Chapter 6
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Zombie Apocalypse
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"That's the current situation as far as I know."
I'd said a lot, but to sum it up: a world overrun by zombies had arrived.
At my explanation, Yuri Sister's face naturally drained of color, turning pale as a ghost.
I decided to hold back on telling her that society had collapsed—no police, no military, no help from anyone.
There wasn't any solid proof I could show her right now anyway, and I didn't have the confidence to explain it convincingly.
What I'd already told her was enough; she didn't even know if I'd gone outside or not, and she'd surely seen the piles of corpses and zombies through the window herself. It flowed naturally enough that she accepted it on her own.
"Of course, I've seen it with my own eyes, so I know zombies are swarming everywhere. Still... I don't want to believe it..."
"It's understandable to feel that way right now, but if we want to survive, we have to face reality. The monsters out there are zombies. They're charging at us to kill us."
She nodded at my words, but she still seemed unable to fully accept it.
No, it wasn't that she couldn't accept it—she was rejecting it outright.
She must have held onto a sliver of "what if," but I'd shot it down straight on, so her reaction was only natural.
'Poor thing.'
No matter that this was the first real conversation we'd had today, she was still a neighbor from the same building—and a beauty at that.
I couldn't help but feel drawn to her like this.
"Yuri Sister, you know the internet's down too, right? And the water and gas are out."
"Huh...? I knew about the internet, but water and gas too?!"
At my words, Yuri Sister shot to her feet and hurried to the kitchen.
Then her face twisted in shock.
"Oh no...! The gas stove and the sink faucet are both dead..."
"Electricity's holding out for now, but that just shows how serious this situation really is."
"No water, no fire... what are we supposed to do now...? My place uses a water purifier, but that's out too..."
She trudged back weakly and plopped down in her spot.
Facing these practical problems seemed to finally make her realize just how endangered her life truly was.
Of course, I had no intention of letting her die—not even for my own sake.
'Ugh... Is it because the dolphin pants are pressing in, emphasizing her thighs? My eyes keep drifting there. Hoo... Control yourself, control.'
"So, you've got a clear grasp of the situation now, right?"
"Yeah..."
She nodded weakly in response.
"Right now, our top priority has to be survival. Outside is crawling with zombies, and if we stay inside too long, we'll starve or die of thirst."
"..."
"Luckily, I've got bottled water stocked up since I buy it to drink, so water's not an issue for the moment. But food-wise, what's in the fridge is all we've got—not a lot."
Her expression brightened a bit at the mention of water, but darkened again at the food shortage.
In reality, we had more than enough of both for over a month, but I wasn't about to reveal all my cards.
Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, Yuri Sister's eyes widened.
"That's right! In movies, the police and military sometimes take down the zombie outbreak! Maybe if we just hold out a little longer, this'll all be over? We might be able to last with what we've got...!"
'Figured she'd think that.'
Yuri Sister lit up again, as if she'd found hope.
I thought her face changed expressions awfully fast, but I still found it cute.
Her reactions came with full-body motion, treating my eyes to the delightful pendulum swing of her chest.
She didn't seem aware of it.
Unfortunately, over three hours into the zombie apocalypse, the rescuers she hoped for were probably too busy saving their own skins.
But shooting down her hope right now would backfire; this setup was actually convenient for me.
When reality finally hit her, I'd be the one by her side.
Nothing tugged at a woman's heartstrings like despair after hope—followed by a saving hand.
For someone like me, who struggled just to talk to people, all this was calculated to make her mine.
Otherwise, I'd already be out hunting zombies.
"Yeah, I'm thinking the same. But unlike in movies, this is real life. Still, we have to hold out until rescue comes, so let's do our best together."
"Right! Thanks, Yuseong. You really pumped me up. Let's tough it out together!"
Our conversation ended on that positive note, with her bright voice.
Through it, I'd earned some goodwill and steered her thinking in my favor.
Pretty successful, all things considered.
'Part of me wants to just rape her and be done with it—the easiest option...'
But she might fight back and put me in danger, and above all, I wanted my first woman to be pure love.
Maybe I was just cocky because I was still a virgin.
Still, that's what I wanted—tough luck.
I believe in doing things my way.
'Speaking of... how long has it been?'
Snapping out of my reverie, I'd only meant to chat a bit and build some rapport, but quite a bit of time had slipped by.
A glance at the clock showed it had been 30 minutes since I entered Yuri Sister's place.
It felt like time had skipped ahead.
'Took too long.'
Deciding it was time to move, I stood up.
