Uninvited Guest
"-They left with some army unit?"
The note said his parents had left with a military unit that had stopped by the house.
Dear beloved son.
We are leaving with the soldiers who stopped by here.
I pray we can meet again safely.
P.S. They said this unit is under the direct command of the 7.5 Division. I'm sorry I couldn't write more.
That was the end of the message. Go Cheon-su's grip tightened on the note, crumpling it slightly.
'7.5 Division?'
He'd never heard the name before.
The handwriting was unmistakably his father's, but something about the content felt off. Go Cheon-su took a moment to calm his excitement and think rationally.
'No way they'd have left already.'
He knew his parents' personalities better than anyone. They wouldn't have budged in case their son showed up—that's why he'd rushed here even faster.
'Maybe they're being held back on purpose?'
It felt like a kidnapping rescue scenario. The routine where you save the VIP last. In a game laid out like this, getting impatient wouldn't help.
"Damn it."
Go Cheon-su folded the note and tucked it into his pocket, then rummaged through his drawer.
"You guys saw that, right? Right now, it's just nonsense we don't understand."
He might as well farm while he was here.
The first drawer yielded a wristwatch.
Tap tap.
It didn't tick even when he touched it. He swapped the battery from the second drawer, but no dice, so he set it down.
"Anything else..."
He found a hammer in a box of odds and ends. He pocketed it quick and headed to the kitchen.
"Gotta eat something before I go, I'm starving."
He'd made noise poking around, but no sign of monsters yet. He could afford a short break.
Go Cheon-su let out a hollow chuckle at the viewers' chatter.
'Can't even penalize the ones crossing the line.'
He knew the 7.5 Division wasn't a local unit, and his parents' disappearance was no small matter. But he wasn't about to cry like a kid.
'We'll meet anyway.'
As long as the script was written that way, no problem.
"Nice, they left all the tuna."
He was setting canned tuna from the cupboard on the table when—
Clang!
A noise from somewhere made Go Cheon-su whip his head around.
"What the—?"
He muttered, drawing a kitchen knife from its sheath. He'd checked earlier—the house was empty.
'No way...'
He moved slowly. Peeking from the kitchen to the living room, nothing.
Clang!
"Gah?!"
The same sound again. He scanned everywhere.
"Where the hell is that coming from...!"
Clang!
It was outside. The noise was coming from outside.
"Shit!"
He rushed back to the room and flung open the window.
Roooar!
A zombie lunged, grabbing and tearing his sleeve.
Riiip!
1 - 09:58
The timer started ticking down. Go Cheon-su slammed the window shut and caught his breath.
"Just one for now?"
Clang! Clang!
The cans outside kept rattling. More than one.
Go Cheon-su peeked through the living room curtains.
"One... two... three."
Five in sight. Probably more.
'Can I take 'em?'
His body was slightly enhanced, and pulling aggro from ten could boost him to 200% output.
"Nah."
He shook his head. Couldn't trust half-baked powers yet. Monster strength defied imagination. No thanks to being swarmed.
"Need more weapons...!"
He grabbed the toolbox from the storage room. Inside: a nail gun.
Sorry, but he never touched Dad's stuff normally—forgot it was there. Go Cheon-su checked the nails.
"About ten..."
Tough to headshot with this.
Roooar!
Zombie entering the living room. He shut the bedroom door.
Bang bang bang!
It pounded like mad.
"Why're you banging here, you freak!"
Zombies could show anytime, but this sudden swarm was unexpected.
"Damn it!"
Had to deal with them first. He cracked the door—the zombie charged.
"Not today!"
He sidestepped and kicked its ass.
Crash!
It slammed into the corner. Door shut again.
"Sparring time, punk."
Nail gun down. Hammer from the bag instead.
Bare hands? That's a minefield. Go Cheon-su raised the hammer high.
Roooar!
Zombie charged—he swung at its head.
"Skull!"
Crack!
Side-hit, it staggered.
"Got more, asshole?!"
Advancing, forehead smash.
Splorch!
It reeled back and flopped.
"Sorry, Dad...!"
Splorch! Crunch!
One zombie down, room trashed. Go Cheon-su exhaled deep, steadying his chest.
"Yeah, just smash 'em all."
Experience gained on the way here. Weapons now—no fear.
"Lure 'em one by—"
That casual thought was his downfall. Door open—zombies poured in.
4 - 06:45
"What the—?!"
Backpedaling into zombies, Go Cheon-su flinched and gritted his teeth.
140%.
