The Last Leaf (1)
Jeongwon lay in her hospital bed, gazing out the window. Her face was gaunt, her eyes shadowed with dark circles like bruises, and she wore a cap over her head. She ran a hand over her eyebrows, then slowly lowered it upon seeing how skeletal her fingers looked. The blanket was soiled but dust-free—a well-shaken remnant from long before laundry had become impossible.
Outside stood a single tree: a ginkgo, budding fresh leaves to greet the summer. Jeongwon stared at it. That was her only task each day—watching the tree.
The door opened, and familiar footsteps approached. Without turning her head, Jeongwon spoke.
"It's still there, right?"
Eun-jae sat on the edge of the bed. She wore a nurse's uniform, unwashed but meticulously shaken and aired dry, with a chrome tray holding a syringe balanced on her knee.
"Yeah."
"...How much time do I have left? Not much, is it?"
"...None of us have much. We're out of food now."
"...What about those guys who went out scavenging?"
"It's been two days since they came back. They're probably all dead out there... or zombies. Here, give me your hand?"
Jeongwon didn't move. Eun-jae, accustomed to her demeanor, gently lifted the girl's bony hand and injected the needle into the back.
"It's just painkillers anyway."
"Better than hurting."
"...Pointless."
Eun-jae let out a sigh that was almost a smile.
"...I don't think so. You, me, my sister—we've all done what we could until the end. Isn't that enough...?"
"...What about your sister?"
"Getting ready to head out."
Only then did Jeongwon turn her head.
"...Head out?"
"Yeah. No one's come back from the scavenging runs. We have to try something. I'm going with her."
"......You'll die out there."
"That was our last painkiller. We're done."
"........"
The light faded from Jeongwon's eyes. Her expression drained of color as she turned back to the window.
"...I hope it doesn't hurt when I go."
"...Yeah. We all do. Rest now."
"Okay..."
Eun-jae stood. Jeongwon lay back down.
"I'm sleepy."
"You will be."
As Jeongwon closed her eyes, the door was half-open. Eun-kyung stood in the doorway, finger pressed to the frame, peering into the room. Her face was dark and heavy.
"...You give her the shot?"
"Yeah."
"...Alright. Let's get ready."
"Got it."
Eun-jae hugged Jeongwon and whispered.
"Can you still hear me? We'll follow soon. Sleep well."
Eun-jae rose. Eun-kyung held two syringes. Eun-jae took one and asked,
"...This really doesn't hurt, right?"
"Same stuff we use for putting dogs down. No pain. Here."
Eun-kyung uncapped the needle and extended her arm. Eun-jae sighed deeply.
"...She caught it early. Surgery would've fixed her easy. How'd it come to this...?"
"No one chooses death. It's the hopelessness that kills. That's us now. Arm out."
"...Okay."
Eun-jae extended her arm. From outside came singing.
"Youth~ long go~one! Swi~ing in my you~th! Yeah! Fly~ing on the breeze! Sweet! Drea~ms! ...I dreamed 'em!! Sex! Heh heh heh~ Pee-cum! Hee hee hee poo-cum~! Uhihihi pussy~dick~!"
Eun-jae and Eun-kyung froze, staring at the window. A man was belting out the crudest song imaginable.
* * *
"That's why I need to head out on this trip myself. Looks like I have no choice."
"...You don't have to go personally..."
Yeonsu said it, but none of the women liked the idea of me leaving the Shrine. Even when I cast spells outside or summoned servants, my real body lay in the stone sarcophagus back home—they knew I was always there. But if I vanished entirely? That'd unsettle them.
"Just a few days. Won't take long. And you've probably heard from Sechem Yaret about the pregnant women. If we're making a call on that, better to act fast. Can't exactly convince doctors or nurses if we're treating them like monsters."
I grinned.
"You all thought I was a monster when we first met, right?"
Yeonsu and Hyeyoon pouted.
"That was then. Why bring it up...?"
"Yeah, but we didn't know who you were—suddenly turning to sand, wearing that mask..."
They muttered on. So damn cute. I groped their tits. What? They're cute—gotta cop a feel.
"Anyway, those fucking sluts are making me hard again—shit, sorry. Inner voice slipped."
Yeonsu and Hyeyoon choked on their drinks at the sudden profanity, sputtering and coughing in a hilarious mess. Iseol and Jeong-eun, watching from the side, got apologies too.
