Chapter 4: I Really Do Need to Keep Two After All…

『Current Talent: Fallen Benefaction (7/7)』

『Simulator cooldown: 19 hours 59 minutes』

The simulation rewards were issued without a hitch.

Yet the vigilant Su Ze did not feel anything special.

“I thought it would hurt all over like in the novels, looks like I was overthinking…”

He scratched his head and composure returned to his face.

Next, he reviewed the golden Talent he had just received once again.

He had not expected the healing energy to be replenished at the same time the reward was granted.

That did save him a bit of trouble.

Otherwise he would have needed to find a way to top the energy back up.

“Speaking of which, in the last simulation those terms appeared… Contaminated Zone, Awakener…”

Deep in thought, Su Ze unconsciously knitted his brows.

He knew this information would be crucial in the coming apocalypse.

Unfortunately, the simulator felt as if its page count was limited.

It did not present the full picture in the text.

That left Su Ze rather uncertain and unable to make accurate judgments.

“Whew…”

“Forget it, there is still time; as long as I keep simulating, the intel will keep piling up.”

Su Ze was quite easy-going and not anxious at all.

The previous simulations had also added information little by little.

If his guess was right, later simulations would contain even more core details about the apocalypse.

Then every answer he wanted would surface… if not, he would pretend he had never mentioned it.

Because he had already claimed the reward.

This time the simulator’s cooldown lasted 20 hours.

Su Ze could only rest for now.

After closing the shop, he walked through the night back to his current residence.

……

The next morning, at dawn.

In the bathroom Su Ze listlessly brushed his teeth, the mirror reflecting his sleep-deprived face.

Learning that doomsday was near had unwittingly stimulated his nerves, so a poor night’s sleep was only natural.

“Fallen Benefaction… basically a healer.”

While muttering inwardly, Su Ze stared blankly at the simulator in his field of vision.

The cooldown timer kept ticking.

The Talents he already possessed were displayed on one side.

Yet the mundane scene made Su Ze feel a hint of unreality.

After a brief hesitation he coldly fetched a knife from the kitchen and gave himself a shallow cut.

The faint gash in his palm healed at once once he activated the Talent.

Even the fatigue from his poor sleep vanished completely.

It was admittedly overkill… but the experiment was a success.

Everything was real, and less than 7 days remained until the apocalypse.

He left home and reached the university early.

Rarely remembering he was a college student, Su Ze attended an early lecture.

“Holy crap, for real, Brother Ze, you actually showed up for first period.”

A classmate exclaimed in surprise.

As someone who had achieved financial freedom, Su Ze usually slacked off.

Any course he did not feel like attending would never see his shadow.

Yet there was only one reason he was in the classroom now.

He wanted to enjoy the few peaceful days left before doomsday arrived.

However.

Plans could not keep up with changes; once roll-call finished, Su Ze slipped out early.

Facts proved he merely wished to savor campus life and look at pretty young girls.

Such a simple desire was as candid as Mr. Ji’s diary.

“Should I sell the gold or what…”

Leaving campus, Su Ze took a cab to the hospital.

He intended to replenish the stack of healing energy he had spent in this morning’s test at the hospital.

He also wanted to figure out just how “nearby” someone had to die for the Talent to trigger.

On the way he pondered whether to liquidate some of his assets.

Stocks, property, or gold all seemed worthless to keep.

Still, he had more than 10 million in cash, more than enough to buy supplies.

And if he were ruthless he could pay a deposit to deceive suppliers; once the apocalypse hit the payee would most likely be gone anyway.

Night fell.

After wandering all day, Su Ze returned to the convenience store near campus, relieved the clerk on duty, and started another shift.

In fact he had invested in the shop himself, taking it over from someone else just last month.

He only worked the register because the store was short-staffed lately.

After all, he had not opened the store to make money but to enjoy life.

What kind of enjoyment, you ask?

The answer was exactly what was happening right now…

“I want cake…”

“Stop eating, look how fat you’ve gotten.”

Several girls in high-school uniforms walked in, chatting and laughing.

Su Ze immediately noticed one girl whose beauty was unreal.

Her eyes were as clear as autumn water and her brows resembled distant mountain mist.

Unfortunately the loose winter uniform hid her figure, making accurate judgment impossible.

Even so she still outshone the countless “pure campus belles” he had seen on shady and legitimate websites alike.

The store sat between the university and the middle-high school area, and although students from both sides visited, the high-schoolers came more often, so seeing them was common.

Especially during the evening dismissal period.

However, a high-school girl rated 9 or above was truly rare.

And this was precisely why Su Ze had opened the convenience store.

… to check out girls.

A simple hobby after achieving financial freedom, much like those old men who go fishing.

“Sure enough, besides the safe house I really should keep at least two babes…”

After the students paid and left, Su Ze sat behind the counter and joked to himself.

Seconds ticked by.

The night grew ever quieter.

Finally.

The simulator’s cooldown ended…

『Apocalypse simulation has begun…』

Having waited long enough, Su Ze did not waste a second and launched a new round of apocalypse simulation.

As the simulation started he reminded himself inwardly.

Don’t damn well stay holed up in the safe house; go out and collect as much doomsday intel as possible.

Especially those key terms… Awakener, Safe Zone, and so on.

But even with that resolve, it might not help.

After all, probing the unknown meant danger, and if his simulated self was realistic enough it would never die for illusory intel.

『You may choose one of the following three Talents as your innate Talent for this simulation!』

『Brute (white): You are incredibly strong, but you traded that strength for brains.』

『Danger Sense (blue): You possess an innate perception of danger that helps you seek advantage and avoid harm to a certain extent, but it may also make you more timid.』

『Pea Shooter (green): You excel at ranged attacks, and any handy object becomes a lethal projectile in your hands.』