Chapter 51

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Translator: Ace

Chapter: 51

Chapter Title: Apocalypse, But It's Too Easy for Just Me

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When I pointed at Mom's arm with my finger, Sohee flinched in surprise and examined her arm.

Now that the biggest issue—the zombie infection—had been resolved, the bite wound itself became the problem. It was bitten deeply, and blood was flowing more than expected.

We couldn't leave the bleeding wound untreated, so I pulled out bandages and towels I'd stashed in my Subspace beforehand and tossed them to Sohee. She quickly pressed a towel over the wound and wrapped it tightly with the bandages to staunch the bleeding.

"Is this treatable too?"

"You remember the woman who was with me last time? She's a Medical Specialist. I think she can heal something like this right away."

It was a bit worse than the wounds on those injured Haedong Faction guys last time, but it should still be treatable on the spot. Even if not fully, it would definitely speed up recovery.

Besides, leaving her with an untreated wound like this didn't make any sense.

"Got it. I'll head to your place. How long from here?"

"If I sprint at full speed... probably around seven minutes?"

"Okay. Then I'll carry Mom on my back and follow."

I shook my head at Sohee's words.

"No, I should carry her. It'll be way faster. Don't be stubborn—just leave it to me."

Sohee's physical abilities seemed higher than a typical Awakener's, but I doubted she could keep up with me. She got the point and nodded.

As I hoisted Sohee's still-unconscious mom onto my back, her ample breasts pressed firmly against me. They looked bigger than Yejin's from sight alone, but feeling them confirmed they were even larger.

I wouldn't mind sleeping with Sohee's mom someday, but I had no intention of forcing it. No need to touch her precious mother and risk Sohee resenting me.

There was plenty of time anyway. Living leisurely, an opportunity might arise naturally.

With Sohee's mom secured on my back, I pulled a large sheet from my Subspace and wrapped it around her tightly to keep her from slipping off. Combat could break out midway, so better safe than sorry.

Just as I was about to take off, it hit me: could Sohee really keep up?

"Actually, scratch that—you're coming with me."

Unlike me leaping between rooftops, Sohee running on the streets? She'd never catch up, and she might run into a zombie horde and get herself killed.

After slinging Sohee's mom onto my back, I wrapped an arm around Sohee's waist and hoisted her to my side. She startled and started thrashing to break free.

"Hey! What the hell!"

"Only way to take you and your mom. Stay still."

"Ugh... Fine. I'll stay put. But my greatsword..."

She looked worried about leaving it behind, so I scooped it up with my free hand and tossed it into my Subspace. Sohee's eyes widened again as it vanished.

"Hey, just roll with it. Stick with me, and you'll see endless 'impossible' crap."

You couldn't keep getting shocked around an outlier like me.

"Hah, fine. You're seriously making me wonder what you even are, ugh?"

I kicked off at her reply, leaping to the next rooftop in a flash and sprinting straight for home. To keep the mom from slipping, I braced a hand on her butt and hauled ass.

- Grroooaaar!

Zombies spotted me mid-jump and came charging like maniacs. Looked like ones lured by the bell earlier, wandering after the sound cut off.

Curious if they'd chase all the way, I ignored them. Felt like seven minutes before I neared home.

As I carried Sohee and her mom inside the barricade, the familiar system window popped up right away.

Makes sense—they weren't registered residents yet. I set them down, held Mom's hand and placed a hand on Sohee's head to register them both.

"Wh-what are you doing!"

Ignoring Sohee's startled yell at my hand on her head, I scanned the area. The chasing zombies were sprinting to overrun us.

"H-huh? Hey! You just gonna stand there? Gimme my greatsword!"

Spotting the horde, figuring we had to fight, Sohee thrust out her hand demanding the sword.

"Stay put. Time to show you how badass my house is."

"What? What do you..."

While we bantered, the zombies closed in. Sohee reached for her mom to flee—but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠then:

Thud! Crack!

The horde slammed into my invisible barricade with a deafening crash. Front-runners didn't slow, smashing their faces and getting crushed under the pile behind them—right in front of us.

"Wh-what the..."

"My skill. Keeps the base barricaded."

Checking barricade status via Base Management: Two days ago, zombie hits chipped away at HP, but now? Zero damage from impacts or scratches.

Probably the defense boost from upgrading Base Reinforcement.

Zombies hammered away, but it didn't budge an inch. Even wilder: as they stacked to climb, the pile suddenly shoved backward and collapsed.

Curious why, I approached. Right as the tower formed, the invisible barricade shifted, shoving it apart to prevent stacking.

"Whoa, upgrading added this feature? Zombies won't get in easy now."

Not super tall, so they'd climb with a pile normally—but blocking that? Ironclad defense. My house was zombie-proof paradise.

Maybe slap a "Paradise" label on it?

"What is this..."

Sohee probably didn't even know the invisible barricade existed, so no clue why zombies couldn't approach or why their piles collapsed.

"Stuff like that exists."

Good look at the defense? Time to silence these zombies. I hopped the barricade solo, black magic'd the horde near my house into oblivion.

Today's coin haul's gonna be massive.

Opened my status window to check.

2,700 coins in one day. And I hadn't checked achievements yet—more coins there too.

Jackpot.

Plus two whole levels. Looking back, the Zombie Wave was basically an exp and coin giveaway just for me.

One downside: while exp and coins piled up, Demonic Energy lagged relatively. Sweeping hordes efficiently meant mid-tier spells, burning tons—less accumulation per kill. Still, net positive, so no shortage worries.

"Alright, let's get your mom treated. Here's your greatsword."

I pointed at her mom, handed over the greatsword from Subspace, and headed inside the officetel.

Sohee took it, hoisted her mom, and followed.

"This your place? Anyone else around?"

"Just Yejin—who's gonna treat your mom—besides me."

Should explain the base to these two later, now that they're staying.

Treatment first.

"You can crash here with your mom. That way you can hunt zombies worry-free for coins, right?"

"...Yeah, makes sense."

She owed me a whopping 100,000 coins. Hated debts, so she'd want to grind them off ASAP.

To focus purely on zombie-slaying, park her precious mom safe here. Perfect fit.

"But not free. Rent's... 200 coins a month. Per person, of course."

"What? Charging rent too?"

"Duh. No such thing as free lunch. Mom's treatment: 50 coins."

I'd toyed with renting out space for coins someday. Steady sweet cash incoming.

Chatting with Sohee, we reached my room where Yejin stayed. Opened the door—and Yejin popped out like she'd been lying in wait.

Probably heard me coming and timed it.

But her outfit? Wildly different.

Cat-ear headband, black choker with a bell, black lingerie... and somehow, a long cat tail glued to her butt.

"Yejin got so lonely home alone without Oppa, nyang! Huh..."

Full cat-pose welcome, nasal "nyang" and all—till her face flushed beet red.

Spotted Sohee behind me.