Chapter 20: Chapter 20

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

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Chapter 20: One-on-One (5)

"Lee Eunho, why don’t you have much stuff? Are you, like, a minimalist or something?"

I’ve never been one to buy a lot of things.

Not because I’m some lofty minimalist or anything.

I’ve switched jobs as often as rental contracts expire, and I’ve moved frequently.

It just felt wrong to keep accumulating new stuff.

I also didn’t like the idea of paying expensive rent just to store clutter.

So, I developed a habit of buying only what I truly needed.

And yet—

‘This is my first time buying something like this.’

I never imagined it.

That I would one day buy moldy bread to use as a gift.

But—

[A gift has been received from the recipient 'Choi Jaehyuk'!]

At least the biggest problem was solved.

Spreading the rules and strategies of this mission to the others.

[The 'Raven of the Administration Bureau' marvels at your unique use of the gift system.]

[An anonymous observer smiles contentedly, taking credit for your ingenuity.]

…Although it introduced a new problem, the mission came first.

“Confirm.”

Feeling a smug satisfaction as I suppressed the upward tug of my lips, I inspected the letter and box forming before my eyes.

Flaaash!

As I touched the angular envelope, it seemed to sprout like a seedling and unfolded its limbs outward.

──── ────

To: Lee Eunho

From: Choi Jaehyuk

Subject: Bro, are you okay? I seriously thought I was done for. Some weird monster fell straight from the sky, and no matter how many times I—

──── ────

“No matter how many times I” — and it trailed off like the title of a forgotten song.

It wasn’t an attempt to create suspense, nor was it some sort of artistic ellipsis.

There must’ve been a character limit.

Good thing I had compressed my message as much as possible.

Otherwise, I might’ve left out something crucial.

"I hope Jieun received hers as well."

With mixed relief and concern, I opened the box Jaehyuk had sent.

Scraaape.

The box, which felt like glass but opened smoothly, revealed its contents.

"Ugh…"

Sour milk.

So old that the white fermentation had coagulated into lumpy, unidentifiable solids.

【'The 'Prince of the Investigation Bureau' shakes his head at the mysterious culinary preferences of District 13.】

【'The 'Raven of the Administration Bureau' urges you to drink it quickly.】

“Store!”

I didn’t even want to touch it, so I tossed it into my inventory before shaking my head.

At that moment, the mission announcement blared.

[The final mission will begin in 10 seconds.]

This is the last chance.

I need to finish quickly and rescue the child.

Though I couldn’t see them, I felt certain that Jieun and Jaehyuk, who had also received my gifts, were thinking the same.

[Mission failure penalty: Greater Demon evolves into Titan Demon.]

I was equally certain they were as worried about the penalty.

Titan Demon…

Would it just be bigger?

Even the Greater Demon in the second loop had been larger than me.

[Final mission starting.]

[Defeat the Titan Demon!]

Sigh.

Letting out a brief breath, I bent my knees, widening my stance to lower my center of gravity.

Standing beneath the distorted space,

— Ssssssss!

A dark energy, somewhere between liquid and gas, filled the ceiling before vomiting out a massive form.

The Titan Demon fell straight toward my head.

Ordinarily, I’d dodge—but—

“Petrification! Summon!”

With my petrified hands, I gripped the electricity-charged blade and raised it high above my head.

In a split second—or rather, a fraction of one.

‘I have to finish this in one go.’

—Thud! Crackle! ZZZZTTTTTT!

[Activating 'Electric Discharge'!]

[Remaining uses: 4.]

As the Titan Demon descended, I thrust the sword up into its groin.

GAAAAAAAHHHH!

Reeling from unfathomable pain, the Titan Demon released its grip on the massive mace it held.

CRAAAASH!

Its thick hide desperately tried to shield its life, but—

The electrified blade, now blazing, sank deeper into the monster’s body.

—Spurt!

Splatter.

The giant corpse twitched, split in half.

Crimson blood poured like a waterfall, but I had neither the time nor the inclination to admire it.

[You have defeated the Titan Demon!]

[Train No. 18 cleared.]

09:45

Next up, Train No. 17.

This time, I’ll accelerate.

* * *

Switching between Petrification and acceleration, I managed to endure their cooldown times.

Petrification. Accelerate. Petrification. Accelerate. Petrification.

"Faster than the second loop!"

Without acceleration, I was slow; without Petrification, I couldn’t wield the electrified sword.

During the second loop, I had nearly wasted time waiting for cooldowns.

