4. Weapon Acquisition (2)

The streetlights came on.

Just moments ago there was sunset, but when I closed the gate and looked ahead, only the night sky was visible.

Looking back, the sunset was fading.

Hmm.

It’ll be completely dark soon.

Quiet.

Silent.

Not even a dog’s bark to be heard.

I walked toward the convenience store.

According to the map, crossing the main road and going left a few blocks would lead to McDonald’s, a hair salon, and the hardware store.

All three had various other shops like academies and clinics, but those weren’t my concern now.

Arrived at the convenience store.

“……”

Should I take the expandable baton…?

Stopped briefly to look around.

Quiet.

The beast humans haven’t disappeared. They’re somewhere. Just all lying around pretending to be dead where they can’t be seen.

“Hoo…”

Feeling peckish-should eat something first.

Entering the store, corpses were piled on the counter and warehouse floor.

The ones I’d stabbed to death.

An unsettling sight.

Crunching broken glass underfoot, I looked at the shelves.

Triangle kimbap…

Hmm.

Should still be edible.

Better eat the perishables first.

Who knows when this situation will end-if it even will-so food needs careful management.

Can leave the longer-lasting stuff for later.

Not like anyone else will take it anyway.

Grabbed armfuls of triangle kimbap and stuffed them into my backpack.

Took a 500ml water bottle from the fridge into the Adidas backpack’s utility pocket.

Called a utility pocket, but really just a mesh net on the outside.

Opened one kimbap and ate it while exiting.

The baton-probably fine to leave there.

No one’s going to take it.

The pipe spear should suffice.

*Crunch*

*Chew chew*

…Rice is slightly hardened.

Damn.

Definitely need to eat the perishables first.

*Crunch*

Chewing the kimbap, I walked toward the road.

……Is it okay to just enter the road……?

Didn’t think much of it yesterday, but need to be careful now.

What if they’re under cars?

Holding the kimbap in my mouth, I crouched low to check underneath.

Hmm……

Nothing visible from here at least.

Where are all the beast humans?

Stood up and took another bite.

*Crunch*

Holding the spear, I cautiously stepped onto the road.

Every step must be careful.

Though I have Acceleration, can’t recklessly rely on just that.

Only have one life.

*Crunch*

*Chew chew* Finished one kimbap.

Somewhat full now.

Gripping the pipe spear with both hands, I crossed the road.

A gust of wind blew.

“Aaaaah-“

A scream carried on the wind.

Someone getting attacked somewhere far away.

Sounded like a man…

How did they get caught?

Did they go out for food?

“…Hoo…”

They’re here.

Just because I can’t see them doesn’t mean the beast humans are gone.

Crossed the road completely.

Fortunately, nothing happened.

The bright streetlights illuminating the three-way intersection where the main road bends.

Looks even more dangerous than the road.

These areas have alleys between buildings-can’t see what’s inside until you enter.

Scanning my surroundings, I cautiously walked toward McDonald’s. Past that would be the hair salon.

Then the hardware store.

“…!”

Stopped walking.

Goosebumps rose along my spine.

…Now I get it.

Now I know why all these beast humans were invisible.

A large mixed-use building.

The parking lot inside.

An unlit, dark parking lot.

Sounds were coming from there.

*Grrr- Grrr-*

Not from just one.

Couldn’t tell how many either.

But enormous numbers.

Sounded like dozens of light snorers sleeping there simultaneously.

Leaning against the building wall, I peeked toward the parking lot.

Heart pounding.

…Goddammit…

At the underground parking entrance, beast humans stood in lines like crowds waiting for a popular restaurant opening.

Probably even more inside that parking lot.

Why are they gathered there?

…Do they prefer darkness…?

But thinking back, they appeared in broad daylight.

Chasing and biting people since daytime.

Sunlight doesn’t seem to harm them.

They just prefer dark places.

I see.

“…Hoo…hoo…”

Breathing carefully, I turned and leaned against the wall.

…Is it safe to pass?

How else to reach McDonald’s…

Spotted an underpass ahead.

