episode_0028

The woman next to me seemed frustrated and wanted to explain herself, and I also wanted that, so when I asked, she kindly answered with a smile.

“Mr. Bae Yeong-chil is in charge of going outside for zombie hunting, assessing and dealing with dangerous elements, confirming survivors, recruiting survivors, inducing awakening in civilians, and fostering the growth of awakened individuals.”

Certainly, I paid more attention to Im Mi-yeong, who summarized it in an easy-to-understand way, speaking more clearly than the woman I first spoke to.

“And inside the department store, if there is a zombie attack, she fights against the zombies and moves for us. During peaceful times without zombies, she also directly arranges time for construction in the department store or for people to unite.”

These were all facts I already knew, and although there were some missing details when I heard it from Bae Yeong-chil, thanks to their words, Bae Yeong-chil’s words gained more credibility.

[Faith Level: 4]

[Faith Level: 5]

Showing a rapid increase in faith level in just under 2 minutes, I threw more questions as if I was even more curious about them.

“So, what kind of person is Im Mi-yeong?”

“Oh, that’s a secret I can’t tell just anyone…”

“Oh, I see. Then…”

“But! I’ll tell Cheon Sang-il specifically.”

Smiling inwardly at the smooth progress of the operation, I started building intimacy with them through self-introductions, secretly using my abilities without anyone knowing.

“I’m 26 years old. Blood type B. Birthday on October 18th. I used to work as a nurse, but after the world changed, I’ve been providing emergency treatment to the injured. And I still don’t have a boyfriend. Hehe.”

It may seem like truly useless information with no value to remember, but in order to gain strength by building rapport with these people, I memorized every word of Im Mi-yeong and looked at the woman with glasses who started speaking hesitantly.

“I… I’m Shin Ji-yeon. 24 years old. Blood type O. Birthday is the same as Mi-yeong unnie’s, October 18th. And… I used to work part-time at the movie theater, but now I go and help if needed… I, I also don’t have a boyfriend, yes…”

Finishing the last sentence in a vague manner, Shin Ji-yeon probably had nothing else to do except what she had heard from Bae Yeong-chil and seemed like someone who just belonged to the group.

“I’m 29 years old. Mi-yeong… Oh, is casual speech uncomfortable?”

“No. I’m fine with it.”

“I, I also…”

“Then, Mi-yeong and Ji-yeon, feel free to speak comfortably.”

To get closer, I made the atmosphere and words comfortable and continued with the introductions.

“I have the same blood type as Mi-yeong, B, and my birthday is on October 4th. It’s strange that we all have the same month, right?”

Actually, I’m not blood type B, and my birthday isn’t on October 4th, but I changed the information based on their words to create common ground and lead the conversation.

Finding it fascinating how much we had in common, I smiled back at Im Mi-yeong, who widened her eyes in a seemingly amazed manner.

Im Mi-yeong seemed like a person who knew how to behave in human relationships to receive praise and avoid criticism, similar to me.

“To be honest, it’s not really a fascinating fact, but expressing fascination with exaggerated gestures like this is artificial.”

However, being three years older than her and having moved between seven different jobs due to being scouted, I had more experience in handling human relationships than her, so I decided to take advantage of her approach.

“The more the approaching party tries to get close to me, the more I can contaminate them.”

After calculating everything, Cheon Sang-il actively engaged in a long conversation with Im Mi-yeong without rejecting her, trying to build a connection.

As he observed how ordinary people lived in the department store and what they thought of Idawn and Baek Yeong-chil, he slowly came to understand.

“Mr. Daun was good with kids and really kind. He got along well with the people here too.”

“But why would someone like that leave this group?”

“It’s just my opinion, but… maybe he wasn’t satisfied with life in this department store, with things like murder and all.”

“Like a mother bird going out to hunt for food instead of just eating what’s given to her…?”

“Exactly. That’s what I think, but only they know the full story.”

As he listened to the story, Baek Yeong-chil became a clean and kind person, while Idawn became someone who couldn’t accept the accidental murder he committed and left the group without achieving anything dramatic.

“To be honest, it’s not that important who was in the wrong.”

When he first met the awakened group, his ability to contaminate people was not strong enough, so he had no choice but to kill all the awakened except for Baek Yeon. But now that his ability has become powerful, he can contaminate everyone and make them his own, so it was more important to just consume the department store as it was.

To do that, he needed to wear the mask of hypocrisy and the cloak of trust, pretending to care for everyone.

“Can you introduce me to other people now?”

So he needed to make contact with other people, including Imiyeong and Shin Ji-yeon, to build intimacy.

“Of course, Oppa.”

With Imiyeong’s guidance, he was able to exchange simple greetings and introductions with over 100 people.

Imiyeong was close to all those over 100 people.

Imiyeong’s wicked brain and lively communication skills played a big role in becoming close to so many people, but he thought her former nurse status and simple treatments, showing goodwill, played the biggest part.

“Is Miyeong close with many people?”

“I just like being around people, and everyone here seems like good people.”

“Yeah, the people here seem nice.”

“Hehe, right?”

Three days later.

It was the expected time and goal to have everyone in the department store under his control.

To achieve this, he needed to win over everyone inside the store before those who had left came back.

“I have a hairpin that I think would look good on you.”

“Oh~ Does the bachelor have an eye for fashion~? Hehe~”

“It’s not that my eyes are good, it’s just that you’re beautiful, so everything suits you. Haha.”

“Oh my…! Bachelor, why don’t you come to the restaurant for a meal? I used to run a restaurant.”

Handing a hairpin purchased from the store to a woman in her early forties, he laughed heartily and said,

“Oh! Do you guys like alcohol?”

“Wh-where did you get this?”

“Hahaha, I wanted to have a drink with good people when I met them.”

Gulp-

“You want to share this precious drink with me?”

“I want to drink with you all, but… do you not like alcohol?”

“Oh, no~ We just can’t drink without alcohol, right?”

“Of course~ I never knew I’d be drinking ginseng liquor in this world~”

Joining a group of middle-aged men gathered for a drink, he took out ginseng liquor and drank with them, mentioning that he had been there for 11 years.

“Haha, General!”

“Dog General.”

Toss-

“It’s General again.”

“Hmm…”

Toss-

“Now it’s the Outer Thong General.”

“Hey~”

“Hahaha!”

“Let’s do it again.”

“You rascal! It’s my turn this time!”

“What? You rascal? You shameless guy!”

Among the elderly men whose hair was starting to turn white, they played and laughed together while playing chess.

“Oppa.”

“Sorry, are you tired? I’ll keep playing with these people a little longer, so you can rest.”

“It’s not that, Oppa. I was just wondering if meeting people like this is tiring for you.”

“Strength? Oh, I just like hanging out with people, that’s all.”

She looked at Cheonsang with eyes full of surprise, as if she had never seen someone quickly form relationships with people before.

“I also enjoy being with people, but meeting so many people in succession can be tiring. You’re quite impressive, Cheonsang.”

“Is that a compliment? Haha, thanks, Miyeong.”

The woman named Shin Jiyeon had already left and disappeared somewhere, leaving only Miyeong by my side.

Ding dong-

At that moment, a communication device made out of pot lids started ringing loudly throughout the entire department store.

“Emergency patient!”

Upon hearing the sound, Miyeong shouted loudly and immediately rushed downstairs with two men. I followed her down to the first floor.

“An emergency patient? What’s going on?”

I asked her, out of breath, as we hurried down the escalator.

“People who are injured outside and come in need to be treated by someone with healing abilities or basic medical knowledge.”