Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Lights-Out Officetel
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Officetel with the lights out.
I cast Sleep on the shield guy, the crossbow guy, and Hyba.
My Sleep doesn't fail on anyone who isn't a hardcore insomniac like me, so they all dropped to the floor with heavy thuds right away.
The reason I didn't cast Sleep on the bare-chested guy? Simple.
It's pitch black in here, and without knowing where he is, he can't use any skills anyway.
Plus, if it were a skill that didn't require targeting, I might've been able to see what it was.
Gripping my machete tight in the darkness, I relied on the emergency exit light to watch the bare-chested guy's movements.
He froze in place, crouching low without budging an inch.
So, what now? Gonna run? Use a skill? Or something else?
If he runs, I can just finish off one of these sleeping idiots and chase him down to put him under too.
If he uses a skill, I'll get a read on his power.
What's it gonna be, bare-chested?
Against my expectations, the bare-chested guy quickly pulled something from his pocket, yanked it hard, and hurled it away.
A red glow and acrid smoke filled the underground parking lot.
Cough... this has gotta be a red flare? Smoke signal or something?
Where the hell do these psychos even get this stuff?
Funny thing is, the bare-chested bastard looked just as surprised by the massive plume of smoke, like he wasn't used to it either.
What? Never used it before? Thought it'd just magically clear the view with a puff?
I was far enough back behind the car that it barely affected me.
The bare-chested guy floundered in confusion, not using any skills. Not gonna?
Figuring I didn't need to know his skills if I just killed him anyway, I circled around the car and crept toward the wall.
Once the light dies and darkness returns, I'll strike. He won't see me, so no skills for him.
I stifled a laugh watching him try to stomp out the flare he'd thrown.
I'd thought he was smart from what he'd done to the officetel, but his moves were amateur hour. That's why real combat experience matters.
The light faded bit by bit until he finally crushed it underfoot.
Darkness reclaimed the underground parking lot.
Red afterimages still lingered in my vision.
I'd memorized exactly where the idiot stood, choking on his own smoke. I hurled the empty can from my hand to the opposite side.
Clang!
His attention must've snapped toward the noise.
I charged and swung the machete.
Thud.
"Argh!"
The distance was off a bit, so instead of a stab, it was more of a smack.
"Stone!"
Crash!
I only heard a whoosh, but glass shattered.
Whatever it was, I swung the machete again.
Thud!
A bright flash lit up the smoke-filled lot for a moment before vanishing.
"Huff... huff."
Panting hard, I collapsed in place.
Damn. What the hell was that just now?
First things first... gotta flip the power back on.
If the lights keep flickering, more might show up, but I need to clear this place now.
I entered the electrical room, flipped the transformer, heard the hum kick in, and hurried out.
On the way up to the first floor, three bodies lay slumped. I grabbed the crossbow and arrows from the crossbow guy, then swung the machete in a rush.
A ton of coins.
I went to where the bare-chested guy had died and scooped up the last ones too.
Looking at their coin hauls, I was sure they'd looted everyone in this officetel.
This wasn't from just one or two kills.
From my experience so far, the average per person was around 2,000 coins. These guys must've offed at least a few dozen.
They seemed so sloppy, but damn, they were no joke.
Whew. Anyway, cleanup's done.
In case more show up, I headed back to the SUV and shut the door.
Finally inside what felt like safe confines, the tension drained away.
At least the bastards who trashed this officetel were dealt with.
As the adrenaline faded, a thought crept in.
If Ye-ji were here, and we'd kept things smooth without the mess, would she have ended up as their victim?
I shut that down quick. What a pathetic thought.
Still hung up on her? I'm not right in the head.
To shake off thoughts of Ye-ji, I examined the crossbow I'd taken from the crossbow guy.
Whoa... this thing looks seriously cool.
Basically a gun, right? Feels like a rifle with a string up front to hold arrows.
Eleven arrows from the crossbow guy. Wait, are they called bolts, not arrows? Whatever.
Eleven shots... If one kills and the body vanishes, does the bolt go too? Useless then.
Don't know the power yet, but it's bulky and heavy to carry.
The head seems collapsible maybe, but still too big. Not light either.
Being able to snipe one from range is appealing, though. I'll practice later and decide.
Sucks I rushed and didn't loot them fully.
They looked loaded with good gear.
Why the fuck does everything vanish when they die? If only the bodies poofed and left the stuff.
I fixed my gaze on the parking lot entrance, lost in thought again.
What skill did bare-chested use?
Shouted "Stone," there was a whoosh, and glass broke? What's stone got to do with glass? Oh... he launched a stone that shattered the window?
Yeah, like those stone bullet skills in manga. Stone Bullet or whatever.
If he'd nailed me right away, it'd be solid. And car glass is bulletproof—breaking that means real power.
Direct headshot? Head gone. Body hit? Hurts like hell, maybe penetrates?
Dead guy's skills don't matter much, but I need to think ahead.
Never know when I'll run into something similar.
Oh yeah... they had vests like body armor too.
Really sucks I missed that. Too hasty and dumb.
Even in gun-scarce Korea, a bulletproof vest would've been gold.
Wait, Korea's got soldiers.
Biggest mystery: the military.
Post-apocalypse, they worried me most.
Guns ignore range, skills— insta-kill cheats.
Korea's full of 'em.
But no one's seen soldiers. No guns, no explosives, nothing.
What happened? Why no military? Did something take them out when the world went to shit?
Or do they have contingency plans for this?
Wanna know, but no way to find out.
Despite all my wild theories, no one came down to the lot.
Hmm... Flicker the lights a few more times? Draw a crowd?
Nah, don't wanna. This was already overkill for a coward like me.
Waited till around 10 PM, then decided to bail.
If no one's coming now, we're good.
Can't stay forever.
Exited the lot, climbed to the second floor.
To check outside from a window.
Opened doors one by one on the second floor.
Lots must've rushed out when the power died without locking up.
Some doors stood open.
Room with lights on, canned goods and trash piled in a corner.
Blanket that looked unwashed forever. And a vanity.
Vanity. Woman's room, then.
Curious, I rummaged around.
Closet full of clothes. But... sizes looked big.
Tried one on—owner was bulkier than me. Ugh... soured my mood.
Left. Next room screamed guy territory.
Pass. Mood killer. Wait... might be something? Quick look?
First drawer: men's underwear. Mood tanked harder.
No interest in digging. Out.
More rooms, all guys'.
Mood in the gutter, I refocused on peeking outside.
Quiet streets. Quiet? Time to go.
Just in case, checked the third floor.
Another guy room, another... nope.
Opened a door: women's shoes. Laundry rack with panties.
Other clothes smaller too. Worth a search.
Closet had variety. Can tell by wear, but just rags otherwise.
Opened inner drawers—found a box.
Opened it: dildo.
Whoa. First time seeing one IRL.
Even to a guy like me, it looked grotesque. Other end... suction cup? For the floor?
Owner was a pro, whoever she was.
Vibrator inside too. Straight out of hentai.
Flipped the switch—buzzed like crazy. My god. People really shove this in there?
Set 'em down, scanned the room.
There. Woman's bag.
Rifled it, found wallet, ID inside.
Lemme see... Oh. Pretty face. One year older than me.
Too bad. Did those four kill her? Or worse?
No way she's alive. Their coin count says everyone here got it.
Stashed the dildo and vibrator in my backpack.
Felt a bit sleazy, but hey, might come in handy with a girl someday?
After investing nearly a week, I scored a pile of coins, a crossbow, and some toys, then headed back to the bunker.