Chapter 2
Chapter 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: First Comment
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Kyaaah!”
“Eek! K-Kim Il-sung... he’s... dead...”
Unlike my calm self, the classroom plunged into panic.
It was only natural.
A person had just died right in front of their eyes.
One of their classmates who’d been chatting away just moments ago.
The gruesome sight filled everyone with terror.
They couldn’t even twitch a finger.
Naturally, no one thought to help their fallen friend.
But in a way, that was a blessing.
If they’d all scrambled to flee in a frenzy?
The chaos would’ve made things worse,
and the zombies’ toll would’ve been far greater.
‘No matter the situation, I don’t get startled. A blessing and a curse.’
Even amid all this, I felt no emotions.
It was like watching a monster burst out in a monster flick.
The corpse with its throat torn out.
The zombie chomping away at it.
No disgust. No fear.
Nothing.
I slowly scanned my surroundings.
The empty hallway. The trembling people.
‘No protagonist in here, right?’
Yoo Hye-na might be the closest candidate,
but she was shaking, at a loss for what to do.
No one was rushing in to help.
Not even a key side character.
If there were, the protagonist would’ve swooped in to save the day.
Sadly, everyone here seemed to be extras.
Including me.
“Grrr!”
“H-Hiiik!”
That’s when the zombie snapped its head up.
Eyes scanning for its next prey.
“A-Ah...”
Its gaze locked with a female student’s.
Her legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor.
A wet stain spread between her thighs.
A natural bodily reaction,
but unfortunate timing.
“Raaargh!”
Instinct to hunt the weakest first?
The zombie lunged at the girl.
But just like before, no one moved.
Terror had paralyzed their minds and bodies.
-Thwack!!
Everyone except me.
“Grraaah!”
“......Softer than I thought.”
I grabbed a chair and smashed it over the zombie’s head.
It didn’t go down in one hit, so I swung a few more times.
-Thud! Thud! Thud!
The zombie crumpled to the floor after taking blows to the head.
To be safe, I kept slamming the chair down.
The heavy sensation in my hands was a first.
Bones crunching. Blood flowing.
Looks like even an undead corpse can die eventually.
Blood splattered onto my pants with every strike.
‘This should keep it down.’
I finally stopped after swinging for a while.
The exertion left me breathing hard.
That’s when I’d taken down my first zombie.
A translucent window popped up before my eyes.
I squinted at it.
‘Coins?’
The kind used to buy items in webnovel shops.
Never thought I’d see that cliché apocalypse trope up close.
This world really felt like a novel.
And it was called “Doom Coin.”
The name was so on-the-nose, I almost laughed.
‘Come to think of it, skills require coins too.’
I pulled up the skill info I’d seen earlier.
▶ Skill Name: Comment Check
▶ Grade: S
▶ Level: Max
▶ Cost: 50 Coins
▶ Skill Effect:
Allows viewing comments on the novel. The chapter with comments and comment traits are randomly determined.
Each use costs 50 coins.
Meaning I could check two comments right now.
‘Cheap or expensive? No clue.’
I had no sense of coin value yet.
What could I do without market prices?
Still, it didn’t feel bad.
Info is king in apocalypse stories.
Especially comments on the work itself.
Might even snag survival-critical intel.
‘Gotta try it once anyway.’
I activated the skill right away.
The message had an oddly peppy vibe.
Like a spam call.
A bit thrown off, I consented mentally.
‘Whoa, freebie?’
An unexpected perk brightened my mood a bit.
I’d been ready to spend 50 coins anyway.
Free is always welcome.
1. The very first comment on the prologue
2. The comment with the most recommendations on chapter 1
3. The comment with the most dislikes on chapter 1
Three options floated before me.
Could only pick one, it seemed.
‘Early story, so only up to chapter 1, huh.’
Progress affects the range, like it said.
This must be it.
After a moment’s thought, I chose 2.
‘The top-recommended comment on chapter 1.’
First comments are probably basic.
Disliked ones are likely just hate.
But a highly recommended one?
