Chapter 47
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Suspicious Paradise
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Sohee's talk of this paradise kept filling my head with suspicions of a scam, no matter how I sliced it.
In this zombie apocalypse world, just keeping yourself alive was a struggle—how could there possibly be a place that safely protected others?
No matter how I flipped it 180 degrees or twisted it into another dimension, it just didn't add up.
It felt way too much like they were sweet-talking people over with pretty words, only to ambush and kill them when they showed up.
"You're gonna get scammed like that."
"Of course I know it might be a scam. But it could be real, so I'm going alone first to check. And if it really is a safe paradise, I'll bring Mom along then."
"Hmm... Still, if it were me, I'd never go there."
Even without my black magic-level otherworldly power, I wouldn't have fallen for that paradise bait. Knowing nothing about the place, heading there blindly seemed like a surefire way to get backstabbed and lose your life—the risk was sky-high.
"...Yeah, you'd probably do that. You're the number one ranker right now, after all."
I wondered how Sohee knew I was ranked first, but then I remembered we'd exchanged names when we met in front of the shop last time.
"You remembered my name well. I figured you'd forget it right away."
"Even I wouldn't forget the name of someone I owe a debt to. You've helped me three times now—twice before, and just this one makes three."
Me saving Sohee: once from that Smasher just now, and once from the gang leader in front of the shop. What was the third?
"Ah, including when I saved your mom too, right?"
"Yeah, that's the biggest one. I want to repay you, but I have no idea how. My head's a mess right now."
"A mess? Because of the zombie wave?"
Sohee shook her head at my words. Besides the zombie wave, what else could be giving her a headache?
"Sigh... I guess it's fine telling you. I'm staying at that elementary school over there with Mom. Until recently, we were holding out with the group there, helping each other. But yesterday, a new gang showed up and joined us. The problem is the guys in that group."
Why Sohee was worried about men.
Based on her behavior so far, the answer was obvious.
"Don't tell me they're sexually harassing your mom or something?"
"They already did. What was it they said? The leader of that group saw Mom and right away told her to flash her tits and fuck. I smashed his head in on the spot."
Sohee clenched her fist tight, still furious recalling it. From what I'd seen of her personality, she'd probably sliced his throat with that greatsword right there.
"Then shouldn't you not be out here like this? They might hold a grudge against you and mess with your mom."
"It's fine. There are a few strong people at the school now—not on my level, but enough. They've promised to protect Mom. Though you're right, I can't leave her alone too long, so I should head back soon."
At this point, I felt like floating an idea.
"If you want a really safe place that badly, how about coming to my place?"
"What?"
Sohee stared at me in shock, like she never expected that offer.
"I don't usually bring freeloaders along, but you look like you could earn your keep. Your mom too. If you come to my place, I can promise her absolute safety."
Thinking about Yejin, who had zero combat skills yet lived completely safe at my place, Sohee's mom could do the same in my officetel—safe from the zombies wandering outside. Then Sohee wouldn't have to worry about her mom and could focus on hunting zombies. Win-win, right?
Of course, it wouldn't be free. I'd charge rent in coins, but with Sohee's combat prowess I'd seen, she could easily cover it.
Sohee pondered my words for a moment.
"Hmm... I don't know where you live, but judging by your zombie kill count, you've got something special going on. Still, I'll pass."
An unexpected refusal.
I hadn't seen that coming.
"Just like you doubted that paradise earlier, I can't trust you 100% either. Even if I owe you."
I couldn't blame her for thinking that way.
"Especially when you met my mom last time—you saw her, and I could tell you were thinking the same as those other guys. This offer's just aimed at her, isn't it?"
I got her reluctance to leave a vulnerable woman like her mom around men in this harsh world. She clearly wanted to protect her at all costs.
Sure, the first time I saw Sohee's mom, I'd thought about sleeping with her. But that wasn't why I made the offer, and she wouldn't believe it.
"If you don't want to, no hard feelings. Honestly, your mom was part of the appeal, yeah."
"What? You bastard!"
Sohee raised her greatsword to attack but stopped midway. She knew she couldn't win against me, so she held back.
Her top priority was protecting her mom—picking a fight with me and losing would doom her mom too. She got that.
"But that's just a bonus. What I really want is you."
"...What?"
I could farm coins solo by hunting zombies, but having a fighter like Sohee would be great. We could hunt together for more farming, and she'd guard the base when I was out.
