000023 - The Little Prince in the Ossuary
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# High Risk High Return, Paso Robles (10)
The house looked as if it had been hit by a storm, shattered and scattered. Among the debris, there were those who had been torn apart.
A Grumble, specialized in Close Combat, displayed overwhelming combat power. With just three punches, 30% of a single-story house was blown away.
The soldiers who had taken cover in the empty house scrambled out of the opposite window in panic. Some got stuck halfway out.
It seemed that there were mutants inside the house. Screams echoed as they were dragged inside. Blood splattered on the window.
One bite meant infection. Although they might survive, it was meaningless when a Grumble, breaking down walls, brought the whole structure down.
The collapsing house poured down on those who were still breathing, crushing them to death.
Gunfire was futile. The creature was immune to physical shock, and only its mouth was a weakness.
In any case, direct hits from tank shells or anti-tank missiles would flatten it, but the soldiers had neither.
The Grumble, having demolished a building, switch to search mode. Its next move would be one of two.
If it found something heavy, it would execute a 「Throw」 pattern; otherwise, it would use the 「Charge」 pattern.
In either case, it would open its mouth wide and scream beforehand.
A van happened to be nearby. The Grumble's grip crushed the vehicle's frame with a crunch.
Boom-
Sergeant Cohen, witnessing the van's ballistic flight, trembled in terror.
"There really is a way to deal with that, right?"
The crash left a mess of blood and dismembered parts where the van landed. The monster, having effortlessly killed a person, seemed interested in the sound of a trailer braking suddenly.
The massive predator slowly pivoted in that direction, its menacing eyes locking onto the source.
"Please, tell me we have a way."
"Reverse."
With those words, Gyeo-ul got out of the car. The distance was too far for a pistol to hit.
Seeing the creature transitioning from its search mode to its 「Charge」 pattern, Gyeo-ul swung the rifle slung over his shoulder into position and aimed.
This method of attack would be useless if one's shooting skills were low-level due to slow aiming speed and poor accuracy.
That's why extra experience points were granted when such creatures were hunted in the early stages when skills were typically inadequate. There were even achievements related to it.
「Kraaaaa-」
「Plop! Tuduuduuk! Tuduuduuk!」
「-Agh! Ack!」
With a melodious metallic clink, seven shots were fired, and five hit their mark. The creature, with bullets embedded in its mouth, staggered backward.
Gyeo-ul, still maintaining his stance, calmly walked forward, pulling the trigger whenever the creature opened its mouth.
It was an impressive hit rate for shooting on the move.
Among the surviving soldiers, those still in their right minds unleashed their firepower.
The monster did not avert its eyes; its immunity to physical damage meant that the shots had no effect.
It had to eliminate the threat, the one who inflicted the most harm – Gyeo-ul.
Gyeo-ul continued to walk. He fired two more shots as he moved. Dealing with general mutants at the same time, his ammo was running low.
He estimated the distance with his eyes and stopped about 5 meters away. He pulled and bit off the pin of a grenade.
The creature's grotesque face twisted even more hideously.
「Kraaaaaaaa!」
The grenade Gyeo-ul threw overhand was swallowed down the creature's black gullet. It, unaware of what it had swallowed, spread its arms wide open to let out a roar and began to charge.
「Boom!」
A light flashed through the monster's body. The massive figure momentarily expanded.
The convulsing beast vomited blood and pieces of its organs. Red tears streamed from its burst eyes.
Despite this, its sense of smell still functioned, making a cautious approach wise. In its staggered, pained state, Gyeo-ul fed it another grenade.
With an explosion, the beast's once firm body shattered outward. With its esophagus blown open, blood poured out like a small waterfall.
The giant, teetering with a heavy vibration, fell lifeless like a machine that had lost power.
Gyeo-ul was satisfied with the experience points he received. He thought it might be okay to elevate one of his key skills to the genius level.
There was no need to decide immediately.
For its first appearance, it had been easier than he expected.
Five dazed soldiers poured their gunfire into the corpse, oblivious to the infected mutants creeping up behind them.
Drawn by the Grumble's roar, famished, they charged like ravenous dogs. Two of them were particularly dangerous. Gyeo-ul raised both hands, crossing them in an X pattern.
"This one's dead! Watch your backs!"