Sure to hold key info on that chapter.
Content: Apoc genre trait, follow what the smart-looking extra says and you die right away lol
Recommendations: 124 | Dislikes: 8
‘What the hell?’
Honestly, a letdown.
Not hidden piece level, but I’d hoped for protagonist hints at least.
This told me nothing actionable.
I tried using the skill again right away.
But the next message stopped me.
‘......No warning about this.’
A cooldown? Who knew.
And available comments/chapters are random.
Can’t just get what I want.
‘More luck-based than I thought.’
Still, peeking into the future wasn’t bad.
Better info would come with progress.
I swallowed my disappointment.
“Kyaaah! O-Over there!”
A female student pointed out the window, screaming.
All eyes turned outside.
A horde of zombies was charging toward the building.
“W-What the fuck!”
“Damn it! Where the hell did those things come from?!”
The brief calm shattered; panic returned.
At a glance, there were more zombies than people in the classroom.
Fighting or fleeing seemed impossible rationally.
Unless everyone in the school banded together,
sacrificing some to win—but who’d step up in modern society?
“Let’s run!”
Suddenly, a glasses-wearing guy spoke up.
Top of the class, good student type.
“Z-Zombies everywhere—where to?”
“To the rooftop! Put distance between us first. Safer that way. If rescuers come, we can hop on a chopper!”
His words had merit.
No one had better ideas.
“Hurry! No guarantee we’re the only ones heading up!”
Time limit too.
No sooner said than people bolted into the hall.
Lucky us—top floor.
One staircase to rooftop.
I stepped into the hall but didn’t climb.
That comment nagged at me.
‘Apoc genre trait, follow what the smart-looking extra says and you die right away lol.’
‘This is exactly that situation.’
Was the rooftop even safe?
The first zombie came from the hall.
Meant zombies could be anywhere in the building.
And rooftop? Cornered if chased.
Might be trapping ourselves.
Normally, I’d have blindly followed.
But Metafiction kept me clear-headed.
“Wait!”
I shouted after deciding.
“Moving rashly is dangerous. No telling what’s up there.”
They paused briefly.
Very briefly.
“What’s that supposed to mean, you otaku punk?!”
“Killed one zombie and thinks he’s hot shit now?”
Hmm, why the hate even when I’m genuinely worried?
They charged up anyway.
Couldn’t force them to stop.
Survival choices are personal.
Maybe they’re right, and I’m wrong.
‘At least I tried warning them. Duty done.’
So what about me?
“J-Ji-hoon. Let’s just follow them, okay?”
A terrified voice from beside me.
Yoo Hye-na clung to my sleeve, trembling.
Why’s she still here?
“If you’re scared, go alone.”
“H-How could I leave you behind?”
She looked hurt.
Honestly, surprised.
Didn’t expect her to care this much.
No—prioritizing others in this mess?
Takes real character.
‘Maybe Hye-na’s not just an extra?’
She’s too pretty for one-and-done.
Plausible she’d survive to the end.
But I couldn’t follow her up.
As I pondered what to do with her hand,
[Attempted to save another survivor but failed!]
[Regrettable, but correct choice!]
[Early progress affects traits and job selection!]
A message appeared.
Then screams pierced my ears.
-KyaAaAaAh!
-Save me! Save me!
-Mom! Mooom!
Chilling bone-crunching sounds erupted.
Screams from the rooftop prickled my skin.
Hye-na and I looked toward the stairs.
One of the girls from before burst out, pale as a ghost.
“M-Monster... save...”
She tried to speak amid the chaos.
But her words never finished.
She tripped suddenly.
Not tripped—a tentacle gripped her ankle.
“Noooo! No! NOOO!!”
Her nails scraped the floor as she clawed desperately.
But to no avail; she was dragged into the darkness.
-Crunch! Chomp! Snap!
Sounds of something being chewed echoed.
No need to explain what that heralded.
A wriggling presence stirred in the shadows.
.......A mid boss right off the bat.
Guess neither Hye-na nor I are this world’s protagonist.