Daily Life (2)

"Have a safe trip? Drive carefully? Don't get hurt?"

"Yeah."

Treating me like a damn kid. I smirked down at Su-hyeon as she fastened the lifting belt around my waist.

"What do you wanna eat for dinner?"

"You can't cook."

"Ye-eun taught me."

Su-hyeon punched my stomach lightly. That upward glare was cute as hell. I chuckled and caressed her breast.

"I'll make whatever you want."

"Wasabi soy rice."

...Uh. Is that even edible?

"You... eat shit like that?"

"Hey!" This time she kicked my shin. I giggled and headed out.

Down on the first floor, the women were buzzing around. Must be the heat—ice cream was a hit. But it was running low. Maybe sweep the nearby convenience stores later when I have time.

"I'm off."

Su-hyeon waved at me.

"Have a good one, sir!"

Hoon-i spotted me as he came out with his wife, baskets in hand. Guy waved like his life depended on it.

Up on the rooftop, Jun-hyeok and Tae-young—on watch with rifles slung over their shoulders—looked down at me. Couldn't yell up there. They waved, so I waved back.

Mounted the bike and pedaled off. The road to SeoRae Village. A full week of this commute now. Not sure if biking built stamina worth a damn. With the HP 100 achievement skill propping me up, I could ride for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hours without breaking a sweat.

The government folks—or whatever you call 'em—Special Forces kept up the rescues, so SeoRae Village had grown into a real force. Over a hundred people now—a goddamn metropolis in this mess.

Song Gyu-tae, freed up since helos and light planes weren't needed much, led the charge. The motel block was getting massive barricades. Using surrounding blocks as walls, they jammed cars into alleys and gaps between buildings. Then piled up salvaged materials high.

Wouldn't stop a full zombie wave, probably. But no need to hold forever. Waves went nuts on noise, then quieted down quick once it stopped. Just survive till they scattered. Pretty solid for that purpose.

Still time to wall the whole block, but progress was steady. Cleaning hotels, villas, shops, and buildings for housing leveled everyone up nice. Me at 44 now. Strength 80. Twenty more to the achievement.

Passed Banpo Bridge into SeoRae Village. Buses blocked the entrance, welded with metal chairs and desks—a sturdy barricade greeting me.

"Hey."

Kim Dae-wi, on guard, spotted me and dropped the ladder. I slung the bike over my shoulder and climbed.

"Sung-hoon. Why not just bring everyone? Commuting a pain, no?"

Wiped sweat from my brow and smirked.

"How's the work going?"

"Smooth."

He pointed. At the block's end, a car-blocked barricade piled with junk swarmed with people. Easy thirty survivors.

"Barricade's grown since yesterday evening."

"They clawed back from death. They're fighting to live. Oh, this."

Kim Dae-wi handed me a letter. Pink paper, heart sticker.

"What's this?"

"One of the rescues saw you walking covered in blood. Heard your story, wrote this. Read it."

...Yeah, chocolate's the shit. I chuckled and pocketed it.

"Gotta stock more chocolate."

Kim Dae-wi grinned and nodded.

"Mart run today?"

"Yeah. Clear everything nearby while I can. Who knows how many more rescues."

"Roger. Good work."

"See ya."

Time to grind levels.

Shwick!

It charged at insane speed. Sword in hand. Grip tight—Shadow Warrior scattered into the air and vanished.

Mart interior done. Toilets left.

Stepped over corpse-choked floors, shouldered the bathroom door open.

Bam!

"Krarrak!"

"Hup!"

Slashed sideways like whipping the blade. The human beast, tiger-prowling for prey, slowed to a crawl. Skull split, oblivious, face twisted.

Cleaved the other two's heads, stabbed 'em dead, booted open the last stall.

Three down. Acceleration ended.

"--Kek-rrak!"

Splat. Blood sprayed. They crumpled loud.

"Whew."

Short exhale, turned.

"Status."

Dumped the point into Strength—hit 100. Now, achievements.

14. Strength 100 achieved.

New skill unlocked. Tapped Limit Achievement to check.

...Strength efficiency doubled.

I gritted my teeth. Send Shadow Warrior out—no Acceleration needed, could drop 200 from one spot now. Combat power spiking. Visibly. I was getting stronger.

Flicked blood off the sword, sheathed it.

Shing-clack.

Headed back.

Approaching the government block in SeoRae Village, Seong Ga-yeon on sentry grinned at me.

"Always covered in blood."

I grinned back.

"Yeah. Ankle better?"

She wiggled her foot.

"How's it look?"

Hm. Looking up... nice view. Smirked, no answer.

She lowered the ladder.

"Sung-hoon. Talk of heading to Pyeongtaek. You in?"

"Gotta be."

Weapons there. RPGs, bazookas—arm the family, blow human beasts and waves to hell. Claymores good too. Or anti-tank mines for the swarms. Crush 'em flat.

"When?"

"Dunno. Not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠official yet. Just Special Forces chatter."

I eyed her.

"Survivor sweeps done?"

She tilted her head.

"Not quite, but getting sparse. That apartment complex ahead? Barely any left."

...Yeah. If sweeps wrapped, time to move.

Gazed at SeoRae Village from behind the barricades. Roads car-blocked, alleys piled high. Pure apocalypse.

Glanced at Ga-yeon.

"Heading home. Getting late."

"Sung-hoon."

"Yeah?"

She smiled.

"Wanna meet your people sometime. Introduce us?"

I nodded, smiling.

"Sure. Mine are curious too."

She gave a wry smile.

"Weird way to put it, huh? 'Your people,' 'ours.' Wasn't like this long ago."

No reply needed. Descended the barricade.

"See you morning."

"Good work."

Waved, crossed to the other side.

Yeah. No more Korea. Just survivors amid monsters.

Thus rolled on the peaceful routine—into week three. Hit Mental 100.

Mental 100 achievement? Not what I expected.

HP Achieved - Physical abilities enhanced.

Sense Achieved - Sense efficiency doubled.

Strength Achieved - Strength efficiency doubled.

Mental Achieved - Soul Stones acquired doubled.

...Doubles Soul Stones? Current stash: 7551.

...I've killed a fuckton. And this doubles it? What the hell even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠are they for?