Chapter 196
Chapter 196
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 196
Chapter Title: Tokyo Apocalypse - 2
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'Alright...'
Geom-in gripped his weapon tightly.
A dung beetle sat perched on his head, and right before his eyes loomed the entrance to the underground ruins.
All he had to do was step inside, so why was he so terrified?
Maybe because he was alone.
'Well, not exactly alone since I've got the dung beetle here...'
But in terms of real combat power, it was pretty much the same as going solo.
'Get it together, Geom-in. Cowering here after coming this far would be embarrassing.'
He might be the lowest rung on the veteran team, but people still relied on him.
When Sung-ho, Seok-hyun, and Da-jeong weren't around, they looked to him.
Lately, though, with Gukbap Addict—no, Lee Sang-sin—joining up, that spot was getting shaky.
Still.
'I can do this.'
Geom-in chewed and swallowed the buff crop Sung-ho had sent him.
Seeing his stats shoot up in an instant made him feel more secure.
He checked his activated skills: Blink, Body Enhancement, and Heal.
He wasn't using Restraint because he figured he'd be facing multiple monsters.
And his other traits weren't much use for exploration.
'This'll do. This has to do.'
With glow stones and a high-intensity flash, what was there to fear?
If monsters showed up, he'd just blast them with the gun.
Though he'd have to conserve ammo as much as possible.
He took a step toward the entrance but hesitated at the last moment.
It was just too scary.
As if annoyed by his reluctance, the dung beetle on his head tugged at his hair.
—Hurry up, what are you waiting for?
Or something like that.
Geom-in took a deep breath and stepped into the cave entrance.
And encountered a staggeringly vast world.
"Whoa..."
A massive corridor stretched into pitch-black darkness.
The ceiling was nowhere in sight, and the passage was impossibly smooth.
"Is this made of stone?"
Nod, nod.
He could feel the dung beetle nodding proudly atop his head.
It made sense—it was their home, after all.
But wasn't it a bit too big for a house?
Geom-in walked down the corridor, lost in trivial thoughts.
Suddenly, bright lights flickered on from the ceiling, illuminating the entire passage faintly.
"Wow..."
Motion-sensor lights?
They dimmed sharply when he stood still, confirming it.
He was newly impressed by the dung beetle—no, the dwarves'—technology.
"You guys aren't just earth-eaters after all... Ow, ow. Sorry. Scratch that earth-eater bit."
He'd only said it based on their image, but it must've hurt the beetle's feelings.
Turned out "earth-eaters" was a slur other races used for dwarves.
'Other races...'
It made him think the races of Lotus Continent were pretty diverse.
So far, humans, elves, and now dwarves—three revealed.
The insects hadn't spelled it all out, but Lotus Continent seemed to have taken a massive hit.
He guessed it was a blow that shattered every civilization on the continent.
Maybe swept by magic, or the work of some monster from the deep labyrinth core.
'One thing's for sure: there are survivors.'
Like the insects, cursed or hiding in remote spots.
Lost in such thoughts as he walked, the fine hairs on his arm suddenly stood on end.
His heightened Perception stat was warning him of nearby enemies.
In ruins this big, it'd be weirder if no monsters had snuck in.
Geom-in gripped his rifle, then slyly stowed it in his backpack and drew his long knife.
'Relying only on the gun won't make me grow.'
Guns were fearsome, but unfortunately not sustainable.
Once ammo ran out, they were just awkward clubs.
The dung beetles were making bullets to counter that, but supply was woefully short.
In short: conserve.
'End it with this if possible.'
As Geom-in clutched the long knife, monsters burst from crumbled walls here and there.
Kikkit!
Karruk!
Over twenty goblins and two orcs.
They bared their teeth at Geom-in in threat.
He flinched for a moment but puffed out his chest.
"I've beaten werewolves before. You punks aren't even a challenge."
With a bit of support, sure, but he'd still won.
His Ferocity skill activated, boosting his overall stats.
