Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Average Age 6-Year-Old Survivor Group
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"Don't let go of the person next to you. Keep the line straight, okay? Alright, let's go~."
At Do A-yoon's words, the children lined up in two neat rows followed right behind her.
One hand holding the hand of the kid next to them, the other gripping the shoulder of the one in front. It was a bit clumsy, but they had some system going.
This must be how you wrangle 42 kids.
"Wow... That's amazing, Teacher A-yoon."
Gong Ga-eun was genuinely impressed.
I was pretty surprised too. The kids who wouldn't listen to a word I said were following her orders perfectly.
Guess it's true that kids judge people by looks.
We descended slowly, keeping pace with the children's steps.
Away from the daycare for the first time, we could finally witness the raw reality of the apocalypse with our own eyes.
Pillars shattered with rebar jutting out, broken glass everywhere, collapsed ceilings with wires dangling down, debris scattered all around, a wrecked car smashed through the building wall.
And in the corners, sprawled corpses and pools of congealed blood.
These weren't intact bodies. The 'corpses' were scattered in pieces, each body part in a different spot. None of them even looked like they belonged to the same person.
"This is a game where you squeeze your eyes shut tight and follow the teacher, got it?"
At Do A-yoon's words, the kids clamped their eyes shut. Even so, linked together, they followed along perfectly. Just framing it as a game got them this eager.
Ga-eun and I trailed behind the kids, keeping watch for any stragglers or anyone veering off to the side.
"Um... Godfather."
Ga-eun whispered low enough that the kids wouldn't hear.
"Sorry about the convenience store."
"Which part?"
"Just... all of it. The others kept badmouthing you, and as your junior, I couldn't even defend you... I was too busy worrying about what they'd think of me..."
"It's fine. Same as always."
Actually worked out for the best, it seemed. I had no idea where the other two survivors had gone... but we'd probably never cross paths again.
"I guess I should've gone to the daycare after all."
"You're here now."
"But..."
Ga-eun trailed off, like she had more to say.
"By the way, Godfather... um... nothing weird happened at the daycare yesterday, right...?"
Nothing had happened.
Except pounding Do A-yoon all night long!
But no way I could say that.
"Nothing happened."
"........."
She stared at me with obvious doubt.
Letting out a deep sigh, she whipped her head away.
"W-well... good to hear."
"?"
"Godfather! Come up front for a sec!"
Do A-yoon's voice rang out from ahead.
Leaving Ga-eun behind, I headed forward. Do A-yoon was standing in front of the escalator leading down to the basement.
The escalator was busted midway, with steps jutting out all over the place.
"What do we do about this...?"
"There are emergency stairs the other way... but 'that thing' was there."
"'That thing'? What's that?"
It was a corpse. More precisely, just the upper half, with guts spilled out below.
When I told her, Do A-yoon's face went pale.
"W-we have to go this way no matter what."
"Doesn't even connect to the underground parking anyway."
No choice but to pass through here.
I glanced back at the escalator.
The first floor still had some sunlight filtering in, but below it was pitch black—you couldn't see a thing.
"I'll go down first."
"You sure?"
"Can't send the kids ahead."
"N-not that—the stairs might collapse under you..."
...What?
She had a point, though. At nearly 100kg, if I stepped carelessly, they might give way. I'd have to test them like a rickety stone bridge and take it slow.
"If I can get through, the kids can too."
"R-right?"
I carefully stepped onto the escalator stairs. They wobbled visibly—super dangerous.
Just in case, I kept my flashlight off as I descended.
Creak. Squeak. Grind.
Hmm. So this is the internal structure.
Dodging the gaps between steps, I made my way down cautiously. Easier than expected—I reached B1F. For the last bit, I jumped.
Thud.
My jumping ability sucked, but conversely, even the kids should manage this.
"Teacher A-yoon! It's safe! Come on down..."
"Quiet."
A threatening voice came from right behind me.
As I started to turn, something pressed against my back.
"Don't turn around."
A heavy sensation. At least a blunt weapon or blade.
The voice was a young girl's, slightly trembling.
Pretty amateurish for a threat. I wasn't in a position to chat leisurely.
