Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Tutorial - 3
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Indeed, the ebony bat's attack power was weak.
But after my successive strikes, the Wi-Fi zombie's skull must have cracked, as its movements slowed.
I swung at the zombie one last time.
"Just die already!"
With a dull thud, the Wi-Fi zombie staggered before slowly collapsing.
Maybe because my level was high, there was no level-up, and I didn't acquire any skills.
Still, the most important thing—the trait block—had lifted.
I shouted toward Mi-kyung.
"Mi-kyung-ssi! Now!"
"Got it!"
She blinked right next to me.
I'd thought she'd go to another building.
"Watch out for the manhole. Just follow behind me."
I took the lead, and she started following.
Killing the boss didn't end the tutorial right away.
You had to run hard until the zombie wall broke, then escape and vanish.
It only counted as cleared if no zombie spotted you.
I kicked a zombie turning toward us and flattened it.
Kreeee!
Mi-kyung let out a startled "Eek."
"This way."
Turning into the alley, there weren't many zombies visible.
The occasional ones glancing our way were slow to react, so we could just bolt another direction.
How many minutes had we moved like that?
Suddenly, the zombies around us vanished.
I went up to the second floor of a storefront with Mi-kyung.
Then peered down through the window.
...None.
Proof the encirclement had broken.
The moment I looked away from the window, a message appeared.
So this was one way to earn points.
Getting spotted by zombies and successfully escaping gave points.
Non-combat awakeners could earn points without fighting.
But getting addicted to hide-and-seek would bite you eventually.
Earning points meant gaining experience too.
Leveling without combat experience left you helpless against enhanced zombies.
While Mi-kyung rested, I searched the house for respawned items.
In Survival Life, item drops came in two ways.
One: Strong monsters dropped owned items with options attached.
The other: Events respawned items near users.
Users preferred the former since moving was a hassle.
I picked up two respawned items from the bathroom.
Two squishy bracelets.
Two dropped because we'd cleared the tutorial adjacent to each other.
Normally, you wouldn't contact others before tutorial end, but this was reality.
"Not bad."
Bringing one to Mi-kyung, she stated the facts.
"Perception +2 option."
"One each."
"I'm not sure if I should take this... I just ran around on the rooftop."
"You drew their attention, so I could take out that zombie. Take it."
Truth be told, I could've handled it solo without her.
But ignoring her after meeting wasn't an option.
Being on good terms with a Blink user was never a bad idea.
She took the bracelet, glancing at me.
I silently slipped mine on my wrist.
She asked me.
"Uncle, any injuries?"
"I'm fine. Just a bit tired."
Running around since morning and hauling stuff had wrecked my condition.
I wanted to send her off quick and rest at home.
She said glumly.
"This might sound weird, but... without you, I'd be dead."
"Why would a Blink user die? Just jump from the second floor and run."
"I knew from the guides, but when zombies swarmed, my legs froze... My heart was pounding..."
Perfectly normal.
At night, with nothing visible, a horde brought insane pressure.
Guides and doing it were worlds apart.
I asked her.
"What about the others?"
"Hid in the gym till evening. Luckily, no one on our team turned. Kyung-hoon-ssi wanted to stick together for tutorial, but the owner was firm..."
"Guides say split up."
That guy's gonna cause trouble someday.
Stubborn without knowledge.
Fine in society, but apocalypse was different.
Two non-awakeners didn't turn zombie, huh.
Like Kyung-hoon guessed, being with awakeners prevents turning?
Then awakeners' families should survive too...
No point dwelling now.
Survival first.
I urged her.
"Let's go to the gym."
"I can go alone. No need to worry."
Who worries about a Blink user?
Just scouting for new info.
Four together... whatever.
Short visit fine, but someone might feel awkward.
"Don't want to?"
"No, no. Let's go."
We ransacked the house but found little worth taking.
Nearly expired ramen and snacks.
We bagged them quietly and left.
Tutorials raging everywhere made it noisy.