Crunch!
"Get!" Splorch!
"Outta!" Squelch!
"My Houseee!"
One headshot each—they staggered back.
"Nail gun...!"
He dove for it.
Roooar!
"Die!"
Thwock!
Charging zombie's head pierced—flopped down.
Grroar! Roooar!
The other two latched on.
"Raaah!"
Thwock! Thwock! Thwock!
Prone shots missed mostly.
"Damn!"
Both zombies lunged teeth-first—he raised his forearm horizontal.
Pushing their heads with his arm, they ignored, aiming for his face.
"Time to hell!"
Thwock! Thwock!
Two shots point-blank. Zombies slumped.
Go Cheon-su sprang up, hammer in hand, to the living room. Three more inside.
7 - 04:52
"You're all dead."
Nail gun empty—useless now. 170% human with a hammer? Plenty.
"Raaaaah!"
Roooar!
First zombie's skull caved.
Gurk?!
Crash!
"Next!"
The rest got skull depressions too.
Roooar!
Go Cheon-su gripped the hammer tighter as it writhed on the floor.
"Quiet down!"
Thud! Thud! Splat!
The noisy living room fell silent. Go Cheon-su lowered his hammer arm, breathing ragged.
"Hoo, gotta move fast."
Half-wrecked house—too many entry points.
Heading back to the kitchen, he froze.
Rattle.
Sound from there again.
Go Cheon-su crept to the kitchen, grip tightening on the hammer.
7 - 02:13
Aggro hits 8, enemy charges.
'End it in two minutes.'
Finish quick while boosted.
He flinched, leaping in hammer raised—but stopped.
'What.'
Nothing. Just a fallen tuna can.
"Huh...?"
No hiding spots in the kitchen. Under the table? No zombie fits...
"Eek!"
Short scream. Go Cheon-su recoiled in surprise.
"Wh-what."
Definitely not a zombie. He peered under the table cautiously.
A young guy huddled there, scared shitless.
***
"Who're you?"
The guy wore a "Myeongseo Chinese Restaurant" tee. Gloves suggested delivery, but whatever.
"Who the hell are you?"
Go Cheon-su stared incredulously; the guy swallowed hard.
"I-I came in from outside..."
Go Cheon-su grabbed a table leg, shoving his head in.
"For real?"
"Y-yes?"
"You bring the zombies?"
The guy couldn't respond properly. Go Cheon-su twitched an eyebrow.
"Nearly died thanks to you. Answer straight or I'll zip-tie you to a can and kick you out."
"I-I was so scared, I messed up!"
The guy yelled, sweating bullets.
"Came to collect dishes, monsters swarmed! Kept running and saw this place...!"
"Why here?"
"N-not saw, heard yelling! Your voice!"
Go Cheon-su averted his eyes briefly. Loud enough that zombies would've come anyway.
"Anyway!"
Go Cheon-su yanked him out by the collar.
"This is my parents' house. You're trespassing. Get out."
"What?!"
The guy clung to his hand.
"N-no! Please no!"
"No my ass."
"Monsters outside!"
He pleaded. "I saw your skills earlier! Help me out...!"
"Help how."
The guy shoved something into Go Cheon-su's hand.
"What's this?"
"Our sweet-and-sour pork coupon. A gift. Use it next order..."
"You're nuts."
Go Cheon-su crumpled it, yelling.
"World ending and you give coupons?!"
"D-don't do that."
Go Cheon-su sighed. Solo was annoying enough—no baggage.
"Be grateful I saved you. Move."
He shoved the guy aside, rummaging the kitchen cupboards again. Parents left plenty. Stuff he missed at his place—into the bag.
Clink.
The guy put a frying pan on the gas stove and lit it.
"What."
Go Cheon-su snapped irritably.
"What're you doing?"
"I-I'll cook for you."
"Huh?"
"I can cook."
The guy looked desperate. "I'm kitchen staff originally. Delivery 'cause we were short..."
"Who asked your resume?"
"You're hungry, right?"
Pointing at his stomach. "Fought all the way here. It's growling!"
"..."
"Let me cook and take me with you! Can't make it solo!"
He gathered ingredients from cupboards and fridge, starting mapo tofu.
"...What."
Not normal mapo tofu. Flames roared in the pan—Go Cheon-su sat at the table.
"Mm."
"Hey, what's your name?"
Go Cheon-su's softened tone lit up the guy's face.
"Jeong Min-gyu! I work at the Chinese place in front of Myeongseo Elementary!"