Berserker (2)
The day we'd decided to head to the Large Mart finally arrived, and I finished prepping even earlier than my usual hunting routine. Just in case something came up and things dragged on, I wanted some buffer time. Even heading out early in the morning, the outside world looked no different from always. The barren landscape and empty streets were just the same. I didn't go out of my way hunting monsters—instead, I just cleared any that blocked the path on our way to the mart. A trip that should've taken thirty minutes ended up dragging on for over an hour like this. The mart was finally coming into view.
"Is that the mart over there?"
"Yeah, that's it."
Just to be safe, we drastically slowed our pace from that point on.
"Hold up, that..."
I stopped the girls. Something was patrolling around the mart. Even from a distance, I could tell it was humanoid. At first, I figured it was some kind of humanoid monster... but no. They were real people.
Da-on asked, "They're people, right?"
"Seems like it."
"Oppa, what do we do now?"
I scoped out the situation a bit more. They didn't look like folks just popping in for food. No, they were guarding the place. Pairs of two kept watch at set intervals around the perimeter. Each one held a weapon. That meant something was up... Just seeing they had the manpower for security like that told me their operation was on a whole different scale from ours. It looked highly organized.
This is a problem...
We were one step too late again. It wasn't just us adapting fast...! Who the hell had already pulled together a group that size...?
"Oppa, should we head back?"
"...Let's do a majority vote."
It didn't feel like something I should decide solo. Four of us—if three or more agreed, we'd go with it.
My take: "I think it's worth at least trying to make contact since we've come this far!"
Even if they had a lot of people, it was a Large Mart. If they were reasonable, there was a shot at scoring enough food for us. I was open to trading—anything except Coins. Worst case, I was confident we could bolt if things went south.
I told everyone to raise a hand if they agreed. So-hyun was first.
"I dunno, so I'll go with whatever you say, Oppa!"
After So-hyun raised hers, Seo-rin followed, and finally Da-on did too. She agreed, but her tone carried some worry.
"Oppa, you know we have to be careful, right?"
"Of course."
"Then we go now?"
"One sec."
They were all armed. I was the only one among us with a weapon. They outnumbered us big time—if we rolled up like this, we'd look like pushovers. No point starting off on the back foot.
"Let's gear up first before we head in!"
Once we were geared, we strode toward the mart with confidence. We'd each picked up something fitting.
So-hyun grabbed gloves suited to her Rare Brawler class. Da-on got a white staff topped with a green gem that boosted her healing magic effects, plus a matching white robe. That robe wasn't standard issue—it had an effect that dramatically improved defense, which was critical for mages. Finally, Seo-rin skipped a staff since it wouldn't mesh well with her magic and opted for a coat with black outer fabric and red lining. Like Da-on's robe, it boosted defense.
All of it was normal-grade gear crafted by the same artisan as my spear. It gave us a solid visual edge over them.
As our group of four approached, the mart folks quickly spotted us. Sure enough, they blocked us at a distance. Four guys total. No way they were civilians—their vibe screamed delinquents. Sloppy clothes half-buttoned, tattoos peeking out everywhere.
I grimaced slightly. Thugs have taken it over...? This could get messy...
Couldn't make out their looks from afar—my bad. Weirdly, though, it wasn't just thugs. Plenty of what looked like regular folks were around too. And the thugs didn't seem to be roughing anyone up.
What the...?
I kept eyes on the front guys while scanning the surroundings. The leader stepped up.
"No one's just walking in here!"
His tone had some arrogance, but for thugs, it was surprisingly civil.
Seemed like talking might work, so even with the "turn back" vibe, I stated my business. "I want to buy some food."
"Buy food...?"
They huddled, muttering. Soon, another one spoke up. "Our rule—no food leaves the premises. Don't make trouble. Scram while we're asking nice!"
Not gonna be easy...
But I couldn't back down that quick. They weren't unreasonable. I figured the gear had their attention—mission accomplished there.
"Please, just this once. I'll make it worth your while!"
"No means no! ...What? Why?"
Someone tugged him back. More whispering. This time, about the girls behind me. They kept it low, just among themselves.
"Check those chicks! Fucking gorgeous!"
"So?"
"Dumbass, you impotent or what? Bang 'em once, sneak some food out, send 'em packing! Like we don't need girls like that?"
