episode_0022

Women have their own weapons.

Primarily, it’s a physical offensive.

Cuteness or beauty can also be a weapon.

They can also charm men with eloquent speech.

They can provoke protective instincts to gain help.

They can also tie a man down under the guise of responsibility.

Things I’ve seen countless times, both in Korea and over there.

Women who, as a result, gained advantages in some form or another.

I know a little too, having experienced it myself.

A man’s resolve is endlessly weak to a woman’s sweet whispers and tender gestures.

If I hadn’t known the countless stories of my *hyungs* that spread online, I, a pure-hearted man, might be suffering now with the title of ‘Ponponnam’.

If I hadn’t accumulated the time and experience of being 29 in Korean age plus the days spent in another world.

I would have fallen for Isia’s sudden aggressive move right before my eyes.

Her pretty face and a soft voice that tickled the ears.

That woman, with her wicked and stunning figure, was extremely fatal.

“Do as you wish with me.”

What a magnificent reverberation those words held.

A rare, legendary line that makes a man’s blood boil.

Honestly, my heart was thumping.

Any other time, I would have immediately said, “Deal!”

…Though it was an event impossible in a normal situation.

In Isia’s eyes, as I gazed intently, complex emotions swirled.

Disdain, determination, anger, shame, and…

‘Tears? It seems she knows what she just said.’

She might have felt that I was using the zombie apocalypse to impose unfair conditions on people.

Perhaps out of anger or shame, the gaze she directed at me was not kind.

Her tightly clenched hands were trembling.

‘Ah, this…’

I should quickly explain that it’s not like that, but I don’t want to.

The sight of the beauty whimpering and trembling right before my eyes was precious.

I just felt like teasing her.

A man’s heart is truly complex and subtle.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

At my short exchange with Isia, the people nearby tried to stop her.

“Shia! What are you saying right now!”

“She’s crazy! She’s crazy!”

“Yes, Shia. What you just said was rash. Look, let’s pretend we didn’t hear that—”

“No. I like it.”

Everyone in the room shot stinging glares, with a look that said, “Is this person serious right now?”

Isia had a look that confirmed her expectations, but…

“But I refuse.”

“Why, why?”

“…Why? It’s impossible, so it’s impossible.”

“So why? Don’t you like me?”

‘What is this woman saying?’

“Well, I’m well aware that you’re a beauty.”

“And? Then there’s no problem, is there?”

“What use is your beauty to me right now?”

“……Huh?”

At my nonchalant words, Isia’s flushed face calmed down.

An expression of utter bewilderment.

“What do you mean, ‘huh’? You don’t think all men like to have a woman beneath them and make her groan, do you?”

“……”

“…That’s a prejudice against men.”

“B-but!”

“But what? I don’t like forcing a woman who doesn’t want to. And even if I accepted, it would be a problem.”

What in the world does this woman think of men…?

‘Hmm? This presence…’

At the word ‘problem,’ Isia wore a look that asked, ‘What problem?’

Pushing aside the slightly irritating feeling, I continued.

“Surely you don’t think it would end with just once, do you? You’d have to follow me until I got tired of you. Can you do that?”

“!!!!”

“If you force yourself upon a woman who doesn’t want it, all that’s left is emptiness. Not all men… but at least I don’t just eagerly accept such propositions. Do you understand?”

I just blurted it out, but it was quite a plausible remark.

But Isia stared at me with a face full of suspicion.

With a cold, disdainful gaze.

‘No, this woman, really!!’

“It’s not like that.”

“What isn’t?”

“I’m not impotent or gay.”

“Oh my! How did you know? Was it obvious?”

“………”

Where did the woman who was whimpering just moments ago go, and what mischief-maker appeared?

Was she originally this kind of personality?

“Most of the men I’ve seen were lustful. They practically licked me with their eyes.”

That’s insane provocation without any filter.

Licking with their eyes, she says. My goodness.

“Well, I’m a man you haven’t seen, so I’m fine. And do those men include Kim Jihyuk and the two managers next to you? I didn’t think these people were like that, but I guess not.”

At my retort, which involved looking at the men beside her, Isia was startled.

“N-no! Why is the conversation veering that way!”

