Player of a Ruined World - Chapter 42

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Player of the Ruined World – Episode 042
“Is there anything else you need?”
Park Sangil asked, and I examined my companions’ expressions while considering the question.
To be honest… defeating a giant zombie with our current numbers was impossible.
There wasn’t even a sliver of possibility—it was literally like striking a rock with an egg.
Unless I used my skills to take it down myself, we had no chance of victory.
‘I still can’t use Frenzy.’
Frenzy was a skill I shouldn’t use unless absolutely necessary.
If I collapsed again from using it… I couldn’t predict what might happen.
Moreover, now that I’d become the League Master, I couldn’t anticipate what penalty might occur if a League Member died.
So the only skill I could reliably use was Balhwa.
Since I’d raised my Strength stat sufficiently, I would have to use Balhwa and take down the giant zombie myself.
“No, there’s nothing else we need.”
“Is the giant zombie weaker than the Mutants?”
“Not exactly… but unlike Mutants, it doesn’t have techniques that cause mental confusion or create difficult situations.”
“Right, come to think of it—Doyun said he saw a strange Mutant when you were dealing with the Water Demons.”
“A strange Mutant?”
“Yeah, it looked like liquid.”
Liquid?
Could it be…?
“You encountered a Fusion Type?”
“That’s what it’s called—a Fusion Type?”
“It spits acidic liquid and creates scout-like creatures. Is that right?”
“What?! Yeah, that’s it.”
“You defeated it?”
At my surprised expression, Park Sangil looked flustered.
“Wasn’t I supposed to?”
“No, that’s not it… how did you manage to defeat it?”
After hearing Park Sangil’s explanation, I gave a thumbs up toward Kang Haneul and Park Sangha.
Science truly is magnificent.
To make such a judgment in that moment.
I wasn’t sure whether to call it impressive or reckless.
At No Way Home, we often dug pits to capture Fusion Types.
Since they weren’t particularly fast, we’d lure them into pits, trap them, and dispose of them.
Yet they thought to burst one open to defeat it.
This was a method I hadn’t even imagined.
Park Sangha spoke while checking the System Message.
“So should we move right away? If we try taking one down and it goes well, let’s catch more.”
“More?”
“If we let those things live, the Mutants’ evolution accelerates anyway. If we can defeat them, we should catch as many as possible.”
That’s impossible.
Even if I use Balhwa, I’ll be exhausted after dealing with just one of them.
It’s a skill I can use every hour, but to use Balhwa every hour….
‘I need more stamina.’
The rebound that occurs after the duration ends.
To withstand that impact, I’ll need to increase my stamina further.
My strength is high enough, so I should raise my stamina and agility to match.
“Check my available points.”
[Available Points: 2,071]
[Available Coins: 2]
I earned 2,000 points and 2 coins from clearing the Emergency Episode and Episode #2-0.
“Invest 20 in stamina.”
[Consuming 2,000 points to increase stamina by 20.]
[Current Stats: Stamina 65(+5), Strength 75(+5), Agility 30(+5), Epidermis 110, Mentality 50]
[Available Points: 71]
[Available Coins: 2]
Including the bonus stats from protective gear, my stamina reaches 70.
At this level… I shouldn’t collapse like before even after Balhwa ends.
“Let’s prepare and leave right away.”
“You want to move at night?”
I answered Park Sangil’s question with a wry smile.
“We need to travel 2 kilometers. We should clear the path as we go.”
“Ah, right.”
“And looking at Episode #2-1, it says to kill as many zombies as possible.”
“I saw that too. What’s the benefit of killing more?”
“Maybe we’ll get additional points or special rewards.”
At the mention of additional points and special rewards, the League Members began burning with enthusiasm.
“Hyung, and Doyun.”
Park Sangha then approached and handed me a curved sword.
I still remember his disappointed expression when he heard I’d lost my weapon, yet Park Sangha had crafted another one for me.
“Doyun, don’t lose your weapon again, and hyung, handle yours more carefully.”
