Into the Flesh-Infested Hanamart
Clunk. Crash!
"Dojin."
"Sorry, boss. Ever since my rank went up, I can't control this power properly..."
"It's fine here, but be careful next time."
"Got it."
In truth, heading out to gather daily necessities was much the same as reinforcing our base.
"Lee Yoon."
"Nothing. Not a single zombie."
"Keep going as is. Everyone, stay alert around us."
"Yes, sir."
That also meant, conversely, delaying our migration.
It was essentially the opposite of my policy.
But people couldn't always move with perfect efficiency.
'Even if we end up discarding everything later, it's better to secure the supplies first and think it over.'
Humans were complicated creatures.
That's why I was dragging this mess all the way up to Northdong.
'In a world that's basically ended, there's nothing fun to do anyway.'
Kim Jungshik wasn't wrong.
In a place with no entertainment, it was weirder if problems didn't erupt when men and women were cooped up together.
Of course, it probably wouldn't happen... but lowering that probability even a little was my thinking.
'Even doing all this, shit will still hit the fan when it does.'
Like with Hwang Jinseok and Lee Jeongsu...
But avoiding going outside just because something might happen was like being too scared of maggots to even make kimchi.
Better to do something than nothing.
Better to pay attention than ignore it.
'Anyway.'
Internal issues were settled.
Honestly, if we just looted this mart, we'd be set for a while without needing to touch it again.
That's when Lee Yoon, standing beside me, froze and called out.
"Junyoung. About 100 meters out, dozens of them are surrounding us."
Dozens.
Had to be those blood clump zombies from the second remnant we'd seen before—100% chance.
I scanned the surroundings and sighed.
Inside Northdong Station.
Exactly the same scene as my last visit.
No traces of humans anywhere, as expected.
"Yeah. They're not coming closer?"
"No..."
"Then it doesn't matter. Keep going."
We pressed on, leaving the horrific stench of corpses behind.
The underground air was hot despite it being spring, but the silence contrasted sharply.
"Ugh, sis, this isn't a suicide mission, is it?"
"Quit whining. Acting all buddy-buddy now that the boss is here. 'Sis'? Bleh."
"When did I act buddy-buddy? We're core founding members, aren't we?"
"Yeah, next up NTR thug. Ditching Yuri for Seoyul. Trash."
"...Isn't that a bit harsh?"
"I'm telling Yuri everything."
"Please no..."
Without Jeong Dojin and Kim Yunjin's bickering as background noise, this place would've felt like hell.
'...The base...'
I turned my gaze.
Dim underground gloom.
Hordes of enemies and potential threats lurking.
'No need to make contact, no need to antagonize threats to the base unnecessarily.'
If we focused purely on defense, they couldn't breach inward anyway.
Yoo Soyeon's and Jeong Suhyun's abilities weren't for show.
Jeong Suhyun was cold-blooded enough to gun down kids if things went south.
Probably.
If not for Yoo Soyeon's power, that girl Se-eun would've been dead too.
'Infection rate...'
I glanced over.
Kim Yunjin, expressionless but sweating coldly as she scanned around frantically.
'If her ability can fully cure it despite the pain... that means it counters remnants or abilities alike.'
Healing.
I'd thought it was just wound-mending, but it tied into infection rates too.
Honestly, her power was crucial, but it'd been like insurance in peacetime—now, after this incident, I'd bumped it up in priority.
'It'll get even more important ahead. If some bullshit erupts inside the base, or...'
If it worked on zombies too.
She'd be swamped later.
So.
'...Scout roughly, then find a migration spot. Better to hurry down.'
The issue was Yoon Mina needed to recover first...
"Yunjin."
"Yeah?"
I called to Kim Yunjin.
"...Proficiency at?"
"Oh, that."
She stared into space briefly, then told me.
"88. Two days? Three at most till C-rank."
"Fast."
"Hehe. Worked hard on purpose."
She extended her pale hand.
Not a scratch.
"Slash here and heal—levels shot up."
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
"...Self-harm?"
"Self-harm sounds bad, but technically yes."
