episode_0010

“Oh! Did you have a good night, hyung-nim?”

“It was good.”

Although I briefly thought that I wasn’t acting like a proper older brother by not worrying at all about my younger sibling spending the night with me, I smoothly moved on from the situation by recalling the effects of my abilities.

“It seems that as my faith increases, it acts strongly like brainwashing.”

As I marveled at the power of my abilities, I confirmed that among the gathered people, there was not a single orphan, and I instructed Gokanghyun to bring Goayoung.

“Now that everyone is here, I will explain what we will be doing from now on.”

In the large conference room built when constructing the building, I felt a sense of focus as I explained while writing on the blackboard, giving me a subtle sense of pride as if I were the CEO of a company.

“From the nursing home here to the hair salon over there, and the large karaoke room next to it, this is where we will be rescuing survivors and dealing with zombies as we move around.”

As I gestured confidently on the roughly drawn map, my hand reached out without hesitation.

“And we will divide into two teams, with me alone and the four of you, checking the time with the watches provided and gathering back at the nursing home at 6 pm to return to the new world. Any questions here?”

At this, Gokanghyun raised his hand and looked at me.

“Yes, Kanghyun. Speak up.”

“Even if you are strong, aren’t there sudden mutant zombies like last time? Isn’t it dangerous?”

“Kanghyun’s question is a natural concern that all of you may have.”

As I had actually anticipated the question, I explained the reason smoothly.

“Splitting into two teams is much more advantageous in terms of time than moving as one team, don’t you know that?”

“In terms of time, yes.”

“However, if we are divided into two teams, there may be a decrease in combat power, making it difficult to overcome crisis situations or rescue people. But as I have already mentioned, with the second awakening, you can borrow the skills you have awakened.”

Even after explaining this much, as I looked at Gokanghyun’s eyes filled with doubt and worry, I sighed inwardly.

“To put it simply, I have become strong enough to defeat all of you.”

“Ah…!”

Gokanghyun and Hyunsu seemed to understand now, expressing a slight surprise, while Siheesun and Goayoung still had ambiguous expressions.

“Ayoung and Heesun, do you have any questions?”

As I asked, Goayoung finally spoke as if she had been waiting.

“I am worried about oppa, so I want to go with oppa…”

Although her voice became quieter as she continued, I understood the gist of her words and gave the prepared response.

“Ayoung, I also want to be with you, but this is a public matter. Mixing personal emotions into public affairs can lead to the downfall of the public group. If it falls, it’s not just us, but also the other people we have rescued who will be in trouble.”

“I-I’m sorry… I didn’t think that far…”

Seeing Goayoung looking downcast lately, I often thought she was cute and used a self-hypnosis phrase I had prepared, activating my skill.

“I am a god. I reign over humans and survive in this world. The relationship between god and humans cannot be horizontal. Just as humans marvel at microbes, I only marvel at humans and feel no other emotions.”

As I used the sacred corruption skill, my mind calmed down, and even when looking at Goayoung, no emotion stirred within me. Only then did I stop using the skill, feeling satisfied.

“Ayoung, look at me.”

“…Yes?”

I gently cupped Goayoung’s soft cheeks in my hands and made her look at me.

“Um, everyone is here…”

*Cough…!*

Thud!

With a sound of something breaking, Gokanghyun and Hyunsu tried to assert their presence, but I ignored them and used the skill on Goayoung.

“Ah Young, you don’t have to apologize like that. People can have those thoughts, and if it’s wrong, I can just let you know.”

I took a deep breath and continued,

“And I want to maintain an equal relationship with you. I want to love without worrying about what the other person might think of me, rather than worrying about being judged. Isn’t that right, Ah Young?”

“Y-yes…!”

“Hmm, it seems like Hyung is quite fiery…”

Although she lowered her head to hide her blushing face, her ears and the surrounding area revealed just how red her face had become.

‘She’s cute.’

Even though it was nothing special, knowing the reason for such a big reaction, I couldn’t help but smile inwardly.

‘She must be thinking about what I said to her yesterday.’

After explaining the future course of action to everyone, I went to the two old men who were tasked with guarding the Golden Apple Tree and the Holy Water. I gave the Golden Apple and Holy Water to Ah Young and went outside the New World for exploration and cleaning.

“Then we’ll go in opposite directions now.”

Ah Young sent me a slightly regretful look, but seeing her face turn red at my simple smile, she was able to leave on her own with relief.

—

After walking alone for about 5 minutes, I saw about four zombies gathered together.

“Hmm… I guess there’s no one around now.”

