Efforts to Maintain the Principal Wife Position
“……What the hell. Why are you here?”
Four extra days had passed since the extension, and Na Ho-guk had come out to the front of the Apocalypse Hotel to pick up Lee Soyeon. But even at noon, the ones stepping out through the hotel's main gate weren't Soyeon—they were the other two women who had won the dice lottery alongside her.
The few women who had gone with Na Ho-guk to greet Soyeon—and also to roll the dice during this business day—were now chattering away, speculating that Soyeon must have hit the jackpot. They were spreading the word throughout the shelter.
Even after all seven days had passed, Soyeon still hadn't emerged from the hotel, which was gnawing at Na Ho-guk's nerves. But as the leader of a proper party running the shelter, he had to set an example. Pretending to be as calm as possible on the outside, he returned to his room for now.
And inside Na Ho-guk's private quarters was his childhood friend, Choi Jisoo—the shelter's homemaker in charge of internal affairs—sitting in a chair with a complicated expression, her brow furrowed.
“Hey. I asked why you're here. Even you can't just barge into my room like this. People might see……”
“……What other people? It's Soyeon's eyes you're worried about. That's why I'm here. Shut up and sit down first.”
“What?! Soyeon? What's wrong with Soyeon?!”
Na Ho-guk's voice shot up reflexively at the mention of Soyeon's issue. Sighing deeply and rubbing her forehead at his intense reaction, Choi Jisoo handed him the paper she was holding.
Jisoo unnie. It's Soyeon.
…….
…….
…….
So, I got the chance to work here at the hotel as the jackpot winner.
Honestly, I know full well that I'm not much help to the shelter. And that you, oppa, unnie, and everyone else have been taking such good care of me. If I didn't know that, I'd be a shameless, conscienceless bitch…….
…….
…….
…….
So instead of the salary I earn working here, I've arranged to receive supplies needed by the shelter folks. And through the community messenger pigeon, I'll send them to you every month without fail.
I can't tell you the details because of the hotel's strict confidentiality clause, but I'm very safe here, so don't worry too much!
……And honestly, living here is just so comfortable. Even with you and unnie out there, if something like what happened last month happens again…… Eh, never mind. It's just because my level is low…… It was all my fault.
I wanted to come out and tell you face-to-face, but once I leave under the rules, I don't know when I might win the dice again. And even if I could come back, there's no guarantee I'd get another chance to work as staff……
So I had no choice but to send this messenger pigeon.
Anyway, as I explained, please check the messenger pigeon I send at the end of every month!
From your worthless little sister, Lee Soyeon.
“……W-what, what is this? What the hell does this even mean?!”
“……Calm down first and lower your voice.”
Na Ho-guk snapped back to his senses at Choi Jisoo's cool reaction, worried someone outside might overhear.
Seeing him settle, she pulled various supplies from her inventory one by one, sorting them by type on the table.
“These came with that handwritten note via the community messenger pigeon. The quantities vary a bit.”
“……I-it's real. No, wait. These supplies have all been verified through people who've used the hotel the past two months, so it's not that I doubt them……”
In this fucked-up world, the most vital thing: clean water. Two-liter bottles of purified drinking water.
Steaming hot rice.
Neatly packaged new men's and women's clothes, underwear, socks, sanitary pads for women.
Not just basic cold medicine and antiseptics, but even Omni-Healing Pills and Absolute Contraceptive Pills, which sold for a fortune at shops……
“But these…… I don't think they've come out of the hotel before?”
“Yeah, as far as I know. Whatever jackpot Soyeon hit, it must be the real deal.”
Choi Jisoo picked up the Omni-Healing Pill and Absolute Contraceptive Pill from the table, turning them over in her hands, then suddenly burst out snickering.
“Omni-Healing Pill makes sense…… But yeah, this is one of the most needed things right now too. Guess she sent it for the kids messing around in the shelter.”
“……Y-yeah? But still, wouldn't water or food be better than that……”
“Hey. You still spouting that old-fashioned crap? Sure, force anyone and rip their limbs off and feed 'em to zombies. But in this barren world, what's left for fun besides sex? Better than accidents any day.”
“……Ahem. W-well, you're not wrong……”
Na Ho-guk flushed and stammered under her sharp jab, quickly changing the subject.
“But messenger pigeons? Once you're in the hotel, whispers, messenger pigeons, status window community…… none of it works, right? That's why we haven't heard from Soyeon till now.”
“How should I know? But this one's a fact—it arrived. Probably…… since she's working as staff there now, it became possible. Big difference between a regular guest and a hotel employee.”
True to form as the shelter's cool-headed homemaker, Choi Jisoo offered a plausible guess. Na Ho-guk nodded in agreement right away.
“Yeah, makes sense. The jackpot too…… This is the first time for our Soyeon. Should we share this new info on the community?”
“……You gonna keep spewing crazy shit? If people find out we're getting these supplies from Soyeon every month…… Ugh, safe zones don't block people. You idiot!”
“……Ah, r-right. Yeah…… Sorry.”
Realizing from the mood that Soyeon would be gone for a long while, Na Ho-guk was making one blunder after another.
“……Anyway, we discuss these supplies with you, me, and the key execs. Then spin a good story. Like the farming team brought 'em back from far out…… Or the hunting team lucked out on a golden goblin—no, golden zombie. Something like that.”
In truth, these items from Soyeon could be bought at shops with gold from killing zombies. Regular zombies dropped them at a certain rate too, not just golden ones. So Jisoo's plan was solid.
The headache was making this sudden steady influx seem reasonable to the shelter folks.
And one more thing.
“……For Soyeon not coming back, we stall with the jackpot story for now…… Then after some time, slowly reveal the supply source. Sound good?”
“……Yeah. Probably. Must've been a headache—thanks. Can't run this shelter without you. Haha……”
Seeing Na Ho-guk's dead-fish eyes and hazy smile, a massive conflict stirred in Choi Jisoo's heart.
……This is a shitty thing to do to our sweet Soyeon. But if it plays out like this…… Maybe for me too……?
Choi Jisoo, who'd long harbored a crush on her childhood friend Na Ho-guk, realized this sudden ripple from Soyeon wasn't just a huge boon for the shelter—it could be a massive opportunity for her too.
“Mwah, mwah…! Oppa, have a safe trip.”
“Yeah. Rest up. If you're bored in the room, play around downstairs as much as you want.”
“Okay. I will.”
Swimming pool, gym, pilates, yoga, PC bang, board game rooms, comic rooms, noraebang, multi-rooms, movie theaters—the works in entertainment facilities.
Restaurants famous for Michelin three stars even before the apocalypse, plus chicken, pizza, tteokbokki, cafes—everyday franchises and regular eateries.
High-end department store brands for fashion, jewelry, bags, cosmetics, lingerie that drove women wild.
Everything from floors 2 to 50 was like a mini Korea, excluding the first-floor lobby. Even alone, Soyeon had plenty to enjoy.
The NPCs working there couldn't think or act like real people, but they looked identical on the outside and had perfectly patterned responses.
Oh, and all NPCs were women, of course. Can't have dicks in my hotel, even on NPCs.
Kim Gayeon, whom I was about to go retrain, and the other women worthy of joining my harem.
As their numbers grew, Soyeon—purring and coquettishly rubbing against me right now—would clearly redouble her efforts to hold onto her principal wife spot.
……Well, at least she didn't ignore her shelter folks completely, so she might have her head screwed on straight.