Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: True Apocalypse - 3
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I wandered the shopping district with Dingo, hunting for zombies on the verge of evolution.
They definitely had their eyes closed, and their movements were sluggish.
I looped my hook around one’s neck and yanked. It dragged along limply.
“Dingo, sniff it.”
Even with my foot pinning it down, it barely resisted.
A normal zombie would thrash so violently you could hardly keep it underfoot.
Dingo dodged its flailing limbs as he sniffed around.
Sniff sniff.
“Good enough?”
The zombie’s skull shattered under my ebony club.
Dingo took the lead, scouting out more zombies.
He found one huddled in a dark corner of a motel parking lot.
“...On the verge of evolution.”
The zombie’s crouched form was grotesque.
Transparent membranes oozed from its limbs, encasing its entire body.
It barely resembled a human anymore.
This wasn’t evolution—it was more like a mutation.
Give it a little more time, and a ghoul would burst free from that membrane.
“Zombie’s 2 points, ghoul’s 10... Still better to take it out now.”
I didn’t hesitate and smashed its head.
It was pretty tough; it took a few solid hits before the skull finally cracked open.
Hunting zombies like this expanded my search radius bit by bit.
There just weren’t that many on the cusp of evolving.
I swung across ropes to avoid goblins and soon spotted the courthouse.
“The Courthouse Crew’s holed up here.”
They only knew me as a recent survivor.
I’d hidden my identity thoroughly during the First Kill event.
I could make contact, but judging by their leader’s temperament, there was no need.
Locking up a guy with the Bio Affinity trait? His leanings were obvious.
“When a nobody grabs power, it gets dangerous.”
Contacting them now? It’d probably end with one side dead.
I figured I’d hunt a bit more and head back to base.
Then a man and woman stepped out from an alley, blocking my path.
Judging by their matching uniforms, they were Courthouse Crew I’d rather avoid.
I turned to go another way, but they appeared there too.
Blink...
The woman crossed her arms and spoke.
“First time meeting, right? I’m Jang Hee-won from the Courthouse Crew. This is Kim Jong-su.”
“...Kang Sung-ho. What do you want?”
“These past few days... I’ve seen you prowling around. Playing with the kids too.”
Playing? Is that what it looked like?
Well, if they mistook it for that, nothing to say.
Let them keep thinking it.
“So?”
My curt reply made the man’s eye twitch.
Hee-won smiled and softened her tone.
“No idea why you’re so on edge. We’re not here to fight.”
“Doesn’t feel great knowing you’ve been spying on me.”
“Understand our side. Groups do recon. Gotta give the leader material to work with... you know.”
“So, what’s your leader’s verdict on me?”
“We decided. You’d make a fine addition to the Courthouse Crew.”
Sounded like a big offer, but I had zero interest.
“I’ll pass.”
“You sure? Crossing us around here means we can’t guarantee your safety.”
“I’ve survived fine so far without your guarantee.”
“It’ll get riskier. From ghouls to orcs, werewolves—you need organized power against monsters like that. You don’t have it.”
“I’ve got my own preparations.”
“We saw. Tracking zombies about to evolve and smashing their heads. Not a good strategy.”
“What do you mean?”
She held up two fingers.
“Zombie: 2 points. Ghoul: 10. Better to let them evolve, no?”
“Guides say ghouls are way stronger.”
Her lips curved slightly.
“That’s for clueless newbies. Zombies have a transformation window. Catch it right, and 2 points become 10. Interested?”
A timing window... Even I didn’t know that.
“No. Not really. Couldn’t even tell if there was one.”
“Harsh to say, but our leader’s a vet. Over 3,000 hours.”
This side’s got 5,500, lady.
And from what I checked, Whiner No. 5 and Come Watch barely hit 350 hours.
Not even double the battlefield merits, but ten times? Overkill.
I kept a straight face and changed the subject.
“If it’s really 3,000, he’d know the big vets. Bunny Duo, Kimbap Lover, that crowd.”
Her expression shifted subtly.
“...Yeah. He knows them.”
“Really? Does he know those guys?”