“You said ‘most men.’ So that includes everyone, right?”

“…Not these gentlemen. They’re good to me.”

“So you offered to sacrifice yourself to save everyone?”

“……”

“If I accepted, I feel like I’d get beaten up by the men here.”

I showed my refusal and threw in a little joke.

Thanks to that, the atmosphere relaxed considerably, and I looked around at the people.

Kim Jihyuk couldn’t do anything about the conversation that had veered off so strangely.

The men startled by Isia’s cheeky sudden proposition, and Bomi-ssi comforting them beside her.

“For now, I’ll record that offer in the ledger.”

“W-what did you say?”

Chuckling as I watched Isia tremble, I spoke to Kim Jihyuk.

“Whenever it may be, I ask that you grant me one favor.”

“A favor, you say?”

When a condition, rather than something specific, was presented, Kim Jihyuk tensed slightly.

“Within the bounds of what Kim Jihyuk can do, without abandoning humanity. Of course, it might involve violating the law, but it’s not some outrageous condition like asking you to kill someone.”

“It’s like a wish-granting token, then. A favor…”

Kim Jihyuk, who had been staring intently at me for a moment, stroked his chin and pondered.

“It’s about moving everyone together from here to a safe place. I cannot guarantee everyone’s survival in that process, but I will do my absolute best. The same goes for the others. What do you say?”

At my words, Kim Jihyuk met everyone’s gaze.

“Hyung-nim. Our grandparents…”

“I said I’d take both of them to a safe place. The same goes for you.”

And reassure Dong-woo and the two elderly individuals.

Everyone nodded, seemingly having made up their minds.

“We will follow your word.”

Kim Jihyuk extended his hand, and I lightly grasped it in response.

“If Kim Jihyuk dies during the movement, you will see my corpse first before his. This is the best I can do.”

At my lightly spoken, yet heavy words, I felt the hand I held tighten.

“…We will also do our best.”

At Kim Jihyuk’s earnest words, everyone beside him made a firm resolve.

The atmosphere softened considerably, and everyone’s expressions became more relaxed.

“It’s awkward to say it myself, but these are good terms. There are no poison pill clauses either.”

Kim Jihyuk said, releasing the hand he had shaken.

“Poison pill clauses? Like what celebrities often suffer from?”

“Yes. That’s why people usually have a professional lawyer present when signing contracts, but this time, even by my judgment, the terms aren’t bad, so I feel relieved.”

Kim Jihyuk and his companions, who had returned to a much softer expression as their tension eased.

“Now that I think about it, I haven’t even asked your name until now.”

“Ah…. I am Seonghan. I am 29 years old.”

“T-twenty-nine?!”

Everyone was startled upon hearing my age.

This reaction isn’t bad.

Isia’s expression, in particular, was quite a sight to behold.

“Twenty-nine with that face?? I thought you were around my age!”

Where did the trembling from shame just moments ago go?

I wonder if she’s bold or just impulsive.

‘Is my face really that surprising? Hehe.’

Long live youthfulness.

“You look young, but you don’t give off that impression, so I was wondering.”

“Just think of it easily. And Dong-woo.”

I had Dong-woo take out food from the bag.

It was just canned porridge, but people’s eyes gleamed.

“First, let’s satisfy your hunger and talk— No, eat slowly. Uh, Kim Jihyuk-ssi?”

Even Kim Jihyuk, who had been calm throughout, broke down.

He was eating the canned porridge as if gulping it down.

Everyone was the same.

At least the grandfather and grandmother ate calmly.

Is this what experience is?

The people who were frantically eating the porridge, instead of speaking, quietly sobbed.

Perhaps it was overwhelming emotion for no particular reason.

They had been clinging to life precariously, on the verge of crossing the threshold of death due to thirst and hunger.

‘That’s probably it.’

The relief of having escaped the crisis of death.

Though it was just canned porridge, the food they put in their mouths after three days seemed enough to give them a powerful sense of having survived.

‘It’s not that I don’t understand, but…’

If they eat like that, something really bad will happen.

The gazes of those who quickly emptied their cans turned towards the bag.

“Wait.”

“Um… Seonghan-ssi. It’s too little…”

Bomi-ssi, small in stature, protested softly with a shrinking voice.

