Chapter 39: Evan’s Outskirts Jackpot

Evan stepped into an old, decrepit building.

He recalled what Reynold had told him and scanned his surroundings.

‘They said the equipment was prepared in advance…’

As he shifted his gaze around, he spotted a shield glowing with a grayish light beneath a broken desk.

‘What’s this?’

Evan immediately picked up the shield.

The wood was rotten, and even the joints were rusted.

He doubted whether it could serve as a proper shield at all.

‘Was this made with magic, too?’

Evan checked the shield’s information window.

[Grade: F]

[Category: Bertrand Field Exclusive Item]

[Defense: 1]

[Durability: 4/5]

[Usage Restriction: Bertrand Field]

[Effect: Defense +1%]

[Other: A shield that bears the traces of time. It’s doubtful whether it can block anything properly.]

“To think they want me to use something like this.”

It was as good as garbage.

Evan tossed the shield to the floor and opened his inventory.

He was checking to see if he could use any of the equipment in his inventory as a test.

At that moment, the necklace Evan wore began to glow.

[The effect of Bertrand’s Necklace is active.]

[Inventory cannot be accessed.]

[Only Bertrand Field exclusive items can be used within Bertrand Field.]

‘As expected, this method won’t work. So it’s a specially crafted necklace, huh?’

Clicking his tongue, Evan surveyed the shabby building again.

He soon spotted several more pieces of grayish equipment.

Evan immediately headed over and picked up the gear.

All of it was useless junk.

The only thing remotely worthwhile was the Leather Bracelet.

[Grade: E]

[Category: Bertrand Field Exclusive Item]

[Defense: 5]

[Durability: 10/10]

[Usage Restriction: Bertrand Field]

[Effect: Consuming 5 durability increases movement speed by 50%.]

[Other: A bracelet used by someone to escape pursuit.]

Being able to increase movement speed by 50% was actually pretty useful.

But it could only be used twice.

Consuming 5 durability meant the bracelet would break after just two uses.

Evan felt a bit disappointed, but he put on the Leather Bracelet for now and turned his head toward the entrance.

If he searched further, he might find items of an even higher grade than this.

‘There doesn’t seem to be anything else here.’

He decided to quickly move on to the next building to secure more items.

Evan cautiously exited through the entrance and first checked if anyone was nearby.

“Is there really no one around here?”

In the distance, he could only see people hurrying off somewhere.

Most of them were empty-handed, with no equipment at all.

‘They’re too busy running away. Are they looking for a safe place just to survive? But getting gear comes first.’

Of course, those people might not know this information.

‘The ones in the know are probably already searching buildings for equipment.’

Evan decided to move quickly.

Choosing a favorable position—or obtaining items—was crucial.

Besides, he had been to this place at least once before.

Unlike the others, he was in a position to strategize calmly.

‘Still, I should at least check my current location.’

Even if he’d visited before, he didn’t remember every detail of this vast area.

‘I only remember the general outline and the spots where major events happened.’

If he could look down from a high place, he might at least figure out which area he was in.

Evan looked around and spotted something like a tall bell tower.

From up there, he’d be able to see the whole area at a glance.

Entering the bell tower, he saw an old, broken staircase. It wasn’t too hard to climb.

When he reached the top—

“…What is this.”

Evan was left speechless by the brutal scene spread out in all directions.

Now he understood why everyone was rushing away.

Monsters were swarming in like ants within a certain radius.

***

Evan was hiding inside a building, staunching his wounds.

“Damn it…”

He was right in the middle of a monster wave.

The outer areas of the ruined city had already been overrun by monsters.

Those who failed to escape the monster wave and were stranded in the outskirts were starting to be eliminated one by one.

[Participants: 479]

Of course, Evan too, while leaving the buildings and gathering some equipment, hadn’t managed to avoid the encroaching monster wave in time.

His current location, in terms of the entire ruined city, was the outskirts.

The center of this place was where the Grand Temple stood.

He couldn’t help but remember—it was where he had faced the boss monster in the previous world.

And around that place, a safe zone had formed.

‘For now, I know that the closer I get to the center, the safer it is…’

KAAANG!

WOOF WOOF!

Outside the building, countless monsters were still charging toward the center.

The problem was what the monsters left behind as they passed.

Toxic gas, the thick stench of blood, and all sorts of poisonous substances were scattered everywhere.

That meant those hiding in the outskirts were almost guaranteed to be eliminated.

Evan looked up at the sky.

The ceiling of the building was broken, so he could see the sky above.

[Participants: 456]

‘I guess the ones isolated like me are starting to drop out.’

Of course, this didn’t apply to Evan.

[Detoxification Resistance Skill has been activated.]

This kind of low-level poison had no effect on Evan.

If anything, facing the monsters outside directly would be more troublesome.

‘First, I need to get out of here.’

As Evan was looking around the building for a way out—

“You bastard! What the hell do you think you’re doing!”

