Chapter 10
Chapter 10
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 010
Chapter Title: Shadow Worm, Cha-Ratevil (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
2.
07:55.
A dozen or so Nightmare Hunters were scattered across the grassy fields on both sides of Independence Park, sitting down here and there.
Well, most of them were in grotesque, shabby getups.
They wore vest-like light armor over modern camping gear or windbreakers. Clutching cold weapons or firearms suited to their personal styles.
[Clothing Shops] did sell modern attire, but to Nightmare Hunters, who operated on an extreme merit system, that was like another world.
I sat down in an inconspicuous corner. No need to feel awkward if someone pretended to know I was the Lead Hunter.
“*Ahem, ahem.*”
08:00.
A pretty boy climbed onto the platform at Independence Park.
Before hearing his voice, I’d have taken him for a girl. Not surprising, given his excessively androgynous beauty.
Delicate features.
Blond hair tied back in a low ponytail.
“Thank you all so much for gracing this humble gathering with your presence.”
I couldn’t believe it.
Shouldn’t it be the other way around?
But maybe because he was so cute…… it felt less like an insult and more like a kid’s prank. Endearing, even.
“Kee-ah! With that nauseating sweat stench wafting off you, you can’t claim to be anything but humble with a straight face, now can you, folks?”
Us.
The so-called “folks” sat there with grim expressions, but that last bit of wordplay broke them one by one.
“You little shit! You ever serve in the military?”
“I really wanted to, but oh dear! The world ended before I could.”
Laughter erupted again.
“Exactly. If you had, you wouldn’t be this shabby.”
“Damn right. This is rookie shit. Back in my day, we marched through pouring rain ‘cause of some division commander asshole, and the smell……”
“Get outta here, uncle—you went through that too? Those shitstar fuckers pull the same crap everywhere……”
Laughter and military pride burst out here and there. People swapped old war stories, chuckling together.
In an era where men and women alike served, no topic built rapport quite like army tales.
A sudden swell of emotion tugged at my chest.
Listening to this mundane banter made it feel, for a fleeting moment, like the pre-apocalypse world had returned.
Wait. Is that what this is?
Did this kid plan it?
If so, impressive. The tense atmosphere had melted away in an instant.
“Now, let’s get down to business.”
The boy had patiently listened to the uncles’ tales. As a serious glint entered his expression, the crowd quieted down.
“I’m Shin Tae-yeop. Level 16. My Holy Apostle’s unique skill is Flame System. I lead the <GodSpring> raid team.”
……Yeah.
So this is the famous Shin Tae-yeop. No wonder he’s renowned.
Level 16 with flame skills.
A standout level even among Nightmare Hunters, who leveled faster than regular Hunters.
Flame was one of the most effective attributes against Heteromorphs, alongside light.
“As I messaged beforehand, I’ll repeat it here. Our raid team has located the First Subordinate’s lair.”
The council’s mood shifted instantly.
Not the spawn point—the lair itself. Meaning they’d pinpointed the mid-boss’s ‘boss room.’
“Its name is ‘Shadow Worm, Cha-Ratevil.’ It was holed up in Muak-dong—that’s Jongno-gu Shelter City, right up against Independence Gate. Here’s the intel share.”
Shin Tae-yeop manipulated his system interface, and an [Info Window] popped up before us.
=====
[Subordinate Info]
[Description Summary]
- Shadow Worm, Cha-Ratevil
- Level: ???
- Attribute: Abyss
[Hunting Method]
- No updated data available.
[Location]
- S-038
From the shadows…… in the darkness of madness and chaos…… it beckons you…… Beware the shadows rippling in that darkness…….
=====
Abyss attribute, huh.
This just got a whole lot tougher.
The group of Hunters fell into tense silence.
They’d scoured for the boss monster all this time, but now that it was found, fear made them hesitate.
“The level’s not showing…… that’s unsettling.”
A young Hunter voiced the group’s dread.