Those who lost their curved swords fighting the Fusion Mutant obtained high-quality weapons again thanks to the Makers.
Damaged or torn protective gear could also be restored through the Makers’ abilities.
Park Sanghun, who had been observing the situation, looked at my face and asked.
“Doyun, how do you use the Whisper ability?”
“Picture the recipient in your mind, then try to convey your true thoughts.”
Park Sanghun closed his eyes tightly and pressed his temples with both hands.
Park Sanghun concentrated with his brow furrowed.
-Hey.
Then Park Sanghun’s voice echoed into my ear like a reverberation.
“Did you say ‘hey’?”
“Oh?! Oh! You heard me?”
“Yeah, that works fine.”
“Isn’t this telepathy?”
“Exactly. It sounds like a whisper right at the edge of your ear, so the character name is Whisper.”
“Huh? Then why is Shooter called Shooter? What connection does field-of-view ability have with being a shooter?”
“That’s… something you’ll naturally understand later.”
The power inherent in each character’s name.
It truly shines when the character gains skills.
So no matter what, I have to succeed in this second awakening.
That’s the only way I’ll be able to learn skills.
Sanghun and Lee Kwanghyun’s wife Kim Miyeon each practiced using their abilities several times.
In less than a minute, both of them were able to use their abilities naturally.
“Preparations are complete, so let’s head out.”
“Okay! Let’s go!”
Was it because they could now use their abilities?
Sanghun’s expression was brimming with excitement.
Seeing that excited face, I couldn’t help but smile.
We will continue to grow stronger and survive to the end.
Without losing our laughter like now, we will be the victors who smile until the very last moment.

* * *
Whoooosh—
The heavy rain still hadn’t stopped.
“Cough! Cough!”
“Left!”
At Park Sangil’s call, I turned my gaze to the left and spotted dozens of zombies rushing toward us.
Already unable to receive support from other parties because of the zombies charging from the front.
“Parties 2, 3, and 4, hold the front! Party 1, take the left alley!”
Gripping my curved sword, I charged forward, with Kim Suhan and Kang Haneul following close behind.
The high school student and middle school student who joined Party 1 this time were half a beat slow in their reaction.
Since this was their first time in party play, it was difficult to expect the quick responses of those who had been active outside until now.
Slash! Thud!
But they showed no reluctance in facing zombies, and even if somewhat slow, they steadily handled them, which was satisfactory.
“Ugh!”
Then the kitchen knife wielded by the middle school student lodged in a zombie’s chest and wouldn’t come free.
In such situations, you’re supposed to kick the zombie back, but he seemed to have frozen from panic.
“Cover him from behind!”
I shouted while looking at Kim Suhan, and he quickly turned his head.
The female student had her head tilted back, arms stretched out wide, afraid of being bitten by the zombie.
Kim Suhan rushed like an arrow to the student’s side and severed the zombie’s neck.
“Are you alright?!”
“Y-yes!”
“Ask the Maker to craft you a weapon and protective gear later.”
“…Yes!”
We didn’t yet have the means to distribute curved swords and protective gear to all League members.
Now that I’d established the League, every member would receive points whenever I killed a single zombie.
‘Once this hunt ends, I can distribute everything to everyone.’
With that thought, I moved like an arrow, severing zombie necks left and right.
My stats were three times higher than anyone else’s.
My movements appeared miraculous to the others’ eyes.
“Wow… incredibly fast.”
When the Maker High School Student stared at me in awe, Kang Haneul glanced back and shouted.
“Stop gawking and kill the zombies!”
“Y-yes!”
About 1 kilometer northwest from the Safe House, the massive horde of zombies slowed our advance considerably.

* * *
“Is anyone injured?”
“No, we’re fine.”
Only after passing Cheonggu Station and reaching the park in front of Sindang-dong Village Square could we finally catch our breath.
Crossing the main road, everyone must have been terrified seeing far more zombies than expected, yet they held up well.
Park Sangil checked each person one by one for injuries or bites before approaching me.
“Doyun, did you check your points?”