Stinking creatures were emerging one by one from between the trees and around the corners of buildings. Their numbers were overwhelming.
At that moment, the roar of a rough engine filled the air. It was Cohen's trailer, which had withdrawn at Gyeo-ul's command.
Swerving to evade obstacles, it caught its balance despite nearly tipping over. Cohen, leaning out of the driver's seat, shouted, "What are you doing! Get on, you damn rookies! Move it!"
The soldiers hurriedly flocked.
Seeing the truck slowly rolling and thinking they might miss it, they threw themselves in head over heels, in positions too pitiful to mention, abandoning their weapons and covering their heads.
The trailer bed was spacious enough. Even with five breathless soldiers sprawled out, there was still space left.
Seeing Gyeo-ul enter the passenger seat, Cohen let out a yell of excitement.
"Yeeahh! That was incredible! Hahaha!"
The vehicle dashed between the houses off the main road. True to America's land abundance, there was enough room for the vehicle to dash between buildings.
Even if there was a fence in the garden, it was merely decorative, hardly enough to stop the vehicle.
The vehicle cut diagonally across the residential area, coming to an abrupt stop in front of the clinic.
Swear words from the soldiers who had been tossed around and heard as they rolled around the truck bed filled the air.
Cohen chuckled at their curses, reminding him of the fact they had been ready to die in isolation just hours before.
Meeting some of their comrades again had likely lifted their spirits.
No help from others was needed. Staff Sergeant Ashford could walk on his own, and by now, the effects of any medication should have worn off.
Gyeo-ul went inside alone and brought him out. Although Ashford had been groaning and clinging to his arm as they left, meeting his comrades erased any sign of his pain.
Once Gyeo-ul boarded, the vehicle set off again.
"I don't like leaving so many behind."
Though they trailed far behind, unable to catch the vehicle's speed, the horde still pursued, an ominous sight.
In the distance, there was a massive writhing mass. Being no longer human, they wouldn't tire easily. Sergeant Cohen asked, "What's your plan?"
"There's a gas station over there. We'll pour fuel and roast them."
"As expected, you Asians are wicked smart! Okay, let's roll!"
Having reckoned with the spread of the fire, they parked further away. Even with careful distribution, there was a risk of the gas station exploding.
Gyeo-ul stepped forward, claiming he would set up a decoy.
Referring to the radio he had collected earlier, they could catch the disaster broadcast frequency beyond the perimeter, ensuring there would be no static.
He cranked the volume to maximum and tossed it into the wreckage of a Humvee. Two soldiers who could move properly offered to provide cover.
The rest lay low behind their nearest cover, barrels peeking out.
Gasoline was poured out, soaking the road with clear fluid. Walnut Drive ascended northward from the Creston Road.
The gas station at the road's intersection was marginally higher than the area where the fire would be set.
If it was lower, it would have been troublesome in many ways. Gyeo-ul judged there was enough gasoline and returned the pump to its holder, asking the soldiers, "Does anyone have a light?"
"A cigarette isn't necessary, is it?"
In response to Gyeo-ul's request, a soldier tossed him a Zippo lighter with an offhand joke.
Gyeo-ul waited for the mutants to rush onto the soaked road. When the timing was right, he flicked the lighter's flint and tossed it.
The gasoline ignited.
Whoosh!
Vivid red flames and smoke erupted. A fire sheet spread out. Unlike diesel or heavy oil, where sparking a match would snuff it out, gasoline explosions happened with the tiniest spark to its vapor.
The heat wave was enough to shove a person backward. It was so bright that the glare hurt the eyes. One had to block it with an arm.
Black silhouettes danced in the burning road. Screams blended into the chaotic medley of fire. The soldiers grimaced.
Amongst it all, infected mutants emerged through the light and smoke, unfazed by fire and frantically trying to add hosts.
"Don't shoot. It's a waste of bullets."
Rank-wise, there was no need for the soldiers to heed Gyeo-ul. Yet, they followed the words of someone significantly younger.
Indeed, there was no need to shoot. Burning muscles contracted haphazardly.
That's why those who set themselves on fire always fall forward, and humans burned in fires curl up like a fetus.
Mutants were no different, sizzling black bodies rolled as they fell with momentum. Their flesh peeled.
Infected mutants did not get bogged down by pain. Passing through the flames posed a threat, but once their eyes were seared, they lost their sense of direction.
