The Regressor Only Protects Me Chapter 5

#Episode 5. Killing (2)

A one-sided battle ensued.

A few people who knew how to deal with the green monsters led the battle.

The green monster before my eyes was by no means a difficult opponent.

And soon the green monsters ran away, and only then could I calm my pounding heart.

After the battle, the store was filled with the groans of people panting.

The surroundings were filled with the light of smartphones, and everyone who had been fighting was sitting down, panting.

I too sat down, gasping for breath.

“Haa… … Haa… … ”

I felt like my lungs were going to burst.

At the same time, my heart was beating like crazy.

Adrenaline surged and the hairs on my body stood on end.

I looked at my hands.

Red blood and green blood.

The two bloods were mixed together.

Hands that were covered in dirt just a few hours ago.

These are the hands that shoveled cement, pulled carts, and held loads of bricks.

But now it was all covered in blood.

I could feel that the world had changed.

“Excuse me… … !”

At that moment, a man panting behind me called out to me.

The man had a bushy beard, but it was clean and neat, so he must have kept it well-groomed.

He appeared to be in his early 30s.

And he was tall, and judging by his broad shoulders, he had considerable muscle mass.

He was covered in blood and holding a mop in his hand.

He told me.

“Thank you so much… … you saved us all.”

“… … .”

I turned around and looked at the man.

There, people, each holding a weapon, were looking at me.

Behind them, old people and children stood holding smartphones.

Their eyes were tearful yet determined.

Their voices began to be heard, one by one.

“Thank you so much… really.”

“Thank you, student… … .”

“Thank you. I really survived… … !”

I lowered my head slightly while catching my breath.

It wasn’t for them.

It was just for me.

If it weren’t for the power of these people, I probably wouldn’t have been able to deal with this many monsters, even if I had figured out how to defeat them.

No matter what happens, I have to get to my brother.

And for that, I will do anything.

Anything.

And the strength of the people who are here now is something I still need.

There was no time to hesitate.

The tutorial isn’t over yet.

“Then please help me. All of you.”

I got up from my seat and headed toward the cluttered display cases.

The man followed me and asked.

“What should I do? Just talk.”

“Move the display case.”

“Display… … large?”

The man tried to say something, but then stopped himself.

The man approached me and started pulling the display case with me.

“You too! Listen to this student! Hurry up! We all survived thanks to this student! There must be some plan… …!”

The man started to rally people without me saying anything.

People who heard the man’s words rushed towards the display case one by one.

“Okay, okay! Let’s help quickly!”

“You have to listen to that student, you’ll survive!”

“mom…….”

“It’s okay. Just stay close to Mom.”

Adults, children, and the elderly all clung to the display shelves.

I told people.

“I’m going to set up a makeshift barricade. Since the entrances and exits are spread out, I’m thinking of making a fortress. If Grandpa and Grandma have something like a long pole, gather those first.”

“Oh, I see!”

“Okay, okay… … .”

The woman asked worriedly, pushing the barricade.

“Student, but will this be enough… to stop those monsters?”

“That’s enough.”

They can’t get past the chin.

This was something I could tell from the battle just now.

The monster’s physical characteristics were examined.

Big head.

Long, pointed nose.

Green skin.

The muscles in his arms were well developed, but the muscles in his legs were weak.

I think I’ve seen this type of monster in a movie somewhere, but I can’t remember its name.

It didn’t matter.

The important thing was that these monsters were rushing at us now to take our lives.

“Please double it. Hurry up.”

Before I knew it, people began to move in unison according to my words.

A monster cannot climb over a ledge that is even slightly high.

I also briefly saw it climbing, but that was something the people on the shelf could just push away with a rolling pin.

It was a really simple tactic.

Old men came inside the barricade, their hands full of brooms.

The barricade was soon completed.

It was fortunate that this was a shopping mall.

The display case had wheels for portability and was the perfect height.

A man was stacking shelves.

I told the man.

“Do not place it with the wheel side facing down. Place it upside down.”

“Ah… … Ah. I see. I was short-sighted. Okay.”

If it had wheels, the monsters might push it.

But if you place the flat part of the display case on the ground, they won’t be able to move the display case easily.

And the wheat.

The wheat is important.

I had to push them over and shine a light on them.

Because the moment monsters see light, their bodies become stiff.

So if we can focus the light in one place, we can see a greater effect.

‘A flashlight. Yeah, there was a flashlight.’

The shopping mall has red flashlights placed on the walls in case of disaster.

I stopped a random woman passing by and said:

“Please bring the flashlights from the emergency exits. Everything you see. There will be a lot of them placed near the bathrooms and emergency stairs. Please do not leave the floor.”

“Ah… … Yes! I understand.”

The woman squeezed through the crowd and ran to get a flashlight.

Light, barricades, and shackles.

We have some defensive power ready.

It was definitely more stable than when I stopped the first monster.

People quickly completed the tasks I gave them.

It was a stark contrast to the beginning when I didn’t know what to do and just sat there.

“I collected all the flashlights!”

“The barricades have also been built.”

“This side is also all built up!”

When everything was in place, I placed people in the area closest to the escalators.

It was preparation for a siege.

People were holding batons inside the makeshift barricade, while an old man and a child were holding lights.

I told people.

“Get ready. When they come, push them away with the broom.”

They swallowed hard and nodded.

I looked at the ceiling.

The cries of strange monsters could be heard intermittently from upstairs.

I couldn’t tell what was happening downstairs.

The only thing that’s certain is that the ‘tutorial’ isn’t over yet.

