Chapter 16
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Aegis Performance
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Aegis's performance was generally satisfactory. Of course, if I had to pick the most satisfying part, it wasn't its defense, strength, or agility—it was perception.
Perception, as the name suggests, is the stat for awareness. Raising it lets you sense enemies sneaking up on you nearby. It's a sensation close to the instincts of wild animals.
Of course, a mere +3 to perception wasn't enough to detect the stealth of variant zombies like Stalkers. To put it in words, it was like my senses had just gotten a bit sharper.
But in this world, you never know when or in what situation you'll find yourself. Gaining +3 perception was no exaggeration when I said it was like having an extra life in reserve.
In a good mood after finishing Aegis's performance test, I decided to sweep through the surrounding buildings while I was at it. Partly to clear out zombies, but mainly to farm supplies.
The survivors had already looted most places, so there weren't many supplies left in the buildings.
But the good stuff in hard-to-reach spots—like inside safes—was still untouched, so I easily pocketed the valuables.
That said, the fact that even around Houseplus had been picked clean meant it could get looted at any time, too.
If I was going to stick around here, I'd need to start reinforcing Houseplus's security.
Otherwise, move the shelter somewhere else. Houseplus had plenty of supplies, sure, but looking ahead to the future, it wasn't the ideal spot.
I could probably hold off the first variant zombies and even the Chasers that came after, but anything beyond that would be impossible.
After all, true "monsters" would appear that even a solid mithril wall like my power suit couldn't stop. With those thoughts in mind, I approached a large safe.
Whatever they were hiding inside, it even had a triple lock. I touched the locks with my hand. The ones touching my hand warped grotesquely, then clicked open.
A musty smell like something from an old warehouse wafted out, revealing the contents.
Inside were stacks of cash. All fifty-thousand-won bills. I stuffed the bundles into my backpack. Right now, it was worthless paper, nothing more or less, but cash held pretty high value in bartering.
And above all, later on, in the survivors' city called "Paradise," money would function as currency again. It took up a filthy amount of space, but no harm in grabbing it.
Next to the cash was a single putter. Wait, a putter? Or was it a golf club? Either way, the material looked decent.
I picked up the metal golf club and used Metal Decomposition. The iron and decorations broke down. I stored the decomposed metal in my backpack.
With my backpack full, that was farming for the day. The sun was starting to set anyway, and wearing Aegis had drained a lot of stamina, so I headed back to Houseplus.
Lying on a bed worth four million won—something ridiculously plush that I could never have dreamed of in the real world—I began pondering my future plans.
Right now, I was strong. With Aegis on and the Sentry Gun protecting me, I could handle not just regular zombies, but quite a few variants too.
Even progressing through the scenarios, I could advance without issue.
But just charging ahead blindly into the scenarios bothered me because of the other "Team Apocalypses." They hadn't grown enough to take down variants.
'No, Johnson's crew probably has.'
Alicia's group was the problem. They'd clashed with Johnson and were just freeloading in the shelter without proper activity. I needed to help them.
At least enough to endure and fight the coming disasters. Once they'd grown, then I'd push the scenarios.
The condition to go from Scenario 1—where only regular zombies appear (though some special zones have variants)—to Scenario 2, where variants show up, is killing the scenario boss.
The scenario boss is Baal, the false god.
It's called a "false god" because it has the ability to turn regular zombies into variants.
For something called a god, taking it down isn't that hard.
It doesn't have varied patterns, nor superior physical abilities, and it can't use heavy weapons like a Destroyer.
If anything, it's easier than the Night Witch I fought in the subway. Armed with Aegis now, I could take it down easily.
Of course, what comes after is the issue.
'It hasn't appeared yet, but...'
After killing Baal.
Move the shelter.
I'd decided on relocating the shelter. I'd considered sticking around Houseplus until mid-game, but no matter how I thought about it, it wasn't suitable for the long term.
Especially since farmable spots nearby were severely lacking.
