A Well-Laid Trap

We all sat around together eating breakfast.

For the number of people present, the meal was remarkably quiet—except for O Jihye, who never stopped running her mouth.

"This is seriously delicious… If I'd been here from the start, I never would've gone hungry… And you guys ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠were so stingy with the food…!!"

"……"

"Why'd you trail off mid-sentence, newlywed?"

"Ah, no reason~ Hehe… But I'm really jealous… You must've been holding out every day eating stuff this good… I didn't even get a single sip of water for two whole days…"

"Nah, not true~"

"She's right. We were in the exact same boat as you. Other than the times Jaeyeol here snuck out to grab food, we were starving on nothing but tap water~"

"Yeah. Yesterday was our first real meal—our first!"

"Really?? Oh no… You must've been so hungry… Please, take some of mine!"

"Come on~ There's plenty here. Why split it? You eat up, newlywed."

"Then maybe I will? Hehe~"

She was more sociable and easygoing than I'd expected. I'd written her off as just some spoiled brat with a prosecutor dad and a rotten attitude, but she kept showing me unexpected sides.

Meanwhile, the silence over there was almost eerie.

"……"

"……"

"……"

"……"

Unlike last night, when every opened mouth spat curses, the four of them sitting side by side ate their breakfast without a single word.

But why weren't they asking anything?

One look at the entrenching tool, machete, and hand axe—none of which belonged in a sauna—and they had to know. They had to know that everyone here, myself included, had cleared a quest and received rewards.

Curiosity should have been natural. What other rewards had we gotten? How high were our stats?

And yet they were silent to a suspicious degree.

I put myself in their shoes. Why wouldn't they ask a single thing?

Were they trying to hide the fact that they'd cleared a quest themselves? Did they not want to reveal what rewards they'd received? Or were they playing the part of pure, clueless innocents?

"Wow! This is seriously good!! If we hadn't spotted the lights and made it here, I would've regretted it even as a zombie~ Hahaha."

"You finished already? Want more??"

"Oh no, I'm fine~ Still got half left, hahaha~"

Jeong Doyun had broken the silence, but he still hadn't said what he really wanted to say. The mouth that wouldn't quite close from lingering regret, the eyes darting this way and that—both made it clear he had more left to spit out.

Then those busy, spinning eyes of Jeong Doyun's locked onto me.

"Ah! Juhan."

"Yes."

"When you left wherever you were staying before, did you happen to see anything strange?"

"Strange things? Sure, I saw some."

"Like what?"

"The monsters wandering around outside."

"Ah… Other than that, maybe…"

"If you tell me exactly what you mean, I'll answer."

"Haha… Never mind. But where did you get those things? They don't look like anything you'd find in a sauna…"

He was talking to me, but Jeong Doyun's gaze was fixed on the college kids—Yang Jaeyeol and the rest. He wanted their answers more than mine.

So I gave a small nod to Yang Jaeyeol, who was looking my way, signaling him to answer.

"We got them as quest rewards."

"Quest rewards?? D-Don't tell me that was real?!"

A lie.

Me, O Jihye, Yang Jaeyeol and everyone here, even the protagonist's party from the webtoon—our starting point had all been the same.

Leave the place you were in the moment the zombies appeared.

That was the first quest.

Which meant that Jeong Doyun, currently putting on a shocked act, being here at all meant he had cleared a quest too.

So why was he pretending not to know?

For what reason?

"Quest confirmation… Ah… It was real…"

"What quest did you get, Jeong Doyun?"

"Ah… Mine says kill ten zombies… What about you, Dongsu?"

"Same as me."

"Ours is the same too."

"Yeah, that's right."

Give me a break.

Even if first quests could differ, those people were lying right now. The Kim Myeongjun and Kim Myeonghyeon brothers had answered like that without even checking each other's quests.

Ours is the same too.

No matter how identical the quests, you had to make physical contact like with the Status Window and say "quest share" before the other person could verify it. Of course, personal quests given to only one person—like the one I'd received in the holding cell—couldn't be shared with anyone by any means.

