Chapter 20
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Zombie Bait
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The Devourer’s weakness is that it’s an “excessive glutton.” A creature with such a voracious appetite that it devours its own kind feels hunger more acutely than most.
And among everything, what it goes crazy for is human flesh. Once it tastes human meat, it never forgets the flavor and is likely to lurk around humans.
Remembering what it said back then.
“Be good and become my nutrients.”
There’s a high chance it’s already tasted human flesh. That’s why it triggered the zombie wave to raid Shelter A, and why it ambushed me when I was alone.
So, all I need is human bait. Not a real human, of course—just a zombie that looks similar enough.
I scouted around Houseplus for a suitable zombie wandering aimlessly nearby. And I found a female zombie that the creature would like.
The female zombie gnashed its teeth at me, trying to eat me. But once I grabbed it, it couldn’t move a muscle—its half-rotted jaw was the only thing twitching.
I touched some metal scraps rolling on the ground and used Metal Transformation to create iron chains, binding the female zombie’s arms, legs, and mouth. The chains rattled every time the female zombie struggled.
Carrying the female zombie, I entered Houseplus through the underground parking lot. Zixuan greeted me warmly, but gasped in horror when she saw the bound zombie.
“W-Why’d you bring it inside?”
“I need it for something. Heal the female zombie.”
“H-Heal it?”
A Healer’s healing works on humans. But it works on zombies too. That’s why veterans say there’s nothing scarier than a Healer who’s dead set on trolling.
She stared at me with bewildered eyes, then looked at me like I was something grotesque.
“Is that... your type, Si-hyun?”
Zixuan apparently thought I was going to use the female zombie as a sex toy.
What does she think people are? Sure, healing would make its face and body look human-like, but sex with a zombie is horrifying even to imagine.
“It’s not that kind of taste.”
I shook my head as I replied.
“Then why tell me to heal a zombie?”
She asked again.
No need to fuel her suspicions, so I told her about the zombie I’d encountered. Her expression turned deadly serious in an instant.
“A variant zombie?”
“Didn’t you watch the game trailer?”
The opening cinematic that plays when you first start the game—the game trailer—features the Devourer among the zombies shown. Zixuan shook her head.
“Pfft, who watches game trailers?”
Me. I watched it so many times I memorized the protagonist’s lines. But no need to explain that, so I gave her a brief rundown on the Devourer.
“So, that monster... it can be killed?”
The Devourer I faced definitely wasn’t that strong. I was confident I could win in a rematch. But then what? It would fight a bit and keep running away.
A prolonged battle would hurt my side more.
“That’s exactly why I need this one.”
Zixuan still looked confused, but she didn’t ask more and obediently used her healing.
Whether she used Rapid Healing or not, the lifeless skin quickly regained vitality, the gruesome wounds across its body and the gaping jaw healed in seconds.
Even the jagged, missing teeth regenerated.
The external wounds were healed, but the virus wasn’t cured, nor was its intelligence restored—it was just a healthy zombie now. Oh, it was a bit skinny from not eating for so long.
I could fatten it up with a can of tuna or something, no big deal.
“Now it really looks like a person.”
Once I changed the female zombie’s ragged clothes for fresh ones, it was indistinguishable from a human.
Of course, up close, you’d notice it was a zombie, but from a distance, even another person would be completely fooled.
I could mask its zombie scent with women’s perfume from Houseplus. Hell, it might even go crazier smelling the perfume.
“But seriously, what are you planning to use it for?”
Only then did I explain my goal.
“I’m going to use it as bait to catch that thing.”
The bomb trap principle is simple. Plant a bomb inside the female zombie. When the Devourer swallows it, the bomb detonates.
If it works, the creature dies—success. If it doesn’t take the bait or survive, I’ll plant bombs around it too. Sure, being intelligent, it’ll be suspicious.
But I can hide them perfectly with my skills.
“So, you’re making a zombie bomb? Even if it looks human now...”
Her expression soured after hearing my plan. Well, who’d be happy about turning a zombie—one she healed into something human-looking—into a bomb bait?
If someone was happy about it, they’d be a psychopath or a veteran, one hundred percent.
“If we leave it alone, it’ll kill even more people.”
That was the truth. It’s strong and cunning. If it avoids direct confrontation and sneaks over Shelter A’s walls under cover of night, there’ll be massive casualties.
