Chapter 3: Remote Support Mage (3)

Three days after the world changed.

Han-seong methodically cleared out the zombies within a 500-meter radius. By using Call Lightning at 2-hour intervals, except when sleeping, Han-seong’s level had risen significantly.

[Name]: Kang Han-seong

[Class]: Remote Support Mage

[Grade]: 1st Tier

And there were a few things he had learned.

First, whenever his level increased, all his mana was restored to the maximum. Additionally, he discovered that mana capacity increased by 50 for each level.

Thanks to this, his mana quantity had greatly increased, making it more convenient as he didn’t need to meditate as often.

Next, he realized the limitations of Call Lightning.

‘The cooldown is too long.’

It was disappointing that once used, he had to wait a full 2 hours before using it again.

That wasn’t all.

Since lightning strikes from the sky, it was also a drawback that zombies inside buildings or underground weren’t affected at all.

‘I need to get another attack skill.’

Even if just to hunt zombies indoors.

So he steadily hunted zombies and gathered coins. To purchase a skillbook registered in the shop and learn a new attack magic.

As a result, he had gathered about 300 coins.

An amount that could buy thirty 2-liter bottles of water. But since food was still plentiful, now was the time to buy a skillbook.

Rumble! Boom!

[You have killed a Hungry Zombie.]

[You have acquired (6) Coins.]

And just now, after killing six zombies, he had gathered a total of 352 coins.

Since the price of the skillbook he had his eye on was exactly 350 coins, he immediately opened the shop. Then, the information for the skillbook Han-seong wanted unfolded.

[Skillbook: Magic Arrow]

▷When activated, instantly loads 5 arrows to deal magic damage to a single target.

▷Cooldown: 30 minutes

▶Acquisition Condition: [1st Tier, 1-star grade]

▶Class Restriction: Mage, Spirit User

▶Price: [350 Coins]

Unlike Call Lightning, this magic targets a single opponent. Instead, once used, it can fire 5 arrows in succession, and the cooldown is relatively short, making it an appealing skill.

Han-seong purchased it without hesitation.

[You have acquired Magic Arrow.]

[Acquisition Target: Remote Support Mage]

[The skill will be modified to fit your class.]

‘The skill is being modified?’

He hadn’t heard about this information before.

He was momentarily flustered, but the surprised feeling soon subsided. Contrary to his concerns, Magic Arrow had been modified in a good direction.

[Remote: Magic Arrow (Lv.1)]

-Attack a single target on the map.

▷Effective Range: Up to 100m

▷Max Charge: 5 shots

▷Mana Cost: 50

▷Activation Time: Instant

Soon after, Han-seong realized.

That all the skills he had acquired so far had the word ‘Remote’ attached to the front.

This was the same for Call Lightning.

While other mages use magic right in front of them, Han-seong can use magic by designating enemies on the map remotely.

‘Well, that’s much better.’

It’s perfect for Han-seong, who can’t move freely.

So, shall we try using it?

Han-seong looked at the map. As there were red dots swarming right in front of him in the underground of the subway station, he touched that area and activated the skill.

[Coordinates have been specified.]

[Please select the skill to use.]

▷Magic Arrow(Lv.1)

The moment he selected the skill.

The dark room brightened slightly.

“This is…!”

Five arrows glowing with fluorescent light were generated on the back of Han-seong’s hand. This seemed to be how the number of remaining arrows was gauged.

“It really feels like magic?”

As Han-seong observed this with curious eyes, he looked back at the map. The moment he touched the red dot on the map, just like when using Call Lightning.

Whoosh!

Along with the sound of an arrow cutting through the air, one of the marks on the back of his hand disappeared. And one of the red dots on the map also vanished.

[You have killed a Decaying Zombie.]

[You have acquired (1) Coin.]

I see. So this is how it’s used.

As he was grasping the operation method.

[Your level has increased.]

[Mana increases by (50).]

He had already reached level 10.

However, Han-seong’s expression was indifferent. That’s because there wouldn’t be much difference except for the increase in mana.

But this time was a bit different from before.

[Level 10 achieved!]

[All skill levels increase.]

▷Meditation(Lv.2)

▷Open Map(Lv.2)

▷Magic Castle(Lv.2)

▷Call Lightning(Lv.2)

▷Magic Arrow(Lv.2)

“Huh?”

