Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Zombie Queen - 2
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I'm pretty sure I'm screwed.
Anyone would think that if they were hanging upside down from a tree like a piñata.
Especially with thirty zombies milling around nearby.
Dajeong suddenly stood up and slid her pants and panties down.
The queen commanding those zombies was sitting on her zombie throne, staring at me.
They say crossing your legs like that twists your hips, but whatever.
"Gonna run away again?"
"Uh... this is like the tenth time you've asked."
"Gonna run away again?"
She repeated the question like a parrot.
I could only pray silently, tears streaming in my mind.
"I won't run."
"For real?"
"For real. Legit. Honest. Promise."
"...Okay."
Only then did Dajeong cut the rope and let me down.
Finally, I could sit on the ground.
"Phew... Anyway, now that I think about it, this is our first time meeting in person."
"Yeah? I saw you almost every day in the game."
"I had no idea you were like this. Or even a woman."
Dajeong's eyes widened.
"Really? I kinda pictured Kimbap Lover looking like this. Your usual tone made it easy to imagine."
"What about Bunny Duo?"
"That guy's pure chaos. Pointless to even try."
You're not much different.
If Bunny Duo was 100% chaos, Duck Down Quack was about 90%.
They might seem the same, but from my perspective, there's a clear difference.
Anyway, it's fascinating.
We hadn't asked each other's ages.
Nicknames were enough.
Even if Bunny Duo showed up, we'd probably all be bantering casually.
She stepped down from her zombie throne and sat on the ground.
We sat gazing down at the area below, just like the last time we'd gathered in-game.
She brushed her wavy hair behind her ear.
"Never thought a day like this would come when I was playing the game."
"Same here. I was prepping to take down a Brute, hoping you guys would show."
"...Waited a long time?"
Her voice took on a subtly worried tone.
I answered nonchalantly.
"Not really. Hunting monsters solo was fun in its own way. Didn't catch it in the end, though."
"Even with your specs back then, you failed?"
"If we all prep thoroughly and go at it together, we've got a shot. It's on another level from an Ogre."
"Huh. Sounds fun."
"But right now, I'm way weaker than you guys... Even if a Brute shows up, I might not be much help..."
As I trailed off, she stood, grabbed my leg, and pressed her high heel into my groin.
"Whoa? W-wait a sec!"
"What 'wait a sec'? Get your head in the game, buddy!"
"Gaaah!"
The pain shooting through my groin kept me from snapping out of it.
This psycho uses it on friends too!
Should've been more careful!
I tapped the ground frantically, yelling surrender, and she finally eased up.
"Ow..."
Almost ended up useless in the apocalypse without even getting to use it.
She stared straight into my eyes.
"Being weak isn't the issue. It's about what you've set your mind to, got it?"
I shook my head.
"You don't know my trait, that's why."
"Doesn't matter. From how you popped up out of nowhere, I'm guessing you can open portals to escape? And inside, you've got all sorts of weird stuff like ice."
"..."
I neither confirmed nor denied it.
It wasn't hard for Dajeong to guess that much about my trait.
She knelt and patted my head.
Aren't guys usually the ones doing this to girls?
"We're friends, right? If we trust each other and prep, nothing's impossible. At least in Survival Life—in this reality based on that game. Trust us. We can take that monster, no problem."
"You really think so?"
"Yeah."
"But you haven't asked about my trait."
"'Cause you haven't told me."
"Not curious?"
"I'll wait till you're ready. You'll tell me eventually, right, weakling?"
This time, I spoke.
"Yeah."
But... something was bugging me.
I tried to ignore it, but she was too obvious.
I finally spoke up.
"Your panties are showing."
She glanced down and laughed.
"Cleaner than Bunny Duo's, right?"
That's your reaction?
Definitely not normal.
Though neither am I.
...
"Murder okay?"
"One or two's fine."
"Sounds like you haven't done it yet."
"You?"
"...A lot. Anyone who threatened me."
"Should I praise you?"
"Nah, I'm good. And down there, there are people with me."
"Companions, huh."
"In the sense we help each other."
"Attaching conditions means you could ditch anytime."
"What would those people do if they knew who I am?"
"Fair. Traitor to humanity level, can't be helped."
"Traitor to humanity. Bit of a grandiose nickname."
"You got flamed hard at the auction house. Hated just for breathing. Got a few followers after topping speedrun, though."
"Those followers were cursing me out till recently. They'd stab me in the back first chance."
"You're so suspicious."
"Never lost out by being that way."
We hid in the woods, peering at the Gimhae Battalion.
Dajeong had changed clothes at my desperate insistence.
Jeans and a tee—perfect.
But I couldn't get her to ditch the high heels.
She insisted:
"I don't walk much. So heels are fine."
"Smart."
"Right?"
"But be careful. There are zombies that nullify traits."
Dajeong's eyes widened for the first time.
"Nullify traits? For real?"
"I call 'em Wi-Fi zombies. You can imagine what they look like. Tutorial early-game, so combat's meh. But if they evolve to ghouls later, they'll be tough. Especially for you—their minions will swarm."
"What the fuck kind of patch did these devs pull?"
Dajeong unleashed a torrent of curses at the devs.
Everything's fine, but wishing castration on them is harsh.
Not sure they're even human.
She turned to me.
"So you're going to find Bunny Duo?"
"Gotta meet him. Staying together's tricky, though."
