Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: 24. Humans Who've Lost Their Marbles. (1)
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Numerous eyes.
They were all staring at me, not even daring to breathe.
I shook my sword through the air.
Splat!
Blood flew off, leaving the blade clean.
I sheathed the sword and turned around.
Shing—click.
Every step squelched through pools of blood and scattered entrails.
Blood trickled from my cheek down to the corner of my mouth.
The metallic taste rose up.
As I walked, they parted like a wave, clearing a path.
The circle they'd formed opened into a C-shape.
I gathered the saliva in my mouth and spat it out with a thick hack, then strode between them.
The carpet of guts finally ended, giving way to pavement.
Step, step.
Much better on solid ground.
The big-box mart building.
I looked up at it.
People were poking their heads out from the second floor, third floor, and rooftop.
Faces filled with shock.
Faces frozen in surprise.
Not a single one wore its usual expression.
The faces began vanishing one by one.
Even the women who hadn't seen me swing the sword had all witnessed it now.
They'd seen me butcher people without hesitation, right before their eyes.
My heart felt a little heavy.
Those people... they'll fear me now.
I might never see those easy smiles and greetings again.
A touch of bitterness settled in.
With that mood hanging over me, I walked toward the shutter.
Rattle—
The shutter rolled up.
People were standing there.
Huni's uncle, Inline Taeyoung and Junhyeok, Han Tae.
And Su-hyun.
They were all looking at me.
A woman came down the stairs.
It was Jeong Eun-seo.
Her expression...
I couldn't read the emotion on it.
Ding—
The elevator across the way opened, and people stepped out.
Ye-eun, So-eun, Huni's uncle's wife, and the woman from the tenth floor.
They hurried over.
I climbed the stairs and stepped inside the shutter.
Huni's uncle walked behind me.
Rattle—
The shutter closed.
The women from the elevator stood behind the group.
The people neither approached nor backed away, just held their distance and watched me.
No one said a word.
Why wasn't anyone speaking?
They'd all seen what just happened.
I slowly opened my mouth.
"...Everyone okay?"
Moving my face to speak sent droplets of blood pattering from my chin and hair.
Su-hyun's lips twitched oddly.
Like she was grieving, maybe.
One woman stepped forward.
Jeong Eun-seo.
The woman whose sister had died.
The woman who'd lost her last remaining family to the cockroaches.
Jeong Eun-seo stared at me—my eyes, face, nose, lips—like she was committing it all to memory.
Then she cupped my face with both hands and kissed me.
A soft sensation spread from my lips.
I stiffened in slight surprise.
Her tongue slipped in.
I parted my jaw without thinking.
Her tongue grazed my teeth and entered my mouth.
Blood.
The blood lingering on my lips mixed in, filling my mouth with that metallic tang.
But Jeong Eun-seo showed no sign of stopping.
Her tongue obsessively licked my lips and wrapped around mine.
Smack.
She pulled her lips away.
Blood.
On her nose, the side of it, her lips.
smeared and streaked red.
Jeong Eun-seo spoke.
"...Thank you."
She took a step back, glanced at the others, bowed her head.
Then she pushed through the crowd and hurried toward the elevator like she was fleeing.
The people stepped closer, one pace.
The inline guys...
Junhyeok, Taeyoung.
Bruised and battered faces as they approached me.
Faces on the verge of tears, they placed hands on my arms and shoulders.
They said nothing.
Just nodded.
Huni's uncle came up too, hand on my shoulder.
So-eun, the married woman, the tenth-floor woman.
They stood a step back, hands clasped tightly or neatly together, watching me.
Tears glistening in their eyes.
Su-hyun and Ye-eun.
Why are you two about to cry?
Su-hyun came up and took my hand.
Ye-eun watched me, eyes welling up.
Ah, right.
You were scared.
Over a hundred of them swarming, beating people, demanding women.
No way that wouldn't terrify you.
In that moment, humans probably scared you more than the human beasts.
Hands reached out. Su-hyun's cheek against my chest stained red with blood.
A single tear rolled down Ye-eun's cheek.
I wiped it away with my hand.
Smearing blood around her eye.
I said,
"Don't cry. It's okay now."
Ye-eun nodded, sniffling on her blood-smeared face, forcing a smile.
I looked at Junhyeok and Taeyoung.
One had a torn eyelid, blood trickling.
Junhyeok's nose was gushing blood.
Probably broken.
Still.
"Glad you're all safe."
Junhyeok's throat bobbed.
Then he nodded.
"Yeah, Seong-hun. Thanks to you."
No cheers, no blame, no sorrow or fear.
Just smiles from those who smiled, tears from those who cried.
They all gathered around me like that.
I'd fallen asleep, only to wake again.
Feeling consciousness dimly return, I opened my eyes.
Hair tickling my cheek.
Su-hyun lay on my right.
I smiled, tightening my arm around her to caress her breast.
Then kissed her forehead.
Warmth from her lips.
"...Mm."
