Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Subway Station
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Subway Station
I woke the man up first.
The sleep effect had worn off, and I'd only nudged him a few times, but he jolted awake in a panic.
"What the hell! This!"
"Quiet. Keep it down, mister. You'll wake the kid."
The word "kid" made him clamp his mouth shut right away.
Surprisingly calm. Not bad at all.
"I had to get rough because I didn't want any commotion. So cooperate quietly. For your family's sake."
He seemed to understand my words, but his expression soured at the thought that he'd put his family in danger.
A fresh reaction.
"Mister. What's your skill?"
No answer. He probably wanted to wriggle out of this somehow. Tough type to talk to.
"Mister. I have no intention of killing you or your family. I'm just asking for my own safety. If I wanted you dead, I'd have done it earlier."
"...Electric Shock."
Electric Shock? A 300,000-coin attack skill? Nice.
"Give me the details."
"I can electrocute anything in my line of sight."
"Range?"
"20 meters."
20 meters... Shorter than Sleep? But I'd have to trust him. Maybe bluff... Nah, I hate that crap.
"Be honest with me. If it doesn't match what I know, I might change my mind."
"I wouldn't do anything stupid with my kid and wife right here."
"Good. No trust between us yet, but let's build some. The kid can't use skills, right?"
"Yeah."
"Does the skill window pop up?"
"Too young. Can't even check. Can't pronounce it yet."
"Got it. More on Electric Shock? How many at once?"
"What're you talking about?"
"How many people simultaneously."
"One."
Ah... So not sustained like Sleep?
"If there are multiples, can you hit one, then chain to another?"
"Yeah."
Sweet. Worth 300,000 coins, alright.
"Does it kill on hit?"
"No."
"Doesn't kill?"
"Just paralyzes them like a shock. Can't kill in one hit."
Hmm... Weird. Lightning stuff usually drops 'em dead in one zap. No penalty, but lower power output?
"Proficiency?"
"Advanced."
"You've used it a lot. What percentage?"
"Don't know. Gotta check."
Hmm... Kinda vague for a 300,000-coin skill. Good for crowd control once... but short range.
Wait, 20 meters is decent, right? Plenty to neutralize from afar.
Way better than some lame punch skill.
"Your wife's skill?"
"Disease Treatment."
"Ugh... Why?"
"Why what?"
"So many skills available. Why pick Disease Treatment?"
"You wouldn't get it without kids."
"Kid's sick?"
"Not now."
"Then why? Just curious."
"When the world's going to hell and you're raising a kid, that's all you think about. Picked between Heal and Disease Treatment after agonizing. Satisfied now, though."
I don't get it. Nice to have, sure... but useless for a lone wolf like me.
Perfect if Se-hee masters Heal and picks this next.
But no way to verify.
Can't test it on myself.
"Alright. Can't confirm skills, so we'll keep talking. Answer my questions."
"Shoot."
"Where'd all the people from the station go?"
"I killed 'em."
"Damn, you're hardcore. You the one who tossed animal corpses around?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"What do you think?"
"Threat to keep people out?"
"Something like that."
"Working? Here I am."
"That's what I'm wondering. How'd you get this deep? Hard to find even without the mess outside."
"Luck. How'd you know about this place?"
"Worked here."
"Ah, job?"
"Yeah."
"Why not home?"
"Thought this was safer."
"Hm. Fair enough. What'd you hunt those animals with?"
"Skill."
"Electric Shock? Works on animals?"
"Unless their body's rubber."
Never tried Sleep on animals. What have I been doing?
"Got it. Now for what I really want to say. I won't kill your family."
"Thanks."
He's relaxing a bit. Tone's easier.
"Big mart between Jungdong and Hadong. Know it?"
"Yeah. Gangster-infested one."
"Oh. You know?"
"Saw from afar."
"Killed 'em all. Now people I saved live there."
His face lit up in shock. Yeah, not easy feat.
"My offer: Take your family to the mart. Better than here."
"Why should I?"
"Stay next time I come, you're dead."
"...Why?"
"My call. Clearing out Jungdong. Loitering here? Dead. Woman, kid, all."
He pondered.
"Doesn't make sense. Why force it?"
"World ending makes sense to you?"
He shut up. Who could explain that?
"Fine. Talk to the wife. Besides, if you come back, we block you."
Oh... Fresh thinking. This guy's full of surprises. Super fresh.
"Do what you want. Said my piece. Wake up, ropes gone. Hope you judge right. For the kid."
"Wait..."
Looked like he had more, but I put him to sleep.
Keep talking, might wanna help. If the wife was hot, maybe a quickie and aid. But nah.
Tch. Don't hate missus types.
Just... good people? Wholesome vibe? Kinda off-putting.
Healthy feel? Survival for family, even murder and loot okay.
Doesn't match me—killing for fun, rape for lust.
Even my mart project feels pointless around them. Makes me look small.
No purpose, no meaning.
Cut the tape on arms and legs, about to go—eye catches the kid.
Sleeping belly-up between parents.
Thought boy from blue clothes. Girl, huh.
Little kid. Makes you think.
How long can she last?
Guys like me everywhere. Worse, crazier ones crawling.
Why care about her fate? Not her parent.
Opened the Shop.
Snacks bugged me most. Not cheap. People buy cans for calories per coin, storage.
Who buys snacks? Now I know.
Sucker right here.
Bought a variety, no clue what she likes.
Wake up tomorrow, happy? Feels like Santa.
In this fucked world, crumbs like these thrill. Shitty world. Goddamn it.
Didn't look back, headed out.
Stay longer, heart softens.
Parents with purpose, innocent kid.
Scarier than any skill user.
Doubting if bashing heads for coins to buy snacks fits.
Shaken heart's the scariest.
Gotta be ruthless. In this hellhole.
Can't look weak, can't show gaps. Death's always near.
Dodge, hide, run desperately.
Slack off, you're dead.
Peel that tape from his eyes? Could die.
Wife's Disease Treatment? Who knows. Undo eyes/mouth, maybe attack skill drops me.
Can't confirm myself, no slacking.
Always tense.
Second skill's a pain. Hard to check one by one. No way to spot dual skills.
Lots master first, get second.
Those are terrifying. Skill combos. Too many angles.
Master second, choice window? Probably. Safer that way.
Charm good... Telekinesis too.
Telekinesis: Load crossbow? Maybe not complex.
Even hand axe, jackknife, glass shard—impale works.
Whatever. Decide later.
Underground mall next.
Humans pop out from nowhere.
Perfect last spot to sweep neighborhood.
Tomorrow's date, so crash here. Didn't expect station this quick.
Sleep, out evening.
Ah... Sweep station again first.
Sense around, check corners.
None. Safe now.
Strode out the entrance boldly.
Subway station's no longer scary, uneasy.
Ant pit before. Always creepy. Solved so easily.