21. Sad Anger. (2)

Jung Eun-seo said that and covered her forehead with both hands again.

She looked like she was about to pass out.

I leaned against the wall by the stairs.

My hand instinctively rested on the hilt of my sword, now a habit.

I folded my arms and asked,

“Are you very unwell, miss?”

“…Yes. She said she couldn’t sleep at all last night because of the pain.”

Her only remaining family member is ill…

There’s nothing I can do to help.

I’m not a doctor.

We can’t rely on hospitals.

This woman seems to care for her sister a lot.

The phones still work.

If she had contacted nearby hospitals, she would’ve asked to take her sister there if any were available.

But sitting here means those hospitals are likely in ruins.

It’s hard to say sorry or tell her to stay strong.

Apologies would sound like giving up, and encouragement would feel hollow.

I stood silently, looking at her.

Jung Eun-seo lifted her head.

Her eyes were moist.

She was holding back tears.

She forced a smile and stood up.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be here while everyone’s busy…”

I shook my head.

“Don’t mind that. Go upstairs and be with your sister. Everyone understands.”

Jung Eun-seo just stood there, feeling guilty for being a burden.

Kind.

I could tell from how she shared food with everyone.

…She’ll have a hard time surviving the apocalypse.

I said,

“Is your sister alone?”

“…Yes.”

“Let’s go.”

Jung Eun-seo looked at me.

Paused, then bowed her head.

“…I’m sorry to ask, but… thank you.”

“No need to apologize. Come on.”

I nodded and escorted her to the elevator.

People working nearby glanced over, including Hwan-ahjusshi and the women.

I waved, subtly gesturing to Jung Eun-seo.

They nodded in understanding.

Everyone’s kind.

Jung Eun-seo bowed to me as she entered the elevator.

I smiled and nodded, then left through the side door.

The inline team was still clearing corpses.

Corpses were everywhere, over a hundred on the upper floors and more than a hundred in the mart.

Clearing them all would take a long time.

The grandmas were tending the garden, and Sohee was reinforcing the shutters.

They divided tasks without me saying a word.

Everyone’s busy.

I watched them work and slipped out of the building.

I need to focus on leveling up.

Jung Eun-seo’s sister, likely the last remaining family member.

Like others here, her family’s fate is unknown or turned into zombies.

What must it feel like to have a last family member ill?

…What about my family?

A weight grows in my heart.

I once vowed to go find them, but living with these people day by day makes it hard to leave.

Can I leave them behind?

Sohee, Ye-eun.

Others.

“…Tsk.”

Who knows.

Right now, it’s not time to leave. Having people who make me happy is enough for now.

Let’s level up.

Near the convenience store.

Glanced at the boarding house alley.

Nothing there.

Not under surveillance anymore, it seems.

I turned and headed to the underground.

 * * *

“Hoo…”

Sat on the toilet, wiping away the blood dripping from my chin.

Current time, around 9 PM.

Two raids.

Level already at 75.

Stamina increased by 3 points to 98.

3 points left.

…Finally, surpassing 100.

Up to 135…!

I tried to increase stamina but it stopped at 100.

“…Damn it.”

Felt a sense of emptiness.

Must be a stat cap.

“…Haa.”

Want to curse.

Closed my eyes, clicked my tongue, and checked the status window again.

Stamina at 100.

…Stat cap.

Other stats likely capped at 100 too.

With max strength, maybe I could kill 100 zombies in one raid.

“…Tsk.”

Disappointing.

Truly disappointing.

Used the last point on strength and sighed.

Those human beasts, maybe I could massacre the running zombies in one go.

That hope was there.

Feeling betrayed by the outcome.

Not that it wasn’t fruitful.

Stamina at 100 is immense.

Recovery rate quadrupled compared to before, allowing up to four raids a day.

With strength at 100, maybe 400 zombies a day.

This underground mall.

Assuming a thousand zombies, I could wipe them out in three days.

Quite…

A significant advancement.

But the disappointment remains.

Wanted to reach 135 stamina.

Checked the time on my phone.

9:02 PM.