All the skills Han-seong possessed had leveled up. Does this mean that skill levels increase every 10 levels?

Along with this newly discovered fact, Han-seong opened the information for Call Lightning.

[Remote: Call Lightning (Lv.2)]

-Drop lightning on a designated coordinate.

▷Effective Range: Up to 400m

▷Impact Range: Within 3.5m

▷Mana Cost: 75

▷Activation Time: 4.8 seconds

▷Cooldown: 110 minutes

Changes that occurred with the skill level increase.

The effective range and impact range had increased, and the activation time and cooldown had decreased.

Instead, the mana cost had increased by 50% from before. Most other skills underwent similar changes. Except for just one, Open Map.

[A new function has been added to Open Map.]

[New Function: Precise Observation.]

What’s this now?

As he was making a puzzled expression, information about this function unfolded before Han-seong’s eyes.

[Open Map: Precise Observation (Lv.2)]

-Observe the designated coordinates in detail.

▷Effective Range: Same as Open Map

▷Duration: 30 minutes

▷Cooldown: 1 hour

Just looking at the description, it seems to visualize the scenery of specific coordinates.

Shall we try using it as a test?

After pondering for a moment, Han-seong designated where to use the Precise Observation function. It was the center of the officetel where he resided.

[Activating Precise Observation.]

[Vision will be shared.]

And Han-seong’s prediction was correct.

As the internal structure of the officetel was projected at the bottom of the Open Map, the actual scenery of the designated coordinates unfolded before his eyes.

Soon after, he learned a new fact.

‘There are quite a few zombies on the rooftop too.’

Han-seong’s room is 909.

It’s the top floor of the officetel. Who knew there were so many zombies beyond the ceiling?

I’ll have to clear them out soon.

With that resolution, Han-seong touched the internal structure of the officetel and switched viewpoints.

‘First, the 9th floor corridor.’

No zombies in sight.

As he moved the viewpoint through the stairs, he saw a group of zombies clustered between the 8th and 7th floors.

Then a sudden question occurred to him.

‘Can I peek inside the rooms too?’

The conclusion is that it was possible.

When he continuously touched the map as if viewing a street view, the viewpoint switched and the scenery inside the rooms became visible.

Most were horrific sights.

Zombies writhing on the floor. Probably victims who were helplessly attacked when their roommates suddenly turned into zombies.

‘Are there really no survivors?’

Looking at the officetel with Open Map, it’s all red dots. Among them, just one, a single blue dot shines like a star.

Probably Han-seong himself.

Feeling gloomy at this fact, Han-seong continued his exploration. Eventually, as he reached the 2nd floor, which was essentially the last floor.

“Huh?”

He witnessed a peculiar sight.

A gray eye pattern was engraved on the front door of room 209. Since it didn’t look like graffiti, Han-seong unconsciously muttered.

“Could it be a skill?”

If so, there must be a survivor inside.

Han-seong moved his viewpoint, and his eyes widened. Once again, his prediction was correct.

What appeared on the screen was a petite girl wearing a red motorcycle helmet. Meanwhile, the girl’s outfit somehow looked familiar.

‘Isn’t that Jingwang High School’s gym uniform?’

Jingwang High was the school Han-seong had attended.

He started his shut-in life while attending, so he couldn’t graduate. Anyway, it’s the gym uniform of the high school he once attended.

Additionally, he figured out that the girl was a first-year high school student through her yellow name tag. Jingwang High distinguished grades by the color of name tags.

‘Her name is Seo Ha-eun.’

Seo Ha-eun. Seo Ha-eun. Seo Ha-eun?

It feels like a name I’ve heard somewhere before.

Han-seong tilted his head.

However, there was no time to continue his thoughts. Suddenly, Ha-eun unlocked the door.

“Don’t tell me she’s trying to go outside…!”

Han-seong hurriedly switched viewpoints.

There was only one zombie in the 2nd floor corridor.

However, it was quite close to Ha-eun’s room, so there was a high possibility of being attacked as soon as she went out.

Click! Creak!

Meanwhile, the front door opened.

The zombie turned sharply towards room 209.

However, even though Ha-eun appeared, it didn’t seem to have any intention of attacking.

“What? How…”

Why isn’t it attacking when it’s so close? As he was widening his eyes in question, Ha-eun had already reached the stairs leading to the 1st floor.