Anyway, declaring it was the same quest without any of that process meant they were lying right now.

Why?

"Ah… Zombies, huh… Would you maybe help us kill some zombies?"

"Help?"

"Yes. If this quest is real, we figure we need to clear it ourselves and get weapons or a Status Window before we can do anything useful."

Ask for help with the quest, then try to kill us like it was an accident?

"Of course we don't mean help us at the risk of your own lives! We're not that shameless."

"Then what?"

At my counter-question, Jeong Doyun's eyes changed for a moment. That same unsettling look I'd seen when we talked separately that morning.

Then, as his hand rose, that gaze pointed straight at my entrenching tool.

"Would you lend us that?"

"……"

So that was the goal after all.

You want it that badly?

"Just lending you this would be enough?"

"Yes! Then we'll figure it out ourselves! Of course, the moment we clear the quest, we'll return it right away."

"Then…"

I picked up the entrenching tool I'd set ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠beside me and held it out toward Jeong Doyun.

His hand reached for it—

And I flicked my wrist upward, sending his hand slicing through empty air.

"Juhan…?"

"How could we just hand this over alone? To people without even a Status Window."

"Then…"

"We'll help you. So each of the four of you can kill ten zombies. That way you clear the quest and get your rewards—right in front of us."

"…If we clear the quest… of course. But there's no need for you to take risks just for us…"

"I've got a bit of a busybody streak. You could say my character's just that good?"

"……"

"Wow… Look at that shameless bastard…"

Shameless—I'll own that. But those guys were going to have to get even more shameless. After killing ten zombies each, they'd have to crack open their boxes right in front of us.

Boxes that didn't even exist.

I was curious what kind of performance they'd put on when that moment came.

Or would they show their true colors before then?

We had to help them kill a total of forty zombies.

There were two methods: go outside and help them hunt, or lure the zombies inside and help them kill them here.

Naturally, I chose the latter.

Going outside was far too dangerous. Not because of the zombies—because I had no idea what sudden moves those bastards might pull.

"How exactly are you planning to help us from in here?"

"Seeing it for yourself will be faster than any explanation, don't you think?"

"Well… then show us."

About my height, but built like a bear—Park Dongsu spoke curtly and stepped back.

Honestly, this was our first time coordinating, and the first time we'd tried this at all, so I wasn't sure it would go as planned. But it was still far safer than going outside.

"Alright, everyone just do exactly as I say."

"Yes."

"Hoo…"

"Don't tense up."

"You don't tense up!"

"Then we start."

It was similar to what we'd done at the police station.

After confirming there were no zombies, I opened the glass entrance door. I stuck my head out to check the stairs above, then gently tapped the floor with the hand axe I'd gotten from Park Mingu.

Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap—

I couldn't see them, but the nearby zombies reacted immediately.

"Kraaagh!!!"

"Kraaaaagh!!!"

"Kraaagh!!!"

I stopped tapping the floor with the axe at once and waited in silence.

Footsteps descending the stairs and the zombies' phlegmy rattling grew steadily closer. But there was no need to provoke them further. Once they'd started coming down the stairs, they wouldn't climb back up just because they couldn't see food.

Thud—

Just as expected.

One zombie that had fully descended the stairs turned its head along the blocked wall—and its eyes met mine as I stood squarely inside the open sauna door.

"Kraaaaaagh!!!!"

The moment one of them screamed, the other two coming down with it screamed too. But true to their stupid zombie nature, they couldn't calmly walk down the stairs and instead tangled together and tumbled the rest of the way.

I could ignore those two for now. First, deal with the one charging ahead.

"Hello?"

"Kraaaaaagh!!!"

"Nice manners."

Like a new hire bowing his head before the company chairman, the zombie planted its face and dove straight toward the floor. At the same time, Kim Jaemin and Lee Yeonghun—who had been holding a rope made of several towels knotted together taut across the bottom of the doorway—let out pained grunts.

