Chapter 4
Chapter 4
As I went up to the rooftop, I saw a large number of people wearing company uniforms, and among them, I could spot my mother, who was one of the few wearing casual clothes.
"Mom!!!"
I ran to her as soon as I saw her, and my mother, surprised to see my face and hear my voice, welcomed me.
Warak!
I can't even remember the last time I hugged my mom this warmly in my 24 years of life, but seeing her safe and sound, I shed tears of relief.
"Sniff... Mom... I'm so glad you're safe..."
"Oh, you... How can you cry in front of people at your age? It's embarrassing..."
Mom said that, but her eyes were red, and she sniffled quietly.
After a brief reunion, I pulled myself together and looked around.
There were people who looked at me admiringly for coming to find my mother in a world like this, and others who shed tears because they missed their own children.
"Mom... where's Dad...?"
"Well... He said he was going on a business trip to Ulsan this morning... I don't know what happened to him..."
I forced a smile and tried to change the mood.
"Wouldn't Dad be out fishing somewhere, safe and sound?"
"Ho ho, that man might just be doing that..."
"I apologize for interrupting your reunion with Director Lee-nim's son, but I have some news to share..."
Mom nodded at the security guard's words and took my hand.
"Everyone, Director Lee-nim's son here knows more about those zombies than we do. So, rather than just staying here blindly, I think it would be better for everyone to listen to his explanation and head back to your homes."
"Oh my, is what the security guard says true?"
I smiled and nodded, and with all eyes suddenly on me, I didn't let go of Mom's hand and took a step forward.
"Hello, I am Kim Geum-seul, the son of Ms. Lee Su-mi."
Starting with a brief self-introduction, I recited exactly what I had told the security guard, and among the employees who heard me, those who had enjoyed the RIP game hurriedly opened their system windows to check their skills.
"I-It's real!?"
"Golf... this is completely useless..."
"Wow! Archery?! But I don't have a bow..."
People with skills were happy or sad depending on their skills, and...
"Damn it... why didn't I play it..."
"I should have played when my son told me to..."
Those who had never played the game were saddened that the system didn't appear.
"Mom, you should try it too. I think you might have skills related to farming and cooking."
At my words, Mom manipulated the system just like she did in the game in the past, and after raising her gaze to the air, she began to read something.
"You're right... Just like you said, Geum-seul, I have skills called Cooking and Farming."
"What are the effects for each?"
"Well... Farming is... increased growth speed and enhanced effects for plants I touch... and Cooking is... it says I can bring out the effects of the ingredients...?"
'Increased growth speed... enhanced effects... and recipes that bring out the effects of ingredients... Mom is a pure support class... I'm so glad I came!!'
Considering that food was the most important thing for survival in a zombie apocalypse world, Mom's ability was essential.
I spoke in a low voice that only Mom could hear.
"Mom, from now on until we get home, you have to act like you don't have any abilities."
"Huh? Why?"
"Because the ability you have is clearly too good, and people with bad intentions might kidnap you."
Mom was flustered at the word 'kidnap', but when I held her hand tightly, she felt reassured and nodded.
"For now, let's sleep here today and head home when the sun comes up tomorrow."
"I suppose we should... You've had a hard day, haven't you, my son? You used to drive me crazy just playing games, but to think you'd do so well like this..."
Mom stroked my face with her free hand as she spoke, and at her voice, I felt the fatigue of the day melting away.
"Director-nim and son... I apologize for interrupting your conversation, but what should we do from here on out...?"
I turned my head at the sudden voice and spoke to the male employee.
"First of all, at night, zombies move faster and are stronger than in the morning. So, unless you're confident, it's better to move in the morning."
I looked around the rooftop and pointed my finger toward the empty sky.
"In case it rains, which would be a big problem, let's sleep inside the building. If you open the windows, it won't feel too stuffy."
At my words, the man nodded with an anxious face, turned around, and walked to where the employees were gathered.
I followed the man to where the employees were gathered and lifted up my [Crude Spear] to show them.
"If you don't have cleaning brooms or kitchen knives in the office... you should use a utility knife to make a weapon like mine that can attack from a distance. The zombies' weakness is their head, so if you stab them in the head from afar, you'll be able to return home safely."
I finished speaking, turned around, approached Mom, and took her hand.
"I've given the basic explanation, so let's head down too. The night wind is cold here."
"Let's do that."
The two of us went down the stairs holding hands and entered the director's office on the 4th floor.
My mother, who is a director at a small-to-medium enterprise, had a small but private office, and her tendency to like plants was clearly visible, with pots lined up all over the narrow room.
"Wow... Mom... at this point, aren't you living with bugs?"
As I spoke, I touched the flower in a pot labeled [Money Tree], and I was startled by the system that appeared before my eyes.
[Money Tree]
Info 1: Increases item drop rate when consumed
Info 2: Effect increases when grown with cold water
"Gasp?!"
"What's the matter!?"
When I was startled while touching the plant, Mom was also surprised and approached me.
"Ah... it's nothing. These... these pots... can we take them home?"
She looked at me like I was a weirdo for suddenly wanting to take the pots home after being startled.
"Are you okay...? Besides, the pots are heavy, so it'll be hard to carry them..."
At Mom's words, I started to worry because I couldn't throw away this flower with such a good effect, and I was able to find a solution easily.
