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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: The Heavenly Murder Strike
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-Drip.
-Splatter.
-Drip.
Among all the bastards I've killed so far...
Orc blood was the stickiest.
The stench was the worst, too.
"Huuu..."
I took off my t-shirt, soaked through with blood, and wrung it out hard.
Blood dripped down in heavy drops.
If I had time, maybe I should head back to that bathroom and wash it.
For now, though, I had no choice but to put it back on.
The moment I slipped the sticky shirt back over my head...
✨ LEVEL UP! ✨ Lv. 4 → Lv. 5
+ Skill Slot Unlocked
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ You can acquire a skill.
Ah.
Already level 5?
I thought I was level 3 or 4 after finishing the tutorial.
Must've gone up again from killing that orc just now.
Level 5.
This was the point where you got your second skill.
Every five levels, you unlocked a new skill slot.
The basic skill from the tutorial and the one at level 5 were the most crucial.
They basically determined your future prospects.
My first skill was Talent for Murder.
What would the second one be?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Assigning skill. ... Assigning... ⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Heavenly Murder Strike (Passive)
User's attacks ignore the opponent's defense.
Heavenly Murder Strike?
Was this connected to my Heavenly Murder Star trait?
Defense ignored?
I want defense...
No, wait—ignoring defense? That's insane, isn't it?
Even a toothpick jab would do damage.
-Swipe.
-Rub.
I wiped my straight sword clean on the dead orc's clothes.
*If only I could test it out right now.*
I glanced around.
Just in case this orc had any buddies lurking nearby.
But nothing caught my eye.
"What a shame."
Did I just mutter that out loud again?
Damn, am I developing a split personality or something?
Anyway...
-Clank.
What the hell was that?
Something was rattling in the orc's pocket.
I pulled it out—a card key soaked in blood.
Not exactly something an orc would carry around.
"Hmm."
Looking closer, the text on the card key matched the lettering on the restaurant sign.
So that meant...?
"Like a meal ticket, huh."
I looped it around my neck.
Might be able to score some food with this.
The restaurant felt like a buffet-style chow hall.
-Beep.
I held the card key up to what looked like a scanner,
-Flash!
A green light blinked on.
Then some mechanical gizmo whirred to life.
A moment later...
"Whoa!!!"
The empty food zone filled up with steaming hot dishes.
Spicy rice cakes.
Fritters.
Blood sausage.
Fish cakes.
Seaweed rice rolls.
"Jackpot!"
Exactly the stuff I'd been craving.
The spicy rice cakes came in all varieties: rice cakes, wheat cakes, cheese, creamy rose, even black bean.
Fritters galore—my favorite kimchi rice roll fritters, squid rings, shrimp tempura, fried eggs, fried bread, sweet potato fries, veggie fritters...!
The blood sausage steamed invitingly.
Couldn't skip the dried seaweed snacks.
Two kinds of seaweed rice rolls: plain and tuna.
The fish cakes simmered in broth with bright red crab in it.
-Gurgle.
Hunger hit me like a truck.
I grabbed a tray and started piling on the classic spicy rice cakes, thick and chewy, with kimchi rice roll fritters and squid fritters to start.
"Khaa!!!"
The rice cakes were hot, spicy, and chewy.
The fritters crunched so hard my palate tingled.
Dip a kimchi rice roll in the broth and shove it in whole!
-Munch munch.
No joke—this was better than any chain restaurant.
The blood sausage had the perfect chew, perfect for dipping in broth.
The seaweed snacks were savory as hell.
The rice rolls tasted just like homemade!!!
-Gulp gulp.
The fish cake broth was refreshing, like seafood soup.
"Kuhhh."
This stuff slays. Kills.
Stuffing my gut with street food like this...
I've finally grown up!
"Ugh, so full."
I ate for ages, but the food didn't dwindle at all.
Only after I finished my last cola did everything vanish in one go.
Not just the food—all the dishes and utensils too.
"Hm, so that's the system here."
But the fullness lingered, so the food must've been real enough.
Glad I can fill up like this.
Thought I'd be stuck chugging water to stay hydrated.
"Meeting that orc was lucky."
Even scored this card key.
Alright. Let's make this place my base.
The bathroom's just a temporary spot.
Food requires the key, so clueless folks will see this as just an empty lot.
Securing water and rations already puts me way ahead.
Now that I've got a base, time to scour the area around it.
They said searching the interior yields all sorts of rewards.
Basic materials are fine,
but if luck's on my side, maybe an item, skill, or even a summon.
This is a low-level zone, so nothing crazy.
Just snag something decent and usable.
30 days is plenty of time.
I'll comb every nook and cranny.
I grabbed the card key and straight sword, then stepped out of the restaurant.
And then...
"Gasp!"
I couldn't help but be stunned by the sight in the corridor.
*This place... it's a spaceship...*
The passage had a glass window, and beyond it stretched the cosmos.
Countless stars wheeled away and rushed close in endless cycles.
No wonder it felt so sci-fi.
*So this is the theme.*
What if an alien pops out now?
That one movie was terrifying...
But now that I've got Heavenly Murder Star, maybe it wouldn't scare me anymore.
I'll rewatch it when I get back.
Musing like that, I explored—no, scouted—the corridor.
A few open rooms caught my eye.
But nothing useful.
Just junk.
