Infection Rate (1)
"Well, who knows."
I didn't say anything about Jeong Suhyun's reaction. It had been a month since the apocalypse. Anyone crossing into our well-defended base like that was better off getting a sharp response like his. Considering what the seventh and ninth remnants were up to... it wasn't even that strict.
Besides. Even if they were a family with a kid, they were still intruders. Plus, Jeong Suhyun's ability let him view status windows of anyone in his line of sight.
"Any peculiarities?"
"Man summons meat, woman summons fruit. Kid summons barricades."
"Standard abilities, all known."
"Yes."
To be precise, the kid's skill was different. Back at Northdong Station, Lee Euna's wasn't barricade summon. It was protection setup and application or something. Not important, though. Their skills had probably kept them alive this far.
"But..."
And that was the moment. Jeong Suhyun hesitated.
"...But?"
I narrowed my eyes. Jeong Suhyun never joked around when shit was serious.
"The kid has something peculiar."
"...Peculiar how?"
Something wrong with the status window? And sure enough, my guess hit the mark.
"It's... the kid has an infection rate of 6%. No idea what it means."
"......Infection rate."
"Yes. Weird, right? Infection should mean zombie virus, or maybe something else?"
I scowled. Infection rate. Simplest take: the kid was infected with zombie virus. But...
With those remnant bastards around, can't think that straightforward.
How the hell did this shit keep happening day after day?
Sigh. I exhaled and turned my head.
"...No clue."
"Yeah."
"And anyway, that's not the priority right now."
I glanced at the family slipping into the guard post by the main gate, then sent an ash spirit their way.
Whoosh. The spirit zipped inside. What I saw: a weary-looking man, a frail woman, and a little kid.
[Waaahhh.]
[S-Se-eun-ah, there there, good girl.]
The kid's name seemed to be Se-eun. The woman who looked like the mom hugged and soothed her.
[If it doesn't work, gag her. We could all die.]
The man, meanwhile, kept peeking out the door and scanning the guard post interior. He clicked his tongue.
[This won't work. Too clannish. They don't want to let us in.]
[Honey... sh-shouldn't we go back?]
[No way. The old ladies' committee will bitch about food again. And didn't you see people changing?.. No choice, let's head out, catch the train to the in-laws.]
People changing. Useful intel.
[But...]
[We can make it. Northhyang Apartments is close to the station. Just take the subway to Northdong Station...]
They seemed clueless about the outside world... but I could guess what they'd been through.
I turned to Jeong Suhyun, who was staring at me.
"For now, dismiss the group we called. Just you, me, and Yoo Soyeon. We'll ask why they're here and decide if we take them in."
Food ability users didn't drop from the sky. And...
There's a kid. With that weird infection rate tag. Had to check it out.
"Got it."
"Yeah. I'll grab Lee Yoon instead. Watch them till then."
"Yes."
I left the ash spirit in the guard post and headed downstairs. One flight down, and the third floor was packed.
"Wh-what's going on?"
"Dunno. Dojin and Yuri came and said something..."
"Heard gunshots earlier..."
"Yawn. Was cooking."
"Seoyul-ah, sleep after. I'll handle it."
"Aren't you worried, unnie?"
"Why worry with the boss here."
Clack. Pretty much everyone in the base was gathered below.
"Everyone here?"
They shut up when they saw me descend. I scanned the crowd quick. Missing: Kim Jungshik and Choi Dongwoo.
"Kim Junyoung-ssi."
I asked Lee Yoon approaching me.
"Vice-leader, where are Kim department head and Chief Choi?"
"Oh, they said rooftop guard duty. Told 'em to stand by. Fetch them?"
"Nah. We're good."
No need for them this time. I faced the group staring at me.
"Intruders spotted, first off."
Intruders. Mouths shut at my words. Faces turned grave. I shook my head before it got worse.
"Not as bad as you think—no Liberation Army or monsters. Just a couple in their thirties... and one kid crossed the main gate. Kindergarten or early elementary age."
I checked via spirit they were still put, then eyed Jeong Yena.
"Yeah... I confirmed too."
Then.
"A-a kid?!"
Yoo Soyeon yelped, activating her power. Countless white dots floated over her hand.
"Yes. So me, Yoo Soyeon-ssi, and Jeong Suhyun-ssi will check 'em out. Yoo Soyeon-ssi."
"Eh... yes?"
"Put some clothes on."
I said to her in the thin t-shirt. Fine to go like that, but...
"Eek!"
Yoo Soyeon screamed and bolted upstairs. I told the group.
"Planning to verify with Yoo Soyeon-ssi's and Jeong Suhyun-ssi's abilities. And there's a peculiarity, so we'll take 'em in for now."
Liberation Army wrecked Southdong, unknown origins, damn remnants... suspicious, but maybe worth it.
"...Peculiarity?"
"Yes."
Sounded just like my chat with Jeong Suhyun...
"One difference between them and us to check."
I explained the infection rate Jeong Suhyun saw on the kid. Item below status window compatibility for everyone but me.
