Chapter 11

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Translator: Ace

Chapter: 11

Chapter Title: Sweeping K-Mart Clean

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Lured the zombies lurking around K-Mart into the alley ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to thin out their numbers as much as possible, then took a rough count of the ones still outside. They looked manageable enough to face head-on now, so I stepped out and wiped the lot of them clean.

Thanks to taking down a few hundred zombies, I'd gathered plenty of Demonic Energy. Once I figured I had a solid amount, I stopped relying on Mana Drain and just stabbed through their necks with the knife in my hand, racking up coins at the same time.

It felt like I was playing Dynasty Warriors myself—like some one-man army mowing down waves of zombie grunts.

As I was out killing zombies, the ones hiding on the first floor of K-Mart came rushing out, so I dealt with those too. Then I double-checked the area to make sure ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠there weren't any left lurking around.

I'd made a ton of noise in this wide-open space, pulling every zombie's aggro, so there probably weren't any nearby. Still, better safe than sorry.

I scanned the surroundings carefully, waiting to see if any more would pop out. After a few minutes with nothing, I figured I'd single-handedly cleared every zombie in the area.

Man, I never imagined I'd be back in the real world, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath from exertion.

I'd always thought my superhuman body—beyond normal human limits—could handle anything that came my way. Who could've predicted a zombie apocalypse?

With zombie blood and guts all over me, mixed with my own sweat, I felt utterly gross.

I was dying to get home and shower.

But business first.

Judging by the Demonic Energy I'd collected, it was probably around 360 or so.

Assuming each zombie gave me 1 unit, I started with about 50, so yeah—this was a massive haul.

Perfect. Now I could finally create the Subspace I'd been dreaming of!

Having this alone would make life so much easier.

I gathered about 300 Demonic Energy—the hard-earned amount from today—and used it to craft my personal Subspace.

It hurt to watch 300 zombies' worth vanish like that, but no choice. Now I had a virtual space I could open and close anywhere, anytime. Completely detached from reality, so to others, it'd look like items were disappearing into thin air or popping out of nowhere when I opened the door.

No one but someone with the same magic could interfere with this Subspace, so in this world, it was mine alone.

Alright, Subspace acquired. Time to check my Status Window.

Level 4 now?

Not as high as I thought.

Before all this, I'd hit Level 2 after grabbing about 10. I remembered checking the Status Window then. But how many did I take down this time? A ton, sure, but only the ones I killed directly—excluding Mana Drain—counted toward experience, and I had no idea on the exact number.

Oh, right—check Achievements. There's one that gives coins based on zombie kills.

Pulled it up, and it was clear right away.

So, 138 total kills with my own hands. Factoring in the Demonic Energy I absorbed for the Subspace... that means around 480 zombies' worth bundled in there?

Damn, there were a filthy lot of them. No wonder I'm winded after clearing them all.

SYSTEM doesn't count Mana Drain kills, so only 138 direct kills toward my level. Explains why it's only 4.

Still, 138 zombies and just Level 4? Kinda shocking. Levels usually ramp up experience requirements, so later on, how many will I need to grind?

Not like complaining changes anything. Gotta adapt and survive.

Anyway, time to claim that Achievement reward.

I tapped the completed one, and a clear notification popped up.

Plenty more zombie-killing Achievements out there, so gotta keep grinding. Coins for every kill.

All in all, today's zombie purge was a huge win.

Leveled up, stacked coins, and most importantly, got my Subspace.

Original goal achieved, so head home? But now that I have the Subspace, why not test it?

Especially with K-Mart right here.

In a zombie apocalypse, don't big marts like this draw crowds first? Loaded with food and supplies.

Seal the entrance, hole up with the stock until things calm down—that's practically cliché now.

If I hadn't made the Subspace, I might've done the same until I built my base.

But no need anymore. Subspace means zero hassle storing or hauling loot.

Let's poke around the mart.

First floor's all groceries, and zombies burst out from here earlier.

If an Awakener was holding it, they'd have secured the first floor. Since they didn't, either it's empty... or full of idiots who couldn't even manage that.

Either way, none of my business. Time to sweep up all the food first.

True to a big mart, way more stuff than that convenience store yesterday. Shove this all in Subspace, and food worries are gone for months.

I was rushing to pack when I heard people coming down from upstairs. Survivors here too?

They rushed toward me—men, women, elderly, kids. Over 20 ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠people, all ages, hiding in the mart.

They got close and started cheering like I'd saved them or something.

What? Thanks for the rescue? Their hero?

Are they nuts? Spouting nonsense out of nowhere?

They're all hyped up, grinning like idiots—it just annoyed me.

"Hah... What the hell are you on about? I didn't clear this place to save you. Quit the bullshit."

"Huh? What do you...?"

One word from me, and they shut up, staring like I was the crazy one. Nah, I'm the one who doesn't get why I'd save them.

They twist my actions however they want, and when I tell them to shut it, they gawk like deer in headlights. Ridiculous.

"Instead of yapping, go kill zombies outside or get the fuck out of this mart—now! Everything here's mine."

Obviously, all this mart's loot is mine. No reason to share with them.

"B-but we were here first..."

Now some guy's meekly claiming prior dibs. The first floor was zombie-infested and useless—now they want ownership?

Truly deranged.

"Wanna die? I said get out."

"H-hey! Can't you see all these people? Kids, elders—how can you take everything?!"

A sharp-eyed woman in office attire and glasses steps up, venting her complaints.

"Shouldn't we cooperate as people? If you help, we can all—Gahk!"

I wasn't gonna listen to her drivel anymore. Kicked her gut as hard as I could. No dodging that—she tumbled back into the wall.

Ignoring her writhing on the floor, I yelled at the rest.

"Seriously, time's money. No time for your crap."

I just wanna stuff everything in Subspace, go home, and shower. Not argue pointlessly!

"Y-you're insane! How do you kick a woman?!"

Everyone stared in shock—I guess they didn't expect that. One guy jumps out with flowery ideals. Same dude mumbling about being first earlier.

Hah... I've warned them plenty. But they still haven't grasped the zombie apocalypse reality. Guess I gotta demonstrate personally.

Grabbed his collar, yanked him in, and stabbed his throat.

"Gasp!"

"Kyaaahhh!"

"Wh-what?!"

Obviously, knife to the throat means death.

For folks living in peace until two days ago, seeing murder up close is shocking. Screams make sense.

"G-guhk..."

Pulled the knife out of the shocked guy's neck and dropped him. Thud. They glanced between him and me, then backed away slowly.

"Who's next? Speak up if you wanna die. Or get out. Nah, I'll just kill you myself."

"Eek!"

"R-run!!"

Now they scattered in all directions, not looking back.

Would've saved time if they'd left at first. Why do I have to show them blood to get it?

The kicked woman staggered up and fled too. Figured she'd die if she stayed.

I'd rather talk it out too? Nah, they wouldn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠listen otherwise. Had to.

Those folks won't last long outside. With brains like that, in this ruined world...

Tsk, tsk.

Now, time to farm K-Mart~~