Chapter 77
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Dushawn's Desperate Plea
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Alicia's party member—though that was just three people including Alicia herself—what reason could Dushawn possibly have for requesting a trade with me first?
Maybe, like Johnson, he was just testing the waters?
I tilted my head and accepted the trade. After a short wait, he placed his item first.
「Item placed by Dushawn: Torn Scrap of Paper x1」
A torn scrap of paper. The white text color marked it as junk, just a literal piece of paper.
But given the sudden trade request, it couldn't be ordinary... Probably a scrap with some message on it.
Still, what message was he sending me? A prank out of simple curiosity? Or...
'A cry for help.' Maybe he was in danger and requesting rescue. No matter how I thought about our relationship, a plea for help seemed more likely than a joke.
'Maybe something like getting bitten by a zombie during close combat...'
The possibilities were endless.
I exited Bahara Mine and headed straight to the trading post.
Once there, I placed a Healing Potion on it. If my guess was right, there was no need to waste AP on two separate trades.
「Item placed by you: Healing Potion x1」
Doing two trades in a row consumed a hefty chunk of AP on my end.
Whatever. Even if it was a prank, it didn't matter. I had plenty of Healing Potions anyway. Shelter Apocalypse's stockpile had already surpassed a hundred bottles.
Ever since Zixuan acquired her Potion Creation skill, she'd been steadily brewing them almost every single day. I could just think of this as providing one to Shelter A for free.
「Do you accept the trade?」
「Trade accepted.」
No sooner had I accepted than...
「Dushawn has accepted the trade.」
Dushawn accepted right away, as if he'd been waiting. With a flash of white light, the Healing Potion vanished from the trading post, and the scrap of paper smoothly appeared. I examined the contents.
'This is...'
The handwriting was sloppy, but I could make it out just fine.
#I've been infected with the zombie virus. Details later...
#Only 23 minutes—no, 22 minutes left until full infection. Fucking hell! Help me if you can.
#If you help me, I'll never forget this debt and pay it back.
'I shouldn't have been late...'
How many minutes had it been since I left Bahara Mine? I checked the time on my smartwatch.
[5 minutes remaining until zombie virus spreads.]
Dushawn stared down at the zombies shambling below the building, holding the box with a resigned expression. Knowing he'd soon be just like them made his chest ache.
'Should I jump?' As he debated hurling himself off the edge, Kim Hoon's face flashed in his mind. He steeled himself with a vow. Even if he turned into a zombie, he wanted revenge on that bastard.
He wanted to tear Kim Hoon apart right then and there.
He stepped down from the railing.
"Trapped in this game is shit enough... Might as well become the worst zombie."
He let out a bitter chuckle. If he was turning anyway, he'd be the ultimate villain. A villain out for revenge on Kim Hoon. Kim Hoon? And Alicia too, while he was at it.
That's when the message appeared.
「Item placed by Park Si-hyun: Healing Potion x1」
"??"
「Do you accept the trade?」
It was as if he'd read his message—a 'Healing Potion' item popped up. A healing item straight out of an RPG.
It just might cure the zombie virus afflicting him.
「Trade accepted.」
「Park Si-hyun has accepted the trade.」
A small vial popped out of the box. He snatched it up with a tense face. The time until full infection had dropped from 5 minutes to 3.
That's 180 seconds—give or take a few—after which he'd die.
The vial's cork wouldn't budge easily, of all things.
He paused, then grabbed the sword he'd dropped earlier and swung it at the bottle. The blade sliced exactly along the intended path, not a single centimeter off, severing the top.
Despite the precise swordsmanship decapitating the vial, its contents didn't so much as quiver. He chugged it down in one go. The sweet liquid slid down his throat.
A sweetness that tingled on his tongue. But he was too focused to savor it, eyes wide as he awaited the message.
And...
The wound on his shoulder began healing like magic.
「Zombie virus cured via Healing Potion.」
Upon seeing the cure message, he slumped against the wall, laughing. Pure joy at having survived.
He laughed up at the darkening sky for a good long while... then stood up.
Whether from the cure or not, the revenge that had filled his head moments ago was gone. But a new feeling had taken its place.
Gratitude.
'Time to repay the favor.'