But you couldn't just ignore a knife to the back either.
"Got it."
Best to comply for now.
"Mister, you a survivor? Anyone else up there?"
I'd already half-shouted for A-yoon toward the first floor. Do A-yoon's voice called down from above, looking for me.
"Yes. There are."
"Not a 'looter,' right?"
The term for survivors who attack others to steal their stuff.
Didn't expect that word to pop up so soon.
Of course, I wasn't a thief. Just a copier.
"No."
"Try any tricks... I've got a knife against your back right now."
"Got it. Got it. I'll stay calm. Just tell me what you want. Why are you doing this?"
With no sign of resistance from me, she let out a relieved sigh.
"Th-then..."
Her trembling voice whispered softly.
"Mister, by any chance... got bandages or medicine?"
I glanced back. She looked like a high schooler at most, on the verge of tears.
"Please...!"
Behind her, I faintly spotted a collapsed figure. It was twitching—still alive, somehow.
One leg was missing.
"Please save my dad...!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Gwanghwamun Station underground bookstore.
Up on the surface, monsters were smashing statues of great men and cultural artifacts. Even as the ground shook, the man in black clothes sat leisurely, reading a book.
A platinum blonde woman approached him cautiously.
"Um... Dokgo-ssi."
"Jun."
"Ah... Right! Jun-ssi. You told me to call you that."
The man called Jun didn't even glance at the platinum blonde woman in front of him—he was focused solely on his book.
"Wh-when do we head out?"
"After I finish this."
"Then... I'll wait."
"...Hilde."
The woman froze mid-turn at his words.
"Yes!"
"You saw the stuff on the Trading Post?"
Probably referring to those suspicious items that had shown up on the Trading Post earlier with his comrades.
"Ah...! Yes. You mean that one listed for 9999 coins?"
"Never seen anything like it before."
"...Pardon?"
"No. Just muttering."
Hilde tilted her head but didn't press further. He often mumbled cryptic things to himself.
"How much coin do we have available?"
"If the whole party pools it... around 4000 coins."
"4000..."
Thud.
The man closed his book and stood up.
"Head to the plaza."
"Y-you're going now? You said the mission timer hasn't started yet..."
"Need to check that item. Verify if it's real. Figure out where it came from, who's selling it."
"Got it! Everyone's saying it's from a convenience store. GU Convenience. Something exclusive to that chain."
"Any idea which branch?"
"Th-that..."
"No. We'll find out when we check."
"Ah... Your ability?"
It was an ability that mapped the previous locations of anyone he touched.
"Yeah. Stole it from that guy earlier."
"........."
Hilde bowed her head silently.
She knew what happened to people whose abilities he stole.
They got killed.
By the man standing right in front of her.
"From now on, gather 10,000 coins as fast as possible. It's a waste giving that many to the seller, but thinking long-term, it's not much. Cheap price for learning who he is."
"You think it's worth it? That item."
"Need it? No, I just need the info."
"Um, then... by any chance..."
Hilde trailed off cautiously.
She stroked her belly gingerly.
"Hygiene products or something... would that work?"
"Hygiene?"
"Ah, y'know... I kinda need some..."
"........."
Dokgo Jun opened the Trading Post window to check.
Fortunately, sanitary pads were there. For 9999 coins.
"Might take a bit. Still early game—tough to scrape together 10k."
"It's fine! Until then..."
"Let's hurry and gather it."
The man left the bookstore right away.
Left alone, Hilde quietly watched his retreating back.
The man who had saved her, saying you're what I need.
He was cold-blooded and cruel, but in the apocalypse, no one was more reliable.
She was already anxious just watching him go.
"Y-yeah... Too embarrassing to ask him to buy that...!"
Among the items on the Trading Post, oddly enough, condoms were listed for just 300 coins.
With hundreds of items listed, most people hadn't noticed it. Only Hilde knew.
To save coins, she could've suggested buying those... but she couldn't bring herself to say it.
If he buys them, what happens? If I make him buy them, I'd have to... somehow use them. If I tell Jun-ssi...
"Agh~~! H-how do I even say that?!"
Flustered and jumping in embarrassment, her platinum blonde hair swayed gently.