The End of an Era

Episode 45

The moment I faced Lee Ji-hun, I saw something in his pupils.

-Damn, this bastard's ridiculously good-looking. Women won't even glance my way now. Gotta eliminate him.

Lee Ji-hun's eyes were filled with jealousy, astonishment, and wariness.

"Hey... you fucking bastard! Who the hell do you think you are, beating people up like this?!"

Given that I appeared right after Jeong Hye-seong was sent flying, it was somewhat understandable that Ji-hun would assume I was the perpetrator. But with only twelve hours having passed since the Zombie Apocalypse began, it seemed Lee Ji-hun still lacked a proper grasp of reality.

─Come to think of it, his fist tore through the air... Is that just a one-time skill? Then I still have the upper hand.

As if still immersed in a game, Lee Ji-hun failed to properly perceive reality. Now that he had obtained a shiny holy sword, he believed his success was merely a matter of time.

『Lee Ji-hun mistakenly believes himself to be the "protagonist."』

He harbored no sense of caution or fear toward reality.

I could only scoff in disbelief at his delusion.

"You ignoring me, bastard?!"

I sighed before asking,

"Wait, have we even met before?"

"So fucking what, you little shit?!"

Huh, so he does know basic manners?

"What the hell... is wrong with your—"

But the truth was, I was only ever soft on Park Ha-rin. I had never been lenient with anyone else.

And more importantly, my current mood was far from pleasant.

Just moments ago, I had been basking in the warm, affectionate gazes of beautiful women, too busy reveling in their fragrance—only to be forced to inhale the stench of corpses instead. That was more than enough reason to be pissed off.

In the end, I couldn't hold back any longer and exploded.

"What the fuck is wrong with you, you piece of shit?! You busted our barrier and now you're beating people up?! You goddamn motherless bastard!! Because of you, everyone inside almost died, and you think assaulting someone is no big deal?! Did your parents have an odd number of brain cells between them and fail to raise you right, you deranged fuck?! What kind of twisted fucking logic—"

Lee Ji-hun's face flushed crimson with rage.

"You just fucking said I don't have a mother...?"

Oh...? Wait, was she actually...?

─...Screw the Great Peace Sect's preaching, I'm killing him.

Lee Ji-hun raised his holy sword. He didn't hesitate in the slightest when it came to killing people.

'Wow, what a stellar personality.'

CRASH!

And then—

"Ghk—?!"

Lee Ji-hun's face crumpled under my knee as he was slammed into the ground. His head bounced several times before his teeth were finally knocked out.

'...This little shit was actually about to kill someone just like that? Wait, Great Peace Sect?'

『Reading Lee Ji-hun.』

As I stared at him, information about the Great Peace Sect seeped out from his memories.

'Seriously? He was a follower? Ugh, what a dumbass~ He only joined to bang the female devotees.'

"KYAAAH! J-Ji-hun oppa! You fucking—!"

Just then, the college girl who had been standing beside Lee Ji-hun with her arms crossed came running over. She was the type who had been leisurely spectating while others fought for their lives.

「Sexual Partners - 1023 (102 <Including Lee Ji-hun (3)>)」

「Currently converting to the Great Peace Sect.」

This college girl was also a follower of the Great Peace Sect. And her body count was disgustingly high.

─...This little bitch... my rod... Ah, but he's so handsome... If I act scared and cling to him...

But the moment she saw me, her face turned red. I immediately schooled my expression and slapped her across the face, laying her out right next to Lee Ji-hun.

'What the hell? This bitch was trying to sneak into my arms.'

The chaotic noises of zombies echoed around us, but—

'First, let's collect the spoils.'

I picked up the holy sword Lee Ji-hun had dropped.

The instant I did—

『You are incompatible with the holy sword.』

"!"

The moment my hand touched the sword, it instantly lost its radiant glow.

『The holy sword already has an owner.』

Because I wasn't its rightful wielder, it refused to channel its power to me.

『The holy sword severs its connection with you.』

The sword completely cut off its spiritual link with me.

