Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Zombie Queen - 1
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Once suspicion takes root, it doesn't easily fade.
Especially when you're backed into a corner.
Kim Hyo-jong couldn't even breathe properly, convinced his subordinates had seen the letter and knew his true identity.
The incident where he'd scammed Awakeners using a video as bait was infamous.
Quite a few people in the clan knew about it, and public opinion was, naturally, abysmal.
That alone might have been forgivable, but if his ID got out, he was done for.
Among Survival Life players, few hadn't had their characters deleted after falling for a troll's antics.
Who'd like a newbie killer?
He felt like someone might stab him in the back any second, yelling, "You're that bastard, aren't you?!"
"What's wrong, boss?"
Even as his subordinate asked, Hyo-jong couldn't respond.
His mouth was parched, cold sweat trickling down.
How they'd found out didn't matter.
He needed a way out of this mess right now.
If I turn this around...
What if he pinned it all on that bastard he'd never even seen face-to-face?
Shooting an arrow meant he'd been nearby just moments ago.
People love admiring the traces they leave behind.
The guy was probably outside right now, watching the building.
Wanting to see him squirm.
The best defense is a good offense...
Kill that guy, and everything would smooth over.
First, he needed to check if his subordinates had actually seen it.
Hyo-jong tore the letter to shreds.
"It's that bastard."
"Huh? Who?"
"That bastard! The speedrun event winner!"
"Kimbap Lover? That guy's here?"
His wide-eyed surprise suggested he hadn't seen it.
At least this one hadn't.
But there was no guarantee the guy had only fired one arrow.
And sure enough, another subordinate burst in, clutching a letter.
"Boss, what's this? We need an explanation."
"Explanation for what?"
"It says your name's Kim Hyo-jong. Help Me? Isn't that a trash ID? What's it got to do with you?"
"So that's the nonsense..."
Hyo-jong bared his teeth, glaring.
"You punk, who the hell do you trust? Some random letter that flew in from who-knows-where, and you're grilling me? You messing with me right now?"
"Well, there was that time you didn't recognize your own name. Hyo-jong, Ho-jun... they're similar..."
His eyes were off—suspicious.
He'd indeed blanked on "Ho-jun" a few times since it wasn't familiar.
Dragging that up now?
Hyo-jong exploded in disbelief.
"Unbelievable. Kimbap Lover's stirring up infighting, and you're just taking it lying down? I'm going insane here. Huh?"
"Kimbap Lover?"
"Yeah, that bastard! You think he only sent letters to you guys? He sent one to me too— this thing!"
He stomped dramatically on the scraps, and the subordinate's momentum faltered.
Flip the anger back, and most people start thinking, Was I wrong?
Plus, in this atmosphere, few would scrutinize the letter.
Before the moment passed, Hyo-jong rushed them.
"Get out there and grab that bastard quick. He's gotta be close. Catch him first, then we'll talk!"
"Uh... got it!"
"Stick together just in case. Kimbap Lover seems like a creator type, so watch for flying crap. Got it?"
"Yes, sir!"
They grumbled but headed out.
Hyo-jong finally exhaled in relief.
But it wasn't over.
I have to catch and kill that bastard.
Whether he was Kimbap Lover or not didn't matter.
Play it off as a mistake, frame him, and done.
Meanwhile, Choi Da-jeong, heading south, finally reached Gimhae.
.
.
.
Choi Da-jeong arrived in Gimhae, leading Lee Kyung-hoon and Kim Bora.
They'd guided her and shared decent info.
A man they'd briefly teamed with in Busan piqued her interest.
—A guy named Kang Sung-ho. Tall... trait's supposedly Attack Prediction, but didn't seem like it.
—Insanely knowledgeable about monsters. We benefited a ton. If not for that incident, we'd still be together.
She asked about the incident: Kyung-hoon and the man had clashed.
Kyung-hoon scratched his head.
—Looking back, I was totally wrong. Everything Sung-ho said checked out. Monster habits, countermeasures, all of it.
—Played the game?
—Nah... just watched videos. Mityube, Kimbap Lover's channel.
—Oh ho.
It smelled right.
She grilled them and nailed down convincing details.
—Wasn't originally from the gym. Ran a snack bar...
Found him.
Da-jeong clenched her fist.
Busan, snack bar, monster knowledge—it all pointed to one person.
Kyung-hoon and Bora asked.
—Know him?
