Berserker (1)
It had been three days since I started building the house, and signs of progress were finally showing. It still looked far from finished, but it was enough to keep our spirits high without losing motivation.
"Do-hyun, smash this for me."
Anything that seemed impossible to move by hand, I destroyed with my 【Skill】 before shifting it. Thanks to that, my 【Skill】 level went up by one.
Class-exclusive skill. Demolish or construct only inorganic materials in a designated area using mana. Range: 2 cubic meters. 19 seconds per cubic meter. Leveling up increases range and reduces time required.
From what I could tell, skill levels had different experience requirements regardless of rarity. Lower rarities probably leveled faster overall, but there were exceptions.
The reason I thought that? Seo-rin had used her 【Language Magic】 way more than me, but I'd leveled up while she hadn't even filled half her bar. Things were starting to make sense.
Anyway, the point is, house-building was progressing steadily without issues. The real problem was something else.
It happened at breakfast. Our side dishes had been dwindling meal by meal, but this time hit rock bottom. The table had just rice and the scraps of banchan left—mostly kimchi.
Mom, who lived for cooking, said with a grave expression:
"There's no more food left……!"
We could be grateful for even this and eat it with thanks, but it was still a crisis.
"Don't we have to buy food with 【Coins】 now? I don't wanna live off kimchi alone!"
"……."
So-hyun spoke up, and I pondered inwardly. It felt too soon to spend 【Coins】.
"We should scavenge as much as we can first…! When we go hunting, let's check every convenience store nearby!"
Until now, we'd been too focused on hunting and building. Both needed stable living to sustain them.
I'd gotten complacent thinking we could buy most things with 【Coins】. Electricity could cut out anytime, so we needed countermeasures. Everyone agreed on that.
With the plan set, we headed out hunting and checked the convenience stores…
We were too late. They'd been looted ages ago; only dust remained.
"What the hell?!"
"I've never seen a convenience store this empty!"
"Me too, unnie……."
We hadn't run into people while hunting. Sure, we'd sensed signs of life in apartments and houses while passing by. But I figured some food would be left. Guess when survival's on the line, people will do anything.
"What now……?"
"Oppa, I found a can of tuna here!"
"Oh, really?"
So-hyun, rummaging in the corner, held up a tuna can triumphantly. The store was such a mess that even looters must've missed some stuff.
"Guys, let's look a bit more—see if anything's left."
"Okay."
"Got it."
Now that we knew, the four of us searched for any overlooked scraps.
――The next convenience store was much the same. In the end, looping through several netted us a decent haul—enough for a few days. Not satisfying, though. Just a stopgap.
"Ah, what about checking that place?"
"Where?"
A large mart about 30 minutes' walk from home came to mind. Small neighborhood stores might get cleaned out, but a big mart? Physically impossible to loot everything, especially with monsters blocking roads and vehicles.
Maybe a ton of food was still there. I shared the idea.
"That makes sense."
"But places like that would draw crowds, right? Probably tons of monsters too."
"Likely… But that might actually work in our favor!"
"Huh…?"
Monsters over people? Monsters wouldn't eat human food. They'd guard it from other survivors. At the local monster levels, we could handle them.
"Still, gotta be careful… Let's prep and go tomorrow."
"Sounds good!"
"I'm in."
"Oh, another mackerel can here!"
"Did you even hear me—?!"
"Huh, what…?"
Never mind.
That evening, not knowing what tomorrow might bring, I used our stockpiled 【Coins】 for full prep. We earned about 【30,000 Coins】 daily from hunting. Divided up, I gave Seo-rin around 【8,000 Coins】, and since Mom and Dad needed enough to defend themselves, about 【6,000 Coins】 was my take. They tried refusing, but no way I'd let that slide. I'd keep giving till they hit level 10.
Investing 【Coins】, I checked my 【Status Window】.
With only three others for comparison, it wasn't precise, but growth seemed steady. 【General Spear Technique】 was nearing 3—tomorrow it'd surpass it.
Self-assessment aside, I couldn't call it good.
"……."
