Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: The Best Defense - 1
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Another golf course bunker had been ransacked.
It was because so few people had survived the overlap of the Murderer event and the zombie raid.
Too wasteful to just leave the supplies behind, right?
I'd left one bunker intact, so if there were any survivors, they could scrape by on those.
"Still, I need to expand this place..."
As I looked around the forest shelter, it suddenly felt cramped.
There was just so much looted stuff piled up.
Exaggerating a bit, there wasn't even enough room for Dingo to run around.
"If I move the Yoon Hyung-chul lookout outside the moat and dig another one..."
I could cover the excavated dirt over the existing moat and gain about 6 meters of space.
Not a huge area, but it would put out the immediate fire.
I'd looted plenty of gasoline from Kwon-ssi’s bunker, so I could use the mini excavator for the job.
Excavators usually run on diesel, but this one from Kobelco used gasoline.
As I sketched out the plans, I spotted the dung beetles working in the vegetable garden.
"...How did they even learn to do that?"
They were leveling the soil, scattering seed potatoes, and covering it with plastic sheeting, their strength making the work effortless.
The tasks were neatly divided too, leaving me nothing but impressed as I watched.
"A bit slow, but hey, free help."
No downside, so I let them be.
I exited the dimension gate with Dingo and headed straight north.
The Gimhae Battalion was located in Saerom-myeon, north of Gimhae City.
That meant cutting through the Gimhae Plains and Gimhae City itself.
"Takes too long and it's risky."
I'd considered settling in the residential area near Gimhae City Hall instead, but the gym crew had already left.
"That Class 1 warehouse is just too tempting."
Everyone wanted a grueling but guaranteed route to bulk food supplies.
I didn't care either way.
My final destination was Changwon or the coast anyway.
But the battalion's location was a headache.
The whole area was mountains and factories, so few zombies, but goblins and kobolds were the issue.
Might end up turning the military base into a monster defense stronghold if things went south.
"No zombies makes it manageable, but..."
Goblins by day, kobolds at night—they'd likely hit the warehouse.
Standing guard around the clock would be annoying.
Nothing to do but check it out.
Dingo and I crossed the Gimhae Plains.
Harvest season was near, but no golden waves in sight.
Monsters had devoured it all, leaving the vast plains desolate.
"Locust swarm's got nothing on this."
Left unchecked, the whole Korean Peninsula—no, the entire planet—would end up like this.
Monsters absorb organic matter, evolving stronger and pressuring survivors.
Eventually, even plant-type monsters appear, altering the soil itself.
In that hopeless scenario, survivors could only run and endure.
"We weren't much different."
Player heroics were just a tiny fraction of the world.
Couldn't buck the trend in the end.
I switched to leather shoes.
Great for constant wear, but they had durability, so save them.
No need for stats while just walking.
"Oh, feels much lighter."
Like I could walk forever.
Dingo and I took down a few monsters as we left the plains behind.
In the city, we headed north from city hall, taking the shortest route.
Better than dealing with street-wandering monsters—mountain roads were easier.
But the vibe here differed from Busan.
"Quite a few survivors..."
Peeking from shops, I saw people darting about everywhere.
Usually with zombies or goblins on their tails.
"Gimhae isn't that populous."
Refugees from Busan joining up?
Anyway, totally different atmosphere from my old neighborhood.
Like mixing tonkatsu, chicken, and pizza in one bowl.
We slipped quietly out of downtown and up the mountain road.
Then Dingo caught a scent and bolted up the hill.
Turned out to be kobold shit.
"These guys are already out."
Makes sense post-speedrun event...
Nights just got dangerous.
If goblins were highway robbers, kobolds were thieves.
Incredible night vision let them prowl like daytime.
Raiding shelters for supplies was routine.
"Log in after a while, and bam—stripped clean..."
In-game talk, but no shelter was monster-proof, no matter how sturdy.
Furious players massacred nearby kobolds.