Once the tutorial is over, K will come out again to greet us.

At that moment, a strange crying sound filled the store.

-Gyaaaaaaah!

It was like an unidentified cry coming from deep inside a cave.

The grandmother and the girl who appeared to be her granddaughter were hugging each other and shivering.

“Oh my gosh… … Oh my gosh… … What the hell is going on… … .”

“Grandma, it’ll be okay. Just hold on a little longer. We… … the police will come to save you soon.”

The granddaughter held her grandmother’s hand tightly.

The police are out again.

There was a need to wake them up a little.

I thought about it for a moment, then looked toward the escalator and said.

“The police won’t come. Of course, neither will the firefighters or the military.”

“Ah… … but.”

A girl’s voice was heard.

The expression was unreadable.

“Don’t trust the man who won’t come, trust the sledgehammer you’re holding now.”

Only then did I glance back at the child.

The child was holding his grandmother’s hand with his right hand and a rolling pin with his left.

Her eyes were moist, and she looked like she might cry at any moment.

It’s embarrassing when you cry.

Because tears, like laughter, are contagious.

Once my emotions gave out, it was over.

But the child was more resilient and strong than expected.

He seemed to bite his lower lip, but soon suppressed his emotions.

“Yes… … Thank you. Thank you.”

The child bowed his head twice and thanked me.

I was a little surprised.

At most, he looks like he’s in his third year of middle school.

Because I thought she would cry no matter what.

Kuk… … .

I gripped the broom tightly.

It may be hopeless, but it’s better than having expectations that can’t be met.

I thought of a bigger future.

It would be a shame to end our relationship with the people here now by simply finishing the tutorial.

Because gaining people’s trust is quite difficult.

I didn’t mean to, but I gained their trust, and I need to use that trust.

For my brother.

Even now, my younger brother is probably left alone in his dark room, shivering.

Just thinking about it made my eyes dizzy.

As luck would have it, today was my younger brother’s birthday.

Worst birthday ever.

The man who was holding a staff and aiming forward from the side just turned to look at me.

And he asked me.

“Student, please don’t misunderstand and listen to me. I trust you completely. But can I ask you one thing?”

“Okay, then.”

I answered without making eye contact with him and looking straight ahead.

“How can you make such a quick decision? I’ve never seen that before. Someone who doesn’t panic even when the situation has gotten to this point… … . I’m older than you, but I think you’re more mature.”

I listened to his voice quietly.

A low, mid-pitched voice rang out.

“Can I ask what your occupation is?”

“… … I am a day laborer.”

I answered without hesitation.

Because it was true.

But the man asked back, as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Sir, no way. I thought you were definitely from the special forces… … .”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t live up to your expectations.”

“Oh, oh, no! There’s nothing to be sorry about. I thought you were my junior.”

I heard that and looked back at the man.

He is of strong build and is in his early 30s.

His muscles were in good shape overall, as if he was taking good care of himself.

Judging from the way he used the word “junior,” the man seemed to be from the special forces.

This man was someone you absolutely had to have by your side.

It will be useful in many ways.

The man extended his hand first.

“My name is Kwon Kyung-soo. I am 33 years old.”

“Kang Shi-on. I’m 20 years old.”

“What a pretty name.”

I ignored his words and looked ahead again.

Because there was no need to talk more than necessary.

Then Kwon Kyung-soo asked again.

“Do you have any plans?”

“Not yet. Our first priority is to deal with the monsters that are coming in.”

I deliberately didn’t say anything about having to go see my younger brother.

Kwon Kyung-soo thought for a moment and then continued.

“What on earth is going on? Why is this happening all of a sudden… … .”

To me, that sounded strange.

When a meteorite hits, you might ask why this happened.

If you were in a car accident today and broke your ribs, you might ask yourself why this happened.

That’s something only God knows.

The meteorite impact, and the fact that I ran into a drunk driver that day.

What happened is what happened.

And the world we have to face is what happens after something happens.

The fact that Kwon Kyung-soo said I have the ability to adapt quickly may be due to my personality.

“Focus on the present. What matters is now.”

“Yes, Mr. Zion. I understand.”

Ugh-.

At that time, Kwon Kyung-soo put his hand on my shoulder.

And then he smiled.

“Just hang in there. We’ll get through this.”

Slurp-.

His hand slipped from my shoulder.

I stared at him blankly, then turned my head forward again, thinking about what he had just done.

It was the first time I felt comfort from an adult.

I thought long and hard about when I had ever received comfort, and then I stopped.

Because I felt a subtle vibration from the tips of my toes.

“Coming… … !”

“Get ready.”

People stood tense inside the barricade, clutching at sticks.

Now the second battle was about to begin.

If everything goes according to plan, we’ll be able to complete the tutorial without anyone here getting hurt.

Knock knock knock knock.

It sounded like hail was falling.

Then, a monster suddenly jumped out of the escalator.

“Keeeeeek-! Aeeeek!!”

A monster came up screaming, then crashed into an obstacle in front of it, unable to avoid it.

“Uh, that one?”

“… … Wait.”

When Kwon Kyung-soo lifted his upper body, I stopped him.

The monster had run away because it was scared of something.

I swallowed hard and looked toward the escalator.

And then a sound was heard.

Thump, thump, thump… … .

Footsteps slowly but surely coming this way.

It wasn’t the sound of a monster’s footsteps.

It was the sound of human footsteps.

And when I looked at the owner of those footprints, I frowned.

“… … .”

It was a woman with a sword.

His whole body was covered in green blood.

And then I made eye contact with her.

(Continued in the next episode)