And she encountered an anomaly.

“That’s…!”

She came face to face with a zombie hiding in a corner of the staircase.

They even made physical contact.

The zombie bared its teeth towards Ha-eun.

It was a moment of crisis, but Ha-eun instead reached out and grabbed the zombie’s head.

Then she twisted it right there.

Crack! Snap!

The head bent grotesquely.

Soon the body and head separated, and the zombie collapsed. Witnessing this scene, Han-seong finally realized a fact he had forgotten.

‘Ah! That person must have a job too.’

The eye engraved on the front door, not being recognized by zombies, and twisting the head with tremendous strength must all be skills.

Meanwhile, Ha-eun lowered her posture and went down to the 1st floor. She glanced at the zombies swarming beyond the main entrance, then headed towards the back door.

‘Huh? Wait, the back door?’

Han-seong looked at the Open Map.

Then he realized. Why he had just reacted to the mention of the back door.

“You can’t go there!”

Han-seong shouted without realizing it.

There was a good reason for this. There were several times more zombies wandering near the back door than the main entrance.

On the other hand, Ha-eun seemed unaware of this as she moved forward. If the back door opens, Ha-eun would be helpless.

Skills have cooldown times after all.

‘I have to help!’

But how?

There’s no way to alert her to the danger? As he was biting his lip nervously, a red warning message appeared before Han-seong’s eyes.

[The remaining time for the skill will soon end.]

[Remote: Magic Arrow]

[Time remaining until maintenance: 5 minutes]

“…Ah!”

Right. Come to think of it, I was in the middle of testing Magic Arrow? Han-seong looked at the back of his hand. And confirmed that 4 marks remained.

Is there any way to notify her with this?

As he was quickly pondering.

-Graaaaargh!

A zombie suddenly burst out of the bathroom in the 1st floor shopping area and pounced on Ha-eun. Surprised by the sudden attack, Ha-eun seemed to stretch out her hand and push it away, managing to avoid being bitten.

However, she didn’t seem to have any means of counterattack. The zombie lunged at Ha-eun again. But it couldn’t achieve what it wanted.

Thwack!

An arrow that suddenly appeared pierced the zombie’s head. The staggering zombie soon collapsed, and a message was displayed before Han-seong’s eyes.

[You have killed a Sensitive Zombie.]

[You have acquired (2) Coins.]

Ha-eun, who witnessed this up close, was startled and stood still as if frozen in place.

Fortunately, she seems to be safe. Han-seong silently let out a sigh of relief. Then a brilliant idea occurred to him.

‘Right! Let’s notify her with Magic Arrow.’

The arrows created by Magic Arrow seemed to be visible to Ha-eun’s eyes as well.

Han-seong fired the third Magic Arrow towards the side door where there were almost no zombies, instead of the back door where Ha-eun was originally heading.

‘Notice it. Figure it out!’

Hoping that Ha-eun would catch on to his intention.

Ha-eun, who had been standing blankly, took something out of her bag. A small notebook. She scribbled something in it and then held it up to the front of her helmet.

-Do you mean for me to go that way?

It worked. The intention was properly conveyed.

Han-seong nodded his head with joy and used Magic Arrow once more. Ha-eun nodded and headed towards the side door.

‘Good, and once outside…’

First, the subway station is out of the question.

The entire underground is a zombie field. And there were quite a few red dots near the community center as well. Then a place caught Han-seong’s eye.

‘The shopping mall that was scheduled to open next week.’

Inside the shopping mall that had just finished construction.

There were notably fewer red dots there compared to other places. Instead, three blue dots were visible.

Probably a group of survivors.

‘That place would be good.’

Han-seong looked at Ha-eun, who had just come out through the side door. Then he fired the last Magic Arrow towards the direction of the shopping mall.

Ha-eun didn’t miss this and quickly moved towards the shopping mall.

As she got on the escalator and headed towards the 2nd floor of the shopping mall, the shared vision that had been maintained until now went dark.

[The duration has ended.]

[Open Map: Precise Observation is terminated.]

With this final message.

Han-seong let out a held breath.

“Phew.”

Then he slumped his body.

The tension that had built up was released all at once, bringing a sense of relief. Looking at the shopping mall beyond the window, Han-seong quietly prayed.

Hoping that Ha-eun had safely arrived.