2. A Lucky Day (2)

After carefully checking the staircase to ensure no one was watching me, I quickly entered my apartment and closed the front door.

Next, I lightly rinsed the blood from my injured hand under running water and wrapped it with a clean-looking white T-shirt I found at home. With no proper bandages available, this makeshift first aid would have to do.

I then cautiously wiped the blood off the knife. After that, I removed the bloodstained clothes from the neighbor’s pig-like son and changed into fresh ones.

While killing someone didn’t particularly bother me, I hated having blood on my body.

“Haa…”

Thinking the water might be cut off at any moment today, I hurriedly filled all the pots and bowls in the house with water.

Now, while the water was collecting, I should sell the mushrooms I gathered and receive my reward.

[Quest Completed]

[Reward Granted.]

“100 Points… Acquired!!”

This brought my total to 125 points. The Lust Mushrooms were worth 10 points each. Killing one person and gathering mushrooms had netted me 25 points for free.

I could save up to 150 points to acquire Magic Sensitivity, but first, I wanted to unlock the Status Window. That seemed like the most basic necessity.

‘Purchase Status Window display…’

Soon after, a translucent circle appeared in the corner of my vision.

It wasn’t intrusive enough to disrupt daily life-only visible if I consciously focused on it. This must be the Status Window display.

When I stared intently at it, the Status Window appeared before my eyes.

[Name: Elena]

[Race: Human]

[Level: 1]

[Strength: 4]

[Stamina: 6]

[Perception: 5]

[Willpower: 6]

[Magic: 0]

[Skills]

– Status Window View

[Traits]

– Maintain Your Virtue

– Time Alone

– Lonely Wanderer

– Reclusive Loner

“Huh…?”

The Awakened in the original story didn’t have Status Windows like this. The UI seemed different. As a possessor, I must have been given a different system than the original characters.

‘The Status Window looks normal for now… First, I need to treat the wound on my hand quickly…’

Of all things, I had injured my right hand, making it impossible to do much in this state.

So, I decided to use the trait “Time Alone” to boost my recovery rate.

Meditating while alone supposedly enhanced all forms of recovery, so maybe my hand would heal faster.

‘Close my eyes… Exhale…’

I cleared my mind and began meditating.

·

·

·

“Huff…!”

Against my will, I fell into an extremely deep state.

“What time is it…?”

It had been around 1 PM, but now it was 4 PM. Three hours had passed in an instant.

“Huh…?”

As I marveled at the lost time, I suddenly realized the pain in my right hand had almost completely faded.

Unwrapping the makeshift bandage revealed a nearly healed wound. A scar would remain, but this was acceptable.

I hadn’t expected the trait to be this effective. A 3-centimeter gash had healed after just three hours of meditation.

Grrrooowl…

“I’m hungry…”

Perhaps as a side effect of the enhanced recovery, my stomach growled fiercely.

Opening the fridge revealed nothing but bottled water. This damn apartment had no proper food.

‘How can someone live without even instant noodles…?’

I had to go outside. I needed to find food quickly.

While the chaos was still fresh, I had to move fast-joining other survivors before groups formed and monsters claimed territories, blocking off most locations.

There was no time to waste. The world had already gone to hell, and the military was useless now.

With Gates opening everywhere, even Hunters couldn’t stop this. Guns were still a threat, but far deadlier creatures roamed now.

And… villain factions wouldn’t miss this golden opportunity either.

Though I got dragged into this mess after leaving a snarky comment, I had faithfully followed the story up to chapter 320.

I had a rough idea of what was coming. The villains in this world were absolute scum-maybe even the masterminds behind everything.

“First, clothes…”

Obviously, I wasn’t going to wear a skirt. I wasn’t insane enough to prance around monster-infested streets in fluttering fabric.

“Mask on. Hat too.”

I securely wore a mask and hat to cover my hair and face. My blonde hair was too noticeable, and my face… too pretty to leave exposed.

“Fuck… All the bags are eco bags.”

Only one backpack was suitable for carrying. It was quite small, but better than nothing.