At my action, Yuri Sister looked up at me with a question mark on her face.
"Huh? Yuseong, where are you going?"
Her voice had lost the initial terrified tremble, thanks to the spark of hope.
I gave a faint smile and pointed to the machete leaning by the entryway.
Despite its original purpose as a weed whacker, the blade gleamed menacingly as a weapon.
Even though it was black.
But Yuri Sister didn't seem to get it from my words or gesture.
Older than me or not, she tilted her head cutely, looking up like she had no idea what I meant.
That expression hit me like a punch to the heart; I clutched my chest.
'Ugh! How is she this cute...?!'
Her pretty face and alluring figure were already a perfect harmony, and now this adorable upward gaze?
It was lethal to a guy in his early twenties.
Calming my racing heart, I spoke casually, like it was no big deal.
"Oh, I was gonna use this to secure the building and take out some zombies."
"Ah, got it..."
"Yeah."
"Uh-huh..."
...
"Whaaat?! What do you mean, take out zombies?!"
"Well, see you."
To avoid the hassle, I ignored her shocked yell, grabbed the machete before she could react, and opened the front door.
Clunk—
She'd followed behind me but got blocked by the closing door.
[Wait! Don't do anything dangerous! We have to wait for rescue!!]
Her voice came desperately, laced with multiple layers of panic.
Worry for me, anxiety at being alone, loss from having no one in front of her.
I gave no reply to her pleas to come back.
Same as before: too annoying to explain, no confidence in convincing her.
If I were smooth-talking, I'd have handled it differently, but this was my best shot.
And really, did I even need to cater to her?
I was a healthy adult male with the System—overwhelmingly superior to a fragile office lady.
That whole conversation was just a process to claim her, like performing tricks for a pet's attention.
Yet here I was, still considering her feelings.
I was inexperienced, but I needed to act more selfishly, without the awkwardness.
Sorting my thoughts once more, I refocused on reality.
Having been in that warm, pink-tinted space until moments ago, stepping back into the gray, bleak hallway settled my mind.
Like returning from heaven to hell, my loosened tension snapped back.
I gripped the machete in my right hand tight and focused on my surroundings.
'Let's go.'
As planned, I headed down the stairs.
Yuri Sister's voice from behind faded away, and my steps grew surer.
From the fourth floor, past my third-floor place, down to the second.
Peering down the stairs to the first—no zombies in sight there.
'So, just check the apartments.'
The door lock was an obstacle, but what was in my hand?
'No laws anymore—let's do this easy.'
I stood before the second-floor apartment door.
To test my strength stat investment, I swung the machete full-force at the dated door lock.
Krunch—!!
It shattered effortlessly in one hit.
It wasn't even a proper swing—just sloppy—but the raw power made it work.
I brushed aside the remnants clinging to the handle and stepped inside.
Despite the noisy entry, no signs of life; as expected, the place was empty.
'The landlord's daughter lived here, right...? On a trip? Why's it so spotless?'
It looked barely lived-in, like it'd been vacant for days.
'No way...'
Suspecting as much, I checked the kitchen fridge: just two small cans of cola.
Looked like it'd been properly cleared out.
Space and clothes might count as loot, but now you could get that from any building—barely valuable.
'Still, I've got time to spare... Maybe next chance.'
Deeper search turned up just adult toys and more clothes.
I tossed the pink, grimy guy-stuff in the trash and pocketed the lube separately.
This'd come in handy someday.
Nothing else worth taking, so I headed to the first floor.
No actual apartment there—just a small parking area connected to the outside.
The glass-walled communal entrance gave a direct view outward...
Descending to the first floor, I spotted a zombie's back through the glass door.
It was crunching away happily, head buried in the gut of a corpse sprawled skyward, blood dripping everywhere.
Thanks to my mental stat, I observed calmly.
A bit gross, but bearable.
'Huh? Wait... that zombie...'
Something familiar about it.
Sparse hair, half-gray, half-black.
Plump—not fat—middle-aged build.
A back I'd seen around often.
Then I glimpsed the face of the corpse being eaten, and it hit me—their identities—my eyes widened, mouth agape.
The zombie was the building's landlord.
And the gutted corpse? His son.
"Holy shit..."
The curse slipped out aloud.
A yellow carry-on suitcase lay by the body.
Son returning from a trip, father greeting him warmly.
An everyday, quietly happy moment—until doomsday hit, turning dad into a zombie that attacked.
With evidence right there, the story wrote itself.
This was the raw brutality of the zombie apocalypse.
I was witnessing it firsthand.