'No way. The holy sword Lee Ji-hun summoned in the game was a "rare" grade—a one-in-a-thousand chance. In a world where "items" don't even exist in the modern era, a "legendary-grade item"? No fucking way I'm letting this go.'

I refused to release the sword and instead focused my mana into it.

『Activating Mana Operation (Rare).』

But I lacked "knowledge related to mana," so I couldn't control it with precision. I didn't know how to wield mana logically like a mage or efficiently like a knight. I simply relied on instinct to release it.

CRACKLE!

My crude mana clashed with the holy sword's sacred power.

At that moment, multiple effects began applying to my mana.

『Optimal Progression is being applied.』

『"Amplify" is being applied.』

『"Seize" is being applied.』

『"Censored Ability" is being applied.』

Yet, the holy sword resisted even more fiercely, radiating a brighter light.

'Grrk, the Holy Sword of Sacrifice... It's putting up a hell of a fight.'

The Holy Sword of Sacrifice was a divine blade capable of performing miracles—so long as its wielder was willing to make sacrifices.

The concept of "sacrifice" usually carries a strongly negative connotation when used directly, but the Holy Sword fundamentally possesses a benevolent nature.

Thus, it permits the sacrifice of even the wielder's negative aspects, making it different from ordinary sacrificial blades—like demonic swords—that drive their owners toward ruin.

For example, if the wielder were poisoned, the Holy Sword could sacrifice that poison to perform a miracle. In other words, it was a powerful item capable of swiftly resolving status ailments.

'Now that I know Park Ha-rin has ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠grown that much stronger, I need to coat myself in every possible opportunity. Who knows when that scheming Park Ha-rin might stab me in the back?'

Though I trusted Park Ha-rin for the most part, I didn't rule out the possibility that she might betray me at any moment.

There was no particular reason—it was just that no one else was as unpredictable as her.

'I have to grow stronger. Strong enough that even Park Ha-rin can't talk down to me, can't force me to submit, can't ever defeat me.'

That was why I absolutely couldn't let go of the Holy Sword.

"Grrrgh!!"

If Lee Ji-hun was its owner, his mana couldn't have been all that impressive anyway, so I should've been able to take it.

But the Holy Sword's Sacred Power kept intensifying, to the point where my hand felt like it would burst. Still, I refused to release the hilt.

How many seconds had passed like that?

Pssshhh—

With the sound of superheated air being expelled—

『The Holy Sword reluctantly acknowledges you as its temporary master.』

『You are compatible with the Holy Sword of Sacrifice.』

The sword's resistance weakened, and a gentle golden light began to flow from it—far brighter than when Lee Ji-hun had wielded it.

I had successfully tamed a legendary Holy Sword.

『You have acquired 「Holy Power (Common)」.』

Sacred energy surged within my palm.

* * *

"Hah... Hah..."

Sweat dripped from my forehead, but it was sweat well spent.

Villains truly were the best loot piñatas.

How very graaateful.

With a satisfied smile, I lightly ran my tongue along the blade before glaring at it.

'But you've got some attitude problems, don't you? If you were gonna submit anyway, why resist so much?'

Upon reading the sword's nature, I confirmed that this Holy Sword of Sacrifice was an Ego Sword—a weapon with its own consciousness.

And yet.

<......>

This damn sword arrogantly ignored its master's words.

Well, if that's how it's gonna be.

"If you're gonna be this uncooperative, I don't have a choice."

I glanced at a nearby zombie and took a throwing stance.

<KYAAAAAAH! N-no! That thing's filthy! Don't throw me! You son of a—!!>

The sword's curses were already fading into the distance as my shoulder rotated. Then, I hurled it with all my might.

BANG!

A shockwave burst outward in a perfect circle, rippling through the air before me.

<......KIIIIIIIIIIIIEHHHH!!>

Panicking, the sword emitted a frantic golden glow as it sliced through the zombie and kept flying.

KWA-BOOM!

After piercing through several more zombies, the Holy Sword vanished from sight.

I'll train it properly later.

At that moment—

—SKREEEEEEEH!

The zombies, reacting instantly to the noise, lunged at me. But I faced them with utter calm.

I simply stirred the mana within my body, letting it compress into swirling vortices at fixed coordinates.

