Episode 14.
Episode 14.
Now, the next goal is securing long-term food supplies.
If I fill the camper's trunk and storage compartments, wouldn't that secure about half a year's worth of food?
Since I'm eating alone, it should last longer than I think. Of course, I can't fill it all at once, but I can build it up little by little.
I launched the drone and scouted the city center I visited yesterday again.
There was a small mart a little ways away from the hardware store.
It was a single-story mart, about the size of a neighborhood supermarket.
I examined the drone screen closely. Quite a few zombies were gathered around the mart, and I could see a few inside as well. Through the glass windows, I could see shadows shuffling around in the dark interior.
Well, might as well kill some zombies to hit that 200-kill goal and look for food while I'm at it.
I hopped on my kickboard and headed toward the city center.
As I entered the city center, I picked off the zombies I saw along the way.
I saw two zombies standing about 70 meters away. In the past, I would have had to get closer.
Because 70 meters was a bit of a stretch for sniping. But now, it's different.
As I focused my eyes, my vision zoomed in. The heads of the zombies 70 meters away were magnified and clearly visible.
The splotches on their dark green skin, their half-open mouths, even the arms spread out for photosynthesis. Everything was crisp.
I activated Hawk's Eye. Time slowed down. In the slowed time, I aimed at the first guy's head. Right in the center of the forehead.
Shook.
The arrow flew and hit dead center. Before the first one could even fall, I nocked a second arrow. As the first one collapsed with its head pierced, the one next to it started to react, but in the slowed time, it was meaningless.
Shook.
The second one also collapsed with its head pierced.
Consecutive headshots from 70 meters away.
This was impossible before. But since I'm shooting with a zoom that feels like a scope, my accuracy has definitely improved.
I retrieved the arrows and moved on. There were a few more zombies on the way to the mart, but I took care of them all from over 50 meters away.
At a distance of 50 meters or more, it's a range where I can shoot most zombies before they even spot me.
There was no need to get close. See from afar, shoot from afar, confirm from afar, and just walk up to retrieve them. That's it.
The efficiency went through the roof.
As I neared the mart, I heard a commotion in the distance.
Screaming? No, it's shouting.
I hid behind the corner of a building and looked toward the sound. I focused my eyes and zoomed in. The distant area looked as if it were right in front of me.
A woman was sprinting for her life. A group of about a dozen was chasing behind her. Is it a horde of zombies?
The woman's running skills were quite good. She was maintaining distance while fleeing, but there would be a limit to her stamina.
I raised my bow and nocked an arrow. I aimed at the guy closest to the woman. It looked like he would catch her if he got just a few meters closer.
The moment I drew the string, I felt like something was off.
Their movements are different for zombies. And they're holding something in their hands. Clubs? Knives?
They were humans.
But I didn't hesitate. Those guys look like scumbags. Whether it's zombies or looters, they're all the same; they need to be killed. It was obvious what they were planning to do if they caught the woman.
Shwiik.
The arrow flew and pierced the stomach of the guy in the lead.
"Argh!"
The man screamed and collapsed. The guys following behind stopped in a swarm. The fleeing woman also stopped and looked this way. Everyone's gaze was fixed on me.
I shrugged and said.
"Sorry, you guys were chasing her like zombies, so I thought you were zombies."
"What? You little shit!"
"Kill him!"
A barrage of profanity poured out. They left their fallen comrade behind and turned toward me. They started approaching me, brandishing the weapons in their hands.
The woman looked at me with a bewildered and surprised expression.
She was a young woman wearing a sporty outfit and a cap pulled low. She was panting, but her posture hadn't faltered, so it seemed she had pretty good stamina. Plus, she was stunningly beautiful. The face visible under the cap looked like I'd seen it somewhere before...
"Hey. What's your relationship with those guys?"
The woman answered hurriedly.
"They're bad guys! They're trying to catch me... You're alone too, it's dangerous! Run away quickly!"
She must think it's even more dangerous because I'm alone. I guess taking on a dozen people with just a bow would look reckless.
Instead of answering, I spoke to the guys approaching.
"If you go your separate ways now, I'll let you live."
Laughter erupted among them.
"What did you say? Is this bastard crazy?"
"Acting tough with just a bow."
One of them stepped forward. He was holding a homemade crossbow in his hand. He raised the crossbow and fired at me.
I activated Hawk's Eye.
Time slowed down. The incoming bolt approached slowly. Its trajectory was clearly visible. I tilted my body slightly, and the bolt grazed past me.
In the slowed time, I aimed at the guy with the crossbow. I released the string, and the arrow flew and embedded itself in his chest. The crossbow fell from his hand, and he collapsed backward.
The battle began. They all started rushing at me at once.
One step forward. Nock arrow and fire. One step. Nock and fire.
You don't necessarily need to hit a person in the head. The torso is enough. However, unlike zombies, there were guys trying to dodge or block the arrows.
But because of Hawk's Eye, those movements were meaningless. I just had to read the direction they were trying to dodge and shoot there.
Shook, shook, shook.
One shot per step. I advanced while firing rapidly.
One guy got hit in the stomach and fell. The next one in the shoulder. The next in the chest. Screams erupted, blood splattered, and they fell one by one.
As six of them fell to arrows in an instant, their momentum completely vanished. The ones in front hesitated and looked back. Their faces were filled with terror.
I didn't stop. I kept advancing and firing.
Shook. Shook. Shook.
As three more fell, the remaining guys started to run away. They turned their backs and ran desperately.
