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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: 2. Ability Check. (2)
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Carefully.
One step, one step.
Leaning against the right wall, I peeked outside.
A long, stretching road.
A street lined with cars.
No signs of life.
I cautiously peeled my back off the wall and took a few crab-like steps.
The view ahead opened up completely.
A three-way intersection flanked by an uphill road was right in front of me.
Where the hell is this place?
The roads were unfamiliar, the buildings too.
Normally, I'd pass right by without a second glance until I hit a familiar street, but now everything felt alien.
I pressed against the left wall.
Long rows of shops, streetlights lining the sidewalk, and traffic lights blinking on the road—the only things painting the street with color.
So quiet.
"Haa... haa..."
My breathing sounded deafening.
Gripping the telescoping baton tight, I slowly stepped out of the building.
Ears perked.
Listening for any sounds.
Any signs of movement.
Glancing left and right nonstop, I entered the road.
Cars of all kinds were parked everywhere on the road.
But all the doors were shut tight.
Even in their panic, the drivers had closed the doors properly.
Damn it.
Weaving carefully between the cars, I spotted one with an open door.
Yes!
A white, brand-new Avante! Perfect!
I grabbed the door frame and slipped into the driver's seat.
Closing the door would make a hell of a noise.
Even just a car door slamming could draw something out of nowhere.
It was that silent.
Couldn't there at least be some damn dog barking?
Haa.
I carefully pulled the door toward me and placed my hands on the steering wheel.
And that's when I realized.
...No keys.
Fuck!
This is insane.
I need a car with keys in it, not just an open door.
I got out and walked between the cars.
Despite the cars everywhere, the lack of sound or movement made for an eerie scene.
And walking alone down the middle of this wide road...
...Found one.
...Fuck.
A blue five-ton truck.
Driving that thing would be loud as hell.
...What now.
Grrrrowl.
Ugh...!
Fuck...!
Haa... damn it.
Starving all day and just running around—my stomach's killing me.
Goddamn it.
Change of plans.
Car later.
These cars aren't going anywhere on this road anytime soon, so no need to rush driving one now.
First, eat something. Survive.
I left the road and returned to the sidewalk.
What a bizarre sight.
In the dead of night, every shop wide open.
Goods still on display.
But no shop owners in sight.
Grabbing a utility pole, I scanned left and right.
A convenience store up ahead.
Ah, fuck.
The silence makes every move feel awkward as hell.
Are there even people left here?
Muffling my footsteps, I carefully walked along the sidewalk blocks.
The convenience store drew closer.
...Any clerk inside?
Not forgetting to stay alert, I peered inside.
At the counter...
No one. But...
Blood on the cigarette rack...
Splattered everywhere like it'd been flung from a bucket.
...Can I go in?
Is someone dead in there?
...This is nuts, fuck.
"Haa, haa, haa."
Tension making my breath come short.
Whew, let's go in.
Need to eat something.
I nudged the convenience store door open and stuck my head in.
Faint music playing softly.
No other signs of life.
Good.
Seems empty.
I slipped carefully inside.
Bright in here.
Through the full-glass walls, I'd be fully visible from outside.
Like standing in a spotlight—super conspicuous.
Goddamn it, grab stuff quick and get out.
Moving cautiously, I headed to the fridge first.
Ramen's fine, anything's fine, but grab drinks first.
No, freezer for dumplings first.
I took one step toward the freezer.
Then, ding, the door chime rang out.
I instinctively crouched down.
Fucking hell!
What the—!
One of those beasts?
What is it!
Sweat dripped from my hand gripping the baton.
Clenching so hard it trembled.
"...See, sis? Told you no one's here."
"Hey, but look at that blood over there."
...People?
Female voices?
I peeked out from behind the display rack where I was crouched.
...High schoolers?
Two girls—one in uniform, one in casual clothes—staring at the bloody rack, talking about something.
What are they doing?
Oh, scavenging food like me?
Then they're allies.
Ah... fuck.
Somehow, it's reassuring.
"...Ahem."
I cleared my throat softly and stood up slowly.
The two girls gasped and turned to me.
Terror on their faces.
They reached for the door.
...Look at them fumbling the door, fuck. If I were a human beast, you'd both be dead already timing-wise.
"I'm just here for food."
I held out my palms and spoke low.
The girls flinched, staring at me.
Fear in their eyes.
"I'll grab food and leave. If you're here for the same, hurry up. No telling when those things show up."
Whatever they think, I said my piece first. Low voice, as quiet as possible.
If these girls scream without thinking, this convenience store—basically a sealed room—becomes my grave.
I don't care if they die screaming like idiots, but I don't want to get dragged down with them.
I'm here to do my thing; you do yours.
"Hoo, hoo."
Trying to breathe calmly, I stood still, hand extended toward them.
Their expressions softened a bit.
Guess they're not total airheads. No screaming.
I glanced out the glass wall.
Good.
Still quiet.