They just bred more pups to replenish numbers.
Not called "hate-kobolds" for nothing.
"Patrolling nests helps, though."
Short-term effort, low payoff, but better than nothing.
Plenty on this mountain, probably...
Better discuss after linking up.
We hustled along the road and finally reached the Gimhae Battalion.
A guy popped out from behind the guard post, bow trained on me.
"Halt. State your business."
I raised my arms meekly.
"My group's here, right? Two guys, two women."
"You met the lieutenant?"
"Captain Jin, yeah, probably."
He finally lowered the bow, eyeing Dingo curiously.
"I'll radio inside."
A flag went up at the post.
.
.
.
Guided to the barracks, Hyung-jun hyung, Soo-yeon, Captain Kim, and a new guy waited.
"Sung-ho, you made it. We just got here ourselves."
"Good to see you."
He looked youngish, introducing himself as Jo Seung-tae.
Captain Kim chuckled.
"The guy I mentioned who couldn't discharge."
"Ah..."
Poor bastard.
"Kang Sung-ho. We're companions but not traveling together."
Weird setup—companions but separate—but everyone rolled with it.
Captain Kim gave the tour.
"This is Gimhae Battalion. No fancy facilities, but the Class 1 warehouse is huge. Served as a supply depot for remote units nearby. But it's a mess inside."
"And that's after we cleaned a ton."
Sergeant Jo piped up quick.
Makes sense—military rations mean lots of cans.
All rusted through? Warehouse must've been hell.
"One on watch, one cleaning—brutal. Few monsters before, but now kobolds..."
"They steal supplies at night while we're asleep."
Hyung and Soo-yeon shuddered.
Stealing in the dark meant they could attack anytime.
Captain Kim looked sheepish.
"No kobolds when I left, but now..."
"Any countermeasures?"
Everyone shook their heads at hyung's question.
No perfect defense in a monster apocalypse.
Just endure.
"Kobolds aside, everything else okay?"
Captain Kim and Sergeant Jo exchanged glances at my question.
"Well... nearby survivors are eyeing this place too. We're giving some away, but they're not satisfied."
"Started grateful for a sack of rice or a box of ramen, now they just take like it's theirs."
Sergeant Jo's face showed a hint of resentment.
They secure and defend it, yet strangers demand handouts—infuriating.
Though we're kinda like that too.
Ex-military, can't be too harsh on civilians.
That community support mentality.
Hyung crossed his arms cautiously.
"Next they'll want to manage the warehouse themselves. Defense isn't their job."
"Wait, you and Captain Kim are heading to Seoul?"
Soo-yeon asked, but reactions differed.
"Well, I..."
"Speak up, Seung-tae. Not soldiers anymore—opinions matter."
Captain Kim urged, and he hesitated before speaking.
"Can I just stay here? With these folks..."
Huh? Wants to join the gym crew?
Fine by me.
Soo-yeon's eyes shifted oddly.
"This about Mi-kyung, Seung-tae-ssi?"
"N-no, not that."
Ah, got it.
Love at first sight with Mi-kyung.
A bit grimy from no showers lately, but fair skin, pretty face originally.
Bright personality, smiles easily—wins everyone over.
Age matches Sergeant Jo's too?
Soo-yeon propped her chin on her hand.
"Her heart's elsewhere. Can't say more."
So vague.
Sergeant Jo waved his hands in panic.
"J-just fanboy stuff. Grace dances great."
"Wh... what?"
"Mi-kyung danced?"
Everyone stunned.
Sergeant Jo, watch your mouth.
I knew about her dance team, but kept quiet.
Bringing up what she hid sours the mood.
He realized too late and clammed up.
Soo-yeon eyed him like a predator spotting prey.
"Grace her dance team stage name?"
"Yep."
"Pretty?"
"Stunning. Milk-white skin and..."
Hip shakes were killer, but mentioning that here? Dig a hole and coffin time.
"So you wanna join us?"