She played it cool and asked which way he'd gone.
Didn't know details—west Busan or Gimhae.
Radiation scattered everyone.
By the timing, he might've reached Changwon.
She'd find him eventually.
Wouldn't have gone as far as Jeonnam.
Da-jeong proposed to the pair.
—Heading to Gimhae. Join me?
They agreed instantly.
She guaranteed safety; they provided intel. Win-win.
Trouble was the tagalongs trailing her.
Occasional squabbles broke out.
—Queen, why white high heels todayyy!
—Woo! Red heels are sexier!
Da-jeong flipped them the bird.
—Red dye's replaced by your blood!
Of course, no actual violence.
Her highway route thinned the crowd fast.
Apocalypse inter-city travel was daunting.
The few diehards lagged when her zombies sped up.
Thus, the trio reached northern Buk-dong in Gimhae unscathed.
"Let's split here."
"Yeah, probably."
She's hunting him here, huh...
Kyung-hoon and Bora wondered if the Zombie Queen's target was really Sung-ho.
He'd hidden something, but didn't seem that impressive.
Da-jeong rewarded them as promised.
Weapons they'd coveted but skipped for points.
They parted regretfully.
Meanwhile, Da-jeong spotted survivors while heading south slowly.
They swarmed, desperate to approach.
Reason: her looks.
In apocalypse life, grooming's tough.
No point, either.
Women survivors ended up looking like men.
No makeup, skin blackened, hair chopped short—only size differed.
Da-jeong stood out like a crane among chickens—or a sword among them.
Zombie protection gave her leisure, reflected in her appearance.
Her signature dress and heels tantalized the pervs.
But none stepped up.
Rumors swirled: Zombie Queen captures men, lets zombies ravage them.
Piss her off, and zombies—not her—ruin you.
Thus, unhindered southward march.
Cooperation here's tricky.
She ordered her zombies.
"Grab two."
A dozen scattered swiftly.
The two caught mid-lewd chatter about her trembled.
In her cheongsam, Da-jeong positioned her foot between their legs.
"Won't kill you, relax. Got questions."
"Y-yes..."
"Seen a tall guy with a dog?"
They glanced, shook heads.
"No suspicious folks around."
"This is our turf."
"Rumors of such a guy?"
"Well... noises from below."
"Clan's sending reinforcements—some fight."
"Fight, huh... no details?"
"Internal clan stuff..."
Da-jeong flashed a sweet smile.
"Tell only me, keep shut—never said a word, right?"
Her foot edged toward their groins.
Normally "industry bonus!" but instinct clenched legs.
No apocalypse dick injuries, thanks!
Who knows when you'd use it!
"W-we'll talk! Promise!"
"...Good."
While they chatted, zombies cleared nearby monsters.
How many points is she raking?
Envy aside, the men spilled.
"Fighting Kimbap Lover."
"But why would he be here?"
True or not, didn't matter.
Someone did something Kimbap Lover-ish.
Da-jeong grinned darkly.
"Lie, and I'll return. Know what happens?"
She snapped; a zombie undid its belt.
They nodded frantically; she straightened.
A bit south, he's fighting?
Per Kyung-hoon and Bora: tall, burly, stone-faced, sporty haircut.
Dog seals it.
Da-jeong came here for him.
Initially boredom, now more.
She craved someone to confide in.
Only old-timers who shared her past qualified.
Bunny Duo? Eons away. Survivor1? MIA.
Just Kimbap Lover left.
"Won't miss you. Boyband, assemble!"
Overly burly "boys" hoisted her up.
.
.
.
Early evening, in Nei-dong's residential area, survivors clashed.
Started distant, arrow sniping—tentative.
Then majority reinforced, pressed hard.
Sung-ho, solo, had to fall back.
They're seriously cornering me now.
No intent to flee.
With their malice, he wanted them gone.
He noticed himself acting like a human hunter.
Others hunt monsters; I'm just wrecking people.
But quitting? Nah.
Spare them, and it'd turn filthy, brutal.
Su-yeon and Mi-kyung? Dragged off, abused.
Shouldn't have touched us.
Too late for regrets.
All he offered: utter ruin.
Resolved, he dimension-gated out, hid near clan cluster.
High Perception and skills mapped their positions roughly.
Lurking, screams soon followed.
"Zombie!"
"Fuck, that bastard's here?!"
Zombie raid kicked off.
