Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: We'll See
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"Ugh..."
My chest felt tight.
Dingo must be on top of me.
I gently moved him to the side of the bed and got up.
"Haaah."
After stretching, I washed my face with a splash of water and reviewed today's tasks.
"Oh right, the cave first."
I opened the dimension gate to check if the cave was safe.
Interior OK, gate OK, sensors OK, Yoon Hyung-cheol barbed wire OK, fence OK...
Aside from some animal tracks outside the fence, nothing had changed since last night.
"This is a new one."
Not a wild boar or a Valley Deer.
Dingo sniffed around and sat down, growling lowly.
"No hunting this morning, so leave it."
I brought Dingo inside and checked on the poison frog.
Doing well.
I cleaned the tank thoroughly and rationed out its food.
When I poked its back lightly with chopsticks, it secreted yellow poison.
"Don't spill it."
I collected the poison into a sauce bottle.
I planned to build up a tolerance to this poison.
They say you develop immunity with repeated exposure, right?
"In Survival Life, there were no goblins carrying frogs around, so I couldn't...
But now I have one.
I need to take good care of him so he lives long.
The reason I'm going this far is that goblins are a real pain.
Even if it's not full paralysis poison resistance, a bit of tolerance will help a lot.
"I'll be seeing those goblin bastards plenty from now on."
Next up: check the shopping list and place orders.
Mostly food and daily necessities.
17 days left until I can't buy anymore, so I felt rushed.
"Bulk buys it is."
I can open cans and portion them later, so big sizes only.
I ordered dozens of spices and sauces.
Seems like too much, but someday I'll be glad I did.
Sugar, salt, pepper too.
A ton of them.
Staring at the food pages reminded me of preserved foods.
"I could make pickles at least..."
Burying jars in front of the cave for kimchi storage sounded good too.
More variety in food stocks is always better.
In an apocalypse, food is the second most important thing after survival itself.
I searched Mityube for pickle recipes.
"Whoa... so many kinds."
Peppers, onions, eggplants, corn, squash—tons of options.
It was a fresh shock; I'd only thought of cucumber pickles.
Survivalists stock years' worth, considering pickles key preserved food.
Another standout: egg storage methods.
"Store eggs for a year?"
Without a fridge?
Turns out a grandma with a thick dialect advised coating them in oil.
The oil blocks air, apparently.
Gotta note this down.
In a related video, some prepper had dried pollock laid out in bulk in a basement.
"Dried fish lasts pretty long."
Like hwangtae...
I even have my own sea to fish from.
It'd be tough, but catching and drying fish like that would make solid preserved food.
"Should learn bottle canning too."
Not common now with canned goods, but it's homemade preserved food.
Well-sealed, it lasts 1-2 years easy. Mouthwatering.
"Let's see... 17 days left."
Thought I had time, but not really.
I ordered everything needed, then hit the nearby ingredients mart for heaps of daily goods.
Watching supplies pile up in the cave felt reassuring.
"...Isn't this getting cramped?"
Woof woof.
Dingo barked softly and went to a corner to dig at the soft soil.
The spot where I mined the glowstones and flint.
To me, it looked like he was saying, "Dig a basement already."
Need to hurry for storage space at least.
Stockpiling outside the cave wasn't feasible yet.
"Hold on... gotta stock this house too."
I scanned from the first floor to the second.
Too many flaws as a hideout, but couldn't just abandon it.
One cave alone doesn't guarantee safety.
"If the cave's compromised, this becomes the hideout..."
First floor's a no-go.
Used as a shop, so no major remodel means it's no hideout.
Better to clear it out completely.
Make it look shabby so looters pass it by.
"If they know it was a snack bar, they'll ransack for food."
I called a demolition crew and haggled the price.
An hour later, trucks hauled everything away.
Sign and all.
"What a mess."
Cleaning frantically, Dingo came down to the first floor.
"Hey, up, up."
He ignored my gestures and wouldn't go.
Just leave him?
He looks like a quirky husky pup.
Sitting there just watching passersby—no trouble likely.
Then a familiar silhouette called out.
"Sung-ho, got time?"
"Yeah, hyung-nim."
It was Hyung-jun hyung.
Face like he carried the world's worries.
He stared at me cleaning, then spoke.
"Cleared everything out? Because of that?"
"Yeah. Can't have people wandering in seeing the shop."
"Ah... makes sense for a snack bar. But you're serious about this."
"Gotta think of ways to survive somehow."
"Survive, huh..."
Hyung-jun lit a cigarette.
"World's gone mad. Members wanna turn the gym into a base 'cause of that zombie whatever."
"Gym's on the fourth floor, right? Block the entrance good, stock up—should be fine."
Hyung-jun looked incredulous.
"You too? You really think zombies are coming?"
"Your member was on TV saying zombie world, everyone's dying. Internet's chaos."
"...Dunno. Older guys act clueless, young ones scream we're doomed. What's going on?"
"Probably Survival Life game."
"Ridiculous. All this over a game?"
"Hyung-nim, if that game becomes reality, it's not 'just' a game. Better do something than nothing."
"...True... sigh..."
To me, he was stuck between generations.
Gets what young folks say but can't fully buy it.
Dismiss as nonsense? Too many rumors to ignore.
He exhaled smoke long.
"Can't sleep lately. Wondering if everyone's turning zombie. Mom and Ji-eun... what to do..."
JI-eun's his daughter.