A commotion came from the adjacent building.

‘Are there other survivors nearby? They’re still alive even with all this toxic gas!’

Evan moved toward the source of the sound.

Most of the buildings here were broken and had holes in the walls, so with a bit of skill, it was possible to move between them.

Evan first peered through a crack in the wall to observe the situation next door.

Three people, seemingly a group, were facing each other with weapons—swords, hatchets, and so on—aimed at one another.

One of them was sprawled on the floor, bleeding from his leg.

“Ugh! You damn bastards!”

“Sorry, but I’m desperate too. If I get eliminated this round…”

“Enough, I’m taking the Cape Mask. If we drag this out, we won’t be able to use it!”

“No, you guys have it easy! This is my last chance! I’m taking it!”

It seemed they had formed a party and moved together up to this point.

But now, stranded here, they were baring their teeth at each other, fighting over something.

From their conversation, it was clear they were fighting over a specific piece of equipment.

The man on the ground was wearing a brown leather mask.

He was clutching it with both hands, refusing to let it be taken.

‘Cape Mask? If they’re fighting over it in this toxic gas, it must be an item that blocks the poison.’

Everyone was desperate to survive.

But there was only one item.

‘Killing is forbidden, but as long as they don’t kill, it’s fair game.’

The tension was thick, and soon, a fierce fight broke out among them.

“Argh!”

One by one, they fell, until only one remained standing.

“Huff, huff. Damn bastards, should’ve just handed it over quietly…”

The bald, muscular man slung a blood-stained hatchet over his shoulder and approached the fallen man to snatch the mask away.

Savoring his victory, he began collecting the other equipment as well.

But the problem was, the rest were still alive.

“Might as well go all the way…”

One of the fallen pulled something out of his pocket.

With the last of his strength, he crushed it.

CRACK!

A strange, heavy silence fell.

The howling of monsters outside was gone.

But only for a moment.

KAAAAANG!

Soon, the monsters began to roar, swarming around the building where the four had been.

“Y-you maniac! What are you doing!”

“Haha, if I’m going out, I’m taking you with me.”

“You piece of trash…”

The victorious man’s face twisted with rage.

He hurled himself toward a gap in the wall.

The monsters that entered the building killed the three, then chased after the man who fled.

Evan watched all this, his eyes gleaming.

***

Once the monsters had all disappeared, Evan approached the spot where the men had been.

Only their equipment remained—no bodies.

‘So you really don’t die here. Only the items are left behind, huh.’

Evan chuckled and examined the items one by one.

‘Vera’s Flame Ring, Heidla’s Spellblade…’

It seemed they’d thoroughly looted the nearby buildings; there were quite a few items.

‘At least, I should take anything C-grade or higher from here.’

He equipped what he could, but there were many duplicates.

So, in the end, he didn’t get that much.

Just a weapon, boots, bracelet, and some accessories.

Then Evan spotted an item glowing red.

“What’s this?”

He picked it up carefully.

It looked like a protective guard worn on the shoulder.

[Grade: S]

[Category: Bertrand Field Exclusive Item]

[Defense: 300]

[Durability: 150/150]

[Usage Restriction: Bertrand Field]

[Effect: Blessing of the Guardian Deity increases evasion by 70%.]

[Other: A masterfully crafted shoulderguard, exquisitely made and highly durable.]

As Evan checked the item’s information, his eyes sparkled.

‘S-grade item, and it even increases evasion by 70%.’

That meant most attacks wouldn’t get through.

But as he felt pleased, a sense of regret crept in as well.

‘If only I could take this into the real world.’

Licking his lips, Evan immediately put on the Shoulderguard of the Guardian Deity and got to his feet.

‘With this, I should be able to handle most monsters…’

It looked like he could now make a dash for the safe zone at the center.

But he needed to think carefully.

Those who had already secured the safe zone would be gathering up the items there.

By now, whether they liked it or not, they would have caught on.

‘In the end, there’s little chance any S-grade items remain… Who knows how many S-grade items are left in the safe zone.’

He still felt it wasn’t enough.

‘And when there are only 250 left, who knows what else might happen…’

He had a bad feeling.

And the safe zone was said to keep shrinking.

In the end, to withstand the final wave of monsters, he’d need the best equipment possible.

And now that he had an S-grade item, he couldn’t help but wonder if there were even better ones out there.

Evan paused to consider his next move, then a smile crept onto his lips.

‘There’s no need to rush to the center, is there?’

The toxic gas and poisonous substances that were fatal to ordinary people didn’t affect Evan at all.

Aside from dealing with the annoying monsters, there was no reason to hurry.

Of course, even the monster problem wasn’t much of a worry now that he had an evasion item.

Evan turned his gaze to the items left behind by the three men.

‘Who knows if there are more like them around here. I should search the outskirts first.’

Once he finished gearing up, Evan cautiously stepped out of the building.