26. Night Flight

Saturday morning.

The first weekend I experienced after arriving in this world was quite desolate.

“It’s quiet.”

After the Osung Group’s Hunters swept through the streets last night, today was considerably peaceful.

Normally, the day would start with the cries of unidentified monstrous birds, but not even their screeches could be heard today.

“Hmm.”

I think I’ll stay put at home today instead of going out unnecessarily.

At this point, wandering outside and running into corporate hunting dogs would be troublesome.

In my current state, my chances of winning against a corporate-affiliated Hunter are only about 50%. And that’s in a one-on-one situation-if I’m outnumbered, defeat is guaranteed.

The important thing is that corporate Hunters operate in teams of three by default. Even in emergencies, they maintain at least a two-person team.

‘Not to mention, unlike monsters, humans are highly intelligent…’

If the scouts they send out don’t return, they’ll concentrate more forces in that area to identify the threatening presence.

And when that happens, I’ll be the one suffocating. No matter how much the apocalypse progresses, the resources they’ve stockpiled are at least tens or hundreds of times more abundant than what I’ve gathered over a few days.

So I should avoid unnecessary confrontations with corporations until I’m confident I can take them on alone.

By the time I’m capable of solo dragon hunting, I’ll be ready to declare war on them.

Until I’ve built myself up properly, it’s best to lay low.

“Hmm. Maybe I’ll eat something.”

Yeah, since I have time on the weekend, I might as well cook a proper meal for once.

Though, realistically, it’ll feel more like forcing myself to eat everything before it expires.

******

Saturday morning passed without any notable events.

Other than occasionally scolding Number 1, nothing special happened. Outside, the sound of rain was the only noise.

Staying cooped up indoors and quietly listening to the rain brought an unexpected sense of peace.

Well, considering I’ve been running around outside slaughtering everything in sight until now… I guess I deserve a peaceful break today.

Honestly, growing this much in just a week after possession means I should take some time to rest.

Otherwise, I might hit a slump. Humans aren’t machines-proper rest is necessary.

Maybe I’ll teach Number 1 how to play hwatu (Korean cards) later.

“Haaah.”

Well, since I have free time, maybe I’ll take a nap for the first time in a while?

I haven’t slept once since mastering meditation, so indulging in sleep as a hobby now seems like a good idea.

“Hey! Number 1.”

“Y-Yes…!?”

“I’m going to sleep for a bit. Sit by the front door and knock if anyone shows up.”

“Understood.”

Number 1, who had been scrubbing bloodstains off the stairs with bleach, wiped sweat off his brow and nodded.

I told him to clean up the villa today since there was too much blood and rotting flesh lying around. Filth like that attracts bugs and monsters.

“Well then…”

I lay down on the bed for the first time in what felt like forever.

As soon as my head hit the pillow, my eyes closed.

******

When I woke up again, it was late evening. I must have slept deeply for quite a while.

“Mmm…”

I stretched my arms and loosened my wrists and ankles.

Since it’s evening, it’s time to get active. Moving around during the day is too risky, so nighttime is safer.

“Oh, you’re still here?”

“Yes…!”

Opening the door, I saw Number 1’s back. I must have slept for about six hours, and he’d been sitting on the stairs waiting the whole time.

Judging by the stack of books beside him, he’d been reading skill manuals while waiting.

“How far have you gotten?”

“I finished the alchemy book this morning and was reading the spellbook just now.”

“Oh, really?”

That means he can start making healing potions with goblin ears and gallbladders. Time to put him to work properly.

“Alright, I’m heading out for a bit. You know how to use a gas burner, right?”

“Uh… yes!”

“Use it to make some healing potions. Boil the water we stored on the rooftop and use it carefully.”

“Uh… you’re leaving now? It’s dark out…”

“I have Night Vision, so I can see fine. Keep reading the spellbook after making the potions, and if you finish it, move on to the appendix about exorcism techniques. Then practice either the Blood Magic Book or the Demon Digestion Method, whichever feels right.”

“Understood… Um… about that…”

“What?”

“Th-the chocolate…”

“What was that?”

“Ah, no, it’s nothing…”

He must have remembered my promise to give him chocolate if he studied well yesterday. I completely forgot.

“Here, don’t eat it all at once this time. Got it? I don’t have many left.”

“Ahh…! Thank you!”

Number 1 bowed his head and accepted the chocolate with a blissful smile. I almost smacked him for looking so happy but held back.