Sergeant Jo knew he'd messed up here.
Joining means convincing each member—and Soo-yeon looked pissed.
No clue why, but best stay quiet.
Captain Kim mediated as Sergeant Jo glanced nervously.
"Easy now. Not heading to Seoul right away—let's see how things go a few days. Need prep anyway."
"...Fine."
Soo-yeon looked away; Sergeant Jo sweated bullets.
Weak against noonas his age.
Time to lighten the mood.
"Mind if I check the warehouse quick?"
"Oh, sure. I'll guide you."
Sergeant Jo jumped up; Soo-yeon tagged along.
He fidgeted until the warehouse, then relaxed.
A horrendous stench hit us.
Everyone grimaced, pinching noses.
"As you feel, the smell's brutal. When we arrived, cans burst, rotten juice everywhere. Veggies, meat—all melted... You get it."
"You guys worked hard cleaning."
He nodded vigorously.
"Re-hyun suffered most. Barely cleaned, then kobolds pick it clean like dried persimmons—infuriating."
"We're here to pick it clean too."
Soo-yeon quipped; he denied.
"Knew about the gym folks. Secretly hoped you'd come."
"Two women?"
"..."
He turned bashful; Soo-yeon laughed cheerily.
Hand on his shoulder.
"Get friendly while you're here."
His face lit up.
While they chatted, I scanned the warehouse.
Disgusting footprints confirmed kobold visits.
Sergeant Jo came up behind, venting.
"Block windows all we want, they break in. Can't even wake up for intrusions."
"Any ideas, Sung-ho-ssi?"
"Hmm."
Too much to hold blindly.
Warehouse huge, dozens of windows, multiple doors.
Needs ten people minimum for defense.
So?
"Best defense is offense. We attack."
"...Pardon?"
Their faces twisted oddly.
.
.
.
Duck Down Quack's Choi Da-jeong left scorched earth everywhere she went.
Wiping out every monster in her path southward left survivors with nothing to hunt.
Yet some praised her as Zombie Queen.
Monsters respawn anyway; meantime, focus on farming.
Tailing her yielded pickings too.
Dozens of survivors swarmed around Da-jeong as she reached Miryang.
Occasional fights over prime spots.
Today, she faced a zombie horde at Miryang Bridge.
Her zombie minions nearly ghoul-strong—no danger.
One-sided slaughter.
Survivors hiding in buildings grumbled.
"She's insane."
"Fuck, just earned 120 points."
"She'll detour along the river, right?"
"Probably. Can't cross the river."
"Prep to go."
To reach Hajung-do from Miryang, bridges were needed—all snapped.
Metal Plague overload, likely.
Survivors figured Duck Down would skirt the river.
No boats to cross Miryang River.
Then the unbelievable happened.
Minion zombies plunged into the river.
"Huh?"
"What the hell?"
Zombies formed a bridge for her crossing.
Survivors gaped at the spectacle.
"Whoa..."
"Fuck, is that possible?"
She crossed elegantly, carried by two zombies' arms; bridge zombies swam to reform ahead.
Tightly interlocked—chilling.
"Totally insane."
Choi Da-jeong landed on Hajung-do effortlessly.
Curious what she wanted...
Her gaze swept nearby shops.
A finger wag, and window-hiders ducked.
"Come out—I have questions. Won't hurt you."
Zombie Queen's guarantee: no killing, even if roughed up.
Answer well, get gifts—well-known.
A man and woman emerged hesitantly from an alley, cowed by ghoul auras but brave.
Queen strode forward in elegant catwalk.
"Choi Da-jeong. Your names?"
"Uh... Lee Kyung-hoon, and this is Kim Bo-ram."
"Lived here?"
"No. From... Busan. Heard it's dangerous, so..."
"Oh ho."
Normal person might ask why not Gimhae or Yangsan, but Da-jeong didn't care.
She smiled; they tensed.
The Best Defense - 1
End