Chapter 5

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 5

Chapter Title: Tutorial (5)

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'Hmm... This is a problem... I finally gathered some prey.'

Slash—

I thought as I beheaded one of the monsters.

The situation had unfolded differently than I'd planned.

I'd held back from killing them right away, figuring I'd need meat shields since clearing the tutorial alone seemed impossible. But I hadn't noticed the monsters lurking behind the bushes, and now things had gone to hell.

"Ha... Should I have just killed that bastard after all?"

The fact that I had to abandon the prey I'd so carefully gathered pissed me off.

When I first opened my eyes here and got that guidance, how thrilled I'd been. A world where power ruled everything!

Back on Earth, I'd had to hold back my urges, stressing over not getting caught. Compared to that, this place was paradise for me.

Kill someone, and no one finds out. No CCTV, no cops. If there's no witness, just kill them.

And speaking of which, one piece of prey was still left.

The one who'd always yapped behind me, grating on my nerves, had followed along.

"Huff... huff...! Byung-ok, wait up! Yeah? Slow down a bit...!"

'This situation's fucked anyway. Sigh... Guess I'll kill this bitch too. She's useless regardless.'

"Kyung-sil Auntie, you okay? Should we rest here for a bit?"

"...Oh dear, thanks, Byung-ok. Wh-who could've known monsters would pop out like that... Good thing you're here, though... Huff... huff..."

"...Kyung-sil Auntie. You have the food, right?"

"Hoo... Of course I do~ I grabbed it all. Just watch for monsters, Byung-ok. I'll handle the rations."

This woman really was the dumbest human I'd ever seen. This middle-aged hag hadn't even grabbed her weapon when we fled.

Her judgment was trash too. The others seemed like they might have some use, so I'd planned to test the waters later, but her? I was gonna off her soon anyway.

"Haha... Kyung-sil Auntie. I'm not Byung-ok."

"Huh? What do you mean? If you're not Byung-ok, who... What... Huh?"

Slash—

"Aaaah! My... my leg! Hnngh...!"

"Pfft! Hahaha... What if you lose your precious leg?"

"Hic... Byung-ok... Sp-spare me. Why are you doing this... Please, let me live..."

"My name's Jo Chan-ho, not Jo Byung-ok. Why call people by the wrong names? No manners, haha."

Looking down at her writhing form was pure bliss. I'd wanted to do this every time she opened her mouth.

I knelt on one knee and locked eyes with the maggot squirming in agony.

"You already know, right? Once your legs are gone, you're done for. Hahaha..."

"Please... please stop! Byu—no, Chan-ho... I-I'm sorry! I messed up!"

"Figures... Even on death's door, you're still an idiot. If it were me, I'd curse you out instead of begging."

I stood, gripped my sword two-handed in reverse grip, and aimed at the filthy maggot.

"Don't worry. Next life, you'll be reborn as a bug that suits you better than 'auntie'."

"Hic... W-wait...! Spare..."

Stab—

I plunged the sword down, and one life twitched before slowly stilling. I loved this feeling. It made me feel truly alive.

"Kuhuhu... Perfection."

Losing my plans sucked, but whatever.

I could always gather more people, and monsters? Kill or dodge a couple, no big deal.

As I shook the blood off my sword and started moving, I heard footsteps. Then a figure emerged.

"...A woman?"

It was a woman. She had a spear slung on her back, and strikingly, she was stunningly beautiful—the most gorgeous woman I'd ever seen. Long black hair, everything perfect.

She spoke.

"Figures... Still trash, huh, Jo Chan-ho."

Twitch!

'She knows my name...?'

I didn't know how she knew it, but my situation was dire. Sword in hand, fresh corpse at my feet.

"Haha... Misunderstanding. She came at me for my food, no choice. More importantly... you know me?"

She glanced at the corpse.

"No need for excuses. I know you're a psychopathic killer."

'Who the hell is this bitch...? How does she know me? Someone from Earth?'

Even if from Earth, no way she knew I was a killer. Cops never caught me.

I'd planned meticulously each time, cleaned up evidence perfectly. No one knew.

