3. Base Camp (3)

Panting heavily, I spoke quietly.

“…Let’s… rest a bit. Then again.”

I’ll kill them all.

Though determined, my jaw still trembles violently.

Teeth chatter against each other.

I’ve fought before.

But killing people?

Never even considered it.

I just killed someone.

No, not someone.

…It was a high school student.

Wearing a uniform.

No, not human!

Clutching the spear, I slowly sat down.

“Haah, haah, haah.”

So-eun’s whimpering cries reach my ears. Ye-eun comforts her sister, stroking her head and back.

While looking at me.

“…Thank you.”

Thank me?

I looked at Ye-eun.

Her eyes……

Half-teary, on the verge of crying, yet she stares straight at me without blinking.

A face of resolve.

Full of determination to survive.

And trust in me.

…That look gives me strength.

I nodded.

Forget the horrific sensation of metal piercing skull.

I’ll need to do this dozens, no, thousands of times more.

Pursing my lips, I stared blankly while controlling my breathing.

“…Seonghun-ssi.”

Hoarse voice.

I looked at Ye-eun again.

“How many more outside?”

Silently held up three fingers.

Then spoke.

“…I just killed someone.”

Both sisters flinch.

I whispered:

“…Resting first. Then again.”

Neither replied.

I turned to Ye-eun.

She’s still looking at me.

Tears stream down.

Don’t know why she’s crying, but won’t tell her to stop.

I said:

“…Let’s survive. Together.”

Ye-eun nodded slightly.

Right.

Survive.

Set down the spear and closed my eyes.

This storage room we rushed into.

Cramped with three people.

None of us expected to be trapped here so long.

Endure.

Endure and survive.

“Hoo…”

Resting helps mentally recover.

Ye-eun speaks while I rest.

“Um… Seonghun-ssi.”

Looked at her.

She said:

“Three… three outside… dangerous, right? My… grandmother’s… home alone…”

……Hmm……

Her tone and expression…

Wants me to hurry…

Like I’m staying here for fun.

I’d love to stretch out too.

Waiting for Acceleration to recharge – how to explain?

After thinking, replied:

“Waiting for them to calm down. Earlier, they were just lying there. If several attack at once, that shelf might not hold.”

“…Ah…”

Ye-eun nodded understandingly.

Good, just wait.

Ah, right.

Leveled up earlier.

Opened status.

…Stats…

…Fuck, suddenly conflicted.

Securing Acceleration uses is important, but recovery too.

Boosting Mind won’t help if recovery can’t keep up, forcing long rests – but I want out fast.

……Three outside……

Killing all would make four total.

…Alright.

Put 1 point in HP and closed eyes again.

Even if recovery only increases by 0.1/hour – want out fast.

———-

Chosen One

[Specialization – Time Adjuster] [Level – 3]

[Title – Civilian]

Status

[HP – 3/7] [Senses – 2/2]

[Strength – 4/5] [Agility – 4/4]

[Mind – 3/8] [Intelligence – N/A]

[Allocation Points – 0]

Skills

[Active – Acceleration] (Auto-casting)

———-

After allocating to HP……

Ugh… HP was 3.

Earlier was 5.

About an hour passed.

Should be 6 now.

But it’s 3.

…Recovers 3 times per hour.

Every 20 minutes, 1 HP consumed to restore other stats?

…If so, HP stat is quite efficient.

HP then……

Anyway, got it.

Strength also down 1.

From stabbing effort earlier?

Body feels fine.

…Please don’t tell me killing one consumes 1 Strength…

…Fuck, hope not.

If true, no matter the Acceleration uses, can only kill 5 at once.

Then boosting Mind alone won’t suffice.

However much Acceleration, when Strength hits 0, then what?

Fuck!

Damn, please no!

“Hoo…”

Irritation rising, I frowned against the wall. Ye-eun seems to think I’m scared.

“…Hang… in there. Okay?”

Smirked at her.

Just nodded.

What to say?

When told to hang in there, just nod.

“Resting a bit more.”

“…Okay…”

Two more hours to reach 5 points.

Phone shows 3 AM.

So-eun seems asleep in Ye-eun’s arms.

Sorry, but time to wake.

“…Starting.”

Got up.

Both sisters startled awake.

Ye-eun strokes So-eun’s head, then stands behind me.

Huh?

Ye-eun says:

“I’ll help. Closing… the door.”

Oh.

Good.

