The Regressor Only Protects Me

Chapter 5. Killing (2)

The battle was one-sided.

A few people who knew how to handle the green monsters led the fight.

The green monsters before us were not particularly difficult opponents.

And only after the green monsters fled could I calm my pounding heart.

When the battle ended, the store was filled with the panting sounds of people.

The glow of smartphone screens surrounded us, and those who had fought were all slumped over, gasping for air.

I, too, sat down and struggled to catch my breath.

“Haa… Haa…”

It felt like my lungs were going to burst.

At the same time, my heart was pounding madly.

Adrenaline coursed through me, making every hair on my body stand on end.

I looked down at my hands.

Red blood and green blood.

The two were mixed together.

These hands, just a few hours ago, were covered in dirt.

Hands that shoveled cement, pushed carts, and carried a load of bricks in a carrier.

But now, they were drenched in blood.

It hit me—the world had changed.

“E-Excuse me…!”

Then, a man gasping behind me called out to me.

He had a thick beard, though it was neatly groomed.

He looked to be in his early thirties.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, and had a muscular build.

His entire body was covered in blood, and he was holding a mop in his hands.

He spoke to me.

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

“…”

I looked at the man and then turned my head.

There, people holding weapons were staring at me.

Behind them, elderly people and children stood with smartphones in their hands.

Their eyes were filled with tears, but also with determination.

Their voices began to rise, one by one.

“Thank you so much… Truly.”

“Thank you, young man…”

“Thank you! You saved us…!”

I caught my breath and slightly bowed my head.

It wasn’t for them.

I did it only for myself.

If it weren’t for their help, no matter how much I understood the strategy to defeat the monsters, I wouldn’t have been able to deal with so many of them.

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

And for that, I’m willing to do anything.

Absolutely anything.

For now, I still needed the strength of the people here.

There was no time to waste.

The tutorial wasn’t over yet.

“Then help me. All of you.”

I stood up and headed toward the disordered display shelves.

The man followed behind me and asked.

“What should we do? Just tell us.”

“Move the display shelves.”

“D-Display shelves?”

The man seemed about to say something but decided against it.

Instead, he came over to help me move the shelves.

“Everyone! Listen to this young man! Hurry! He saved us all! He must have a plan…”

Even without my prompting, the man began rallying the others.

Hearing his words, people started gathering around the display shelves one by one.

“Let’s do it! Quickly, help!”

“We should listen to the young man if we want to survive!”

“Mom…”

“It’s okay, stay close to me.”

Everyone—adults, children, and the elderly—began working on the display shelves.

I addressed the group.

“We’re going to set up makeshift barricades. Since the entrances are spread out, I plan to create a stronghold. Grandpas and grandmas, please focus on gathering long poles or similar items.”

“Got it!”

“Alright, alright…”

An older woman, pushing a shelf, asked with concern.

“Will this really work, young man? To block those monsters?”

“It’ll be enough.”

They won’t get past the barricades.

That much became clear during the recent fight.

I studied the monsters’ physical traits.

Large heads.

Long, pointy noses.

Green skin.

Their arm muscles were well-developed, but their leg muscles were weak.

These monsters looked familiar, like something from a movie, but I couldn’t recall their name.

It didn’t matter.

What mattered was that these monsters were out to take our lives.

“Double the layers. Move quickly.”

Before I knew it, people were moving in perfect coordination, following my instructions.

The monsters couldn’t climb over even slightly elevated barriers.

During the earlier battle, I had briefly seen them trying to climb, but the people on top of the shelves had simply used mop handles to push them back down.

It was a straightforward tactic.

The elderly came into the barricade area carrying mop handles in both arms.

The barricades were soon completed.

It was a blessing this was a shopping mall.

The display shelves were on wheels, easy to move, and of just the right height.

One man was stacking the display shelves as they were.

I spoke to him.

“Don’t leave the side with the wheels facing the floor. Flip them over and place them the other way.”

“Oh… Ah. You’re right. I didn’t think of that. Got it.”

If the wheels were on the floor, the monsters could push the shelves away.

But if the flat side of the shelves was placed on the floor, the monsters wouldn’t be able to move them easily.

And the mop handles.

The mop handles were critical.

We needed them to push the monsters away and shine light on them.

The moment the monsters saw light, their bodies stiffened.

If we could focus the light in one place, the effect would be even greater.

‘Flashlights. Right, there should be flashlights.’

Shopping malls usually have emergency flashlights mounted on the walls.

I grabbed a random woman walking by and spoke.

“Please bring all the flashlights from the emergency exits. They’re usually placed near restrooms or stairwells. Stay on this floor.”

“Ah… Yes! I understand.”

The woman darted off, weaving through the bustling crowd to fetch flashlights.

Light, barricades, and mop handles.

Our defensive setup was mostly ready.

Compared to the first time we fought off a monster, this was much more stable.

The people diligently carried out the tasks I had assigned.

In stark contrast to their earlier hesitation and panic, they were now focused and decisive.

“We’ve gathered all the flashlights!”

“The barricades are fully built!”

“This side is done too!”

Once everything was ready, I began positioning people near the escalators.

We were preparing for a siege.

Inside the makeshift barricades, people held mop handles, while the elderly and children gripped the flashlights.

I spoke to the group.

“Get ready. When they come, push them back with the mops.”

They swallowed hard and nodded.

I looked up at the ceiling.

