Chapter 23: Safe Zone (1)
I figured the best place to find clothes for Sua and Jiwoo would be a department store or big mart, so I leaned back on the cockpit sofa and pulled out my smartphone. While I was at it, I searched for any trade posts I could handle on the way there.
Amid the flood of posts, one title immediately caught my eye. A trade request that matched my destination perfectly.
🪙 Reward: 40 Low-grade Mana Stones
We were originally using the department store as our base. It was fine at first, but as more survivors joined, our food ran out. We decided to move everyone to the large safe zone in Yeonsu-gu.
But midway through, we got ambushed by a monster horde. The prolonged fight split our group in two. Half made it safely to the apartment complex safe zone, but the rest of us—including me—got pushed back and trapped inside the department store by the monsters.
Our awakeners are already injured and don't have the strength to break out. We're looking for powerful awakeners to escort us to the apartment complex.
It was written plainly, but the request screamed desperation. Growing numbers of people, dwindling food supplies. They'd risked moving to a bigger safe zone, only to get split by monsters and holed up in the department store. The survivors inside were probably just waiting for rescue.
"Gotta help them out."
I decided to save them. I had to hit the department store anyway for the kids' clothes and shoes. I could just load the trapped folks into car 3's passenger compartment and drop them at the apartments on the way. No hesitation—I whispered the poster right away.
"Monsters, huh..." I shoved my phone in my pocket and gripped the heavy accelerator lever tight. No idea how many were out there, but I might have to fight up close for the first time in a while.
"Yeah... get too comfy and you lose your edge."
I flexed my hands, steeling myself. Input the destination, and the train started moving.
Arriving near the department store, I got up from the cockpit and headed to car 2 to tell Jiwoo and Sua to stay put.
"Sis'll be right back, so lock the doors and stay here. No matter what noises you hear outside, don't come out. Got it?"
"Yeah, sis! Be careful!"
"Unnie, come back safe!"
With their send-off, I stepped out. In that short time, the kids had already brightened up a lot. Good. Way better than moping around.
My well-prepped drones flew up beside me, forming a perfect escort formation. The path to the main entrance crawled with monsters—just like the post said, this area was unusually thick with them. Packed so densely, it was like someone had deliberately herded them here. No wonder the awakeners were stuck.
Lucky the station wasn't far from the store.
"Clear out as many monsters as you can on the way to the department store."
The drones unleashed hell at my command. Pew! Pew! Combat drones shredded the blockers with merciless barrages, recon drones blinded those in blind spots, and high-flying sniper drones popped heads like watermelons with heavy blasts.
Don't wipe them all now—thin the herd first...
Once inside, I'd assess the survivors' numbers and situation, then have the drones clean up after. Injured folks too... gotta be quick...
I hurried through the blood-and-gore hellscape. The drones' path looked clear all the way—no fighting needed. My boosted agility was shining now.
Movement's definitely sharper.
Soon I reached the 1st-floor main entrance, sealed by a thick metal shutter. Faint anxious murmurs came from beyond. I knocked hard.
"Came after seeing your post on Survivor Gallery."
"...Huh!"
Clank. Rattle. Heavy metal groaned as the shutter cracked open—just enough for one head. A helmeted guy's eyes scanned me top to bottom, then shook wildly.
"...N-no way you came alone? Where are the other awakeners..."
"Kieeeek—!"
While he panicked, a monster pack prowling nearby screeched and charged.
Handle them here? Better thin more first—
"Shit, mobs incoming! Get in quick!"
The guy yanked the shutter up, cleared the barricade, and ushered me inside. My three drones slipped in right on cue. Bam! Shutter slammed shut, bolt locked. He slumped against the wall, panting with despair.
"Haa... What were you thinking coming here alone?! We said we needed strong awakeners...! And those drones—"
He clutched his head, voice rising. After sending that hopeful message, a barely-adult girl shows up solo? From their side, it must feel like their last lifeline snapped. I got it.
As I opened my mouth to calm him—
"Uh... you should check outside..."
"What?"
Another survivor peeking from the window called in a shaky voice.
"That girl's drones just mowed down a ton of monsters outside... Their numbers dropped noticeably..."
"...What're you saying?"
He scowled and hurried to the window, reinforced with tape and boards. His jaw dropped.
I didn't need to look—I knew the scene. Sniper-riddled heads, bullet-riddled goblins. Plenty of corpses littering the ground.
"What the..."
He turned, staring at me and the circling drones, eyes shifting.
"...You took out that many monsters solo?"
"Thanks to the drones."
"Those drones?"
"My skill."
"Whoa..."
Technically a skill sub-feature, but trust earned regardless.
"...Mind if I check inside?"
"Huh? Oh, sure... go ahead."
I headed deeper into the 1st-floor lobby. He followed. The scene matched the post: exhausted survivors huddled anxiously, injured awakeners groaning on the floor with wounds big and small.
"This guy's wound is pretty deep..."
"He fought up front... got hit by goblins."
One middle-aged man, fading fast, drew my eye—torn clothes revealing a grave injury. Worse off than the rest. People fussed, but it was too deep.
"...Urgh..."
"He was protecting us..."
"..."
Even in the apocalypse, a bitter end for someone who risked it all. Then I remembered something in my pocket—the stamina potion I'd held back from the vending machine, just in case.
I knelt by him, pulled it out. The precious recovery item from before.
"What're you—"
"Hold on—"
Murmurs rose as I approached. Ignoring them, I gently pried his jaw and poured the red liquid in.
No clue how effective it'd be. I watched half-doubtful.
Luckily, change hit fast. Raspy breaths steadied; fresh flesh knit over the mangled shoulder and side.
"Ugh, ungh..."
"The wound...!"
He groaned, eyes fluttering open. Cheers almost erupted—
BOOM—!
The opposite wall exploded in a massive roar, glass shattering beyond the entrance. Dust cleared to reveal a hulking beast with glowing red eyes. The pressure screamed not ordinary. Like a deep-dungeon boss.
Wall-smashing power from the start.
"Damn..."
"It broke the wall..."
"Haa... The dungeon glowed red all sudden... then these bastards swarmed..."
"...No way."
Despair spread; shutter guy trembled beside me. His words sparked a thought: dungeon break. Some trigger, but possible.
"Monsters incoming!"
Fighting-fit awakeners yelled, weapons up. The intruder? An orc-like brute from a game.
"Grraaah!"
It heaved its massive club. I told my drones:
"Protect the people."
I readjusted my creepy toothed flail on my back. First real fight in ages—drones handling extras—but had to do it.
"GRRROOO—!"
As the orc swung, I timed my leap. Power burst from my toes.
Crack! Marble floor shattered; I shot sideways like an arrow.
BOOM! Club missed, cratering the floor, shards flying.
"Hup!"
I slammed the toothed flail into its thick right arm mid-swing. Crunch, splat! Bone-shattering gore echoed through the lobby.
Still a beast of a weapon, even after downtime. But this orc was tough—goblins would've head-popped. Arm still attached.
"GRRAAAH—!"
Its forearm twisted grotesquely. Agonized screech pierced ears. Right arm limp, club dropped.
I shook off my hand lightly, gripped tighter.
"Hoo..."
"What was that—"
Survivors' stares burned my back.