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Translator: uly
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Intruder
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Two days.
I watched from the monitor room for two days.
And the conclusion I'd reached was that I needed to deal with these bastards.
From observing their actions over those two days, it seemed they'd been holed up here for a good while.
I'd gone to the trouble of making the place look like a rundown wreck—why the hell were they trying to stick around?
Annoying.
I had plenty of food, and I wasn't desperate for female company, so I'd planned to stay put for the foreseeable future.
Four in the morning.
I finished prepping to head out and slipped quietly outside.
This mansion was my domain—I knew its layout better than anyone.
I crept in through the side door to the kitchen, the stealthiest entry point.
The house hung heavy with silence.
Those two were probably in the master bedroom.
That was the only spot in the house with a bed.
Dodging the shattered glass and trash strewn across the floor, I ascended to the second floor.
With my footsteps completely muted, I reached the master bedroom and pressed my ear to the door.
A man's low snoring drifted from inside.
Lucky bastard.
Snoring away in a place like this?
As that thought crossed my mind and I grasped the doorknob, an odd sensation washed over me.
Why so brazen?
It defied all common sense.
I stood there frozen, pondering.
If I'd brought a woman to a house like this, how would I have acted?
At the very least, I wouldn't be snoring out loud in the master bedroom with the bed.
Was I being overly paranoid?
No. This level of suspicion was more than warranted.
It was a ruined world now—careless mistakes could mean instant death.
I scrapped my plan to barge in.
Direct assault wasn't my forte.
My specialty was digging traps and lying in wait.
I turned on my heel and headed to the corner of the adjacent room.
The master bedroom had just one door.
Hiding in the corner next door meant I'd spot them the second they stepped out.
I killed all sound and tucked myself into the corner.
They probably never imagined anyone could be lurking here.
That's where my chronic insomnia came in handy.
What a joke.
Before the world went to hell, it was nothing but a nightmare of a condition.
Now? It was the ultimate survival tool.
I crouched motionless for four hours.
Half in a daze, I snapped alert at the faint murmur of voices.
Mumbling conversation.
Click. The doorknob turned.
The short-haired man emerged.
Shirtless, his abs looked damn impressive.
If even I could tell he was handsome, the guy had to be a real looker.
Fucker. Hope your dick's three centimeters. Please.
"Oppa! You deactivate it?"
"Ah. No, I didn't. That was close."
"Ah, come on! You have to deactivate it right away! What if I step on it by accident? Oppa, if I die, can you even survive?"
"Sorry, sorry. Deactivating now."
The man turned back, flashing a smile at the woman.
Unfortunately, I couldn't see her from my angle.
"Deactivate."
The man muttered, and the floor just inside the doorway flashed brilliantly.
At the sight, cold sweat trickled down my spine.
As expected... my gut had been spot on.
He'd said it killed on contact, so probably some kind of trap ability.
If I'd charged in at dawn as planned, I'd be steaming in hell's sauna right now.
"Done! Come on over!"
The woman dashed out at his words and leaped into his arms.
Bra and panties only.
Compared to the handsome, ripped guy, she wasn't drop-dead gorgeous.
No, she was plenty pretty.
My cock was starting to stiffen, so yeah, attractive enough.
Had Ye-ji ruined me for average girls?
"Sleep."
I knocked her out first.
The two crumpled mid-embrace, tumbling to the floor with a heavy thud.
I closed in on the man and swung the machete.
He vanished in a puff, replaced by a golden pouch.
[Acquired 16,422 coins.]
"Fucking prick, loaded too."
Absolutely not killed out of envy for his looks.
I nearly died because of this asshole.
But right after, regret crashed in.
"Do abilities vanish on death?"
No guarantee there was only one trap laid out.
Not even sure if killing him deactivated them.
Suddenly, moving felt terrifying.
Still, the woman had walked right up without issue, so maybe it was safe this far?
With my cowardice and life above all, I gripped the machete extended and prodded the floor around.
