Chapter 3
Chapter 3
"What now?"
Entering the apartment complex had been a good choice.
If I had stayed outside, I wouldn't have been able to escape the pursuit of the Variant Zombie anyway.
It was better to be in here, where zombies were swarming.
Because Variant Zombies have a trait where they dislike being in the same space as regular zombies.
In that regard, it was actually safer.
"The most important thing is a hideout."
I couldn't keep living in this apartment like this.
I needed a space where I could rest with peace of mind.
A Shelter would be the most ideal, but that place requires a special entry ticket.
Of course, Awakeners can enter without a ticket.
But I had no intention of going.
I had heard stories about how harshly they work Awakeners in the Shelters, and that there wasn't even any break time.
I didn't want that kind of life.
"I need to clear the area first."
Sounds leaked in through the gap in the door.
It sounded like low muttering, or perhaps something scratching.
It seemed the smell had leaked outside.
It meant zombies were swarming in the hallway.
"Var-Zom, I'm going to need you to do some work."
Variant Zombie. I decided to call them Var-Zom for short.
"Come here."
I stood in front of the door. I pressed my ear right against the door and listened to the sounds outside.
"Ughhh......."
"Ugh......."
There are quite a few.
It seemed like there were at least 5 or 6 just outside the door.
But I have to do it. Above all else.
Name: Choi Han Lv.1
My level was still too low.
I felt like I had dealt with over 10 zombies using the Var-Zom, but I still hadn't leveled up.
But I got a feeling.
The feeling that I was right on the verge of it.
"Var-Zom, let's go."
I opened the door.
The Var-Zom darted outside.
"Kuaaaack!"
It started a rampage.
It instantly took down the 5 zombies gathered in front of the door and ripped their heads off one by one.
The zombies tried to react, but it was over before they could even do anything.
[Level Up!]
"Oho!"
As expected. The feeling was accurate.
"Status Window."
【Name】 : Choi Han Lv.2
【Stats】 : F
【Unique Ability】 : Trading Gallery Lv.1
【Unique Skill】 : Corpse Control Lv.1
【Points】 : 1
"Invest points into the Gallery."
【Unique Ability】 : Trading Gallery Lv.2
【Updated Element】: Trading Cooldown 7 days → 3 days
"Nice."
The biggest problem was the trading cooldown.
It had been reduced to 3 days.
In other words, it meant I could use it right now.
"Shall I use it right away?"
There were a few things I needed right now.
Spatial magic to take items out of storage, Clairvoyance magic to see through walls, and a few daily-life spells.
Among these, the most urgent was Clairvoyance magic. Safety comes first.
I immediately posted on the Gallery.
[Guys, do you have anything like Clairvoyance magic? My current situation is dangerous, so yeah]
└[Corpse Researcher] : I have some, but they're very high-grade magic......
└[Marching Necromancer] : The Gallery Owner needs to learn the basics first. If you learn such skills this early, it'll be a headache later.
└[Necro-aspirant] : Gramps is right! It's not that I don't want to give it to you, it's that it could become trash later!
Clairvoyance magic is that high-grade?
Damn it. My plan is ruined.
Then, the next most urgent thing.
[Then, do you have any Spatial magic, by chance?]
└[Necro-aspirant] : That's easy! Open a trade!
└[Marching Necromancer] : This time, you take it all, Necro-aspirant.
What's up with that?
Marching Necromancer has changed.
He must have felt sorry about what happened back then.
Well, anyway.
I opened the trade.
[Trade Item: 1 can of Cola]
Bidder: None.
-Starting the bid.
└[Necro-aspirant] : It won't let me bid!
"Huh?"
What's the reason?
-Compared to the trade item, the value offered by the bidder is higher.
"Ah......."
It seemed like a skill that couldn't be traded for just a can of cola.
Then.
[I can't trade with just 1 can of cola, is there anything else you want?]
└[Necro-aspirant] : I heard there are many zombies in your world! I want 1 Variant Zombie!
You want one Var-Zom?
