Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Survivor and Murderer - 2
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The key to the story was the Time Shelter.
There were three factions around the place that would open a year from now.
"Let's call our team A, the other team B, and the golf course team C."
I got a feeling the moment I heard that.
The Kwon guy from the golf course, whose pistol and smartphone I'd taken, had to be connected to the murderer.
But it would be better to hear more here.
According to Suyeon, Team C had the largest force.
"They seem to number at least ten. At first, I thought they were another team, but they interacted, you know? When they exchange supplies and personnel, they're one team."
"So they usually split into groups of five?"
"Yes."
It was a measure to fend off zombie waves.
Six was ambiguous; five was the safe number.
The reason I'd held out without joining the gym team was thanks to that excuse.
"Anyway, up to that point, it was fine. This area... as you've seen, Sung-ho, it's a wealthy neighborhood. A lot of info circulated, and people prepared. Everyone's sticking around here aiming for that. But..."
"But?"
"Team C proposed opening the Time Shelter."
"Already? Isn't it supposed to open a year later?"
"We thought so too, but their leader came to Team B and persuaded them. What's the difference between now and a year later? Let's divide it up before more forces gather."
"Who's the leader of Team C?"
"I don't know the name. They said he's tall and skinny, but not much detail..."
The owner of the Yongjeong Bunker, Kwon.
What was his reason for proposing to open the Time Shelter?
He could just act like a gentleman, shake hands politely, and it would end with brainwashing or memory manipulation.
...There might be limitations to his ability.
So, a limit to the number of subordinates he could make.
He had three bunkers, so let's assume fourteen subordinates for now.
The guy who prepared women meant ten male subordinates around the Time Shelter, with the women in the bunker.
Suyeon's team and the other team refused.
They figured they could survive for a while just by raiding nearby houses.
Honestly, it was more that ten people felt intimidating.
They didn't know what mischief they'd cause after opening the shelter.
I feigned ignorance and asked,
"But what's the connection between opening the Time Shelter and the murderer?"
"It's too coincidental. Right after we refused to open it, rumors of a murderer started... my heart was pounding. Do you know about it, Sung-ho?"
Of course I do. I've encountered the murderer over 200 times and killed it over 100.
"Sort of. They say your heart races when the murderer's nearby?"
"Someone said it was just game lore, so we laughed it off, but we shouldn't have. One of our team went farming and died..."
"That's awful... So you think the murderer appeared because you refused the Time Shelter proposal?"
"I'm not certain."
"I think there's some connection too."
Not just some—it's 100%.
I just couldn't tell Suyeon properly.
Still, I was curious about the intent behind trying to open the Time Shelter.
With fourteen subordinates, survival would be easy, and that wouldn't change in a year.
Why open it now?
When I asked Suyeon, she hesitated before answering.
"That Team C leader I mentioned? I saw him making Molotov cocktails to hunt."
"Molotovs?"
"Yes. He made several and turned the road into a sea of fire... That's partly why we tentatively split up. We didn't know when a fire might break out."
"That sounds dangerous."
The reason for opening the Time Shelter was revealed.
Kwon couldn't hunt alone.
Points from zombies killed by subordinates went to them.
Instead of fiddling with a bow, he wanted to hunt flashily with Molotovs.
In this case, he might be doing it to open the auction house sooner.
By the way, no word from Bunny Duo since then.
Did they choke on trout?
"...Molotovs would need gasoline. Could that be the reason?"
Suyeon thought for a moment, then snapped her fingers.
"A force that size would have someone who knows chemistry, and it makes sense. The president announced stockpiling gasoline too."
"Yeah. Still, opening the Time Shelter now seems off."
"They must think might makes right in this new world. And it pretty much is..."
Her expression darkened.
Anyway, Kwon seemed to need gasoline and materials for Molotovs.
He probably figured his bunker stockpile wasn't enough.
Once he used up Busan's Time Shelter supply?
He'd go to another region.
By then, Kwon and his subordinates would be strong enough.
My role here was decided.
Take on the murderer in a deathmatch, eliminate it, and prevent the Time Shelter from opening.
I could monopolize it myself, but expanding the shelter right now was tough.
Plus, honoring the president's last words wishing it opens a year later.
An additional goal: kill Kwon.
I said I'd kill him when the apocalypse hits, so I should keep my promise.
My promise to myself, though.
Suyeon took interest in my bow.
She asked if she could touch it, then immediately nocked an arrow and drew.
Of course, it wasn't easy.
She struggled, then awkwardly smiled and set the bow down.
"This has some serious draw weight."
"It's 100 pounds."
"...No wonder it was tough. You need arms like yours, Sung-ho."
I shrugged and drew the string relatively lightly.
Thanks to the ring from Topublic, it was much easier.
Grateful guy, but I hoped not to meet him right now.
Something about it messing up my plans.
She asked me,
"By the way, you've awakened too, right, Sung-ho?"
"Yes, Attack Prediction trait."
"Like predicting attacks to dodge?"
"Similar. Like leaving afterimages?"
"Oh. That'd be great in combat. My trait is decent, but hard to use in fights..."
"Doctor, so wound healing or something?"
Her eyes widened at my words.
"How'd you know?"