Crackle—zzzt!

Before I knew it, my surroundings were enveloped in blue, flame-like spheres of mana.

Ten spheres in total gathered, forming a radiant space.

"Ah, single-target attacks are boring. Let's try some AoE for a change. It'll be less unfair for you guys, right?"

The light radiating from the mana spheres spread through the air, raising the atmospheric pressure and dispelling the darkness.

People stared in shock at the blue light I emitted—their pupils dilated, their bodies frozen.

And then—

『「Mana Transport」 has been activated.』

『Mana is being condensed and moved toward the intended targets.』

I perfectly read the zombies' positions, movements, and trajectories.

The blue spheres released their light, extending in every direction.

Their paths were calculated to pierce through the zombies with maximum efficiency.

FWOOOOOOSH!

Straight lines, curves, right angles—the trajectories skewered the zombies in the most optimal way possible.

—SKREEEEEH!

The blue light illuminated the darkness before fading, and the lingering remnants of mana in the air gradually dissipated.

I pushed through the stunned crowd, searching for the Holy Sword I'd thrown far away.

Ah, I might've thrown it a bit too hard.

Just then, a strange force drained from the zombie remains and surged into me.

『You have stolen 「Strength +1」, 「Agility +1」, 「Stamina +1」, 「Mana +1」 from the zombies.』

『「Amplification」 is in effect.』

『Stolen stats have been amplified: 「Strength +1 → +2」, 「Agility +1 → +2」, 「Stamina +1 → +3」, 「Mana +1 → +2」.』

I'd almost forgotten, overwhelmed by Park Ha-rin's terrifying presence.

I'm this world's monster, too.

I took a step forward to hunt the remaining zombies—

—when my smartphone buzzed in my pocket.

「Nemesis」

I hurriedly answered before the call could drop.

"Hey, you bastard! Why weren't you picking up—!"

-Ah! It connected! Waaaah... I thought I was gonna lose it! Ugh, I'm so fucking pissed!

A wave of relief washed over me at the sound of my younger sister's voice after hours of silence. I let out a sigh, releasing some of my worry as I asked:

"What? What's the matter now?"

—Ah, no... What am I supposed to do when Lee Ji-hyeon suddenly used her ability and fried all the electronics around us? I'm even more pissed about it!

"Then how are you calling me right now?"

—I'm charging at a convenience store. When I stepped outside, I got a signal, okay?

Ah, I see. That's a method I never would've thought of.

Still, with Park Se-eun, there probably wouldn't be any major issues. Though minor problems might still arise.

"But didn't I tell you not to leave school?! Didn't I?! I told you to hold out there!! You damn brat!!!"

Park Se-eun's voice came through, sulky and indignant.

—...I-I know that was my bad... But your little sister came out to call you, so why are you just yelling at me?! I was almost in danger, you know! Some weird green monster showed up and started—!

"Huh?"

Green monster? Could it be an orc? A goblin?

A chill ran down my spine.

#

Park Se-eun wiped the dust off the checkout counter with a wet wipe, dried it with a tissue, and finally sat down.

"Haah, I feel a little better now that I'm sitting."

Being the biological younger sister of Park Ha-rin, who had severe mysophobia, Se-eun was deeply affected by it too. The filth around her kept her anxiety from fading.

At that moment, an urgent voice came through her phone.

—Hey, hey! Are you okay?! That green giant thing?

Hearing her older brother's deep voice, Se-eun's expression softened. The sound of his worried voice after so long made her feel at ease.

"I'm totally fine? I was the one who sent it flying. Who do you think I am?"

—...Wait, was that orc stupid or something? It just charged at you without even checking your abilities?

Poke poke.

Just then, she felt a strange sensation on her back and turned around. A few high school girls were glaring at her, silently demanding she hand over her phone.

'Ugh.'

Se-eun clenched her phone tightly and flipped them off. The girls' faces twisted into serious scowls.

'Sigh...'

Her gaze drifted to the corner of the convenience store. There lay the massive green-skinned monster—the orc—she had just dismantled.

#

The battle that had left everyone breathless ended in an instant.