'That's it!! The Peanut Butter I've collected so far! What's the point of letting it rot? I should just unlock my inventory.'
I sat down on the spot, manipulated the system, and pressed the inventory icon that had been locked until just now.
[Inventory slots are insufficient]
[Purchase 7 slots: 1 Peanut Butter]
I took a jar of Peanut Butter out of my bag and placed it on the 7-slot purchase box; the butter in front of me disappeared somewhere, and new text appeared before my eyes.
[First Inventory Unlock Reward!]
[Inventory 0/14]
[Purchase 7 slots: 10 Peanut Butter]
'What... It's been almost 8 hours since the world became like this, and not a single person has unlocked their inventory?'
I smiled deviously because I actually liked this situation.
"Oh my?! Son! Didn't you just have some kind of jar in your hand?"
"Ah, I'll give you some too. Open the system and unlock your inventory."
I took a full jar of Peanut Butter out of my bag and gave it to Mom, and she also unlocked 7 slots of inventory.
"Really... I don't know how this world is turning..."
"It's easier to think of it as the RIP game we used to play... but it's just like reality in that if you die, it's the end..."
At my words, Mom nodded and started putting the pots that filled the room into her inventory.
"Oh my, this is fascinating... It just goes in shuk-shuk, it's really like a game? You take things that can protect your body, I'll take care of these pots."
Perhaps she was happy that she could still grow flowers even though the zombie apocalypse had broken out, Mom giggled.
'Thank goodness... If she had lost her smile in a situation like this, it would have been really tough... I should stop by a store and grab some seeds.'
I started walking around the office looking for things that might be helpful.
I grabbed a bunch of ballpoint pens and utility knives, went to the bathroom to get a cleaning mop, and returned to the director's office.
Mom, who had finished organizing the pots, started rummaging through the drawers to see if there was anything to take, and I sat on the sofa and repaired my [Crude Spear].
'You've worked hard.'
After unwinding the tape tied to the wooden spear stained with dark red blood, I moved the kitchen knife to the plastic cleaning pole and taped it tightly so it wouldn't come loose.
[Crude Spear]
Durability 141/150
Attack Power 17.2 ~ 18.5
'Thank goodness... With this, I can survive tomorrow.'
Having finished repairing my weapon, perhaps because I thought I was in a safe place with Mom, my tension eased, and I couldn't fight off the incoming drowsiness.
"M-Mom... I'm... going to... sleep for a bit..."
With those last words, I collapsed onto the sofa, and my consciousness sank deep into sleep.
Mom sat next to the sleeping Geum-seul and stroked his hair.
"Yes... you've worked hard, my son... I love you..."
==
Chirp chirp~
"Ugh... it's bright..."
I opened my eyes to the sound of birds chirping coming through the open window and the bright sunlight.
I sat on the sofa, rubbing my eyes full of sleep, and when I realized my bag wasn't around, I was startled.
"Huck?! My bag!!"
"Oh my, you startled me... Geum-seul... what's wrong..."
At my voice, Mom, who had been sleeping on the sofa next to me, was also startled and woke up.
"Mom! Our bag!!"
"The bag...? That disappeared before you fell asleep, didn't it?"
"Uh.... yes?"
At Mom's words, I hurriedly checked my inventory.
[Inventory 4/14]
Bag
Pencil case
Pencil case
Crude Spear
[Purchase 7 slots: 10 Peanut Butter]
"Ah... thank goodness... It's here."
Mom smiled with a sleepy face at my words, stretched, and got up.
"Ugh... ha... The sun is up, so shall we head home?"
I nodded, took the bag out of my inventory, took out some water from the bag, and gave it to Mom.
"Thanks, son."
"It's nothing, but since we don't have anything to eat..."
Grrr...
Both of our stomachs growled loudly at the same time, asking for food, and Mom and I looked at each other and laughed.
"There's a convenience store and a mart on the way, so let's stop by."
"Yes, Mom."
I put the water I was drinking into the bag, took out the [Crude Spear], and finished preparing for battle.
Mom approached Geum-seul, who was standing in front of the door, and took his empty hand.
"Alright, let's go."
"Yes."
As we came out of the director's office, some of the employees who were sleeping on the floor were startled and woke up.
"Oh my? Where did Assistant Manager Park and Employee Cheon go?"
The person called Assistant Manager Park answered Mom's question with eyes that wouldn't open properly.
"Ah... did you sleep well... Director-nim, they... seem to be sleeping on another floor..."
"Is that so? Anyway, I'm going to head home now. Take care of yourselves, and let's see each other again if we can."
"Yes, Director-nim... please get home safely... And son... thank you for sharing good information."
"We're all living by helping each other. Well then, goodbye..."
I went down to the 1st floor without letting go of Mom's hand and found the security guard dozing off in his chair.
"Uh... should we say goodbye to him before we go?"
"He looks tired, let's just go."
"Yes."
I quietly unlocked the glass door, slowly opened it, and came out of the building.
"Mom, from now on, you have to follow me as quietly as possible. Zombies follow people using sight and hearing, but they are more sensitive to sound."
"Okay, I'll just follow behind you, son."
I nodded, gripped the spear with both hands, and moved forward, piercing the head of a zombie that had respawned and was exposing its large breasts.