“The alarm was blocking my vision, so I turned it off.”
“Check now. The League effect is substantial.”
Following Park Sangil’s words, I checked the points I’d acquired and couldn’t close my gaping mouth.
I first encountered zombies after walking 800 meters.
Now, having walked approximately 700 meters more, I’d acquired 1,800 points.
At 2 points per zombie, I’d killed 350 zombies over those 700 meters.
And all League members could receive these points equally.
‘The effect is definitely real.’
I needed to accumulate as many points as possible before the zombies grew stronger.
That was the only way we’d survive what lay ahead.
“Brother, could we ask the Makers to craft equipment using the points we’ve acquired?”
“Park Sangha’s already gathered the kids and started crafting. The goal is for everyone to be equipped with weapons and protective gear by today.”
This wasn’t merely about eliminating zombies—this march needed to boost the League members’ morale.
Confidence that we could do this.
I needed to instill that belief in them.
After offering brief thanks, I walked toward the slide where the first party was resting.
An unnamed female student lying on a slide, gazing blankly up at the sky with her mouth hanging open.
Judging by the way she stares at the pouring rain without focus, she appears quite exhausted.
What was her name again?
Since I rarely had reason to memorize people’s names, remembering them had always been a chore for me.
“Are you alright?”
“Ah… yes, I’m fine.”
As I cautiously approached and asked, the female student raised her upper body and offered a bitter smile.
She forced the corners of her mouth upward, insisting she was okay.
The mental burden must weigh far heavier than any physical exhaustion.
A world that collapsed in an instant.
One week was far too short a time for them to adapt.
Many adults have already lost their minds and given up, after all.
It’s truly remarkable that our league members have endured this long.
“If it gets too hard, tell me. You don’t need to push yourself.”
“Pardon?”
“You’re the healing factor—the healer of the party. What party has a healer who actively throws themselves on the front lines?”
“Still, I have to stay strong. Everyone else is struggling too.”
“What was your name again?”
“Do Sohee.”
Do Sohee shaded her eyes with both hands and looked up at my face.
Apparently, she’s only sixteen years old.
Still just a middle school student, yet she faces this bleak world without losing spirit—I found her admirable.
“Don’t worry about what others think.”
“Huh?”
“If you move while constantly reading the room, only you’ll suffer. Do what you’re capable of doing. There’s no need to strain yourself beyond that.”
“….”
“That’s enough.”
Do Sohee nodded quietly in acknowledgment.
“Rest well until we depart. Once we arrive at Dongdaemun History and Culture Park Station… you might really need to give it your all.”
“…Yes!”
After hearing Do Sohee’s response, I stood up and opened the 3D terrain map.
The giant zombie’s location was near Dongdaemun History and Culture Park Station.
It wasn’t far from here.
Between the frequent battles with zombies and being drenched in rain for so long, my group was growing exhausted.
Part of me wanted to rush there immediately and deal with the giant zombie, but entering a zombie nest in broad daylight was a burden I couldn’t easily bear either.
Several students shivering from the cold caught my attention.
Children rubbing their hands together, watching others nervously.
“Park Sangil.”
I approached Park Sangil and checked our current location and the direction we needed to move, looking for a place to take shelter from the rain.
Park Sangil studied the 3D terrain map carefully, then pointed with his finger at the villa village between Changsin Station and Dongdaemun History and Culture Park Station.
“This is the only shelter from the rain on the way.”
“There might be zombies inside, so I’ll go check and come back.”
“I’m coming with you.”
Park Sangil grasped the curved sword he’d set down and moved to my side.
Then the resting members began rising from their spots one by one.
They must have mistaken it for another relocation.
“Everyone, please wait here.”
“Where are you going?”
Park Sangha, who had been focused on equipment crafting, lifted his head and looked over at us.
The high school students with Maker abilities exchanged glances with the others before turning their attention to Park Sangha’s and my conversation.
They seemed uncertain whether we were departing or not.
I told the high school students to continue working, then spoke while looking at Park Sangha.

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