I Acquired Some Devotees (1)
"Why?"
Having two women flat on their stomachs in front of me... as a man, it's great. I had to admit it. It was a sight that seriously ramped up my aggression. But this was an important moment, and I couldn't leave the decision to my dick. Decisions are made with the brain! I waited for them to look up at me and spoke.
"So, um. Having worshippers who revere me? From my position, there's no reason to refuse that. But before that, why were you two out here? What happened? So, uh... who are you? What kind of people are you? Why are you asking me for help?"
Of course, probably because I'm a god. The women glanced at each other. It didn't seem like hesitation—just exchanging looks about who should speak. The dyed-hair girl spoke up.
"I'm..."
She clamped her mouth shut. Wrinkles formed at the corners of her eyes as she gathered her thoughts. No rush. It'd be nice if I could grab a cola since this was my real body standing here, but I didn't need to sit. Still, standing over them while they were prostrated felt off, so I sat cross-legged on the ground facing them. I leaned the spear against the wall nearby.
"...Ever since the zombie apocalypse hit, we've been on the run. Originally... Dad would go out for food and stuff, but one day he didn't come back. Then Mom went out... and she never returned. We don't know where they went. So... we were high school graduates about to head to college, and then this happened..."
"That's why you came out together? What's your relationship?"
"...Yeah. We were in the same class in middle and high school. We managed to hide and dodge zombies for a while. Then we met some people... they seemed nice. There was this ajumma who was the leader, and men and women mixed, helping each other go out and bring back food."
"So you had a group?"
"Yeah. But then one uncle got bitten on the leg. They... exiled him. Seeing that... I told myself to be careful, but in the end, I got bitten on the arm."
The black-haired girl stepped in. "Actually, I should have been the one bitten, but Yeonsu protected me and got bit instead."
Not hard to understand. "If you get bitten by a zombie, the group probably had no choice, right? They can't let a zombie wander around in their midst."
"...Yeah. So... I said I wasn't going back to the hideout and left alone, but Hye-yun followed me."
"Hm."
Hye-yun had some loyalty. Or maybe Yeonsu—the dyed-hair girl—was the only person she could trust and rely on in that group.
"But I healed the zombie bite. Can't you just go back?"
"...No. That place..."
"It's scary," Hye-yun said. "That ajumma is so, so scary. People can't even move... She manages everything they bring back, but the rations are tiny. Someone brought back a ton and asked why he only got one can of tuna, and the ajumma told them to kick him out..."
"...Did they chase him out?"
"They fought. I saw blood pouring from his head, and several guys dragged the knocked-out uncle out and just left him outside. Zombies gathered around him... It was so scary."
"Hmm."
A group desperately managing resources to survive. But hey, they're humans, right? Without powers like mine, that's how it'd have to be. Must've been terrifying for these girls, though.
Yeonsu growled. "That fucking bitch only gave tons of water and drinks to her close cronies, stuffed them with food too. We went two days without eating anything there once. If you're not on the scavenging team, you're not even on the ration list."
"...How long were you there?"
"...Four months."
Early in the zombie apocalypse. If they joined back then and had been half-starved ever since, no wonder they were so gaunt.
"Then you got bitten on the arm and figured you'd get exiled anyway, so you came out?"
"Yeah."
"Hm. Got it."
I crossed my arms and thought for a bit. Bringing these girls along? No big deal. Yeah. This was like an interview. They'd shared their "work history," so now it was my turn to lay out the terms.
"Alright, my turn to talk. There's one reason we're having this chat. We don't know each other yet. If I take you in, you need to know about me too, right?"
"...Yeah."
They were desperate enough to cling to a dog-masked naked guy, so it must've been dire. Sure, this convenience store hadn't been looted yet, so there were plenty of snacks and drinks, but those wouldn't guarantee their safety. That group could show up anytime. Desperate situation, yeah. I knew it, they knew it—but I kept it as equal as possible.
"I mentioned it before, but this isn't my real body. I'm a god, and my true form is human. I live in Sane Ddeul Apartment D-1. Used to live with my grandfather, but he passed right before the zombie apocalypse hit. It hurts, but from my perspective, it's a relief he didn't have to see this mess. Anyway, that's my story."
"...You have a grandfather? Is he a god too?"
