Level 4 Human in a Ruined World - Chapter 71

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 71 20. Life and Death Battle in Front of the Motel (3)

 

All-out attack.

 

It was a command without any particular elaboration, but as if everyone had planned it, they all rushed toward a single target.

 

Shiiiiit!

 

Straight toward Gyeongbuk First Sword (True).

 

“This…!”

 

The man holding the thorn gasped as he saw the Women’s Alliance members rushing at him, even ignoring the mutant.

 

“These crazy bitches.”

 

But this wasn’t anger toward the alliance, but rather fear of this situation.

 

Though he had experienced all sorts of battles while collecting titles in the Gyeongbuk region, he had never even imagined a situation where he’d have to fight dozens of enraged female swordsmen, a mutant that fell from the sky, and the first-generation Gyeongbuk First Sword all at once.

 

“Kugh.”

 

In the end, the man threw himself outside the lobby to escape to open ground for now.

 

Thud!

 

Immediately, mutant Young-tae cast a huge shadow as he chased after him.

 

「Wait!」

 

A ‘friend’ is an existence that must accomplish something within the time limit and return to receive rewards.

 

So Young-tae’s words to wait just now were sincere, not a threat.

 

「I said wait!」

 

Of course, this time it was a threat with quite a bit of emotion.

 

For a moment, Young-tae’s eyes seemed to glow red, then the guy leaped at tremendous speed.

 

Shiiiiik!

 

A sound like an airplane passing overhead rang out.

 

“Huk.”

 

When the man looked up, he could see the giant mutant crossing through the air and landing on the other side.

 

He had overtaken him in one go and blocked his escape route.

 

“Crazy.”

 

But there wasn’t even time to be surprised.

 

Hwaeaeaek!

 

This time a heavy sound of cutting through air came from the motel direction.

 

Young-woo, who had been chasing from behind, was thrusting with his black sword extended to 5 meters.

 

“This shit.”

 

The man gritted his teeth and decided to first raise his thorn to block the black sword.

 

It was a decision made entirely on his own judgment, as the dozens of Women’s Alliance members about to rush in made it hard to make out the hologram before his eyes.

 

Kaaang!

 

Finally, the blades of the two First Swords clashed.

 

“…?”

 

The man, who had properly crossed swords with Young-woo for the first time, flashed his eyes with a surprised expression.

 

‘What the hell, this bastard? He’s complete trash.’

 

The opponent’s strength transmitted through the thorn was utterly pathetic.

 

But when dozens of joint attacks poured down over this pathetic strength, the story changed.

 

“Hiyaaaa!”

 

“Die!”

 

“Don’t hesitate!”

 

Chwachwachwat!

 

Flashing blades flew in like a shower of arrows, and the man was frantically busy trying to pick out Young-woo’s attacks mixed among the dozens of blades.

 

Moreover.

 

‘What, something’s strange.’

 

The man didn’t know, but 30% of Young-woo’s attacks weren’t caught by the hologram.

 

「Mirage」 – Unique Shoes

 

【30% chance of Detection Evasion.】

 

As Young-woo had hoped, the effect called ‘Insight’ included the hologram of Regional Sword Technique as well.

 

So in the end.

 

“Isn’t this too cowardly? Let’s go with a one-on-one duel!”

 

Unlike inside the motel, the man who had become busy just defending proposed a 1:1 duel.

 

Of course, Young-woo had no reason to accept such a proposal, and the mutant currently rushing over at fierce speed from over there wouldn’t allow it either.

 

「Merit…!」

 

Thud, thud, thud!

 

Young-tae charged fiercely toward Gyeongbuk First Sword (True) who was showing his back.

 

Right now, the only thought in his head was that he had to kill that bastard before return time came.

 

Only then could he receive recognition for his merit and bring something more into his ‘room’.

 

「If I go back empty-handed, I’ll really go crazy.」

 

The so-called Returner’s Room.

 

A small room that was only white, without doors or windows, was all that filled Young-tae’s daily life.