Su-hyun stirred faintly, making a sound.
She might wake up.
I slowly withdrew the arm she'd been using as a pillow.
She whined like a fussy child.
But soon quieted.
From my movement, Ye-eun on my left shifted too.
Ye-eun asleep, wrapped around my left arm.
Head slightly raised—must be her sleeping habit.
I gave Ye-eun a light kiss, then slid my right hand between her legs.
Soft hair and a gentle slit welcomed my touch.
I stroked lightly.
A faint moan.
Feels good.
But...
I chuckled softly and sat up.
Can't sleep.
Women on both sides cuddling up feels great, but impossible to sleep.
Three on a queen-size bed is a squeeze.
Next time, sleep in Ye-eun's room.
King-size should fit us fine.
I swung my legs toward Su-hyun's side.
Her breast right in front of me.
I took the nipple in my mouth, suckled gently, then got out of bed.
"...Ahh."
Cute.
Standing by the bed, I looked down at the two women.
Naked bodies breathing softly in sleep.
A surreal sight.
They'd opened themselves to me just wanting me happy, showered together, took turns sucking me without fuss.
I finished inside Su-hyun, in Ye-eun's mouth, then we caressed each other for a while before sleep.
A fine scene.
But damn... I want to sleep.
Wake-sleep cycle has my eyes stinging.
I scratched my head and yawned.
Clothes and bras scattered on the floor.
Careful not to step on a bra, I opened the dresser across from the bed.
Put on shorts and a tee, headed out.
Might as well smoke since I'm up.
Deep night, hallway quiet.
Not entirely, though.
Faint moans from afar.
The kind you'd miss without listening closely—a woman's moans.
The woman from the tenth floor.
Got along with Inline real estate guy Junhyeok, ended up like this.
Maybe seeing her get beaten by cockroaches made him want to comfort her.
Whatever.
If they like each other, fine.
The men don't seem to mind me with multiple women.
Makes sense—Huni's uncle has his wife.
Taeyoung lives with his girlfriend from the inline club, and Junhyeok sounds like he's doing well from those moans.
Dung-reek—no, Han Tae...
Maybe too green for the women's eyes.
Leaves just me.
Women choose who they want; that's their call.
Men seem to accept it.
I smiled and walked to the window at the hall's end.
Flick.
Puff—
Smoke poured out the half-open window like a waterfall.
Strange experience.
Women choosing me is one thing, but all three in one bed?
Maybe from the terrifying ordeal.
Excessive fear, sudden relief?
Puff—
Who knows.
Since the apocalypse, I've lived surrounded by dozens, hundreds of human beasts.
A measly hundred cockroaches? Not a worry for me.
I chuckled.
It's clear.
Something inside me's numb.
Musing on this morning's threesome, I finished my smoke and turned.
Hm.
Sleep's gone completely.
Maybe get some air.
I took the stairs to the rooftop.
Opened the steel door, and wind rushed in.
The mild yet refreshing summer night breeze swept my hair.
I took out another cigarette, put it in my mouth, and ambled toward the wall.
It's the apocalypse.
But power's still on.
Meaning night views exist.
The city lights spread before me, mingling with starlight in the clear post-rain sky, evoking nostalgic scenes.
Leaned against the wall, lit up while gazing at the view.
Flick.
"Ah."
Hm?
A voice.
I turned my head.
A woman stood at the edge of the rooftop wall.
In the shadows, hard to make out who.
"Not sleeping?"
Ah.
This voice.
Jeong Eun-seo.
I chuckled and took a drag.
Puff—
"Woke up. You?"
Jeong Eun-seo's shadow turned her head.
Looking down at the streets below.
"Can't... sleep."
Can't sleep, huh.
I exhaled smoke and walked over to her.
"Those people down there all gone?"
Jeong Eun-seo nodded.
"Yeah. Cleared the bodies. But... left the guts and stuff."
"Tch."
I stood beside Jeong Eun-seo and looked down.
Just as she said.
Under the streetlights, the intersection looked splashed with red paint.
Unpleasant guts scattered amid it.
I chuckled and turned away.
"Want one?"
I offered her a cigarette and lighter.
"Didn't know you smoked."
"Quit. But tonight, I want one."
Jeong Eun-seo lit up and handed back the lighter and pack.
I took them and asked,
"How you holding up?"
Puff—
She exhaled long and spoke.
"Refreshing. Exhilarating. Sad. Miss my sister. Hate people, love people."
Jeong Eun-seo said that, then turned to me.
Smiling.
"Think I'm losing it."
I laughed.
"Nah. Pretty normal."
Jeong Eun-seo stared at me with a strange look, then smiled faintly.
"Sorry about earlier. Downstairs... Don't know what came over me. Hope it wasn't unpleasant?"
I shook my head, smiling.
"It's fine. Not at all."
She nodded gratefully, then looked back out.
Smoke drifted from her lips.
I leaned against the wall too, exhaling a long plume.
We stood like that, smoking into the rooftop wind.