Chapter 29: Reckoning at the Safe Zone

Haa.

A daily wage of 5,000 points.

That’s the amount you’d have to collect by catching a hundred of those 50-point Venomous Sky Panthers.

‘So if they just take me down, the whole thing’s solved for them.’

【‘Bureau Crow’ says since it’s come to this, let’s wipe out everyone coming for you.】

【‘Investigation Bureau Prince’ clicks his tongue, saying even if you’re an ace, you can’t handle five hundred enemies at once.】

【An anonymous observer wonders how this situation will be resolved.】

This is bad.

I’ve become an irresistibly attractive prey that could solve everyone’s daily point target in one go.

A sort of…lottery ticket.

“What do we do, hyung?”

“It’s best not to meet anyone.”

Ji-eun and Jae-hyuk seemed to agree, exchanging uneasy glances.

I wanted to believe there weren’t many who’d go as far as killing just to collect their points.

But of course.

“Hey there, fellas!”

A group appeared, led by a burly man.

One at 1,500 points, two at 800.

The biggest one, who looked athletic, must be the 1,500-pointer, while the two weak-looking guys beside him must be 800-pointers each.

“Heard you’re quite the fighters, especially you, lady.”

Looks like they watched us fight.

And the moment the mission was announced, they came right over.

…Way too cliché.

“Hm.”

Their eyes kept sweeping over the four of us—especially Ji-eun and Jae-hyuk.

It was obvious their questions weren’t coming from a good place.

Ji-eun must have sensed it too; her voice was sharper than usual as she replied.

“What is it you want?”

“Oh, just passing by and thought I’d say hi. Why so unfriendly?”

“Enough.”

The big one started toward Ji-eun, so I hurried to block him.

Part of it was because I really didn’t like the lecherous grin on his face…

“If you’re just passing by, then keep walking. We’re a little busy.”

Honestly, we really were busy.

“Jae-hyuk, grab your backpack. Ji-eun, you too.”

“Yes, hyung!”

“Already have it. Let’s go.”

We had to head somewhere less populated before we became targets.

We didn’t have time to deal with thugs like these one by one.

“And who the hell are you to butt in…?”

And just as they were about to say more—

[Project ‘Hunt.’ The first mission will now begin.]

[You have 10 minutes. Please evacuate to a safe zone!]

[Anyone outside the safe zone after that will be subject to restructuring.]

As if mocking us, the ruthless mission began.

“!!”

“Safe zone?!”

Damn.

They set things up so people had no choice but to gather together.

To keep competitors from running away.

Whether you’re prey or hunter, you have to band together and fight.

【‘Bureau Crow’ says it’s actually good since you can wipe out all the gathered enemies.】

【‘Investigation Bureau Prince’ nods, saying splitting up five hundred enemies makes it possible.】

[A safe zone has been created.]

“What should we do? There are multiple safe zones!”

“Most are near Samgakji and Itaewon. Let’s go to Namsan.”

We were at the foot of Namsan.

The nearest safe zone was an open area halfway up the mountain.

From its location and size, it was probably a bus stop.

「09:10」

Plenty of time. Luckily, the nearest safe zone was close by. Despite having fought since morning, we had enough stamina.

If you only considered the mission, it was an easy situation.

But the real problem was…

“…Let’s go over there…”

“Should we…?”

It wasn’t the safe zone or the mission, but the people.

Three men following us at a short distance, muttering nonstop.

“…that dark guy… the red one…?”

“…is it the girl…?”

Dark guy. Red target. Girl?

Aha.

‘These guys think one of Jae-hyuk or Ji-eun is the red target.’

There were four of us within a 100-meter radius.

But they couldn’t be sure which of us was the 5,000-point red target.

‘They only saw the two fight, so they must suspect it’s one of them.’

The big guy motioned with his chin at the two, and the two scrawny ones muttered, tilting their heads.

I could practically hear their brains whirring.

So—

‘Once they figure it out…?’

What then?

“Huff…we’re here!”

「02:27」

With just over two minutes left, we stepped into the green safe zone.

Me, Ji-eun, Jae-hyuk, and the three men.

And then—

“Eeeek! What do we do? It keeps chasing us!”

“We’re almost there! Just run!”

“Haa… I think my heart’s gonna burst!”

“If it does, I’ll fix it, so hurry up!”

Familiar faces ran up from below, checkered school skirts fluttering.

Sola and Yeo-jin.

“!!”

“Shit! What’s that?!”

…And an absolutely monstrous tail chasing behind them.

