NOVEL NEXT chapter 15
15 – It’s a Crime If I Do It
＜00:27＞
Even though we’re on the verge of the death stage, I feel more anticipation than tension.
Looking to the side, the sphere was falling below Ha-eun’s height.
“Wilson Captain is sweet even to babies!”
Ha-eun, familiarly touching the sphere, stared at the shimmering portal with sharp eyes.
Oh my, what’s with that gaze…
She’s probably more experienced than me, was I worrying for nothing?
-Kwueeek-!
“Ugh, those ugly ones are coming out again!”
‘hahahahaha, they’re calling them ugly. Even with full makeup, there’s no hope for that face.’
Cacang-cacang!
Oh my, two spider bosses right from the start.
– Kieeek!
There are more than 10 corrupted bosses for sure, and the numbers have definitely increased.
Without even signaling, everyone started dealing with the corrupted bosses first.
Dividing into teams of 2, 2, and 3 based on magical power, they began to eliminate them one by one, then shifted their gaze towards the spiders.
– Tingtung!
Far away, something resembling round blades flickered occasionally.
– Tungting!
There are one or two behind as well.
It might be tricky to shake them off. Hopefully, their intelligence is low.
“I’ll try to lure them towards the spiders!”
Okay!
Even if the ordinary zombies shield the spiders, they won’t be able to block the bullets fired successively by the seven of them.
“Oh, I’ve run out of stamina.”
“…Stamina depleted.”
Mr. Jung Soo-hak and Ms. Kim Hyun-ah have exhausted their stamina.
Hyun-ah is definitely not able to exert her strength against the bosses.
Durability: 3877/4300
Gradually, zombies surrounding the shelter began to cover all four sides.
Certainly feels like there’s less volume compared to when it expanded to five.
“I’ll give it a shot with just two of us out of the five!”
– Ziiing- Qua-qua-qua-thud!
As always, zombies flew apart as they took hits.
– Titi-titi-tat!
“Whoa-!”
That guy’s skill in dodging bullets is top-notch. Did he attend some kind of academy?
Cheorhyeong skillfully carved out a piece of the bullet at a timing close to astonishment.
However, the spider, despite being cut by the bullet and having a time gap, eventually took a hit from the shot.
– Qua-qua-thud!
-Kre-hyee-kee-eek!
Ugh, that scraping metal sound…!
Just hearing it feels like my ears are being shaved off.
5144/5544
‘Oh, it really feels like they’re getting shaved off.’
Eventually, following the same routine, two more shots brought down the spider boss.
That thing Cheorhyeong is dealing with is seriously wiggly.
And the remaining one? Huh?
A spider boss crawling out of the portal belatedly.
‘Timed attack?!’
You guys are doing what humans do!
– Kukakakakang-!
My durability: 3206/4300
“I can’t do this, I have to leave.”
I quickly fired the remaining bullets towards the spider’s direction.
Zing-Boom! Zing-Boom!
The regular horses were being taken care of at a fast pace, so the rate at which my durability was decreasing had passed its peak and was on a downward trend.
“Please clear some space in the direction I’m heading out. If you lure the aggro, I’ll take care of the rest.”
Yes-!
Kwahng-!
Three to four shells outside the shelter turned a spot into rubble.
As soon as I stepped outside, I shouted loudly.
“Hey! You miserable lot, come at me two at a time!!!”
The miserable-looking guys, as if understanding my words, quickly rolled their bodies towards me.
Three, two, one.
– Thud! Thwack!
– Segeogeok!
The guys running towards me, when I suddenly changed direction, awkwardly followed and collided with a few regular zombies.
– Puff-puff-bang!
The sound of our ally’s artillery could be faintly heard from behind.
Eunchae or Haeun had stopped, perhaps exhausted, and removed her hand.
Nevertheless, with Insun’s recovery characteristic, Gahee would somehow manage to help.
Anyway, if we can just delay a little, it’ll be fine.
Perhaps due to the decreased number of zombies compared to last time and the expanded operational range, they quickly closed the gap again.
Hieuuuk!
Focusing on my legs, I swung my body to the side, causing the zombies that were about to surround me to fall like bowling pins.