Stepped aside and pointed to shelf.

“Stand here.”

Ye-eun presses against shelf.

I grip spear and door handle.

Recall.

How much force used to stab that brat’s skull.

Definitely one clean stab per head.

Would be easier with a proper blade.

But don’t have one.

This is all I’ve got.

Stab with all might.

One at a time.

Five seconds is all I get.

“…Opening.”

“Okay.”

She’s resolved.

Like her tone.

Unlocked.

Click.

Then slowly turned handle.

…Creeaak…

Ugh. Hinges damaged.

From their pounding earlier.

Quiet again after hours.

Looking down – three sprawled on floor.

Right at the counter.

At my feet.

……Wait.

Right beneath me.

Their heads……

Bit far.

About a meter away.

Piled awkwardly.

Only see legs of two, one’s back of head barely visible.

Slowly extended spear.

Might kill one without Acceleration.

Aimed, then slowly pulled back.

Can kill one normally.

One chance.

Inhaled.

Kept inhaling.

Until lungs full.

Held breath.

Tensed grip.

One downward strike.

With all my strength!

“…Hup!”

Metal pipe impacts skull perfectly.

Craack!

Pierces through!

Pull! Fast!

“Puhut!”

Exhaled while yanking spear.

Two others roar awake.

“Graaah!”

“Graaaah! Graaah!”

Both snap heads toward us.

Spear fully retracted!

They charge!

Torn, mangled faces rapidly approach!

Fuck, Acceleration!

[Auto-cast: Acceleration]

“Graa-a–a—“

Plaid shirt leaps frog-like. Only see suit guy’s grotesque face and hands.

Both freeze.

Grit teeth, stab plaid’s head with all might.

“Hueep!”

Squelch!

Pipe pierces crown perfectly.

Won’t pull out easily!

“Grrk!”

Yanked with full strength!

Out!

No time!

Aim at suit’s face.

“—a–a-“

Fuck!

“Graah!”

Slam spear down onto skull.

Craack!

Feeling of shattering hardness and mushy resistance transmits through hands.

Horrific sensation.

Godfuckingdamnit!

“-a-Raaah!”

BAM!

Both roarers crash into door and collapse.

Then, silence.

“Haah, haah, haah.”

Mind blank.

No thoughts.

Gripping spear with both hands, I stand wide-eyed.

Breathing heavily.

Is that my breathing?

After a moment, sounds return.

“…Eeeh… aaah…”

…Who’s crying?

Sobbing sounds?

“Huff, haah, haah, hoo.”

Turned head stiffly.

So-eun wailing in Ye-eun’s arms.

“Don’t cry. It’s over now.”

I watch while panting.

Barely conscious.

In one go……

Killed three.

[Level increased by 3.]

Ah.

Level up.

“Haah, haah, hoo, haah.”

Clang.

Spear drops.

Strength leaves my hands.

Fuck, no!

Bent to pick it up.

“…Ugh!”

Fuck, gonna puke!

Covered mouth with both hands.

“Grk!”

Goddamnit!

Haven’t eaten but vomiting!

Clamped mouth shut.

Fuck, don’t puke.

Go back down!

Nothing in stomach, damn!

Ah.

Passing.

Nausea subsiding.

Removed hands and knelt.

“Haah, haah, hoo. Ha.”

Mind spinning.

Killed… three people.

No, four.

No, five.

……Killed five.

In this store.

…No.

Don’t mistake.

Keep mistaking – focus.

They’re not human.

Not human.

“Hoo… hoo…”

Gripped shelf, stood with spear.

“Hoo… hoo…”

So-eun still whimpering.

Focus.

It’s over.

Just need to leave now.

“Hoo… hueep!”

Get a grip!

Pulled spear.

Thud!

Something hits door.

…Fuck, suit guy’s head.

Still stuck on spear.

Told the sisters:

“…Don’t look.”

Ye-eun nods, pale-faced, burying So-eun’s head.

Pushed door while pulling spear.

Squelch!

Spear comes free.

“Hoo, haah…”

…Done.

It’s over.

Mentally exhausted.

Can’t think anymore.

Killed five in one day.

Never imagined.

…This’ll cause trauma…

Tapped forehead with fist.

Get a grip.

Focus.

I survived. Just think that.

I’m alive.

“Sss… hoo.”

Deep breath, then looked at girls.

They’re shocked too.

Ye-eun saw everything.

I said:

“…Let’s go. Home.”