Cracking open crates yielded zilch.
No vibe, no clue what half of it was even for.
"Nothing good."
Who knew scavenging for items was this tough?
-Creak.
Fine, at least change clothes.
Mine were a bloody wreck from the orc.
I opened the busted wardrobe door.
A few outfits inside.
"Hmm, wrong size."
The owner must've been a small race. Or a woman.
Everything was too tiny.
Maybe a stretched-out shirt at least.
Rummaging a bit more...
"Oh!"
Something came out.
Clothes...? Sort of?
"Might actually fit."
A spacesuit straight out of a sci-fi flick.
Metallic fabric, skin-tight design.
Nexkia Spacesuit Defense ↑ Strength ↑ Agility ↑
Nexkia?
Name of the alien race that flew this ship, maybe?
Boosts too!
Total luck!
I immediately ditched my blood-crusted t-shirt.
The suit looked like a full-body spandex deal, but it stretched nicely and slipped on easy.
Hit the wrist button, and it snapped perfectly to my frame, any looseness gone.
And right away...
"Definitely feels different."
My body felt lighter yet more solid.
Ooh, nice!
No helmet, though?
Dug through the wardrobe more, but no other loot.
Alright, no lingering—time to move.
Straight sword in hand, I headed back out.
"...!"
Something about the corridor felt off.
Footsteps echoing from afar.
Heavy thuds—had to be a big species.
*Werewolves...*
Three werewolves trudging from the end of the hall.
Or beasts? How do you even count something half-wolf, half-man?
Whatever—three were heading my way.
Orcs, now werewolves.
Otherworlders were crawling with non-human races.
While I marveled...
"Hey! Look over there!"
"A human? It's a human!"
"Human, you say?"
The werewolves spotted me.
"Kekekeke. Perfect timing."
"Been starving without rations..."
"And here's a snack walking right to us!"
They all burst into laughter.
I gripped my straight sword tighter, staring them down.
*Finally, a chance to see what Heavenly Murder Strike does.*
I wanna laugh too, you fucks.
Thanks for showing up!
Would've sucked if only orcs were around!
"Slurp..."
The werewolves licked their chops as they advanced.
"Not even running."
"Is he nuts?"
"Kekeke. Nutty or not, he'll taste the same!"
The instant they bared their razor fangs...
-KABOOM!!!!
A massive explosion shattered the corridor wall.
And out came...
*The tagger...!*
A grotesque alien horror straight out of a movie.
Skin neither scale nor hide—something alien.
Black slime oozed over it.
Teeth beyond counting crunched the three werewolves in one bite.
-Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!
The wet grind of bone and flesh pulverized.
-Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!
The passage filled with the reek of blood in seconds.
-Thump. Thump. Thump.
My heart pounded in sync with the chewing sounds.
Fear?
No.
Excitement at new prey.
That anticipation...
-Thump. Thump. Thump.
I couldn't hold back.
Even knowing this was Survival War, not Extermination War.
-Dash!
I charged straight ahead.
The monstrosity didn't even glance my way.
Ignoring me.
Of course.
No human would sweat a single ant charging them.
Worked in my favor, though.
No running? Thank you very much.
-Squelch!!!
My straight sword plunged into the thing's flank.
A body that should've repelled anything.
But I knew exactly where to strike.
Plus...
[Heavenly Murder Strike].
-SKREEEEEE!!!!!
A scream so hair-raising it chilled the spine echoed out.
Not a roar—a shriek.
Probably a first for it too.
-The tagger cannot be killed.
Just like the warning in the training manual.
It was an "unslayable" existence.
But me...?
"Talk about bad luck for you."
[Heavenly Murder Star]
A heaven-sent slayer.
In other words, I could kill anything.
-Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Every swing met solid bone resistance.
Attacks landed.
But severing in one go? Tough.
-SKREEEK!!!!
The monstrosity didn't sit idle.
A scythe-like claw on its forelimb slashed for my throat.
-Whoosh!
I dodged by a hair and yanked my sword free.
Then...
-Slash!!!
Swinging the drawn blade,
-Splurt!!!!
I severed the clawed toe joint.
No blood—black slime sprayed.
-Sizzle...
The slime hit the werewolves' lower bodies, melting them down.
Acidic.
Suit or no suit, gotta be careful.
-KIIIII!!!!
Before the eerie cry faded...
-Slash!!!
I lopped off the other claw too.
-Splurt!
Dodged the acid again.
Now both forelimbs gone, the monstrosity stared blankly at me.
Aw.
What's wrong?
You still got teeth.
-Kih, kiik...!
Stagger, stagger.
The thing backed away.
-KIIEEEEEE!!!!!
It shrieked,
then instead of charging, bolted away fast.
Huh?
Do taggers run away?
"Hey! You can't run!"
I gave chase.
But it was faster.
"Damn it! Come back! Get back here!"
I haven't even landed a solid hit yet!
I sprinted with everything I had.
Don't go!
Desperate as grabbing a parting lover.
"If I catch you, you're dead!!!"
Huff, huff.
Even after leveling up, stamina wasn't keeping up.
Goddamn it, I can really kill you!
"Khuhhk..."
Staring at the tagger vanishing into the distance.
"I'll catch you and kill you for sure!!"
I howled in the empty corridor.
"Come baaaack~!!!!"
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