Accepting Common Sense - 6
"Hup..."
Even if my strength was infinite, there was a limit to how much I could carry at once. The snack bags were pretty bulky too, so I had to make several trips back and forth between the mart and home to haul everything.
"Sh-shouldn't I help you now, at least? It's weird for me to just follow you around while you're working..."
"You could rest at home."
That's what I said, but honestly, I probably would've died of boredom without her. Having a beautiful woman sticking close by my side, chatting away nonstop—it was pretty damn blissful.
"Of course a slave should be put to work like this!"
"It's dangerous out here."
"I'm fine! I've eaten my fill, rested up, and my mana’s fully recovered... I can fight!"
"That's one thing. Danger's another."
I smiled, picked up the load, and headed up. We crossed the apartment boundary and stepped into the elevator.
"Jeyuk bokkeum for dinner tonight?"
"Really? The soup from yesterday was delicious too..."
"Miyeok guk?"
"Yeah! It had those thick chunks of beef, and the seaweed was so good... hehe."
"We have leftovers from yesterday, so we can just eat that."
"Huh? Rice and beef and soup?"
"That's standard side dishes."
"Huh?"
She drooped her head, looking all gloomy.
"Sorry. I should be the one cooking..."
"You'll get the hang of it soon enough. Don't worry."
I wasn't some master chef myself. But compared to Sua, I had a slight edge.
She can't use the induction stove...
Maybe it was only natural. She wasn't from my era—or whatever passed for one here.
"I know how to use a gas stove, but this thing's all buttons like some gadget, and no matter how long I wait, no fire comes out..."
"It's fine."
According to her, folks who could operate proper facilities like this—ones with working electricity—were rare. Even big-shot leaders of massive groups couldn't easily enjoy living in a fully functional apartment. It was a luxury.
She might've grilled wild game in survival mode, but anything resembling real cooking? Probably not.
"I'll feed you plenty."
But the mart right outside my place—the Supply Point—had a variety of quality foods. Not just the usual supermarket staples like cereal and snacks, but fresh veggies and meat too.
"Maaaster..."
She edged closer, looking touched.
"If you treat a worthless slave like me—who's only good for spreading her legs—this kindly... I-I'll have to work even harder for you..."
"Th-that's great! Really great! But we promised you'd help with work today!"
"Aww..."
After first embracing her, I'd spent days fucking nonstop. When hunger hit, I'd grab something simple from the fridge to eat with her, shower, then fuck her mid-wash. We'd pass out after, only for Sua—who woke first—to start sucking my cock. I'd grab her hair, force a rough blowjob, fuck once more, then get hungry again.
Even if sex was amazing, wasn't this pushing human limits?
"We gotta progress too! Level up and all that!"
"Eeeeng..."
"No amount of cute pouting changes the rules!"
I wanted to. Rip her clothes off right now, ravage her mercilessly, and flood her insides with my cum.
"Sex before bed—three hours max!"
"Aww..."
Lip puffed out, she quickly sorted the stuff I'd brought home. Once we crammed the unused rooms and balcony full, starvation worries were off the table for a good while.
"Alright, survival's sorted!"
"Wheeee!!!"
She clapped with a bright grin.
"Now we gotta plan for what's ahead."
"Huh?"
"Gotta think about this world and what we'll do."
I sat her down in front of me, face set with resolve, and began.
"I... used to live here before, I think? But I don't know how things work now."
"Right?"
"So, I want your take. How do you think I should live?"
Sua brushed it off like it wasn't worth pondering.
"Why? What do we need to do?"
"Huh?"
Silence hung for a moment.
/////
I scrambled to lighten the awkward air.
"Sua. Don't you have dreams? Things you wanna do?"
She nodded.
"Hmm. Dreams..."
"Something, anything."
"A comfy bed safe from raids, belly full of good food, no threats or jealousy... something like that?"
It sounded modest, but in a zombie apocalypse, even that wasn't guaranteed.
"If I get greedy, serving a good man as his slave."
"Am I decent enough?"
It sounded pathetic, but I had to ask.
Sua smiled warmly.
"Five times better than the dream guy I imagined."
"Why?"
"No beatings, threats, murder plots, or dangerous orders."
"That's normal?"
"You've stamped me as a sex slave too. Slaves obey no matter what..."
What the hell was dating like here?
"Men are all strong. They level fast, stats skyrocket."
"Hmm..."
"But rare. Standing by a kind man like you? Unthinkable luxury back then."
"Thanks."
But we weren't getting anywhere. No clue what she wanted.
Apocalypse...
I closed my eyes, recalling clichés. Zombies hit, people grab family and friends, form small groups, flee the hellish city. Build hideouts, scavenge, head to rural farms for food security—
"Huh?"
I already had it all solved.
No family to reunite with. No known survivors to expect. No one to save.
Safe hideout? Comfort? Just stay inside—this place fixed everything.
Abundant supplies? The Supply Point method? Right next door—no farming needed.
"We really... have it all?"
"Told you!"
For solo survival, no need to do more.
"Still... I know what to do."
"Huh?"
"You know people here. I'll save them."
Sua shook her head reluctantly.
"Well... not none, but..."
"Hm?"
"Dead, bad breakups, or probably thriving somewhere... No one I wanna fetch right now."
Her thoughtful answer was lukewarm.
"Got it, Master! You wanna meet more people, get stronger?"
"Not exactly, but..."
"I'll read between the lines—that's slave duty!"
She beamed and nodded.
"A man like you could conquer every woman, build a sex slave harem no problem!"
"Where do you even hear this crap?!"
How did such vulgar tropes survive eons?
"I'll offer up women left and right for your happiness! Let's build your empire together!"
"No empires! Forbidden!"
Trauma trigger.
"Hmm... Kingdom? Too modest?"
"Village... that'd work."
"You as village head? Kinda plain?"
"Good enough."
"Hmmm..."
Even without expansion goals, I needed strength.
"Truth is, we're not perfectly safe forever."
"Huh?"
"Supply Point's outside the apartment."
Super close—three-minute walk.
"What if a zombie I can't beat shows up? Or survivors claim it?"
"You'd win easy."
"Still, better safe."
I might age, have off days. Unsure about the System, hard to trust the Supply Point eternal.
"Let's get stronger."
Maybe I'd subconsciously craved it. This world might spark something I wanted to do.