“Haa…made it…”

“Sorry…! It kept chasing us…!”

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

As the two pale girls breathed sighs of relief at seeing us, a huge shadow fell over them.

— Grrrrrr…!

A beast revealed itself, baring angry fangs.

Thick, stubby, yet massively powerful forelegs.

A house-sized four-legged beast covered in rough, reddish-brown fur.

‘A bear?!’

“What did those girls drag here?!”

“It’s coming this way!!”

Kuwaaaaang-!

A heavy roar shook the air, tinged with a metallic sound and rising pitch.

The cry of a starving beast that’s spotted fresh meat.

「00:57」

“One minute left!”

“Over here, quick!”

“Yes!”

Sola and Yeo-jin, terrified but desperate, rushed over.

Tap-!

Suddenly, the three men who’d been eyeing us suspiciously blocked the students’ way.

“Summon!”

“!!”

They brandished sharp spears, as if ready to stab at any moment.

Those bastards, don’t tell me…

“Wh-what are you doing?!”

“Move!”

“They’re the ones that led it here, right?”

“Well…”

Yeo-jin bit her lip, glancing back and forth between the spears pointed at her and the safe zone.

“If you brought aggro, take it somewhere else! Don’t cause trouble for us!”

“What did you just say?!”

“Move, you psychos!”

Sola screamed, face flushed with anger.

Spears in front, a beast closing in from behind.

「00:30」

And only thirty seconds left.

If they didn’t get inside the safe zone, the two of them would be ‘deleted’ on the spot.

“Think we’ll get paid if they die?”

“Probably not. It’s not like we killed them ourselves.”

“Then can’t we just kill them? They’re getting deleted anyway.”

【‘Investigation Bureau Prince’ asks if the hunt is finally starting.】

【‘Bureau Crow’ says let’s start by taking them out, eyes glinting.】

Haa.

What should I do with these idiots?

“Get out of the way now, you—”

“Sola, stop.”

There’s no time for talk.

I stepped up to calm Sola and shouted immediately.

“Ji-eun! Draw the beast’s attention!”

“Okay!”

Wuuuung—Swaaaak!

Ji-eun’s blue dagger rose, singing with resonance.

Ji-eun’s face twisted in a grimace, pale from exertion.

A piercing arc sliced through the air, the dagger flying straight at the bear’s forehead.

Kuwaaaang! Thud! Thud! Thud—!

It was just a dagger, insignificant to a beast that size, but more than enough to grab its attention.

The beast, annoyed by the stabbing attacks, swung its head and paws around wildly.

“Wow! The bob-haired girl’s got amazing skills!”

“Seriously, that’s still freaky no matter how many times I see it!”

Meanwhile, on this side—

“Are you planning to stick with us…?”

— Shring!

I leveled my sword at the men.

Three spearheads glinted in the light.

Who knows where they’d found them—sharp points, solid-looking wooden shafts.

— Sgak!

But they were sliced through without much effort.

“Hiiiii!”

“Wh-what the hell?!”

[10 seconds left until the time limit ends.]

Tududuk!

Spears meant for the beast’s belly clattered to the ground, broken and useless.

And then—

“Y-you…you son of a bitch!”

“Why’d you butt in…urk!”

“Move.”

— Thwack!

A fist reinforced with Petrification slammed into the men.

They crumpled to the ground, just as pitiful as their broken weapons.

[The time limit will end shortly.]

[5, 4, 3… ]

“Get in, quick!”

“Yes, mister!”

Sola and Yeo-jin dashed into the green circle.

Whump!

In the process, Yun Sola didn’t forget to stomp on the prone men.

“Ugh…that damn bitch…”

[Mission complete.]

[Please select your mission reward!]

---

“Shit…!”

Park Cheol-jung’s gang stared blankly at their snapped spears.

They’d started with a wrench, then an old knife, and finally managed to acquire these precious spears.

“How hard did we work to get these…?”

How many people had they threatened and killed just to find three decent spears?

They’d taken over Huam Market and made it all the way here.

“Damn it, what kind of weapon snaps like that with a single flick of the wrist?!”

They’d stabbed and killed plenty with these spears.

Some had fought back—a tough rice-cake shop kid had tried to break them but failed.

…Who’d have thought they’d get sliced like tofu!

“C-Cheol-jung, what do we do now?”

“He’s not normal! We can’t fight someone like that!”

The two glanced back and forth between Park Cheol-jung and their broken spears, trembling.

Now and then, they’d sneak looks at the 5,000-point guy locked in battle with the bear, ignoring the rest.

