Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: D - 21
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< D - 21 >
The goblin's paralyzing poison darts boast incredible potency.
The moment the dart pierces the skin, paralysis sets in, making it hard to move.
If the poison had been any stronger, even breathing would have been difficult.
But the goblin's paralyzing darts were calibrated just enough to immobilize a person.
"I was wondering where the hell they got these from."
Who would've thought it was from these frogs.
I fetched an old tank and put the poison frog inside.
Better to live here than get eaten out there.
As a test, I caught a bug from the bushes, and it snapped it up eagerly.
This guy's got an appetite as good as mine.
"I'll feed you, and you'll give me poison. Fair trade, right?"
Not sure if the frog agrees.
I poked it lightly with a stick, but it didn't secrete any poison.
"Probably exhausted from all the goblin prodding. Get some rest."
I peeled moss from nearby and added it, along with a water dish.
This should be enough for it to thrive on its own.
Speaking of which, what's this in my pocket...
"Guca fruit."
First time seeing the real thing.
There were plenty of the plant oil buds too.
Hold on. This cut looks fresh. And it smells good.
"Wasn't picked long ago, huh?"
That means there are more around here.
The rest was just junk, so I geared up quickly.
I backtracked the goblin footprints, cautiously moving through the forest.
"Heading west from the cave."
A little further, and I'd hit the valley.
How long had I walked?
I stumbled upon a small natural spring nestled in a fantastical scene.
"Whoa."
It looked like a spot where flower deer and nymphs might come to drink.
Beside the tiny spring stood a dwarf tree.
Those precariously hanging from the branches must be the medicinal fruits.
"Looks like a plum."
Curious about the taste, I tried one. It was so bitter my tongue went numb.
Not for eating, got it.
Here, "health" refers to physical health.
Mental health can't be healed by fruit like this.
"Hmm..."
Yeah, better to grind the guca fruit into ointment than eat it.
Potions would be ideal, but I don't know how.
"Ointment it is for now."
I harvested every guca fruit and stuffed them in my backpack.
Now I just need the plant oil...
Didn't take long wandering around to find it.
It had a bizarre shape unlike any plant from this world.
"Fantasy world, alright."
The long stem ended in those signature buds, and touching one left sticky oil on my fingers.
At least oil won't be an issue.
"Pluck just the buds, and it'll die, huh."
Carefully, I dug up the roots with a trowel and packed the whole thing in my backpack.
"Ointment supplies are solid now..."
Finally, I scooped some from the spring and sniffed it.
Looked fine. No debris floating.
Not gonna die from this, right? I gulped it down.
Cool and refreshing as it slid down my throat.
"This is... pretty close to the cave."
No more worries about dying of thirst.
I'd stocked plenty of water in the cave too.
Good.
Feeling secure, I marked the spring's location on my map.
As I turned to leave, I nearly jumped.
A bird—owl or something—perched on a branch, staring.
"You look kinda cool."
Hope it's not gonna turn into an owl bear.
I headed back to the cave to set up my sleeping area.
Finally, the cave had a door.
Ordered in a rush after the sseibal-kwak incident, but the uneven entrance made it a bit crooked.
"Whatever, only I'll see it."
I itched to install movable infrared-sensor CCTVs.
That way, I could peek outside with the door shut.
But they need constant power.
Solar generators might work.
"One week left."
Once the generator arrives, this cave's done.
I grabbed flooring from an interior shop, laid two layers, and added a mattress.
The mortar work raised the floor, so flooding from rain was unlikely.
"Still need drainage."
I dug around the cave entrance diligently.
Once I placed the daily necessities and weapons I'd stockpiled, it felt like a proper hideout.
Lots of supplies left to bring, of course.
"Could live here."
In 22 days, I'd have to.
Once zombies hit, no sleeping easy.
All iron doors shatter, so zombie raids could come anytime.
Nights are pitch black—escaping's a nightmare.
Flashlights? Zombies love 'em and swarm.
"Thinking about it now, total hell mode."
At Survival Life's launch, no one cleared the tutorial for days.
They patched it easier by endgame, but...
Hoping reality's toned down too.
Back at the two-story house, I ate while checking news and community trends.
"No shooting news at all."
What happened to that deserter stuff?
Vanished like a dream.
Weird.
Awakened folks had migrated to one site.
"Apocalypse prep site, huh..."
Boards for supplies, tips, strategies—well organized.
Problem: no real info.
Tip board flooded with trolls spreading bullshit.
Video board? Empty.
Free board full of complaints.
Stuff like that.
Bottom line: early zombies distinguish light and human movement.
Spore takeover isn't complete yet.
But over time, with nutrients, spores dominate, blinding them.
Other senses sharpen beyond that.
Some post had over a thousand comments arguing difficulty.
Glanced at it—early tutorial focus.
"So many patches, easy to mix up."
Few played Survival Life long.
Mostly dozens or hours, so they argue from memory.
A real vet summary would help, but none around.
"Kimbap.Lover."
Searching my ID? Pure hate.
Time to quit sharing info.
So much hate.
Free board had screenshot proofs too.
420 hours...
Newbie+ to me, but hero to them.
Sure enough, sky-high popularity.
Huh? Vid with me?
Comments were ass-kissing level.
Didn't name his ID, said he'd stream on Mityube.
Why not video board? Money, obviously.
"Even scraps of info are gold now."
Mityube live hit: thousands flooded in.
What'd he film?
Early part gave me a headache.
Pink-painted skin, panties-only me.
"Embarrassing."
Later toned down 'cause crazier players like Bunny Duo and Duck Down Quack outdid me.
No bunny headband was a mercy.
Comments? Surprisingly praise.
Vid shifted to streets packed with zombies.
Nutrient-fed, evolved ones—big, ferocious. We called 'em ghouls.
Chat turned to lamentations.
Some puzzled by night darkness.
Chaos central.
Worried how to survive.
"Figure it out yourselves."
I wanted his ID.
Helped so many newbies, faces blur, but ID would jog it.
Kept watching. Me dashing through zombies—screen froze.
Host appeared.
"Uh, hello. Zombie Man here, owner of this vid. Prepping well?"
Cleared throat, froze chat.
"No long talk. Played Survival Life ~420 hours. Got 5 vids: early tutorial, and Kimbap Lover攻略."
Paused.
Unfreezing chat now? Explosion.
"Revealing this 'cause solo prepping's overwhelming. Costly, tough. So, vids to exactly 10 people. 10 million won each. DM for account."
Stream ended.
Mityube keeps chat post-stream.
Flooded too fast to read.
"...Mostly rage."
Makes sense. Expected free info.
"No obligation to share, though."
Streamed for profit. Teased info, seeks donors.
No other vets outing themselves—priceless intel.
"Upload my vids?"
Top Mityube trending, instant. Cash flood.
But massive aggro. Thousands doxxing? Terrifying.
Nope.
"Money's plenty as is."
Not lavish, but quiet prep ok.
Now, find that ID.
Pink paint panties phase was brief.
Target that...
Found it.
...Total troll.
< D - 21 > End