Every new wave faced the same fate as those before them.
It was a ghastly scene even to witness. Black shadows writhing against the flickering light, like a hell drawn in flames.
Though altered, their bodies were once human. Their screams resembled humans as well. Bursts mixed in with the sounds; they were from ammunition explosions left in the Humvee wreckage.
At times, it was merely the sound of bodies, expanded by heat, popping like balloons.
The ones in cover had also crept closer. They observed the grand burning ceremony. One soldier, staring blankly, crossed himself and kissed his cross necklace.
Gyeo-ul spoke.
"Let's go back. To those waiting for us."
Everyone nodded in silence. Mingled expressions of the joy of survival, fatigue yearning for rest, relief, and subtle sadness.
Shadows stretched long against the flames behind them. It'd be nice to have some stocked supplies, but it seemed far-fetched now.
With the number of people increased, they pushed through the obstacles on their path and drove all the way.
Though not even a day had passed, the sight of the gym felt as if they had been away for days. They approached the back door and knocked.
It was Lee Yura who answered, having eagerly awaited them. Her eyes widened seeing Gyeo-ul, who had taken off his gas mask. She hesitated momentarily before hugging him tightly.
"I was worried. That you wouldn't come back..."
Sergeant Cohen let out a frivolous whistle. But seeing her start crying made him rethink, scratching his head awkwardly.
The door opened, and seven American soldiers poured in. The sheltered ones flinched, some even raising their guns, but the weary soldiers seemed too exhausted to care.
A few collapsed in relief before even passing the barricade. Cohen and Staff Sergeant Ashford exchanged celebratory fist bumps, while the others lit cigarettes, taking deep drags.
Though harmless to the player, Gyeo-ul distanced himself.
In life—if you could call it that—back when he still had a body, he had always hated the smell of his father's cigarettes filling the house.
The soldiers laughed at this. Despite his cold demeanor, after all, he was still a child.
From somewhere, a sound of clapping emerged. The applause, lonely in its solitude, came from a young student.
That child, having grown even paler and whiter from prolonged irregular meals and indoor living, clapped through tears.
The gaze was precisely aimed in Gyeo-ul's direction.
The applause gradually spread. Words of praise mixed in. Military personnel rose to join in.
The moderated claps, due to awareness of noise, oddly felt even louder.
Jin-seok alone remained bitter. No matter how favorable the outcome, he couldn't accept the means.
His belief remained unshaken that Gyeo-ul should never have stepped out in the first place.
This fed into a sense of defeat against Gyeo-ul, and it gnawed at him even more, having been outdone by a minor.
For those with ambitions, a rival's success always tastes bitter.
While Yura continued holding onto Gyeo-ul's arm, sniveling, staff Sergeant Ashford, the highest ranking survivor among the Americans, approached.
Observing keenly, he saluted crisply.
"I have the greatest respect for your courage. We are sincerely indebted to you."
"Expressing gratitude can wait until after you're safe."
The goodwill earned from saving lives is of good quality. Mostly because the benefits do not diminish and the favorable adjustments are constant.
Only such constant adjustments can negate each other. Unless an act such as murdering someone's family in front of them occurs, the gains made now would remain indefinitely.
Once the sergeant returned to his comrades, Gyeo-ul wiped away Yura's tears with the hem of his clothing. The dirty face turned white along the tearstains.
A woman's beauty is both a weapon and a weakness. Thus, many women in the camp did not groom themselves for self-protection.
Therefore, even if good hygiene facilities were available, one's charm would only surface once the community stabilized.
Just by looking at Yura's frazzled hair and dirt-covered skin, it was hard to imagine her original appearance.
Having cleaned her up a bit, she seemed as though with some effort, she'd look quite good.
Just then, a notification chimed.
「A Viewer Quest has been assigned by SALHAE.」
Anyone watching the open broadcast could place virtual currency called "Stars" and give the host a quest.
This concept is known as Viewer Quest. Still soothing Yura, Gyeo-ul glanced at the message. Its content was outrageous.
「Message from SALHAE: I want sex! I want sex! Se-e-e-ex!」
The task conditions were straightforward. Sex with Lee Yura. No time limit, no sub-goals. Simply sleeping with her earned 1000 Stars.