"Hayase! Are you okay?!"

Minase rushed to Hayase's side as soon as the fierce fight concluded.

Hayase lowered her blood-stained sword and looked at her mother gently.

"Yes. I'm fine, Mother."

The moment she finished speaking, the monster she had cut down—an oni with a horn on its forehead—collapsed to the ground.

Hayase took a deep breath and sheathed her sword. Only then did the oni's body split cleanly in half.

"Is everyone alright?"

At Hayase's question, the dojo members nodded. Their faces were covered in blood and dust, but they all waved their hands to signal they were unharmed.

'Thank goodness.'

Just as Hayase let out a sigh of relief, the mountain of zombies she had piled up came into view.

#

—KREEEEEEEK!!!

The golden sword slash cleaved through the zombie effortlessly. The holy sword shone even brighter, as if scattering sunlight.

'Is this really a legendary weapon?'

It was absurdly powerful for something used in the Tutorial.

Even with the supreme ability 「Conquer」, fully mastering this holy sword would have been difficult.

But 「Seize」, specialized in forcibly taking ownership, made it surprisingly easy. Though wielding the item as perfectly as 「Conquer」 would have was another matter entirely.

—SKREEEEE!

Still, when the holy sword unleashed its 「Sacred Power」, zombies were sliced apart with a force incomparable to an iron rod. No—just casually swinging the sword while walking was enough to leave piles of zombie remains clattering to the ground.

'Lee Ji-hun. You worthless bastard.'

I couldn't understand why, even with this sword, he couldn't slaughter the zombies properly. What a fucking idiot. Absolute trash.

—Hey! Where are you right now?

CRUNCH.

The zombie's head embedded in the holy sword turned to ash and vanished. This much cleanup should be enough.

"School."

—I'm coming there right now! Don't move!

"Hey. Don't get cocky just because you're my little sister. Your big brother is coming to you."

—No, I'm coming!

Ring ring—

At that moment, the name I'd been waiting for appeared on my phone screen.

「Instructor Hayase」

"Hey, hey! Stay put. I'll be there soon."

—Huh...?

"Got it?"

—Uh, yeah... Bye, I g—

I didn't even wait for her to finish before answering Hayase's call.

#

Hayase took a deep breath, trying to release her tension. But the moment the call connected, her composure shattered instantly.

"Si-hyun?!"

—Noona!

The moment she heard Park Si-hyun's voice, Hayase's chest tightened. It was the voice she had longed to hear so much.

"A-Are you... unharmed? Are you hurt anywhere?"

—Me? I'm always healthy, so no problems there.

—KIIIIEEEK!

Yet right behind her came the guttural shriek of a zombie. Hayase's expression darkened in an instant.

"Si-hyun? You're not... right now—"

—Ah, it's fine. I am fighting zombies, but it's nothing too difficult...

"Where are you right now?!"

—...Well, I'm at Korea University.

Hearing that, Hayase made up her mind.

"I'll come to you. Wait for me there."

—No—wait, I'm heading to Seongmun General High School where my younger sister is—

"No. It's dangerous. I'll go there."

—...Noona. Why are you suddenly—

Hayase answered, swept up in the moment.

"Because I don't want to lose you, Si-hyun."

A brief silence followed. Then Park Si-hyun's voice returned.

—I'm not going to die, so don't worry. Just come to Seongmun General High School. We'll all meet there.

"You—you're really okay, right?"

—Yeah, don't worry, Noona. I've gotten strong enough to surprise even you now.

But this was the man she had even shared a kiss with. So Hayase had no choice but to trust him and wait.

"Okay. Si-hyun, call me anytime if you're in danger."

—Yeah. Noona.

After the call ended, Hayase exhaled quietly. She considered calling back but ultimately shook her head.

'I'd just be a nuisance. If he's fighting zombies, I'd only distract him. So I need to clear out the zombies quickly and go save Si-hyun.'

She sheathed her sword at her waist and stepped out of the dojo. Outside the changing room, the garden—once vibrant—was now littered with zombie corpses. Hayase's bitter smile deepened.