Cute five-year-old, listened well—I liked her too.
She's with mom in Gimhae now...
Hyung-jun stubbed his cig and headed in, spotting Dingo.
"Huh? What's this dog? Husky?"
Dingo passes as husky. Good.
"Yup. Thought it might help."
"In a zombie outbreak? Oh, good nose? Cute guy. C'mere."
"Don't."
Sudden voice—not Dingo, from next door salon.
Outside, guys surrounding Mi-kyung.
Tattoo guy too.
Second recruitment push, aggressively.
I opened the salon door and greeted loudly.
"Hello!"
They jumped, stared.
Mi-kyung lit up like seeing an angel.
Devil closer, but angel here.
.
.
.
Checked the thugs.
Delinquents as expected.
The night motorcycle exhaust nuisances.
Flee cops, return louder punks.
Hat guy asked me.
"Who're you?"
I ignored him, to Mi-kyung.
"Mi-kyung-ssi, lunch date, right? Time's up, let's go."
She blinked, caught on: "Yes."
Tattoo guy shook head disbelievingly.
"Insane. Where you going? Answer first."
"I-I said no."
Mi-kyung protested; tattoo guy's voice rose.
"So rethink. Safer with us. Alone? Zombie chow."
What nonsense.
I beckoned them.
"Dunno the issue, but drop it. She said no. Not gangsters—what in her shop?"
"Gangsters?"
Hat guy stood.
Shoulders tensed, but short—unimpressive.
Approached, hesitated.
My size hit him.
Brief pause meant no big deal.
I raised voice.
"Hate the word? Then leave quietly."
"We're customers—why leave?"
"Customers? Owner disagrees."
"I-I'm going to eat. Closing shop—please leave."
Mi-kyung mustered courage; they snickered.
"Wow... after we came nice."
"Not our fault if you die? See later."
Their crap stopped.
Hyung-jun entered.
Muscle gorilla appearance; they awkwardly bowed heads.
Most trained at his gym.
Around here, males 20s-50s trained there at least once—including me.
"Oh! Cheol-jun who ran last time. No workouts? Look at those shoulders. Manly?"
Sudden buddy act flustered hat guy.
Hyung-jun eyed others.
"All here. Said I'd PT you—why run?"
"N-no, that..."
Even punks respectful to him.
Only tattoo smirking confidently.
Thinks electric stun power unbeatable.
Won't take long to learn otherwise.
"Not here! Gym time. Workout before food—best results."
Hyung-jun offered hand; hat guy coldly refused.
"Pass. No workout."
Heading out, glared at me.
"See you later, snack bar ajusshi."
"Yeah. We'll see."
I met his glare calmly.
Memorized their faces leaving.
Not for pretty Mi-kyung.
Preemptive bait: when zombies hit, they'll come at me.
High looter potential from habits.
Want them gone quick post-outbreak.
Easy when riled.
But avoid murderer tag—be careful.
Another reason: can't just watch blink user get poached.
I claimed her—buzz off.
Last tattoo guy out; Mi-kyung slumped in chair, head down.
Hyung-jun eyed: what happened?
"Nothing much. Forcing her to join. She said no."
"...I see."
Mi-kyung jumped up, bowed to him.
"Ajusshi, thank you... almost disaster."
"Broad daylight—no big deal."
"Not really... they said they're ability users."
"Ability users? Like levitation?"
"Yes. Different kinds."
He got it, face serious.
Phone rang; to me.
"Sung-ho, gotta go—work."
Passing, whispered.
"Girlfriend?"
"No."
"Not yet?"
"No."
"Playing coy. Anyway, heading out."
"Yes. Thanks, hyung-nim."
Door open; Dingo trotted in.
Mi-kyung eyes widened.
"Puppy... c'mere."
Dingo scratched head with hind paw indifferently.
"Ajusshi's dog?"
"Dingo. Husky."
"Big for husky... malamute?"
Actually silver wolf.
Mi-kyung cooed desperately; no budge.
Training works.
Proud, I picked him up, handed her.
"Dingo so cute..."
Even I agree.
Mi-kyung nuzzled, kissed—full affection.
Usually dogs do that, but whatever.
Time for serious talk.
"Those guys... they'll keep coming."
"I said no clearly..."
"Not the type to quit. Better join somewhere fast. Not much time left."
Precisely 17 days.
She petted Dingo, head down.
Wants to stick with me, but can't.
Zombie hunts, looter dealings.
Mi-kyung has blink, but burden now.
I suggested.
"Ajusshi who left runs gym... how 'bout it? Train, build stamina. Some members interested."
"My stamina's decent. Danced before."
"Danced?"
What now?
She covered mouth hastily.
"Anyway, if auntie says go, I'll check it. But... you okay? With those guys..."
Cute worry.
"Fine. No need to worry. Dingo, here."
Dingo left her arms.
Mi-kyung stood reluctantly, bowed.
"Ajusshi, really thanks today."
"No biggie. Might need your help later—laying groundwork."
"Doubt I can help..."
"Who knows? Hone that blink, maybe teleport me too."
"Oh..."
Seemed shocked—hadn't thought of developing power.
For me...
How to upgrade dimension gate?
Let others in?
Need to ponder.
I took Dingo back to shop.
"Tomorrow it arrives."
Generator and net gun.
Game-changers for forest life.
I cleared the first floor completely.
Looters, nothing here.
So don't come.
We'll See End