The boy recalled a flower waiting for a Star.
He had initiated the broadcast primarily for such requests, yet he couldn't entirely shake off the repulsion.
'Let's give it a bit more time...'
He declined the quest.
As it was already late afternoon when they arrived, nightfall didn't take long to come. Crowd terror was significantly low.
The exaggerated heroic tales spread by the soldiers made the students idolize him, and even adults felt a significant impact. At this point, the minor penalty became irrelevant.
「AI Help (Insight lv.10/Perception lv.10): Now people believe you can manage no matter what happens. You're the spiritual pillar of this temporary community. Just staying with them helps reduce the crowd terror. At this point, crowd terror is at 19% with a margin of error of ±2.8%.」
Gyeo-ul pondered over the distribution of the newly acquired experience points.
Skills like 「Insight」 and 「Perception」, central to leadership and frequently used, were worth investing in.
Additionally, the 「Movement」 skill, which eased mobility in obstructed environments, was raised to level 5. It had good synergy with other skills.
In combat skills, he acquired 「Throw」 and 「Shooting Proficiency」, both at level 5.
「Throw」 was to prepare for more frequent grenade use in the future, and it would also help if he needed to throw knives or the like.
In the case of 「Shooting Proficiency」, it broadly strengthened almost all ranged combat skills, including 「Firearms Proficiency」, 「Heavy Weapons Proficiency」, 「Archery Proficiency」, etc.
However, it consumed more experience points while providing relatively less effect.
He elevated 「Firearms Proficiency」 by one level, hitting level 11, the threshold of genius territory.
It was an unparalleled level, even in the later stages of the apocalypse.
Having adjusted his skills to leave enough spare experience, Gyeo-ul accelerated time.
There would be additional rewards for completing the rescue mission upon returning to the camp. He could reallocate his points then.
The ground rumbled profoundly at dawn. Time acceleration was automatically deactivated.
The ground-shattering noise came from helicopter rotors spinning. A radio message from those searching for survivors came in simultaneously.
Staff Sergeant Ashford, exchanging a look with Gyeo-ul, grabbed the radio to respond.
Listening to it, they realized it was because reports of special mutants had prompted the dispatch of attack helicopters.
Most of America's air power was busy with the blockade or providing fire support and supply drops to other camps.
Having four attack helicopters sent for this was rare. The pilots' mission was to obtain samples of the special mutants.
For this purpose, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U. S. Public Health Service units had accompanied them along with large transport helicopters.
When informed of having neutralized two creatures by themselves, they seemed noticeably surprised; the voice changed immediately.
By request for their location, 「Cartography」 skills were utilized, passing the rough direction and distance centered around the gymnasium.
The Apache helicopters thoroughly scoured the city, exterminating infected mutants, and eventually concluded there were no more special mutants existing.
Subsequently, Bravo Company arriving from the camp brought the rescue mission to a complete close.
The vehicle convoy moved north along the highway, continuously escorted by helicopter squadrons.
From afar, packs of mutants crazily charged upon seeing the convoy. In response, two Apaches turned to unleash a torrent of gunfire.
「Tutaataataatata!」
These ravenous helicopters consumed over 70 gallons of aviation fuel per hour, yet displayed immense destructive power.
They sprayed high-explosive rounds at a rate of ten per second, each more potent than a grenade.
Boom-boom-boom! Boom!
The sight of explosions and smoke cutting through was truly spectacular.
As the convoy came within sight of the camp, the helicopter squadron dispersed in all directions, smashing mutant groups as they went and eventually disappearing afar.
It was split for safety. If they were to return directly from near the camp, the colossal noise would attract the mutants to the camp.
---------------------------= Author's Note ---------------------------=
1. The existence of the TOM organ is still in the hypothesis stage. While there's speculation that such an organ might exist within human cognitive structure, its exact location or form remains unconfirmed. This is just a hypothesis, so please take it with a grain of salt.
2. When I started serializing this novel, I never expected it to receive such overwhelmingly positive feedback. Hmm.
If you found this novel really enjoyable, please recommend it to people around you.
For instance, approach a cute child and say, "Hi there! Haaaah. Would you like to come along while I show you this entertaining novel?" or something in that vein...
On second thought, maybe not.
Clacky's Corner:
I will do as you command, author-nim.