8. Long-Term Battle (2)

Found medical supply containers in the pharmacy’s back and made a simple first aid kit.

Bandages, adhesive bandages, medical tape, ointment, antibiotics.

Closed the palm-sized case and shoved it into my backpack’s utility pocket.

Learned something while making the kit – pharmacies sell all sorts nowadays.

Even fitness gear.

Stared at a lifting belt – seemed useful so took one.

Could adjust the size, add hooks – perfect for hanging weapons.

Would make a great utility belt.

Weightlifting gloves… wrist support? Hmm.

Jump ropes too. Don’t need those.

What is this place? A pharmacy or sporting goods store?

Packed the bag full with Bacchus drinks, various medicines, and the sanitary pads Ye-eun requested.

Heavy now.

Spent too much time shopping.

Hmm… One more hour and I’d recover another Acceleration…

Might as well go.

Only two at the chicken shop anyway.

Set my bag down outside the chicken shop entrance.

Peeked inside…

…Three actually.

…Positions changed.

The kitchen guy now stands at the entrance, a fat delivery worker stares at the menu board.

And a woman by what’s probably the restroom entrance.

…Where’d she come from…

Owners maybe?

Was she lying down before?

Damn.

…Three targets.

…One Acceleration.

…No.

Not worth the risk.

Stronger now, but still weak.

Need more growth.

Returned to the pharmacy quietly.

Drank a Bacchus from the beverage section and sighed.

…Damn.

Want to get stronger.

Ambushes are fine, but I want to storm in and wipe them all out.

“Haah.”

Weak.

I’m weak.

Can’t forget that.

No idea what happens if they bite me.

Grabbed another Bacchus and went behind the counter.

Left my bag there – nobody’s gonna steal it.

Wait it out.

After an hour, Acceleration recharged.

Two charges now.

Good.

Drew my sword and exited.

*Swoosh*

Silent streets.

Bright streetlights illuminating the quiet night.

Took a deep breath and kicked the chicken shop door open.

“Graah?!”

Fat delivery guy.

Woman.

Kitchen man.

Acceleration!

[Auto-cast: Acceleration]

“Graa—aa—-“

Stabbed through the fat one’s head.

*Crunch*

Yanked it out, leaped to skewer the woman’s skull.

*Crunch*

*Thud!*

“–argh!”

Acceleration!

[Auto-cast: Acceleration]

Past the collapsing woman – the kitchen man.

Side-stepped and thrust.

“Hup!”

*Crunch*

Pierced from temple to occipital bone.

Yanked it out.

*Thwack*

“…Huu!”

Stepped back.

Slow motion.

Blood droplets floating like slime.

Jiggling, wobbling.

“–argh!”

All three collapsed simultaneously.

*Crash!*

Blood sprayed everywhere.

“Tch.”

Got some on my face, damn.

[Level increased by 3]

Done.

Wiped my sword on the woman’s pants and looked around.

Chicken shop… anything worth taking?

…Maybe some frozen chicken.

Halmae wanted meat.

“…Hmm…”

Opened the large freezer – stacks of packaged chicken.

Wings only, legs only, various cuts.

Took four whole chickens – decent weight.

7? 8 kilos maybe.

Chicken stew tomorrow morning then.

Time to return.

Back at the boarding house, knocked and dumped everything in the main room.

Frozen chicken, pads, pain patches, digestive meds, cold medicine, birth control, bandages – everything spilled out.

Clothes during day, chicken and meds at night.

Leveled up decently too.

The girls brightened up.

Ye-eun blushed while taking some pads. So-eun followed suit.

Suhyeon massaged my shoulders approvingly.

Halmae seemed happiest.

“My knees have been awful – thank you, dear.”

Already applying joint pain patches happily.

“Seong… Seonghoon-ssi.”

Ye-eun glanced at Suhyeon before calling me.

“Huh? What?”

“Outside… how is it?”

Outside…

The blood on me probably gives it away.

Scratched my chin.

“Cleared several small shops nearby. Clothing store, corner mart, pharmacy are safe. Streets quieter than expected. Other side still dangerous.”

“…Ah…”

Ye-eun nodded.

I smiled.

“Wanna go out?”

She shook her head quickly.

So-eun’s eyes widened as she also shook her head.

Their convenience store trauma’s still fresh.

Suhyeon spoke up:

“I want to go. Need to visit the hardware store. How’s that area?”

I shook my head.

“Too dangerous. More than you’d think. Stay put for now. I’ll tell you when it’s safe.”

Suhyeon stuck out her tongue and dropped it.

She hasn’t been outside since the outbreak.

No fear.

Can’t risk losing her.

Opened the lifting belt packaging and handed it to Suhyeon.

“Think you can modify this?”

Suhyeon examined it curiously.

“Want to hang swords and stuff on it. Possible?”

She nodded after some thought.

“Just need to add hooks. Have some thick wire left. Just need scabbard attachments. Give it here.”

