I Became an Illegal Cheat User

26 – The Hidden World (2) (Revised)

Was it too much fuss?

Although I expected rock fragments to fly as the cavern exploded.

The boss monster, just like the monsters outside the boss room, burned into ashes with the explosion.

There was no need to cast a magical barrier, but it’s never a bad idea to be cautious.

‘By the way, even when I detonated the flashbang earlier…’

Even with this level of noise, it just felt slightly stuffy in my ears.

Surely, the noise from the explosion of the cavern was tremendous enough that an ordinary person would have gone deaf.

But it merely felt stuffy.

And moreover, recovering in such a short time.

Even if my stats are at their lowest, it seems like being a superhuman is still being a superhuman.

“Wow, Senior… amazing, really.”

“Incredible… the huge golem with just one hit…”

Unlike Park Garam, who was purely amazed, Im Dahee, beyond admiration, looked at me as if seeing a monster, then quickly averted her gaze when our eyes met.

‘Well… if that’s the reaction, I guess I’m not the only one getting hurt.’

I did, after all, obliterate the rock golem in one shot.

However, that was because the golem was non-aggressive, and I had transmission skills and a massive explosive device.

‘Of course… I don’t understand Im Dahee’s reaction.’

As soon as we entered the boss room, the rock golem circled around us, bobbing up and down above our heads.

Park Garam and Im Dahee would have seemed like crazy people in their eyes.

Then suddenly, moving as far away as possible from the golem.

Instructing Park Garam, she cast a magical barrier.

After making a lot of fuss, she launched a missile with a ‘thump.’

And with a brilliant flash and a tremendous shockwave, the leading demon disappeared.

To them, I must have appeared not just as a supervisor but as an immensely powerful figure.

Of course, Park Garam wouldn’t win in a purely physical confrontation either.

I’m not fighting with pure force, and I have no intention of flaunting it.

And I have no intention of clearing up any misconceptions Park Garam and Im Dahee might have about me.

Anyway, now that the leading demon is defeated.

It’s time to conclude the practical training.

“Let’s go check the rift.”

“Yeah, okay.”

“…Yeah.”

I took them towards the rift that the golem had been blocking.

Then, a ‘ding’ alarm sounded from the smartwatch.

The stagnant rift began to activate.

Squelch.

The rift, which had started to rotate like a spinning fan, showed an abnormal phenomenon as if ripples were spreading.

Hwaak!

“…What, what?”

“…Wha, what’s happening.”

In an instant, the rift’s color changed from blue to red.

Quagagagagag─!

It began to expand rapidly.

And we, who were close to the rift.

“He, help!”

“aaah!”

Without any time to react, we were swallowed by the rift.

Entering the rift, Yi Seo-yeon sensed that something was amiss.

Her fellow team members, who should have been with her, were nowhere to be seen.

The characters outlining the practical goals, emphasized by the instructor upon entering the rift, were all shattered.

Moreover, the aura of demonic energy (魔氣) emanated from the corpses strewn around.

At this moment, Yi Seo-yeon realized that the place she was in was not a simulated parallel world but the true parallel world.

– Kieeek!

– Kiiiaaack!

– Kkigig, kkigig.

The cries of demons echoed from all directions.

Judging by the sounds drawing closer, it seemed as if they had caught the scent of blood.

Chwaaack!

Yi Seo-yeon flicked the blood off her blade onto the ground, loaded a fresh magazine into her gun, preparing for the imminent battle.

And then, as she readied herself for the upcoming fight.

Pyeuuung……

In the distance, the ascent of a flare was visible.

Yi Seo-yeon recognized instantly that the one who shot the flare was none other than Lee Yoo-jin.

“…Lee Yoo-jin.”

Among the students who entered the rift, she was the only one with a flare.

“I have to go to her.”

Having shot the flare, demons would soon swarm towards her.

Of course, considering the abilities she had demonstrated, it should be fine, but… she had to hurry.

She’s looking for us… no, for him.

But before that.

– Kkieeek!

The demons were closing in.

Sweep away these unpleasant things before moving forward.

Yi Seo-yeon’s gaze chilled to the bone.

Into the rift’s engulfing grasp and amidst the shifting surroundings, my immediate action was to establish a boundary with a protective spell.

Calling out for Park Garam and Im Dahee, I discerned their absence by the silence that followed, realizing they had scattered.

After confirming safety at the boundary for a brief 30 seconds, I eased the tautness that had gripped me and relaxed my shooting stance.

“Phew…”

A short exhale escaped me as I lifted my head, checking the hue of the sky.

“Well, of course.”

The visible sky was not blue but rather crimson—a hue exclusive to this otherworldly realm.

Now, what remained to ascertain was the nature of this otherworldly place.

Given the sight of the sky, it wasn’t a cave.

No grass or trees in sight—definitely not a forest.

“…Fortunately, no insects or carnivorous plants around.”

The creatures in this otherworld vary depending on the theme of the location.

Caves host shadowy creatures akin to the shadow monkeys encountered earlier.

Forests teem with insectoid and carnivorous plant-like entities.

Open plains are infested with chimeric creatures, a blend of various animals.

Thus, observing the surroundings provided a clue about the theme.

Upon closer inspection, despite the weathered and decrepit appearance, it was evidently a modern-style building.

“Ah, is that so?”

Though I roughly discerned the theme of this place, I cautiously approached the window ahead to confirm.