Two hours by motorcycle from here was a small industrial city. The survivors called it Shelter D. That's where I planned to go.
It lacked canned goods and water, but it had a munitions factory. If I could use the facilities there, I could even make android robots.
Of course, with Destroyers like the ones from the military base around, Shelter D could fall anytime, and it'd mean risking my life.
But no matter how I looked at it, the route to clear the game the "fastest" was that one.
'For that, I'll need a healer...'
Even with Aegis, without a healer, getting bitten once by a zombie meant game over. I needed a healer. Tomorrow, while meeting Alicia, I'd try to recruit Zixuan.
With those thoughts, I fell asleep soon after.
* * *
The next day, I headed to Shelter A early in the morning. Emily opened the gate with her truck and asked with a sullen look.
"Not off chasing some tail, are you?"
"What are you talking about?"
At my question, she got even more direct.
"Not seduced by some other survivor group?"
Playing it cool at her question,
"Were there other survivor groups?"
I tossed her a can of food. She snatched it mid-air with quick hands, like a cat catching a mouse. As expected of a sniper.
"I wasn't planning to rob you for supplies."
"Can't hurt to have extras, right?"
"Fair point. Anyway, where've you been staying lately?"
"Nowhere too far from here."
I shrugged. I would've told her if she'd asked outright, but she didn't press. Not like there was reason to.
"By the way, how are your comrades doing these days?"
"Eh, same old. The feud between James and that comrade of yours—Johnson or whatever—has the atmosphere totally fucked. Ah, didn't mean to spill that much."
"Thanks, I appreciate it."
She laughed, and I smiled back.
The feud between James and Johnson was still ongoing. No shootouts yet, but it had apparently intensified quite a bit.
"Some side with James, but most back Johnson. He supplies goods for free, after all."
"Whose side are you on, Emily?"
"I'm with Johnson, obviously. Honestly, I don't like him much either, but he's better than James."
Hard to say. From my view, they weren't much different. But given her grudge against James and ignorance of Johnson's true nature, it made sense.
Still, who would win this power struggle?
Even as a newbie, Team Apocalypse would come out on top, right? Maybe next time, I'd meet Johnson as the shelter's new boss.
Whatever. It didn't matter to me. Johnson and I had bad blood, but right now, we were worlds apart.
Even if his whole crew came at me, they probably couldn't touch me.
"If anything happens, call me right away."
After chatting with Emily, I gave her a light goodbye and went inside. As soon as I entered, a group of kids swarmed me.
"Mister!"
Kids I hadn't seen before. Probably newly integrated from survivor searches.
Anyway, I knew why they looked at me with expectant eyes. Hoping I'd give them something.
I pulled a bag of candy from my pocket and handed it to them. I'd brought it for a quick snack on the way here.
The kids rejoiced at the candy. I watched them fondly for a moment.
"Hey, Si-hyun."
Turning my head, a bald black man—no, woman—was looking at me. Even shaved, I recognized her as Alicia.
Why'd she shave that distinctive scratched hair? Suppressing the urge to ask, I greeted her.
"Hello, Alicia."
"Didn't hear you entered the shelter. Just got here?"
"Yeah, just now."
I nodded slightly in affirmation.
"Got a minute? I need to talk."
I accepted her offer. I had business with her anyway.
Alicia led me to her hideout. Not the grand hotel where the original survivors stayed, but a regular house.
Wary of others' eyes, maybe?
"Actually, I had something to say to you too, Alicia."
"What is it?"
"You first."
Ceding the turn to her, she nodded and spoke.
"You wouldn't consider joining our party?"
"No."
I said firmly. No reason to join hers.
"Damn, straight to the point. Hear me out first. My party's in crisis. That bastard Johnson openly poached my members, nearly all jumped ship."
"...Is that so?"
"You're called Shelter A's savior now, but you and I both know what he really is. He's planning to swallow up Shelter A."
I'd half-expected it when I heard he was handing out supplies. No such thing as free favors in this world.
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