Shelter for All: People catch ghosts and gain entries in the end times - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: The World’s First Killers Are Truly Remarkable.

[User: Kindness is just a joke.”]

[User: Information is the most important thing in the world.”]

Sitting on a flat pebble, Taro of Sakura Land contentedly scrolled through comments about himself on the World Forum. The so-called kind and proactive help was a facade. In this desolate world, Taro’s acts of benevolence were merely a means to an end—a way to gather crucial information.

[Tuocun: Lord Taro, help!]

[Tuocun: Su Mu has blacklisted me, and I can’t trade the Golden Fragment Grass with him.]

[Tuocun: Can you help me?]

[Taro: Golden Fragment Grass? Does it involve that person from Dragonland, Su Mu?]

At the mention of Su Mu, Taro’s interest was piqued. After all, the enigmatic survivor from Dragonland was the world’s first assassin, and the Golden Fragment Grass was reportedly essential to Su Mu’s plans.

“The item description for the Golden Fragment Grass doesn’t provide much detail,” Taro muttered.

“Could it be a material to upgrade Su Mu’s weapon?”

He glanced at his own beginner’s weapon, a sleek katana with a water-like sheen. If Su Mu was upgrading his gear, it wasn’t surprising—everyone needed specific materials to enhance their equipment.

But this realization dulled Taro’s initial excitement. The information wasn’t as valuable as he’d hoped.

Still, Taro decided to take a chance and sent Su Mu a friend request.

The response was swift. Su Mu deleted Taro’s request, along with hundreds of others, in one automated sweep.

“He… refused?”

Taro blinked in disbelief. Su Mu, the world’s first assassin, was so arrogant that he didn’t even bother to review friend requests.

“Maybe it was a mistake,” Taro rationalized. “He probably deleted everything at once. I’ll try again.”

But when he sent another request, the system delivered a swift and humiliating blow:

[You have been blacklisted by survivor Su Mu and can no longer submit friend requests.]

“What?!”

Taro stared at the message, stunned. Su Mu hadn’t just ignored him—he’d outright blacklisted him!

Even as Sakura Land’s first assassin with a powerful beginner’s weapon, Taro felt utterly disrespected. The insult stung.

“Fine! Su Mu of Dragonland, I’ll remember this!” he spat, his voice trembling with suppressed rage.

“If I, Taro, surpass you one day, I’ll make sure you pay for this humiliation!”

Despite his bitterness, Taro didn’t dare publicly lash out at Su Mu on the World Forum. Su Mu’s abilities were leagues ahead of the rest, and any mockery would only backfire.

Instead, Taro vented his frustration on Tuocun.

[Taro: You useless fool. Deal with Su Mu yourself.]

[Taro: I can’t help you.]

On the other side, Tuocun stared at Taro’s response, bewildered and increasingly irritated.

[Tuocun: Stupid, who do you think you are? You’re just a first-time killer who got lucky with a beginner’s weapon!]

[Tuocun: If you’re too afraid to deal with Su Mu, just admit it!]

Fueled by frustration, Tuocun posted his chat log with Taro on the World Forum.

[Tuocun: Taro is a fraud! He doesn’t care about helping Sakura Land survivors!]

[Tuocun: Don’t be fooled by his lies—he’s only looking out for himself in this apocalypse!]

[Taro: Stupid!]

Taro, fuming, felt like he’d lose his mind. He regretted ever responding to Tuocun. Now, his carefully curated reputation was tarnished, and his rage shifted entirely onto Tuocun.

The World Forum exploded with activity.

[User 4: So this is what “harmonious coexistence” looks like in Sakura Land. Impressive.]

[User 2: Dragonland calls this a “dog-eat-dog” fight.]

[User 3: Didn’t someone bet that Taro would be ignored by Su Mu? Pay up!]

[User 5: Haha, Taro was dismissed by Su Mu and turned his anger on Tuocun. Classic.]

[User 6: Su Mu the Great really lives up to his name, casually ignoring Sakura Land’s so-called first killer.]

[User 7: Arrogant much? Su Mu’s behavior is over the top.]

[User 8: If you’re not the world’s first assassin, you wouldn’t understand the joys of being one.]

[User 7: Su Mu’s message is clear: ‘You’re not qualified.’ What can anyone do about it?]

While the forum reveled in the drama, Su Mu remained blissfully unaware. Blacklisting Taro was an afterthought, a minor task amidst his preparations.

“It’s getting dark,” Su Mu noted as the sky deepened to an ominous shade.

“Rumors say the world becomes even more perilous at night.”

He glanced around the Energy Stone Mine, its eerie stillness unsettling in the fading light. This place, though resource-rich, was not safe. Darkness in this world brought unknown dangers.

“Now that I’ve gathered enough materials, it’s time to head back,” he decided.

Once I’m home, I can use the Level 1 Wall Construction Blueprint.