Might be a weight trigger or something, but better verify.
After thorough checking, I figured the immediate area was clear.
No way he'd clutter the entrance with multiples if she moved around.
Safety secured to the bed, I eyed the woman.
Red bra and panties.
Decent build—a bit of pudge on the lower belly.
Bob haircut, glasses.
Attractively average... but not quite on his level.
What drew them together? Cheat ability? Nah, levels seemed matched enough.
No time to linger—I scooped her up and hauled her to the bed.
Absurdly, my cock twitched again at her bare skin.
Fuck off, what's wrong with popping a boner.
You're just instinct kicking in.
She was petite, lighter than expected.
Still, lugging dead weight wasn't easy.
On the bed, I pulled out duct tape, bound her arms tight behind her, wrapped her torso too.
Legs bundled together.
No plans for fun here.
Just extract info fast.
Taped her eyes and mouth, then scanned the room.
Hunting for anything that might reveal their details.
From the CCTV, both had backpacks.
Food via shop, but clothes and gear had to be carried.
Rifled the smaller backpack by the bed.
Found her wallet.
Even in this mess, women never ditched their purses.
Designer ones, at that.
Dunno if pre-apocalypse habit or scavenged, but nine out of ten toted luxury brands.
Or maybe just the ones I'd seen?
Ridiculous.
Ignoring the rest, I fished out her ID.
Kang Min-ji. 25.
Name in hand, I smacked her ass.
"Mm."
She flinched at the sting, even asleep.
Damn, kinda hot.
With my Sleep skill, I'd rarely risked waking them.
Never forcibly roused a sleeping woman.
Low-level Sleep breaks on minor jolts, but mine's high proficiency—takes more.
Another smack.
"Ungh."
Hand-shaped red mark looked insanely erotic.
"Not waking even now?"
Harder smack this time—crack!
My palm stung.
"Mmmph!"
She woke.
Realizing her bonds, she thrashed wildly.
Most women squirm first, knowing it won't help.
Instinct? Staying limp might scare 'em more.
"Do anything dumb, you're dead. Stay still."
I whispered in her ear from behind as she lay there; she whipped her head my way.
Pressed it down; she froze solid.
"Told you, no dumb moves."
Whispered closer.
"Min-ji. Removing the tape now. Only answer my questions—any other sound, we kill you. Got it?"
She flinched at her name, nodded frantically.
Peeled the tape; she gulped air.
"Your skill?"
"Sob... Shield."
Told her to demonstrate; she activated it.
"Sh... Shield."
A translucent barrier enveloped us.
Standard shield.
Most common pick for women.
Four or five I'd seen with it.
No confidence in offense, but gotta protect the body.
"The guy's skill?"
"E... Electric Trap."
"How many could he set?"
"Huh...?"
"Traps. Maximum number?"
"I... don't know."
"Kill her."
"Kyaa! I really don't! Don't know!"
"Do it quick."
"It's true! I don't know well. Waa. Don't kill me. Please spare me."
"How many did you see him set?"
"Don't know... sob. Only saw the one. Sob sob sob."
Sounded legit.
Just one... explained picking a room with no escape.
Single trap meant single door favored him.
Still sloppy.
Trap skill—plenty ways to grind proficiency.
Higher level, more traps likely.
Silence from me; she trembled, eyes darting anxiously for any sound.
Shield, huh.
Solid choice—no big risks.
House nearby, and she's cute enough.
Worth a shot?
"Sleep."
Knocked her out again.
Only one trap, no sweat.
Electric Trap? Weird pick. Guy was quirky.
Stepped out, scouted—clear.
Hauled my gear, dead guy's stuff, and Min-ji's to the bunker.
Then slung sleeping Min-ji over my shoulder and lugged her in.
Tough down the ladder, but success—strength drained.
"Haa."
First time anyone entered this bunker besides me.
A fresh experiment.
Thrill of what lay ahead had my cock throbbing hard.