Infection Rate (2)
"Th-that's my kid... i-infected?"
"...She hasn't gone anywhere. We never even let her out... How could this..."
The woman and man naturally shook their heads, of course. I'd do the same in their shoes.
"Enough."
That's why I stuck to my usual approach.
"No, really, we're not..."
"I said enough. Just follow me for now. I'm not kicking you out."
"......"
I sighed and led them up to the fourth floor. Then straight to Jeong Suhyun's duty room, where I had them sit.
"Sit here for now. If you need the bathroom or anything, tell Yoo Soyeon here. Jeong Suhyun."
"Yes."
"Do what you always do."
"Got it."
"Yoo Soyeon."
"Y-yes... yes?"
"Watch the kid."
"Uh, um... th-the, the girl, Se-eun, right? W-wanna stay with s-sis?"
"......"
"Sh-she's really shy around strangers..."
Flip. I pulled out a sheet of paper and flipped through it. A binder with people's status windows penciled in by Jeong Suhyun, constantly updated.
'Infection rate...'
I checked the very first one: Jeong Suhyun's status window.
👁 Open Eyes (C): Opens the eyes. See at night as if day. Mana Cost: 1/hour
Infection rate. The item listed below Planet/Earth, Job, and Aptitude.
But honestly, I'd rated its importance low. No, I'd shoved it to the back of my mind thinking, 'Probably turns you into a zombie at 100 or something.'
Why? Because everyone I'd seen who was fine had 0% infection rate. Plus, I hadn't had time to worry about it.
'But.'
I glanced over. 'She looks perfectly fine.'
Yoo Soyeon fidgeting nearby, the woman Sin Sea smiling at her, and the eight-year-old girl Kim Se-eun in her arms.
This girl was the one Jeong Suhyun's ability had flagged with an infection rate.
'...What's going on.'
I had no idea. First time seeing an infection rate.
A quiet girl who obeyed her parents. Eight years old. Precocious for a first-grader. Well, that personality probably helped her survive, but aside from that, nothing set her apart from others.
She thought, spoke, and didn't ping red on Yoo Soyeon's radar ability.
Leaning back in my chair, I thought again.
'Jeong Suhyun's ability being wrong? ...'
Nah, unlikely. His ability didn't work only on me.
'Then it's zombie virus or remnants... something like that.'
I turned to Jeong Suhyun chatting with Se-eun's dad, Kim Jinseong.
But zombie virus? 'That's airborne.'
Then why no infection rate on the parents? A kid that age would've been with them constantly; if it spread, they'd be infected too.
What about the ninth remnant? '...Fills up and turns into a faceless one?'
But Jeong Suhyun checked everyone three times a day, every day. So a new remnant? 'Possible.'
But if remnant, my status window would've alerted. Plus, they'd ping on Yoo Soyeon's radar. Cross-verified, so Kim Se-eun wasn't a monster.
That was why I'd let them in.
Man: Kim Jinseong.
Woman: Sin Sea.
Kid: Kim Se-eun.
'What is it.'
I turned to Jeong Suhyun.
"Yeah, meat, fruit, barricade."
"...S-so her ability seems to be those powers?"
"Yes. Similar to mine. Views people's status windows. But she didn't mention infection rate?"
"No... My wife and I had no idea..."
Kim Jinseong was scribbling on the papers handed to him by Jeong Suhyun, whose eyes kept turning red—checking his status window.
"So, what is this infection rate? Is it a problem?"
"Well, you said you never went near zombies."
"Yes. Our family stayed inside the community... Even coming here, we took weirdly zombie-free paths. We never let the kid out since the apocalypse, not even separated nearby. Really."
Zombie-free paths. Probably the Liberation Army's 'corridors' from when I rescued Lee Seoyul.
"Then something happened inside. Can you tell me about the community?"
"Yes. It was in Sinsegae Apartment, made by a student... no, a guy named Seo Isak..."
Long story short:
A week after the zombie outbreak. Due to the dense population in Namdong, people who couldn't reach the Namdong Office gathered in the apartment. Thus, the Sinsegae Apartment seniors' hall community formed.
The leader: Seo Isak, with the ability to hide bases.
"Weird ability. Hides his base temporarily somewhere else... We trusted and followed."
"Hides it elsewhere."
"Yes. Dodged that army? Liberation Army? multiple times. Plus, capable women around him handled outside work."
Army, Liberation Army. Capable women.
"Sounds like you could've stayed. Did they mess with your wife or something?"
"......"
Jeong Suhyun's words hung sharp, but spot on. Hiding base, lots of women? Just a lecherous leader. No harm to individuals, food summoners like Kim Jinseong and Sin Sea would've been better off there.
"No. But..."
People started changing. Getting weird.
"Weird how?"
"Our apartment women's association chair. Kind-hearted, loved chatting."
Sin Sea picked up.
"Yes. Great reputation, even in the moms' group."