“We’re still the type to cross the Jordan after tangling with three or four trash mobs. Why not level up more first?”
“No.”
Shin Tae-yeop shook his head.
“The Star Messenger said boss and monster difficulties scale relative to us.”
“That’s why it’s ????”
“Yes. We get stronger, they match us.”
“Fucking hell…… power balance is goddamn flawless.”
“There’s one god-game thing about it, too. Hunt a Subordinate, and its area turns into a Paradise Zone.”
Huh? The surroundings buzzed.
They probably didn’t get it. Shin Tae-yeop continued.
“Think of it like territory grab. Take down Muak-dong’s boss, and Muak-dong joins human territory.”
No way. That’s what it was?
Now I understood why Nightmare Zones bordered Paradise Zones.
Hope.
Real hope pounded in my heart for the first time in ages.
What did expanding Paradise Zones mean? More capacity for survivors, right?
It might be a hollow paradise, but how many were wandering the outskirts, unable to get in……
“Securing Muak-dong gives us a forward base in the Nightmare Zone.”
So I chimed in, drawing from experience.
“I’ve been underground plenty. It’s still a living hell down there. Better handle it before it gets harder, no?”
The Hunters pondered, faces thoughtful.
They seemed swayed for a moment, but ultimately shook their heads with sighs.
“Still…… feels too soon.”
“Folks! It’s been a week since the world ended.”
Shin Tae-yeop switched to pleading.
“What faces are people making? Why aren’t other Hunters heading to Nightmare Zones?”
“……?”
“Scared? No. There’s no hope. Nothing changes that.”
We were drawn into his words.
A high schooler, pulling that off? Beyond precocious.
“The real goal of this raid is to give hope—that we can survive this insane disaster. To everyone.”
Silence. Shin Tae-yeop bowed deeply toward us.
“Let’s fight together. Win together. Show them humanity will triumph someday…… Please.”
A brief hush fell.
I clapped then. Sincerely moved.
In this ruined world, this boy held the warmest humanity of all.
It filled me with joy. And affection.
“Yeah! Fuck it, let’s do this.”
Someone beside me shouted.
Cheers and applause spread like wildfire.
“Goddamn. Difficulty scales with level—same fight now or later. Let’s go.”
“……Yeah. That kid’s saying it; running’s embarrassing.”
Shin Tae-yeop’s speech wasn’t perfect. But its raw sincerity struck home.
“Thank you. Thank you.”
The raid meeting gained momentum.
Under Shin Tae-yeop’s lead, Hunters’ inputs shaped teams and zone assignments.
“We’ll handle it…… Before teams, let’s classify roles systematically.”
Unique skills.
Transcendent powers bestowed by Holy Apostles.
Typically one per person, though some with higher divine ranks got two.
“As you know, unique skills are like ults. Limited uses, so no spamming. You all position based on their traits, right?”
Shin Tae-yeop’s classifications were crystal clear.
Melee fighters: [Warrior-type Hunters].
Ranged split into two.
Those embedding skills into gear indirectly: [Archer-type Hunters].
Direct magic-like use: [Shaman-type Hunters].
I’d be Warrior-type.
“Damn, this makes it so clear.”
“Easy to call out, too.”
People marveled.
Respect had formed, no doubt.
From then, Hunters started calling Shin Tae-yeop “Captain” one by one.
The meeting proceeded smoothly to the end.
“Wait, hold up—you’re facing the boss yourself?”
The final objection came, surprisingly, from a familiar face.
Army Captain Jeong Ha-kyeong.
Light armor over her army fatigues, decadent beauty intact.
“Yes. Precisely, striker role.”
“No way. You need to command the raid. Boss plus escort mobs, right?”
Fair point.
The one flaw in Shin Tae-yeop’s plan.
“Don’t you know how vital commanders are in a melee?”
“But…… Abyss attribute. Nothing but light or flame lands real hits. And……”
Shin Tae-yeop turned, expression uncertain.
