Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: True Apocalypse - 1
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A few days after the First Kill event.
I chatted with Da-jeong through the auction house using code words.
She could've shaved off a few seconds from the record, but it looked like she'd held back to let me have it.
I thanked her for it.
―With just words?
―What should I do for you? Craving anything?
―That bokhuk last time was so good. Fry something this time. I want chicken.
―Hmm... Frying might be tough. No fryer. How about smoked?
―Sure. But you know what happens if you mention DLC or whatever again?
―Ever heard of season pass?
―Die.
Da-jeong and I were back to how things were when we just played the game.
Gender didn't matter at all.
What counted was helping each other and having fun.
She hoped Bunny Duo would join us soon.
We couldn't be together, but I had to pass on the code words at least.
I sent her some smoked meat and messaged that I'd go look for Bunny Duo.
―He should be near Jinju by now. I'll go find him, so you stay put, Da-jeong.
―Okay. I'm the princess waiting for her prince.
―Princess my ass... More like an SM queen cracking her whip.
―I found a ball gag and butt plug at the adult store. They'd suit you perfectly.
―Let's drop it.
This woman actually follows through.
She might've even turned Yuhyeon into her slave by now.
I asked about the gym folks, and she said they were doing fine.
No way she'd eaten them, right?
I explained the local situation to her.
―Not a bad spot to live. Lots of water tanks in the residential area. Ocean nearby too, so food shouldn't be an issue.
―So when should we head there?
―Latest by next month... We still have plenty of food at the station, right?
―Compared to when you left, it's down to half. Early October okay?
―Ask around with the others. You're not deciding solo like some lone wolf, are you?
―I'm super democratic.
―You're 5 seconds late. Suspicious.
―Shh. Hush. Love you. Dream of me.
―This a curse or what?
I logged out of the auction house and prepped dinner.
Time for Yeoul and the kids to show up.
We'd grown pretty close over the past few days, throwing out cast nets and hunting together.
I'd casually mentioned grabbing a meal sometime, and they took it literally.
It was just a throwaway line, but kids gonna kid.
Couldn't kick them out after inviting them, so I put in real effort.
I pretended to farm stuff from around while pulling out food from the cave stash.
Around noon to one by the rooftop sundial, they finally arrived.
"Uncle, we're here!"
"Whoa, smells so good!"
"Shh."
I pointed to the zombie-packed road and hushed them.
After the First Kill event, zombie behavior had changed.
It was getting hard to spot that old agility in some of them.
The three kids were thrilled it was easier to get around, but not me.
That sluggish movement meant they were evolving into ghouls soon.
Whether it was true evolution or not, a few zombies that got enough nutrition would turn into ghouls and start leaping around.
When that hit, things would go from heaven to hell.
Unlike zombies, ghouls could run, climb, and overcome obstacles.
Their strength and toughness ramped up, and above all, their tracking got insanely better.
Outrunning them on foot wouldn't cut it anymore.
To survive, you'd have to run like hell and hide.
And on top of that, a few orcs and werewolves...
The true apocalypse was about to unfold.
...Whatever. We still had to eat.
I set out big bowls on the table, and the kids' eyes went wide.
"Uncle, you farmed so hard."
"Couldn't find stuff like this anywhere. Where'd you get it?"
"This is unreal."
I'd made bibimbap from rehydrated dried veggies.
They didn't quite plump back up, but mixed with gochujang, it went down fine.
Drizzling sesame oil changed their faces to zombie-starved-for-food levels.
Even Yeoul was just staring at her bowl.
Phoenix eggs would've been perfect, but no excuses there.
Those were just for me and Da-jeong.
I ladled out doenjang guk with barely any solids and said,
"...Let's eat."
"Thanks for the food!"
The kids ate like champs.
Even Yeoul, who never pigged out, hugged her bowl and shoveled it in.
Yeah, at 18, you could chew rocks.
I ate slowly, pondering escape routes.
Pure running wouldn't shake monsters anymore.
Best bet: ropes between buildings.
A go-to in the game. Most monsters couldn't traverse ropes.
Use it to guerrilla-hop between structures.
Roads were too risky now. No choice.