He couldn't stay in Shelter A anymore anyway. Things with Alicia and Kim Hoon had hit rock bottom. So... off to Shelter Apocalypse, where Park Si-hyun was.
He'd repay Park Si-hyun. To him, it was only natural.
'He'll take me in, right?'
He left the building and wandered vaguely toward the industrial district, following the signs.
I handed the skillbook I'd gotten back from Johnson to Zixuan. She examined it with an intrigued look. I peeked over, but like last time, it was indecipherable alien script.
A random thought struck me.
'Should I have Queen decode it?'
If she analyzed the skillbook, maybe I could learn it? Nah, on second thought, the Healer restriction meant I couldn't anyway.
I shook my head to clear the idea and asked her.
"What does it say?"
A smile played on her lips as she replied.
"'God is not for me alone, but a being that protects all...' That's what it says."
"A wide-area barrier."
Wide-Area Barrier. Exactly what it sounded like—a mass version of the barrier.
The more people it covered, the more AP it drained, so the cost was the same as multiple single casts...
But it'd be handy in emergencies.
"You know, for using it on multiple people...?"
"Exactly."
Zixuan learned the skillbook on the spot. Her body glowed white, and angelic wings unfurled for an instant. She raised her hand.
A pristine white barrier enveloped me and Yuna, who was watching.
"As expected of sis..."
Yuna gazed at Zixuan with eyes bordering on worship. Zixuan flinched at the stare and spoke to her in a threatening tone.
"Don't go spreading weird rumors outside, got it?"
Yuna replied like an obedient kindergartener.
"Yes, sis!"
She said that now... but tomorrow, I might catch her and Dmitry running around the shelter yelling about how the angel showed a new miracle.
"Anyway, Zixuan, there's a place we need to go together."
I told her, ignoring her suspicious glance at Yuna.
"Where?"
"Bahara Mine."
"That vacation spot you said we couldn't go to yet?"
That was before I knew its location.
"We can go now."
I offered my hand like an escort. She smiled and took it. Soon, she hooked her arm in mine, and off we went to Bahara Mine arm-in-arm.
Bahara Mine hadn't changed much since my first visit. I'd tried deploying worker androids, but reality got in the way.
Once inside the portal, their AI links severed, turning them into scrap. Bottom line: I needed to build a power plant here and bring in AI computers.
'Guess I'll bring Loki.'
Mining work was straightforward. Deploying Queen would be overkill, like using a butcher's cleaver to kill a chicken. So after the power plant, Loki would handle operations.
I could already picture Loki's miserable face. Yeah.
"Si-hyun, look over there. Bunnies too."
The snow rabbits from my first visit. She happily crunched over leaves toward them. Strangely, they didn't budge as she approached.
They'd fled when I got close last time. What, species discrimination or job discrimination? Zixuan extended her hand, and the rabbit started licking it.
The ticklish sensation made her giggle as she petted its head.
"It tickles."
"I'm planning to bring the animals here and raise them."
"Not for food, right?"
The rabbit she'd been petting was now standing on hind legs like a squirrel, eyeing me warily.
Might as well roast it.
"Nope."
"You wouldn't... skewer this cute bunny and roast it over a fire...?"
"There are deer and other animals here too. No need to eat rabbits 1―"
* * *
"I'm kidding. You're my emergency rations No. 1 now."
Zixuan beamed innocently as she hugged the rabbit. It cocked its head with an oblivious look. If it understood, it'd bolt right then.
Anyway, Zixuan and I toured Bahara Mine together. The mines, the forest, the babbling brook. Each one a luxury unimaginable in the apocalypse world.
"It's so beautiful. Thanks for bringing me here, Si-hyun."
"No need to thank me."
She pouted her lips. Against the setting sun, I kissed her. Like a movie scene... except the male lead wasn't handsome enough.
She was beautiful, and so was the scenery.
After a long time enjoying ourselves, we left Bahara Mine. From crisp scenery to the dank, musty sewer.
What a stark contrast.
I'd have to renovate the sewer soon too. If a portal was spawning, why not on the surface? No need for sewers...
I glanced at Zixuan amid these thoughts, but she just smiled happily, unbothered.
"Si-hyun, Si-hyun. Can I bring people here later?"
"That was the plan anyway."
It'd be a shame to hog this view. Though I wouldn't let them visit too often.
Apocalypse All-Purpose Machine