009
009
My Level went up to 3.
Considering that my Level couldn't be raised with Coins, this was a significant step forward.
Plus, I got a new skill.
It was a skill for handling a slingshot.
However, I was short on ammo.
The pebbles Im Do-yeong had collected were a bit subtle in performance for actual combat.
I thought it would be nice to have proper ammo like steel balls.
「You can modify the list of supplies to be resupplied.」
「Receive new supplies right now!」
As my Level rose to 3, I became able to change the supply list.
It seemed the supplies I could change to were limited to items available at the Mart.
That alone was enough.
Because I could get most things at the Mart.
There were steel balls, too.
It's not easy to find steel balls at a regular mart.
It seemed to be a large Mart with a toy store inside.
"Nice."
I put the steel balls into the new supply list.
Since I put them in, I received the supply too.
I could test the steel ball slingshot right away, but there was a more urgent problem.
I knocked on the wall of Unit 403.
Knock knock knock!
As soon as I knocked on the side wall, a knock was heard at the front door.
When I opened the door, Kang Mu-yeol was waiting, holding a baseball bat.
"Did you call for me?"
"Sorry to disturb your rest. Could you bring Im Ji-ah-ssi and Im Do-yeong-ssi over?"
"Of course. Leave it to me."
Kang Mu-yeol strode toward Room 402.
Knock knock knock.
As soon as he knocked on Room 402, the door opened.
Im Ji-ah poked her head out.
Kang Mu-yeol said, resting the baseball bat on his shoulder.
"The Boss says to bring both of you over."
Im Ji-ah seemed to feel threatened by Kang Mu-yeol's posture.
She looked back and forth between me, who was watching through the slightly opened front door, and Kang Mu-yeol.
'I didn't mean for him to bring them over coercively....'
I smiled awkwardly and waved at Im Ji-ah.
Im Ji-ah let out a sigh of relief and brought Im Do-yeong to my place.
With four people in the small house, it looked much narrower.
Regardless, Im Do-yeong asked brightly.
"Did you happen to get slingshot ammo?"
"I did get some, but there's something more important than the slingshot right now."
"I see...."
Im Do-yeong became visibly dejected.
I clearly said there was something more important than the slingshot.
Right now, it seemed like Im Do-yeong couldn't see anything but the slingshot.
"We'll test it soon."
"Really? It's a promise."
Im Do-yeong brightened up again immediately.
He's really serious about the slingshot.
"Is everyone here? Anyone missing?"
There were only three tenants.
I knew everyone was here without having to ask.
It was an old joke like asking people to raise their hands if they were absent.
"Yes!"
"Everyone is here!"
I was actually surprised that they showed such disciplined behavior, like they were doing roll call.
I didn't want this kind of reaction.
Is it the influence of Kang Mu-yeol, who always shows discipline?
Or are they still uncomfortable around me?
A joke that needs explanation is a failed joke.
I brought up the main topic as if it wasn't a joke.
"Im Ji-ah-ssi?"
"Yes!"
"You'll need to prepare our meals from now on, so please tell me if you need any ingredients."
"What kind of...?"
"Usually, any ingredients you can get at a Mart are fine. A large Mart."
"Really?"
"Yes, well. I'm not the type to joke around all the time."
"Ah, that's not what I meant. Can I just tell you?"
"When you think of them. You don't need to tell me right away."
"Then I should plan the menu. Could I borrow some paper and a pen?"
I gave her paper and a pen.
Im Ji-ah started writing something on the paper while scratching her head with the pen.
"A menu. Did you have a nutritionist license or something?"
"No. It's not like that. It's just that I used to prepare meals for employees, that's all. But still, something comes to mind."
Is it because my Level went up to 3?
I haven't received the menu yet, but I felt expectant that I would be able to have balanced meals in the future.
Im Ji-ah focused quickly.
Im Do-yeong asked me hesitantly.
"Can we eat other menus too?"
"It depends on what ingredients Im Ji-ah-ssi writes down. I have to check too."
"Ah...."
"Still, it should be fine for the most part."
"Oh...!"
Even if food doesn't run dry, one is bound to get tired of eating the same menu every day.
Of course, now that the zombie outbreak has occurred, such worries might be a luxury.
But what can I do?
It's possible.
Checking the ingredients to be resupplied was more important than the slingshot.
Having solved the most urgent problem, it was time to solve the next one.
"Then let's test the slingshot now."
I took out the newly resupplied steel balls.
"Oh oh!"
Im Do-yeong, who discovered the steel balls, had sparkling eyes.
Naturally, I didn't intend to go outside and shoot.
Kang Mu-yeol was there, and there weren't many zombies outside, but there was no need to invite danger unnecessarily.
