episode_0220

“I’ll be back soon.”

“Yes. We’ll be waiting.”

The three Porter trucks briefly returned to empty their cargo compartments, then decided to wait on site.

Everyone was puzzled when I said I’d wait alone at the gas station.

When I gave the excuse that I wanted to check the surroundings, they just let it go.

The reason I ended up alone with such a flimsy, awkward excuse wasn’t much.

Just a moment ago, an idea flashed through my mind as I finished the work. I wanted to test it out.

As soon as the vehicles disappeared from sight, I quickly began to move.

I reached out to a different storage tank, not the one from earlier.

In a hurry, I pushed aside the rubber mat and forced open the manhole.

As expected, it was full of water, with only the tip of the dipstick peeking out.

‘……’

I gently placed my fingertips into the stagnant water, where thin ice floated.

I opened my inventory and focused, recalling the feeling of sweeping items into it.

‘…Put it in.’

Whoosh- *Gush*!

As if a giant pump was sucking up water, the inventory in the air instantly absorbed all the water.

“Oh, wow…”

The manhole was completely empty, without a single drop of water. As if it had always been that way.

What I perceived was that the entire volume of water that had been stagnant inside was completely stored in the inventory.

It wasn’t a distinct count, like a certain number of bottled waters, but more like a lump.

If I had to describe it, that’s what it felt like.

‘Then…’

First, I tried to take it out with my hand, just like I usually took out items.

And then, only the amount that fit in my hand came out.

‘…Would it work?’

Focusing on the sensation of taking out a paper cup’s worth of water, I gazed at the drain on the floor.

Plop-

A fist-sized mass of water fell from my eye level.

This time, I crouched down and extended my hand towards the drain.

I imagined spreading my palm and letting a small stream of water flow out, like Neo blocking bullets.

Trickle-

‘More.’

Whoosh-

This time, I focused on a spot 10m ahead, intending to release the entire remaining mass of water.

Slosh-

With the sensation of the remaining water mass rapidly exiting the inventory, it appeared in the air 5m ahead.

Splat-!!!

The water mass, appearing in the shape of a manhole, fell to the floor, retaining its form.

My pants were soaked with water, but it didn’t matter.

“……I can use this.”

The impromptu idea was a success.

Until now, I had vaguely thought of it as merely a convenient bag, limiting its storage targets to ‘objects with a defined shape’.

But now that I’ve tried it, ‘objects with an undefined shape’ are also possible.

As long as I can clearly perceive it, it can be stored.

When taking things out, if it’s within a certain range, I can designate the location by clearly perceiving it.

At this point, it seems to have evolved from a simple sub-space into a skill worthy of the word ‘ability’.

If this were a perk in a game, wouldn’t it be a skill focused entirely on utility?

If someone didn’t know, it might even feel close to ‘telekinesis’…

“Oh, right.”

This is no time for that.

Putting aside my random thoughts, I opened the storage tank’s lid.

As expected, a strong smell surged up.

A different smell from diesel, it was gasoline.

The calmly resting gasoline had a lower level than the diesel tank.

I leaned my upper body into the opening and stretched my arm as far as it could reach.

“Ugh, gross…”

The strong oil smell felt like it was clinging to the mucous membranes of my palate.

As a result of struggling to stretch my arm, the tip of my middle finger barely dipped into the oil.

‘Store it. All of it!’

Whoosh-!

For a moment, I felt something heavy pass through my arm.

At the same time, I knew.

This dark tank, which was barely visible, was now completely empty in an instant.

All that remained was the strong, headache-inducing smell of oil.

I quickly pulled my body out and inhaled.

“Phew! Ah, damn… I’m dizzy…”

Shaking my head, I climbed out of the manhole and quickly tidied up.

Then I flailed my arms and shook my body.

I guess the smell soaked into me when I leaned into the storage tank.

The smell made my head throb, but I felt good.

‘Damn, it works.’

I couldn’t suppress the small laughs that kept escaping.

A feeling of confidence that something had improved? Exhilaration?

Anyway, this good feeling made me happy.

I took out mouthwash from my inventory, cleaned my mouth, and pondered deeply.

It’s possible that this was always possible, and I just didn’t know.

Or perhaps the function has expanded.

Perhaps that’s why it suddenly occurred to me, like a new notification.

What’s certain is that the inventory’s ability has been upgraded.

Just the amount of gasoline I just stored is enormous.

Roughly, it’s like 1700 18-liter water bottles’ worth.

That’s the scale of the volume I’m imagining.

…I suspect its capacity might be close to infinite.

I definitely felt the limit of its capacity before.

I still remember that strange feeling of it being almost full in my pocket.

