the realm of ordinary humans.
Antonio looked back and forth between the two and said in a tone filled with disbelief.
“You two… you’re human, right?”
“We’re human, so don’t worry. But… is it possible to attach one or two other hammers to this sledgehammer?”
“Attach them? You mean weld them together?”
“Yes. I don’t care what it looks like, just bundle several together and weld the heads, and the handle… hmm, that’s the problem…”
“Tsk, no need for that. I’ve got something better.”
Antonio went inside and brought back a sledgehammer twice as large as the one he had just offered.
It was exactly twice the size, a menacing hammer with a solid steel handle.
Holding out the object, which looked more like a mace than a hammer, Antonio said.
“It’s a bit old, but it should be useful. It’s what my father used for training when he was trying to compete in the World’s Strongest Man competition.”
After lifting the hammer, which weighed nearly fifty kilograms, Si-woo nodded in satisfaction.
“This is perfect.”
Antonio shook his head as if he couldn’t be helped.
“That’s perfect? You really are as much of a piece of work as that strange suit of yours. Well, whatever. So you’re set… what does the little lady need… ack!”
THWACK!
Luctator, who had kicked Antonio in the shin for the creepy comment, said.
“Little lady? If you don’t want to be disciplined, you will address me as Elder from now on.”
“Has this little kid lost her mind?! Grab anyone on the street and ask them! If you’re not a little lady, then what are you!”
“What else but an Elder. Never mind that, just fill this bag up with plenty of those.”
Luctator, who had brought a sports bag from a corner of the hardware store, pointed at some steel nails and continued.
“Only the sharpest, sturdiest, and longest ones.”
* * *
As soon as he arrived at the church, Adrian mobilized all available material and human resources to begin fortifying it.
He built a barricade of chairs and desks at the entrance and formed a combat unit from the survivors. Now, with a moment to breathe, Adrian sat down in a chair with a cigarette in his mouth.
‘Strange. Why is there no boss in the church?’
From what he’d heard at the club, there was a boss in the church, and defeating that boss would end the chapter.
But when Adrian arrived at the church, there were no living people, nor were there any monsters.
All that was there was a silence so thick it was deafening.
‘Besides, what’s supposed to appear in Chapter 1 are goblins. Not these creepy white monsters.’
Goblins were troublesome to deal with in groups, but they weren’t that difficult to handle.
Their individual combat power was weak, so a skilled user could manage them with just a steel pipe.
But these white monsters were different.
Not only were they fast and strong, but they also possessed intelligence comparable to that of a fairly smart dog breed, making them not just tricky, but nauseatingly difficult to fight.
Just then, a survivor who had been saved thanks to Adrian ran up to him.
“Sir Adrian. You need to come over here for a moment!”
Deprived of even the time for a single cigarette by the survivor’s urging, Adrian stood up with a weary face.
“What is it?”
The survivor led Adrian to the church basement.
As the survivor opened the basement door, a foul stench, a mix of a gamy smell and rotting food scraps, assaulted his nose.
Adrian clutched his nose and said.
“What is this smell…?”
Adrian’s eyes fell upon the countless white eggs scattered on the stairs.
Seeing the ostrich-egg-sized eggs on the steps, the corner of Adrian’s eye twitched.
“Wait, let’s close the door first. Close the door and…”
As Adrian tried to close the door, his body was suddenly thrown forward.
As Adrian tumbled down the stairs covered in white eggs, the survivor behind him stood with his hands outstretched, a twisted smile on his face.
With the corners of his mouth torn and his eyes unchanged, the survivor’s smile looked more like a doll’s than a human’s.
Creeak.
With the sound of rusting metal grinding together, the basement door closed, and Adrian was left alone with the darkness of the cellar.