“You’ve all been starving for over three days. If you eat suddenly, you’ll have problems. If you get sick now, there’s no solution. In fact, you should be given thin gruel, but since there isn’t any, I’ve given you porridge.”

“That’s right. You need to eat little by little, slowly, so your body can accept it without problems.”

Thanks to the grandfather supporting from the side, everyone understood, making ‘Ahhh~’ sounds.

It was a feeling of ‘I know, but~’ ‘However~’ ‘Nevertheless~’.

“Take your time and eat little by little. It will be hard, but you must control yourselves. Those who have eaten, please rest in a comfortable position.”

Seeing the companions find suitable spots to rest, I also began to eat.

Jerky, sausage, bread, and milk.

Everyone’s gazes shone sharply.

No, they gleamed ferociously.

Dong-woo also had a look that said, ‘Something like that is in the bag!!’

It was a discriminatory menu, but I didn’t mind.

If you consider their condition, my companions are no different from critically ill patients.

I won’t do the wicked thing of feeding sick people something that could upset them.

I said with a pleasant smile.

“Because I need to exert energy. You all will be able to eat soon too. Just hold on a little longer.”

*Munch munch-*

The sound of chewing chewy jerky and the bursting of plump sausages.

They weren’t cooked over a fire or anything, but they were savory and delicious.

Isia’s jaw was practically unhinged, saliva almost drooling.

I felt a little sorry for the people staring intently.

But I have to eat to live too.

‘Because I need to eat well to exert my strength.’

After roughly finishing my meal, I advised everyone to rest to regulate their condition.

The space we had been in just before was too poor.

It was at least fortunate that this place served as a resting area.

I roughly cleared my spot, stood up, and approached Kim Jihyuk.

“I’ll be going out and coming back.”

“Outside, you mean? It’s dangerous alone. I’ll go with you.”

What a passionate man.

“I’m not going far. I’ll just clear the area around the staff passage. And all of you are too exhausted. Right now, you need to rest for what’s next.”

“B-but still…”

“It’s really fine. Please relax and rest.”

I made Kim Jihyuk and the managers, who wanted to come along, rest for now.

It’s better for these people to recover quickly rather than overexert themselves now.

“Once I leave, lock the door and stand guard. It won’t take long. I know it’s hard, but everyone is very exhausted. Your condition is the best among them. You can do it, right?”

“Yes. I can do it.”

“I don’t see any zombies nearby, so don’t worry, but don’t let your guard down.”

Seeing him gripping the axe and his eyes gleaming at my words of caution, it seemed he would be fine.

‘Then…’

I left the lounge and started running.

I tracked the faint traces left on the floor cluttered with corpses.

Fortunately, the traces followed the exact path that Dong-woo and I had taken.

It was easy to find.

Although many zombies were still expected, at least the direction I was heading seemed clear. As proof, a person was limping ahead.

Neither running nor walking, but awkwardly.

It was a miracle they made it this far.

I heard curses spewing from ahead.

“Those motherf*ckers!! *Gasp! Gasp!* I’ll kill all of them, along with my younger brothers. *Gasp! Pant!* And that arrogant b*tch, I’ll exploit her until she drops dead. Especially that bastard, I’ll grind his fingers first…”

I rushed forward and seized the back of his fat neck.

“Ugh?!”

Holding the startled bulk, I leaped onto the roof of the adjacent building.

“Whoaahhh!”

‘That place should be suitable.’

After leaping a few times to move, I landed on the roof of a low three-story building.

*Crash-*

“Uwaaahh! What?! What?!”

“Where are you going without a word? You hurt my feelings.”

“You, you! You!”

Indeed, he must have been very surprised.

Since he was suddenly grabbed by the neck and flew around everywhere.

Seeing him point his wobbly arm makes my heart ache.

He must be in a lot of pain.

Out of apology, I made the most regretful expression I could.

“We still have something to settle, don’t we?”

“W-what? Settle what?! F*ck! What are you?!”

“You swore at me and swung a knife.”

“Th-that was!!”

“You said you’d bring people to kill everyone and that arrogant b*tch, what?”

“What?!”

