“Keeerrr….”
Why is this soup so delicious?
This vegetable, known by various names such as scallion or green onion, adds a satisfying crunch that’s so refreshing.
Is it fresh or refreshing? Whatever it is, this rich and salty warmth, which fills the stomach, delivers an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
“Uh…aren’t you going to burn your mouth?”
“It’s just warm.”
The solid stone bowl is also top-notch. It’s easy to control the pressure, and the temperature is just warm enough to let me drink the broth endlessly.
Today’s meal was ten bowls; even though I restrained myself a bit, I was still hungry because I had undergone a monster transformation.
“I’ve finished eating.”
“Man, you’re drinking the soup like it’s rice wine…”
I wanted more, but I was short on money. After paying, I got up from my seat and returned to the meeting point. Loaded a truck with monster bodies and roughly reassembled the framework of the crumbled building.
That concludes today’s work. Because a tall building collapsed, Han-na had dived deep into the basement.
“Huff…There are no more survivors…I’m sorry, I couldn’t use the drill.”
“No, it’s fine. Thanks to Bongbap, it didn’t matter to us.”
“In fact, I’m glad. Thanks to Bongbap, we could work comfortably.”
“Since you did more work today, give me more money.”
There’s no need to rush off to other sites today; everything is done in one location.
The good part about high-rise buildings is that you don’t waste time moving around, but the downside is that they yield fewer monster bodies.
“It’s awkward today, it’s too late to go to another site and too early to end.”
“Rather, it turned out well. Let’s all go home and rest earlier today.”
Everyone seemed tired for some reason, and the feeling was that we’d call it a day.
And I, sensing the source of their fatigue deep within my body, was still maintaining stealth.
The infrasound wave that stiffens humans— a monster’s wave that cannot be observed by human equipment was hunting for prey at a great distance.
It’s like being submerged in dirty water, a mixture of discomfort and oppression that made me sigh.
The strength of the monster I sense through the waves wasn’t clear.
Which means the owner of this wave is my level or higher.
A real despair-class monster has come to W City.
Though there’s a despair-class monster, I wasn’t particularly worried.
The heroes who were chasing me were wary of the despair-class monster, so they’d likely be able to respond quickly even if it appeared suddenly.
There was a hero capable of delivering lethal blows to despair-class monsters, including my body.
It was just slightly suffocating; I didn’t want to unnecessarily fight, so the only fatigue came from trying to stay hidden.
Like splitting a strand of hair vertically—maintaining a steady pace, cutting off any trace of my presence before it could be detected…
“Bongbap?”
“Hmm.”
Then, as I heard Han-yeong’s voice close by, my concentration broke.
A moment’s slip like cutting a strand of hair; I quickly regained my cover, but there was a faint gap.
And with it, the oppressive sense that had covered my entire body disappeared.
What? Did it leave?
“Uh… Bongbap?”
“Hmm, what is it?”
“Uh… today… do you have time? If you wait just a little longer, after we’ve loaded the last of the waste disposal personnel, the job will be done…”
“Hmm.”
What is it? I looked down at Han-yeong, who was quickly blinking her eyes, as she pulled something out of her pocket and extended it towards me.
“Bongbap… do you… like alcohol? This is a free dumpling coupon, how about going together later?… Ramen… do you like it? They say the beer here is also tasty!”
I suspected she was inviting me to share a meal— always welcome to good restaurant recommendations.
However… if it’s alcohol, I’m somewhat reluctant.
And today, there was a place I wanted to try as well.
“I don’t like alcohol.”
“Ah…”
“I’ve already decided where to eat today.”
The beauty of the all-you-can-eat sign; I was determined to visit that restaurant.
Unlimited— could it really be endless? Would I be able to fill my belly and leave at an affordable price?
Filled with anticipation, I declined her invitation but added that I’d still like the restaurant recommendation.
“I like dumplings. Let’s eat them together next time.”
“Eh? N-next time?”
“You’re inviting me to eat dumplings, right?”
“Oh! Yes! Next time! Um… how about this weekend! Uh… Bongbap, you don’t have a phone right?”
“Ask the boss. I always wait where we load the truck.”
“Y-yes, yes! Here, here’s the coupon! You’ll definitely come, right?!”
“…”
I took the free dumpling coupon and put it in my pocket, waved to Han-yeong, and climbed onto the truck.
The place where monster bodies are loaded is always the same.
Once the body is offloaded, the day’s work is done…I thought.
“…”
Sitting on the bag containing the monster body in the cramped truck cargo area, I frowned at an odd sensation.
It’s not hostility… more like, footsteps approaching.
It’s a despair-class monster.
The monster’s destination is the spot I was just in.
Did it start hunting? The alarm hasn’t sounded yet.
At that moment, I felt a bit off.
The scene the monster attacked moments ago, there aren’t that many people there.
If it came to attack many humans, why would it choose that place?
The answer is simple.
The monster’s food is another weaker monster — the slight but unhidden trace of my presence that leaked.
Its prey is not human, but me, a weak presence-leaking monster.
