20. Again, a Raid. (1)

“…………”

I stood there, staring at the corpse.

A young woman’s body.

Pale, gaunt, and so fragile she might crumble at a touch.

Diet food wrappers were scattered all over the room.

She had tried to lose weight.

Though she wasn’t even fat to begin with.

Slender woman.

Yet she lived on diet foods, something I, as a man, couldn’t understand.

She must have been terrified of the apocalypse, too afraid to leave her house, hiding in fear with the curtains closed, making the room dark and gloomy.

The only food left was low-calorie diet jelly.

The fridge had only water and konjac.

In the end, she survived on tap water until she starved to death.

Such corpses are starting to appear around now.

It’s been about three weeks.

Those who didn’t stockpile food are dying of starvation.

She must have been wealthy, living in this upscale neighborhood, with yoga flyers everywhere, her face on them.

She probably worked at a successful Pilates/yoga center in this affluent area.

I opened all the doors on the 9th floor.

No one was alive.

Only two women were dead.

The one in front of me and another who overdosed on antidepressants and sleeping pills a month ago.

Those with the will to live, the courage to keep going, went out to find food and ended up becoming zombies.

The floor is now a ghost town.

Yes.

It’s the apocalypse now.

Sohee and I have sex every day, people smile and chat like normal times, but…

It’s the apocalypse now.

Living like this is actually abnormal.

I feel this as I look at this dead woman.

“…Let’s go, oppa. I’ll ask someone to clean up the body.”

“Okay.”

Left the house and lit a cigarette.

Thought I was over feeling gloomy at the sight of corpses, but it still lingers.

Depressing to see someone die so lonely.

Hoo.

Cigarette smoke fades away.

Sohee, carrying tools, asked,

“What are you going to do now?”

I took another drag.

This building, I’ve cleared it thoroughly.

Leveled up quite a bit.

Just need to clean up the corpses.

But for me, just living isn’t enough.

I need to level up.

Hoo.

Exhaled the smoke and said,

“I’ll rest a bit and then go out.”

“Out?”

Put the cigarette back in my mouth.

Feeling stuffy.

“Yes. You saw the YouTube video. The massive swarm of zombies. Heu-hoo…”

Sohee nodded, looking at me.

I said,

“Those zombies might show up here. From the video, when they appear, other nearby zombies get drawn to the noise and rush out. Not sure if it’s the sound or something else.”

Cigarette tastes good.

Heu-hoo.

Watched the fading smoke and said,

“Can’t check every house, but at least handle the swarms. Don’t want the herd to come here and wipe out our group. Dangerous for us too.”

Sohee agreed with a slow nod.

“Where are you planning to go?”

Had a thought.

“The underground.”

Near the stairs, where the growling vibrations felt like an earthquake.

The underground shopping mall connected to the subway station, bustling with people even on weekdays.

Not sure how many are there.

Just a vague thought, maybe around a thousand.

Thousand.

My…

Great prey.

Sohee expressed concern.

“…Will you be staying out overnight?”

Umm…

Depends on how vast the subway station and underground mall are. Likely at least ten times bigger than this department store.

Leveling up might require an overnight stay.

I nodded.

“Maybe.”

Sohee’s face darkened a bit.

“…Be careful, okay?”

Heu-hoo.

Flicked the cigarette and crushed it.

Smiled and said,

“I’ve never not come back safely. Don’t worry.”

Still, Sohee looked at me.

Seemed like she had something to say.

I chuckled and pulled her into a hug.

Nice to hold.

Especially her ample breasts, so soft and pleasant.

“If I don’t come back, you’d be upset. So I’ll be back.”

Sohee pinched my side.

“Eek!”

“Hey, seriously.”

Let her go, and she glared at me, then walked away.

“I’ll go downstairs and finish the shutter work. Need to weld. Huhng!”

I laughed and said,

“Okay. I’ll rest upstairs. Call me if you need anything.”

Sohee turned her head and stuck out her tongue.

Cute.

Loafed around home until Sohee came up, had lunch, and loafed some more.

Sohee told me she planned to weld aluminum panels to the shutters so they couldn’t be reopened.

But it’s a massive task.

A 400-pyeong building per floor, the exterior of the department store with mostly glass walls, lowering shutters, applying silicone, attaching panels, and welding tops.

Not something that can be done overnight.

Though the inline team helps, just clearing corpses from 1 to 9th floor is a huge task, plus tearing aluminum from cars.

That smelly guy is struggling to carry things, but he’s not much help. Weak and all.

Useless guy.

Meanwhile, Ye-eun, So-eun, grandma, and the married woman are setting up a garden on the rooftop for future vegetables.

Seong-hun ajusshi is working on it, digging soil from the road planters and flower beds.

Everyone’s busy as can be.

But I just loaf around.

I level up.

Went outside to digest and saw a woman carrying a trash bag, sneaking out of her house.

Our eyes met.

Ah, her.

The woman who was scared of me.

She looked at me with wide eyes.

Then awkwardly bowed.

“Ah… hello.”

I chuckled and nodded.

“Yes. Are you doing better now?”

“Ah… yes.”

“Are you eating well?”

The woman, with her hands together, bowed politely.

“Yes. Thank you. We’re managing thanks to you. I’m sorry again. Thank you.”

“No need to say sorry. You’re safe now. Take whatever you need from the mart. No charge.”

Said so and chuckled.

She smiled awkwardly and bowed again.

“I… uh…”

“Yes. See you.”

Waved goodbye, and we parted ways.

Quite pretty.

Looks good in her long skirt.

Seems like a housewife, but lives alone, so not a married woman.

Just likes that style?

Carrying a trash bag, I suppose.

Went to the end of the hall, opened the window, and lit a cigarette.

The street was quiet as ever.

Inline team members were dismantling cars, others carrying corpses outside to burn them.

Seems like they’ll set them on fire.

Umm.

Might rain.

Cloudy.

Should prepare soon.

Smoked until it was a butt, then flicked it out the window.

Returned home, grabbed my bag and sword, and went downstairs.

As Sohee said, I might end up staying out overnight.

Living with these people isn’t so bad for me.

Sohee welcomes me whenever I want, and other women might too.

Meals and casual chats are pleasant, and no one’s annoying, so it’s comfortable.

But the urge to level up is stronger than staying here.

Recover faster, kill more, grow stronger.

Want new specializations and wonder what I’ll become with this growth.

Desire for growth over sex.

Women are always available.

Leveling up is urgent.

That’s the feeling.

Went downstairs and packed snacks, chocolate, energy bars, and water.

Prepared for an overnight stay, my bag was decently packed.

Good.

Let’s go.

Confirmed my stats were fully restored and headed to the side door.

Sohee was welding.

Zzt-zt-zt-

“Sohee, I’m going.”

Sohee lifted her mask and looked at me.

“Oh? You’re going now? There’s a plan to gather on the rooftop tonight. We’re having a barbecue to celebrate being able to go to the mart. Oppa, can’t you go tomorrow?”

I smiled and said,

“Safety first.”

She said,

“Oppa, be careful! Okay? Be careful!”

“Got it.”

Waved goodbye and walked out the side door.

From behind, Sohee called out loudly,

“Oppa, be careful! Okay? Be careful!”

“Alright.”

Waved and walked onto the sidewalk.

Ahead, the convenience store.

Beside it, the underground entrance.

Again, a raid.

Let’s level up.