From the top of a high-rise building, I surveyed the surroundings.
I discovered an interesting thing in the past few hours, monsters were not aggressive everywhere. And some places had more monsters than others.
The sun has already set far down the horizon. I am now just basking in dazzling silver light of the moon, the stars glowing brighter than ever before. Absence of the city light is letting this mystic canvas shine.
The starry-sky is truly mesmerizing.
I have seen extensive group of people entering the subway. Kind of feel worried for the duckling and the others. In an apocalypse, I fear human more than any other beast.
I hope they can manage themselves. Worry tugged me to go back but, I can't babysit them, not when I can't be sure I will be alive to see the next second
Shaking my head, I move on.
Now it's becoming more apparent. They appear to be multiplying in an astonishing rate. I have also encountered higher grade monster through they seem to ignore me.
I look at the sky -almost mid-night.
"Status"
[Personal Information]
Name: Kim Seojin
Age: 14
Sponsor: None
Exclusive Attributes: Blessed by Imaginary (Heroic), Fantasist (General), Reason (Rare), Raging Flames (Rare), Foreigner (Unique), and Mass Murderer (General).
Exclusive Skills: Analysis Lv5, Instinct Lv5, Continuation Lv. 3,Sword proficiency lv. 5, Mana Sense lv 4, Silent Steps lv 2, Keen hearing Lv. 1
Overall Stats: Physique Lv. 10, Strength Lv. 10, Agility Lv. 10, Magic Power Lv. 10
Coin: 11000c
*Dokkaebi growth bundle is active.
*Startup growth bundle is active.
Honestly I am glad I activated those growth bundles. The effects were immediate.
In just a few hours of fighting I got 2 new skills and leveled up others.
It feels ecstatic to bask in the mid night wind. My hair fluttering by the wind.
I watch the surrounding; I want to see, what happen if I don't go to the subways before midnight.
I don't think it would me that much if I don't get the reward.
It's better to know what the consequence of … not following the predetermined path is.
I wait, staring at the sky.
My heart is pounding against my ribs.
[Constellations are curious why you are not going inside.]
I smiled at the massage.
Then it appeared.
[You failed to get underground before midnight; as such you failed the scenario]
Sparks of lightning crackled through the air.
Dokkaebi
"We got ourselves a rebellious one?"
I stare at the thing.
Body tenses up.
Trying to keep a calm façade, I just shrug
"Quiet one?" after a second it continuous "You know you failed a scenario." It says with a mischievous smile.
"And?" I stare at it.
"The constellations are curious, why?"
"Why what?"
I see it glaring at me.
"Don't 'why what' me, you know what I'm asking"
I tilt my head and look at him like one would give an idiot.
"Sorry dude - can't read minds."
I could feel the anger radiating from him.
"Just answer the damn question"
Blink.
"What question?"
It finally snapped
"STOP PLAYING WITH ME!"
[Sponsored 200c]
I just stared, "why you getting mad? Ask the question."
It just stares. If stares could kill, I would be dead by now.
"Why did you not enter the safe place?"
I let out a breath.
"You should have asked that at the start."
"Well it's obvious"
"Have you seen the massages from half the constellations?"
It pauses for a moment.
"....Fair enough"
"So why?" it asked again.
It's sad. I want to lead it by its nose again, but that would be kicking my own balls.
If my understanding is correct, he sets the scenarios.
But he can't kill as he wishes, or at least not when the channel is on.
That's another reason why I staged that.
"The wind felt calming."
"That's it?"
I gave him a look that said 'obviously'
It didn't even continue, it just left.
[You encountered a hidden scenario]
[Hidden scenario – Survive the first night]
[Category – Hidden]
[Difficulty – A+]
[Clear condition – You are not allowed to enter any safe zone. You are not allowed to hide.]
[Till limit – 6 hours]
[Compensation – 9000c]
[Failure –???]
Well…well….well
I read carefully.
That means around 6 am.
Well, let the hunt begin.
......
*pant *pant *pant
I am seriously regretting taking this scenario.
Gulp*
I throw the empty water bottle away.
I am standing on pile of corpses of monsters. Surrounding me there are more pile of corpses of various grade 9s. My handy work. I also encountered grade 8s. Fortunately, none of the Grade 8 monsters appeared in groups.
[The insane one cheers you on.]
[The defender of youth is cheering your youth!]
[Sassy Blander likes the slaughter]
[Various constellations shows interest]
I feel like smashing everything in my sight.
Guess what I found out.
If a scenario doesn't have a coin event, you don't get coins.
Like what about my easy life?
If I knew this, I would have hunted more in the morning.
I swing my blades. Beautiful arcs of blood were imprinted on the floor.
"Life wouldn't be that easy now."
But it's not riddled with bad news.
[Silent steps lv 2 > 3]
[Instinct lv 5 > 6]
[Night vision lv 1]
And although I my sword proficiency didn't increase I feel like I can handle it better. I can also maneuver through monsters better. So it's not a total loss.
Also -
[Agility lv 10 > 14]
[Strength lv 10 > 15]
I need to find others ways to earn.
But that's –
I duck
For another
Slash
-Time.