Night deepened.
.
.
.
We dodged zombies toward the gym.
Exiting the alley, zombies swarmed a lit house.
What candle fest was that?
I gestured to Mi-kyung.
Cross while they're busy.
We crept across to the gym's small building.
But the building's state...?
Not collapsed, but one wall sagged.
Mi-kyung glanced entering.
"Uncle. Building looks off, right?"
"That side sank. Cracks everywhere."
"Wasn't like that leaving..."
"Weight caused it. Looks risky."
Videos showed up to fifth floor fine, but this?
Maybe shoddy construction.
Won't fall now, but relocate long-term.
Lots stockpiled—how to handle?
This was Metal Plague's terror.
Spore particles decomposed metal bonds to sand grains.
Not corrosion—sealing useless.
Penetration depth unknown.
Low buildings fine due to concrete bearing load.
Thought five floors safe, but shoddy means danger.
Waiting on first floor, Mi-kyung went up and down.
"Bora-unni and Kyung-hoon-ssi not back."
"Let's go."
We climbed to fourth floor.
Windows boarded, blackout curtains—pitch black.
One candle lit faces.
Hyung-jun hyung... Yoo-hyun... Mi-kyung... me. Four.
"Sung-ho's here. Good."
"I seriously survived thanks to hyung."
Yoo-hyun sidled up, acting buddy-buddy.
"What happened?"
"You wrote in the note. If zombies hit walls while fleeing, change direction. If fully surrounded, climb building. Did that, worked."
"No boss monster?"
"Nope? Owner-ssi?"
"None for me either."
Seemed bosses only for me and Mi-kyung.
They patched tutorials with levels.
Hyung beckoned.
"Hey, Sung-ho. Sit first. Talk sitting. Bora and that guy's not here."
We sat candle-centered.
Mi-kyung couldn't hold back.
"I hid in a building fleeing, then Sung-ho uncle helped."
"Scary as hell... Two raises detection, how'd you escape?"
Mi-kyung shook head at hyung's question.
"I drew aggro from rooftop. Sung-ho uncle went down, killed it. The trait-blocking zombie."
Eyes widened.
Hyung-jun hyung asked me.
"Such a thing?"
Came for info, now spilling.
Not bad though.
I explained simply.
Wi-Fi zombie no biggie, Mi-kyung's distraction helped.
Yoo-hyun admired.
"Hyung's amazing. We were busy fleeing."
"Just ran... But Sung-ho, you smashed that zombie?"
"Not smashed. Barely killed one."
"Still, that pressure... Couldn't imagine. Oh, you awakened too?"
What now?
Hyung said casually.
"Awakened at tutorial start. System talk about new users."
Seemed legit.
Non-gamers forced awaken via tutorial?
Here...
"...I awakened too. Too rushed to tell Mi-kyung-ssi."
How'd she take me pretending ignorance on items?
...No big thoughts.
Hyung straight-up.
"Physical Enhancement my trait. Combat boosted health, strength, agility. Body lightened."
"Great trait."
Yoo-hyun, doll-making originally, demoed.
Made paper frog, touched—hopped!
"These follow my will. Eyes closed, see/hear through them."
"Neat ability."
Paper planes for scouting enemy lines perfect.
Come to think, Yoo-hyun engineering major...
Making-related got him doll-making trait maybe.
Mi-kyung fast feet: Blink.
Hyung-jun sturdy/strong: Physical Enhancement.
Atmosphere forced me.
"Uncle's trait?"
Eyes on me.
Tutorial cleared, acquaintances—not members.
Spilling trait troubles all.
Unless feeding them forever, hide.
Convenient trait...
Yes, that.
.
.
.
"My trait... Attack Prediction."
"Attack Prediction?"
"Predicts future? Insane ability."
"No. Shows monster attack paths roughly. Afterimages."
Hyung crossed arms, tilted head.
"Weird. Me and Yoo-hyun thought you'd get cooking trait."
"Snack bar?"