 

Until Young-woo blew the whistle to summon him, he just sat in that room where even the flow of time couldn’t be properly felt, waiting.

 

Of course, he did receive his first reward for the merit recognized from Sangju City last time.

 

It was none other than an arm-sized hourglass.

 

It had no particular function and he could only watch the sand fall, but it was better than endlessly staring at white walls.

 

That didn’t mean the waiting time became enjoyable thanks to the watch at all.

 

Rather, the waiting time became more agonizing.

 

Once he directly confirmed that accomplishing merit gradually improved his environment, he became even more desperate for summons.

 

It could be called a kind of hope torture.

 

「Hiyat!」

 

Young-tae, who had finally reached behind the man, swung his large hand.

 

Buuuk!

 

Then a sound of air being torn rang out and the man’s vision filled with bright red hologram.

 

‘Fuck, already.’

 

The man who sensed a shitty future gritted his teeth. He could already see pitch-black claws in the corner of his vision.

 

“Isn’t this cheating!”

 

Hwaet!

 

When the man spat out words close to a scream while swinging his thorn, Young-tae’s claws that met it crumbled pathetically.

 

Kwajajak!

 

「Uh…?」

 

“…Eh?”

 

The man’s strength was much stronger than Young-tae’s durability.

 

And just as the man was about to flash a triumphant smile upon realizing this.

 

“Die!”

 

“Get in there!”

 

Dozens of Women’s Alliance members attacked without giving him a moment’s rest.

 

‘I need to deal with these bastards first.’

 

The man watched the holograms tangle chaotically again and thought he needed to reduce the enemy’s numbers first.

 

While the Regional Sword Technique’s Hologram Guide showed incredible performance in one-on-one duels, it actually became a hindrance when there were multiple enemies creating numerous warnings like this.

 

“All of you get lost!”

 

Finally, the man who had revised his strategy began swinging his thorn toward the Women’s Alliance side, and Young-woo, noticing this, immediately gave instructions to Young-tae.

 

“Hold that bastard down somehow! He’s trying to reduce our numbers…!”

 

Young-woo’s voice was desperate because he truly needed a miracle.

 

He knew well from past experience that his ‘friend’s’ summoning time wasn’t very long.

 

And if Young-tae were to fall out again in this situation…

 

‘Then we have no chance of winning. We’ll all die here.’

 

As Young-woo gritted his teeth and charged at the man, Young-tae also made up his mind and attempted a tackle.

 

Since the opponent now knew he could shatter claws with his thorn, he’d rather force evasive maneuvers to create an opening.

 

Hwaeaeeaek!

 

But the opponent’s response was beyond Young-tae’s imagination.

 

“You idiot. Did you think I’d dodge if you came straight at me?”

 

Instead of evasive maneuvers, the man planted his feet firmly in place and made a deep thrust toward Young-tae’s chest.

 

He had chosen a frontal breakthrough.

 

This meant he was that confident in the power of his thrusting.

 

And indeed.

 

Jjwajwajwajwook!

 

Young-tae’s body was torn apart with a horrific sound.

 

「…Gwoeoek!」

 

Kuwoong!

 

Young-tae collapsed to the floor with a miserable scream.

 

Even during this, the man was riding his momentum and heading straight for Young-woo.

 

Tatat!

 

The opponent’s feet were so fast that afterimages were visible.

 

Young-woo thought he would thrust again, and sure enough, the Gyeongbuk Sword Technique’s hologram warned of a frontal thrust.

 

“…!”

 

A needle aimed at Young-woo’s neck, thrust out very quickly.

 

Sshiiiiiik!

 

The moment a sound like tearing air rang out, Young-woo threw the biggest gamble since his reset.

 

Hwot.

 

Instead of clumsily dodging or countering, he actually stepped forward to meet it and thrust his head forward.

 

“Huh…?”

 

For a moment, the man recognized that Young-woo was doing something unconventional.

 

So if he wanted, he could have switched to a defensive stance for now.

 

But.

 

“Stupid fool.”