“Why not come in and check yourself?”
Yeah, so I can’t leave—that’s the play.
I shook my head.
“Appreciate the offer, but no thanks.”
“Gonna make life tough for you.”
“Like I said, I’ve done fine solo.”
She nodded toward a long rope dangling from a building.
“Stuff like that isn’t solo work. You had the kids do it.”
“I accept help sometimes.”
Getting bored now.
No time to waste here. As I turned, she spoke up quickly.
“What if that rope gets cut? Trouble for you, right?”
“...Threatening me?”
“Not a threat. Ropes can snap in combat.”
“Parachute cord, holds 250kg. Won’t snap easy. And I’m not joining your crew, so drop it.”
“You’ll regret it... Uncle’s suspicious of you. Know the Orc First Kill event?”
I widened my eyes on purpose.
“That happened nearby?”
“Someone stole it. Uncle’s grinding his teeth. If caught, won’t end pretty.”
“I never even saw the event.”
“We’ll judge that...”
That’s when it happened.
A dimension gate opened in front of the opposite building, and an orc stepped out.
It looked confused for a second, then sniffed, spotting us.
The woman and man paled.
“Orc... Too soon.”
“Better head to base.”
“Yeah. Sorry, Sung-ho, can’t save you.”
I shrugged, and she let out a small laugh.
“Pretty confident, huh? Good luck surviving.”
As she finished, the man placed a hand on her shoulder, and they both vanished.
“Talky bunch.”
The orc glared, baring its teeth at me.
Sorry, wasn’t talking to you.
I grabbed the rope and climbed fast.
The orc charged with heavy thuds, but I was already on the third floor.
It shook the rope a few times, gave up, and vented at a distant goblin pack.
Grraaah!
The goblins scattered in panic.
“Orcs showing up now, huh...”
Couldn’t take one with my current gear.
With crop buffs and all skills active, I’d have melee edge, but no need to go that far.
“Fights should be easy wins.”
Time to rush the ballista.
I swung back to base via ropes.
Inside the cave, the beetles had parts prepped, waiting for me.
Impressive.
.
.
.
I assembled the ballista with the beetles’ help.
Not like snapping together a toy—took all my strength.
“Mooji, it’s tight!”
The finished ballista was huge and heavy, the stock alone over a meter.
One beetle fetched a bolt as thick as a finger.
“Hit with this? Instant kill.”
Mid-tier monster would take lethal damage for sure.
“Cool. How to load?”
The lead beetle climbed my hand, demonstrating.
Crank the lever to work the pulley.
Or pull the rear handle.
Dingo’s job?
“Dingo, grab this.”
He instinctively yanked back on the handle.
Gears whirred, pulley spun, string drew back taut.
The stock bent like it might snap. I loaded the bolt on the rail.
“Remove the pin, and it swivels...”
The ballista spun smoothly.
Perfect for any monster spawn.
How’s the power?
Aimed at a tree, flipped the switch. Dull thunk, bolt vanished.
It’d buried halfway into a massive trunk.
“Insane power.”
Well-aimed, it’d drop big monsters.
I petted the beetles gratefully.
“Good job, really.”
These guys nailed it.
But... one’s not enough.
I planned two outposts.
Ballista coverage everywhere.
“Another one too much?”
Beetles huddled in conference.
I fetched a box of jelly, plopped it behind them.
“This work?”
They dove in, then one raised a claw.
Deal.
While they feasted, I marked spots around the ballista stand.
Time to stack bricks for the outpost.
Hauling materials, I checked the shop—just as expected.
Tier 2 shop updated.
With the unwanted sub patch applied.
“Damn bastards.”
Elderwood Longbow: 3,000 points.
Special arrows: 30 points each.
“1.5x hike.”
Wanna complain, but who’d listen?
Prices won’t budge...
Guess I’m buying.
Bought the Elderwood Longbow and 20 arrows.
Points plummeted to 220. Bow and quiver appeared on the cave floor.
“What a beauty.”
Fantasy-movie antique with ornate carvings.
String it and pluck: high-pitched whine.
