Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: D - 23
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"That internet streamer guy, right?"
"Yeah, yeah."
"I heard he's been playing that game called Survival Life for a long time."
"A long time? He put in over 4,000 hours."
Mi-kyung leaned forward like she was sharing some big secret.
Actually, it ended up at 5,541 hours.
My mouth itched to correct her, but I barely held back.
She shoved her smartphone in my face.
"I was totally shocked when I saw this."
"What is it?"
A ridiculous passage popped up on the screen.
—If you have 10 points and Kimbap Lover has 10 points... now Kimbap Lover has 20 points.
—One time, an ogre bit Kimbap Lover. After three days of agony, the ogre met its end.
—Kimbap Lover's level is ∞, but that's just an approximation of his strength.
Hmm...
This was the kind of meme that cropped up because veteran players made zombies and monsters look so easy.
And she'd gone and found it.
Here, time for a surprised face. Surprised face.
"Whoa... that's impressive. Even if it's a joke, for stuff like this to catch on means he was really good at the game."
"Huh? It was a joke...?"
"..."
Mi-kyung panicked and covered her mouth with her hand.
She'd thought it was real?
What an innocent girl.
I gave her a quick explanation.
"I heard about it vaguely myself, but it's like a meme? You know, exaggerated jokes. The veterans are so good at the game that it comes off that way."
Mi-kyung's face flushed red in real time.
Then she suddenly cleared her throat and caught her breath.
"Ahem. Anyway, why'd that guy stop streaming?"
"Who knows."
Because he has abilities that are hard to share with others, obviously.
If my trait had been something suited for combat instead of Dimension Gate...
I would've scoured the internet for old veterans without hesitation.
But no one else can use the Dimension Gate but me, so no point teaming up.
...Anyway.
In an apocalypse, being a sucker means death.
In the game, you can laugh it off because you know you won't really die, but reality's different.
As my expression turned serious, Mi-kyung took the hint and ate her tteokbokki.
Then, out of nowhere, like she was trying to lighten the mood:
"Oh, right, mister. I turned down that guy's offer."
"The tow truck driver?"
"Yeah. Partly because of what you said... but mostly this."
She played something on her smartphone.
A skinny guy's voice leaked out.
—Fuckin' bitch is holdin' out like a champ. Ah... what the hell do I tell that bastard now.
"I... recorded that at the cafe where we met. I stuck my phone in my bag and stepped out to the bathroom for a bit."
"He must've shown he didn't want you there."
"Yeah. I said I'd think about it and went home, but when I heard this... it gave me the chills..."
Mi-kyung played another file.
—Fuck it, maybe I should just knock her down. The second I grab her hand, she flips out and shakes like crazy. Heh heh heh.
A sleazy laugh followed.
What the hell.
So he'd propositioned her and then talked shit like this behind her back?
"Thinking of people like that just isn't right. I didn't do anything wrong to that guy..."
"You need to be careful, Mi-kyung."
That's all I could say.
Right now, CCTV and the cops could protect her.
But once the zombie outbreak hits, no one's gonna be looking out for her anymore.
All she'll have is her own strength.
She spoke weakly.
"I saw some stuff online that shocked me. People saying they'll kill everyone... others spewing stuff too vile to repeat..."
"The world's full of psychos. If it really happens, the only one you can rely on is yourself."
"You... wouldn't do that, right, mister?"
She was showing she wanted to lean on me.
But I cut her off coldly.
"Who knows. I might turn into a zombie and come after you."
"Ah..."
She fidgeted, then finally said:
"The zombie thing... I told my aunt about it. But she told me to stop talking nonsense. Said if I have time for sci-fi fantasies, I should save up and get married..."
It does sound a bit far-fetched to older folks.
Mi-kyung's eyes reddened.
"I... I don't know what to do... I don't have many people I know..."
Looks like she doesn't have many friends.
Makes sense why she's asking a random guy like me out of the blue.
At least I know the topic inside out.
I gave her some advice.
"For starters... find someone other than those thugs. There have to be others in the same boat as you."
"I saw people online recruiting. They even do interviews."
"That doesn't sound bad."
Better than being alone, at least.
But I have to be alone.
No room for baggage.
Mi-kyung seemed a bit relieved after chatting and spilled her ability: Blink.
Basically short-range teleport.
Within 10 meters, she can do it a few times a day depending on focus.
Surprisingly, I now knew both their abilities.
Mi-kyung's Blink, and that thug's probably some electric discharge from his hands.
When I asked if she could show it, she stood up and concentrated.
"Yeah... it's kinda tricky. I have to focus on where I want to go, like over there..."
She vanished right in front of me.
Soon, the bathroom door opened, revealing Mi-kyung rubbing her flushed forehead.
"Ow, that hurts..."
I barely held back a laugh.
Not exactly the most reliable girl.
Still, learning her ability was a gain.
Might come in handy someday if she asks for help.
Better keep her in mind then.
.
.
.
After Mi-kyung left, I patrolled the streets around my house.
Call it terrain scouting.