Clan scattered cursing; Sung-ho slipped into his gate quietly.
Repeating this wore them down.
"Ask the clan leader how long this bullshit lasts!"
"Where the hell's he hiding?!"
Their panic was satisfying, but raids yielded little—one kill.
Seasoned survivors, huh.
Fine, harsher it is.
Pepper bombs, paralytic darts, Emeras rain—full arsenal unleashed.
Sung-ho lobbed a pepper bomb, chucked Emeras darts at one.
"Argh!"
"What hit my thigh?! Drag him out!"
"The fuck is this?!"
"Kaaack!"
Clan writhed in agony.
One guy, yet untouchable!
Flanking? Useless.
Kimbap Lover dodged like he knew their traits.
Commotion drew monsters inevitably.
They fled gasping; he reappeared pristine.
Looping this drove them mad.
"Why's that bastard always fresh?!"
Meanwhile, Kim Hyo-jong watched quietly.
Thought creator type...
Nope, watching the fight.
No Blink or Stealth—erasing existence itself.
Subspace pocket?
Whatever—subordinates couldn't handle him.
Ten in, one dead already; rest broken.
Guess I step up.
His trait: Roar.
Voice-empowered effects; first hit's brutal to counter.
Voice-phishing boss fitting, hilariously.
"Hey, you! Freeze!"
Power laced his voice; Sung-ho locked stiff.
Panicked briefly, muscled free barely.
Arrow whizzed where he'd stood.
Damn.
Voice power—freaky ability.
Scammer trait, fitting.
"Stop" seems trigger. Counter how?
Earplugs? Instant activation, useless.
Over Lv15, two more commands.
Scout those, thin their numbers.
Sung-ho fled, shouting.
"Kim Hyo-jong's a scammer!!"
"Voice-phishing got him that trait!!"
"Scammed Awakeners to clan leader spot!!"
Clan murmured.
"Clan leader's Kim Hyo-jong? Not Park Ho-jun?"
"Yeah, blanked on 'Ho-jun' before."
"Nah, no way..."
Already suspicious; this sowed chaos.
If true, total fool's errand.
Hesitation hit; Hyo-jong panicked.
Kill him solo, salvage fast.
Or clan might turn.
Used Ascend Roar, rocketing skyward.
Sung-ho exposed.
Heh, didn't expect flight.
Like Levitate, but timed, resistible on others.
Landed, snuck behind stealthily.
Avoiding monsters dragged it out.
But he was gone.
Hyo-jong searched frantically—vanished clean.
"Where'd that bastard bolt?!"
Subspace again?
He bolted, spotted someone.
White cheongsam, high heels—absurd.
One person dresses like that in apocalypse.
Duck Down Quack.
Here for Kimbap Lover...?
Hyo-jong awkward-smiled, backed off.
Better flee than provoke.
But she wanted action.
Arms up, model pose.
"...Skip the fluff! Boyband, assemble!"
Zombies charged.
Hyo-jong's eyes bulged; Ascend Roar hasty.
Too slow; zombies swift.
Piled up, snagged his ankle.
"Argh!"
Face-planted ugly.
Click-clack; heel by his head.
She took a long knife from a zombie.
"N-no way..."
"You're the one fighting Kimbap Lover?"
"N-no! I just bluffed! Don't even know who!"
"Sure."
Voice from behind.
Da-jeong turned slowly.
Tall, burly. Sporty cut, blank face.
Backpack, bow; long knife in hand.
Matched descriptions.
Da-jeong stabbed down.
Writhing Hyo-jong stilled; Sung-ho froze.
Murder okay here?
She slipped off her heel slowly.
Sung-ho instinctively backed up.
Friend incoming—meet her? Real deal: next-level psycho.
Cheongsam and heels now?
Beyond that, casual murder boldness...
She cocked her head, smirked.
"First time meeting?"
"...Yeah."
Casual from jump.
Sung-ho got why Duck Down Quack now.
Like Bunny Duo, not normal.
Approaching to capture him proved it!
"Hey! Why run?!"
"You ran first!"
"I killed for you!"
"Thanks! Talk standing!"
"No! You'll bolt! Boyband, assemble!"
"Crazy! Zombies are boyband?!"
Zombies lunged; Sung-ho bolted startled.
Da-jeong chased, laughing gleefully.
"Missed this! Seek and destroy!"
Zombie Queen - 1 End