She stretched, adding, "Yesterday I patched up that Se-eun kid and two adults, but anyway... lots of jagged scars inside. Gotta do what it takes to survive, right?"
"......"
I shut my mouth.
So that's how she raised healing proficiency...
Made sense.
'Unlike other powers, healing won't level up just by using it on air.'
Sigh.
The others were grinding in the shadows too.
Jeong Suhyun... Kim Yunjin... Kim Jungshik.
That's how the base had held without complaints till now.
'In a numb outpost with nothing but watches and patrols.'
I sighed and wrapped it up.
"Yeah. Good work."
"Feels weird hearing that. Whatever. Gotta do it to reattach Mina's limbs anyway."
Kim Yunjin clammed up too.
That was when.
Thud.
"Junyoung."
"Yeah."
Lee Yoon called me.
Stairs leading out from Northdong Station interior.
Thud.
Thud.
Jeong Dojin didn't make a sound this time.
"See that boundary line? Check it again."
"Yes, sir."
We exited Northdong Station, then used our abilities at the boundary with the flesh masses.
Lee Yoon frowned and reported.
"Four bottom-left, six bottom-right. Moving like zombies."
"Others? Upper side?"
"Blood clump types, I think—hovering at my range limit. Not coming closer."
"They're watching us."
"Yes."
"As long as they keep distance, ignore 'em. Keep watch."
"Got it. Sigh, wish Soyeon were here. Can't tell if they're human, zombie, or monster."
Yeah.
Yoo Soyeon's power would've ID'd them instantly.
But her ability meant she had to stay at base.
'Wanted to leave Lee Yoon behind too, honestly.'
No helping it.
"Let's go."
I led the group toward our target: Hanamart in the old downtown.
===
"...Ugh..."
"We really entering here?"
The trek to the mart was uneventful, as expected.
Northdong Station area had zombies—blasted by spirit-Ice Spear combos.
Old downtown had only blood clumps and dark-red flesh masses—no regular zombies even.
'Still, nearly 200 mana left.'
I eyed my status window briefly, then looked ahead.
"......"
"......"
Hanamart in the flesh-overrun old downtown came into view.
Tension thickened.
I was numb to it now, but for them, this was their first remnant site.
"......"
Even chatty Jeong Dojin had gone quiet.
At least no one was balking at going in.
I spun my pickaxe idly and asked Lee Yoon.
"Lee Yoon. Anything inside?"
"Nothing. Doesn't match the vibe—no detections."
"Huh."
"Yeah. Sent bugs—pitch black, nothing coming out."
True enough.
My spirit scout found no blood clumps or fetuses either.
Swish.
Swish.
I shook blood off the pickaxe and pried open the main doors, surrounded by dark-red flesh.
Grrrind.
Flesh-jammed doors resisting.
Gulp.
Someone behind me swallowed hard.
"Even if it's empty inside, don't scatter. No talking from now on."
Stuff that evades detection might be in there.
Nod.
With their agreement, I spun the spirit again.
Scanning the entire first floor.
'Spoiled meats. Still-good frozen foods...'
No need to haul those.
Ice packs were fine with them, but meats and perishables? Pass.
'So we need...'
Daily necessities and clothes.
I mapped a route with the spirit.
"Clockwise from left side, first floor. Push carts. I'll lead, Dojin in middle, Inho rear."
"Yes."
"Yep."
"Yunjin and Lee Yoon, one between each."
"Got it."
So: me - Kim Yunjin - Jeong Dojin - Lee Yoon - Kim Inho.
Hummm.
Ashes spirit stuck to the first-floor ceiling, following me.
This way, ambushes from any direction were covered.
Plus, 'with Lee Yoon's power, no surprises.'
Vision check, spirit check, Lee Yoon check—triple detection.
"Past food section, grab first-floor sundries, then up to second."
"Okay."
"Move."
Nothing to fear.
Our goal was loot, and we needed to be quick regardless.
Thud.
Rattle.
In flesh-covered Hanamart, Jeong Dojin's cart echoed loudly.