22. Function Restoration (2)

My seemingly plausible plan to sacrifice the rescued women for points was easily shattered by the sudden interference of the Blue Cross Group.

‘I could’ve gotten 405 points almost for free…!’

Pushing aside my disappointment, I glanced around looking for suitable prey to hunt and leave.

Perhaps because of the drizzling rain, there seemed to be fewer monsters on the streets than usual.

‘Not even any goblins around.’

The conveniently exploitable goblins seemed to have completely disappeared these past few days. Had I known this would happen, I should’ve spared a few Mud Midgets.

‘Damn it…’

With nothing better to do, I wandered the streets aimlessly, considering kidnapping someone as a slave using the Collar of Subjugation, when someone called out to me.

“Hey! You!”

“…?”

Turning my head toward the voice, I saw someone standing at a building entrance gesturing at me.

“It’s dangerous outside! Come here! I’ll help you!”

It was a young girl. A middle school-aged girl was calling me, telling me to quickly take shelter inside the building because it was dangerous outside.

‘What the hell is that thing?’

My first thought upon seeing her was, ‘Is that even human?’

A middle school girl calling out to passersby in demon-infested Seoul, where even Awakened individuals struggle to survive, let alone ordinary adult men?

‘An enemy…’

I immediately pulled out Regina’s Blade from my inventory.

Then I threw it with all my might at the girl gesturing at me.

No questions needed.

In this world, any child encountered on the streets who seems out of place should be killed first and questioned later.

That’s common sense in a monster apocalypse world.

There’s a 99.9% chance it’s a monster disguising itself as a child to lure people in.

Even if it were a real child, in this world, killing it might be more merciful than letting it suffer.

Consider it liberation from a painful existence.

Whoosh!!! -Thud!!!

The blade flew straight and lodged perfectly in the girl’s forehead.

The moment the blade pierced her forehead, she fell backward.

Like a mannequin carelessly tossed into a dumpster, she collapsed instantly.

Blood began streaming down her head.

Crimson blood, bright red, was swept away by the rainwater into the sewer.

“Recall.”

Regina’s Blade instantly teleported back into my hand.

After putting away the blood-soaked blade, I immediately drew Archangel’s Baton and prepared for battle.

Why?

Because I hadn’t received any points yet, which means it’s definitely not dead.

It’s pretending.

“Keh. Keheheheh. Not fooled, huh?”

Just as I expected, not a single detail deviated from my prediction.

It was bait and a trap-a monster using an innocent expression to deceive and prey on passersby.

“Kyahahahahah… Heheh.”

The girl laughed maniacally before rising again like a zombie, then began transforming.

‘A pitch-black humanoid monster.’

Not only did its appearance change, but it also grew to nearly two meters tall, its polygon-like body wobbling as it approached me.

Probably planning to kill me and skin me.

“Skin Robber…”

I knew this thing. It was the monster that killed one of the sub-heroines, the librarian, and tormented the protagonist.

It ended up dying horribly, of course.

As I aimed my baton at the rapidly approaching creature, its information surfaced in my mind.

[Name: Skin Robber]

[Details: Can change its form by absorbing corpses. May acquire some of the target’s language abilities or memories. Enemy of the Forest Keeper.]

[Abilities: Form Copy, Mimicry, Information Absorption]

I didn’t know it was the Forest Keeper’s enemy.

Well, doesn’t matter. Despite the rain, I opened Archangel’s Magic Book without concern. It’ll dry eventually.

‘Should I kill it? Or…’

Put the Collar of Subjugation on it and make it a slave.

My dilemma didn’t last long.

‘It can’t cook meals, but… a monster that can change its form by absorbing dead bodies’ skin… can even acquire memories and information from its victims…’

It has incredibly useful traits. Even if it’s just appearance, I could make it transform into a horse to ride or a bird or rat for reconnaissance.

If I make it eat a master chef, its cooking knowledge would improve too.

This might just become the ultimate multi-purpose servant.

“Keheheheheheheheh!!!!”

Just as I decided to spare it, envisioning its potential, the creature let out a spine-chilling laugh and thrust its spike-like hand at me.

“Where do you think you’re aiming?”

I easily dodged its thrust and fired a Fireball point-blank into its torso.

-Boom!!!

“Gyaaa!!!”

It’s raining today.

It won’t burn to death.

“Gyaaaaaa!!!!”

The Skin Robber kept trying to attack me.

