Chapter 21 : Apocalypse (3)

As I got closer, I grew anxious, but then I found the weapon I was looking for in a secluded room down the hall.
There was a museum exhibit of mannequins in the research lab. Odd.
Several mannequins happened to have bows. Weird.
Every time I see a bow, I feel this strange confidence welling up, like my body automatically reacts.

*
I set Joanna down nearby and grabbed a bow and arrows.

I think I can do this.
My heart pounded, but I tried to calm myself as I waited for the grotesque creature.
It approached with a roar, close enough now that I could make out its shape. I stopped and drew the bowstring.

The moment the creature lined up in my sights, I released the arrow.
The arrow, swimming through the air, struck it right in the eye. A painful shriek echoed through the narrow corridor.

One more. And another.

I can do this. I can beat this thing.
The chat went silent, like they were in spectator mode. My senses seemed to heighten.

The creature and I were still pretty far apart, so I could keep peppering it with arrows. After sustaining some damage, though, its pattern changed; it started charging mindlessly.
The room shattered around us like sliced tofu as it lunged. The impact sent me flying.

The museum collapsed, the sounds of shattering glass coming from all directions. Luckily, I’d landed enough arrows before it got close, and since its eyes were useless, it just thrashed around blindly.
The impact of the fall wasn’t insignificant, but thankfully, I’d found a blind spot where I could hide.

The creature continued to rampage, but then, receiving no reaction, it lifted its head and began sniffing the air.
Just a little longer. There has to be an opening.

It moved instinctively, not really thinking, much like the zombies I’d encountered. So, I gathered some debris from the museum and shaped it into a small sphere, then tossed it in front of the creature.

As expected, the moment it turned, I started firing the remaining arrows.
They danced through the air, each shot finding its mark deep within the creature’s flesh. As its shrieks subsided, I knew this fight was almost over.

When the quiver was nearly empty, the creature finally collapsed amid a cloud of dust.
Its immense weight left a crater where it fell. I climbed onto its still twitching face and drove the last arrow in by hand.

“Hah… hah… So, I’m the second person to clear this?”

The chat was filled with praise for someone called ‘MaWang.’
Awe for someone who sat on the throne of the gaming world.
It made me a little jealous.

I knew we hadn’t been playing for the same amount of time. I knew I wasn’t naturally gifted at games.
Still, I felt a pang of jealousy towards this woman, whom the viewers praised and revered.

But I’d cleared the same achievement as her. Nothing could feel better than this.

“So? Impressed?”

The words tumbled out unconsciously. Grinning, I wiped the sweat from my brow, boasting to the void.

[– Honestly, taking down that zombie seemed like nothing]

“Huh?”

The reaction wasn’t what I expected. I started wondering if I’d made a big deal out of nothing. Then,

[– Damn, who cares about the zombie when you’re smiling like that?]
[– Mom! I wanna grow up to be a zombie so WooSeok can kill me!]
[– I’ve never envied a zombie so much in my life]
[– That was definitely impressive, but… I can’t take my eyes off him, lol]
[– I want to be that trickling sweat]

“Ah… Thanks…”

It was more embarrassing than I thought. I wanted the praise, but the dirty chats vanishing and the compliments rolling in felt good.

[WooSeokSmilePlease donated 100 Candies!]
[– Do some aegyo and I’ll donate 1000]

“No aegyo. That’s my broadcast rule.”

As a Korean man, I have my pride. This is my line in the sand. Thankfully, maybe because they’d been burned before, almost all the comments supported me.

“So, should we continue the story? If that thing was the problem, the rest of the tutorial should be smooth sailing.”

[– Just loot around and take the elevator. That’s it]
[– Take Joanna with you, and you’ll meet a survivor. Then, you decide whether to join them or not]
[– If you keep using the bow, restock arrows since you don’t have magic]

“Thanks for the tips.”

I walked over to the massive corpse and started retrieving my arrows. The sticky green blood oozing from the holes was a bit off-putting, but the viewers seemed to enjoy the ‘depravity,’ which made it even more disgusting.

“It really is huge.”

I turned the corpse over and examined it. Though smaller now from blood loss, its imposing form was still impressive.

[– How the hell did you even kill that thing?]
[– The zombie-slaying priest… I’m WooSeok’s bride]
[– I’m maining bow from now on]
[– Bow-cus]
[– Oh no… if you come out from there…]

I hadn’t expected anything from a scripted boss fight, so I turned around without a second thought. Then, the chat went wild.

[– WooSeok, check the zombie’s pockets]
[– I think that’s a key card]

“Huh?”

Just as the chat suggested, there was a card key tucked into the creature’s top pocket. It looked like an ID card, with a barcode for access and a picture of what appeared to be the creature’s human form.

“Didn’t you guys say you’d explored every route?”

[– We didn’t know about killing this monster]
[– We got a one-time mission, killed it, and ended the stream right after]
[– I’ve played this game forever and I have no idea what this is for]
[– Ask Joanna. You’re stuck with her anyway]

I’d completely forgotten about her. She’d been nothing but trouble since the start, then passed out. The viewers had initially said she’d be a reliable ally and the best friend… but she’d caused nothing but issues.

I walked over to her unconscious form and slapped her cheek again. It was with slightly more force this time, and it made a louder, unnecessary smack.

“Hey, I didn’t hit you that hard. It’s just the sound.”

[WooSeokHitMeHarder donated 100 Candies!]
[– In our line of work, that’s a reward]

[– Clipping this scene to watch on repeat]
[– So many freaks, damn]
[– ABLE]
[– You’re always good with that one]

I ignored the perverts in chat and shook her, but she wouldn’t wake up. She lay there with her eyes closed peacefully, as though sleeping. Maybe she was enjoying the afterglow of being groped by me.

“What’s wrong with her? Wake up.”

[MyNameIsDetective donated 100 Candies!]
[– I think she’s dead]

“Huh?”

I checked her pulse and breathing. Nothing. She was just… lying there.

“What the—”

The NPC who was supposed to guide me through the tutorial was dead. And she’d died while sexually assaulting herself with my body.

[– I’m pretty sure I’d die happy if WooSeok touched me, too]
[– When did she even die, lol]
[– Rewatching shows she got hit by debris when the mutant zombie charged. Here’s the link and timestamp: 04:55]
[– Yo, why is he smiling?]
[– He’s smiling, guys]

“What am I supposed to do now?”

I’d found a hidden element, but now I was stuck in the tutorial. Joanna lay dead, a peaceful smile on her face. And I was all alone in this vast tutorial space.

“What is this?!”