Cool, but can’t flaunt it.
How’d I earn 3,000 points? No good answer.
“Just say I bought arrows.”
Dimension slot handles weapon swaps fine.
Auction house? Flooded with rage.
Broke players venting. Stay out.
“Need to farm points.”
Listed ignition powder and black powder sets.
Peaked at 3,000 during event hype.
“Flame cans make ’em dream.”
Event over, won’t hit that high.
Minimum 1,500 though.
Watching bids: agitators vs. hype-men, fierce spat.
Powder set hit 1,500, sold at 1,800.
Second at 1,700.
After fees: 3,150 points.
Easy money.
Geared up my backpack and weapons.
Leaving base, Courthouse Crew in uniforms milled about.
Hunting that orc too?
Soccer-kicked lunging goblins, ducked into an alley. Yeoul came down the stairs.
“Bro, orc’s out! You see?”
“Saw it. You guys? Run on sight.”
“Uncle?”
“I’d run too if I could. Scary. Go up. People around, dangerous.”
Jun-ho and Do-hyung looked dying of curiosity but agreed to watch from inside.
Yeoul dragged them off. I felt the absence.
With Yoo-hyun, paper plane recon. No choice—handle it myself.
On the roof, scanning: orc rampaging.
Goblin pack surrounding it—they’d clashed.
“Paralysis poison ineffective.”
Orc ignored it, smashing goblins.
Hobgoblins resisted some before dying; rest submitted.
Accepted orc as new boss.
“Look kinda similar.”
New boss bulkier, goblins puffed up proudly.
Switch-up too quick?
Late-chasing Courthouse Crew spotted the pack.
“With goblins!”
“Why no fight?”
“Call bro! Hurry!”
Five surrounded the monsters in seconds.
Orc and goblins roared menacingly.
Time to bail.
Sticking draws zombie raid.
Swinging ropes to another street, ran into Whiner No. 5 and Hee-won.
Hee-won whispered to him.
“Kang Sung-ho. Heard you turned down my offer.”
“People say orc over there. Not going?”
He grinned.
“Gotta go... But you’re suspicious. No hand in the orc event?”
“Didn’t even know it happened.”
No one saw me, so no one knows.
Whiner No. 5 wouldn’t drop it.
“Weird, right? Only shady guy lately is you, and orc gets stolen... Fair suspect.”
“If I did it, then what?”
I asked; he smirked.
“Relax. Join us, no issue. Family took it—what can I say? But if not...”
“If not?”
“Gotta kill you. Can’t let it slide. Get called incompetent leader. Talk’s already starting.”
“Again, wasn’t me.”
“Who knows...”
As he cracked his knuckles and neck.
No easy exit.
Hand to bow, but Blink guy arrived, whispering.
“That bastard’s here?”
Loudmouth.
Meant for my ears...
“Find him. Hee-won, Jong-su, check. I’ll take the orc.”
They blinked out; Whiner grinned at me.
“Know who?”
“Heard auctions call Kimbap Lover that.”
“Haha, he is. Hogging records, cowardly ghost... But the one I want’s different. Was family.”
The Bio Affinity guy.
“Treated him great... Thought real bro, then backstabbed.”
“He see it that way?”
“Not? Beast. How kind I was.”
That’s your side.
Stories from both sides.
“Yeah, handle it your way.”
As I turned to leave, he raised his voice.
“Why tell you this?”
“No clue.”
“I’m obsessive. I’ll catch him, and you’re on my radar—don’t try anything. Super suspicious.”
“Misjudge free, but touch me? Won’t end pretty.”
I warned; he spread his arms.
“Ooh, scary.”
Enough.
Meeting Bunny Duo soon—no time for brawls.
I turned and left with Dingo.
Alley noise.
“Jong-su! Found Ji-man?”
“Yeah! Cornered him!”
“Why here?”
“Farming essentials, spooked by us, bolted. Dropped TP.”
“Poor Man lives up to it. Pitiful. Go. Orc’s priority.”
“Yes sir.”
I stopped.
Who’d they catch?
End of True Apocalypse - 3