But its attacks were too linear and monotonous, making them easy to dodge. The Mud Midgets throwing poison darts from a distance felt more threatening.

Even if its physical abilities surpassed the Mud Midgets’, if all it can do is thrust at close range, only an idiot would get hit.

-Whoosh!!!

“Kyeheeee!!! Why?!!!”

As I dodged all its attacks, it grew increasingly desperate, thrusting wildly while I countered by planting Fireballs into its torso at opportune moments.

It’s drizzling. It won’t die. Don’t die. You mustn’t die.

“Gyaaa!!!”

Every time it caught fire, it leaped back and rolled in puddles to extinguish the flames. I just watched, intending to wear it down until it collapsed from accumulated damage.

If I wanted to kill it, I would’ve smashed its skull long ago.

This was part of the taming process. Monsters only obey after being beaten into submission.

“Haa… Hot. Hot. Hot hot hot hot!!!!”

Eventually, the Skin Robber crawled away from me on the ground. With all its attacks missing and its body continuously burning, it was on the verge of madness from pain.

“P-please… spare me. I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please spare me..!!”

Finally, the Skin Robber transformed back into the middle school girl’s appearance.

Probably trying to evoke sympathy, but it’s pointless. That girl’s appearance is just another skin it stole after eating her.

“Come here, you little shit.”

“N-no. No nonono no!!!”

“Tsk.”

It kept backing away, watching me warily.

I wasn’t about to let such an amusing toy-no, useful tool-get away.

Moreover, a monster that can acquire language from its victims is incredibly valuable.

Too useful to just kill.

“Humans… scary. Scaryscary. Eeeek!!!”

Eventually, I caught the Skin Robber.

It flailed its arms in resistance, but after three solid hits to the head, it collapsed on the spot.

Controlling my strength to avoid killing it was quite a challenge.

This thing has high magic resistance but low durability, making it weak to physical attacks. That’s why the original protagonist tortured it with magic too.

“Now, time for your collar.”

“Grrr…”

I forced the Collar of Subjugation onto the drenched Skin Robber’s neck.

“Grrrugh..!!! Ugh!!!”

“Shh. Shut up.”

“…!!!”

It clenched its teeth and glared at me as if asking what this was all about. It still seemed defiant, so I considered hitting it a few more times but decided against it, fearing I might accidentally kill it.

Still, a warning was necessary.

“From now on, you’re Laborer Number One. If you fail to perform your duties properly…”

-Click.

“..!!?”

I pulled out a lighter and held the flame near its face, causing the Skin Robber to panic and press its forehead to the ground.

The repeated Fireballs must have thoroughly ingrained a fear of fire.

“Obey my commands absolutely. Betray me, and I’ll burn you alive.”

“Y-yes. Yesss. Yes.”

“Is that girl the only form you can transform into?”

“Yes. That’s all.”

“How many forms can you take total?”

“Th-three…”

“Three?”

“Yes…”

It held up three fingers.

“Lie to me, and I’ll kill you. I’ll burn you alive without hesitation.”

“N-no lie. Lying bad. I-I’m good… good… I don’t have name…”

“No name?”

“Yes. I-I wasn’t born long ago. No name. Give name. Sorry.”

“Hmm… Then from now on, you’re Number One.”

“N-number One…?”

“Yeah. Number One. If you die, the next one will be Number Two.”

“Ah… N-number One good… good child…”

“Good children don’t eat people. Whatever. Follow me.”

“Yesss…”

I took Number One back home. Traveling with this thing would lock my inventory and increase my misfortune.

Due to the traits ‘Lone Wanderer’ and ‘Reclusive Loner,’ having a companion would disable my inventory and rapidly increase misfortune.

So keeping it at home and assigning it tasks would be better.

-Creak.

“Get in.”

“Yes…”

I shoved Number One into the apartment next door.

As long as we don’t travel or stay together, Number One can be my servant and neighbor.

“Can you read?”

“Uh… yes.”

“Then read these.”

“Huh…?”

I shoved all the books I’d collected so far at it. From now on, it’ll be making healing potions and handling chores for me, so teaching it skills through reading will be useful.

“Ugh… h-hard words…”

“Read at least two books before I return. Fail, and I’ll burn you alive.”

“Eeeek…”

Number One, suddenly reassigned as a potion brewer, made a despairing face. Read fast or die.

-Slam!

I closed the front door and stepped outside again.

“Now then…”

With a slave secured, it’s time to resume point farming.