"True... but boss banned that shit! Get caught, you're dead!"
"Don't get caught! They need food bad enough to come here—mutual aid, right?"
"...You're a genius!"
With looks like theirs, they stood out anywhere. Not that I noticed, but So-hyun was in the same boat. I clocked their sleazy shift right away. Eyes that'd been dismissing us now leered past me with clear intent.
Here we go again...!
Reminded me of that incident a few days back. Random thought: Definitely need to stick by their side. No question!
They called out again. "Do something for us, and that request might get approved."
"..."
I just glared, no words. Too distracted by the girls to notice.
"Oppa, did it work?"
"Nah, So-hyun. Check their eyes," Da-on corrected her innocent take.
So-hyun blinked. "Their eyes...?"
"Heh heh heh~!"
"Eek!"
Already deep in their fantasies. So-hyun finally got it.
Seo-rin, never one to tolerate this crap, stepped up. "Should I just burn 'em all?!"
"Sis, what're you...?"
"No, Da-on sis, I wanna beat their asses too!"
"S-So-hyun...!"
"Everyone, hold! No need to waste energy!"
My stance hadn't changed. No point scrapping with people if we could avoid it. We'd find food elsewhere if we thought it through. And we had a last resort if needed.
I announced it. "No thanks!"
"You're out. We're talking to the pretty ones behind you!"
"You nuts?!"
"Ooh, got some fire..."
"Even better!"
"I call dibs on the big-tits one!"
"Nah, she's mine!"
They started yapping among themselves.
"Let's go..."
We turned to leave, ignoring them—but they weren't the type to let college kids like us off that easy. One dashed up and grabbed Da-on's wrist.
"Eek—what the hell?!"
"Brothers'll treat ya nice! ...Gurk!"
My fist connected. His face caved in, and he flew five meters.
"These fuckers crossed the line!"
"Wh-what...?"
"That punk dares touch us!"
"Know who we are?!"
Thugs might suck at most things, but they had goblin-level loyalty. The other three charged me at once.
Da-on looked guilty. "Sorry, Oppa... this is because of me..."
"Nothing for you to be sorry about—they're the weirdos! Don't worry!"
"Oppa...!"
"Burn 'em?"
"Beat 'em?"
"You two stay put!"
I held back Seo-rin and So-hyun as they geared up to join, then reversed my spear grip. No killing. Who knew what apocalypse it'd unleash? Not sure I even could... Deep down, they deserved it, but still.
We instantly drew a crowd. Some more thugs like the front ones, mixed with civilians.
One sneered, "Punk kid with a flashy toy—bet you can't even use it right?!"
"I'll show you!"
General Spear Technique Lv.3 (0.4/100)
I demonstrated my spear skill, now leveled to 3. They had weapons, but never got a swing in. Hell, they didn't even close to my two-meter reach.
Yeah, they're weaker than me!
Gut feeling, like sensing their energy or something? Anyway, they felt weaker than the monsters I'd struggled with. Probably why they got cocky.
If it was just outsiders, I could've taken a horde. In under thirty seconds, nothing but groans left around us.
"Guhhh..."
"M-my bones... they're broken...!"
More people gathered. Reactions split two ways.
"What happened? New faces...?"
"Thugs must've started shit. Told 'em to get lost!"
"But without them, guarding this huge mart would be impossible... Boss keeps 'em in line."
That was the civilians I'd pegged. The other side:
"Shouldn't we help?"
"Don't butt in—boss shows, you're toast..."
"Idiots, warned 'em not to stir shit... Bet it's those girls."
"Yeah, they're girl-crazy... Kinda get it, though. Smoking hot—like idols?"
"Watch it!"
One thing united both camps: everything revolved around a single figure. I couldn't hear clearly from afar, but I read the vibe. Crowd thickening, and that prickling sense of someone arriving.
Sure enough, a woman appeared with a different aura—calm, commanding. Trailed by thugs and civilians. Regulars gazed at her with admiration; thugs averted their eyes in fear.
"That's...?"
She was the boss here. I knew it instantly.
She walked up, pausing at the one guy still conscious. He crawled to her.
"B-boss... that guy's..."
The wrist-grabber from Da-on. Without a word, she stomped his hand—crunch.
"GAAAAAAAH—!!"
Couldn't take the pain; he passed out.
Her eyes met mine.