I look at the blade. It is approaching the end of its service.
I wonder, I remember certain hero of justice reinforcing his blades, "Can I do it?"
I stare at the sky which is turning a lighter shade of navy.
"Almost over!"
Exhausted?
Yes.
But I couldn't but smile. I guess this is how the adventurers in felt after surviving a monster hunt.
An idea struck, I look at the monster corpses, could I do something with them?
But again, I am too exhausted to think of anything else. Another time.
My clothes were ruined….again.
I slowly walk toward jongno station,
…..
[You successfully cleared a hidden scenario]
[Received 9000c coins]
[Constellations were pleased with your performance]
[You received 1200c coins sponsorship]
…..
I walk through the station, my steps silent. At the far right, there was a separate section with tarps. Many were still asleep, some who were awake.
Few men were walking with bats or steel pipe. But due to my silent steps they seem to notice.
I wave at Park Sang-hoon. They were sitting around a pillar. Its was at a corner, away from others.
He was glaring dagger at me.
"Where have you been?"
Rough voice.
I was annoyed. And it was not hidden.
He continued, "Are you going to strike with that?"
It only now I notice, my hand had unconsciously gone on my hip.
"Unconscious response, fought whole night"
"I can tell."
It then fell into an awkward silence.
I sat down, blades in my arms, hilt beneath my chin
"Seo-jin was it?'
"hmm" Eyes still close I mumble.
"You know, everyone was worried, specially the little one."
I open my eyes to look at his face.
He continues," She was insistent that maybe something happened and go look for you as you weren't coming in by mid-night."
I look at the little girl now sleeping in Lee Eun-ji's embrace.
"When did she sleep?"
"around 4 "
I see him staring at the ground fiddling with his fingers. He took a big breath, puffing up his chest. He looked like he wanted to say something but then he shook he head as he let out a long sigh.
"Never mind, you must be tired. Take a nap."
"Call me if something happens."
I see him nod.
For some reason, I felt restless.
No not restless- maybe uncomfortable.
Like a lump at your throat that just doesn't go away.
Sigh*
Not long after, my breath evens out as I fall asleep.
…
I open my eyes feeling sharp gaze on me.
Glassy big round eyes
Pouting lips
Cheeks puffed
Angry?
Sad?
Blink
My head tilts slightly.
I notice her clutching my … what remains of my jacket.
Drowsiness slowly fades from my eyes.
She is trembling, very violently.
Her complexion looked pale.
Her eyes kept darting across the blood covering me.
Seeing her like this made my chest ache for some reason.
I put the blades to my side, and about to bring my arms out
-But paused.
I stare at my bloody hands, my clothes covered in blood.
But she took the opening before I could think further.
Puff.
I blinked down at the girl now attached to me. I see her scratching her head. She drove head first into my chest. My chest is hard as a wall with Lv10 physique.
A laugh almost came out of me.
I stare at the girl. Honestly, with how tightly she was clinging to me, I almost wanted to jokingly call her a koala
To tell her-
I am fine
It not my blood
How stronger I am
Maybe crack some joke.
Anything to lighten the mood.
But then—
I felt dampness soaking into my chest. Her shoulders trembling.
I wanted to say something
A lot of things
Yet none of the words came out.
My mouth opened repeatedly,
But no sound followed.
In the end, I simply wrap my arms around her.
Occasionally, rubbing on top of her head.
After a while, her trembling slowly eased.
Even then, her fingers still dug tightly into my clothes
Hers eyes were bloodshot, eyes swollen from crying.
Silent
Head lowered.
I hate silence like these.
I look at the others for help; but they only stared back at me like I was some irredeemable villain.
Normally, I wouldn't care
But now –
It felt awful.
"W-where were you?"
Her voice was asked in a tiny, tearful voice, the words trembling between soft sobs.
"You said you would come by mid-night...."
The last words cracked apart as she struggled to hold back her crying.
She looked up at me with nothing but pure concern.
This hurt even more.
I would feel better if she was angry.
But those pure - glassy eyes, made me feel guilty.
"..,so..s…, got stuck fighti....." I whisper, I couldn't face her. I try to escape by looking down but she's there.
I couldn't gather strength to say sorry. I understood she was hurt, worried for me.
And I AM sorry.
But, I just don't have the strength to.
But then immediately face of Ji-yoon came to mind.
My breath became uneven, almost chocking.
With bare desperate attempt and sheer will power.
"…..sorry."
Shoulders slummed
My whole body covered in sweat.
"I was… busy fighting."
"You're not hurt, are you? "She asked as she frantically checked me, where clothes had claw marks or torn for injury.
"No. of course not. "
I gave an exhausted smile
"I am strong."
She bobbed her head immediately, as if my word was absolute truth. Humming each time she bobbed
I just smile at her antics.
Sigh.
My whole body felt heavy—
Yet strangely relieved.
Inside, though, guilt lingered.
Of course I was hurt.
That was why my clothes were torn apart with claw marks in the first place.
But-
they are already healed.
There was no need to make her worry any more than she already did.
I look toward the others, they were smiling.
Frown.
"where are your supplies, better yet, your weapons?!"