Shopping Day
"Hoo—. Fucking loads of them."
Moving to a new hunting ground made a real difference—the zombies swarming us numbered at least twice as many. It wasn't even a main road, but I'd just hacked down damn near thirty of the bastards.
Still, the EXP is rolling in nice and steady.
Free Stats: 0/0 | EXP: 375.75/800
Status: Mild Heat, Mild Fatigue
Job: Apocalypse Natural LV.4
A bit over halfway to the next level. Little drops make the mighty ocean—even the basic zombies worth just 0.5 EXP added up nicely when you farmed enough of them.
The real haul came from those raiders, though. All LV.1s with a few LV.2s mixed in, which let me power-level like crazy.
If I snag just two more parties like yesterday's, I'll level up for sure.
Wondering if any other suckers like that were around, I stepped into the store. Jeong Da-jeong was just finishing off the last zombie.
"Hup."
Splat—.
She gripped the end of her bat like a hammer and swung one-handed at the zombie's head. The force behind it was weak, though, so she had to follow up on the downed one.
Thud, thud. Thud... Squelch. Finally, the zombie's brain crushed under the blows.
"Hoo—. So hot."
Only after putting it down did she take off her motorcycle helmet, wiping the sweat beading thick on her face.
"Ah. Master, you're done already?"
Her breathing was barely changed despite clearing the store solo. She was getting the hang of zombie-slaying.
"Pull up your status window and skill window."
"Yes."
Free Stats: 0/0 | EXP: 365/400
Status: Mild Heat, Slave Brand
Job: Apocalypse Accomplice LV.2
A dozen more zombies and she'd hit LV.3 too—perfect timing.
New hunting ground, time for new gear.
I'd been swinging wild enough that the axe and machete from the hardware store day one were chipped to hell, blades shattered, handles snapped—total junk. The dagger from the gun nut's place worked in a pinch, but the reach sucked.
"Don't pack too much. Leave two... no, three inventory slots open."
"Yes, Master."
While she packed, I pulled out the map to scout shopping spots.
Hardware store's on the list for later...
What I wanted was higher-end stuff, durable gear from a camping supply shop or similar.
"Fishing... leisure... electronics... Ah, there it is."
Destination: Myeongseo-dong, southwest of our spot in Seongjeong-dong where the old town started.
Too early to push in deep, but I can sample the vibe and bail.
"Master, all packed."
"Good. I'll take point—follow close."
"Yes, Master."
And off we went to Myeongseo-dong.
...
Myeongseo-dong really stood out—buildings were squat overall, that old-school chicken-coop density leaving few hiding spots. But my eyes went elsewhere first.
"Ho ho?"
"What's up, Master?"
"Nah, just looks like this place has some fun players too."
Corpses scattered here and there, decay well underway. Normal survivor fare so far, but what caught me was the police station in the distance—roads cleared just wide enough for a sedan, radiating outward.
Not a huge zone yet, but it screamed "territory with an owner."
"Heh, heh heh heh..."
"Master...?"
"...Ahem, ahem."
Easy, easy. Gotta let 'em fatten up first.
It made my blood itch, but real grinding starts after gearing up. Shopping first today.
...
The camping shop was a shitshow.
"""Grraaahhh—!"""
Thud, thud—. Thud—.
Someone looted and fucked up—blood everywhere inside, zombies piling against the glass at our bike noise.
Eighteen... twenty? Heh, plenty.
Lucky break: a fallen cabinet blocked the door, leaving just enough gap for one at a time. That's why they were trapped.
Vroom.Step, step—.
No words needed—we killed the engine and split. I handled the outside swarm.
Clang—, clang—. Clang—. Stab—. Sizzle—.
She cleared the insiders one by one.
Splat—. Splat...
After a solid grind inside and out, we finally entered.
"Urk—."
The stench hit like a wall—rotted corpses, thick even in the heat. Not fresh zombies; source was the pile by the counter.
Click. Clack. Click—.
At the center, a bony lump with scraps of flesh still chattering teeth—a skeleton? Zombie?
