Ch.98Chapter 13. Superiority (5)

Today’s objective is a small village about 10km away from the laboratory.

Rather than going there to grab whatever we can and return immediately, this is more of a reconnaissance mission to see what remains and what we can use.

Neither Camilla nor Cassandra had been to this area before. I came here after the surroundings had already been devastated, so I didn’t know much about the situation either.

So we found a real estate office and obtained a paper map, and using the program Leticia gave us, we connected to the internet and found satellite images as well.

Of course, the satellite images weren’t real-time. They showed pictures taken about three years ago.

We studied the terrain as thoroughly as possible by comparing and contrasting the paper map with the satellite images. We especially memorized landmarks that could help with navigation, like bridges, mountains, and bell towers, muttering them to ourselves.

That way, it would be easier to determine our current position or find the right path if we happened to get lost.

“Come back safely.”

With Cassandra’s send-off, Camilla and I each mounted our bicycles. These are electric bikes we acquired while establishing ourselves at this laboratory.

Although the pedals can charge the battery, we decided to use the small solar generator we brought from Hampton. It’s much more convenient, as expected.

Human zombies spot us and try to follow, but it’s difficult to catch up to bicycles at human running speed. Especially now with the electric motor activated, it’s not much different from a small motorcycle.

If we were still living a nomadic lifestyle like before, we would have gone by car from the start.

As usual, Camilla and I would neutralize the zombies and struggle to transfer our supplies. That would be it. No need to clean up or think about the aftermath.

But now we’re in a situation where we need to stay in this area for a while.

The situation has flipped. We can’t just go around killing zombies indiscriminately. Not only would more and more zombies be drawn to the fight, but we could also be tracked by experienced human hunters.

So, we move as stealthily and quietly as possible. We’re turning an unfavorable situation into an advantageous one.

For now, we don’t kill zombies, don’t unnecessarily provoke them, and just leave them be. Zombies themselves have the effect of deterring human looters.

If looters shoot zombies, that’s actually helpful in its own way. It’s practically an announcement saying, “I’m here, come kill me and take what I have.”

So there’s absolutely no need to rush. I just ride my bicycle running on 100% electric motor, comfortably observing the surroundings, and greeting approaching zombies with a raised middle finger. It’s poetic in its own way.

It would be better if I could know what Camilla is thinking.

Camilla and I are wearing our protective gear as usual. That means we’re wearing balaclavas and safety goggles even in this heat.

Because of that, I couldn’t read her expressions to tell what she was thinking.

‘I wish we could talk.’

Since seeing me and Cassandra tangled together, Camilla hasn’t said much.

She answered with short responses like “Yes, okay” as she does when she’s upset, but she didn’t postpone today’s planned activities.

But she’s clearly bottling things up inside. When I casually bring my bicycle closer, she deliberately slows down or suddenly speeds ahead.

It’s actually a bit unfair.

Cassandra and I were only trying to find clues about humanity, medicine, and treatment.

So realizations like how one of Cassandra’s breasts was enough to cover my face weren’t intentional discoveries. They were accidental byproducts.

Still, I should spend this evening with Camilla.

* * * * *

It was an unremarkable village.

About ten houses clustered together, a small chapel, a village hall that doubled as a police substation, and a convenience store—that’s all. The rest was just fields.

We hid our bicycles at a small bus stop about 200m from the village. Camilla and I approached the village, keeping some distance between us.

Our first target is the police substation. We plan to find self-defense weapons, ammunition, and firearms there.

The second target is the convenience store. There are no large supermarkets in this area. So we need to check these small businesses one by one.

Finally, regular houses. Typical of rural homes, many have garages and separate storage sheds. In these houses, we can find not only food but also well-preserved ingredients that were stored for next year’s farming.

I was cautious, but I didn’t expect much danger. It was a village with few people to begin with. The number of human zombies would be much lower. So I wasn’t particularly worried.

But as we got closer to the village, something felt off.

The back of my neck tingled slightly, and I found myself becoming unnecessarily alert, conscious of my surroundings.

I signaled to Camilla: ‘Let’s move carefully.’ She nodded and hid behind a truck parked by the road. I joined her.

“What’s wrong?” she whispered.

“Just a bad feeling. Let’s not go in openly. I think there’s something there.”

“What is it? Zombies?”

“People.”

This is the presence of humans.

First, the road is exceptionally clean. The houses all have intact windows and doors, with curtains drawn.

Above all, the gates.

“There’s not a single old gate. They’re all new. Isn’t it strange that while the fences are so old, only the gates are new?”

Camilla nodded at my observation.

“Then for now, let’s—”

Crack.