“Thanks.”

She handles all the tedious tasks.

Could do the hooks myself, but her help’s appreciated.

She’s been single-handedly fortifying the house too – invaluable.

Went upstairs to wash off blood and collapsed on bedding.

Still smell like blood somehow.

“Status.”

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

The Chosen One

[Specialization – Time Adjuster] [Level – 36]

[Title – Civilian]

Status

[Vitality – 23/23] [Perception – 2/2]

[Strength – 7/7] [Agility – 4/4]

[Spirit – 17/17] [Intelligence – N/A]

[Allocation Points – 6]

Skills

[Active – Acceleration] (Auto-cast active)

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

Oh…

Six points.

Where to allocate?

3 to Spirit first for 4 Accelerations.

Hmm…

4 Accelerations…

Need to strategize.

Current tactic: hit-and-run.

Small groups can be wiped with Acceleration, but hordes require retreat.

Need at least 1 Acceleration to disengage.

So 3 charges for assault.

2-3 seconds per kill.

…5-6 kills in 15 seconds.

Strength 7 suffices for now.

3 to Vitality for 26.

At 30 Vitality, recovery rate matches drain. More leeway.

Wish recovery was faster… but this’ll do.

30 Vitality, moderate Strength.

Rest into Spirit for maximum Accelerations.

Done.

Time to sleep.

* * *

Breakfast was good.

Halmae and Ye-eun made braised chicken with two birds – all five of us ate well. Ye-eun’s learned cooking well.

Full and happy, headed out.

Suhyeon took the lifting belt and a sword – should have it ready today.

Seems like a good day ahead.

Thought this while approaching the mart…

…He’s not here.

The large man – late again?

What the fuck.

His idea to meet, now he’s MIA.

Hot morning sun. Damn midsummer.

Took a choco-bar from the mart’s freezer.

Gangster corpses still there – stinky but bearable with the breeze.

If he’s not here by the time I finish, I’m going solo.

Cold and sweet – nice.

Halfway through, heard footsteps.

Tossed the half-eaten bar aside, hand on sword.

The large man approaching slowly.

Fucker’s late and just sauntering?

…Looks rough.

Like he downed ten soju bottles then slept in it.

And where’s the axe I gave him?

What’s his deal?

“…Ah, hello.”

He noticed me and bowed awkwardly.

“You’re late.”

“…Yeah… there was… a suicide…”

…What?

“…Suicide? Who?”

“Well…”

His face twisted as he covered his eyes and started sobbing.

…The hell?

Morning drama suddenly?

You needed diapers.

Tears streaming, he said:

“…Everything’s… too much.”

…Ah…

Fucking hell.

“Look, mister. No idea what you’re saying. Don’t need diapers anymore? If not, I’m going solo.”

“P-please.”

He grabbed my wrist desperately.

Tear-streaked, snotty face with sleep crust, greasy unwashed hair, scruffy beard – total hobo.

And he stinks.

Wash up.

“What.”

Pulled free and asked.

“C-could you come with me? Just briefly?”

…Haah…

…Need to level up, fucker.

“Please, I’m begging you. Please?”

Looked up at the sky.

Glanced at neighboring houses.

Stared at the ground.

Rolling my eyes.

Annoying and unwanted.

He’s nearly kneeling, clutching my hand – unwashed and gaunt like he hasn’t eaten.

What’s so urgent?

“…Fine. Where to.”

“Th-thank you. Thank you.”

Color returning to his face, he led me into an alley.

Past several houses to his place – similar layout to our boarding house.

Two units on first floor, one on second.

No attic though.

Standard neighborhood house.

*Creak*

Opened the gate – stench hit me.

…Corpse smell.

Mixed with something else.

Piss and shit?

“Who died here?”

Asked while grimacing.

He looked down gloomily and opened a first-floor door – equivalent to Suhyeon’s room.

…A woman hung from the bathroom door.

Used rope on the knob, probably squatted to strangle herself.

Waste leaked from below.

“…Those bastards… used her daily… After you killed them… she… last night…”

……Fucking hell.

He continued:

“…When it all started, they begged to be let in… I opened up. That night… landlord and grandson got beaten to death. This college girl… they took her… day and night…”

…Don’t want to hear this.

Seeing my silence, he added:

“I have… wife and baby… was scared they’d hurt them… complied to protect them…”

…Ah, so that’s why he was alone at the mart with a monkey wrench.

He opened the neighboring door.

More shit stench.

Inside, an emaciated housewife held a baby.

Shit-stained diapers piled in corners – reused multiple times.

She looked at me.

…A corpse would have more life than that.

Eyes unfocused, face like a grayscale photo.

Tears fell as he said:

“…Too… too hard. Can’t… take it anymore…”

Between corpse stench, waste odor, sobbing man and lifeless woman.

I stood there.

Going insane.

What the fuck am I supposed to do.