Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Zombie House
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After finishing our rest, we split into teams and began carrying out our daily missions.
[Daily Mission: Visit Zombie House, defeat at least five mid-sized zombies of B+ rank or higher. (0/5)]
We needed to gather as many Jenny as possible and stock up on items to boost our survival chances in the next round.
I said to Jeongwoo.
“I’ll head to Zombie House with Sora.”
“Got it. Then I’ll take Lee Kaoura and the minions and hunt near the village.”
“Alright. If it gets dangerous, I’ll radio you, so stand by.”
“Roger. Don’t push yourself.”
Step. Step. Step. Step.
As we walked across the sandy field away from the village, the surroundings grew quiet.
[The wilderness sandstorm begins to blow.]
[Player movement speed decreases.]
A fierce sandstorm blew toward us, obscuring our vision completely.
It was a system mechanic designed to narrow players’ fields of view and prevent hidden events from being exposed.
I pulled Yoo Sora close to my side, lowered my head, and pressed forward.
“Sora, stay right next to me so I don’t lose you.”
“Oh, got it. Ptoo! Yes, sir!”
Even slightly parting my lips let sand catch in my throat.
It looked like a wasteland at a glance, but plenty of dungeons lurked nearby, waiting for players.
Of course, you’d never know without coming here first.
Step. Step. Step. Step.
As we trudged through the sand, we came upon a puddle like an oasis.
A single house made of gray cement stood there.
“Cheonjae, is that Zombie House?”
“Yeah.”
“…Why didn’t you bring that soldier guy?”
“Michael?”
“No! That super strong soldier in the goblin mask.”
Park Gyuhwan.
It would’ve been nice to have Park Gyuhwan along, but he was off carrying out the special mission I’d given him.
I’d tasked him with surveillance to check for any murderer players lurking in the village.
“He’s on a mission elsewhere.”
“A mission…?”
“Yeah.”
Even without him, I could handle this place alone. I’d been here plenty of times and knew all the enemies’ patterns.
I reassured Yoo Sora and entered the Zombie House.
Creak.
Inside the cement house was an empty room with stairs leading underground.
Several players I’d never seen before sat in front of it.
They’d all chosen knight classes, clad in steel armor with short swords and round shields.
-Please close the door to keep the sand out.
Creak. Thud.
I greeted them first.
“Hello.”
The one who looked like the leader stood and said to me.
“What brings you here?”
Even though he was a player, not an NPC, his speech was stiff and formal.
His question—asking what business a player had at a hunting ground—meant:
‘This place is dangerous. You’d be better off staying away.’
For one of the easiest hunting spots near Utopia to get that kind of reputation.
It was ridiculous.
“I’m here for my daily mission.”
“Ah, I see. Go ahead in.”
“And you guys…?”
“We already went in once. We couldn’t find the way, so we’re waiting while one of us fetches a map.”
The Zombie House map.
An essential item for navigating the maze-like interior.
Of course, I didn’t need one since I had every layout memorized.
“Then we’ll head in first.”
“Sure. Be careful. Rumor has it a Z Virus mutant showed up here last night.”
“A mutant… We’ll watch out. Thanks for the heads-up.”
The knight relaxed into a casual posture as he continued.
“…Mind if I add one more thing?”
“Yeah, go ahead.”
“We didn’t go too deep, but in my opinion, the thing in this ‘Zombie House’ isn’t a mutant…”
He swallowed hard enough for it to be audible.
Gulp.
“It’s probably a Z Virus-infected player. If it were a mutant, it would’ve sniffed its way here by now.”
He had a sharper understanding of monsters than expected.
Even considering mutant movement patterns.
“Well, better safe than sorry.
We’ll stay alert. Thanks again.”
The knight gave a slight bow. I nodded back.
Before heading down, I glanced at the emblem on his armor. A golden falcon, reserved for palace knights.
To think there were already players who’d earned it.
It was astonishing.
To me, who’d focused solely on getting stronger, such honorable symbols were unfamiliar.
They required completing specific missions in sequence.
‘…Not your average guy.’
“Sora, let’s go.”
“Okay.”
[Entering ‘Zombie House.’]
[Party Limit: 2/10]
With the limit at ten and only two of us, it looked like Yoo Sora and I were the last to enter.
Clack. Clack. Clack.
As we descended, Yoo Sora pressed close, linking arms with me.
“Cheonjae, where are we?”
“Zombie House. It’s the place listed in our daily mission.”
“Oh….”
A chilling, gloomy aura prickled our spines, and the damp smell assaulted our noses.
Drip!
A water droplet fell from the ceiling onto Yoo Sora’s upper back.
“Kyaaah!”
“What? What happened?”
“S-sorry… A drop of water suddenly hit my nape…”
“…Don’t scream next time. You’re lucky we’re just at the entrance. Screaming inside will make you a target for the monsters.”
Yoo Sora glanced around with anxious eyes and replied.
“Got it.”
At the bottom of the stairs, pitch darkness hid everything ahead, laced with killing intent.
I pulled a prepared torch from my pocket.
Click.
It lit with a sound.