Actually, that's good.
I looked down at the Var-Zom, which had returned after finishing clearing the hallway.
Its condition wasn't good.
Half of its fingernails were broken, and its arm muscles were torn in places.
Its teeth were also ragged.
I wanted to fix it if I could, but I didn't have the skill.
If they were willing to take a Var-Zom in this state, honestly, I was grateful.
[Trade Item: 1 can of Cola + 1 Variant Zombie]
Bidder: None.
-Starting the bid.
Bid: [Necro-aspirant] - Dark Room bid complete.
The Var-Zom and the cola can that were next to me disappeared without a trace.
And.
Skill: Dark Room
Description: You can open and close a dark space the size of a room.
Cooldown: None.
"Dark Room."
When I activated the skill, a black space opened in mid-air.
It was darkness with clearly defined boundaries.
It was as if a hole had been punched in the air; nothing could be seen inside.
When I put my hand in, a cool sensation wrapped around the back of my hand.
"Nice."
Losing the Var-Zom was a shame, but it was a satisfying trade.
"Now, shall I finish cleaning up?"
There were a few regular zombies left that hadn't been dealt with while the Var-Zom was being pushed to its limits.
I decided to use Zombie No. 1 and No. 2, which I had created using Corpse Control, to finish them off.
"Finished."
I had dealt with all the zombies on my floor.
I moved Zombie No. 1 and No. 2 to pile the corpses in one corner.
It was better for my mental health to gather them in one place rather than having corpses strewn about the hallway.
"Whew......."
But it wasn't over yet.
The floor above, the 2nd floor. That was the problem.
Because if zombies came down from there, I'd have to start cleaning up from the beginning again.
"Recon first."
I put Zombie No. 1 and No. 2 in front and slowly opened the emergency exit door.
But.
"They're not here?"
There wasn't a single zombie on the stairs.
It was quiet. No footsteps, no groans.
When I looked down, I thought I knew the reason.
"They're all piled up down there."
The basement. Zombie corpses were piled up in layers on the floor.
It looked like they had bumped into the railing and fallen down.
"Comforting."
I leisurely went up to the 2nd floor.
I grabbed the emergency door handle and opened the door.
I just poked my head out and checked left and right.
"Huh?"
It was strange.
"There are... no zombies?"
The 1st floor was swarming with dozens, and even the basement stairs had enough corpses piled up to be significant.
But the 2nd floor was quiet.
The view was clear to the end of the hallway, and nothing was moving.
"What is this?"
I took a step.
At that very moment.
Srrng......
"......Gasp!"
Something cold touched my neck.
The sharp sensation of metal. It was a blade.
"Ha...... I surrender."
I slowly raised both hands.
I am a mage right now.
I knew well that I could do almost nothing in close-quarters combat.
The opponent asked.
"Why did you come here?"
It was a woman.
Her voice was low and clear.
There was no wavering.
Her pupils shook slightly, but she maintained her expression.
"Do you think I can't kill you just because I'm a woman?"
The blade touching my neck dug in deeper.
It was cold and firm.
"Speak quickly. What's your purpose?"
"Just...... looking for a place to rest."
"A place to rest?"
"There wasn't anywhere nearby to use as a hideout, so I just came here. I didn't even know there was a person here until now."
"Hmm...... It's the truth?"
How did she know it was the truth?
No way.
"By any chance, an Awakener......."
"Shut up."
"Yep."
It was certain.
She was an Awakener.
And it seemed she had the ability to detect lies.
"Did you come alone? Or do you have a crew?"
"Alone. I was kicked out a while ago."
"Hmm...... That's true. The reason?"
"Because I couldn't play politics."
"......."
As soon as she confirmed it was the truth, the pressure from the blade on my neck eased slightly.
It seemed she judged that I wasn't a person to be wary of.
"Do you have any intention of harming me?"
"None at all."
"Good."
Srrrk.
The blade was withdrawn.
Only then did the tension spreading across my neck loosen.
I survived.
She turned to the front.
Ponytail.
