033
033
Eleven in the morning.
After having breakfast with the tenants in my house, I brewed some instant coffee and went up to the rooftop.
I could see Im Do-young walking to the hardware store on the floor below.
The hardware store was in a commercial building near the villa.
It wasn't a commercial building operated by the villa.
There were many studio apartments in the area, so they had built a commercial building, and it just so happened that our villa was nearby.
I was lucky.
It wasn't a large commercial building, though; it was a long, two-story structure.
It was the type where several small shops were located.
I had secured only the hardware store among them as a Safe Zone.
"Does this mean I could make the entire commercial building a Safe Zone?"
The wider the Safe Zone, the better.
It meant the space where I could move around safely would expand.
I had never stepped outside the Safe Zone before.
I hadn't even been to the hardware store.
Because the path to the hardware store wasn't a Safe Zone.
Of course, it was a good thing for the tenants, too.
It wasn't a safe world even before the zombie outbreak.
Every time a random crime appeared on the news, there were times when I felt scared to walk on the streets.
But if this neighborhood became a Safe Zone?
I wouldn't have to worry about getting caught up in those kinds of crimes.
Im Do-young walked straight out of the villa and toward the hardware store.
There was a barricade erected next to it that I had made with the tenants, but he didn't use that path.
How happy everyone had been when we first made the barricade.
They said we would be able to move to the hardware store safely.
But there was a path safer than the barricade.
A narrow path leading from the villa entrance to the hardware store.
It was a Safe Passage.
When I secured the entire villa, a Safe Passage connecting the villa and the hardware store was created.
After installing the barricade from the villa to the hardware store with the tenants, I went up to the roof and was looking at the barricade when the narrow section next to it faintly glowed.
It was a path only I could see. When I asked the other tenants, they replied that they couldn't see it.
Just in case, I pointed out the location to Kang Mu-yeol and told him to try walking through there.
Kang Mu-yeol went out without a word and walked in the direction I pointed.
The zombies didn't rush at him.
They approached Kang Mu-yeol, but couldn't reach out.
It was a reaction as if they were blocked by a transparent wall.
I confirmed the Safe Passage.
We had worked hard to build the barricade, but what could I do?
Still, since we had already installed it, I just left it there.
And I placed items along the edge of the Safe Passage to mark it as a path.
Im Do-young liked it even more.
Because the Safe Passage guaranteed by the system was one hundred percent safe.
"At this rate, won't the whole neighborhood become a Safe Zone?"
Kang Mu-yeol came up holding a paper cup.
"What are you drinking? Coffee?"
"Ah, it's Kombucha."
"Kombu... cha?"
"It has a zesty taste. Would you like to try some?"
I peered into Kang Mu-yeol's paper cup.
I didn't really want to share a drink mixed in a paper cup.
I declined Kang Mu-yeol's offer.
Kang Mu-yeol probably didn't actually intend to give me any, either.
"It's really effective. That's a shame."
Did he actually intend to give me some...?
"If the whole neighborhood becomes a Safe Zone and the number of tenants increases, won't we eventually be able to live like before the zombie outbreak? Being able to walk around outside without worry."
"That would be nice. Though it seems like a distant story."
I said, looking down at the building below.
"But don't you think there are more zombies than usual today?"
"Ah, oh my! I apologize. I cleared them out at dawn, wonder when they swarmed back like this? I'll take care of it right away."
"No, no. I'm not trying to nag you. What do you think, Kang Mu-yeol-ssi? Aren't there more than usual?"
"Now that you mention it, that is true. Usually, there aren't this many even at dawn. After I clear them out at dawn, it's quiet until the next dawn. But now, even though I cleared them at dawn, there are more. Even more than at dawn."
"But why do you clear them at dawn...?"
I never ordered him to do that.
Since the villa is a Safe Zone anyway, there's no need to worry about being invaded even if a lot of zombies swarm.
Did something get miscommunicated?
"It's nothing. I just do it as a morning workout, a little hobby. You always come up to the rooftop with coffee after breakfast, Boss. I thought it would look nicer if it were clean rather than having zombies swarming around at that time."
That was the reason?
No wonder there were no zombies near the villa.
Nothing happens for no reason.
"If that's the reason, you don't have to do it from dawn. It makes it seem like I'm nagging you."
"We do it because we want to. We've received so much from you, Boss, so we thought we'd at least do this. Please don't worry about it."
"...Wait a minute. 'We'?"
"Ah. When I catch the zombies, Nam Hyun-sik-ssi disposes of the zombie corpses. I don't really know how to dispose of zombie corpses as cleanly as Nam Hyun-sik-ssi does."
No wonder the streets were clean.
Just because you kill a zombie doesn't mean the corpse disappears.
Even clearing the corpses was something that required human hands.
Clean streets... it takes a lot of effort.
"I'm always grateful. For keeping the streets clean every day."
"Don't mention it. As I said before, it's something we do because we want to."
"But why did the zombies increase so much today? Did something happen in the next neighborhood?"
"That could be it. If you wish, I will investigate the vicinity."
"It's not to that extent. It's fine."
It wasn't like there was an astronomical increase in zombies on the streets. It was just a little more than usual.