I haven’t done anything specific since then, but the function has evolved, and the capacity has increased.

If there’s anything suspicious…

‘Is it related to catching zombies?’

That’s the only thing that comes to mind.

Of course, there’s no clear connection, but that’s the only thing I suspect.

Over there, I caught monsters and leveled up.

Here, that’s impossible, but what if it’s a result of catching zombies…?

If my inventory is strengthened instead of my inherent abilities…

“…It’s worth hunting for, then?”

I don’t know how far it goes, but I might be able to sweep up all kinds of resources.

If Elon Mush-room swept up money, I can sweep up resources.

I could go to a clean river, collect clean water, and sell it to thirsty people. I could even sweep up fuel like now and sell oil, guaranteeing success.

Couldn’t I literally become a rampaging gold goblin?

Or I could use it when fighting zombies.

If I put my mind to it, there are countless ways to utilize it.

If used offensively, the available attack patterns would increase.

“Hmm…”

The problem is my impoverished imagination.

…I’m terrible at thinking things through.

Deciding to ponder complex problems later, I left the gas station and slowly walked towards the intersection.

In a cheerful mood, I hummed a tune and took out a cigarette.

Indeed, the saying that there’s no law for people to die [meaning there’s always a way out, or things always work out] is true.

After slaughtering so many zombies, it’s only right that there’s a reward like this.

…Wouldn’t it have been better if my own abilities had recovered as well?

It doesn’t bother me now, but sometimes I couldn’t help feeling a sense of emptiness. Perhaps that’s why I can’t quit smoking.

Arriving at the intersection, I stood idly, waiting for my companions to arrive.

The snow that had piled up on the streets had mostly melted away as if by magic.

The thin ice that had formed on the ground also melted, wetting the pavement.

The glittering ground, fully bathed in sunlight, made my eyes hurt.

The wind was gentle, and the cold had lessened.

The weather was truly fickle for winter.

After waiting a little longer, our vehicles started to appear.

Unlike how they sputtered in the early morning, they approached with speed.

Hyuk hyung, who stopped the car in front of me, lowered his voice with a laugh.

“Hey! Get in!”

“…Oh, come on…”

“Huh? Why? Hehehe~”

His terrible joke was dumbfounding, but it still made me laugh.

The hyung who picked me up slowly picked up speed and asked.

“Where to now?”

“Let’s head to the health center.”

“Hmm… it might be a bit cramped, but let’s go.”

Hyung was right.

The road from Sagajeong Station to Sangbong-dong was somewhat passable for cars.

But beyond that, it was precarious for a car to drive.

Despite my worries, hyung skillfully navigated between the abandoned cars in the narrow alley.

At this point, it feels almost like a stunt…

“Was there something bothering you?”

While I was admiring his driving skills, he spoke to me.

“Huh?”

“No, I mean earlier. You said you wanted to stay behind alone, so I wondered why.”

“Oh… it was nothing special.”

“That’s good then.”

Hyung didn’t press the matter.

Instead, he chattered on like a man, explaining where and how he had organized the jerrycans they had transported.

Maybe because it’s been a while, but he seems to talk more now.

Or perhaps he feels that comfortable with me.

Thanks to hyung, who filled the quiet car with his voice, it wasn’t boring.

A short while later, we arrived at the health center building we had marked previously.

The speed was distinctly different from when we walked here.

Indeed, cars are excellent means of transportation.

Hyung, who smoothly stopped the car, looked at me with suspicious eyes.

“Are you going to honk again?”

“No. This is a densely populated area. Let’s go quietly.”

“Aha…”

It might have seemed like a joke, but it was all part of a plan.

First, we parked the car as if to hide it in the parking lot right next to the building.

Perhaps because it was a public office building, there was some empty space.

After getting out of the car and gathering, I briefed them again.

“We’ll proceed the same way as before. However, Sohee and Incheol will also enter with us.”

“Understood.”

“Dong-woo and Young-cheol.”

“Yes.”

“If there’s any trouble, don’t hesitate to shoot.”

At my dry words, people’s eyelids twitched.

“Trouble includes zombies, and people.”

“……”

“Can you do it?”

“Of course.”

Young-cheol didn’t hesitate in his answer and adjusted his grip on his gun.

“If you see anything, call out immediately.”

Hyung handed the walkie-talkie he had brought to Young-cheol.

I told the two of them to stay hidden and not show themselves unnecessarily, then approached the building.

“Reporter Kim-nim…”

“I’ll be careful.”

“Good.”

I liked their disciplined posture, from which answers automatically sprang.

With the people following me, I approached the main entrance.

Myeonmok Health Management Center 2.3F Myeonmok 3rd/8th Dong Administrative Welfare Center 1F

The sign at the entrance told us we had come to the right place.