I didn’t have time to tease him. After lazing around all day, I needed to head out before midnight to hunt blind prey wandering the streets.

‘Let’s go…’

I headed downstairs.

Rain was still pouring outside.

******

“Hmm…”

With Night Vision active, I scouted the area around my home to check for threats.

‘Nothing here.’

Luckily, my frequent hunts in the area had cleared out most dangerous creatures. The weaker monsters probably recognized this place as a danger zone.

Anything that enters gets slaughtered by me-it’s practically an antlion pit.

‘The convenience stores here are all looted…’

I considered grabbing some chocolate before heading back when I spotted flickering lights in the distance.

‘Flashlights?’

Humans. Someone was roaming the streets at night. I quickly crouched to hide and observed the figures passing by the convenience store.

‘Those are…’

They wore black masks covering their faces. Those masks were a public declaration of villainy-a symbolic mark.

Think of it like a gang emblem. Basically, a warning: “I’m dangerous, stay away.”

Normally, nobody would flaunt such masks openly, but with law enforcement gone…

‘Blood-dripping burlap sacks… villain masks…’

It wasn’t hard to guess what was in those sacks. With no authorities left, villains were free to roam at night.

‘Villains, huh.’

To me, villains were nothing but walking point bags I could slaughter guilt-free.

Not that I feel much guilt killing anyone, villain or not.

‘Two of them… that’s 60 points.’

I drew the Archangel’s Baton.

Then, I activated a spell I’d pre-recorded in the Archangel’s Magic Book.

“Pierce through.”

Sparks crackled from the baton before lightning bolts struck the two villains’ feet.

-ZZZZZAP!!!!

“GGRRAAAGHHH!!!!”

“FUUUCK!!!!”

The two villains convulsed violently from the electrocution.

It wasn’t lethal. Basic spells lack the power to instantly kill someone.

Still, the satisfaction of watching them collapse onto the wet asphalt was enough.

‘Rainy days are the best…!’

The soaked ground made electrocution easy.

“Heh.”

I approached the two villains struggling to stand.

I could have just kept zapping them from the convenience store, but that’d waste too much mana. No need to expend energy on immobilized targets.

“Guh… wh-who… argh…”

-CRACK!!!!

I brought a hammer down on the villain’s skull as he tried to look up. His head split like a watermelon, scattering brains and spinal fluid across the rain-soaked street.

[30 Points Acquired]

Points gained. This one was an Awakened. Thanks for the 30 points.

“GRRAAAHHH!!!!”

Seeing his companion die instantly, the other villain screamed while still unable to stand.

Too noisy. I needed to silence him before unwanted guests showed up.

“Shh.”

-SPLAT!!!!

Another head exploded the same way.

[30 Points Acquired]

Now at 764 points.

Both died cleanly in one hit, so it couldn’t have hurt much.

“Let’s see…”

I opened the sack they’d been dragging. What kind of corpses were they hauling?

-WHOOSH.

“Ugh.”

The stench of blood and decay hit me as I opened it, making me grimace and step back.

Inside were the corpses of six dead goblins. No idea what they planned to use them for, but they must have had a purpose.

“Hmm.”

I dumped all six goblin corpses onto the street.

“Ears and… gallbladders…”

Drawing Regina’s Blade, I sliced off their ears, gutted them, and extracted their gallbladders and hearts.

I’ve gotten good at this. Now I can remove gallbladders without rupturing them.

“Done.”

I looted the two villains’ pockets. Found cigarettes, IDs, and a keycard of unknown purpose.

“Korean-Style Game Room…?”

The name screamed illegal gambling den. “Korean-Style”? What is this, a mobster joint? Wait-in this world, mobsters are villains and unregistered Awakened groups.

‘Jackpot!’

I’d found tonight’s hunting ground. Time to round up the villains wasting time at the Korean-Style Game Room and grind them into points.

“Heheheh.”

Humming cheerfully, I stored their tools and corpses in my Inventory.

The corpses can be Number 1’s food, and the tools might come in handy later.

‘The goblin…’

I kept one goblin corpse to feed to Number 1. More transformation forms are always better.

‘He can store up to three forms…’

Number 1 is still a young Fluid. No matter how much he absorbs, he can only store three forms for now.

He’ll unlock more as he grows, so I need to nurture him quickly.

After gathering everything, I headed toward the Korean-Style Game Room.

Tonight might be a long one.