Chapter 9: Are All the Apartment Residents Strange?

Sukki knelt down so quickly that he didn’t even have time to react. His first thought was that this guy must have practiced, as the movements were fluid and seamless.

He didn’t put down his knife and was about to speak.

At this moment.

The footsteps and bell sounds in the corridor became increasingly clear.

The tentacle man’s face turned pale, filled with fear and tension. He extended his tentacles and made a shushing gesture, signaling to Sukki not to make a sound, as if the person outside would devour them alive.

Sukki didn’t act rashly; he also sensed a dangerous aura.

He didn’t yet know what kind of world this was, but from the tentacle man in the room, it was clear that there were powers beyond those of ordinary people, not just the kind of killers found in small towns.

Soon.

The footsteps and bell sounds gradually faded away.

The tentacle man let out a sigh of relief, then met Sukki’s gaze and became nervous again.

Because Sukki’s knife was still at his throat, though his smile seemed harmless, his tone was cold and indifferent, as if he would cut him if he didn’t explain: "So, can you explain what’s going on now?"

The tentacle man trembled and said, "When you moved in, didn’t you read the apartment notice?"

"For example?"

"The apartment manager prepares food on the first floor. The bell ringing means all residents should gather in the first-floor dining room for a meal. The manager doesn’t like others to see its face, so it returns to its own room on the third floor during meal times."

"What happens if someone sees it?" Sukki asked with a hint of curiosity.

"The previous resident of Room 5 didn’t make it back in time, and I never saw him again. Then you moved in."

Sukki: "So, you saved me just now? Thanks a lot."

"Please, please," the tentacle man said, almost in tears, "but could you put the knife down when you say thank you?"

At this moment.

The sound of doors opening and footsteps echoed in the corridor.

"It’s time to go eat," the tentacle man hurriedly said. "The apartment notice is on the first floor; you can check it out."

Sukki put the butcher’s knife back into his inventory. In the副本 (dungeon), items from the inventory don’t just appear out of nowhere; they connect to various pockets or linings on his clothes. To use an item, he just reaches into a place others can’t see and pulls it out.

The same principle applies to storing items.

After opening the door.

A strange figure wrapped in bandages appeared. It had only one eye visible through a gap. It didn’t change expression when it saw the tentacle man, but its eye widened in extreme madness and greed when it noticed Sukki.

It didn’t say anything.

Then it walked down the stairs to the first floor.

Sukki, seeing the message 【It wants to eat you】 above the bandaged figure’s head, followed the tentacle man to the first floor without showing any emotion.

The tentacle man whispered, "Be careful, don’t provoke the others; they are very terrifying."

There were six residents in total.

Two were already seated.

One was a woman with various stitches and gray, lifeless eyes, known as the Slit-Mouth Woman.

The other was a man with a large, pus-like growth on his back, known as the Lump Man.

The last one.

He arrived the latest, wearing a robe that covered his face. His body was visibly decaying, and he emitted a foul odor, like a corpse. He seemed to live in Room 6, the one closest to the third floor.

The common point among them was that the moment Sukki appeared, their gazes all focused on him, their eyes filled with surprise and then greedy desire.

【They all want to eat you】

Alright.

Everyone’s goal was simple and consistent.

The tentacle man lowered his head and trembled as he took his seat, not daring to speak in front of these strange beings.

Sukki, however, pulled out a chair but didn’t sit down. Facing the greedy, insect-like gazes, he smiled and said, "Everyone, I have an announcement."

"I’m the new resident, Sukki. Nice to meet all of you. I have many hobbies and hope to get along well with everyone."

Sukki’s words made the strange beings laugh softly, their expressions mocking.

Nice to meet you, and get along, hahaha.

Only the corpse man, with his head lowered, spoke in a hoarse voice, "Let’s eat before the food gets cold."

Each person’s plate was covered, with a knife and fork placed beside it.

Sukki lifted the cover, and the food on the plate surprised him.

The aroma of red wine mixed with the sauce, drizzled over a half-cut meat patty, making it look quite delicious.

The others, as if starving, started eating first.

The bandaged figure held the knife and fork, cutting the meat patty forcefully, making a crunching sound, while its eyes remained fixed on Sukki.

It seemed to be cutting not the meat but Sukki himself.

The Slit-Mouth Woman opened her large mouth, revealing sharp teeth, and bit into the meat patty, making a chewing sound like wax, while her eyes were also fixed on Sukki, as if he were the main course.

The Lump Man and the corpse man didn’t look at Sukki but ate greedily.

The tentacle man, a mere shadow, ate without making a sound.

Sukki picked up the knife and fork and cut the meat patty.

It was a normal piece of meat, but a system message appeared.

【After eating, your mental strength will -1, but you will gain a special ability】

【Note: If mental strength reaches zero, you will die (return to the login space to recover)】

Minus one point?

Sukki looked at his 85 mental strength points and decided it wasn’t a problem.

After eating.

His mental strength indeed decreased by 1, but Sukki also felt a strange and special power being activated.

His palm started to itch, and a strange eye slowly appeared.

【You have gained a temporary ability: Palm Eye】

【It will emit a blinding light when activated】

"What a useless ability."

The others saw the eye in Sukki’s palm but didn’t show any strange expressions; instead, their gazes turned cold, as if mocking him.

Sukki noticed this.

He had a guess.

At this moment.

Everyone finished eating, and the corpse man spoke in a hoarse voice, "Who’s on duty today?"

The tentacle man’s body trembled, and he raised his tentacles in fear, "Me."

"Then it’s up to you," the corpse man said with a hideous smile, "I hope you don’t become the next one to disappear."

The corpse man stood up and, under Sukki’s curious gaze, walked up the stairs to his room on the second floor.

The others also left one by one, but they all turned to look at Sukki, their greedy gazes unhidden.

Soon.

Only the tentacle man, who was clearing the plates, and...

Sukki, who was reading the apartment notice, remained.

(End of Chapter)