“And I’d grind his fingers first?”

“H-nonsense! Don’t make false accusations!”

Swearing, well, that’s possible.

Even the king gets chewed out when he’s not present [a proverb about people talking freely behind others’ backs].

The unpleasant sensation I felt during my conversation with Isia.

The killing intent directed from one person to another.

That terrifyingly chilling, sticky feeling is unforgettable.

“Then why spread killing intent when you could have just left quietly?”

“……What?”

“It seems you’ve ‘taken care’ of people before? The feeling was quite sticky, you know?”

The eyes of the large man, whose true nature had been exposed, wavered wildly.

“You! Wh-which family are you from! I’m—”

“Don’t misunderstand. It’s not like that.”

I approached slowly, speaking in a harmless tone as if soothing an animal.

“Putting all that aside.”

I grabbed the middle-aged man’s neck and lifted him up.

“Choke! Choke!”

“I’ve never let anyone live who pointed a knife at me.”

“Gasp! S-gasp! Save me!! Gasp!”

Holding him up, I leaped down three stories.

*Thud-*

“Cough! Cough! Cough!”

“Do you want to live?”

“Gasp! Gasp! Save me!”

“Alright. I’ll let you live.”

At my flat-toned words of ‘I’ll let you live,’ the large man abruptly lifted his head.

It’s a visual that’s hard to look at with a clear mind.

“If you fight and win against those bastards.”

I lightly leaped up and stood on the city gas pipe on the building wall.

And assumed the posture of an observer.

“What are you doing? Fight.”

“What are you, Uwaaahh! You son of a bitch!!”

Two zombies rushed forward from ahead.

Their severely torn bodies had intestines dangling, which was grotesque.

Their skin was ripped here and there, with no intact parts.

One had no arms.

One had one leg missing and crawled.

They relentlessly charged towards the living human.

Behind him was a dead end.

He’s the kind of guy who’d brandish a weapon at people without hesitation.

I wondered what kind of fight he would put up against the zombies.

“Uwaaahh! F*ck! You son of a bitch! You f*cking bastard! A-ack! Aaack!”

“No! He just had to push them away and run, but he’s being foolish.”

It’s truly regrettable. I gave him a chance.

I was really going to let him go if he ran away.

Curses, threats, and violence probably worked on people.

But on zombies? No.

In the end, that guy is a typical bully [a proverb about preying on the weak and cowering before the strong].

As proof, he was so terrified of two low-condition zombies that he couldn’t even properly resist and was bitten. He must have only been a peerless warrior against those who seemed weak.

“Perhaps because there’s a lot of meat to eat, he’s holding up quite well.”

He screamed and struggled, trying to escape, but it was futile.

If that was the case, he should have given his all from the beginning.

Not long after, the movements of the large man and the zombies ceased.

“1… 2… 3…”

11 seconds later. The large man got up again.

“Guaaahhh!”

“Ugh… Sounds like a pig being slaughtered.”

I took out three kitchen knives from my inventory.

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

The knives accurately embedded themselves in the heads of the three zombies.

Now that I’ve finished, I should go back…

“Uh… what is it?”

I watched for a moment while clinging to the wall.

They didn’t fall immediately.

Their movements seemed to slowly stop, then one by one, they fell.

‘Around 10 seconds after complete death. There’s a slight difference. When the victim dies, the attacks stop simultaneously. Even when they become zombies, they don’t attack each other. Most zombies with traces of having been attacked have good mobility.’

And what happened just now.

“So, it’s only effective if the head is completely destroyed, after all.”

Looking down, a thick liquid that looked like zombie brain matter seeped out from where the kitchen knives were embedded.

It’s a guess, but it seems I need to inflict damage on that brain matter somehow.

As I continued to think, my companions suddenly came to mind.

‘They’ll be worried. Let’s go back.’

I glanced at the three zombies below and headed back the way I came.

I felt no particular emotion about what I had done to the large man.

If society were functioning normally, I would have been more lenient.

However, the current situation was abnormal.

This was an opponent who had scattered killing intent while fleeing.

I don’t think it’s excessive.

If I deal with them softly, it’s me who will get stabbed.

If they attack, I have no intention of going easy on them.