34. Daily Life. (2)

“Have a safe trip? Be careful with the car? Don’t get hurt?”

“Sure.”

She’s treating me like a child.

I looked down at So-hyeon, who was fastening my lifting belt around my waist, and chuckled.

“What do you want for dinner?”

“You can’t cook.”

“I learned from Ye-eun.”

So-hyeon punched my stomach lightly.

Her glare from below is quite cute.

I smiled and stroked So-hyeon’s belly.

“Cook whatever you want.”

“Wasabi soy sauce rice.”

…Hmm.

Is that even edible?

“Do you… eat that kind of thing?”

“Eeeng.”

This time, she kicked my shin.

I chuckled and left the house.

When I went downstairs, the women were bustling around.

It must be hot, so ice cream is popular.

But the ice cream will run out soon.

Maybe I should raid a nearby convenience store and stock up.

I’ll do it when I have some free time.

“I’ll be back.”

So-hyeon waved at me.

“Safe travels, sir!”

Mr. Hoon and his wife were coming out with a shopping cart and spotted me.

He waved enthusiastically, which is quite something.

Looking up at the rooftop, I saw Jun-hyuk and Tae-young, each with a rifle on their shoulder, watching me.

They can’t shout to me from there, so they waved, and I waved back.

I got on the bicycle and started pedaling.

The way to Seo-rae Village.

I’ve been commuting this route for a week now.

I can’t really tell if the bicycle is helping with my physical fitness. With the Level 100 Endurance achievement skill, I don’t get tired even after a long ride.

The government forces, or the Special Forces, have grown significantly due to their continuous rescue operations.

With a population of over 100, Seo-rae Village can now be considered a fairly large city in the current situation.

With the need for helicopters and light aircraft greatly reduced, Sergeant Song Gyu-tae, who has become the center of the operation, has been setting up large barricades around the motel block in Seo-rae Village.

They are using cars to block the alleys and spaces between buildings, and stacking materials from various sources to build the barricades.

It might be difficult to stop a full zombie wave with these barricades.

But we don’t need to hold out forever.

Zombie waves become active when noise is generated but calm down quickly when it’s quiet and eventually crawl away.

We just need to hold out until they calm down.

For that purpose, the barricades are quite well-built.

It will take more time to encircle all the blocks, but the work is progressing steadily.

By clearing nearby hotels, villas, and stores, I’ve also leveled up significantly.

Current level: 44.

Strength: 80.

Another 20 points, and the Strength achievement will unlock.

I crossed Banpo Bridge and entered Seo-rae Village.

A bus blocks the entrance.

It’s reinforced with welded metal chairs and tables, forming a sturdy barricade.

“Hey.”

Captain Kim, who was on guard, saw me and lowered the ladder.

I carried my bicycle and climbed the ladder.

“Seong-hun. Why don’t you just bring everyone over? Isn’t commuting inconvenient?”

I wiped the sweat from my forehead and chuckled.

“How’s the work going?”

“It’s going well.”

Captain Kim pointed to the end of the block.

At the barricade, built with cars and stacked materials, about thirty people were gathered.

They were all rescued civilians.

“The barricade has grown since last night. It wasn’t that high when I left.”

“Everyone is fighting for their lives. They’re struggling to survive. Oh, this.”

Captain Kim handed me a letter.

A pink piece of paper with a heart sticker.

“What is it?”

“One of the rescued kids saw you covered in blood and walking. After hearing your story, they wrote you a letter. Read it.”

I took the letter and opened it.

The messy handwriting read: “To the detective uncle.”

“Thank you, detective uncle.”

“Bad people tried to break into our house.”

“I was hungry.”

“Chocolate is delicious.”

“Bye.”

…Hmm.

Chocolate is delicious.

I smiled and put the letter in my back pocket.

“I’ll have to bring more chocolate.”

Captain Kim laughed and nodded.

“Right. Are you heading to the supermarket today?”

“Yes. If possible, I’ll clear everything around it. We don’t know how many more people we’ll rescue.”

“Right. You’re doing a great job. Thanks.”

“Sure. See you later.”

Let’s go.

Time to level up.

 * * *

Swoosh!

It charges at me with incredible speed.

The sword is in my hand.

As soon as I grip it, the Shadow Warrior dissipates into the air.

The supermarket is done.

Only the restroom remains.