Kuuk!
Sensing his aura, the two orcs slammed their clubs on the ground, urging their minions.
The goblins snickered, and veins bulged on Geom-in's forehead.
"These bastards think I'm easy prey?"
Geom-in scraped his long knife along the wall.
Kikigik!
The shrill sound echoed, making the sharp-eared goblins cringe.
That was when Geom-in Blinked right in front of them.
As a few looked puzzled, he swung the long knife.
"Die!"
One goblin's head flew off.
The fierce battle continued.
"Huff... huff..."
Geom-in bent at the waist, gasping for breath.
The monsters weren't tough, but his control slipped.
Getting close to the orc that had just yelled from the back was fine, but then it went berserk and swung a fist.
"My head's still spinning... Ah..."
With griffons, he blamed the level gap, but why couldn't he tame even orcs reliably?
He'd probably need to restrain monsters and train them more times.
Still, not bad.
Geom-in straightened up and admired his handiwork.
Goblins were just trash mobs.
But few could go toe-to-toe with two orcs barehanded.
"This is basic for a veteran."
He shrugged smugly, only for the dung beetle to yank his hair.
As if scolding him for being slow.
Apparently, this beetle often went out with Seok-hyun.
Seok-hyun turned everywhere to ash outside the shelter, so it was used to that.
"Can't compare me to Earth Mover."
Where was he now, anyway...
In the heat of battle, he'd veered into a different path.
The dung beetle tugged his hair to guide him.
Each step lit the ceiling brightly, then dimmed.
Geom-in trudged along until he spotted a space beyond a crumbled door.
"What's this place?"
Dust-covered tools, a workbench, an extinguished forge.
The dung beetle hopped down and scurried about, pointing to a chest under a shelf.
Seemed important. He opened it—and sure enough.
"Whoa... what's all this?"
Magic metal ore, black coal, flint stones—packed full.
Must've been the dwarves' workshop before the curse.
Rummaging deeper, he pulled out a few ether stones, to his shock.
"Jackpot."
He'd worried about returning empty-handed, but this was perfect.
Especially the ether stones—they were essential to keep the shelter's furnace running.
Geom-in gleefully stuffed the ore and ether stones into his backpack.
"Things just got fun around here."
The dung beetle gestured.
Deeper in, even better stuff awaited.
But with monsters at the entrance, the inner areas would be riskier.
Geom-in didn't mind.
"No risk, no treasure. Right?"
The beetle looked at him with a hint of admiration.
They memorized the workshop's location and headed deeper underground.
We'd taken cover in a building next to Parco Department Store.
The fireworks got us out of the entrance fine, but a few ghouls followed.
Mixed with locusts, it was a nightmare, but Seok-hyun took them out anyway.
Yuzuka peered down gloomily.
"Nothing's been cleared at all... When will Japan ever gather its people...?"
"Probably never."
Pessimistic, but things would likely stay this way.
No central figure.
The Japanese government must've heard, but did nothing and collapsed.
Survivors were fending for themselves, squabbling in auction houses.
The only faction nearby was the Freak Union.
Auction house said monsters ignored them.
High chance they had Affinity skill.
Seok-hyun glanced out the window.
"Felt it earlier—a few are tailing us."
"Probably those Freak Union guys."
"Or just murderers?"
"Spot on. They're role-playing in a gang. Affinity means no monster threats, so they band together and get off on tormenting survivors."
Yuzuka startled.
"Affinity? A skill like that exists?"
"Super rare to get. And you gotta keep murdering to maintain it. Means anyone with it has at least three digits worth of kills."
"That many..."
"Those guys must be strong."
"Way stronger than that killer from Changwon."
"If we fought now, I'd be mincemeat?"
"Don't engage."
For now.
Battle Royale Battlefield was still active, so everyone suffered Shackles of the Battlefield.
But clear it?
I pulled out the Tokyo map from Yuzuka.
"Battlefield's roughly this range—not exact."