"...I heard about the gym folks' traits. Gym owner has Physical Enhancement, Yu-hyun has Doll Creation, like that."
Her finger pointed at me.
"But yours isn't related."
"Exceptions exist."
My real trait doesn't fit me either.
Maybe because of my playtime?
Suyeon complained that fighting was hard, so her level was low.
"Not that I should say this, but our team's guys are kinda... They ignore real priorities and just chase skirts."
"What skirts?"
"You know how it is. They drink the kimchi soup before the rice cake giver even thinks of it?"
"Ah."
I got the gist.
Even I thought Suyeon was attractive.
Toned body, sharp features.
Tall too, a real beauty.
I could understand guys hitting on her.
First few days were busy fleeing zombies, but now they'd adapted a bit.
As I nodded, she suddenly got angry.
"No, seriously. If they're gonna hit on me, show some cool side first. Then maybe I'd feel something. But doing lame stuff and demanding attention? That's weird, right?"
"Agreed."
"Funniest part? All three guys are the same. They compete and make a fuss among themselves."
"They're overdoing it."
"Trembling at the murderer rumors. If they were half like you... Know what they say? 'Run away with me.' All three, exactly."
"Why not ask what they'd do if you went?"
"Obvious. Act like they'd give their all at first, then ditch you when it's risky."
In the apocalypse, that's not always wrong.
Dragging others without knowing your own power is dumb, though.
I looked around the living room and spotted dozens of arrows filling an umbrella stand.
"You've stocked up on arrows. All carbon, right?"
"Yes. Want some? I bought a ton."
"I'd appreciate it."
She grabbed a handful and handed them over.
I put the arrows in my backpack and gave her glowing stone shards in return.
Her eyes went wide.
"These are from the shop, right?"
"Yeah. They last forever. Break off small pieces if too bright. Way better than candles."
"...But Sung-ho. You only saw one Mityube video, right? You know so much."
"Kimbap Lover rambled on. Total explainer type."
She nodded knowingly.
"Heard in the Awakener community he had that vibe."
Now that it's about me, it's awkward.
Gotta leave before enhanced zombies respawn.
I slung the now-sleeping Dingo into my backpack and said goodbye.
She waved reluctantly.
Kwon Kyung-jun had been spending satisfying days lately.
The apocalypse came, but his preparations were nearly perfect.
Sturdy bunkers, stockpiles for over three years, and fourteen subordinates—rock solid.
The issue of three powerless women was no longer a problem.
They'd awakened too.
But a bigger problem arose.
Points from subordinates' hunts weren't his.
Fleeing or helping others wasn't his style.
With all this, why bother?
Fiddling with a bow didn't suit his temper.
A subordinate made a good suggestion.
—Boss, make Molotovs to hunt. One of us can make them.
—Sounds good. Do it now.
But using stockpiled supplies felt wasteful.
Kyung-jun thought of the gasoline and chemicals in the nearby Time Shelter.
The government's stockpile would be massive.
If he secured that...
—Gotta open the auction house fast.
Kyung-jun immediately conveyed his intent to survivors around the Time Shelter.
Let's open it together.
With our power, it's possible.
But they refused for some reason.
Maybe fearing being discarded like dirt once used, but it irked him.
He thought of a good method.
—The method Dad used when first building the golf course... That's it.
Create a gruesome incident to make them leave voluntarily.
Conveniently, he had the ability to create one.
What if he turned one brainwashed subordinate into a murderer?
Murderer event triggers, forcing nearby survivors into deathmatches.
He didn't want to go this far, but no choice.
They're at fault for not leaving when told.
Kyung-jun reviewed his plan, then scowled.
...Even then, I thought it was perfect, but I got completely done in.
—That bastard...
The guy who impersonated Bunny Duo and fled.
Even if he'd just left, he couldn't escape my wrath, but he paralyzed me with poison, stole my pistol and smartphone.
Where'd he get goblin poison?
Since he avoided direct confrontation, probably not some amazing trait.
Recalling lying paralyzed on the bathroom floor, gasping, rage boiled.
—If I catch him, I'll beat him just shy of death.
Then use him till he drops dead. Perfect.
Kyung-jun's plan proceeded smoothly; finally, the meddlesome survivors fled the area.
Now he just had to watch his subordinates breach the Time Shelter.
The shelter door was protected by composite plastic and unknown materials—sturdy.
Government poured effort into it; breaching was obviously hard.
However.
"It opens in a year means there's a lock. Find it quick."
"Yes."
Kyung-jun was confident.
If it opens in a year, it can open now.
Worst case, set it ablaze and melt the door.
Any interlopers, his subordinate murderer would handle...
But Kyung-jun didn't know.
About the patch before service end.
That murderers who commit enough kills gain special abilities.
While over a dozen crowded the shelter, Sung-ho hid in a nearby building, reading the patch notes.
"Special abilities and stat boosts... This is too much."
Per the patch, it'd be near-superhuman.
The already strong murderer got even stronger.
"First, gotta see what the special ability is."
Sung-ho's ears caught a heartbeat.
Thump, thump!
The murderer was nearby.
A sound that'd terrify first-timers.
But to him, utterly familiar.
End of Survivor and Murderer - 2