My base had barricades from the stronghold buffs keeping zombies out, but it wasn't foolproof. And raiders—other Awakeners—could show up too. I'd prep defenses, but having a guard wouldn't hurt.
So I'd thought of bringing Sohee on for that role, but if she refused, oh well.
It wasn't urgent enough to beg.
I'd made the offer; she turned it down.
But why was Sohee blushing and staring at me now?
"Anyway, let's go our separate ways. I need to head home soon too."
Yejin had collapsed once today, so I was a bit worried. Couldn't have issues with my personal onahole healer.
I waved to Sohee and started off, but paused with a sudden question.
"Oh, and that paradise you mentioned earlier—can you tell me where it is?"
"Why?"
"Curious, obviously. Makes me wanna check it out."
How amazing could it be to earn the name "paradise"? I could swing by tomorrow while wiping out the new zombies.
"I've never been, just heard about it. They say it's over in Yeouido."
"Yeouido?"
"Yeah. Supposedly, you'll spot it right away."
Yeouido... From my base, sprinting full speed would take about 20 minutes.
"Okay, thanks~ Take care."
"Yeah, thanks. Next time we meet, I'll definitely repay you."
"How? With your body? You're hot enough for it to work."
"You perv! With coins, you creep!"
Sohee yelled with a flushed face, then bolted off greatsword on her back without looking back.
I meant it seriously, but she took it as a joke?
Figured with her looks, her charm stat had to be at least 5.
Her body was a bit petite, but well within my strike zone, so I figured she'd be okay with paying in kind.
Even if she seemed against it.
After parting with Sohee, I headed straight home and saw Yejin already asleep in the room.
She usually stayed up waiting for me, so seeing her passed out like this meant the mana depletion aftermath had hit her hard.
No interest in forcing her awake for sex, so I checked the new list added to my upgraded Equipment Crafting skill.
Lots of new options.
Since the previous level let me craft generators for electricity via the skill, now I could use coins to make everyday electronics.
Washing machines, refrigerators, that sort.
But only small-capacity ones for now, so higher skill levels probably unlocked bigger, more efficient stuff.
Made sense—more generator types were available now.
Especially portable to industrial-grade upgrades. Coins needed for that, so not yet, but with tomorrow's zombie spawn, I could farm all day and make one.
I unloaded the jerry cans of diesel I'd gathered today on the first floor, then lay down next to Yejin and pulled her close.
"Yawn... Oppa, you're back?"
"Awake? You're exhausted—go back to sleep."
"Okay..."
Yejin drifted off again at my words, and I closed my eyes too.
The next morning, as I got up to go zombie hunting, a new system window popped up.
[Day 3 since the Zombie Wave began.]
[Zombie spawn count slightly increased.]
[Zombies' detection ability slightly increased. They will react to smaller sounds than usual.]
[Zombies' obsession with humans intensifies further.]
Felt like zombies got a buff.
The spawn count and detection boosts were clear from the notice, but "obsession with humans intensifies"—what did that mean?
Like chasing a targeted prey relentlessly?
Not sure, I headed out planning to lure zombies like Day 1 and wipe them with black magic...
But stepping outside, I got what "obsession" meant.
The moment I pulled aggro and climbed a building, the zombie horde started stacking on each other, forming towers to climb after me.
"Whoa, this is straight out of a movie."
I dodged to the next building and looked around—zombies piling towers up apartment walls too.
People chilling high up thinking they were safe? Doomed.
But more zombies chasing me meant pure profit for me.
No need for open plazas now—just climb high, and zombies stack like maniacs to reach me.
Right as they neared, I unleashed Black Magic: Devouring Dread, swallowing the zombie tower whole.
"Thanks for the meal."
Dangerous for others, but for me? This was peak honey.
While hopping spots hunting zombies, a massive sound boomed from afar.
"That's... a school bell?"
No clue why a school bell was ringing now, but my pursuing zombies all turned and bolted toward the sound.
Who the hell would do this?
All my well-following zombies ditched for the bell.
No one but me would pull zombie aggro on purpose, right?
Then I remembered Sohee mentioning she was at an elementary school.
But no way she'd ring a bell drawing zombies—her mom's safety was priority; she'd never risk her.
So why the bell?
I sprinted toward the sound anyway. Whoever did it, those gathered zombies meant massive coins.