“It’s the power of 0.1 ton. Hiek!”
My circular blade, just my height, swiftly aimed for the side.
– Ki-ga-ga-gak!
Since it was a situation of getting up, I eventually blocked it with my thigh and side, then bounced in the opposite direction.
Shield 4224/5544
Thud! 900 points gone in one hit.
Don’t just stand there, bounce.
After turning a zombie catching me with a whirlwind, I ran towards the shelter in the distance.
Fortunately, the movement speed was uneven.
The shelter I aimed for was stacked with zombies, one on top of another, falling in layers as if in a domino effect.
“Did they give up on this shelter? I don’t hear gunshots.”
– Kwa-jee-jee-jee-jik!
“Huh?”
As if struck by lightning, the zombies in a line turned into a pile, crashing down.
He didn’t die, but whether he was paralyzed or not, he couldn’t move.
“I envy lightning; it would be nice if I had some active traits too.”
-Kirrkuwe!
Oh, you too? Don’t you get tired of pushing that round thing around all the time?
Two guys in the front shelter, recognizing me, started running towards me while screaming, and a few more guys rolled down from behind.
“Uh… this is…”
Unable to turn, I finally started circling around, shelter in hand.
People inside the shelter could be vaguely seen, but it was hard to make out who they were.
After about 6-7 rounds, my legs began to feel heavy, and my stamina was draining.
“Heck…hah, I’m dying. Let’s bounce.”
Thinking it’s about time to wrap it up, I ran straight back without turning the shelter corner.
At that moment, the expressions of the people inside the shelter briefly appeared, looking quite disappointed.
Well, that’s expected. If someone suddenly appears and draws aggro, thank you.
By the time I ran back with the strength I had left, two out of the four creatures seemed to have returned to their original positions.
“They don’t just keep chasing us forever.”
And our situation,
“As expected, it’s clean, hahahahaha.”
While regular zombies still had a long way to go, the spider guys were disappearing, turning into ashes.
“Good, good, much faster than the last stage.”
At that moment, Gahee came out from the shelter, lured one of the creatures, and led it in a different direction.
“Alright! Gahui’s timing is definitely on point.”
In the end, it was a situation where he was only chasing after one guy.
Oh wow! This tough nut.
Relying on the shield, he pushed with his shoulder at a 45-degree angle.
Shield 3457/5544
This should give me more leeway than last time!
As he grabbed the less sharp edge with his forearm, the guy bounced his body vigorously from side to side, causing the shield to continue to diminish during the process.
“Take this!!”
Concentrating on his left fist, he landed a left hook directly.
The shield was rapidly dropping towards 2000, but he could taste victory.
I can catch this one.
– Clang clang clang clang clang!!
– Krrrunch-!
Does it hurt? I’m hurting too!
Die, die!!
Kwakwakwakwakwakwak!!
Kwajijijik-! Bbeogeok-! Peo-eok peo-eok!
“aaah!!!”
God, Buddha, Allah, lend strength to my left hand!!
– Peo-eongㅡ!
Something seemed to escape from my body in a lump, and the upper half of the guy’s torso burst like a balloon.
“I think I’ve felt this sensation before.”
Status window.
Name: Geon (Lv.4) (6)
Health: 6 (-30)
Mana: 111 (-43)
Strength: 25
Agility: 23
I lost mana?!
It was an attack that used mana.
Wait, how did I use it just now…
Buddha, God, Allah?
Which one came first?
“Hey you—!!!”
Huh, Geon came running from behind, winked, and then threw himself into the shelter.
-Kirrr?
“Uh… I-I’ll just go. Goodbye?”
Shh shh shh-!
“aaargh, he’s chasing us!”
Trying to throw myself into the shelter, but
– Pewong!
– Boom!
“Huh?”
Hit by the magical bullet flying from the shelter, the guy staggered to the side.
An opportunity!
Rushing in, stepping on the blade with his foot, he pounded with both hands, pound, pound, pound!
“aaah, oh gods!!”
At first, he didn’t feel it, but after a few hits, the sensation he felt earlier came back.
Gathering magical power inside his fist, he brought it down on the guy’s head in one breath.