“Man up, will you…”

Seriously, getting scared at this?

After coming all this way?

Park Cheol-jung thought so, chewing on his cigarette.

But—

Flick! Flick! Flick!

“Shit, why isn’t it lighting?!”

His lighter made nothing but dry clicking sounds.

His hand was shaking.

“Damn it!”

He threw it away at last.

He was burning with frustration thanks to that useless lighter.

That bastard could’ve chopped his arm off if he’d really wanted to.

Just the thought sent chills down his spine.

“Anyone got a light?!”

“Oh! H-here!”

Fwoosh—

He sucked in smoke, his dry throat soothed by the taste.

The acrid smoke went in and out; only then did he feel a little calmer.

“We’ll have to give up on that guy.”

He was just too strong.

A foe on a whole different level from any idiot they’d faced until now.

If they tried, they’d just end up hunted in a single stroke.

“Y-yeah! You’re right, Cheol-jung!”

“Let’s get out of here! Once the bear’s dead, he’ll probably come for us…”

“But—”

Park Cheol-jung stubbed his cigarette on a nearby tree.

“Let’s just grab those girls and run.”

“W-what?!”

Those arrogant high school girls.

He hadn’t noticed before, but they were worth 2,000 and 1,200 points each—a pretty decent haul.

He had no idea how they’d racked up so many points, but still.

“They’ll be distracted killing the bear. Go now.”

He couldn’t back down now.

Not with such easy prey right in front of him.

---

Kuwaaaang!

Sword raised, I stepped up to the raging bear.

Thud! Splat! Crash—!

Thanks to Ji-eun’s attacks, the bear was thoroughly enraged.

It smashed trees and anything else nearby with its forepaws.

It was intimidating, like a natural disaster.

“Hyung! Let me help!”

“No. I can handle this myself.”

It was big, sure, but it wasn’t as precise as the Doppelganger or as fast as the carnivorous plant.

Not a difficult opponent.

But the problem was—

“Kyaa!”

“S-Sola! Yeo-jin!”

“Bastards! Let them go now!”

It was the gang I thought would run.

They were holding their broken spearheads up to Sola and Yeo-jin.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

I asked, dodging the furious bear’s paws.

The big guy grinned lewdly and answered.

“It’s hunting, right? Don’t you think?”

“What is?”

“You hunt the monster, I hunt these girls. Same thing, isn’t it?”

“…You sure talk nonsense with a straight face.”

“Whether it’s nonsense or not…urk!”

Sola had stabbed the big guy in the thigh with a scalpel she’d pulled out.

Stagger!

Even though it was a good hit, it only grazed him thanks to his boosted strength.

— Snap!

“You little bitch…!”

“Cough! H-how could you even think of hunting people?!”

“Doesn’t matter if they’re people or not—weak ones get eaten! Even if it wasn’t us, you two would’ve died soon enough!”

Haa.

That’s the line I hate most.

Tap!

The three men, clutching the schoolgirls like hostages, began to back away.

They planned to use the chaos of my fight with the beast to escape.

But here’s the thing.

【‘Investigation Bureau Prince’ sighs, saying that’s a terrible strategy.】

【‘Bureau Crow’ says sometimes a beating is the only way to learn, eyes shining.】

“I was planning to deal with you anyway.”

You just got bumped down the priority list.

Either way, after the beast, it was your turn.

But now—

“You’ve crossed the line.”

Pop—!

A spray of blood appeared on Yun Sola’s pale neck.

If this is how you want it…

“Acceleration.”

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh…”

Tat! Tat—!

I leapt onto a nearby bench.

Up onto the beast’s thick, furry back.

And then—

— Sgak!

[You have slain the ‘Starving Flame Bear’!]

[You have gained 100 Welfare Points!]

A single, clean stroke—nothing more, nothing less.

Boom—!

The car-sized bear’s head fell cleanly off.

And then—

[Acceleration (Lv.3) skill has been upgraded to Acceleration (Lv.4).]

[Duration increases from 1 second to (20) seconds upon activation.]

A reward from the last mission—twenty times the speed.

Twenty seconds.

Short, but if you just stand still and count, it’s a ridiculously long time.

So…

“Y-you son of a biiiiiiiiitch!”

“Petrification.”

Twenty seconds is more than enough to turn three men into wrecks.

— Tat!

I twisted the wrist holding the spear, snapping it.

Crrunch—

I gently moved the girls aside.

Swish—

I gripped my sword tight.

‘You say it’s because you’re weak that you get preyed on?’

Fine, then.

“Let’s see how you like it, you bastards.”