19. Intensive Level-Up. (1)

Pak!

Seventeen!

I immediately drew my sword and ran back.

I dodged through the partitions and ran down the clear path. Corpses whizzed by to the side.

“–Kya-a-eok!”

[Level increased by 2.]

As the growling sounds faded, I rushed into the restroom and closed the partition.

Clack.

Locked the door.

“Hoo, haa.”

Need to catch my breath.

Placed my hand on my chest and took deep breaths.

My heart pounded for more oxygen, and sweat mixed with blood dripped down.

“Kya-a-a-uk! Kya-ra-rang!”

The beasts growled outside.

Their growls echoed off the walls.

But they weren’t getting closer.

Some might have entered the partition, but they didn’t think anything was inside, just kept growling.

“Hoo-haa-“

Took deep breaths and calmed down.

Weeks of training, footwork, and swordsmanship had toned my body.

My chest calmed down in no time.

4 accelerations left, 0 strength.

Clearly lacking in strength.

I wish I could kill faster and more, but the numbers don’t lie.

A bit concerning.

Adding more strength would help with leveling up.

But I also want to secure more stamina to reduce rest time.

With 100 stamina, I could handle three raids a day.

Three raids would mean 90 zombies a day.

That’s enormous.

Cockroaches barely catch a few, and then a swarm of dozens attacks, and if they mess up, they get killed by their own kind.

I alone can sweep through dozens in an instant.

Strength.

I want to increase it.

But for now, I’ll focus on stamina and think about strength later.

Added 2 points to stamina.

Now, stamina 61, level 37.

Leveling up nicely.

Rest time…

Mental strength 40 points, 8 hours?

I chuckled.

Clearly getting faster.

Before, restoring 40 points would take over 13 hours, now it’s 8.

12 hours to fully restore 60 points.

The number of zombies I can take down with acceleration is increasing from 3 to 4, soon 5.

Not bad.

Slow.

But steady.

And I’m getting stronger.

The numbers prove it.

I sat on the toilet, leaning back.

It was past five in the morning.

All stats were restored.

Sohee had sent a worrying message around midnight, but after seeing how I handled the zombies, she seemed to relax quickly.

Nice girl.

Thinking of Sohee, I smiled and stood up.

Well.

Let’s go.

Left the restroom and walked down the hall.

Swung my bloody sword.

Whoosh! Chak!

The nearby beasts were well-cleaned.

How many were left?

Pulled the partitions to create a path, then took a deep breath.

Whatever was left, I’d take them all.

“Scatter-mane~”

Scatter-tur-ri-dup-ba-ra-bap.

Am I scatter-mane~

“Kya-a-a-! Chwa-a-a-!”

The audience cheers were great too.

I smiled, looking around.

Zombies. Human beasts.

They’re coming.

Knocking over shelves, sweeping aside products, they rushed at me.

“Kya-a-a-! Kya-ra-ra-rak!”

Crash-bang-boom!

They crashed into walls, shelves, and each other, causing chaos.

I waited.

Waited patiently for them to approach.

Come on. Hurry.

“Kya-a-a-!”

Oh.

They’re here.

Their mouths are visible.

Hands reaching through the air.

Bodies leaping fiercely.

I smiled.

Raised my sword.

Acceleration.

[Auto Activation: Acceleration]

The human beasts swarming around, like a pack of wild dogs.

They seemed frozen in place.

Took a step and swung my sword.

“Hup!”

Pak-pak-pak-pak!

Ran quickly through their ranks, kicked the ground, and moved sideways.

And stabbed.

Used acceleration to stab, and stabbed again.

Pak-pak-pak-pak!

They seemed so slow, even blinking was too much.

Pak!

Blood droplets floated in the air.

Ran through them, swinging my sword quickly.

Familiar.

Skilled.

I could feel it myself, precisely stabbing their heads and ending them in an instant.

The pity, fear, confusion I once felt.

Gone.

Or rather.

I was smiling.

Pak-pak-pak-pak!

“Haha.”

Thirty of them.

Killed in one breath, then turned and ran to the mart entrance.

Not sure how many were left.

Didn’t seem like many.

Maybe it was just my mood, but it seemed manageable.

Could finish with one more raid. But damn, the restroom is getting boring.

Want to eat warm rice and take a shower.

Let’s go back.

“–Kya–r-“

Acceleration.

[Auto Activation: Acceleration]

Occasionally dodging beasts in the way, I sprinted to the entrance.

Grabbed the door and pulled it open.

Let go, and the glass door slowly returned to its place.

Used acceleration again and ran to the elevator.

“-Kya-rak!”

Ururur, crash-bang!

The beasts’ collapsing sounds echoed from afar.

