Chapter 14
Chapter 14
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: The First Night
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Wow, it's already getting dark."
"Yeah. Must be because there are no lights."
I'd never noticed it before, thanks to all the store signs and streetlights.
A world without light apparently meant night fell this quickly.
"Perfect, there's a convenience store right there. Let's take a break."
"You sure that's okay? Didn't you say we need to keep moving?"
"Moving at night is dangerous. There are way more zombies wandering around. We could get surrounded in the middle of the road."
Fair point. It'd be harder to fight in the dark, and ambushes would be a risk too.
Better to rest here.
"Ah! S-something's over there?"
Hye-na, who had been carefully turning the car toward the store, shouted.
Looking closer, it was a wild dog.
"Grrr..."
Not a normal one, of course.
It was already infected, turned into a zombie dog monster.
"Wild dogs, huh... Annoying ones have shown up."
"Are they dangerous?"
"They're faster and more agile than regular human zombies. Don't worry, though. There are only two, so I can..."
-Screeech! Thud! Crunch!
Before Lee Yoo-ri could finish, Hye-na floored the accelerator and rammed the dog with the car.
We all stared at Hye-na without a word.
She flushed red, looking flustered by the reaction.
"Uh, um, I just thought... this would be the quickest and surest way..."
Lee Yoo-ri looked like she'd suffered a mild culture shock.
Not so much from the action itself, but from the fact that it was Hye-na doing it.
"W-was that a bit much?"
"Nah. It was pretty decisive."
If you can kill without fighting, that's the best option.
Though seeing that innocent face casually squashing it was a little surprising.
'They say people change when they get behind the wheel. Is Hye-na like that too?'
In any case, we safely parked in front of the convenience store.
No bodies inside—maybe the clerk had escaped in time.
'Good that the stuff is intact.'
It wasn't huge, but as a convenience store, it had food and supplies stocked.
I was grabbing some canned goods and dried foods when I noticed Hye-na and Yoo-ri sweeping half the shelves clean.
"What are you grabbing so eagerly?"
"Huh? Oh, n-nothing!"
"Tampons."
"Yoo-ri..."
Hye-na's face turned beet red, while Yoo-ri casually held them up like it was no big deal.
This put me in an awkward spot on how to react.
'Well, women have to think about that stuff.'
Essential consumables. Better to stock up while we can.
I grabbed some cigarettes, just in case—not for me, but because I remembered them being used as currency in apocalypses.
Once we'd gathered the basics, we headed to the refrigerated section.
Power was out, so everything was off.
"It's all gonna spoil if we leave it. Should we just eat it all?"
"I'm in! Too hard to store anyway."
We had hot water handy, so dinner was cup ramen and kimbap.
We even pulled out some stir-fried kimchi and pickled radish.
Soon, the convenience store filled with delicious aromas.
My stomach growled fiercely at the smell.
Slurp!
After waiting three minutes, I blew on the noodles and slurped them up in one go.
A sip of broth, and warmth spread through my body.
"Ahh, this hits the spot!"
Yukgaejang cup ramen, kimchi, and tuna cheese kimbap.
Even Buddha couldn't resist this combo.
"Haa, so good..."
"Indeed. Not a bad meal."
Hye-na and Yoo-ri's expressions softened too.
They must've been starving after all the hardship.
"...Aren't you eating a bit too much, though?"
"Gotta eat while you can."
"Even so, ten triangle kimbaps is overkill."
The reincarnator seemed to love the convenience store kimbaps.
We cracked open snacks and drinks too.
Too pricey normally, but no owner now, so who cares.
"Ah, it's raining."
As we relaxed, raindrops started falling from the sky.
No wonder it looked so dark—storm clouds rolling in.
"Perfect timing."
Lee Yoo-ri stood, belly full.
Then she suddenly loosened her necktie and started unbuttoning her dress shirt.
"Y-Yoo-ri!"
Hye-na jumped up in shock, blocking my view.
"What's wrong?"
"W-well... You can't just strip like that in front of a guy!"
Yoo-ri tilted her head.
"Who knows when it'll rain again. Need to wipe off this sweat now."
"Th-that's true, but..."
Hye-na glanced down at herself, fidgeting.
In this situation, and no smell, I hadn't noticed, but now it bugged her.