Was this really okay…? Steady, yes, but not perfect. Crucially, my 【Class】 wasn't combat-oriented. Even at the same level, it lagged behind fighters like Seo-rin or So-hyun.
I held the edge now, but who knew when they'd overtake me.
I eyed my sole offensive 【Skill】, 【General Spear Technique】—the one making me strong right now…
Non-combat 【Class】 or not, I could've leaned on them. But I didn't want to. I wanted to protect myself, my family, my people.
"During night watch, maybe spear drills?"
――No, definitely!
I could detect monster intrusions mid-training—no issue. Just swinging gave no EXP, but focused practice (vague benchmark) earned some—not as much as combat, but it worked.
Decision made; time for bed. Training tired was pointless. Just hit the bathroom first.
Opening my door, I locked eyes with Da-on emerging from the bathroom.
"Huh?"
"Huh…?"
We both froze like statues. She'd just showered—towel only, no clothes.
My eyes widened; I locked up.
"O-Oppa…?"
"……."
Ten seconds? Twenty? We stared into each other's eyes for a good long while. Well, we saw plenty else too… Impossible not to.
Snapping to, Da-on covered herself. Her pale skin flushed pink.
"Oppa… how long you gonna stare? It's embarrassing for me too!"
"Uh, uh? Oh, sorry—!"
Turning my head wasn't enough; I'd sneak peeks. I spun fully around.
But even then, she didn't bolt to her room—instead, she kept talking.
"Oppa, you haven't slept yet?"
"Uh… just bathroom then bed. And you! With me around, don't walk like that…."
Loved it, but it could make things awkward. Not what I wanted.
"Sorry, it's just so comfy here… Your mom and dad are so kind, So-hyun's adorable. Guess I got too relaxed."
"No need to apologize that much…."
Her feeling at home eased me. Awkward spot for chat, but I continued.
"You three sharing a room okay? I'll build big fast—private rooms soon."
"Thanks, but no rush. It's fine!"
"Good, then…."
Chatting without eye contact felt weird, but I learned something new—worth it.
Time to wrap. What if someone saw? Especially Seo-rin; it'd be a storm.
As I went to say goodnight, I felt Da-on's footsteps approaching.
What's she doing?!
She tugged my clothes.
"Thanks to you, I've had so many fun new experiences! I know it's weird feeling this way now, but…."
"Da-on…."
Honestly, same feelings. Couldn't argue.
We were okay now, but tomorrow? A monster we couldn't handle could wipe us. Or someone close could leave us forever.
But did that mean constant fear? We'd lived peacefully; now every moment risked death. Still, enjoying it mattered.
This game-like 【System】 influenced that thinking. Without it, surviving like this would've been a pipe dream.
"Don't worry too much… No matter what, I'll protect you!"
"Oppa… Thank you!"
Couldn't see her face, but it felt good. With that, she headed to her room.
Staring at the door, I sighed deeply.
"Phew~. Nearly had a heart attack!"
Nearly naked girl in the same space? Overkill for a total loner like me.
Why'd I even come out?
"Right, bathroom—!"
Back in the room, Da-on slammed the door and leaned against it, steadying her racing breath.
So-hyun, lying down, saw it.
"Unnie, you went out like that? What if oppa saw?!"
"Uh, uh…."
Da-on's heart fluttered just like Do-hyun's. Sure, it was comfy here as she'd said, but she'd timed it on purpose. Didn't expect it to actually happen….
Anyway, no good. She'd planned to tease his flustered reaction, but couldn't even do that.
"Unnie, you okay? Face is red."
"N-No… Just from the shower!"
Panicking unlike herself, fearing it'd slip.
"Be careful, unnie. Our virgin oppa might go feral seeing that!"
"N-No, he didn't…."
"Huh?"
"N-No, I mean—?"
"Yeah, he'd probably nosebleed to death first. Don't kill our poor inexperienced oppa, unnie!"
"Haha…."
"Unnie, I'm sleeping…."
"Okay."
It blew over somehow.
Oppa's flustered face was cute… Wanna try again!
Da-on hit the hay too.