“Summon the Blue Iron Sword!”

When Petrification was active, I used the Blade-tipped sword.

When it wasn’t, I used Lee Yeji’s sword.

【Anonymous observer is satisfied with the subject 'Lee Eunho's' monopoly on weapons.】

‘Bringing that sword was a godsend.’

Thanks to Lee Yeji’s sword, I saved a significant amount of time.

Moreover, instructing the civilians to hide outside the train, as the foul-mouthed old man had suggested, paid off—they obediently stayed put, preventing any casualties.

When I finally dealt with the Titan Demon in Train No. 13, where Yoon Sola was—

Tick.

The foolish demon, oblivious to its imminent death, dropped its mace mid-swing.

[A gift has been received from the recipient 'Kim Jieun'!]

[Would you like to check it?]

Jieun had replied.

With what used to be a pair of dingy socks.

──── ────

To: Lee Eunho

From: Kim Jieun

Subject: Cleared Cars 1-3. Helping up to Car 6, then heading back. Stay safe!

──── ────

‘Jieun, you’re safe.’

Relief washed over me.

Her senses may not be the fastest, but she could have caught on somehow.

After all, Jieun was second only to me in the TF for taking down zombies.

She had a surprising knack for combat, too.

「08:20」

We were moving faster than planned, leaving over eight minutes to spare.

Even accounting for her return, Jieun helping clear up to Car 6 made me feel more at ease.

So this is what it’s like to have a reliable teammate.

— Clatter!

“This pace is good. I can do this.”

Confidence and relief grew with the increasing speed.

That is, until I reached Car 12 and stood before the door of Car 11, which I hadn’t reached in my second run.

“!!”

A pungent smell of blood overwhelmed me as soon as I opened the door.

After the smell came the sight: the hallway was smeared with flesh and blood.

A barely recognizable black uniform hinted at the identity of the corpse.

It was the grumbling man who’d been paired with the father and daughter in a previous mission.

He seemed to have been crushed under a monster falling from the ceiling, unable to escape in time.

— KREEEAAAH!

“…Accelerate.”

Forcing my mouth to move, I dealt with the lunging demon and pressed on to Car 10.

Before I could fully process the bitter feeling, I encountered another body.

“….”

In Car 10, there lay broken glasses.

In Car 9, an ID card poked out of a pool of blood, identifying the victim whose face had been smashed by a mace.

【'‘The Raven of the Administration Bureau’ clicks their tongue at the weak.】

【'‘The Prince of the Investigation Bureau’ argues that this is normal.】

“…Shut up.”

I couldn’t stop the curse from slipping out.

The crushed corpse, mangled under a demon, seemed to represent all of us—lives built with effort, crushed in a day by this system.

And the observers above, laughing at the carnage, fueled my anger.

【An anonymous observer warns that your statement is dangerous.】

【‘The Prince of the Investigation Bureau’ is outraged by your insolence.】

Angry reactions poured in, but…

“Fuck you.”

I had no intention of playing along anymore.

— Tap!

My legs hesitated amidst the horrifying scene, but I opened the door anyway.

I had to move forward.

I had to survive.

And… I had to save the others still alive.

— Slash!

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

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I rushed toward the demon baring its jagged mouth and struck with my sword.

I slashed and slashed again.

The sword bit into its tough hide until it exposed its black and white bones.

Clearing my mind, I let momentum guide me forward.

Before I knew it, Car 7 came into view.

Soon, I’d reach Car 6, where Jieun had said she’d assist.

If I met her, it would mean the entire train was cleared.

Killing the demon in Car 7, I prepared to advance one last time.

— Clatter!

“Huh?”

The demon in Car 7 was already dead.

A broken seat, a bloodied armrest.

The monster’s leg was severed, and its head was crushed by what seemed to be a blunt weapon.

A weapon capable of such damage…

“Jaehyuk!”

— Tap!

The first person besides me to take down a demon.

It felt like finding another survivor on a deserted ocean.

I hurriedly opened the door to Car 6 and rushed in.

And then—

— Clang!

The demon’s mace clashed against Jaehyuk’s armor, ringing out a metallic sound.

The sword that should have been in his hand lay far from him on the ground.

“You must survive! You have to see your daughter again!”

“Ugh, but it’s because of me that you’re in this danger…”

— Clang! Clang! Clang!

Jaehyuk, unarmed except for his armor, dodged the blows while protecting the man behind him.

He had been a shield earlier when we were fighting zombies, and now he was bravely blocking the attacks again.

