EP.36 First, Grant the Wish of Those Mass Suicide Wannabe Bastards Right in Front of Me

“……Huh? This thing's activating?”

I'd never used this hotel defense function even once in my first round, so when it suddenly kicked in, even I had to blank out for a second.

Hostile intruders... defense function... Putting together what the system messages said...

“What the hell? Aren't those just your run-of-the-mill raiders? Those bastards... Even if the world's gone to shit and life's tough, tsk tsk.”

Grinding their teeth and trying to commit suicide in such a creative way. They could've just jumped into the Han River or charged at some zombies... Why bother coming all the way here to me?

In the first round, they were part of that powerhouse hero party... And because of those bitches who wanted to hog my Unique Domain skill for themselves, it never activated once. We weren't holed up in one spot like this—we kept moving around.

They spotted my freshly awakened SSS-grade skill right away. Shoving zombies at me left and right for the exp, forcing me into power-leveling grinds. Back then, like the total pushover I was, I was even grateful to those bitches.

But the reality that followed was utterly, brutally horrific.

I was just a walking pack mule crossed with an inn, motel, hotel... Every time I leveled up and my abilities upgraded, those bitches lit up like it was Christmas, making me hunt zombies. All so they could kick back and rest easy for the day.

Sure, the hotel supplied all kinds of goods on its own, but on this fucked-up apocalypse road trip to chop the final boss's head off...

For the hero and the rest of them to have comfy beds and stay mentally stable...

They gaslit me into thinking my power was absolutely essential...

“Fuck this shit.”

“O-Oppa...?”

Kim Gayeon flinched a bit at my rough curse, but she quickly turned back to the window and chimed in.

“Y-Yeah! Right? What do we do with those dogshit bastards... Uh, wha—?!”

“Subdue 'em first... Kinda curious what balls they have to swarm like that. I'll handle it solo, so Gayeon, you keep the girls calm in the master bedroom. Don't come out no matter what.”

Hundreds, maybe thousands of female NPCs affiliated with the hotel—all pouring out and assembling at the front gate. Kim Gayeon gaped at the spectacle, then nodded blankly at me.

“O-Okay... Oppa...”

And they weren't just swarming—they each had at least a rifle in hand, which made it even more shocking.

Kim Gayeon helped the two collapsed women to their feet and headed to the master bedroom as I said. I assisted her in moving the girls, then drilled it into all three of them one more time: do not come out.

Then I clenched my jaw tight as I took the central living room elevator down.

Anyway, those fuckers dared remind me of those bitches... Wait, it's been almost six months already—why haven't those cunts shown up yet?

Sure, my actions this round were way different from the first, but their goal—the final boss probably crawling around with those roaches—meant they'd have to head north. Only way in Korea is straight to Seoul, right...?

They definitely left Busan around day 150, month 5...

...Ah. Since I regressed like this, did the classic butterfly effect kick in or some shit?

That'd be... a huge problem.

Not in Korea where I am, but if that hero party got summoned somewhere else...?

“......Tch. First, grant those mass suicide hopeful bastards' wish right in front of me. Think it through slow and steady.”

The elevator hit the first floor in a flash. I hopped out, shoved open the lobby doors, and stepped outside.

Tons of gunfire cracking like bang bang from the front gate way off, mixed perfectly with the wails from the suicide hopefuls, pounding my ears.

“Ah, suppression mode for now...”

Hmm, whatever... It'll dodge heads and hearts on its own, so should be fine.

“……Huh? Hero party?”

Na Ho-guk muttered as he lurked the survivor community on his Status Window. Choi Jisoo, staring anxiously at the Apocalypse Hotel ahead, immediately snapped at him.

“Hey. You can check that crap later. Focus—midnight's almost here.”

“Ah, yeah, right... Thought we might snag some intel before those bastards move. Haha...”

Na Ho-guk gave an awkward laugh, closed the hologram, and turned a serious gaze to the hotel.

“Those trash bastards. Collected a ton.”

“From here, looks like 300... no, 500? Plus mid-level guys from each faction probably.”

Na Ho-guk and Choi Jisoo kept trading words. Both felt uneasy at the bigger-than-expected raider force, but they weren't backing off the rescue op for Lee Soyeon and Shin Da-hee.

“Soyeon and Da-hee are full Apgujeong Shelter members. They're just temporarily dispatched to the hotel.”

“And thanks to those two girls, we've run the shelter way smoother. Everyone cool with that?”

The elite shelter crew waiting in formation behind them voiced agreement in unison.

With final rescue briefings done and resolve hardened, Na Ho-guk's group stared daggers at the towering Apocalypse Hotel, tension cranked.

BOOM—!

A massive explosion rocked, and the raiders in front of the hotel buzzed. Na Ho-guk's group, holding 200 meters back, flinched and trembled lightly.

“Charge! That boss-looking fucker just popped a big skill! Explosive type!”

Na Ho-guk explained via his Thousand-Mile Eye skill, then bolted out front—

“Wha—...? W-Wait! Everybody stop! STOP! Hold position! Everyone freeze!!!”

20 seconds? No, 10? They hadn't even halved the distance when Na Ho-guk yelled to halt. The followers skidded to a stop.

“What? Why suddenly—?”

Before Choi Jisoo could finish, gunfire BANG-BANG-BANG! echoed hot and heavy from 100 meters out.

Raider screams of hell followed right after.

Na Ho-guk witnessed the horror live via Thousand-Mile Eye, jaw dropping first. Then Choi Jisoo and the rest froze like statues, piecing it from the sounds.

1 minute, 2, 5... After about 5 minutes, the relentless gunfire finally died.

The raiders' agonized screams shrank too.

“......Hoo!”

Choi Jisoo gulped hard, voice shaky unlike her usual self, and asked Na Ho-guk.

“......H-Hey. Ho-guk, Na Ho-guk. What's the sitch up front...?”

Na Ho-guk couldn't reply at first, gaping blankly—then his eyes bulged as he muttered hoarsely.

“Almost total wipe...! And someone just came out the front gate! Mask—some weird mask!!”