"Gods die too, huh."
"No, he's human. My base body is human. So, gramps isn't a god, that... ugh. Whatever, that's not the point. If you're following me, you need to know what environment you'll be in, right?"
"Ah, yeah."
"First off, there's fresh water and eggs. I've done repairs all over the house, so no one can break in from outside. My place is safe. You'll be guaranteed safety. And... uh... this is awkward to say, but... gotta be careful here."
"What?"
"My avatars can't feel touch or smell, you know? You saw them crumble into sand, right? Because it's not my real body. It's an avatar."
"It was so cool! How does that work? I was shocked!"
Hye-yun's eyes went wide as she said it, but that wasn't the important part.
"Yeah. Anyway, uh... looking at your condition, hm... first things first, you need a wash. No showers in that group?"
"The water's cut off. We barely got drinking water."
They must reek like hell. "...So if you come, wash up first. Always keep clean."
"...Enough water for that?"
"It's like a steady trickle, but it doesn't run out. Water keeps coming."
"Whoa... a trickle?"
"Yeah. Like a slightly open faucet. Or like those park drinking fountains."
"...Can't a god make it gush out...?"
"Hey, brat. A god making it flow steadily is already good—quit yapping."
"Oh, right. Yeah."
I crossed my arms again with a snap. "Next, I'll be going into the sarcophagus often. Telling you ahead so you don't freak out."
"...Sarcophagus?"
"Yeah. I enter it to become an avatar. No 'whoa, what's that, a monster, scary' crap. When the avatar ends, I return to normal. Pre-warning so no drama."
"...G-Got it."
"When I'm in avatar mode, I'll hunt zombies outside, bring back food and drinks, build stuff inside the house—plenty to do. Meaning, no worries about food or drink. Safety guaranteed. But."
I held up one finger. "To have this setup, there's a condition."
"...What?"
Hye-yun tensed and hid behind Yeonsu.
"...Not making you go outside. You can stay home. Outings are your call; I won't interfere. Anyway, the condition is: worship me."
The women's faces lit up. "We can do that easy."
"Yes. We'll worship you."
"No, wait. Not just lip service."
I was serious. I was a healthy young man. "Worship with your bodies. That's the condition."
Their eyes went wide. I grinned—or tried to, with the dog mask—and said it with a smiling face. "I have what you want. You have what I want. I'll provide a comfortable life. As long as you're with me, you won't fear anything. You'll get whatever you desire. In exchange, give me your bodies."
"...Not, like, eating us... right?"
"...I'll eat you in bed, but not eat you."
Yeonsu and Hye-yun both showed subtle tension on their faces. They glanced at each other, then quickly looked away.
"...Can we have time to think? We need to talk... privately."
"Of course. I'll come back tomorrow morning. Gotta grab more stuff from the convenience store anyway."
No rush on my end. I stood and grabbed the bag, but Hye-yun blurted out desperately. "I-I'll do it."
"Hye-yun? W-We need to talk..."
Hye-yun clenched her fists and stomped. "No. I hate being scared anymore. I said no. I couldn't sleep last night either. Too many zombies outside. If those people come here, they might hurt us. Drag us away. I don't wanna go back to that ajumma. No."
Hye-yun approached me. Desperation incarnate. "Y-You won't really eat us, right? N-Not scary, right?"
"...I don't eat people. I'm human too."
"Then I'll go. I'll go. Yeonsu. Yeah? Come with."
Yeonsu bit her lip and looked up at us. She stood slowly.
"...Can't I worship alone? Let Hye-yun go?"
"No."
".........."
Hye-yun grabbed Yeonsu's hand. "I'm okay. Yeah? As long as it's not scary, and I can just sleep well, I'd be so happy. It's too scary here. I wanna go home, but I can't. Too many zombies. Yeah?"
"...I'll protect Hye-yun, so if... if that dog mask hurts her..."
"Why would I hurt her? Gonna eat her in bed—gotta cherish her."
"...Even in bed, if you hurt her..."
"No such fetish. Normal stuff. Not a weirdo."
".........."
"Shall we go?"
The women hesitated but parted to let me pass. As I left the convenience store, something hit me. Hm. ...I'd snagged some devotees I could do whatever with. ...Nice.