'Doesn't matter if she knows... And damn, she's hot... Not bad at all.'

"Hmm... Guess you know me? No clue how, but why're you here?

Coming alone, fearlessly into this mess. Hahaha..."

"Ha... Don't worry. Things won't go your way. But I have a question."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Quite confident. What's the question?"

"You know Lee Yun-seong?"

"...Why are you looking for him?"

'What? They know each other?'

Didn't matter. I answered while prepping to lunge.

"Yeah... I do. But what's that got to do with anything?"

I inched into position for a swing.

"Where is he?"

"Haha... Why should I tell you?"

"Answer, and I'll kill you painlessly."

"...... Hahahaha!"

Her words made me burst out laughing, but she just stood there, unfazed.

"Is that so? Tempting offer. Hoho... If you can, go ahead!"

I kicked off as I finished speaking. Close enough range. She hadn't even drawn her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spear. Job class unknown, but charging barehanded? Overconfident idiot.

"I'll even let you live! Might lose a limb or two, though!"

It was instant. She ducked my swing and kicked my exposed gut.

'Fuck! What kind of movement...?!'

I desperately blocked with my off-arm.

Crack—!

"Gaaah!"

Just a kick, but my arm felt broken. Unthinkable pain—I screamed, gritted my teeth, and retreated frantically.

"Grrr... F-fuck, what the...?!"

How could a human kick pack that power? Beyond comprehension. One hit, arm snapped—insane.

"Managed to block that, huh. Was gonna half-cripple you."

"Y-you fucking...!"

Stay calm. This bitch was leagues above my previous prey.

"Hoo... Fine... You want Lee Yun-seong's location?"

"Yeah, where's that guy? You must've met him."

"...You gonna let me go if I tell you?"

"Sure. Spill, and you're free. Answer first."

"......."

"Talk."

"........ Hehe... Not letting me go, huh. You plan to kill me."

"......."

I could tell she was lying. As someone who's killed plenty, her face gave it away. Same look I make lying to prey about sparing them.

"Heh... Fuck... You... Bitch..."

I couldn't accept being treated like prey by my own prey.

I raised my sword again and moved toward the corpse. Had to be a chance.

She didn't know, but I had a unique trait. And thanks to the bitch I just killed, the setup was perfect.

I touched the blood, and the pain ebbed away. Arm not fully healed, but pain was gone.

"Hoo... Impressive. You've earned that confidence."

"Ha... Drop the formalities? Half-polite, half-rude when it suits you?"

I ignored her taunt and approached slowly. Rushing like before was suicide.

Observing her closely as I walked, I spoke.

"Curious, though. Why ask where Lee Yun-seong went?"

"What'll you do with that info?"

"No... Just wondering if you're close. If so, sorry. I already sent him where that auntie is lying."

Her face twisted ugly at my words.

"...Know it's bait, but still pisses me off."

The instant she finished, she gripped her spear and kicked off. I panicked—her speed was insane.

'Crazy! That fast?!'

Her thrust aimed at my legs—I swung desperately to parry.

Clang—!

'Guh...! What the hell are her Strength and Agility?!'

Just blocking a thrust, and my arm went numb from shock.

Her form vanished in a blink. Suddenly, spear from behind.

"You... Fuuuck!"

I slashed a few times, but missed. Blocking ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hers took all I had, while she dodged mine effortlessly.

'Now!'

In the exchange, her side opened. Her spear locked by my right-hand sword. I kicked at her ribs.

"...What the?!...Guh!"

But opposite result. I rolled on the ground. She'd swept my leg with her spear shaft before my kick landed.

Thud!

"Gaaaah!"

Pain of spear piercing my sword-arm—I dropped it.

"Grrr...."

"...Don't whine. Ready to talk now? Where's Lee Yun-seong?"

"Kuhuhu... I chopped that fucker's limbs off and fed him to monsters long ago..."

Slash—

"Gaaaaah—! You crazy bitch!"

"Next's the wrist. Where'd he go?"

"Hng... Told you... I killed that fucker—Gaaaaah!"

"...Where is he."

"Grraaah... Crazy bitch...!"

After that, the forest echoed with slicing sounds and screams.