"Sorry. I don't usually hug you while thinking what a horny bitch in my head. For real. No lie."
...I dropped a line that left them baffled on how to respond. Can't help what slips out, fuck it. Gotta filter my thoughts better before speaking.
"Anyway!" I spread my hands wide.
"I'll hit the big hospitals in Seoul and come right back. No need to scour the provinces for doctors. But Seoul's worth checking. If any docs or nurses are alive in this zombie apocalypse, they ain't living comfy. Gotta find 'em quick, convince 'em quick. Best if I show up in person and talk."
"...Just Seoul?"
"Just Seoul. Warrior form. Riding the lion—won't take long. Might wrap today, two days tops."
"Okay..."
The women exchanged glances. Yeonsu nodded.
"...Come back quick."
"Got it."
Their eyes on me were intense. So I fucked them all again, one by one.
* * *
I'd racked up another 3,000 coins. Hit Dujai-dong for a whirlwind show—cleaned exactly 1,200 zombies, paused, then surged to 3,000. Meaning Dujai-dong was wiped clean too.
Next: down to Samtae-dong. Could've burned coins on the way out, but saving it felt like dessert—best for last. Eat the bitter first. Scouting for doctors would drag, so knock it out now. Just Seoul.
These neighborhoods clear in days. Whole country wouldn't take long. Well, Seoul first. Still tons left here—don't get ahead.
Out of the sarcophagus, onto the bed. Summoned the warrior. My body goes. But travel as warrior.
I looked down at myself lying there, reached out...
Wish I could dash everywhere like Nephkent. Grabbed the hand. Lift, sling over shoulder or piggyback.
My hand merged with the bed-hand.
...Huh? Pulled away. Warrior's hand—mine—dissolved to sand, reformed.
...No stamina loss? Wait... What if.
Grabbed again. Sand flowed, subtly overlaying.
"...Can I wear this?"
Looks like it. Carefully—can't hurt the real body. Confirmed it dissolving to sand, then slowly lay atop myself on the bed.
...Whoa. My hand—weird as fuck. Feels like my hand inside my hand.
Stood from the bed. No body there anymore. Real me inside this one.
"Oh, fuck."
So that's possible. Warrior does everything. Except hunt efficiently—though it hunts fine, just stabby. Combat power's overwhelming. Even carries the boss body. Probably for evac or protection in real danger.
But mage or warrior so OP—danger ever happen? Anyway, handy. Thanks.
Tucked blankets over the passed-out women. Sechem Yaret'd handle them. I'm good to go.
Apartment complex raided? Fine. Mezai Ushabti's got it. Patrolling outside now with spear and shield, chill as ever.
* * *
Checked small local clinics first. Herbalists, internists, orthos, whatever. Empty or zombie-packed. No survivors.
Dujai-dong. Samtae-dong. Tons of zombies there. Didn't kill many. Goal's doctors, not mana-drain till pop.
Lion-riding, zipping everywhere—no luck nearby.
So. Gangnam General Hospital.
* * *
Carried the portal stone from Gache-dong. Why? Circling Seoul—drop one in zombie hives for easy access. No back-and-forth hassle.
Stone on shield-arm, spear ditched for lion-mane grip. Minutes to Gangnam.
Hospital arrival. Zombies everywhere. Insane density.
Across the road—but can't cross that swarm. Why so many in Gangnam, fuck? Tasty morsels, sure, but not farming coins now.
Leapt from rooftop, lion trampling to hospital wall. Over it, smashed zombies, yanked front gate shut with a clang!
Spear, scimitar, lion—cleared the perimeter.
Small internal lot. Big paid one outside—hospital-owned? Smart money-makers. All over now.
Two-three heals, endless stabs—cleared.
Opposite side: tiny garden? Zombies there too. Ugh, fuck.
Lured on lion. Better clustered than scattered for stabbing.
Lion upkeep already 6 mana. 100 coins? Shit value. But armor shrugs scratches. Fast travel? Lion essential.
Anyway. Lure time.
"Youth~ long go~one! Swi~ing in my you~th! Yeah! Fly~ing on the breeze! Sweet! Drea~ms! ...I dreamed 'em!! Sex! Heh heh heh~ Pee-cum! Hee hee hee poo-cum~! Uhihihi pussy~dick~!"
Zombies swarmed toward me.