And the glass door closing sound was heard.

Pressed the elevator button and turned around.

Still had some acceleration left.

If they come, there’s the stairs.

“Hoo.”

They barked loudly.

But they didn’t come.

The sounds didn’t get closer.

I don’t know where they are.

I smiled and swung my sword.

Whoosh-chak!

Blood dripped from the sword.

The elevator doors opened.

Boarded and sheathed my sword.

Shurur-

Pressed the 10th floor.

Let’s go back.

The elevator doors closed.

And I smiled.

Strange feeling.

Smiling after killing so many.

Because of adrenaline?

Not sure, but it feels good.

Leveled up 3 times.

Added 3 points to stamina, making it 64.

Got off on the 10th floor…

…Which room was it?

Scratching my head, I walked looking at the doors.

1021..22..23..

…Seems around here.

I slightly opened 1024.

Is this it?

Dark.

Can’t see anything.

There was a computer, but…

Not sure if it’s visible or not.

Don’t know, probably.

It’s just past five in the morning, so I don’t want to wake anyone.

I grumbled and entered the bathroom.

Ugh, covered in blood.

Took off my clothes and showered, feeling refreshed.

Blood washing away was refreshing.

The body wash here is good.

Japanese brand?

After shampooing, I lathered the shower towel and scrubbed my body, then rinsed off the suds.

So refreshing.

“Haa…”

Looking in the mirror…Hmm.

Decent physique.

From weeks of activity, abs are visible.

More defined when flexed.

Lost fat, gained muscle.

Noticeable.

Feeling good.

Thinking of sneaking up on Sohee while she’s sleeping and teasing her.

Such thoughts made me hard.

I chuckled.

Man is indeed a beast.

Then the bathroom door opened.

“Uh, who…?”

“…Uh?”

Our eyes met.

We both froze.

It was Ye-eun.

Ye-eun looked at my face, my body, and my lower half, eyes wide.

Then quickly closed the door.

Clang!

“Uh, sorry…!”

…What happened?

Is this the wrong house?

…Ah!

It was 1023!

Next door!

Damn, I mistakenly entered the wrong house!

No lock, so…

Embarrassing.

Quickly grabbed a towel from the wardrobe and wiped myself.

Ye-eun was standing outside the bathroom, unsure what to do.

…What to say.

“Sorry. It was next door.”

“Ah, no.”

Umm…

I’m naked.

Only covering my lower half with a bloody cloth.

Awkward.

Picked up my sword and lifting belt, then smiled.

“I’ll go.”

“Yes… yes.”

Ye-eun’s face was completely red.

Umm…

No words for this situation.

Let’s go.

Slipped out and entered the next door.

…Ah.

Here we are.

Distinctive.

Sohee’s body wash scent lingers.

Also, some bulky computer-like shape in the distance.

I quietly placed my clothes and sword, then re-entered the bathroom to clean up the blood.

…That was quite awkward.

Good to remember.

At least it was Ye-eun, not an old lady.

…Not that it makes it better.

Who knows.

Shaken, even my dick went soft.

Let’s sleep.

Wiped myself and went to bed.

Sohee murmured as I lay down.

“Uwung… oppa…?”

“Yes. It’s me.”

She rustled and turned toward me.

Then snuggled into my arms.

“…You worked hard….”

She was fully asleep.

Umm…

Let me sleep too.

I woke up around noon the next day.

Washed my face roughly and had ramen with Sohee.

Realized we don’t eat together like we used to in the boarding house.

“Oppa, how was the mart? Wasn’t it too dangerous?”

“It’s fine. The first floor should be manageable until today.”

Sohee smiled.

“Then there should be plenty of food.”

I chuckled.

“Fish or meat should just be discarded. There’s still edible stuff, but…”

“Hmm… It’s a shame. Stocking up on meat would be great. But I’ll gather what’s useful.”

Oh, right.

I saw something earlier.

“There were seeds for fruits and vegetables. You know, those palm-sized packets sealed and sold for a thousand or two won.”

Sohee’s face lit up.

“The grandma would love that. Ye-eun and So-eun were talking about farming too.”

…Umm, Ye-eun.

I smiled and ate my ramen.

Nothing to say.

After eating and lounging around, it was 4:30 PM.

Stats were restored.

People were busy tearing down cars and repairing buildings. Sohee went out too.

I should go soon.

Opened the door and ran into Ye-eun.

She had a trash bag in hand.

Our eyes met.

Ye-eun’s face turned red.

“Ah, hello…”

“Ah, yes. Hello.”

Ye-eun bowed slightly and quickly passed by.

…Umm.

Don’t know.

…She went to the elevator.

…I’ll go down later.