23. In High Spirits. (1)

I had no idea bows were so physically demanding.

In the few RPG games I’ve played, I always went for agility builds.

Watching archers in historical dramas, it never seemed that hard, with arrows flying swiftly and silently.

Who would’ve thought it required so much strength?

Ting! Thwack!

“Ow!”

When I released the bowstring, the bow recoiled, slapping my forearm hard.

Crazy!

It stings like hell!

My forearm is red with a clear mark.

I need to pay attention to my stance, or I might get hurt.

How is this even done?

I grabbed the bow again and tried drawing the string back.

This time, I held the bow firmly with both hands.

Gripped hard!

Arched my back!

…It’s so uncomfortable, damn it.

My stance feels off.

There’s an instruction booklet on the desk.

The cover shows an archer drawing the string.

Maybe I should lift my elbows more?

Like this?

…Still uncomfortable, damn it.

After several attempts with the bowstring snapping back, I picked an arrow and nocked it.

Then drew the string fully.

“Eek, damn it.”

Shit!

The arrowhead scattered everywhere.

The arrow wobbled like a drunkard, refusing to stay straight.

I need to control the bowstring with my fingers too.

Slowly released the tension, nocked the arrow properly, and drew the string again.

…Better, I guess.

Archery is tough for a beginner.

People back in the day must have practiced a lot to use it as a weapon.

Gripped the arrows and went outside to practice.

Set up among the corpses, scattering arrows around my feet.

Since I came all this way, might as well practice.

Ready, aim!

Fire!

Tick. Thwang~

“Damn it.”

The arrow spun in mid-air and fell to the ground, while the string snapped back with a loud noise.

“Crazy.”

Really crazy.

I know there’s a skill for guaranteed headshots, but for that, I need to actually hit the target first!

Having the arrow spin in the air and miss doesn’t help with the skill!

Keep practicing.

Decided to get serious and went back inside for more arrows.

Realized the wooden quiver had more arrows.

The quiver was made of sturdy leather.

When I nocked an arrow, the inside gripped it firmly, securing it in place.

Even flipping the quiver, the arrows stayed put.

Nice, this is good.

“Ah, right.”

The projectile duplication armband.

Thwip!

Removed the armband from my sword scabbard.

For practice, I need to secure the arrows first. Otherwise, it’s pointless.

How does this even work?

Took an arrow and wrapped it with the armband.

It unraveled slightly.

The armband, no matter how circular it was, couldn’t grip the arrow tightly enough to hold it.

It just formed a loose circle with my thumb and index finger.

Useless for holding the arrow.

…Maybe just leave it?

Coiled the armband in a circle, placed the arrow inside, and picked up the bow again.

Ready, aim!

Tick, thwang~

Tick, thud.

Tick, thud.

“Damn, not working.”

Every time I try harder, the arrow spins in the air.

Keep trying until it works.

Proper stance.

Hold the arrow nock and shaft with index and middle fingers.

Nock the arrow, draw the string.

Grip with both hands.

Support the arrow with fingers.

Draw!

“Hoo-ah.”

The bow bent like a crossbow.

Aimed and released.

Zhwap!

The arrow sliced through the air and hit the target.

Not the red spot, but at least it stuck in the edge.

But…

“Oh… damn it…”

What a rush…!

Watching the arrow fly straight and hit the target felt so satisfying.

I stood there in awe, then shook my head and nocked another arrow.

It’s just one shot, but I need to make every arrow count.

Practice, practice.

Spent another hour shooting arrows.

Thanks to the stamina skill, my arms and back were warm but not tired.

Got better with each shot.

Fun.

Got excited and looked around for the armband.

My armband.

What’s its status?

“…………”

Still coiled.

With one arrow inside.

Since it’s a duplication armband, it should duplicate, but I have no idea how to use it.

Laughed at myself, picked up the armband, and slapped it on my arm.

“…Crazy.”

It wrapped around my arm with a snap.

Snug, like a bracelet.

Checked the quiver.

…Would it wrap around that too?

Picked up the sturdy leather quiver and slapped the armband on it.

Snug.

Like a bracelet.

Left the armband as it was, resumed practice with the bow.

Zhwap! Thud!

The sound of slicing air…!

A faint, small whoosh, but unmistakable.

Each arrow brings joy.

So much fun that I lost track of time practicing-no, training.

Before I knew it, another hour passed.

Looked at the quiver in surprise.

Four arrows were nocked.

“…Jackpot.”

Four arrows.

Three per hour…?

Then…

How many per day?

Seventy-two arrows!

“Jackpot.”

So happy!

Overjoyed!

Tapped the quiver lightly, feeling happy, and resumed practice.

When I finally felt accustomed to shooting and retrieved all arrows from the target and walls, I packed up the bows and arrows.

Took five bows in total.

Not sure who’ll use them, but they’d make great self-defense weapons for the others.

Took all the arrows too, for the same reason.

Even with duplication, it feels odd to leave extras for others when I won’t use them.

Shouldered the traditional bows and crossbows, tied the quivers to my back, and left the archery center.

“Shopping was good today.”

Got a bunch of weapons without spending a dime.

Satisfied.

Left the building as the sun set.

Oh, the sunset is beautiful.

Stared for a moment, then noticed something in the sky.

…A plane.

Looks like a light aircraft.

Flying quite low.

Took a deep breath.

Still…

Still, people existed.

But… strange.

Something’s dripping…

Like a plane urinating in the sky…

A bizarre sight.

Narrowed my eyes at the distant sky.

What are they dropping?

Paper?

“What are they doing…”

Watched for a while, but couldn’t tell what it was.

Definitely dropping something.

But from this distance, could be paper, snacks, or relief goods.

Hard to see clearly in the sunset.

…Too far to check.

Would take at least a day or two to go there and back.

Let’s head back.

Returned the way I came by Cheonggyecheon Stream.

Saw a dead bird.

…Disgusting.

Walked past it and continued.

The stream water is clear.

Small fish.

“…………”

Small… fish.

Looked back.

Dead bird.

If the bird became an evil beast, other animals probably did too.

That makes sense.

Stared at the fish for a moment.

Are they evil beasts too?

Whatever kind of fish they are, they swim aimlessly.

If they’re evil beasts, they should react to me.

Put down the wooden quiver and crouched by the water.

At most, the small fish, barely the size of a finger, swam around without noticing me.

Dipped my hand in the water.

The fish darted away.

“…Ran away?”

Laughed.

Evil beasts retreating? Doesn’t make sense.

Soaked my hand fully.

Waited.

Nothing happened.

Fish swam around, avoiding my hand.

“…………”

Acceleration.

[Auto-skill: Acceleration]

Water flow slowed down.

Ripples looked like jelly swaying in the wind.

Grabbed a fish and lifted it with my palm.

Examined its mouth…

Too small to tell.

No teeth, it seems.

Acceleration ended.

Flop, flop.

The fish…

Just acting like a normal fish.

Flopping around, gasping for air.

Clearly, the fish hasn’t changed.

Looked at the dead bird and the fish alternately.

What’s the difference?

As living beings, size is the only difference…

…Size.

Maybe only creatures of a certain size become evil beasts.

Flop, flop.

The fish continued its struggle on my hand.

Didn’t even try to bite.

Unchanged.

Threw the fish back into the stream and stood up.

Looked at the sky.

No birds anywhere.

…Come to think of it, since the apocalypse…

Haven’t heard any birds chirping.