I eyed the girls, then grabbed dumplings from the freezer and stuffed them into my bag.
Anything else?
Snacks...
Won't fill me up.
Those nitrogen-puffed bags won't fit much anyway.
Just more dumplings.
Two bags, three.
And drinks.
I pulled out a big Gatorade, shoved it in my bag, and turned to see the girls picking out food.
...Why gum?
You can't even eat it properly.
Then, crash! Something shattered somewhere.
A scream echoed at the same time.
Someone's under attack!
Goddamn it, too close!
The scream's huge!
Like blasting speakers at full volume!
The store rang with it!
The girls screamed in panic.
"Kyaaack!"
And that instant, something black surged up from behind the counter.
"Kraaaagh!"
Oh shit!
It was slumped behind the counter!
Goddamn it, I missed it!
That's the clerk!
Half the face gone!
Jaw exposed, teeth bared!
"Kraaaargh!"
The clerk rolled its eyes back and leaped onto the counter.
Crouched low, springing like a beast.
"Uwaaack! Kyaaack!"
The girls screamed.
And collapsed right there.
Why sit down!
You fucking crazy bitches!
The clerk lunged at the crazy bitches.
I lunged at the crazy bitches too.
The crazy bitches, seeing us charge from both sides, grabbed each other and screamed.
I saw the clerk's jaw unhinge wide.
Fuck, ripping its lips sideways!
Insane fuck!
Too late and we're fucked!
Even a second late and fucked!
Faster!
Faster!
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡Acceleration (Auto-cast)
Time slows for everything but you!
That instant, the clerk lunging at the girl froze mid-air.
"Krraa--a--a---"
Incredible!
Moving in slow motion like some special effects shot!
But fuck, not the time to admire!
I swung the baton upward from below with full force.
The metal chunk smashed dead-center into the clerk's face.
Crack! Nose shattered instantly.
Blood sprayed in slow droplets through the air.
Face crumpled like it'd been smashed flat.
I gripped the baton two-handed and swung like baseball.
Metal slammed into the face again.
Thud!
Nu... the eye!
Eye...!
The eyeball popped out!
Fucking boiled egg, goddamn it!
Fuck, insane!
"---A--e-eerruk!"
The clerk spun mid-air and crashed hard into the display rack.
Crash! Rack toppled, goods flying.
Acceleration wore off!
"Kyaaack! Aaack!"
The crazy bitches still screaming, oblivious to the vibe!
I slung my bag on quick and yanked one girl up by the arm.
"Get up! Hurry!"
You clueless fucking bitch!
"Kyaaack! Aak! Kyaaaack!"
Fucking hell!
The fallen clerk twitched, convulsing with weird noises.
"Grrruk! Kruruk!"
It... it's getting up!
Fucking insane!
Sounds from outside too.
...Roars.
No, beast howls.
Th...
They found us...!
"Kyaaack! Uwaaack! Aaack!"
The crazy bitches huddled, shaking, screaming, pulling aggro from outside.
Can't get out like this!
No clue where they'll hit from!
Crazy, what now?!
I scanned around.
Wrong call here and we're fucked!
"...!"
Found it.
Found it!
Convenience store storeroom behind the counter!
Ajar!
Fucking lucky!
I seized the girl's arm and dragged her hard toward the storeroom.
"This way! Or you die!"
This bitch still screaming, not moving!
Roars from outside the window again!
"Kraaack! Kraaack!"
Not one!
Fucking tons roaring together!
Horde incoming!
"Kyaaack! Aaack!"
These fucking crazy bitches!
I bellowed!
"Hurry up! Wanna die?!"
Yelling and pulling, she finally budged.
Grabbed the uniform crazy bitch's arm and yanked too.
This fucker dragged like dead weight.
"Kraaack! Kraaack!"
Shatter!
Glass wall exploded!
Black things poured in!
Fuck!
I grabbed the uniform bitch and bolted into the storeroom.
In my peripheral, the human beasts tripping over each other in the rush.
Shoved the two thick-headed bitches inside and slammed the door shut.
A blood-smeared, monstrous face flashed past the gap.
Bang!
"Fucking hell!"
Door closed!
Then the door started shuddering. Bang bang!
Roars!
"Kraaack! Kraaaack! Kraak!"
"Kyaaaack! Kyak! Uwaaack!"
Fuck, total shitshow!
Heart pounding like it'll burst, head going white!
With shaking hands, I twisted the handle lock barely shut.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Kraaak! Kraaack!"
Leaning against the door, each bang jolted my body. Fuck, door's gonna break!
Something?!
Cleaning supplies right there!
I grabbed a broom and jammed it against the door.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
More, something else!
Yanked a rack stacked with boxes and shoved it against the door.
"Kraaak! Kraaaack!"
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Aaack! Kyaaaack!"
Amid the deafening chaos, I gripped the storeroom door with both hands, gasping.
"Heuk, heuk, heuk!"
This fuck...!
Really fucking bullshit...!