"Hearing your sweetheart's voice must've lifted your spirits, hm?"

Startled, Hayase turned to see her father, Han Hyeok-do, standing before her.

At the word sweetheart, her cheeks flushed.

"He's not my sweetheart yet..."

"It won't be long... I can tell just by looking at your face."

Hyeok-do sighed as he gazed up at the night sky.

"That damn freeloading bastard... After all the care I put into raising Hayase—"

He grumbled on before turning his eyes back to her.

Hayase, embarrassed by her own thoughts of Si-hyun, couldn't find the words to respond.

No—something was different. His daughter had always made that hesitant face whenever she had something she wanted to say.

"Still drowning in distractions, I see."

Hayase's shoulders slumped as she stared at the bloodstains covering the courtyard.

"...It's just complicated."

Hyeok-do chuckled dryly.

"That's family for you. You get sick of seeing them every day, but the moment they're gone, you start worrying. It's always complicated."

Hayase's grip tightened around her scabbard. The unease in her heart was impossible to hide.

Then, her father's voice cut through.

"You want to go, don't you?"

Hayase looked up at him, startled.

Hyeok-do's expression was solemn, his eyes already reading her heart.

Unable to meet his gaze, Hayase lowered her head. Emotions she could no longer control surged inside her.

"...Yes. I want to go. Because that's the truth in my heart."

Hyeok-do smiled deeper, then turned his back to her.

"Then go."

Hayase's eyes widened at his unexpected answer as she stared at his retreating figure. But her heart still worried for her family's safety.

"Then... what about you and Mother? The others...?"

"Obviously—"

Hyeok-do raised his thumb as he answered.

"We're coming with you."

A flustered smile rose to Hayase's face. At first, she had planned to slip out of the city alone—but hearing her father's decision, she ironically felt a strange sense of relief.

"We'll go there and thoroughly correct that no-good freeloader's manners so our daughter doesn't have to suffer. That's the least we can do as her dowry."

At his last words, Hayase's smile softened.

"Father. Didn't you say Si-hyun was absolutely out of the question?"

"...That was because, just by looking at him, I could tell women would never leave him alone. I didn't want you to suffer. Back then, in peacetime, there was nothing we could do. But now... I want to see my grandchild ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as soon as possible while we're still here... Ahem."

Hayase held back her words at Hyeok-do's gruff reply, simply pressing a hand to her restless chest as she watched him.

Embarrassed by his daughter's sad expression, Hyeok-do scratched his head and stepped away. His destination was the mountain of piled-up zombies.

He offered a silent prayer to the grotesque corpses.

"Don't linger in this wretched state. Go in peace."

Striking a match, he let the flame drop.

The fire spread across the grass, quietly engulfing the bodies. Soon after, even the traditional dojo began to burn.

"...."

Hayase and Hyeok-do watched the flames consume the dojo in silence.

This place could have been a sanctuary for others—but it already held too much death. Letting it go was the right choice.

The flames rose higher, slowly.

One by one, the members of the Striking Sword Way gathered before the dojo. A wordless weight hung at the corners of their mouths. Yet they all suppressed their emotions, standing vigil for the dojo's final moments.

Han Hyeok-do let out a bitter laugh, his eyes trembling. But Minase quietly stepped to his side and wordlessly wrapped her arms around his waist. The two silently watched the dojo burn.

The flames consumed their memories.

『Survive 30 days in the apocalypse and enter <The Tower>.』

Yet even in this moment, that wretched message still flickered meaninglessly.

Hayase wiped away tears as she watched the dojo where she had spent so much of her life. Slowly, she stepped back, turning her back to the flames.

From the distance, a scream-like sound echoed.

—Kyaaaaah!

Hayase gripped the demonic sword at her waist.

When the corpses, roused by the firelight, came charging—

A resolute gleam flashed in Hayase's eyes. She could no longer stand by and let these things defile this place.

"Let's go."

At Han Hyeok-do's command, the swordsmen followed. Their blades reflected the crimson flames, shining coldly in the night.

"To The Tower. And while we're at it, let's clean up some trash."

Hayase's pupils glowed blue as they reflected the approaching zombies.