I stood at the window and aimed at a zombie.
Kang Mu-yeol and Im Do-yeong stuck close behind me and watched the outside.
"Try shooting that guy over there."
Kang Mu-yeol designated a target.
Jju-u-uk!
I pulled the slingshot rubber with my back.
It stretched much more than when I pulled with my arms.
To the point where I was worried it might snap.
"Don't worry. It won't snap with that much. I made it that way."
Since the creator, Im Do-yeong, said it was fine, it must be fine.
Tak.
Swe-ae-ae-aek!
The steel ball flew at a speed invisible to the eye.
Pak!
With a dull sound, the zombie's head burst.
"Oh! You're good at shooting?"
"Nice shot."
To think I'd burst a zombie's head in one shot.
I was surprised myself.
In my life, let alone shooting a slingshot, it was my first time even touching one.
To think I had a talent for the slingshot.
'It's because of the skill, I guess.'
If it weren't for the Slingshot skill, I would have definitely missed.
As expected, the System is God and invincible.
「You have acquired Coins.」
Having killed a zombie, I got Coins.
Now I don't have to rely only on Kang Mu-yeol for Coin supply.
I became able to collect Coins on my own.
Of course, if Kang Mu-yeol stepped in directly, it would be much easier to collect Coins.
But being able to do it and not doing it is different.
Plus, the thrill when the zombie's head burst.
The hand feel was electrifying.
「3 Coins are consumed for 'Im Do-yeong's' Level up.」
「Would you like to raise the Level?」
"Yes."
"Huh?"
A light gathered around Im Do-yeong's body.
I handed the slingshot to Im Do-yeong.
"Can you upgrade it?"
"...I'll try!"
Maybe conquering the zombie apocalypse with a slingshot is possible.
"Put it in this backpack quickly. If you don't want to die."
A man holding a knife threatened a middle-aged man.
The middle-aged man's eyelids were bruised blue and his lips were torn.
Behind the middle-aged man, a woman of similar age and a young girl were trembling.
The middle-aged man clenched his fists.
"Oh? Look at your hands shaking. Are you trying to do something? Do you think you can do it?"
There were two more men behind the man with the knife.
They were also armed with steel pipes and kitchen knives.
Blood welled up in the middle-aged man's hands.
In the end, as if giving up, he put canned tuna and ramen into the backpack.
"Yeah, yeah. You have to think about the family behind you. If you act tough for no reason and everyone dies, how resentful would they be of their dad?"
The middle-aged man just filled the backpack with his head bowed low.
"Hey, hey. There's blood on the can. Think with common sense. Would you want to open a can of tuna with blood on it?"
When the middle-aged man didn't answer, the man with the knife held the knife under the middle-aged man's chin.
"Not answering? You lack common sense this much, so how did you get married and how did you have a kid?"
"...What do you want me to do?"
"You have to apologize, apologize. Say, 'I'm sorry'."
The middle-aged man couldn't bear to look back.
"......I'm sorry."
"Yeah. Isn't that nice to see? People these days don't know how to apologize. How did the world end up like this? Now finish packing."
The man with the knife let the middle-aged man go.
The middle-aged man packed the remaining food in the house with a flushed face.
"I've packed everything...."
"You don't have anything hidden, right? If you do, you won't like what happens."
"I really don't!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Why are you yelling? What are you going to do if zombies swarm in? Is that what you want? Should I make that happen?"
"N-no, I don't."
The man with the knife picked up the backpack and then put it down.
"Ugh, heavy. You packed it well. Hey, you carry it."
The man with the knife pointed at the backpack.
The man holding the kitchen knife said while putting on the backpack.
"Should we take the daughter too?"
"No!"
The middle-aged man lunged.
Thwack!
The man with the knife clicked his tongue and kicked the middle-aged man.
"Ugh, you scared me. We're not taking her, we're not taking her. Why did you say something like that to make that guy angry?"
"I'm sorry."
The middle-aged man, who had fallen from the kick, crawled over and blocked the front of his family.
"And mister. If you lunge at me again next time, that's really the end. I'll come back, so get some food ready. I have a lot of dependents too. More than your family."
The man with the knife turned away without regret.
His subordinates followed the man.
They walked down the alley.
"But what if they run away?"
"Doesn't matter. Are they going to report us or what? There are plenty of rats hiding here anyway."
"Then are we not taking the daughter?"
"Well. We still need to get more food. Let's think about it again when we come back."
"Ah, as expected of our boss."
"Shut up and clear the path."
"Yes."
The man with the steel pipe struck the zombie's head.
They didn't feel much threat from the zombies.
They chased the traces of people.
"Why are there so many dead zombies here?"
In front of a certain Villa.
They discovered a pile of zombie corpses.