Stocking the Warehouse Generously - 11
"Someone seems to be moving around out there."
Traces were clearly visible on the street. I stared at them, tilting my head in puzzlement.
"No need to worry too much. It's not like there aren't people wandering around this area."
"Is that so?"
It made sense—this was a place where people lived, after all. The tracks bothered me no matter how I looked at them, but if she said it was fine, it probably was.
"I-I'm sorry for acting so shamelessly... Was my chest... worth touching?"
"Of course!" I nodded eagerly.
"That's a relief."
Her body still felt feverish. Yeowon came up beside me, peering out the window with me.
"...Are you really satisfied with just that?"
"At first, I didn't even think about touching your breasts, Miss Yeowon... Not that I disliked it."
"Then why did you go get that food for us?"
"Because the kids needed it."
The fuel cost a bit, but I could make that back with a few dungeon runs. Letting healthy, harmless people die to save a little cash wouldn't sit right with me.
"...You're amazing."
"I'm not that special. To be honest, you're several times more impressive than me, Director."
If our positions were reversed, I doubted I'd last even a month. Feeding thirty kids or so, caring for them, keeping them out of fights, soothing the criers... 'No way...' One or two, maybe—but this many? I didn't have the confidence.
Paradoxically, I could share supplies because it didn't burden me at all.
She let out a deep sigh. "No. No, that's not true... It can't be."
Yeowon's expression looked pained.
"You love the kids, right? That's why you do all this..."
"...I'm not sure. Am I really loving them, or am I just sacrificing them for my own greed?"
I tilted my head. "Are you doing something to the kids?"
I hadn't seen much, but their faces were clear enough. They didn't fear her. If anything, they seemed to adore her.
"I'm not doing anything to them. But every kid... eventually grows up. They have to leave this place..."
"Why not let them stay longer? It's not like there's an age limit kicking them out automatically..."
"We couldn't keep the orphanage running that way."
Pondering her words, I felt an odd disconnect. 'Where do they get their food?'
No way that tiny convenience store could sustain all these people. But the orphanage had been here a while—no recent influx of kids, either. The current food shortage was probably an accident, temporary.
And if it was an accident, that meant they had a normal supply route before.
"Could I ask one favor?"
Before I could finish thinking, she spoke up.
"If you ever meet one of our orphanage kids out there, please..."
Yeowon struggled to open her mouth. "Treat them kindly. You can consider it repayment for your kindness to me..."
I listened silently, lips sealed.
"Love them."
Her eyes held guilt and desperation. I could only nod.
/////
"Anyway, enough of that..."
Leaving the orphanage, I got in the car with my women.
"So, did you have fun? Not as tight as me, right?"
Seohee tossed out a cheeky jab from the back seat. If I hadn't been driving, I might've smacked her head.
"It's not like that..."
"Really?"
"I just... touched her breasts a bit..."
Thinking back, maybe it was like that.
"They were seriously huge, though. I'm not into girls, but even I wanted a feel. How do tits get that big?"
"Well..."
I had no idea how to drill the concept of "sexually harassing others is rude" into this girl, so I just sighed and focused on driving.
"We're seeing fewer zombies on the streets now..."
"We've been clearing them out like crazy."
Lately, we'd taken down a massive number. Sua kept moving as much as her mana allowed, and Seohee's bat cleaned up any stragglers I missed. Not that I could compare my kills to theirs.
"This is 50% cleared, huh..."
It didn't really hit home. Even if it'd been 70% or 90%, I'd probably just think, 'Yeah, we killed a ton.'
"Honestly, it's feeling pretty safe around here now."
Fewer street monsters, more supply points. Running into people like this wouldn't be weird—
"Whoa, watch out!"
I slammed the brakes at the figure ahead. She froze for a few seconds in shock, then whipped her gun up at the car.
"I'll get out first!"
Lucky break. On an empty street, I'd have plowed right past this jaywalking doe—no, survivor—popping out from the alley.
No matter my reflexes or strength, I couldn't stop a moving car faster than brakes.
"Get out! What group are you with?!"
Footsteps from a decent-sized group. I unbuckled fast, flung the door open, and hopped out.
How'd I even get this car...'
Irony of ironies—the toughest thing here was me. The car? If it got wrecked, no guarantee on replacements, and no certainty the "trials" would offer one. Worst case, I'd scrounge steel and parts tooth-and-nail sans wheels.
But Seohee and Sua mattered more. High levels made them tougher than average, but not bulletproof.
I could walk without a car; I couldn't handle them getting hurt.
"A—a man?"
"Y-Yes. Sorry about that. No plans to fight, so could you lower the gun?"
"I... apologize as well."
The women surrounding the car gawked at me in surprise.
'...?'
Disciplined group. Outfits were loose and flashy, but they reeked of a militant outfit.
"If I may ask, what group are you from?"
"No real affiliation. Just me and about five others living together."
No point lying and breeding suspicion. If they were hostile, better they show it now.
"New to Anseongu recently?"
"Y-Yeah."
"I'll take your word for it. Impressive. Care to travel together and learn about each other?"
"Sure, why not."
"Pleased to meet you. Soo Kangyeon, leader of the Katus Festal Patrol."
"Kim Sunwoo. Uh, if we're talking, you should probably get in..."
"Mind if I ride shotgun?"
"Go ahead."
Seohee grumbled something like "I haven't even gotten shotgun yet," but I needed to chat with this woman now.
With her beside me, the car crept forward. No speeding—slow enough for her group to keep pace on foot.
"Katus... a group?"
"You really don't know us? Surprising. We pride ourselves on being famous and strong."
"I don't know much."
"Even we didn't know someone like you was around. Any plans to expand into other districts...?"
"Not right now. Hate fighting others if I can help it—prefer peaceful living."
"Wise. We weren't planning to push into Anseongu anyway. We'll respect your turf."
"My turf..."
First time meeting another group's people, first chance to ask questions. So much to—
"Hm?"
Good thing the window was open.
"Gunfire!"
Sharp shots echoed from the new supply mart we'd been hitting lately. I ditched the car—running was faster anyway—and bolted down the street.
'What the hell's going on...'
Inside the mart, I found a bunch of women beating one pinned beneath them. A bullet hole pierced a snack box—probably fired in resistance by the one on the bottom.
"Stop!"
"..."
Their apparent leader glared at me murderously.
"Wait, you—you look familiar from the orphanage—"
"So?"
I couldn't figure it. Why were they here? Why beating her?
"S-Spa...re... me..."
The woman from the convenience store earlier lay bleeding on the floor. Our eyes met.