“A kitchen knife is the only weapon I have…?”

The lack of proper weapons was frustrating. Not that there was anything better in this nearly empty apartment. So much for studying abroad-this place was barren.

Hardly any furniture either. The fact that a psycho pig like my neighbor lived here said everything about this shithole.

“Maybe I can sell something…”

The apartment had little of value, but there were plenty of flashy clothes and bags. Selling them might earn me some points.

“Damn it…”

They couldn’t be sold. The system deemed them worthless. The Lust Mushrooms had been worth 10 points, but apparently, not just anything could be traded.

“Then, one last thing before heading out…”

I checked the quests. Having completed the first one, I hoped new ones had appeared.

[Quest: Collect 20 Goblin Ears within 3 days (0/20)]

[Reward: 40P, Healing Ointment]

[Warning: Failure lowers credit score]

[Quest: Hunt 10 Goblins within 3 days (0/10)]

[Reward: 100P, Poisoned Dagger x1]

[Warning: Failure lowers credit score]

[Quest: Survive for 1 day]

[Reward: 24P, Credit Score Increase]

Three new quests had appeared. The first two involved killing Goblins within three days, while the third required surviving until this time tomorrow.

The Goblin hunts had failure penalties, but I accepted all three, hoping I could manage them.

“Let’s go…”

Complaining wouldn’t change anything. First stop-the convenience store nearby. It might already be looted, but I had to try.

“Hoo… Hoo…”

Nervousness made my breathing ragged. Carefully, I descended to the first floor. My apartment was on the fourth floor, by the way. The door code was 4660.

I didn’t know why, but this was one of the pieces of information I retained. Probably from this body’s memories. Thankfully, only fragments surfaced-nothing too disruptive.

‘No one’s here…’

The street was littered with corpses-an old man with his guts spilled out and what looked like Goblin remains.

Nothing else in sight. Distant screams and monster growls echoed, but nothing nearby.

“Ugh…”

I fought the urge to vomit as I stepped past the old man’s corpse. The stench of rotting intestines made breathing difficult.

‘At least Goblin ears are easy pickings…’

Goblin ears were collectibles. I needed 20, but there were already 8 available-4 dead Goblins lay nearby.

After scanning for threats, I crouched beside the corpses. In games, you always get ambushed while looting.

*Squelch… Splurt…*

“Tch…”

I used the kitchen knife to slice off the Goblins’ ears. With each cut, my hands grew steadier.

“Hoo…”

I stuffed the ears into the eco bag. Good thing I brought it.

‘There’s even weapons. Jackpot.’

Among the Goblin corpses, I spotted crude wooden spears. These would make far better weapons than my dinky kitchen knife.

At least a meter long-perfect for thrusting into necks or throats.

I secured the knife to my belt and gripped the spear with both hands.

Nice and sturdy. A proper weapon at last. Unintentional corpse looting had paid off.

“Now then…”

The convenience store was right ahead. I could grab food and head back quickly.

High-calorie chocolates, compact snacks, and any leftover rice balls or lunch boxes would do. I had a microwave at home.

“Keeeee!!”

Unfortunately, the store already had a visitor.

‘Fuck…’

A bug-like creature-part spider, part scorpion-was feasting on the corpse of what looked like a convenience store clerk.

Excluding its venomous stinger, the monster was over a meter long. Probably from the Underworld-one of the six dimensions connected by Gates in this setting.

‘Don’t know its name… but I can’t win against that…’

This crude spear wouldn’t cut it. One wrong move, and that stinger would impale me.

Retreating was the smart move. There were other stores. No need to take stupid risks-

“KEEEEEE!!!”

Just as I was backing away…

“ROOOAR!!!”

A Minotaur-like monster stomped forward and swung a massive wooden club at the bug.

*CRASH!!!*

“…!!!”

One hit. The bug exploded, splattering green ichor everywhere. A sour stench filled the air.

‘Oh no… Fuck…’

Underworld bugs had one trait-when killed, they released pheromones.

Meaning more would swarm here soon.