I walked through the bodies on the floor and kicked open the restroom door with my shoulder.

Bang!

“Roar!”

Acceleration.

[Automatic Cast: Acceleration]

“Hiss!”

I swung the sword sideways.

Like a tiger stalking its prey, the slowed-down Human Beast grimaced without realizing its skull had been severed.

I beheaded and stabbed the other two and kicked open the remaining stalls.

Three of them, done.

The acceleration ended.

“–Roar!”

Thud.

Blood splattered.

The three fell with a loud thud.

“Phew.”

I took a short breath and turned my head.

[Level Up.]

“Status.”

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Chosen One

[Specialization – Shadow Warrior] [Level – 64]

[Title – Versatile]

Status

[Health – 82/100] [Senses – 100/100]

[Strength – 11/99] [Agility – 4/4]

[Spirit – 70/75] [Intelligence – N/A]

[Unassigned Points – 1]

Skills

[Passive – Soul Tattoo Lv. 3]

[Passive – Recovery]

[Passive – Limit Achievement]

[Active – Afterimage] (Automatic Cast)

[Active – Precision] (Automatic Cast)

[Active – Acceleration] (Automatic Cast)

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I immediately allocated 1 point to Strength, reaching 100.

Now, the achievement.

14. Strength 100 Achievement.

I gained a new skill.

I checked the Limit Achievement tab.

…Strength efficiency doubled.

I clenched my teeth.

With the Shadow Warrior, I can now kill 200 at once without acceleration.

My combat power has increased.

It’s rising noticeably.

I’m getting stronger.

I swung the sword to release the blood and sheathed it.

Swoosh-Click.

Time to go back.

As I walked to the government area of Seo-rae Village, Sung Ga-yeon, who was on guard, spotted me and smiled.

“You’re always covered in blood.”

I smiled and said,

“Yes. How’s your ankle now?”

Sung Ga-yeon wiggled her foot and showed it to me.

“How does it look?”

Hmm.

Looking up, the view is quite…

I chuckled but didn’t answer.

Sung Ga-yeon lowered the ladder and said,

“Seong-hun. There’s talk about going to Pyeongtaek. Are you going?”

“I have to.”

There’s no reason not to go if I can get weapons.

I want to get RPGs or bazookas to share with my family.

To blow up those Human Beasts and zombie waves.

Anti-personnel mines would be good too.

No, thinking about the swarming hordes, anti-tank mines might be a better choice.

I’ll crush them.

“When are you planning to go?”

“I’m not sure. It hasn’t been formally discussed yet. The Special Forces members are just talking about it.”

I turned to Sung Ga-yeon and asked,

“Is the survivor search over?”

Sung Ga-yeon tilted her head slightly and said,

“Not yet, but it’s getting harder to find people. They say there are almost no survivors in the apartment complex ahead.”

…Hmm.

If the survivor search is over, it’s about time.

I looked at the almost-fortified Seo-rae Village from behind the barricades.

Cars blocking the roads, alleys filled with stacked materials.

A truly apocalyptic scene.

Is this what post-apocalypse looks like?

I glanced at Sung Ga-yeon and said,

“I’ll head back now. It’s getting late.”

“Ah, Seong-hun.”

“Yes?”

Sung Ga-yeon smiled and said,

“I’d like to meet the people on your side. Can you introduce them to me sometime?”

I smiled and nodded.

“Sure. Our people are also quite curious about yours.”

Sung Ga-yeon chuckled.

“It’s such a strange thing to say, isn’t it? ‘Your people, our people.’ We weren’t like this until recently.”

I didn’t need to answer that.

I said as I descended the barricade,

“See you in the morning.”

“Good job.”

She waved and I crossed to the other side of the barricade.

Right.

There’s no more Korea now.

Only survivors remain among the monsters.

Thus, the third week of this peaceful daily life.

I achieved 100 Spirit.

The 100 Spirit achievement was quite different from what I expected.

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Passive – Limit Achievement

Health Achievement – The user’s physical abilities are enhanced.

Senses Achievement – Sensory efficiency doubles.

Strength Achievement – Strength efficiency doubles.

Spirit Achievement – Soul Stones are obtained in double the amount.

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…Double the Soul Stones?

Current Soul Stones: 7551.

…I really have killed a lot.

But to double that?

What are they used for, anyway?