"Ugh!!!"

"Ugh!!"

Hold on tight. Two more are coming soon.

I casually stepped aside as the zombie slid across the floor toward me. Yang Jaeyeol and Park Mingu immediately brought the machete and entrenching tool down on the zombie's back.

"Kraaaagh!!!"

"Eat shit."

It wasn't a scream of pain. It wasn't fear of death either. Just pure instinct—but I hated the sound of it.

Whoooosh!!!!

I brought the hand axe down with everything I had on the neck of the zombie pinned to the floor.

Thwack!!!!

I felt it. Skin and muscle tearing, bone snapping—the sensation traveled cleanly up the axe into my palm.

And then—

Thud— roll-roll-roll—

The zombie's head, separated from its body, rolled across the floor, its silent mouth still opening and closing.

"Kraaaagh!!!"

"Kraaagh!!!"

"Block it now!"

The two zombies that had been tangled at the bottom of the stairs also charged, racing each other, only to catch their legs on the towel rope and dive face-first. At my shout, Kim Jaemin and Lee Yeonghun dropped the towels and heaved the long cafeteria table they'd prepared upright, barricading the door.

Nearby, O Jihye joined forces with the college girls to shove a heavy massage chair against the table. Even that might not be enough, so Kim Jaemin and Lee Yeonghun quickly climbed onto the massage chair to add their weight.

In the meantime, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠finished cutting the necks of the two zombies that Yang Jaeyeol and Park Mingu were each pinning down by the back.

Thwack!!! Thwack!!!

Blood dripped from the axe. The floor was soaked with blood spraying like a fountain from the severed necks.

Honestly, looking at this scene alone—didn't I look like the bad guy?

"What are you doing?"

"Huh…?"

"Smash the heads with a chair. They're not dead—only the bodies stopped moving."

"……"

Zombies don't die just from having their necks cut. The body with the head removed stops moving immediately, but the head itself keeps opening and closing its silent mouth like a separate living thing, eyes wide with pure resentment.

So killing them quickly was the last courtesy you could show the person who'd become a zombie.

Crunch!!!!

Forty zombies was a lot—it took far longer than expected. Especially since even small, continuous noises drew crowds of them nearby, and we needed time for those zombies to disperse again.

We'd already been at it for four hours: luring zombies, killing them, barricading the door, and waiting, over and over.

"Everyone should be almost done by now, right?"

"Ah… well, we're not sure how many we've each killed…"

"Kim Myeongjun—nine. Park Dongsu and Kim Myeonghyeon—eight each. Jeong Doyun—seven."

"I-I see…"

O Jihye was keeping meticulous track, so lies wouldn't fly. Time to show their true colors, then?

At this rate they'd miss their chance. They needed to create some chaos and snatch the weapons.

Was my presence making them hesitate? Should I make it a little easier for them?

"Nari."

"Y-Yes… Oppa…"

Han Nari, whose face already looked terrible, answered my call with difficulty. It wasn't just her. All the college girls were struggling, and the middle-aged women had already thrown up in various spots and gone elsewhere.

But it couldn't be helped—not if we wanted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the quest done. I wanted to sleep comfortably tonight without a night watch.

"I'm worn out. Can you pin the zombies with the knife in Jaeyeol's place?"

"M-Me…??"

"Yeah. My arms have no strength left. I'll rest a bit and switch right back."

"Ah… No, Nari! If you're tired, you don't have to! Hey! Kim Myeonghyeon! Jeong Doyun! Someone come over!"

"N-No! I can do it! I can… do it…! No—I'm going to do it."

"Nari…"

"Give me that."

"Y-You sure you can…?"

"Yeah."

"Hand that to Nari, and Jaeyeol—you cut the zombie necks with the axe instead of me."

"Ah… Yes…"

"Ugh… I'm gonna sit over here and rest a bit…"

I massaged my right arm like all the strength had drained out of it and sat down at a suitably distant spot.