Sharp eyes.
She was dressed in tights under a combat suit.
It was an outfit that clearly revealed the contours of her body, but what caught my eye first was the dagger held in her hand.
The angle of her wrist, handling it familiarly, was not ordinary.
She glanced over and opened her mouth.
"Then how long are you going to stay? But I haven't cleared the 1st floor yet?"
"I cleared the entire 1st floor."
She asked back, surprised.
"What? There must have been dozens? Didn't you arrive a few hours ago?"
"That's true, but......."
"You're quite capable."
Something changed in her eyes.
"And you're an Awakener?"
"Aren't you the same?"
"Hehe......."
She laughed instead of answering.
There were two Awakeners in this apartment, which is hard to come by.
"I kind of like you. I'll let you live, so stay on the 1st floor."
"......."
"Answer."
"Okay."
Damn it. But she wasn't wrong.
I'm an intruder, and she's the person who was here first.
It's right to follow the homeowner's words.
"What's your name?"
"Choi Han."
"Two characters. I'm Lee Su-ah. Nice to meet you."
"......Yeah."
Lee Su-ah.
As soon as she sent Choi Han back, she locked the door.
"Whew......."
Only then did she lean her back against the wall and let out a sigh. Her legs went slightly weak.
"Thank goodness."
He wasn't an evil person.
A few hours ago.
When she saw him entering the apartment, Lee Su-ah immediately tried to kill him.
This area was a space she had held out in alone.
There was no reason to keep an intruder alive.
But seeing what was attached to his side, she had to drop that thought.
Variant Zombie.
And it was the specimen that seemed to have the best mobility among those Lee Su-ah had seen.
It was obvious its physical condition wasn't good, but its movements didn't reveal that at all.
'Controlling zombies.'
It was an absurd ability.
There was a possibility he had other hidden abilities.
So Lee Su-ah didn't move rashly.
Instead, she waited.
About 2 hours later.
She heard footsteps coming up to the 2nd floor through the emergency stairs.
And this time, the Var-Zom wasn't there.
This was it.
Lee Su-ah stuck to the side of the emergency door, and the moment he poked his head in, she held the dagger to his neck.
His reaction was fast, which was dizzying for a moment, but he raised both hands.
He was a quick-witted human.
"Why did you come here?"
As he heard her voice and moved his body slightly, Lee Su-ah immediately pushed the knife in deeper.
"Do you think I can't kill you just because I'm a woman?"
She couldn't look weak here.
If she lost the initiative even once, it would be the end.
He answered.
That he came looking for a place to rest.
Lee Su-ah activated her skill.
The Assassin class she obtained upon Awakening. One of the many skills that class possessed, Truth Detection.
It was an ability that detected it like a faint ripple if lies were mixed into the opponent's words.
There were no lies.
"There wasn't anywhere nearby to use as a hideout. I just came here. I didn't even know there was a person here until now."
It was all true.
Then this human is not a threat.
"Did you come alone? Or do you have a crew?"
"Alone. I was kicked out a while ago."
"The reason?"
"Because I couldn't play politics."
Lee Su-ah suppressed the laughter that was about to burst out.
Kicked out because he couldn't play politics. And that was true too.
"Do you have any intention of harming me?"
"None at all."
It was the truth. Lee Su-ah withdrew the dagger.
And for the first time, she saw his face properly.
He had an ordinary impression.
Eyes that weren't sharp but gentle.
It was a face with no threatening aspects.
For a person with this kind of impression to survive in a crew, he must have been pushed around a lot.
It was fully understandable that he was kicked out.
But.
He handled dozens of zombies on the 1st floor alone in a few hours.
Just that fact alone meant he wasn't ordinary.
His character didn't seem bad either.
He has ability too.
This is a temporary cooperation.
Nothing more, nothing less.
"I kind of like you. I'll let you live, so stay on the 1st floor."
"......."
"Answer."
"Okay."
Lee Su-ah thought while closing the door.
A wave has entered this boring apartment.
It didn't seem like a bad thing.