Illuminating ahead revealed low-level zombies shambling toward us.
Not just humans—Z Virus-infected animals too.
Some looked like former residents, but none were serious threats.
Just zombies.
Nothing more, nothing less.
“Sora, hold this torch.”
“Okay.”
“If any zombies break past me toward you, swing it and take them out.”
“Yessir!”
With preparations done, I gripped Baby Dragon’s Fang and charged the zombies.
Dash dash dash!
My first swing shattered a rotten human zombie’s head in one blow.
Slash—crack!
Small fry with low rank—they went down effortlessly.
-Kieeeek!
More zombies swarmed. I swung the fang rapidly, lopping off only their heads.
For low-defense zombies, headshots were the quickest, simplest kill.
Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!
After clearing the human zombies, virus-infected animals that had been hanging back charged.
Not true zombies—just living things infected with the Z Virus.
Sensing me as an intruder in their territory, they radiated hostility.
I kicked the incoming dog hard.
Thud.
-Kyaaang!
Toward the mice swarming like they crawled from the earth, I swung the fang wide.
Whoosh—
The sharp edge scraped the ground, sending them flying.
Thud thud thud thud!
-Szzzt!
In one hit, the red gauges over the mice heads turned gray.
“Phew. That should do it.”
I straightened up, caught my breath, and murmured the incantation.
[Skeleton Summon]
As I shook Baby Dragon’s Fang, the fallen zombies’ bones detached, and a dozen skeletons rose.
Other players might conserve mana early on, thinking it was just the start.
But not me.
As a necromancer, I had to spend mana decisively where it mattered.
[System Message]
▷Skeleton Summon (Mana Cost: 2)
Remaining Mana: 51
[Summon List]
-Park Gyuhwan (Soldier) 1/1: On Mission
-Skeleton (Low) 10/10: Awaiting Orders
‘Two mages, huh…’
My lips curled up.
Five skeleton warriors. Three archers. Two mages.
Baby Dragon’s Fang glowed fluorescent. A sign that the combo conditions were met.
Beginners couldn’t use it even seeing the glow.
They didn’t know what to combine and how for what results.
But not someone like me, who had every recipe memorized.
I pulled aside five skeleton warriors and two mages, tapping each skull once with Baby Dragon’s Fang.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
After hitting the seven skeletons, fluorescent light burst from the fang, enveloping their bodies.
Then their bones scattered like reassembly, gathering in one spot.
Clatter clatter clatter!
“…Good.”
Yoo Sora stared wide-eyed at my skeletons.
No wonder—it was a form she’d never seen.
Twice the size of regular skeletons, with glassy transparent bones.
Warrior and mage skeleton combo.
A magic warrior applying one of the mage skeleton’s four elements to its weapon.
[‘Elemental Skeleton’ combo successful!]
[Please select the skeleton’s element.]
[▶Fire] [▶Water] [▶Grass] [▶Wind]
No need to think.
I reached for the fire hologram.
※ New Recruit: Flame Skeleton (Warrior)
Level: 17
HP: 760/760
Mana: 0/0
Stamina: 20 Attack: 60
Defense: 31 Speed: 26
▷Fire Bone (Mana Cost: 0)
-Skeleton warrior’s body constantly emits high heat.
▷Burning Head (Mana Cost: 0)
-Inextinguishable flames burn atop its head, brightly illuminating surroundings.
Whoosh!
Flames ignited above the skeleton’s head, turning its body red.
Not as strong as Park Gyuhwan, but plenty for these zombies.
No matter how much they’d grown, this low-level hunting ground didn’t spawn anything that could handle it.
The Flame Skeleton clenched its fists, bones blazing brighter red.
“Grraaah—”
Opening its mouth spewed flames like cigarette smoke.
“Let’s go. Target is the final floor. Head to the bottom.”
[Flame Skeleton acknowledges Kim Cheonjae’s command.]
* * * * *
In a small prison at the deepest level of ‘Zombie House.’
Two men in brown cloaks conversed in a room enclosed by iron bars on all sides.
“It’s finally complete?”
“…Not perfect, but the reaction was definite.”
“I see. What did Dr. Oh say?”
“He and I don’t get along, so…”
“…Understood. Then let’s keep this item’s existence between you and me. Got it?”
“…Yes.”
One cloaked man stood.
A short man, like a dwarf.
He approached a man bound with iron chains on a stone bed.
“Are you conscious?”
“Ugh… Why… am I here…?”
The young man’s body was turning brown, like Z Virus infection.
The cloaked man wordlessly poured an unknown liquid into the chained man’s mouth.
-Gulp.
He swallowed the first mouthful big.
-Kuheok!
Then spat out the rest.
“W-what is this! Ugh… My throat burns…”
“…How is it?”
“W-what are you talking about? What did you feed me?”
“…The reaction should be immediate.”
The cloaked man crossed his arms, watching the chained man.
Suddenly, the young man vomited green liquid and screamed.
“Kaaaaah! Help! Save me!! You lunatic! What did you feed me!!”
The young man’s body swelled like bread rising in an oven.
The cloaked man smirked vilely at him.
“…Perfect.”