…A bit early.

Do one more raid.

Knowing the stat cap exists is some consolation.

Let’s level up and get a new specialization.

Yes.

New specialization.

Must hurry to get it.

By 1 AM, all stats were restored in just four hours.

…Four hours for 50 points.

A week ago, I’d wait all day for that.

Disappointing, but faster recovery is a plus.

Need to plan my growth.

Strength is lacking.

Acceleration leaves about 2 uses.

But barely.

Something bothers me.

Those cockroaches spying on us.

They’re raiding small shops in the distance, yet their numbers haven’t decreased.

Because they’re getting more organized, or because they’re luring people out.

Their forces are growing.

Securing acceleration for emergencies isn’t bad.

Were it not for the need to level up, I could chase them away.

But I can’t spare the acceleration.

Need a new specialization.

As soon as possible.

Let’s allocate 5 points to strength, then 5 to mental.

Maintain acceleration while increasing kill count.

Nodded and stood up.

Damn, the toilet seat.

Really dislike it.

My butt hurts from sitting.

Until now, I’ve cleared large areas, but now I need a place to rest and sweep.

Yes.

A park with benches would be good.

Or the second-floor bookstore terrace.

Smiled and left the restroom.

Stepped over a dozen corpses in the hallway, entering the underground mall.

Dozens of corpses scattered over tens of meters.

The human beasts I killed.

Dead zombies.

Fulfilling.

Smiled, looking at the distant bookstore.

Zombies seemed to be moving.

I walked toward them, taking a deep breath.

“Come here!”

“Kya-ra-rak?!”

The bookstore and many connected shops.

They rushed out.

Heads spinning wildly.

Our eyes met.

“Kya-a-a-! Kya-a-a-a!”

They charged.

I walked.

They rushed in unison.

Noisy footsteps.

Growls filled the air.

They fell, grabbed, and trampled each other, rushing at me.

Formed a human wave toward me.

Drew my sword.

Shurur-

Thud.

Stepped with one foot, bent my knee.

Bent my body.

They rushed in.

Many mouths wide open before me.

“Kya-a-a-a!”

I swung my sword.

In the next moment, I stood at the underground entrance.

The distance to the entrance was considerable.

Used 11 accelerations.

Kwarurung.

A landslide-like roar echoed through the walls from deep within the underground.

A deafening howl filled the air.

Smiled and walked toward the mart building.

Ugh.

Need to discard these clothes again.

Looked at the alley and saw a shadow by the utility pole.

Shameless.

Snorted and walked on.

The building entrance was completely sealed.

The side door I used had shutters down.

“Hm.”

What to do?

Laughed at the shutters, then heard a voice from above.

“Ah, Seong-hun. Are you back?”

Huh?

Looked up to see one of the inline team members.

Probably the guy with a girlfriend among the women.

Forgot his name.

Waved at him.

The man said,

“I’ll have them open it. Wait a moment.”

Waited, heard metallic sounds.

Then the shutter opened.

Hwan-ahjusshi smiled and greeted me.

“Seo, sir. Are you back?”

“Yes. Is the door locked now?”

“Ah, yes. Sohee worked hard. Come in, sir.”

Entered as Hwan-ahjusshi lowered the shutter.

Locked it with a steel pipe in the welded ring.

The metallic sound earlier was that.

“Thank you. Take care.”

Two men were on watch.

I wanted to rest.

Walked, but Hwan-ahjusshi said,

“Seo, sir. My wife wanted to give you this…”

Handed me a Lock&Lock container.

“What is it?”

“It’s buchujeon. Vegetables were going bad, so the women made these. My wife wanted to give it to you.”

Smiled and took the container.

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

“Yes, sir. The main dish is inside. Enjoy. Rest well, sir.”

Smiled and nodded, then headed to the elevator.

…Not bad.

…Can I really leave these people?

My heart felt heavy.

Took a deep breath and boarded the elevator.

Focus on leveling up now.

No need for pointless thoughts.

Allocated 3 points to strength, making it 34, and left the 10th floor.

Entered the room where Ye-eun was sleeping.