7. Acceleration Utilization (1)

By noon, I’d fully recovered.

Realized while resting – didn’t level up after killing that bastard earlier.

…Seems leveling only works with beasts.

Damn.

What a shame.

Could’ve leveled up endlessly killing those roach-like bastards picking fights everywhere.

Went downstairs – huge pot of tuna kimchi stew boiling.

Smells incredible.

Sitting with five people, I realized:

…Five people eat a lot.

Must’ve used half a cabbage just for the stew. Plus other ingredients.

Three meals a day like this…

…That’s substantial.

Would burn through 10kg of rice in a week.

Explains why parents venture out for supplies despite the danger.

Hmm……

Not planning to stay here long anyway.

Will leave once strong enough.

Need to find family and get a bow or crossbow.

To survive the apocalypse, must be fully equipped to handle those beasts.

…But…

What about Halmae and the others when I leave?

They’d struggle without me.

But Suhyeon…

Too valuable to leave.

Mechanical engineering knowledge, handles batteries and equipment well.

Makes level-headed judgments about our situation.

Very useful.

…Maybe take Suhyeon with me.

Pondered this over lunch.

Too early for decisions.

I’m still too weak.

After eating, laid out weapons in attic:

Two tomahawks.

One large axe.

Two swords.

Extendable baton.

Good collection.

Hmm… what to take?

Sheathed one sword, tomahawk on opposite hip.

Big axe hits hard but too slow.

Suhyeon boarding up windows when I descended:

“Leaving now?”

“Yeah. Need wire and nails? Grab anything useful.”

“Oppa.”

Turned on stairs.

She leaned on railing watching me:

“Don’t forget tonight. Be careful.”

…Bitch.

Gonna fuck you good.

Chuckled and exited.

Time to level up.

Stopped at convenience store before hardware store.

Corpse pile by storage room.

How many did I…? Killed a fuckton.

…The smell.

Rotting corpses…

Like spoiled vinegar mixed with rancid fish – vile, nose-stabbing stench.

Pinched nose, examined storage.

This place could be useful.

…Lure them again?

But… the door…

Hinges nearly ripped from wall.

…No.

Too unstable.

Turned toward distant hardware store.

Store itself is fine.

Turned two people inside into corpses already, just need to grab supplies.

Problem: adjacent hair salon.

Mixed-use building → McDonald’s → Salon → Hardware store. Fuckingly enough, beasts increase toward hardware store.

Mixed-use building is worst.

No, maybe the mart is worse?

Similar threat levels.

Could handle it at higher levels, but long way to go.

Storage door’s busted – can’t reuse lure tactic.

Stuck… damn.

…Alright.

Let’s do this.

Hand on sword hilt, exited to street.

Cars jam-packed.

Mixed-use building across.

Ducked between vehicles, moving along centerline.

Passed McDonald’s.

No cars.

Salon next door.

At least ten beasts inside.

Peeked – one male stylist, rest female staff/clients.

Former staff/clients.

Ten standing.

Probably more downed.

Watched from car’s cover.

Broad daylight – any movement risks detection.

Just observed.

Occasional head turns.

Sometimes body shifts.

Not completely static then.

Waited ten minutes.

Knee on concrete aching.

…Finally movement.

Female beast turns away.

…Now.

Acceleration!

[Auto-cast: Acceleration]

Dashed from car to hardware store.

Salon beasts frozen like mannequins.

Grabbed door entering:

“Haa, huu.”

-Ding!-

…!

Doorbell!

Drew sword turning:

*Shing!*

Dammit, why grab door?!

Fuck, so stupid!

Knew about the bell!

Waited.

Kept waiting.

Watched outside.

…Nothing.

…Bell’s not loud enough.

“…Haa…”

Fuck.

…Gotta be careful.

Grabbed bell wires, sliced with sword.

Fucking bell.

Set it on counter carefully.

Checked store.

No beasts inside?

Must stay alert.

Always alert.

Zombie movies teach one thing – reckless idiots die first.

Won’t be me.

Been here before, but kept guard up, sword ready.

…Just two corpses on floor.

“…Huu…”

Good.

Clear.

Gathered nails, wire, hammer, saw.

Hardware’s heavy.

Can’t carry much.

Especially for what’s next.

Filled backpack a third full, sat down.

Corpses nearby, but dim lighting makes this decent resting spot.

…Stench is awful.

Like the convenience store – rotting flesh smell…

Medieval plagues spread from corpses, right?

…Disease…

…Hmm…

Should hit a pharmacy next.

But fuck this smell.

Rotting corpses.

Can’t get used to it.

Closed space might’ve suffocated me.

“Tch.”

Pinched nose, waited two hours.

…Acceleration restored.

Three uses.

Rose carefully, exited store.

Salon entrance right beside hardware store.

Glass door in face.

Frosted coating covers lower half – upper half visible.

Bent low, set bag down.

Drew sword slowly.

*Shing*

Grabbed arched handle, pulled slowly.

Door creaked open.

No beasts looking this way.

Must stay unseen.

Stay unseen!

Sword ready, nerves taut, kept pulling.

*Ding* – door fully open.

“…Haa…”

Quiet breath.

From outside saw mostly ajumma clients, younger staff.

Large salon.

…Tomahawk…

Ready it.

Sword in left.

Tomahawk in right.

Deep breath, charged in.

“Hup!”

Entrance!

Beast right there!

Slammed tomahawk down.

*Thunk!*

“Krak?!”

As head-crushed beast fell, all turned.

Acceleration!

[Auto-cast: Acceleration]

“Ka-a-a-“

Mouths slowly opening.

Arms slowly rising.

Dropped tomahawk.

Two-handed sword grip, charged slowed beasts.

*Thunk!*

Ajumma – head one!

Nearby staffer!

*Thunk!*

Head two!

Ajumma rising from floor!

Perm cap on head – mid-treatment!

*Thunk!*

Head three!

“-a-rak!”

Acceleration!

[Auto-cast: Acceleration]

Ajumma at mirror!

*Thunk!*

Head four!

Blood droplets in slow motion – surreal firework display.

In this dreamlike space, sheathed sword and fled.

Grabbed bag –

“-ka-ak!”

Fuck, Acceleration!

[Auto-cast: Acceleration]

“-ra—a—-“

Ran bag in hand.

Ducked between cars, sprinting.

Fuck, crouch-running destroys my back!

Gonna throw it out, damn!

Screeches behind.

“-a-rak!”

*Crash!*

Glass shattering.

Kept running – weaving between vehicles.

Avante, Genesis, 5-ton truck!

[Level increased by 5]

Thundering footsteps.

Growling roars.

Echoing behind.

But fading.

With each step, distance grows.

They’ve lost me!

*Crash! Bang!* – beasts hitting cars.

Too late.

Already near convenience store.

“Haa! Haa! Hk! Haa!”

Fuckers.

Try finding me now, morons.

“Haa, huu, huu, haa.”

Peeked from delivery truck cover.

Distant growling.

…Far enough.

“…Huu…haa…”

Rose slowly, entered alley beside store.

…Done.

Safe now.

Leaned on stone wall, observed street.

Beasts wandering distantly.

“…Huu…”

Wonder what happens to roaming beasts. Keep wandering? Enter random buildings?

Or return home?

…Time to go.

No Acceleration left.

Staying out unprotected is risky.

Not the time for experiments.

Turned toward boarding house.

…Plan succeeded.