Chapter 5
Chapter 5
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Wardrobe Zombies
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Two office worker zombies burst out from the wardrobe.
Too startled, I slammed the wardrobe door shut on the handle I was gripping.
“Squelch!”
Bang!
The ones reaching out to attack me crumpled back inside.
-Kieeeek!
Haa… haa…
“What the hell. Why are there zombies in here?”
My heart was pounding from the shock.
I’d thought the male nurse living here was hiding with Yoo Sora.
But inside were zombies that looked exactly like the office worker one that had attacked me at first.
I took a deep breath in, then slowly let it out.
The deep breath cleared my foggy mind.
“…You damn bastards.”
Creeeak.
When I opened the wardrobe door again, the two zombies greeted me. Or rather, they lunged to kill me.
-Kieeeek!
I grabbed them by the hair and dragged them out.
“Come here, you bastards.”
The zombie bastards grabbed my wrists and thrashed, resisting being pulled.
Pointless resistance.
What could they do? Even among undead monsters, office worker zombies were rated as the lowest tier, so they couldn’t resist a necromancer’s touch.
Rattle.
I opened the window.
“Get lost!”
Then I hurled the two zombies out the window one after another.
It felt like a waste even as I threw them.
If my level were just a bit higher, I could’ve used these ones I just met as minions too.
But my level was still too low—I could only control two.
“…”
Whoosh—
-Kieeeek!
Thud.
A dull sound rang out as the zombie hit the ground and burst. Thrown from the third floor, you ask how it burst?
Yeah.
A rotten zombie body can’t withstand that impact.
Especially a lowest-tier zombie—it’s like kids’ Lego toys.
It couldn’t take a hit like that.
I glanced out the window once, then closed the door.
I turned my gaze to the shoes at the room’s entrance.
Those shoes looked like Yoo Sora’s. Why were they in this nurse’s place?
Maybe just similar style.
One mystery after another.
‘Ah, whatever.’
I pulled out a cigarette, stuck it in my mouth, and started rummaging through the nurse’s room.
I figured I’d just grab the medicine cabinet and go, but I couldn’t find it.
I checked every drawer and cupboard, but the only “medicine” was roach killer.
“Ha… is this guy really a nurse?”
I kicked a box on the floor.
Whack!
Chicken bones spilled out.
‘This place has chicken too.’
Scattered chicken pieces caught my eye. He must’ve gotten full halfway—half was left.
Same brand as the box I saw at Yoo Sora’s place.
“…Hmm.”
I pocketed the meatiest-looking chicken leg bone into my tracksuit’s inner pocket.
[Acquired ‘Chicken Bone.’]
Where’s the bathroom?
The tension and surprises had made me need to pee. Come to think of it, I’d been drinking all night and hadn’t gone yet.
I’d held it in this long—impressive.
My bladder felt ready to burst, so I hurried to the bathroom.
Lifted the toilet cover.
Click.
Aimed.
Fired.
Splish splish splish—
“Phew… a little later and I’d have pissed my pants.”
After finishing, I looked at the ceiling reflected in the mirror.
“…Oh ho.”
Faint, but there were finger marks.
Just like marks from dusty hands touching a clean wall.
I stepped on a chair and punched the ceiling.
Bang!
The panel popped open, revealing a first-aid kit inside. Looked like the ones from the school nurse’s office back in my student days.
[Supply Box]
Opening the lid, out came a capsule labeled [Experience] and a transparent packet with silver powder.
Looked exactly like the IV bags I got when hospitalized for enteritis.
“…This is mine for now.”
I swallowed the experience capsule dry in one go.
Gulp.
A golden light circled above my head.
[Acquired a small amount of experience.]
It’s an item usable when attacking enemies in undead states. Nothing better in the early game, so I should hold onto it.
* * * * *
Unable to find any disinfectant, I returned to the room.
Jeongwoo greeted me in a rigid stance, like a knight guarding a castle.
“You’re back.”
“Yeah.”
“Medicine?”
“…Couldn’t find any. You know that nurse guy next door?”
“Oh, that guy.”
“His place didn’t have first-aid stuff either. Wonder if he’s really a nurse.”
Jeongwoo shook his head.
“That bastard doesn’t seem like a nurse. He told us he was one, but instead of commuting to a hospital… it’s that club at the intersection up ahead.”
Club?
My head rang for a second.
Then what were those syringes I saw?
I held up the Seongsu packet and showed it to Jeongwoo.
“You know what this is?”
“…Holy shit! Where’d you get that?”
“Supply box. Found it in the nurse guy’s place, so I took it.”
“…That’s honey…”
“Right?”
I slipped the packet back into my jacket’s inner pocket.
As I entered the room, Dongpal Uncle—now compos mentis—was sitting on the bed.
“Uncle, you okay?”
“Phew… feeling better now.”
“Sorry, couldn’t find any medicine.”
“It’s fine.”
Park Dongpal stood up, grabbing my shoulder.
“Cheonjae. Did you see that bitch Sora?”
“No.”