"They ate thrifty."
Clang—.
I one-shotted the thing and cracked open the bag on the counter.
"Holy shit, Christmas come early?"
Black kukri, steel tomahawk, throwing knives... all top brands for durability that I knew well. The crown jewel: a one-handed straight sword, just under a meter, toppled behind the counter. No way a standard camping shop stocked that.
Finally noticing, I stepped out and checked the sign—under "Camping Supplies," small text: "Military / Survival Shop."
Sells tents too, so not totally off...
Windfall anyway.
Shing—. Shing—.
Perfect weight, reach for days—this sword was gold.
"Dumbass, dying to zombies with this?"
Crunch—.
One last skull-stomp for thanks, and I looted it all.
My farming done, time for Jeong Da-jeong's weapon. Old town vibes meant they were everywhere—spotted one right at the entrance of the nearest building supplies.
Thud, thud, thud—.
"Too heavy. Too short. Handle not wood..."
Found the sweet spot and tossed it to her.
"Master, this one?"
She held up a urethane-handled sledgehammer—the "ohamma," puzzled.
"You haven't assigned your level-up stats yet?"
"No, you told me not to..."
"Dump one into Strength now and swing this."
"Yes."
She hefted the sledge two-handed and smashed the wall full force.
Boom—!
"Ack...!"
She winced at the jolt, but I grinned at the crater.
Zombie skulls'll shatter easy.
"Feel good?"
"K-Kinda heavy."
Even the lightest was around 3kg—after bats, no wonder it felt like a beast to her.
Yeah, figured. It's a weight-based smasher.
Sledgehammers had reach and power but guzzled stamina. Unfit for combat, so I skipped 'em at the hardware store... but perfect for her.
"That's the weight you need. Everything before was too light."
I recalled her skill from earlier.
Erased Burden LV.1 [Job Passive Skill]
Assists with the weight of the equipped weapon.
Related Stats: Primary - Vitality, Secondary - Strength
Weight reduction based on Vitality/Strength stats and skill level: 26.5%
Her skill cut it to about 2.2kg—perfect swing weight for her Strength 4. Plus her Vitality 7 outstripped mine, and this might even save stamina.
No more weak hits needing follow-ups, that's for sure.
Four or five bat swings? Or one sledge smash and move on? Obvious win.
"If you say so, Master... guess it is."
Still, she didn't grasp her own strength, all hesitant.
"Then shut up and grab a few more like it."
Real combat would teach her. I tied strings on extras for easy carry—her new weapon sorted.
...
Gear upgraded, might as well shop all needs since we're in old town.
Hit the farm equipment store for a generator.
"No, that's too weak. Grab the one next to it."
"S-Sorry, Master, volume limit."
"Cut the handle off with the saw up top?"
"Ah, that works!"
Furniture shop for a bed.
"Assembly kit and air mattress for now. Haul a real one from school later."
"Eek..."
"Don't worry, not making you."
"Yes...? Then you'll..."
"Crazy? Why would I?"
Bedding store for summer blankets and pillows.
"Ah, come on. Pick quick."
"Sorry. Hehe—. But it's rare to shop proper like this."
"Enough. Hurry up."
"Yes, Master."
Last, gym minis for the two fridges.
"Ah, this design's cute, right?"
"Who cares? Works fine, done."
"Ahaha, true. Yes, hehe."
"...Why you giggling non-stop?"
"Ahaha... 'Cause shopping like this feels like old times, y'know? Always wanted to... with someone..."
She glanced sidelong.
"...Set up a love nest or whatever."
"Nuts? You tryna get smacked?"
"...Sorry."
Shopping done, just firing up to leave—
"Huh?"
"Yes?"
"You hear that?"
"No...? I didn't say anything..."
...
…please. Here, here—! Please...
Heading toward the voice, someone in the villa waved... no, jiggled their chest begging help.
Jiggle, jiggle—.
"Please save me—!"
That violent visual yanked the words out.
"Whoa, check out those tits."
Weapon upgrade and big-titted slave. Today was prime shopping day.