Both Camilla and I stopped talking and raised our guns. Crack. Crack. It was the sound of someone walking, stepping on branches. Given the regularity and the fact that they weren’t dragging their feet, it was a person making the sound.

Eventually, a male soldier appeared. He looked to be in his mid to late twenties.

He had an M4 rifle slung over his shoulder and a cigarette in his hand. Click, he lit it with a lighter and took a deep drag.

“I heard something. Is it them again?”

I observed the man carefully. His top was too big, and his pants were too small. The sizes didn’t match at all. On top of that, his combat boots were worn out. It looked like he had dressed haphazardly.

And that reluctant attitude.

He must have been on guard before we arrived. The need for a guard means there were enemies to deal with.

Judging by how openly he smokes on the street, the enemy was probably zombies, not humans.

And his confidence suggests there are more people behind him. How many, I don’t know. I signaled to Camilla.

‘Let’s look for an opportunity to retreat. We’re at a disadvantage.’

We could take him down now, but no one knows how many more are behind him. Camilla seemed about to move her hand, but she just clenched her fist and nodded.

“Anything special?”

A small woman approached. She too was in military uniform with an M4 slung over her shoulder. She looked about the same age as the man and was holding a bag of roasted peanuts. The man casually reached into the bag.

“No, nothing. I thought I heard something and woke up from dozing. Maybe I misheard. It would be convenient if we had CCTV or something.”

“Then you’d be nodding off in the living room. Think about it. They’re cunning. You know that.”

“I know. Ugh, I’m hungry.”

The woman slapped the back of his hand at his complaint.

“Forgot that talking about hunger is taboo? Want to skip lunch and dinner again like last time? The leader emphasizes it!”

“I know. Restraint will lead us to heaven. But what can I do if I’m hungry no matter how much I eat?”

For someone suffering from constant hunger, he looks relatively well-nourished. Above all, that kind of cheerfulness and optimism couldn’t come from someone whose nerves are frayed from hunger.

“…I wish we could just excavate the statue and go somewhere else. I’m tired of this place. Nothing to do, nothing to see. When are those people coming anyway? Did they get bitten and killed by zombies on the way? Ow!”

“I told you to watch your mouth! Did you forget that the leader told us to pity the zombies? How do you never listen to anything?”

“Ha, pity them? Those things that bite the back of the neck of someone on night watch, kill them, drag them away, and eat them without leaving a bone? Lucky that Royce had thick bones!”

Camilla covered her mouth. It’s a horrifying story. But I couldn’t do the same.

Something seemed about to surface in my mind, but wouldn’t quite emerge. It was frustrating. But like text erased with correction fluid, I just couldn’t remember the whole thing.

All I could recall was a fragment:

‘Enhancement of instinct.’

Wolves hunting in packs is the result of learning. But without the instinct to live in groups, pack hunting would be impossible.

And now the zombie virus has entered the equation. According to Cassandra, all kro-viruses in the world strive to become the dominant species, and mutations occur incredibly fast.

And the virus residing in Camilla’s and my bodies has adopted “cooperation” with us as its survival strategy.

But is that something that only happened to us?

What about other zombies? What if the same thing happens to wolf zombies, parrot zombies, or… human zombies?

“Anyway, be careful. The excavation team said they saw zombies that climb like monkeys or orangutans. I don’t know if we can trust those braggarts.

And honestly, anyone with a bit of balance can climb things, right? Zombies should be no different. As long as they don’t eat the ladder…”

Ding. Ding. Ding.

A bell rang. The woman stuffed a handful of peanuts into her mouth and offered the bag to the man. He tilted the bag and poured the rest into his mouth. Despite it being extremely salty, making him tear up slightly, he chewed vigorously as he walked.

“Red-roofed house, back side! Zombies at the back!”

Someone shouted through a megaphone from inside the village. The man and woman, seemingly accustomed to such incidents, walked slowly toward the village.

“Let’s pull back.”

I whispered to Camilla. She nodded in agreement. There’s nothing good about staying here longer. Above all, that group is extremely suspicious.

We carefully retreated. We entered the shallow drainage ditch beside the road. It was completely dry, raising dust instead of water. But it was enough to conceal us.

It’s just over 20m to the bus stop where we left our bicycles. But with nothing to hide behind, we’ll need to sprint at full speed.

Camilla, who had brought a sniper scope, slowly scanned the surroundings.

“Johan. The hill on the opposite side.”

Camilla whispered urgently. I looked through the binoculars I had brought just in case, in the direction she pointed.

It’s an unremarkable hill overgrown with small shrubs and tall weeds. But on that hill, dark figures were moving cautiously.