“Who wants to fight the boss? Highest death risk. I volunteer, then bail to the rear? Irresponsible.”
“Then striker duty. I’ll take it.”
That was me.
The park went still. All eyes on me.
“Huh?”
Shin Tae-yeop blinked in bewilderment. After a long pause, his voice trembled as he tried to dissuade me.
“It’s dangerous. Just a glimpse, and I knew it was insanely risky.”
“I know.”
“Let me explain again. Striker finishes the boss.”
I silently pointed above my head.
Floating game text. [Lv: 19], [Lead Hunter].
Thanks to Holy Flame Succession’s odd trait, my level stood out among Nightmare Hunters.
“Not bragging, but I’m higher level than you, Captain, with tons of underground experience. This blade’s light attribute—pierces Abyss.”
Shin Tae-yeop’s gaze trembled with anguish.
It asked: For real? Facing the boss? The riskiest role— you mean it?
“……You’ll really do it?”
Didn’t matter.
Those terms? Shove ‘em.
My answer was set the day this damned game began.
“Of course. That bastard’s mine.”
3.
And so the raid meeting wrapped up. Total 21 raiders, split into 7 squads.
Boss room entry: Next three squads.
Assault Squad A. Command Squad B. Reserve Squad C.
Remaining four: Rear support and flank cover.
“Departure at 11:00 sharp, two hours from now.”
Rally at Independence Gate.
First move: Independence Gate Station.
I reviewed the plan in my head, fiddling with Dawn Sword. My hand trembled slightly.
Shattered greatsword, Dawn Sword.
Weapon grade [???], blade length 70cm, width 8cm. Attribute [Light].
Its unique perk was straight-up busted, no two ways.
Extra damage to all Heteromorphs, amplified further against Abyss.
Today, this blade had to fell the most dangerous, vital foe.
“Uncle, you nuts?”
Someone plopped down beside me. Jeong Ha-kyeong. Her body reeked of blood like any Hunter.
“Then you’re nuts too, Ha-kyeong?”
“Me? Why me?”
Jeong Ha-kyeong was in my Squad A.
Shin Tae-yeop led Squad B—his <GodSpring> crew. Squad A was top volunteers.
“I’m support, you’re striker. Middle-school syndrome titles aside, raid roles are peak chuuni too. Why you love this chuuni shit?”
……Harsh much?
I didn’t invent these.
“You know the burden you’re taking on?”
“I get it—protecting you in the boss room.”
She stared, then burst into incredulous laughter.
“Picking me up? Suspension bridge effect? That why you left your girl elsewhere?”
“Ji-yeon? ……We’re not like that.”
Hmm…… Jeong Ha-kyeong smirked knowingly.
Uncomfortable.
After that cutthroat first meeting, suddenly closing the distance—I edged back.
“Didn’t expect you as a Nightmare Hunter, Ha-kyeong.”
“Most normal folks are here.”
“Plenty of standouts among rear Hunters.”
Rear Hunters.
We called those operating in safer Hunting Zones—Mapo-gu, Eunpyeong-gu areas—rear Hunters.
“What bullshit? Rear’s full of coward fuckers. Why I volunteered for A too.”
“Same reason?”
She jabbed my side with her elbow.
“You and kid Captain are here.”
“……?”
“Simple: normals! Trustworthy. Good people. Can’t trust the rest yet.”
“Human-distruster like you, at the council why……”
“Can’t let trash lap my level. Don’t wanna miss boss room rewards either.”
Jeong Ha-kyeong dusted off her butt and stood.
“I’m no fool. Hope? Dreams? Bullshit. Just wanna survive this world. Know what’s key? Don’t get weaker than other ‘humans.’”
Her tone was flat as reading a book. What had she been through to drown in such distrust?
I couldn’t know. Didn’t want to.
Maybe fearing to glimpse this broken world’s underbelly.