Carefully wiping away the dust from the heavily layered window, I peered outside to survey the landscape.

“Ughhh…”

“Squelch, squelch…”

“eeekkk…”

Humanoid creatures meandered outside the window, emitting unsettling sounds.

Commonly known as zombies and ghouls.

“Ah… Truly a modern theme…”

A modern theme.

In other words…, it’s also known as a zombie apocalypse theme.

“Hmm…, it’s not that difficult a place, though.”

Just because the theme is a zombie apocalypse doesn’t mean it’s extremely dangerous.

For ordinary people, it might seem risky, but for supernaturals, it’s not that perilous.

Supernaturals with magic have strong resistance, so unless they die, they won’t turn into zombies even if bitten by zombies or ghouls.

And since zombie infection is classified as a status ailment, it can be immediately cured by a healer’s cure or the antidote I had taken.

That’s why, as long as you don’t waste your strength being surrounded by zombies and ghouls or encounter a turned supernatural, the apocalypse theme isn’t that difficult.

Of course, it’s not that difficult, but the relentless onslaught of zombies can be really annoying, so wandering around recklessly is not a good choice.

“I wonder if Park Garam and Im Dahee are okay?”

I worried about the scattered team members.

Zombies and ghouls, as entities, aren’t that strong and have the weakness of fire.

But they are definitely magical creatures with magic energy.

Unless it’s a weapon or skill imbued with magic or actual magic, penetrating magic energy is very difficult.

So, even though Park Garam is the apprentice of the Gray Witch and might have some knowledge, I was still worried about Im Dahee.

Im Dahee, while having a small total amount of magic energy, recovers quickly.

Zombies and ghouls never roam alone; they always move in packs.

If Im Dahee is surrounded by zombies and ghouls with no magic energy left, she might experience a horrifying situation.

“…This won’t do. I have to find Im Dahee.”

Not only her but also gather those who are inside this place.

As soon as I made that plan, I opened my inventory and took out an item.

────────────────────

【Special Modified Rifle (B)】

An automatic rifle once used by someone hunting evil.

It is engraved with magic to torment evils resistant to firearms.

– When fired, applies ‘Power Strike (C).’

– When fired, applies ‘Knockback (C).’

– Agility +4

────────────────────

────────────────────

「Power Strike (C)」

Hit the ‘enemy’ and inflict fixed damage.

────────────────────

────────────────────

“Knockback (C)”

Pushes back the hit ‘enemy.’

────────────────────

It’s a rifle that looks exactly like the ‘M416,’ obtained as a B-grade item choice like the ‘Holy Gun.’

Although it was a bit of a gamble, it’s a weapon that allows for rubber bullet practice in this apocalypse-themed setting.

Why?

Because of the weapon’s effect, ‘Impact (C).’

‘Inflicts fixed damage to the hit ‘enemy.”

It may be a rather lackluster effect for mid to low-tier supernaturals with rapidly increasing vitality.

However, for creatures like zombies and ghouls with low health and no vitality regeneration, it’s more than sufficient for smashing their skulls.

Of course, with my ‘super accuracy,’ I could penetrate magical resistance and deal damage even to mid to low-tier supernaturals, but…

Is it really necessary?

Unless the individual itself is weak, like the zombies or ghouls here, using it on supernaturals is a waste of bullets.

Especially when a B-grade weapon like the ‘Holy Gun’ not only provides additional damage but also has two damage effects: additional and divine damage.

As the item description states, the ‘Specialized Modified Rifle’ is a weapon meant for playing with ‘enemies,’ not necessarily an excellent weapon.

But then, why did I acquire such a weapon using a B-grade item choice…

It’s to gain favor with the members of the 9th Extermination Unit later on.

Of course, it wasn’t a calculated decision.

I happened to come across it while searching for the ‘Holy Gun,’ and its effects were precisely what the 9th Extermination Unit members would appreciate.

Since the members of the 9th Extermination Unit delight in causing suffering to the fallen, providing them with this weapon should earn me a considerable amount of goodwill. So, I immediately used the remaining B-grade item choice on this item.

Coincidentally, the theme of the world is apocalypse.

Before presenting it to the 9th Extermination Unit, I have the opportunity to test its performance.

Can’t let that chance slip by.

With that thought, I smirked and took out an illumination grenade from the inventory.

Then, standing in front of the door, I took a short breath and kicked the door open.

Thud!

Whether it was old or not, the door flew open with a single kick.

While looking at that door, I stepped outside and raised my hand, holding a flare, pulling the trigger.

Thaang!

Although there was a 70% decrease in accuracy due to the concussion penalty, it didn’t matter since it was just used to let the kids know the location. Besides, even though the sky was red, everyone being superhuman, they would see it well.

– Uh?

The attention of the zombies and ghouls that were shuffling around me all focused on me.

Well, with the door breaking and flares shooting out, it was quite noisy.

– …….

As if caught in a freeze frame, zombies and ghouls all stopped and stared at me.

I discarded the flare I was holding… not really, I put it in the inventory.

And then, I grabbed the rifle.

Click.

As I loaded it.

– Keeek─!!

– Kikk, kikigik!

– Kiaaack!

Zombies and ghouls screamed and rushed towards me.

To those guys, I pulled the trigger of the rifle.

Tadadadadadang─!!

I personally gave them a bullet baptism.