“Ha…”
“But seriously, why did Sora hit you with that hammer? I can’t wrap my head around it no matter how I think.”
“…”
He avoided my gaze, clearly not wanting to answer.
Why won’t he talk?
He clutched the back of his head like it hurt.
“Ah…”
“You okay? Rest more.”
“I-I’m fine.”
“Don’t push yourself.”
“I said I’m fine!!”
Dongpal Uncle suddenly yelled. Surprised by his own outburst, his eyes went wide.
Why get so worked up?
What the hell?
Park Dongpal cleared his throat awkwardly a few times, then spoke quietly.
“Sorry for yelling. Let’s head out first.”
“…”
Dongpal Uncle took weak steps, like a patient leaving the ICU.
I tried to support him, but he brushed off my hand.
He’ll be in danger alone.
I didn’t know how to explain it to him.
Zombies outside?
Then he’d get hammered again by Yoo Sora and croak?
What should I say?
No clue how to convince this old man.
Talking normally to this blockhead without a plan would just get me snappy replies again.
I scratched my head.
Jeongwoo glared sharply at Dongpal Uncle.
“What’re you doing.”
“W-What?”
“Go rest more.”
“I’m good. I need to find that bitch Yoo Sora.”
“…In that state? Your head’s soaked in blood, Uncle. You look like a ghost.”
Dongpal Uncle turned to the mirror, startling at his reflection.
“B-Blood’s that bad?”
“It split open. Rest till Cheonjae says so.”
“…No. I have to go. Or she’ll report me to the cops.”
Report to the cops?
What’s that about?
Jeongwoo eyed him suspiciously.
“Report you?”
“Ah… no.”
“Why would she report you?”
“No! I mean, I’ll report her. She cracked my skull.”
Everything from one to ten sounded suspicious.
The scenes in my head were straight out of some sleazy soap opera.
You know the type.
An old geezer, well-fed and rested, causing trouble with his vigor.
‘No way… right?’
I waved at Jeongwoo, signaling to let Dongpal Uncle go.
I thought keeping the landlord alive would help, but talking to him brought more negatives than positives.
Stubborn, conservative old coot.
You know the kind? Not adults—just people aged by time.
How do I know after a few words?
Yeah.
That’s plenty to read someone.
Traveling with him would mean headaches from future conflicts.
Jeongwoo nodded and stepped aside.
As Dongpal Uncle left the room, I said,
“Call if anything happens.”
Just being polite.
I’d already confirmed phones were dead.
Dongpal Uncle tossed back indifferently,
“Got it.”
And off he went.
I stubbed out my cigarette on the floor. Jeongwoo watched Park Dongpal’s retreating back, then came inside.
Clink. Clink.
His chainmail grated like grinding metal with every step.
“Kim Cheonjae. Letting that old guy go just like that?”
“Yeah, let him do what he wants.”
“What if he dies?”
“…We’ll get a fun show.”
* * * * *
Finishing our sweep of the third floor, we headed to the fourth. We ran into the landlord on the way, but he ignored us and went down to the second.
Probably heading to Yoo Sora’s.
I knew she wasn’t there, but didn’t tell him.
No idea what he was thinking.
Step. Step. Step. Step.
On the way up to the fourth, I told Jeongwoo about the zombies I’d met.
“Two zombies jumped out from that nurse guy’s room earlier.”
“Zombies?”
“Yeah. Office worker ones. One came out in my room. None in yours?”
“…I’d be dead if there were.”
True.
Thinking about it, if I’d met zombies, he couldn’t have come to rescue me.
Just before reaching the stairs’ end.
Ma Jeongwoo signaled to be quiet, finger to his lips.
What’s up?
Jeongwoo crouched low.
I hunched down following him.
Then voices came from above.
-Th-That old landlord…
-You okay? That geezer’s had bad rumors forever.
-He crazy? I’ll go down and chew him out right now. Move.
-N-No, don’t. We’ll all get evicted.
It was Yoo Sora and other residents. From what I could hear, it matched what I’d guessed.
Jeongwoo got it too and nodded at me.
Second and third floors empty, but people crammed here.
Among the chatter from above, I heard the nurse guy’s voice too.
-That geezer’s had shit rumors since forever. Let’s teach him a lesson today.
-Yeah! Landlord my ass—what’s so special? Might as well give him a beating he won’t forget.
-Let’s smash that old fart’s dentures.
Three. Or four.
Number of people talking.
From the talk, they didn’t know about the outside yet.
Yoo Sora saw zombies with me—didn’t tell the others?
‘…Or.’
No room to care about zombies with Park Dongpal drama.
-Everyone ready?
They sounded ready to go grab the landlord soon.
Things were getting messy.
If we ran into them all together, we’d be in trouble for treating Park Dongpal.
Clack. Clack. Thud. Thud.
Suddenly, they headed for the stairs. We’d bump into them like this.
‘If it goes wrong, our position gets awkward…’
A flash of an idea hit me.
I patted Jeongwoo’s back.
“Ma Jeongwoo.”
“Yeah?”
Then I showed him the bone from my tracksuit pocket.
“Surprise party.”