– Quaang—
The guy’s head turned mushy, and brain matter flowed out in streams.
“Hoo-haak-haa, it’s nothing much.”
With a few more practices, a one-hit KO seemed possible.
Magical Power: 33 (-121)
But what happens when you gather all your strength and it becomes 0?
“Heek, don’t know, damn it, haa, I’m screwed.”
Pain surged into the fist.
Stepping towards the shelter, he noticed zombies around the shelter turning into ashes, disappearing like a scene from an SF movie. He stopped and stared blankly.
Khhuhuhuhuhuuck
“It’s really too much fun…”
This is too stimulating for me, who has lived a carefree life.
It feels like my nerves are jumping around like a lively trout.
“Swoosh- Phewww-“
I waited a moment until my mind calmed down and then entered the shelter.
＜You have cleared Stage 7 for the first time. You have obtained 6500P.＞
＜You have cleared Stage 7. You have obtained 13930P.＞
＜Rumors are spreading about a player who defeats monsters with bare fists.＞
＜Some items in the shop list are unlocked randomly.＞
＜Weapons are added to the shop.＞
＜Your level has increased. Your stats have increased randomly.＞
Oh, I leveled up again!
It must be the effect of expanding the dimensional crack.
This much, even if I receive slightly less initial reward, wouldn’t it be better to expand it to 5? Hm-
Sta~tus~~Window
Name: Geon (Lv.5) (7)
Health: 39(+3)
Mana: 155(+1)
Strength: 26(+1)
Agility: 28(+5)
BP: 5
Ah… Even if it’s random, having only 5 agility is a bit…
What’s BP?
“Look at this! A person who’s in big trouble, hehehe!”
“Huh? Oh, yeah.”
I looked around at the sudden voice of my uncle.
Eunchae and Gahee were lying on the floor, and next to them, a mother and daughter were taking care of them.
“…It was overwhelming.”
“Is that so…”
The sharp eyes of the formidable Kim Hyuna stared at me fiercely.
Scary- hehehehe, is this how it feels when Gahee gets older?
“By the way, what’s BP?”
“Hm? Already reached level 5?”
“Oh, yes.”
“I think you get additional points every level 5.”
Aha- Bonus points, huh.
‘Bonus points’
– Would you like to add them?
Hmm… Putting them into magic would be better, right? I’ve only increased by 1 in magic…
‘Add 5 points to magic’
Magic: 160(+5)
Oh, reaching Level 2 in one shot! Impressive!
Current Points: 798,821
Points are replenished, and next up··· there’s a new addition to the weapons.
Just the word “weapon” itself looks fierce.
Whipped cream, instant rice, dad’s hand pie, paper cup, wet wipes, ladder, power drill, sofa, rug, Rocherdeen Shilly Sword
Oh! There’s the sword that looks quite impressive! How much is this one?
Price: 45,000P
······
Now! Shall we check out the sofa?
Price: 348P
Huh··· is this some kind of cost-effectiveness? Looks cheap for a sofa.
Rest is a matter of great importance! Purchase!
-348P
Ka-ching!
ㅡ!
“hehehehe- it’s a sofa~ Wanna join me and Eunchae on the sofa···”
Suddenly, Gahee, who had stood up, said, waving her arms.
I lifted Gahee, and Hyuna carried Eunchae.
Huh? Gahee.. Why are you staring at me so intently, it’s kind of creepy..
Every time I look into Gahee’s eyes, it feels like a frog in front of a snake.
I also need to quickly acquire an attack attribute…
I confidently avoided Gahee’s gaze and headed toward the shelter wall.
Anyway, I smoothly finished Stage 7, so today should be the end, right? Working for 8 hours a day is a provision of the Labor Standards Act!
“Hey, what’s this-“
“Yeah?”
On Haeun’s small palm, a chocolate milk carton, bigger than her hand, was placed.
“…Thank you.”
“hehehe.”
As she giggled and nestled into her mother’s embrace, I wanted to playfully pinch her chubby cheeks.
No, I have to resist. It would be a crime if I did that.
After briefly observing my hand, much larger than Haeun’s face, I drank the milk.
Gulp, gulp… Hmm, it tastes sweeter than usual…