 

He was confident that his thrust would immediately pierce through the Gyeongbuk First Sword’s head.

 

Along with that crude helmet covering the First Sword’s head.

 

Shiaaat!

 

The needle continued to thrust forward without changing course.

 

Sensing this, Young-woo thought there might be room for a miracle.

 

Because Young-woo’s helmet, which the thorn had just begun to scrape against the surface.

 

Kwatststst!

 

「Vanguard」 – Artifact Helmet

 

【This helmet cannot be damaged.】

 

Tiit!

 

The thorn that ultimately couldn’t pierce through ‘Vanguard’ was swept aside along the helmet’s gentle surface.

 

Then.

 

“Take this!”

 

Young-woo slammed his forehead into the guy’s face.

 

So this was.

 

‘A… Head Butt?’

 

The Women’s Alliance members gaped at the brutish attack they never expected.

 

The man who suddenly got his face smashed by a bronze helmet also groaned and stepped back.

 

“This fucking bastard with all kinds of…”

 

However, regardless of the impressive attack method, the damage the man sustained was minimal.

 

The man’s durability was too high and Young-woo’s strength too low for his face to be shattered by a head butt.

 

But it was sufficient attack for ‘Golden Punishment’s’ pain infliction effect to activate.

 

The man, who confirmed not even a nosebleed occurred and was about to sneer, suddenly gritted his teeth and bent over.

 

“Keuhek…!”

 

The extreme pain scattered the man’s attention, and Young-woo swung his sword the moment he sensed this.

 

Swaeeeet!

 

It was an eerily fast attack, but the man even saw through this and raised his thorn to block it.

 

Kaaang!

 

But that was as far as it went.

 

Between the crossed blades, the man begged for his life.

 

“W-wait…! Let’s stop here!”

 

This was proof that he couldn’t guarantee the next exchange either.

 

“…”

 

Young-woo didn’t even answer and immediately swung his sword.

 

Shiiit!

 

Coincidentally, this attack seemed to avoid Insight with a 30% probability, as the man’s thorn didn’t move even until the moment the sword touched his neck.

 

Chwaaat!

 

Finally, the man’s head flew into the air along with the black blade.

 

At the same time, some multicolored light scattered along the sword’s spiral trajectory, and a wedge pattern appeared clearly.

 

[Grade 2 Advertising Space Utilization]

 

-Our company’s logo will be printed on the weapon’s trajectory.

 

Ridiculous as it was, it was exactly as stated in the contract.

 

They had really used Young-woo’s weapon trajectory as advertising space.

 

‘Wait, is someone actually watching this?’

 

Young-woo’s appearance as he looked around the air right after beheading his opponent looked like a crazy person to anyone.

 

“Um, excuse me?”

 

Even Seong Ye-rin couldn’t bring herself to approach and stood at a distance.

 

Only when Jong-su appeared belatedly to inform them that Young-tae’s return was imminent did Young-woo’s mind return.

 

“Hyung-nim! It seems your friend is…!”

 

“…?”

 

Young-woo, who tilted his head for a moment, realized that Young-tae’s body, which had been helping in battle right beside him, was becoming faint.

 

Like before, his summoning time had run out.

 

“Oh, Young-tae!”

 

Young-woo’s eyes widened as he suddenly noticed his ‘friend’s’ entire body was completely destroyed.

 

In response, Young-tae barely managed to raise his tattered hand and opened his elongated snout in a smile.

 

This was clear evidence that he had contributed to this battle.

 

「Call me again. Please.」

 

As if so happy he forgot even the pain, Young-tae melted away into thin air with a bright smile.

 

And in the place where he had left.

 

“….”

 

Only the corpse of the beheaded young man remained.

 

* * *

 

「You have acquired and merged Gyeongbuk First Sword (True)!」

 

「The effect of the Gyeongbuk First Sword title becomes more powerful.」

 

As the title interface appeared in Young-woo’s vision, the title attached to the headless corpse disappeared.

 

The titles the man had been holding were inherited by Young-woo.

 

…You have reached 1 title in the Gyeonggi-do region.