Then suddenly snapping at people, violent with kids.
"...World gone to shit, true colors showing?"
Jeong Suhyun's fair point. Even I snapped sometimes when my head spun.
But Kim Jinseong shook his head.
"One person, sure. But..."
More and more. Kids, adults, men, women, elderly—seeping in one by one.
"Weird part: Seo Isak and his women didn't change. People changing, but not them."
"So you fled."
"Yes. Made it here somehow..."
Near-death scares midway. Makes sense with their powers. 'Miracle they arrived.' Or remnant-controlled. But no ping on Jeong Suhyun or Yoo Soyeon.
"Like a cult leader."
"C-cult god-like p-power?"
Jeong Suhyun and Yoo Soyeon brought up Seo Isak.
Cult leader. 'Fits.'
Real powered cult leader. Undetected by other ability users—or at least Liberation Army. Leads people, handles women: Seo Isak.
'Not sure if his power makes violence... but connected.'
Kim Jinseong continued.
"Anyway, that's why we fled. With wife and kid."
"Made it well."
Jeong Suhyun smirked.
"After that big fire and downtown chaos, we planned. Took Yuseong-daero end."
He pointed outside. My guess confirmed.
"Figured ice chunk guy was here. Mart and office wrecked... only this intact means something."
Jeong Suhyun and Yoo Soyeon's eyes flicked to me, then away.
Jeong Suhyun asked.
"How'd you know people here?"
"...Lights at night? Other schools dark, this one lit sporadically—people, obviously."
Fair. But no survivors till now; if any, probably Liberation Army.
"True. Could be bad guys?"
"Gamble... Heart dropped at first."
Yeah. Jeong Suhyun opened fire.
Then Kim Jinseong apologized.
"Glad good people here. Sorry earlier."
Bowing man. But Jeong Suhyun waved his gun outward, shaking head.
"No. Makes sense. Just know you got lucky."
Pointed at me. 'No one around, he'd have shot.'
"......"
"......"
Silence between me and Kim Jinseong. Sin Sea and family stiffened.
I'd stopped Jeong Suhyun from chasing, let them in... What'd he expect me to do?
Sigh. I sighed, opened mouth.
"Enough. He talks tough, never actually done it. Welcome to our base. Kim Junyoung."
I explained: external scout me, internal Jeong Suhyun and Kim Jungshik. How to live with others.
"Rest from Jeong Suhyun, like before. Meet members one by one. Nice to have you."
My greeting met silence. Then Kim Jinseong and Sin Sea bowed 90 degrees.
"Nice to meet you... Kim Jinseong."
"...Sin Sea."
Bow. Even cute Kim Se-eun bowed deeply.
I waved it off. Non-combat family? No issue.
"Fine. About Se-eun."
"Yes..."
"Yoo Soyeon."
"Eh... y-yes?"
I mentioned Kim Yunjin and Kim Jungshik's powers.
"Ask Kim Jungshik if he can summon infection cure. Yoo Soyeon, tell him ahead."
"O-oh yes!"
Obviously no, but.
"Then to Yunjin for healing."
"Ah... yes! Sh-should I lead them?"
Wide-eyed Yoo Soyeon. I shook head.
"No. I'll go myself. Jeong Suhyun."
"Yes."
"I'll handle rest."
"Ah, yes. Then..."
"Back quick."
I could've sent anyone. Daytime, me or him no difference now.
But wanted to see with my eyes. Plus... 'Might be risky.'
Minimize others' exposure to infection rate.
"Got it."
"Yoo Soyeon, take them out, wait front. People around."
"...Yes!"
"Jeong Suhyun and I talk one minute. Jinseong, Sea, wait."
"Yes."
Creek. Family and Yoo Soyeon bowed out.
I spoke to Jeong Suhyun stroking his rifle.
"Jeong Suhyun."
"Like you said?"
"Yes... After, isolate them."
"Yes."
"Daily status checks, with Yoo Soyeon too."
And.
"Tell parents, then Jeong Yena's salon room two-floor end. 210 classroom. Block access."
Bathroom nearby anyway.
"Yes. Or put Jeong Yena's scarecrow there?"
"Good. Any issues inside?"
"No changes in Yoo Soyeon or my status."
"Infection not airborne or contact."
"Seems so. Wanna test bite... Tell vice-leader catch rat or something."
"...He'd bite well."
"Right?"
"Yes."
Sigh. I scratched head.
'No issue yet.'
Infection was the problem. What the hell.
More to handle now.
'Yuseong University humanities camp, Haksindong under Saseol-dong. Saseol-dong Central Apartments.'
Now Namdong Sinsegae seniors' hall and new infection issue.
'Tomorrow Northdong Hanamart. Need cloning jutsu.'
Couldn't ignore. Had to test status infection rate.
"Fine. Headache. Test, watch. Going."
"Yes."
I shook head, headed out.
Was accepting this infected-rate kid the right call?