Jeong Doyun and the rest immediately exchanged looks. Looks like they were about to start.

"Augh… Then my stomach's not feeling great either, so I'll step out for a bit. You guys go ahead and clear the quest first~"

"Yes."

"Rest over there."

"Understood."

Park Dongsu approached where I was sitting, and the work we'd been repeating all this time started up again.

By the way—why Park Dongsu of all people? This was going to hurt…

"Kraaaagh!!"

"Kraaagh!!"

Even without me, only two zombies came inside—perfect. Both zombies that hit the rope flopped onto the floor, and Kim Jaemin and Lee Yeonghun sprang up to barricade the entrance with the long table like always.

Han Nari was out, but O Jihye and the college girls tried to push the massage chair they'd already tilted slightly so the wheels could roll—

Thud!!

The massage chair tipped forward, and suddenly the wheels were useless.

"Oh my, so sorry about that? I'll fix it quick. Help me out too, hyung~"

"For real… Always making people do extra work…"

"What are you doing..!! Hurry up and bring it..!!"

"Augh!! Hey..! They're gonna break through at this rate..!!!"

"I-I'm coming! Hurry up, misters!!"

"Misters~? It's oppa to you. Right, hyung?"

"Sure~"

Kim Myeonghyeon and Kim Myeongjun kept dragging their feet. And right then, trouble hit Han Nari.

"Kraaaaagh!!!!"

"Kyaaak!!"

"Nari!!!"

"This isn't working! Nari, I'll hold it!"

"Yes..!! Please help…!"

"No! Nari!!"

Struggling to keep the zombie pinned, Han Nari handed the machete over to Jeong Doyun.

And then it began.

Their plan.

"Kraaaaaagh!!!!"

"Nari!!!"

"Kyaaak!!!"

Jeong Doyun deliberately lifted the machete off the zombie's back, and the crawling zombie went for Han Nari's leg.

But Yang Jaeyeol wasn't about to just stand there.

Thwack!!!

He brought the axe down precisely and severed the zombie's neck, then tried to check on Han Nari first—

Thud!!

Jeong Doyun's kick sent him tumbling pitifully across the floor soaked in zombie blood.

"What the hell are you—"

"You keep resting!!!"

"Shit..!"

Exactly as expected. The moment I tried to get up, bear-like Park Dongsu kicked straight at me.

But it was fine. My Enhanced Sight skill sharpened dynamic vision too. And a clumsy body that had clearly dumped everything into Strength couldn't possibly have higher Agility stats than me.

Still, I needed to sell the scene properly.

Thud!!!!

I threw both arms up to cover my face, and Park Dongsu's swinging leg slammed into my arms. After that, no more acting was needed. I just had to go flying backward.

"Without a weapon you're fucking nothing, yet you act so high and mighty. Ptui! You pathetic piece of shit. This side's clear~"

"This side too~"

"Kyaaaaak!!!!"

"Seonye!!"

"Kraaaagh!!!"

"Fuck..!"

"Hey! Hold your position! If you leave now they'll break through immediately!"

"Is that what matters right now?!"

"That is what matters!!! Fuck!!! Jaeyeol!! Hyung!! Do something!!!!!"

Kim Jaemin and Lee Yeonghun couldn't do a thing, pinned holding the entrance against the zombies slamming into it. Park Mingu couldn't move either, stuck pinning a zombie by the back. Yang Jaeyeol was down on the floor after Jeong Doyun's kick. And I was sprawled out after Park Dongsu's boot.

But would a character with that much narrative weight fall this easily?

"Uwaaaaah!!!!"

"Oh my~ How scary."

"Nari! Run!!"

There was nowhere to run. But Yang Jaeyeol would still try to protect her—Han Nari, at least.

And the one bringing that Han Nari over was—

"Let's go."

"U-Unnie..!"

"Hurry!!!"

O Jihye.

Then maybe I should get moving too. To receive the help of Han Nari, who would do anything to save her friends and Yang Jaeyeol.