From the floor above, the eerie cries of the monsters echoed intermittently.

I couldn’t tell what was happening on the floor below.

The only certainty was that the ‘tutorial’ wasn’t over yet.

If it had ended, Administrator K would have reappeared to greet us.

Just then, the store was filled with strange, piercing cries.

– “Gyaaaaaah!”

It sounded like an unidentifiable wail coming from the depths of a cavern.

A young girl, who appeared to be someone’s granddaughter, clung tightly to her grandmother as they trembled together.

“Oh heavens… what in the world is happening…?”

“Grandma, it’s going to be okay. Just hold on a little longer. The police… they’ll come to save us soon.”

The granddaughter held her grandmother’s hand tightly.

The word “police” again.

I needed to wake them up to reality.

After a brief moment of thought, I glanced toward the escalator and spoke.

“The police won’t come. Neither will the firefighters or the military.”

“Ah… but…”

The girl’s voice trembled.

I couldn’t see her expression.

“Don’t trust people who won’t come. Trust the mop handle you’re holding right now.”

I finally glanced at the girl.

She was gripping her grandmother’s hand with her right hand and the mop handle with her left.

Her eyes were damp, on the verge of tears.

It would be troublesome if she cried.

Tears, like laughter, were contagious.

Once emotions broke down, it was over.

But the girl proved more resilient and strong-willed than I expected.

She seemed to bite her lower lip and suppressed her emotions.

“Yes… thank you. Thank you.”

She bowed her head twice, expressing her gratitude.

I was slightly surprised.

She didn’t look older than a junior high school student.

I had assumed she would cry.

Tightly, I gripped the mop handle.

It was a desperate situation, but holding on to unrealistic expectations was far worse.

I began to think of a bigger future.

It would be a waste to simply part ways with the people here after finishing the tutorial.

Gaining people’s trust is no easy feat.

Unintentionally, I had earned their trust, and now I needed to use it.

For my brother.

Even now, she must be trembling alone in the dark, cold apartment.

The thought made my vision blur momentarily.

Of all days, today had to be his birthday.

The worst birthday imaginable.

The man holding a mop handle next to me and watching the front line suddenly turned to me.

Then he asked.

“Young man, please don’t take this the wrong way. I trust you completely. But can I ask you one thing?”

“Go ahead.”

I answered without looking at him, keeping my eyes on the front.

“How can you make such quick decisions? This is the first time I’ve seen someone remain so calm in a situation like this. Even though I’m older, I feel like you’re the more mature one.”

I listened quietly to his deep voice.

It resonated in a low tone.

“Would it be okay to ask what your job is?”

“…A day laborer.”

I answered without hesitation.

It was the truth.

But the man seemed incredulous and asked again.

“N-No way. I was sure you were some kind of special forces veteran…”

“Sorry to disappoint you.”

“Oh, no, no! There’s nothing to be sorry for. I just thought you might have been one of my juniors.”

At that, I turned to look at the man.

A sturdy build, early thirties.

He seemed to maintain his physique meticulously.

Judging by his mention of juniors, he was probably from the special forces.

He was someone I had to keep close.

He would be invaluable in many ways.

The man extended his hand first.

“I’m Kwon Kyung-soo. I’m 33.”

“Kang Sion. I’m 20.”

“You have a very nice name.”

Ignoring his comment, I turned my attention back to the front.

There was no need for excessive conversation.

Then Kwon Kyung-soo asked again.

“Do you have a plan?”

“Not yet. For now, dealing with the incoming monsters takes priority.”

I deliberately didn’t mention my goal of finding my brother.

Kwon Kyung-soo hesitated briefly before speaking again.

“What could have caused this? For something like this to suddenly happen…”

To me, his words felt strange.

When a meteor strikes, would someone ask why it happened?

If a car accident broke their ribs today, would they wonder why it happened?

Only God would know such things.

Whether it’s a meteor impact or an encounter with a drunk driver.

What happens, happens.

And the world we face is one that exists after these things occur.

The adaptability Kwon Kyung-soo mentioned might stem from this aspect of my personality.

“Let’s focus on the present. What matters is now.”

“You’re right, Sion. I understand.”

Thud.

At that moment, Kwon Kyung-soo placed his hand on my shoulder.

Then, he smiled.

“Hang in there a little longer. We can get through this.”

His hand slid off my shoulder.

I glanced at him briefly, then turned my gaze back to the front, contemplating his actions.

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

As I thought about the last time I had been comforted, I stopped.

A faint vibration traveled up through my feet.

“They’re coming…!”

“Get ready.”

The people inside the barricade gripped their mop handles tightly in anticipation.

The second battle was about to begin.

If everything went according to plan, no one here would be hurt, and we could finish the tutorial safely.

Tap, tap, tap.

It sounded like hail hitting the ground.

Then, a monster dashed up the escalator.

“Kiieeeek! Eeeek!”

The creature let out a shrill cry as it ascended, only to crash into the obstacle in front of it.

“W-What’s that?”

“…Wait.”

When Kwon Kyung-soo tried to rise, I stopped him.

The monster had been fleeing in fear from something.

Swallowing hard, I focused on the escalator.

And then I heard it.

Step, step, step…

Slow but steady footsteps heading our way.

They weren’t the footsteps of a monster.

They were human.

When I saw who those footsteps belonged to, my expression hardened.

“…”

It was a woman with a sword.

Her entire body was covered in green blood.

And then, our eyes met.