『「Cleave」 has been activated.』

The zombies lunged.

#

Park Se-eun, Lee Ji-hyeon, Ga Da-hui, and Oh Han-yeong had gathered inside a convenience store. The four girls, whose beauty would draw attention no matter where they went, were now pale with exhaustion.

"Uh...? Se-eun? You're seriously gonna use that?"

Lee Ji-hyeon, the Republic of Korea's top idol and Se-eun's best friend, twitched her eyebrows repeatedly as she asked.

"Ugh, don't ask. I'm already pissed off enough!"

Se-eun clenched her eyes shut as she tried to yank the club free from the orc's death grip.

"Eugh, disgusting...!"

Even in death, the orc's body was absurdly strong—its rigor mortis made it refuse to let go of the weapon. No matter how hard Se-eun pulled, it wouldn't budge easily.

But Se-eun, despite her obsessive cleanliness, refused to give up—even if the thing was covered in blood.

Her friends watched her sudden change in behavior with bewilderment.

What's up with her? She was grossed out by the corpse earlier... Why's she like this now...?

Technically, Se-eun had been the one to kill the green giant. So, taking its weapon shouldn't have been an issue.

But it had been Se-eun herself who had initially refused to take the monster's club.

"Hey. Se-eun. What's gotten into you?"

Ga Da-hui, the model, tilted her head in confusion.

Se-eun's behavior had changed after her phone call with her brother. Once the call ended, she suddenly declared she'd take the orc's weapon too. It was weird.

Se-eun shook her silver-blue ponytail as she answered.

"Oppa was fighting zombies. While talking to me, he sounded completely relaxed."

She meticulously ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wiped the club with a wet wipe, then even sprayed it with disinfectant.

"Your oppa?"

At the mention of Park Si-hyun, Ji-hyeon's eyes sparkled as she asked. Da-hui twirled a lock of her black bob.

"Hmm... Oppa was always pro-level at every sport, right? So, zombies shouldn't be that hard for him, no?"

"Right. You don't need to be so worked up— Wait, are you doing that thing again?"

Se-eun's patience was wearing thin.

"Ugh, no! I'm telling you, he was literally fighting zombies while casually chatting with me! Then he suddenly hung up!"

Everyone else was hiding from zombies. But Si-hyun had been loudly talking on the phone while fighting them. Even if her brother wasn't in his right mind, this was definitely strange.

Finally, Oh Han-yeong—Se-eun's best friend and a chaebol heiress—flipped her pink hair and asked.

"Maybe a hunter group formed while we weren't looking?"

"Huh? Really? There wasn't anything like that in the community chats."

"Our phones have been dead for over an hour. Who knows what happened in that time?"

"R-really?"

The girls' imaginations spiraled further.

"If a group like that exists, a lot of people would be after Oppa, right?"

"Who'd even want to associate with Oppa?"

"Right. Oppa only matches with me."

"Shut up. You're just all boobs."

"Excuse me? You don't even have that!"

"Don't you dare taint Si-hyun Oppa!"

"Exactly. Oppa is a god!"

The conversation quickly derailed into worshiping Park Si-hyun.

Se-eun's patience shattered again. She finally yanked the orc's club free and gritted her teeth.

"Hey. Who do you think you are, obsessing over my brother?!"

The girls ignored Se-eun's protest and kept going.

"Aha, now that Se-eun has a weapon, let's go find Si-hyun Oppa!"

Ji-hyeon, ever the instigator, laid out the plan. Se-eun hesitated for a moment but ultimately refused.

"Don't. The more dangerous it is, the more we shouldn't disobey Oppa. He'll get mad. Just wait at school. It'll be safer."

"Who even are you? Our Se-eun would never say something like this."

"Are you possessed?"

"Ugh, I'm grabbing a blanket! Wherever we go, let's hit the school first!"

Han-yeong, her head ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠full of reckless ideas, was the first to step out of the store. The other girls sighed at her childishness but followed.

But their expressions quickly hardened.

"Huh? Why are you guys waiting here?"

At the path leading to the school, students from Seongmun General High stood armed, waiting for them.