"Uncle, what're you thinking?"
Yeoul had polished off her bibimbap and asked innocently.
I quietly added rice and toppings to her bowl.
"I'm full."
"This is the last bibimbap."
"Thanks."
Guess women always had room.
Suyeon and Mi-kyung ate like that and still had space for snacks.
Dohyeong and Junho cleared seconds too.
Only then did I speak.
"Got something for you two to do."
"What?"
"Your traits are Terrain Overcoming, right?"
"Yep."
Terrain Overcoming meant parkour.
I had superior athleticism over normals, but couldn't touch these two.
First time seeing 10m-plus road jumps.
Yeoul said it was cafeteria power.
Running for fast lunches in school evolved into this.
Like Blink's lesser version, but no drawbacks.
Could even wall-run, so different category from Blink.
Theirs were level 4, no extra effects yet.
Tons of potential ahead.
"Can you rope-swing between buildings?"
They pondered, then nodded.
"That much, sure."
"Uncle, thinking of roping the buildings?"
Yeoul cut in.
I nodded, and she thought before saying,
"Monsters might climb the ropes."
I knew they wouldn't, but better back off here.
"We'll test it first. Not 'cause you can't rope, right?"
"Not that. Just... if monsters climb, we're trapped."
"Most can't, I think. Zombies obviously no. Goblins and kobolds are cowards, you know."
Orcs lacked finesse, werewolves would rip instead.
From what I knew, rope-climbing monsters were rare.
Maybe agile enhanced ghouls like locusts...
Dohyeong jumped up.
"If bro says, we'll do it. This rope?"
"Yeah. Tie it to the strut at the hall end."
Dingo fetched parachute cord and handed it over.
"Good boy," he said, petting Dingo's head, then dashed off.
Yeoul scanned the strategy guide, then said wistfully,
"Goblins and kobolds, okay, but orcs and werewolves are trouble. Especially werewolves."
"They hunt at night, so we'll avoid."
"Farming'll get tougher..."
"What can ya do? Adapt."
Dohyeong returned soon.
"Bro, tied it."
"Hold my weight?"
"Obviously. Even Yeoul's."
"Hey!"
Yeoul kicked his thigh.
No teasing slim girls like that.
We checked the hall-end rope.
Solidly tied.
I hand-over-handed across to the opposite building.
Weak strength flips you dangling, but my STR was 15.
Grip like pull-ups, strode along, crossed quick.
Kids cheered from the other side.
"Shh."
I fingered lips, pointed at Yeoul.
She hadn't shared her trait.
Even when I said we needed to know for plans.
Anyway, she geared up, crossed the rope.
Then dangled midway.
"Ack!"
Short scream drew monster eyes up.
I sniped each one, then approached.
"Piggyback."
"U-Uncle, you sure?"
"Better than dangling."
She nodded, climbed on.
She was light, no burden.
I carried her back, set her down.
"Haa... I can't do it."
"You have to. Need more escape options. Dohyeong, Junho, link nearby buildings? Tell me if short on rope."
"Aye aye. Let's go."
After they left, Yeoul buried her face in her knees.
"How long like this? I can't..."
"Till we die. Won't survive otherwise soon."
"I got no skills..."
"You have a trait. Whatever it is."
"Same as none."
"Don't wanna say? Fine."
Everyone has secrets.
Yeoul had reasons to hide hers.
But solo-handling gets tough.
I had the forest; plain high-schooler Yeoul wouldn't.
Out the window, Dohyeong and Junho hopped buildings, roping them.
Mountaineering shop nearby; time to farm.
As I moved to leave, Yeoul grabbed my pants.
"Uncle..."
"Yeah?"
"W-Will you... go out with me?"
"..."
What the hell.
I squatted, hand on her shoulder.
"Explain? Uncle's dense."
She barely lifted her head.
"My trait... says One Mind Same Body. Dunno what, but it's that couple thing, right?"
"Pr-Probably?"
Could mean tight-knit groups or friends, but usually couples...
Her trait needed a partner, huh.
"So you asked me out?"
"N-No guys around..."
"Dohyeong or Junho?"
She freaked.
"No spark there. And dating one'd awkward the other."