We’re safe thanks to the sentry guns, but I can’t guarantee 100 percent. If the Devourer consumes a monster like the Destroyer from the military base, it could attack here with heavy weapons.
She still looked uneasy, but nodded in agreement. I locked the female zombie in a room.
Just in case it escaped—Zixuan alone might be in danger. Well, truth be told, a few Screw Gun shots from me would take it down easily.
Anyway, the next day, I drove a sedan from the underground parking lot toward Shelter A. The seat cushioned my butt nicely, but I missed my bike—my trusty steed—in that moment.
Shelter A was surrounded by massive walls. I built them, so seeing them filled me with pride. Even early in the morning, Emily stood atop the wall with her anti-materiel sniper rifle.
She aimed it warily at the sedan, then lowered it when she saw me get out.
With a welcoming look, she opened the gate, and I entered.
“What’s up? No bike today?”
To Emily’s question, I gave an awkward smile.
“Well, I actually got jumped by a zombie.”
“Huh? What happened?”
“A variant zombie showed up.”
The game NPCs know about variant zombies. They haven’t seen one themselves, but they’ve heard through TV or radio.
“A variant zombie? Why would it come here...”
I explained a few of the Devourer’s traits to her stunned expression. I didn’t expect Shelter A to prepare effectively, but no harm in them knowing.
“How do we catch something like that? If we could tie it up tight and snipe it from range, that’d be ideal.”
I pondered. Maybe it’d be better for Emily to snipe it from afar than me going in close.
I’d get less EXP, but my goal was killing it, not farming EXP.
A plan formed in my head. The Devourer stepping into the zombie trap. The explosion inside it when it swallows. Emily’s long-range shot.
“You’ve got a plan, huh?”
“I’m thinking bomb trap.”
She got it immediately.
“Zombie bomb? Think a smart one like that will fall for it?”
“It goes nuts for human flesh. I’ll disguise the zombie as human. That’s why I need bombs.”
“How many bombs do we have in Shelter A? Gotta ask that asshole James...”
Mumbling to herself—or maybe for my benefit—she set down her anti-materiel rifle and told me to follow.
We headed to James’s area. His underlings eyed Emily distastefully but escorted us to him at her word.
“James, hand over the bombs.”
“What bullshit is this out of nowhere?”
He growled at Emily, then spotted me behind her and softened.
“Oh, Si-hyun’s here too. Say hi when you arrive.”
Before I could reply, Emily spoke up.
“Don’t feel like bantering with you, so straight to business.”
She relayed everything I’d told her to James verbatim. Like it or not, he’s one of the Shelter’s major bosses with significant sway.
She figured if he knew, dealing with the creature would be easier.
“So, you need bombs to catch that variant zombie?”
I nodded. James cheerfully ordered his men to fetch them.
「Acquired C780 Bomb x5.」
「C780 Bomb」
Durability: 5/5
Attack Power: 120~360
Description: Military item manufactured by Cassiopeia Corp.
Higher attack power than the grenades I got from the military base by 20. He briefly explained how to use them.
“See, flip this switch, throw it like this, and it blows up in about 10 seconds...”
I didn’t need his explanation—as a Mechanic, I already knew. Of course, I had zero intention of using it that way.
Ignoring James yapping excitedly, I touched a bomb.
「Used Metal Transformation (Lv.4) to modify C780 Bomb x1.」
「Modified C780 Bomb」
Durability: 5/5
Attack Power: 120~360
Description: Bomb modified from standard C780 by Mechanic Park Si-hyun. Triggers powerful explosion if moved excessively.
「Used Metal Reinforcement (Lv.2) to reinforce Modified C780 Bomb x1.」
「Modified C780 Bomb」
Durability: 3/3
Attack Power: 160~480
Description: Bomb modified from standard C780 by Mechanic Park Si-hyun. Triggers powerful explosion if moved excessively.
Durability dropped by 2, but attack power rose by 40. Super unstable, but fine for a bomb trap.
I touched the modified C780 Bomb to deactivate it. Wouldn’t want it going off here.
Come to think of it, James had gone quiet after chattering nonstop.
Glancing over, both Emily and James were staring at me in disbelief. Must’ve looked impressive. I shrugged in response.
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