Maybe someone moved carelessly and provoked a group of zombies that were in a dormant state.
I thought it would be okay to watch for a few days.
Since he said he clears the zombies every dawn, they might not be visible starting tomorrow.
Even if it wasn't a temporary phenomenon, it didn't matter.
Right now, what I, what we need to do is set.
"Then, since we're on the topic, let's clear the commercial area starting today."
"Are you planning to expand the Safe Zone? I am absolutely in favor."
Even if zombies fill the streets, they can't invade the Safe Zone.
Then the correct answer is to secure more Safe Zones before the zombies increase.
I don't know where to secure next after securing the commercial area.
I should just start with what I can see.
"Oh? Min-jun-hyung!"
As I entered the hardware store, Im Do-young greeted me happily.
Im Do-young was grilling something on a portable stove. Just approaching it made the heat rush up.
"Hyung, didn't you say you wouldn't come to the hardware store?"
"Still, it's where you work, so I had to come at least once."
In truth, I had put it off because the path to the hardware store wasn't safe. Until a few days ago, the Safe Zone wasn't connected.
Now that the Safe Passage between the villa and the hardware store is connected, I can come and go with peace of mind.
"What are you making?"
"Your slingshot, hyung. The one you're using now is a bit big, so I thought it might be a bit cumbersome. I'm trying to make a small but strong one. I'll tell you as soon as it's finished. You haven't used the Explosive Shells yet, right?"
"Well, I haven't had a reason to. I hope I never have to use them in the future, either."
"Still, you shouldn't hesitate when you have to use them. Just bam! You know?"
"I should. I'm going to secure the shop next door today. I stopped by on the way."
The place I'm trying to secure today is a convenience store.
Of course, the inside was a mess.
Food and necessary items had long since been looted.
Still, it turns clean once secured.
It might even have additional functions like the hardware store.
Actually, it's a place that needs to be secured even if it can't be remodeled.
Because I have to secure this place to move on to the next shop.
"Shall we go?"
"Sounds good."
Kang Mu-yeol slung his baseball bat over his shoulder.
One step out, and we're outside the Safe Zone.
Kang Mu-yeol stepped out without hesitation.
I stayed still.
Kang Mu-yeol didn't even look back.
Actually, it was an agreed-upon matter.
That he would go alone.
Kang Mu-yeol grabbed the convenience store door and shook it.
Clack, clack.
The convenience store door was locked.
"Huh?"
Why was the convenience store door locked?
Judging by the fact that the inside was looted, it should have been open, right?
Kang Mu-yeol swung his baseball bat without hesitation.
Jjaenggeurang!
The glass door shattered.
"It'll be clean anyway, so it's fine, right?"
I suppose so.
Usually, if you're not sure, shouldn't you ask before doing it?
He asks late....
Ppag-eujak, ppag-eujak.
Kang Mu-yeol stepped on the broken glass and went inside.
I was aiming my slingshot from behind.
So that I could shoot at any moment if a zombie popped out from behind Kang Mu-yeol.
The display shelves had collapsed, so there were many places for zombies to hide.
If someone had snuck into the convenience store late and locked the door....
It was obvious where they would be hiding.
Behind the refrigerator.
There was nowhere else to hide besides the walk-in.
Kang Mu-yeol seemed to have the same thought.
He strode toward the walk-in.
I couldn't see inside the walk-in.
The passage would be narrow and long, so there was no chance of Kang Mu-yeol getting hurt.
"How pathetic!"
I heard Kang Mu-yeol's voice.
I also heard the sound of something breaking.
Kang Mu-yeol came out shortly after.
"It seems it was hiding while bitten. I took care of it."
As expected of Kang Mu-yeol.
"Hmm...."
But why isn't it secured?
It should be secured if I catch all the zombies in the space, right?
That was when it happened.
A hand popped out from under the overturned display shelf.
The hand aimed for Kang Mu-yeol's leg.
"Hahahaha! How laughable!"
Kang Mu-yeol laughed heartily and lifted his foot to avoid the hand of the zombie, which had almost no flesh left.
And he stomped on the hand with all his might.
Kwajik!
The zombie's hand was crushed.
How did he dodge that?
After becoming a Berserker, I felt a bit like his physique had surpassed the limits of a human.
I wonder if I'll promote when my level reaches 10, too.
I wonder if I can become superhuman if I promote.
Kang Mu-yeol struck the display shelves with his baseball bat to check if there were any remaining zombies.
There were no zombies left.
"Hmm...."
Even so, the convenience store wasn't secured.
"Is there something I don't know about?"
"I'm not sure either. Hmm...."
"Let's head out for now."
It was when Kang Mu-yeol was passing the checkout counter.
The vent cover on the ceiling above the checkout counter fell off with a clatter, and a zombie popped out.
"Uwaaaak!"
Startled, I pulled the slingshot with superhuman reflexes and blew the zombie's head off.
The byproducts of the zombie corpse poured over Kang Mu-yeol's head.
"...."
"...."
"It's a real relief that the Safe Zone has good hot water.... Hahaha...."
"Yes.... Thanks to you, Boss...."