Looking at the floor information next to the entrance, it was a 5-story building in total.

“We’ll look around the 2nd and 3rd floors and retrieve what we need.”

“Got it.”

“Then get ready.”

I stood before the tightly closed automatic glass entrance door.

I forced open the defunct door, and at the same time, Sohee entered with a steady stride, raising her gun.

Sohee, maintaining her formation, moved inside without hesitation towards the stairs. Even as she moved, her gun barrel continuously followed her gaze.

Incheol followed behind, checking the top of the stairs, and hyung covered their rear.

I matched their pace and followed behind hyung.

The moment I stepped inside, I felt a stuffy air.

It was air permeated with a chill, but it felt like it had been stagnant for a long time.

And a familiar… unpleasant smell faintly filled the air.

‘……’

The first floor interior was a bit dirty.

That’s all; no elements that we needed to be particularly cautious of were visible.

There were no monstrous groans murmuring without reason, nor any signs of movement.

“It seems clear.”

At Sohee’s quietly murmured words, my gaze turned to the second floor.

“The second floor seems clear as well.”

“…Huh?”

“I’ll take the lead.”

As I climbed the stairs without hesitation, the three of them rushed to follow.

Upon reaching the second floor, signs for various departments were visible.

Hyung, quickly surveying the signs, announced good news.

“Seonghan. There’s a pharmacy on the third floor?”

“Oh, that’s good.”

“Here’s Radiology… Physical Therapy… Dentistry…”

“Let’s look around and check first.”

“How about we split into pairs and scatter?”

I didn’t decline Sohee’s suggestion.

My judgment was that there wouldn’t be any problems.

We scattered in opposite directions and swept through the second floor.

I followed the signs and walked along the corridor.

‘…Why are there so many departments?’

After walking a short distance, at the end of the corridor, medical-related facilities began to appear.

It was a department with medical facilities from one end of the wall to the other.

From the Pathology Lab to the Radiology Department at the opposite end.

On the floor, dust covered the tiles, and dried bloodstains were visible.

There weren’t many, but instead, there were traces of wiping.

As I stood still, tracing the marks, hyung asked quietly.

“…Is there something?”

“No. Nothing.”

“Hmm… Are you sure?”

I glanced back at hyung, who asked timidly.

“Oh, no… because you answered so sharply…”

“Tsk…”

“Hey! *Ahem*. Don’t laugh.”

Hyung’s reaction was normal.

If our positions were reversed, I would have asked the same thing.

I told the slightly crestfallen hyung why I answered so immediately.

“Hyung. Focus on the sounds.”

At my words, hyung held his breath and focused his senses.

“Uh… sounds… hmm.”

“Even if zombies stay still, they make a raspy gurgling sound, right?”

“Yeah. Right.”

“How is it now?”

Hyung narrowed his eyes and concentrated on his hearing.

“…It’s quiet.”

“Do you hear anything moving? Footsteps, banging sounds, anything?”

“…No.”

I nodded and pointed behind me with my thumb.

“Now, we move our bodies and confirm with our eyes.”

“Ah…”

Hyung’s reaction was amusing, so I went ahead and added a bit more.

“You see that far end?”

“Yeah.”

“Sohee and Incheol will come out from there.”

“Huh??”

I gave a signal to hyung, who was looking dumbfounded.

“Now.”

“What? Huh? Whoa??”

Hyung’s eyes widened in rare surprise.

As the two appeared, silencing their footsteps, precisely when I said, hyung blinked his eyes several times.

He seemed genuinely surprised, only mouthing words without speaking.

“Whoa… Is that real?”

Sohee and Incheol, approaching us, expressed their curiosity.

“Is something wrong?”

“No. Nothing.”

“Hyung-nim. Hyuk hyung-nim, why are you like this?”

Incheol’s question, hyung slowly replied.

“No. I’m just a bit surprised.”

“Huh? Why, hyung-nim?”

“Because I saw a miracle…”

“Huh??”

“There are such things.”

“??”

Hyung had a drained, complicated expression.

I chuckled and patted hyung’s shoulder.

“We can talk later. Let’s take our time.”

“Phew~ Alright.”

“Incheol. Everything was clear over there, right?”

“Ah, yes. We didn’t bother opening any closed doors.”

“Good job. Then let’s start from here. It’s quiet on this side too.”

As I took my stance, the three others also re-composed themselves.

I stood in front of the door and subtly nodded to Incheol.

A nod.

Incheol gently pulled the door sideways, opening it wide, and simultaneously stepped inside.

Pathology Lab

Whatever was needed, we would take it.

This is where we begin.