"Don't mind me. I'll turn around."
"Ah, really...? Thanks."
I have that much manners at least.
Girls worry about that stuff.
I turned to face the window.
A moment later, I heard them moving.
"..."
Rustle of clothes falling.
Then the chime of the door opening.
Out in the rain, they'd probably stripped fully.
Turn around now, and I'd see naked Hye-na and Yoo-ri.
Images of their killer figures flashed in my mind—ones I'd tried ignoring.
Still, Metafiction kept impulsive thoughts at bay.
Though the fact that 'mental defense' triggered here was a bit embarrassing.
"Whoa, Yoo-ri, your boobs are huge."
"Really? They're just a hindrance in fights."
"Um... c-can I touch them?"
"Huh? Sure, it's not a big deal."
"Hehe, thanks. Wow, so soft..."
"Mm, isn't that a bit too hard?"
'Shut up already!'
Metafiction was working overtime harder than during the boss fight.
No, honestly, it's not my fault.
I'm a guy in his prime.
Hot girls stripping right in front of me? Normal to react.
'What the hell is this situation?'
Fanservice for the readers?
Assuming we'd all love it if they strip? ...
Damn, it really knows its audience.
'Come to think of it, we're all sleeping together here tonight.'
I closed my eyes and meditated.
Suddenly felt like singing the national anthem.
We bedded down in the store's storage room.
Surprisingly spacious, with a sturdy door.
We'd notice anyone coming.
And safest spot around.
"Mm, feels like a school trip."
"Rest well, even if it's rough. Who knows what tomorrow brings."
With that, we closed our eyes.
Exhaustion from the day hit fast.
Soon, steady breathing filled the room.
'...Can't sleep.'
But my eyes were wide open.
Too much had happened all at once?
My mind grew cluttered with trivial thoughts.
Nothing deep—just pointless worries about the future.
'Sigh.'
Finally, I got up after lying there forever.
Slipped out, avoiding the sleeping pair.
Rain had stopped.
Faint rain scent and cool night air felt nice on my skin.
'What kind of character am I here?'
Comment Search and Metafiction.
Not exactly ordinary.
'Metafiction—where characters realize the story is fiction.'
Like breaking the fourth wall.
System and traits let me realize this is a webnovel.
At first, I thought I'd possessed some unknown novel.
But those 'comments' in the boss fight gave me chills.
'Is someone watching me right now?'
Like in constellation stories—praising and tossing coins.
"Ahem! Readers? If you're watching, spare some coins?"
Nothing happened, of course.
Face heated up for no reason.
Good thing Yoo-ri and Hye-na were asleep.
If they saw, it'd be blanket-kick level cringe.
'Anyway, if this really is a novel, how do I get the happy ending...'
"Grrr."
A sudden sound broke my focus.
Zombies shambling toward me.
"...My mood was weird anyway. Perfect."
Thought of waking the others, but nah.
They needed rest.
First time, I'd hole up in the store.
Now, they looked like walking coins.
"Girls are sleeping, so let's keep it quiet."
"Graaaah!"
I swung the baseball bat at the nearest zombie.
Its head exploded.
'Body feels light.'
Stats: Strength, Endurance, Agility all over 10.
Physical prowess was noticeably better.
Kept swinging at the horde.
Zombies dropped helplessly each time.
'Nice to feel the growth.'
In reality, you couldn't power up this fast.
Takes years of training for a 500kg bench even.
But keep fighting and growing like this?
I'll be way stronger later.
"Grrr..."
A zombie dog lunged from above.
Dodged easily, smashed it with the bat.
Blood splattered my cheek.
Even scary-looking wild dogs felt meh now.
'Don't enjoy it, but fighting feels rewarding.'
Breath quickening, but mood hyping up.
Kept swinging the bat.
Maybe I'd adapted to this world already.
Lost in zombie-slaying and coin-farming, dawn broke.
Zombies thinning out as day came—less active?
Spot-on timing.
Seeing it really drove home that I'd survived.
'Oh, free coins?'
I'm level 5 now.
Probably level x 10 daily.
Not a ton, but free money's nice.
Right on cue.
'...What the hell is this?'
Showing this to everyone in the region?
Etching an extra's name like this?
In a death game apocalypse?
"Tch."