 

…You possess 1 title in the Chungbuk region.

 

…You possess 7 titles in the Gyeongbuk region.

 

「The current Gyeongbuk First Sword is ‘Jung Young-woo07’. 1st generation, 3 defenses.」

 

Even while looking at the lengthy text that seemed to celebrate his achievement, Young-woo couldn’t bring himself to relax his stern expression.

 

…You have reached 1 title in the Gyeonggi-do region.

 

‘…Icheon.’

 

Because the life of Icheon First Sword Kim Byeong-cheol139 was also included in this spoils of war.

 

He had been a rare righteous person in the reset world, but he died without even setting foot in Seoul.

 

Moreover, if it hadn’t been for Young-woo, wouldn’t Byeong-cheol never have encountered Gyeongbuk First Sword (True) in the first place?

 

So Young-woo felt considerable responsibility for Byeong-cheol’s death.

 

“What about the other officer?”

 

When Young-woo asked about Tae-young’s whereabouts, Jong-su’s head turned toward the motel.

 

“Fortunately, he’s alive. I checked on the way here.”

 

However, Jong-su’s expression wasn’t bright.

 

Young-woo could fully understand the reason.

 

But before comforting the officer who had lost his colleague, there was something he needed to do first.

 

And that was.

 

Swish.

 

Searching the corpse.

 

As Young-woo knelt down on one knee in front of the corpse of the young man who had once been a challenger, the Golden Goblin that had been hiding in the distance came running hurriedly.

 

-Keet!

 

And at the same time, the female alliance members scattered around the area quietly gathered.

 

Everyone was curious about what would happen after a duel between First Swords ended.

 

But just because they were First Swords, would there be much difference?

 

If there was one advantage, it was that Young-woo had a relic-grade slave so he didn’t have to search the corpse directly.

 

-Keekit!

 

The goblin made sounds that seemed excited for some reason as it felt around various parts of the corpse, and soon laid out the spoils in front of Young-woo.

 

Clink.

 

First were 12 crimson coins.

 

That meant 12,000 Karma.

 

‘He wasn’t the type to carry much cash around.’

 

As Young-woo nodded, the goblin threw the coins into the subspace pouch.

 

-Kit!

 

The second item was.

 

Clang.

 

The problematic weapon that had pierced through Icheon First Sword and numerous female alliance members.

 

「Ashen Thorn」 – Mutant Spear

 

【Thrusting power is greatly increased.】

 

‘It really is a thorn.’

 

Moreover, it was essentially a thrusting-only weapon.

 

For Young-woo, who had committed his first murder with thrusting, he couldn’t help but feel strange.

 

‘My weapons keep increasing.’

 

The mutant one-handed sword Underdog obtained as spoils in Chungju, and likewise the mutant one-handed sword Durahan’s Sword… also known as the Black Sword.

 

Now the Ashen Thorn was added to these.

 

Even excluding Early Bird, he now had three weapons suitable for main use.

 

‘It would be nice if there was a way to combine or sell equipment.’

 

As Young-woo picked up the ‘Ashen Thorn’ directly and looked at the goblin, it held up the next spoil with one hand.

 

-Keet.

 

The identity of the small object that the not-so-large goblin could hold up with one hand was.

 

‘Huh…? This is also equipment?’

 

A very ordinary-looking fountain pen.

 

4th Grade Human in the Ruined World (Serial)

 

Author │ Oetu

 

Publisher │ Kim Ju-hyeong

 

Published by │ J-Plus Media Co., Ltd.

 

Marketing │ Han Jae-hyeok

 

Address │ Seoul Guro-gu Digital-ro 288, Room 204 (Guro-dong, Daeryung Post Tower 1)

 

Email │ [email protected]

 

Homepage │ www.jayplemedia.com

 

ⓒOetu2023

 

※This work is published by J-Plus Media Co., Ltd. under contract with the copyright holder, and no part of the content may be used in any form or by any means without permission from our company and the author.

 

Violation of this may result in criminal and civil legal liability.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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