Chapter 6
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Shelter Deals
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"Hey, I stopped by to have a little chat. That cool with you?"
Striding right in was an East Asian man with a buzzcut.
"Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet? Name's James. I handle supplies for Shelter A. Side note: I'm from Hong Kong."
I knew the guy. Just like Emily, he was a named NPC in Shelter A.
Unlike Emily, though, James had an evil alignment. He managed procurement, distribution, and supplies for the whole shelter, which gave him massive influence there.
Word was he used that power to build his own faction, scheming a rebellion in Shelter A. Which made his visit here pretty obvious—
*He's probably here to recruit me.*
Shelter A's side quest.
Players could accept James's offer and join the rebellion. Succeed, and you'd seize control of Shelter A's resources. Fail, and you'd get booted out.
That was my read as I extended a hand to him.
"Pleasure. Park Si-hyun, from Korea."
"Good to meet you. Heard you went out scavenging alone this morning."
He clapped me on the shoulder and kept going.
"Team Apocalypse lives up to the hype—impressive skills. Anyway, I came by wondering if any of your loot might be worth trading for."
"Anything specific you're after?"
"Western porn mags. Kidding—of course, I'd take 'em—but what I really need is cosmetics. Our ladies insist on makeup, even in times like these."
"No cosmetics, sorry."
*I do have hydrochloric acid, though. Want that instead?* I bit back the quip. Pissing off James could turn into a real headache.
"Figures. Can't be helped. If you find any, come see me."
I pulled out my backpack and laid out everything I'd farmed today. He eyed the items with interest, picked up the alcohol lamp, and said,
"Ten cans of food for this. Generous offer."
I nodded. An alcohol lamp? Not much use to me. Canned food I could actually eat was way more practical.
He hefted the lamp.
"My guys will bring the ten cans shortly. Good deal."
"Thanks."
"Let's keep doing business."
He left with those lingering words. Next time, he'd probably straight-up invite me to join his crew.
*What about the others?*
The rest of Team Apocalypse. I planned to turn him down, but if the other thirteen jumped in on the rebellion, it'd succeed.
So what should I do?
Right then, another knock. Had James forgotten something? I glanced at the door, but in walked a redheaded woman. Emily.
She held two canned beers.
"Ran into James outside."
"He wanted to barter."
Her face stayed neutral.
"Not the best guy.
I'd steer clear if I were you.
Oh, and I figured I'd see if you wanted to trade while I was here."
I nodded. The items were still laid out.
"Take a look."
She picked up the math textbook.
"Decent firewood. One canned beer sound good?"
A math textbook reduced to kindling. Sure, canned beer held solid trade value, but I needed that book to clear a side quest.
She caught my hesitation, smiled, and held up the second can.
"Including me drinking it with you."
I'd half-expected that when she showed up with two.
I nodded. Beer plus boosting Emily's affinity? Total win. Plus, I could pump her for info on the others.
I cracked open a can.
"To our shelter."
We mimed a toast and chugged. Bitter yet crisp, the classic canned beer sliding down my throat.
"Where'd you hit? Textbooks scream school raid."
I came clean.
"Evergreen School."
"That's a hike. No zombies inside?"
"There were, but I'd cleared most of it."
"We were planning a shelter there anyway. Saves us the work—nice."
I knew Shelter A's expansion plans would flop no matter what. Variant zombies always showed up.
Even if we stalled the stage and skipped variants, Chasers would come regardless. No real difference.
I shrugged it off.
"Is that so."
Emily eyed me steadily.
"You don't hang with the others much? They all headed to the highway."
"The highway?"
That surprised me. As newbies, I'd figured they'd stick to nearby spots. Highways were for veterans.
*Guess they saw some vet play a run.*
Grab a big rig on the highway, herd zombies for roadkill, level fast. Sounds good on paper, but it's brutal.
Hundreds of zombies just to reach the trucks. Sneak all you want, you're still fighting dozens.
*Some vets did it without a single kill, though.*
Dodging zombies entirely. I'd researched and tried it. Possible for Gunners and Bladers, not Mechanics or Healers.
Physical stats gap.
*But that's solo...*
Thirteen heading out together? Planning a zombie war?
Even Gunners and Bladers would burn through AP facing that many.
*Should I check on them?*
No way they'd charge hundreds head-on, crazy as they were. But still.
"There's a highway not far. Wrecked cars everywhere, sure, but maybe some good stuff inside."
I downed my beer. Emily chattered about hoping for pads on the highway, but it went in one ear and out the other.
Save them? Honestly, faces like Johnson's or Goyle's didn't inspire me. But they weren't the issue.
The Healers stuck with them were.
Healers were essential. Especially in a one-life world like this.
Decision made. Rescue them.
"Emily, any chance I could borrow a motorcycle?"
No way on foot.
"Motorcycle? Only three total—no can do. If you break a wheel coming back..."
"I haven't told you my power yet. I'm not like them."
I needed to prove my worth, show some ability.
I gripped the floor's metal plate. Metal Transformation bent it. It spelled EMILY.
[Insufficient AP.]
Tried her face next to it—out of AP. Fair enough; I'd used a lot today. But even that had Emily gaping.
"Wow."
"Not great for direct combat. But if my power grows here..."
Emily pondered.
"Could make barricades to block zombies."
Steel mesh no regular zombie could touch. Totally doable with my skills.
Tyrants smashing through were the problem. But it hooked her.
"How do you level it?"
I leaked more info.
"Hunt zombies. I plan to use my power for Shelter A. Lending me a bike would build trust between us."
*Hand over the bike!*
She mulled it over.
"But nothing says you can't ride off. Though nowhere beats this place."
Paradise, huh.
To them, yeah—safer than the deadly outside. But this paradise was a fake heaven, doomed soon.
Snapping out of it, Emily continued.
"Fine. I'll get you a bike. And..."
"Yeah?"
"My name's AMILY, not EMILY."
Game said EMILY... Maybe this world wasn't the game. I nodded.
"Sorry."
"No need. Wait here a sec."
Emily tossed her empty can at the trash bin. Long shot, perfect sink.
She winked and left.
Descending the house, Emily thought,
*What an ability.*
She recalled the man named Park Si-hyun who'd shown her his power.
Manipulate metal with a touch.
She grasped its value instantly. Control metal? Make anything with enough of it.
*Maybe more valuable than other psychics.*
His power outshone yesterday's boastful American or Chinese in her eyes.
Apocalypse All-Purpose Machine