The despair-class creature may have sensed the subtle anomaly of the presence leaking slightly, as I did.
On the same despair level, or slightly weaker than me… hiding its body indicates it is injured.
Did it come to W City because it sensed my presence?
To a human on the same despair level, a human is incomparably higher-grade prey, the essence of evolution.
“See you this weekend!”
I immediately placed my hand on the corner of the truck.
“I’m getting off.”
“What?”
“I’ll leave the unloading and today’s pay to you… if I don’t come, just use it.”
“Hold on, what are you talking about? Bongbap?!”
After jumping off the truck, I kicked the asphalt and leaped high.
Landing on the rooftop, I could see the two people in the cargo area looking startled up at me.
I had no time.
A despair-class monster is before Han-yeong.
I jumped off building to building and transformed into a monster.
The siren sounds echoed between the buildings.
Two loud sounds, gradually getting closer.
“Despair-class monsters, two of them! They’re coming closer simultaneously!”
Yuanna clenched her teeth at the worst possible scenario.
Code 0 had merely hidden its form; this likely meant Code 0 was much stronger and had been waiting for Code A’s moment of vulnerability.
W City will now be the battleground for two despair-class monsters.
Ultimately, it begins, the erasure of civilization by two despair-class monsters.
“Send a support request to the nearby city! Evacuate all citizens around! Which zone is it? Limit the destruction to one zone!”
“What’s the plan?”
“It takes time for heroes to cross over from another city! Abandon the zone and form a ring with the heroes!”
Every hero in W City surrounds the zone, confining the range where the two despair-class monsters will rampage.
One hero versus one despair-class monster, a mere prey for simple elimination, but a same-level battle with a slightly weaker opponent requires only slight interference for victory, making nearby approaches difficult.
The destruction in the city center, a case of giving flesh to protect the bone. This is the best choice available to humanity.
Although a painful choice for humans, it’s better than letting an entire city be wiped out by two despair-class monsters.
However, the actual situation was even more severe.
“Hold on, two more disasters-class monsters are near the despair-class ones!”
“What? Are they henchmen?”
Two disaster-class monsters mean lower-grade monsters acting as henchmen to the despair-class ones.
This expands the battlefield, making it harder for heroes to act as proper barriers.
Moreover, if left unchecked, one of the despair-class monsters might suffer an overwhelming defeat, forcing the heroes to face an unscathed despair-class.
No matter the choice, the damage only increases,
Unless…
Yuanna, who had been listening with her eyes closed, pushed away her chair and stood up.
“We’ll handle the two disaster-class monsters.”
“What? Are you crazy? If we do that,…”
“The battle time between the two despair-class monsters will extend, but right now, it’s an opportunity.”
If one despair-class monster and two disaster-class monsters cooperate in rampaging, it’s even harder to control than two despair-class monsters battling each other.
Heroes must control the situation and minimize damage while protecting humans, unlike monsters that only consume humans.
“The disaster-class monsters will also hesitate to approach the ring if there’s an equal opponent around.”
So, let the despair-class monsters battle amongst themselves, while Yuanna and another hero will handle the two disaster-class monsters.
This is the only way to minimize damage.
Heroes who agreed with Yuanna’s conclusion exchanged glances.
“Hurry, we don’t have time.”
A wolf leaping as if kicking the moonlight.
It stood atop the ruins, head held high as if searching for something.
Below, in the messy ruins, two smaller wolves stood.
They were playing with their prey.
“Huff, ha…uhhh…”
Eating the legs, biting off the knees, tearing away bit by bit of the lower body.
Like savoring a delicious candy, they fill their bellies and quench their thirst.
Bitten into the ground as if they had buried themselves to escape, the surrounding earth was deeply gouged in the shape of a wolf’s mouth.
I slowly approached as I looked at the scene.
“Uuuuuh…”
“UUUUUUH….”
The wolves stopped their blood-soaked bites, wary of me.
I looked at Han-yeong sprawled beneath them.
It’s too late.
She’s practically on the brink of death.
As I slowly approached, the wolves backed away, wary of me.
The largest wolf above seemed to quietly observe me before turning its head away.
I could sense the formation of the hero’s encirclement.
The wolf seemed to find it advantageous, resolved to eat me here.
“Black…go…at…”
Transformed into the form of a black panther, standing before Han-yeong, I looked down at her, whose body was almost torn in half.
I sensed it… the smell of fear and trembling of humans overwhelmed by the monster.
Pausing for a moment, hoping to give Han-yeong a peaceful passing, I reversed my monster transformation.
“UUUUH…!”
“UUUUUUH…!”
The wolf monsters stared in bewilderment at this strange phenomenon and heightened their alertness.
While grateful they didn’t attack right away, I looked at Han-yeong, who looked back at me in surprise.
Shaking hands bereft of blood reached out to me.
“Ah…”
“You are…going to die.”
I gently took Han-yeong’s hand and gave her a cold verdict.
Her eyes, brightening with some glimmer of hope…
Knowing that hope can be painful, it was the minimum kindness I could offer her.
“I know…I know…”