True.
Like siblings after years together.
I patted her shoulder.
"No forcing it."
"No, you're fine. Don't wanna die without using my trait..."
"Die? Guys exist besides me. Meet one first."
Her eyes widened.
"Who?"
"Early October... Guy coming here. Yuhyeon, twenty-two? You'll fall at first sight."
"Not about looks. Skills matter."
"He's skilled. Anyway, meet him first. Dating an uncle like me'd just dull your life."
"You're fine."
"You'll regret when he arrives. Handsome as hell."
"...Really handsome?"
"Thought he was an idol first time."
"Single now?"
"Dunno for sure."
Yuhyeon was close with Mi-kyung; might be dating by now.
No way Da-jeong enslaved him.
Anyway, Yeoul perked up at hot oppa news.
Nice.
Was suicidal a sec ago.
Boys returned soon for more rope.
Up on roof with Yeoul: ropes on nearby buildings.
Cool.
Now, just traps.
.
.
.
The forest got noisy.
Kobolds swarmed, sieging my shelter.
They slept in nests by day, mobbed at night.
I wasn't worried.
Yunhyeong barbed wire held firm; kobolds couldn't dream of breaching.
Some tried, bled out; now they just chucked sticks and stones.
"Weak throws, crap aim..."
No real damage, but numbers annoyed.
Worse when I was in reality; shelter undefended.
"Gotta wipe 'em."
Or drive off, expand shelter.
Had stag beetles make wood arrows.
Waste carbon or aluminum on kobolds? Nah.
Retrievable, but impact hurt.
"Time to make arrows too."
They crafted, I assembled. Partnership.
They cooperated eagerly against dozens of kobolds.
Three days later, night fell.
In shelter for rest, heard kobold yips outside.
Slimy wails, unlike Dingo's barks.
Grabbed spare 60lb bow, scattered arrows on floor.
So many kobolds, point-and-shoot hits.
"...Something's off."
Kobolds didn't pack this big usually.
Normally 7-8 around alpha male.
Not allying just 'cause shelter looked tasty.
Anyway, show 'em this shelter ain't easy; they'd tuck tail.
Krung! Krung!
Alphas howled with wood shields; chorus followed.
Forest full of kobold cries.
"Totally insane."
Kobold choir?
Lit firecracker, tossed at alpha.
Blast panicked them.
Sniped through chaos; kobolds dropped.
Arrows spent, bent for more; stag beetle tossed 'em.
"Thanks."
Perfect into palm. Convenient.
While I shot, Dingo barked inside wire, drawing eyes.
Good, keep it...
Then, through dark: muscle gorilla—no, orc.
First orc in forest?
Appearance cleared kobolds aside.
I blurted,
"You the boss?"
Kruk.
Rough snort from orc's pig nose.
Dropped to moat, gripped wire, howled in pain.
Kuaagh!
"Damn."
Won't go easy.
One way: kill every monster here.
Checked slots; orc resurfaced, hurled kobolds.
Catapult? Dirty!
Grounded ones half-out; easy kills.
But orc kept throwing! Problem.
"Bastard!"
Switched to 100lb bow, sniped.
Orc hid behind kobold shield.
Next, might chuck 'em at wire to climb.
Stop it first.
I fought with all I had.
One hour later.
Monsters challenging my shelter gone.
"Hah, hah..."
All skills deactivated; heavy fatigue.
That orc was the issue.
Flame can would've ended it, but fire risk.
Sniped with arrows and gun instead; used kobolds as shields.
Hot-headed orc, but smart.
"Damn thing."
Tougher than First Kill.
There, I controlled; here, pure defense.
Flame can blocked, gun angles bad inside shelter.
"Need solid counter."
Petted heaving Dingo.
Stag beetles on back looked beat too.
Tossing arrows, cleanup: hard work.
"Good job today. Rest inside."
Lead stag beetle dismounted.
Grabbed stick, drew picture.
Ballista-like.
Stand base: not portable.
Bolts arm-thick.
That'd be perfect counter, but...
"...You can make it?"
Four heads nodded.
Were they blacksmiths in past life?
True Apocalypse - 1 End