Humanity (3)
Of course, before that, I needed to get her some clothes first. I quickly headed out and grabbed a few items from a nearby clothing store.
"Put these on for now."
"Ah, yes."
I'd deliberately picked larger sizes, so the clothes didn't fit her perfectly, but she followed my instructions obediently. A slightly baggy shirt and jeans—the pants were too big, but with a belt cinched tight, she could at least walk in them. The shoes were the real issue, so I scrounged up some sandals and tied them securely with strips of cloth.
'This should keep the noise down.'
I let out a sigh and seated her at a table on the second floor. Lee Seoyul fidgeted restlessly, glancing around. Well, I'd been especially sharp with her last night.
To break the awkward tension, I spoke up.
"Kim Junyoung."
"Yes?"
"My name. Kim Junyoung."
"Ah..."
"So, Lee Seoyul-ssi."
"Yees."
She nodded. She probably knew the rich neighborhood well enough.
"Lee Seoyul-ssi, assuming everything you said is true, do you have anywhere to go?"
No way she did. And my hunch was spot on.
"...No. And I haven't lied at all. Um, Junyoung-ssi."
Yeah, time would tell. We'd see how things played out.
"Alright. Here's my proposal: want to join our base?"
"Your base? You mean a place to stay?"
"Yeah. A settlement where people live."
"Um..."
'Come to think of it, our base could use tighter internal management.'
There was plenty to handle. I'd left everything inside to Jeong Suhyun and Kim Jungshik, but in this ruined world, problems piled up fast. Daily necessities and clothes were just the start—bedding, laundry, dishes, all the grunt work. Even finer details like grooming and health checks.
'We'll sort that after we relocate.'
First priority was ditching the church quick. It was just a temporary squat; we needed to claim somewhere bigger like a school and gear up for heading south.
"Um, what kind of place is it?"
Lost in thought, she piped up.
'Oh right.'
I hadn't explained yet. I gave her the rundown on our base.
"Two women, ten men. Total twelve people."
"...Women?"
"Yeah. One's coupled up with someone else, the other I rescued. Well, pretty much the same for the rest."
"...Rescued how exactly..."
I met her eyes and summoned an Ice Spear.
"You saw this yesterday."
I'd threatened her with it back then. Her body went rigid. I dismissed it and continued.
"Ah..."
"The full story's... complicated right now. Point is, it's a group of people I've pulled out of the fire. A food summoner like you would fit right in—that's why I'm suggesting it."
I shrugged. No big deal if she passed.
'Kim Jungshik was more like I dragged him along, but close enough.'
Technically, I'd "rescued" him too, so whatever. No need to dive deeper into the Liberation Army, Northdong Station, or Jeong Suhyun and Kim Yunjin's deal—that'd take too long. Suhyun or the others could fill her in once we hit the church.
Silence stretched out.
"If you're not into it..."
Then—
"I-I'll go! I'll join!"
Lee Seoyul yelped, biting her tongue in her rush. I instinctively covered my ears.
"Th-thongue thwisted. Didn't mean tho..."
"It's fine. Just no yelling from now on. That's the setup—no one's gonna hurt you there, Seoyul-ssi."
"Yees..."
"Didn't mention the spot, but it's past the station in the rich district. Our Love Church—you might know it."
"Ah..."
Yeah, she'd recognize the area.
"Stick right behind me."
"Yees."
A bit annoying and odd, this girl. But her story was starting to ring true.
'Hands her body to a stranger for some liver, then buys my pitch after one talk and tags along.'
Classic fresh-out-of-college type, acting all "I see reality for what it is" until the backstab hits. Baby-faced too, cheeks still chubby—looked and acted childish.
'Lucky she's lasted this long.'
People like her usually drop fast. Overrely on smarts and mouth off, or rack up grudges, or stir internal drama.
Probably how she ended up in her mess—one of those three. Dropped her threat level a notch.
'Food ability helps.'
No sense leaving that outside. In this apocalypse, food summoners were gold.
We had two already—three counting Choi Yuri—but...
'Survival's tough.'
That's why I bothered. Meat was always in short supply anyway.