After looking around a bit, making sure there was no one around, I easily killed the three zombies that noticed me and subdued one zombie to use a skill.

“After using it a few times, it seems like even if they become complete zombies, they can still be healed…?”

Concentrating, I used the skill towards the zombies for about 3 minutes, and I felt the zombie’s body turning into dust.

“Is this a failure?”

While pondering whether it was due to my lack of skill in using the skill, my stats, or some other reason, the enhanced characteristics from the second awakening provided new information.

“Natural… generated zombies?”

There was no response, but it was a plausible hypothesis, so I pushed aside my doubts.

“They all disappeared.”

As the zombie turned completely into dust and disappeared, a message that surprised me popped up.

“You have gained 2,200 faith.”

I paused for a moment, thinking about why I gained faith instead of points. The fact that the number was in the thousands was unusual, as I had never gained such a high number except when killing a mutant zombie.

“Was this zombie a mutant? If so, it’s impossible for me not to know with my abilities. Then was it in the process of becoming a mutant? It’s quite possible. But since it’s faith and not points, the most likely hypothesis is…”

Without realizing it, I voiced my thoughts.

“If you heal naturally generated zombies, their bodies disappear like ashes and you gain faith…”

The fact that there were more things to experiment and research made me feel slightly tired, but knowing that it would shorten the time for me to conquer my world and make it more certain, I stored that thought in my mind and continued on the predetermined path.

“I’ve checked everywhere…”

After exploring and killing over 300 zombies, I turned my body to go back the way I came.

“Hey, Hyung!”

I turned around to see three men waving at me from behind.

“Don’t be scared, just wait a moment.”

Using the faith I had left to use my skills, I borrowed the skills of Divine Will, Divine Shield, and Indomitable Body. I put on the Divine Shield and walked towards the men.

“Wow, looks like you’re not scared at all.”

“Damn, you look like shit…”

“Well, it’s… anyway, heh.”

I couldn’t hear the last man’s words clearly even with my enhanced hearing, but my intuition and reason judged these three men as enemies.

“Hyung, is there a group of survivors with Hyung in it?”

“I’m alone?”

Casually speaking in banmal, the man with a dirty beard extended the axe he was holding towards me, looking angry.

“Do you think we look easy, you little b*tch! Where do you get off using banmal, you piece of sh*t!”

I confidently knew that I was not a threat to anyone around me, utilizing my abilities to gather information on everyone hiding nearby, including the three in front of me.

[Lv_4 Enhanced Physical Abilities]

Enhances physical abilities.

[Lv_7 Hardening]

Uses mana to harden objects or one’s own body.

[Lv_4 Steel Skin]

Temporarily hardens the body to be as tough as steel using mana.

[Lv_3 Transparent Traces]

All traces appear in a transparent form.

[Lv_5 Colorful Throw]

Using mana, all thrown objects create colorful traces and hit the target.

[Lv_3 Finger Gun]

Using mana, loads a transparent bullet made of mana per finger and shoots one bullet.

The bullet exits in the direction the finger is pointing, accompanied by a faint gunshot.

[Lv_7 Explosion]

Uses mana to cause an explosion in a certain range within sight.

[Lv_5 Mental Weakening]

Uses mana to weaken the target’s mental strength.

The three in front of me were responsible for the vanguard, attacking from a distance, and were prepared for any additional threats that might come my way.

“They seem more professional at this than I thought. There must be someone giving orders from above.”

Although I checked everyone’s abilities, I realized that they were not a significant threat to me, so I subtly smirked at the situation where they were confronting me alone.

“But their abilities are higher than I expected… Where did they get those points from?”

Unlike physical abilities, which naturally have the potential to be high, raising magical abilities requires awakening and using points directly, making it difficult to increase them.

“None of them seem to have undergone a second awakening…”

Quickly concluding my thoughts, I turned my attention to the man who was still bravely facing me.

“Hyung, sorry for speaking informally.”

The man who seemed the most neat among the three pushed the man with the beard aside and stepped forward.

“We didn’t mean to intrude, but seeing you kill zombies with such ease, you seem like an awakened with enhanced physical abilities. If you don’t mind, would you like to join us?”

Smiling slightly, the man extended his hand towards me, and I reciprocated with a smile.

“Then should we call out the other five hiding nearby as well?”

“…!”

As if completely unaware that I had already figured everything out, they quickly stepped back and pulled out their weapons.

“I see weak awakened hunting groups~ If you’re strong, we’ll recruit you. Sound good?”

“…”

“Then just keep listening like that.”

Thinking of deceiving these naive villains, I felt a surge of confidence rising within me and began speaking.