Instant questions.
"Infection rate... oh, that."
"Yeah. Below our status window compatibility."
Lee Yoon filled in.
"Correct."
I nodded.
"No infection rate on our base members. So high chance we'll quarantine them elsewhere after letting in."
"W-whoa, I'm here!"
Just then, Yoo Soyeon returned, changed. I waved everyone off.
"Dismissed. Evening roll call for details. Lee Yoon-ssi."
"Yes."
"Switch with Jeong Suhyun-ssi for a bit."
"Yes."
The base members dispersed murmuring. I confirmed, then headed up with Lee Yoon's family.
===
"Still there?"
"Yes."
"...How'd you know?"
"New ability."
"Oh."
Southdong had Liberation Army. Northdong had second, seventh remnants. Saseol-dong had ninth.
"N-new ability? Wh-what do you mean, Junyoung-ssi? Y-you got another power?"
"Something like that, Yoo Soyeon-ssi."
"T-tell me too, Suhyun-ssi."
"Ah, d-don't wanna t-tell you."
"D-don't f-follow meee."
"M-meee... mayonnaise?"
Thus.
Survivors slim odds anyway.
Zombies. Remnants. Liberation Army. Starvation. Dumb shit.
Northdong Station existed, though. Liberation Army crushed it.
Excluding our base, biggest survivor spot I'd seen was Central Apartments in Saseol-dong.
Didn't expect Southdong. I monitored the family via spirit, eyes on surroundings.
...No front guard leads to this crap.
No outer guards except back gate. With rifles and detection, no need.
"Ah, ah, ah."
"D-don't copy me, I said?"
Plus these two, Lee Yoon, Jeong Yena—four watchers...
"Jeong Suhyun-ssi. Yoo Soyeon-ssi."
I cut off their play. Pointed at Yoo Soyeon. She jolted, radar up.
"Y-yes! Th-three white dots inside!"
"Yes."
Confirmed people inside from outside guard post. I went to knock, eyed Jeong Suhyun.
"Jeong Suhyun-ssi."
"Yes?"
"You do it."
Getting annoying. Wanted a break, this pissed me off.
Thus.
"Yes."
I let him approach the door.
Knock knock.
In the silence, Jeong Suhyun knocked and spoke.
"People inside. Come out now or we open fire."
"......"
"Hands up, woman hold kid and come out. 10 seconds or we shoot from outside."
Aggressive. Silence followed. Then.
Creeeak.
Door opened. Man with hands up, anxious woman holding kid, sniffling child.
Humm.
I recalled the spirit, glanced at rifle-aimed Jeong Suhyun, addressed the family.
"...Where you from?"
The woman stammered.
"W-we're fr-from the st-station..."
"Cut the bullshit."
Lame lie. I'd prowled Southdong, Bokdong, Saseol-dong, Yuseong Station daily.
"....From Gaeseong High?"
Man spoke. Not what I wanted.
"Answer. Last chance."
I nodded at Jeong Suhyun.
".....Yes. We..."
Man explained. Survivors from Shinsegae Apartments, centered on seniors' hall. Tired of exploitation and conflict, split off. Saw Southdong events, came seeking those responsible.
Heard this script before.
I thought as he spoke.
...Makes sense?
"How'd you get here? You meat summon, her fruit, kid barricade. Even with status windows, piercing zombies tough."
"How do you know our abilities..."
Woman's eyes widened. I waved it off.
"Not important. See the Liberation Army around? They fucked up Southdong and Northdong, grabbing people. Not just them. Monsters too. Dead-mimicking freaks, flesh-peeling ones. Know?"
Kid near tears. Woman similar. Man spoke.
"....No. Saw a few soldiers... our apartment student's power barricaded the seniors' hall."
Few soldiers. Barricaded hall.
"What power?"
"...Blocks an area. Hides whole seniors' hall."
"Hides?"
"Makes a building invisible. Didn't say what power."
Man continued: family group around that person.
I'd circled Shinsegae Apartments a few times, never saw seniors' hall.
Makes sense then...
No need to link, though. I sighed.
"Got it for now. So, purpose here?"
Question I knew the answer to. Reply as expected.
"If not rude, we'd like to join. Our abilities vital for survival. Just guarantee the kid's safety..."
"Yes."
I cut in, waved.
Knew the pitch.
"Understood. Your intent to join via our abilities noted. First, check the kid's anomaly."
Priority: that infection rate.
"...What do you mean? Problem with our kid?"
I didn't answer, eyed Jeong Suhyun. His eyes reddened.
Man and woman eyes widened at each line from Jeong Suhyun. But kid's status sobered them.
Jeong Suhyun finished. I continued.
"Key here is the infection rate."
I pointed at the kid.
"This one. Bitten by a zombie anywhere?"
Or touched weird monsters, ate their saliva or whatever.
"If so, can't let you in."
We gathered healthy survivors, but no risking base outbreak.
Man and woman froze stiff.