Most food types got exploited or offed early. Or holed up solo in apartments, rationing water and grub.
Screech— Anyway, I stepped out of the cafe with Lee Seoyul.
Scanned carefully: surprisingly, no zombies in sight.
'Headed to Benefit Mart, huh.'
Like with the Rocket Mart blaze—fire drew them all.
"Don't yell no matter what. Absolutely."
I warned her anyway.
"Yell and you're dead. You."
Straight talk.
"Yeup."
She knew. Tensed up head to toe and trailed me.
Click— I summoned an Ice Spear and pedaled the road at a snail's pace. Hugging corners, dead silent.
She got it too, shadowing me slow.
Cars, flower beds—we stuck to cover.
'Been a while.'
Deja vu hit. Situations differed, partner too, and my skills for threats had leveled up.
'Back with Suhyun.'
Like trekking to Rocket Mart duo-style. Except he was a grim guy my age, and she was a fresh-faced girl.
'Kinda funny.'
So much crap survived, now strolling the city again.
We arrived. The intersection to Shinsegae Apartments. Easy via buildings before—zombie pasture now.
"Grraaah!"
"Groooar!"
I scowled, plotting the crossing.
'Major snag.'
Wipe 'em all? Mana drain city.
'Hundreds—not even sure I could.'
Liberation Army remnants and zombie corpses littered the ground. Probably clashed here.
'Noise lure.'
Simplest play, but...
'Risk of stragglers from elsewhere.'
Too many to pull fully. Detour? Major hike.
"......"
Lee Seoyul clamped her mouth, stifling screams.
Glanced her way. No drama.
'Seems solid enough.'
Too valuable to ditch. Had to punch through.
Pondered, eyed distant Benefit Mart.
'Old trick again.'
The one with Suhyun. Goals differed, method same.
Lowered my voice to her.
"Lee Seoyul-ssi."
"Y-yes."
Terror in her tone. Facing death—who wouldn't?
But no crumbling legs.
"Gonna make some noise elsewhere real quick. Stay put."
Pointed to a big dumpster nearby.
"Hide in there till I get back."
"...Yes!"
Clang— Instant compliance, dove right in. Stinky and grim, no hesitation.
Bumped her up in my book. Checked for zombies, Frost Blink.
Whoosh— Third-floor building, spring breeze whispering.
Scanned for chaos spot.
'Cars no good—local zombies only.'
No trucks or buses handy. Big rigs absent.
'Buildings meh.'
Drop an Ice Shield like before? Tricky placement.
Plus, no easy fire like Benefit Mart.
Then I spotted it.
'...That.'
Truck 200 meters off, loaded with abandoned LP gas cylinders.
'Think that'll blow?'
I frowned, weighing it. Heard cars left in 40°C+ heat could explode.
'Benefit Mart fire probably heated 'em up.'
Soot marks everywhere, no prior boom.
Ice Spear? Or Shield drop?
'200m—no risk.'
Felt like channeling Suhyun, but efficient. Downtown—no EV stations or pumps. Buildings too risky to breach for gas pops.
'Worth a shot.'
Gauged distance to her from rooftop, summoned an Ice Shield.
Parked car on the uphill slope, zombies milling nearby.
"Ice Shield."
Thud!
"Screeeeech!"
Shield pulverized truck and tanks—no explosion. Zombies swarmed, but...
'Doesn't go boom easy.'
Still jammed. Bad to fetch her yet.
"Ice Spear."
Shaped one, jammed into the engine. Maybe spark a chain.
Bang!
Spear hit unlike the shield—flames erupted.
Whoosh— Car ablaze.
No big boom though.
'Last time was the fluke.'
Smash windows and ram through? Mid-thought—
BOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!
'Ugh...'
Ears rang from the blast, even afar. Shockwave rippled.
BOOM!
Kaboom!
Gas cylinders chained off, sweeping the area. Not massive—just enough to ignite nearby cars.
Makes sense; just parked on asphalt.
Rat-a-tat-tat—
"Screeeeech!"
"Graaaar!"
The racket alone sent endless monsters thundering toward the blaze.
"Frost Blink."
I bolted to her hideout.