“Yes! That’s right!”

“Oh, you saved us earlier…”

“Indeed!”

The other man seemed on the verge of tears, making Jaehyuk’s resolve look even more determined.

Before it could turn tragic, I jumped in.

Planting my feet firmly, I drove my sword deep into the demon’s back.

— ZZZZZT!

[‘Electric Discharge’ activated!]

[Remaining uses depleted.]

[Demon defeated!]

“Hyung!”

“Sir!”

The two looked at me like I was a lifeline dropped from the heavens.

“Hyuuuuung!”

“Jaehyuk. Did you see Jieun?”

“Jieun-noona?”

Jaehyuk’s wide eyes and shaking head told me he hadn’t.

Strange.

Jieun had said she’d clear up to Car 6 and then return.

‘Did something go wrong?’

A chill ran down my spine as unease crept in.

Just then—

“Aaaaahhhh!”

A piercing scream rang out from beyond the glass door.

* * *

Opening the door to Car 5, I saw a demon perched atop broken seats.

In its hand was the nape of a schoolgirl, suspended in midair.

“Oh my! She’s been caught!”

“Stay calm! I’ll save her!”

Jieun’s voice trembled with none of the calm she demanded, her feet shuffling in place beside a panicked cleaning lady.

“P-please… save me…”

With a face that was anything but calm, Jieun was telling everyone to stay calm, while the cleaning lady was anxiously pacing back and forth.

"Pl-please save me..."

In her hands, she was holding onto the trembling friend of Yoon Sola, a short student who was pale and shivering.

She wanted to scream, but seemed to be holding her mouth shut, worried that it might provoke the demon.

Thud.

"Her shoe..."

"Shh, quiet!"

In the meantime, one of the girl's shoes, suspended in mid-air, fell onto the demon's foot.

Heeek—!

It seemed like the demon had hurt his neck, as he slowly lowered his head, making only a sound like wind whistling.

In the tense atmosphere, where even his hair seemed to stand on end:

"Heeek..."

The student, her face filled with fear, silently shed tears.

"Ha, student! What should we do?!"

"Mr. Song! Shh!"

Heeek—!

The distance from the demon was less than three meters.

If I used my acceleration skill, I could rush in and grab her...

"Acceleration!"

[Cooldown: 43 seconds, 42 seconds, 41 seconds...]

"Damn it!"

"I'll go...!"

"No, not you, Jaehyuk!"

It was too dangerous.

I stopped Jaehyuk, who was pulling out his sword.

"If you swing that large sword, you might accidentally cut the student!"

The demon must be aware of that, which is why he’s holding her like a shield.

"H-hyung! What should we do?!"

"39, 38, 37 seconds... We need to wait for the cooldown."

I gripped my sword tightly, intending to wait until the cooldown was over and then take action.

— Tap!

Jieun, who had been keeping her lips tightly shut, stepped forward.

She held a sword with a sharp blade in her left hand, and in her right hand, a dagger.

"Lower your head!"

Is she planning to throw it?

'This is dangerous!'

"Jieun! If you miss, the student will be in danger!"

I yelled urgently, but by then, Jieun's dagger was already cutting through the air, heading straight for the demon.

— Swoosh!

It flew in a straight line, unwavering, its trajectory ending exactly at the demon’s heart.

However...

— Swiik.

It seemed the demon had thought ahead, as he moved the girl to his chest, as if using her as a shield.

"Kyaaahh!"

"No!!!"

The student's scream as she saw the blade heading straight for her head.

Jieun's cry of horror.

This was bad.

Taat!

I sprinted, ignoring the acceleration, but the dagger, as fast as an arrow, barely missed my fingertips.

"Kyaaaahhh!"

And then...

— Pook!

It struck precisely in the demon’s forehead.

The entire length of the dagger, as long as an arm, embedded deeply into his skull.

"Kyaaaahhh! Someone, please save me! Kyaaahh... huh?"

— Squeak!

A thick stream of blood poured from where the dagger had struck, and the demon’s forehead split open.

"Did that just..."

"Did it curve?"

The dagger, which had been aimed at the student’s head, changed direction mid-flight.

So... the dagger, which had long since left Jieun’s hand, had changed course on its own.

"Did... I survive...?"

Thud!

The student, who had fallen from the demon’s grip, knelt down in relief, as if to give thanks.

"What is this...?"

Jieun, with a stunned face, alternated between looking at the student, who was crying and laughing, and her own hands, muttering two familiar words.

"Skill... Data?"

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

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