I had no intention of letting them escape. There might be others in their group.
I activated the zoom ability and pulled my vision in. The backs of the fleeing guys looked as clear as if they were right in front of me. I slowed time with Hawk's Eye, aimed at them one by one, and fired.
Shook. One guy fell. Shook. Another one. Shook. Another.
The very last guy had run almost 50 meters away. I released the string, and the arrow flew and barely embedded itself in his back. He pitched forward and collapsed.
They were sprawled around the area. All of them were guys who had fallen after being hit by my arrows. I could hear the groans of the ones who weren't dead yet.
I turned back toward the woman.
She was standing there with her mouth half-open, looking surprised. She had a look on her face as if she couldn't believe what had just happened.
As I approached a guy groaning on the ground, he lifted his head and begged.
"Pl, please spare me... Please..."
"Do you have more in your group? Looks like a bunch of outlaws."
He hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.
"Th, there are twice as many people here... If you kill us, there will be consequences..."
I didn't hesitate and fired an arrow into his head.
Puck. His head snapped back, and he stopped moving.
The reason to let them live had just decreased even further. If there were more comrades, it was obvious they'd come swarming back for revenge if I let them live.
I approached the guys groaning on the ground one by one and shot them. Aiming for the head, definitely. Then I pulled out the arrows and collected them.
One guy who had been hit in the shoulder stumbled to his feet and tried to run away. Shook. My arrow embedded in the back of his head, and he pitched forward.
Even while I was finishing off the rest of them and shooting arrows, the woman silently watched me from the side. I thought she would leave, naturally.
"You can go your own way now. The situation is over."
I said to the woman and looked at her face again. I hadn't recognized her at first because she was wearing a cap and had a ponytail, but now I think I know.
"Jung Ye-rin."
She's a very famous girl group idol. She gained huge popularity for her stunning looks, tall height, and glamorous figure. At least, until the world ended.
I didn't have much interest in idols, but she appeared in media and articles so often that it was impossible not to know who she was.
"Are you, by any chance, Jung Ye-rin?"
At my words, she flinched and bowed her head slightly. Was she flustered because I recognized her? But she didn't bother to answer.
I told her she could go, but she didn't leave. I looked at her again, looking puzzled.
"Is it because you're thankful? It's fine. I didn't do it expecting anything."
"Um... are you alone too?"
Alone? What does that mean?
"Yes? Well... yeah. As you can see."
"Ah..."
At my words, her expression brightened slightly. A look of relief, perhaps. I don't know why she reacted like that to me saying I'm alone.
"Then, by any chance... could I, j-join you?"
"Join? I'm not looking for party members."
"Yes... ah, right... it's not a game... I'm sorry."
She smiled awkwardly and tried to step back. But I had a question.
"We're not even in Seoul, so why is someone like you here all alone?"
If it were Jung Ye-rin, she would naturally have a house or dorm in Seoul, and she should be with her members. Someone like Jung Ye-rin would also be incredibly rich.
Her expression darkened.
"We were on our way to Gyeonggi-do for an event when we had an accident. Because of the zombies. The car overturned... some members died... and while running from the zombies, I was the only one who survived..."
Her voice trembled. It seemed the memory of that day was still vivid.
So, a female celebrity left all alone in a ruined world. It's understandable that looters would have their eyes on her. She's a woman who stands out wherever she goes.
I admit her looks are stunning. She's tall and has a great figure.
That doesn't mean I've ever thought about trying to get with a celebrity. She was a being who lived in a completely different world from me. Even if we're in the same apocalypse now.
"First of all, I'm a man... and I live alone in a camper. I've never really thought about being with anyone."
"You're a superhuman, right?"
She asked suddenly, cutting off my words.
"Yes?"
"A normal person could never shoot a bow like that. Even an archer wouldn't be able to do that. Dodging incoming arrows... and accurately hitting fleeing people from a long distance..."
I was a little surprised, but I didn't bother answering. There's no need to explain my ability.
"Even though I'm a woman, I can pull my own weight. I'm good at running and have good stamina. I might look weak, but this is stamina built up from years of dancing. Seriously, just tell me to do anything..."
"Why should you trust me? Because I'm good at fighting and helped you? You just saw me slaughter people. In the old world, that would be considered almost psychopathic level."
She hesitated for a moment at my words. But soon, she opened her mouth with a confident voice.
"Anyway, those guys... and other people don't live by the standards of the old world either. Rather, I think your decisive appearance is more... suited for this world."
When I didn't answer, she spoke again.
"I can at least take over pulling out the arrows for you. I'm agile and fast. Isn't that quite annoying?"
She's right. Whether it's pulling out arrows or making them, having extra manpower is good. Sometimes it takes longer to pick up arrows than to kill the zombies.
"What are you going to do if I assault you?"
"Th, that..."
She stammered.
"I don't think you would do that, but... if you want..."
She continued, tearing up.
"I was originally with a group of people gathered under a subway station. Because I'm a celebrity, attention was naturally focused on me... They seemed to be showing kindness, but they had sexual intentions..."
"Is that why you ran away?"
"Yes. So I was hiding alone, and then I met those people... I've been starving for two days now."
She ran at that speed while starving for two days? She must really have great stamina.
I was silent for a moment before saying.
"Alright. Then do you want to try doing it yourself?"
"Yes?"
"Pulling out and collecting the arrows. And search those corpses to see if there's anything useful, and bring it back yourself."