"Yeah. Buffs from your food."
Not cooking, but ingredients buff.
"Anyway, clueless at first. Killed enhanced zombie, then saw zombie attack trajectories. Knew dodges, easy flee."
"Still killed enhanced zombie traitless? Impressive."
"Not that strong. Hyung-ssi'd handle better. Physical Enhancement tanks zombies easy?"
"Nah... Knew guide, pressure nuts."
All nodded silently.
No wind, candle flickered wildly.
Yoo-hyun shielded candle.
"Anyway... what now?"
No one spoke, I did.
"Survive."
"After?"
"Survive to end. Fight zombies, ghouls, kobolds, goblins, orcs, werewolves, etc."
"No answer. Real."
"Too hopeless..."
Faces drained.
But not end.
"Fight humans too. Stabilize, raiders appear. Villas at foothills? Careful."
"Those guys bad. Forceful, drag unwilling..."
"Not far from here... Fight if come?"
Hyung's worry deepened.
Couldn't say safe since two dead.
Plan: fireworks farm, then cull.
Leaving threats risks me.
Getting tired.
Gather info, bounce.
"Anyone earn points uniquely? Know fleeing gives."
"That. Owner-ssi, end points came?"
"Huh? End points?"
"Helped entering, points came."
"Oh. Zombie at Yoo-hyun, pushed, stomped. Points."
Helping gives points...
Hard for me.
"Hunt, flee, help: points."
Hyung nodded relieved.
"Non-combat hard points? Lucky. Yoo-hyun flees well, farm that."
"But owner-ssi, risky long-term. Points mean levels. Level without fight dangerous. Strong spawns, I'm weak."
Hyung smacked like realization.
"...True. Headache. Match levels among us?"
"To live together."
"Me and Yoo-hyun Lv1. Youngest?"
"Lv2..."
"Sung-ho?"
Cannot say Lv11.
"Lv2."
"Enhanced kill and flee to Lv2. Youngest Lv2, how balance..."
"Hyung-ssi, no need exact. ~Lv3 tolerated."
"Good. Points for?"
"Shop items at Lv10, auction Lv15 I think."
Auctions had limited community.
Comments on listings.
Game allowed chat, reality maybe auction-only.
Lv15 auction empty? Or powerlevellers.
Hyung's face odd.
"Shop buy deducts points, respawns nearby?"
"Videos showed. Tutorial ebony club?"
"Yeah... haha, how reach? Lv1 now."
"Someday."
Folks despaired future.
Mourned zombie families/friends.
Time to go pre-spawns.
Standing.
"Tutorial done, avoid nights. Bone Creepers, Keepers out."
"Keepers? Guide one. That dangerous?"
"Yes. Zombies rest dawn. Guard enhanced zombies called Keepers, multiples stronger."
Safe to here.
They know Kimbap Lover vids.
No spoiling later monsters.
Guides circulated anyway.
Deep sighs.
"So many scary monsters..."
"Apocalypse. But hyung-ssi, building risky... okay?"
"Won't collapse soon. Bora and him come, discuss."
Kyung-hoon in hyung's doghouse.
"Called 'that guy'."
"Heading out."
"You okay? Rest first?"
"Before later. Two come, awkward."
"True... Thanks escorting youngest. Take this."
Hyung gave from sparse stock.
Mostly food, hesitant but...
Later, "accidentally" tip farm spot.
Yoo-hyun pulled from bag.
"Hyung, gift. Thanks useful tips..."
"What's this?"
Small plastic cylinder.
Yoo-hyun demoed window.
Ah, monocular.
"Can't big hole. Made small."
"O... good."
Peek out safe.
Engineer different.
Gym crew goodbyes, descended.
First floor out: few zombies patrolling.
Me out, chase.
Hunt, points...
"Hoo..."
This my post-apoc life.
Home, cave.
Dingo propeller-tailed rush.
"Sleep now..."
Hugged Dingo, death-like sleep.
Tutorial - 3 End