The reason? The zombie outbreak and the Metal Plague don't hit at exactly the same time.
People get infected by tsunami-borne spores, and hours later, the Metal Plague spreads.
"That gap's about five hours..."
Once chaos erupts, I gotta loot before the Metal Plague hits.
Not really looting if the owner's a zombie now.
"Here's... the hardware store."
I sketched a map in my notebook.
I was eyeing metal-based stuff.
Hardware store might as well be a department store.
Across the street, a motorcycle shop.
Those four-wheelers looked tempting.
Bet they'd handle flat forests fine.
"Gas stations'll be wrecked, but there might be fuel left inside."
If I can siphon it, apocalypse life gets a lot comfier.
Raiding the whole pharmacy next door sounds good too.
Antibiotics and painkillers need prescriptions otherwise.
"New mart here..."
Too bad, but once zombies hit, never go to a mart.
Most customers turn, and zombies swarm from everywhere.
"Plenty of newbies bit it early rushing marts clueless."
In Survival Life, zombies are spore-infected hosts mind-controlled.
They need energy from food and water.
Meaning tons of zombies chowing down inside marts.
"Convenience stores should be fine, though..."
If the clerk zombifies, drop the shutter, open a Dimension Gate, and chuck stuff through?
Hardly any customers, so no big issue.
"Shutters are pretty sturdy."
Metal Plague hits hours later, so hit it quick and bounce.
I noted the two facing convenience stores.
Walking by a building, a smoking guy perked up.
"Hey? Sung-ho."
"Hyung."
This buff guy was Oh Hyung-jun, an acquaintance.
Around forty, ran a fitness club.
Married with a kid once, but divorced over personality clashes.
Super laid-back, popular with young guys.
If you ignore his muscle obsession.
He stubbed out his cig and stood, face twisting oddly.
"Sung-ho, where you working out? You lost a ton of weight."
"Been feeling my gut lately..."
"Stop."
He glared and circled me.
Silent protest: train at my club, not some rando spot.
Hyung-jun had ranted before that my build demanded sculpting.
Multiple times.
"What the... Kang Sung-ho's building muscle? Not at Oh Hyung-jun's humble gym, but somewhere else?"
"It's not like that, hyung."
I explained fast.
Early morning runs, cut snacks—he chuckled sheepishly.
"Thought it was somethin' else. Dawn workouts get a pass. But what blew the wind up your ass? Your gut's barely there."
"Heard those weird rumors lately."
He hangs with young guys, got it right away.
"Oh, that zombie thing? Members are freaking over it. Sit here."
"Yes, sir."
We perched on the stair railing.
Look like local punks with nothing better to do.
"Week ago? Some kid who skips workouts for girls comes in, says he's awakened."
"Status window and abilities, right?"
"You heard too? Thought it was bullshit at first. Turns out, zombie apocalypse in a month or two. More than one member said it."
"Showed his power?"
"Yeah. Saw him levitate 50cm with my own eyes. Thought my eyes were fucked. Inspected for tricks hard."
50cm levitation? Not much combat use.
Great for escape, maybe.
I licked my lips nervously, playing antsy.
"But it was real, huh?"
Hyung-jun swallowed dry.
"...Real superpower. Another member said, 'Coach, we gotta prep before zombies hit.' Then quit."
"Chaos."
"Driving me nuts. Members ditch workouts, just huddle shelling peanuts. Waste of time."
"But hyung, if zombies really come, workouts won't matter."
"Fuck... no clue."
"What about us?"
I played dumb.
"What to do? Try not getting bit."
"It's spore infection. Airborne."
"Air purifier?"
"Dunno..."
Luxury bunker folks still got infected, hyung.
He lit another cig, frustrated.
"Phew... that levitating kid? Headed to Seoul this morning. That longevity show. Guess this is what it's about."
"Going on broadcast TV?"
"Yeah. Wants a big payout. Not his dad, can't stop him."
Hyung shrugged it off, but it hit me different.
Ability user going public...
Government catches on to the truth.
More like that, and rumors ain't dismissible.
Investigations, Survival Life and devs exposed.
I'd surface soon too.
"Big trouble."
"Yeah. Turn zombie, we're fucked. Muscle loss."
That's your problem?
I sighed long, said bye to hyung.
"Busy today, gotta head out."
He called after me.
"Sung-ho, come to my club next time. Work out together, talk serious. That height, that frame? Learn to lift proper, you'll be a beast."
"Got it. I'll think about it."
"Think what? Just come."
If no zombie apocalypse, sure.
Finished scouting, got a tetanus shot, headed home.
Ordered water and spam from the mall, pondered.
"Bound to leak eventually."
Thousands with powers.
Amazing it stayed quiet days.
Society's focusing now.
More taking zombie talk seriously.
But what changes?
Silver Spore meteor still hits Pacific, world ends.
Always the same conclusion.
"Back to work."
I flew the charged drone over the forest.
Time for an aerial wide view.
Drone whirred up; footage hit my laptop.
Vast forest and sea filled my screen.
[D - 23] End