That’s it.

Take the underpass to emerge on the other side.

The intersection near McDonald’s had an underpass exit there.

Cautiously moving, I grabbed the underpass railing and turned.

Then stopped.

*Grrr- Grrr-*

“……”

Packed inside too.

These…fucking things, the underpass is packed too!

Damn, but the underpass is bright!

Why!

…Must not be about light.

They’re just holed up in any enclosed space available.

Looked around.

Countless buildings.

Their parking lots.

Underground passages.

…All dungeons now.

Fuck…

Broke out in a cold sweat.

Slowly backed away from the underpass.

Right.

Every building, every underpass-all dungeons now.

Got it.

Ironically, the main road might be safer. Fuck, perfect. Walking alone under bright streetlights where I’m easily visible.

Crossed between parked cars, but walking straight down the open road was another matter.

Cars were stopped here at the light, but further ahead the road was empty.

Not completely packed with cars everywhere.

Some sections blocked, some open.

…But no choice.

Passing through building parking lots or entering underpasses was too risky.

If I had to choose a risk, walking the road was better.

“Hoo…”

Gripping the pipe spear, I stepped back onto the road and walked slowly.

At least one mercy-these things don’t roam the streets.

If they’re holed up in corners, just avoiding those spots should work, right?

Small shops probably only have a few inside. Deal with those and take what’s needed.

“Hoo…”

Walked cautiously while scanning surroundings.

Just walking like this was surprisingly draining. Already drenched in sweat.

Fucking reeking now.

No idea how much I’ve sweat since yesterday.

“Kyaaah-“

A woman’s distant echoing scream.

Too faint-vanished into the air instantly.

Survivors who endured the apocalypse’s first and second days were dying unnoticed everywhere.

*Step- step-*

Can’t do anything about their deaths. Just focus on my own tasks.

Reached McDonald’s.

Viewing it from the road’s center…

Oh, they had a galbi burger promotion.

“……”

Can’t go in though.

At least ten inside.

Counting the second floor, probably dozens.

The way they sway slightly-so human-like… fucking beast bastards.

…No more cars now.

This is the last stretch to hide behind.

…Fuck it, let’s go.

Hiding beside cars won’t make the hardware store come to me.

Took a deep breath and stepped forward.

A few more steps revealed another building’s hair salon. Damn, same situation there.

Hairdressers and customers-young women and middle-aged ladies-stood blankly, covered in blood.

About ten there too.

…How many will be at the hardware store?

Fuck, hope not dozens.

“…!”

A woman inside the salon saw me.

Seemed to see me.

Wait, is she really looking at me?

Kept walking slowly.

Staring intently at her.

Her head slowly turned toward me.

Eyes locked on.

Shit-definitely looking at me.

She stepped forward.

I kept walking.

Heart pounding wildly.

*Thunk*

She bumped lightly against the glass.

Didn’t stop walking.

Soon, the salon glass shrank from view as I moved away. Even then, she kept staring.

“…Haa…”

Her behavior seemed like she wasn’t sure what she saw. Half-visible, half-not.

Maybe poor eyesight, or becoming a beast human degraded distance vision-not sure.

But…

Had I been slightly closer…

She might’ve shattered the glass and charged. Then dozens more would’ve screamed and chased.

Even with Acceleration, couldn’t make it back to the boarding house. Would’ve led them right there.

…That would’ve been the end.

…The house…

Need to reinforce it.

Barricade windows, fortify the stone walls, make it safer.

Should discuss with Ahn Su-hyeon when I return.

The hardware store came into view.

“Hoo… hoo…”

Fucking hell.

Heart pounding violently.

Gripping the pipe spear, I crossed toward the hardware store.

The road was silent.

The streets were silent.

But packed with beast humans.

Goddammit, already soaked in sweat.

Completely drenched.

Scanning left and right, I entered the hardware store.

Saw faucets, showerheads, outlets and power strips hanging on shelves everywhere.

Lights were on.

Door was open.

Summer, maybe.

How many would be inside?

Spear extended, I stepped in slowly.