I drew dozens of circles over Tokyo. Yuzuka marked key buildings while sprawled out.
"Battle Royale Battlefield means kill or be killed, right?"
"Yep. Stays active till one survivor left."
"If everyone hides without killing...?"
"Shackles effect lingers. No real growth. Monsters keep spawning—super dangerous."
She went "Ah" and shut her mouth.
Frankly, our goal wasn't crushing the Freak Union.
Just snag two griffons.
Rumors of sightings in Tokyo, but none showed.
Not in Korea either—we had to wait here.
"Rest here first... then head here."
I pointed on the map. Yuzuka jumped.
"That's... the Imperial Palace."
"Lots of green space. Few people, so we can end the Battlefield."
Some sacrifices inevitable.
Yuzuka looked bitter—not about killing, though.
"The Imperial Palace..."
As she started to speak, footsteps echoed from the outer stairs.
Not a murderer.
They rolled in themed gangs.
No solo acts.
Seok-hyun moved to check. I stopped him.
"Yuzuka, help me out."
"With what?"
"Bait and lure him in."
"Then?"
"Paralyze him with this, squeeze info. We're their target."
I pulled out the paralysis dart.
Ji-man had caught poison frogs somewhere and bred them.
His trait made venom production smooth.
We'd be in trouble without Ji-man.
Yuzuka tilted her head, but hardened when I said goblins blow-darted them.
"That paralysis venom..."
"Hits for 20-30 minutes—down and out. We eat, take our time."
"Leave it to me."
Yuzuka rolled up her sleeve and nocked an arrow.
Her trait: Archery mastery.
Deep skill—tournament medals, per her brother Kenji's offhand mention.
Quiet Yuzuka didn't boast.
She slipped out cautiously, took a short breath.
Someone charged up the hall, lunging at her.
"Get back!"
As they clashed, I loaded the dart in the blowpipe, aimed carefully, and blew.
"Ugh!"
The suspicious figure groaned muffledly and slumped.
Seok-hyun dragged him inside.
"Creepy long hair on this guy."
"Yeah. Looks like a side character from a Japanese RPG."
A handsome man lay floored, eyes bulging.
Japan's pricey haircuts meant guys all rocked shaggy cuts—believe it or not.
Yuzuka asked carefully.
"What now?"
"What else? Let's eat."
Perfect timing—I was starving.
I unpacked snacks; we ate together.
The man's breathing grew ragged; his stomach growled.
I told him,
"Behave when you wake, and you eat."
After the meal, his hand twitched.
Seok-hyun rope-bound him fully. Yuzuka panicked.
"Wh-why tie him like that..."
SM club vibes.
The man coughed, lips quivering faintly.
"Y-you... what the hell are you?"
"Told you to behave. Killing you here doesn't count as murder."
He narrowed his eyes.
"You know a lot, huh?"
"A bit."
Minus a few programmers from the Great Labyrinth, no one knew more than me.
But spilling here? Nah.
He'd rant about betrayal and charge—headache.
"Whatever. Name, now. Or you're out."
"...Shintaro. They call me Vengeful Shintaro."
Seok-hyun whispered in Yuzuka's ear.
"Middle school syndrome."
"Totally..."
Shintaro flushed.
But dead serious, thrashing wildly.
"Middle school? What do you know! Freak Union took everything from me! I can't breathe the same air!"
"Freak Union... so you know them well?"
"No one knows 'em like I do."
"Spill. Full meal, maybe untie you."
Shintaro scoffed.
"Think I'll fold to that? Dream on."
"Good deal: info for freedom."
He eyed us suspiciously.
"You don't know much about the Union—shady. Outfits too, one's a total perv. Korean?"
"Bingo."
"Then no dice."
Seok-hyun yanked the shotgun from my pack, aimed.
"Got a better persuader—why talk?"
Click.
Shell chambered; sweat poured from Shintaro's temple.
"A-ask anything."
End of Tokyo Apocalypse - 2