"Why? He wants you."
"Sounds creepy when you say it like that. Let's just say we wanna group up."
"Either way, we need to reunite, right?"
"People would figure out I'm Kimbap Lover right away."
"Ah..."
Dajeong finally got it.
Meeting's fine.
I wouldn't mind hanging with Bunny Duo either.
But it'd blow my cover.
A mysterious guy Bunny Duo and Duck Down Quack buddy up with... obvious who.
Posing as Survivor1 was tough 'cause he's with the government.
Not sure now, but that braggart attention-seeker will spill eventually.
"You guys solve problems head-on. I run first, find weaknesses."
Dajeong's eyebrow twitched.
"Don't like that."
"Can't be helped. It's my trait, my survival style in the apocalypse. You're strong, so you let attackers live. I'm different. Leave loose ends, they bite back—kill 'em."
And I will going forward.
Dajeong was silent a while, then took my hand.
"But we trust each other, right?"
I'd doubted recently.
But meeting her... I realized I was wrong.
Dajeong wouldn't hesitate to kill for me.
Bunny Duo probably too.
So shouldn't I repay their goodwill?
Even if we can't stick together.
"Yeah."
I handed her a paper.
A custom cipher based on Kwon’s code.
"Talk like this, no one else'll know."
"...Think we can keep it from Survivor1?"
"Watch him for now."
"Why? Something up?"
"I can see auction house posters' IDs."
"...Full of surprises today. Speedrun reward?"
"Skill. Costs points to reveal. Not in reality."
"That's how you knew Survivor1's posts."
"He's with the government. Subtly planting his ID, self-praising. Was he always like that?"
"Gave off 'lost in his own world' vibes. Obsessed with shelter-building."
"Trait's probably related... Anyway, just us for now."
Dajeong suddenly stood and slid down her pants and panties.
As I freaked, she dangled them in front of me.
"Bunny Duo posted his panties, so should I? Then we can chat."
"No, please, don't... Put 'em back on."
"Okay."
She obeyed readily.
Tough to talk to, honestly.
I told her:
"Can't be with Bunny Duo, but I gotta meet him."
"Want me to go?"
"Nah, I'll go. You're too flashy—everyone'd recognize you."
"So I hole up here?"
"Help those folks instead. Just stick around."
"Keep that guy's minions from harassing me?"
"...Yeah. That was their original goal."
Dajeong peered through my scope, then panicked.
"Who's that guy down there? Looks like a girl!"
"Lemme see... Yoo Hyun."
"Yoo Hyun? He's hot."
"Wanna date him?"
He looks so sweet and handsome, easy to see why.
She jumped up, yelling:
"Fuck, I want dick! Shove it in Yoo Hyun!"
Of course that's it.
She's the type who'd fuck monsters—why spare Yoo Hyun?
What face would he make knowing the Zombie Queen wants to ride him?
...Gotta warn him.
This woman might actually strap on toys and raid him at night.
"Calm down."
"Give me ice to calm down! Lots!"
"Alright, hold on."
I wrote a note, sent it through the dimension gate.
Dajeong marveled as my hand vanished into thin air.
"That's your escape spot, huh."
"Something like that."
"What's inside? Nah, save it for later fun."
"Whatever."
Soon, the Ppashing bugs brought ice in a basin to my hand.
I pulled it out; she tilted her head.
"Is it an ice world in there?"
"Kinda."
Winter wonderland, sure.
She kicked off her heels, soaked her feet in the basin, took cola from a zombie, and poured it in.
"How long you been lugging that?"
"Month? Super shaken, probably flat now."
"Dump it, drink this."
I got a PET bottle cola from a Ppashing and handed it over.
"...Trait a vending machine?"
She'd guessed decently before, now confused.
Tell her about the cave, forest, smart bugs—she'd flip.
I kept my mouth shut.
I trust Dajeong and Bunny Duo.
But not the suspicion or jealousy if my trait's fully exposed.
Human nature—odd if they didn't feel it.
Leaks scare me too.
They wouldn't spill, but risk exists.
Alone, it's zero.
No choice for me.
So play dumb like now.
...
The Gimhae Clan crumbled fast without Hyo-jong.
Per Yoo Hyun, infighting erupted.
My leaked info sparked suspicions; they fought over loyalty to the fraud.
Hyo-jong could've squashed it, but he's gone.
No one to calm things.
Zombie Queen Dajeong poured gas on it.
She roamed, spreading unease.
Monsters clashed fiercely; zombie raids hit a few times.
People deemed it unlivable, packed up, migrated.
Gimhae Clan site emptied.
Dajeong patrolled neighborhoods a few times, then returned.
"Cleared 'em out."
"...Impressive, Your Majesty."
Beyond me.
They knew the Zombie Queen, knew touching her meant doom.
Steer clear of shit—same idea, but I couldn't mimic.
We discussed future plans.
"Can't stay here forever. Supplies for now, but..."
"Changwon’s good. Ocean there too."
People think alike.
Provisionally set Changwon as goal.
Dajeong already pitched to gym crew and soldiers.
—I won't hurt you.
Seeing the rumored Zombie Queen, they feared but welcomed tentatively.
No hostility from her.
Yoo Hyun showed interest, saw her mad eyes, freaked.
—D-don't look at her eyes! She wants to eat me!
Eat or fuck—same difference, maybe.
Though Dajeong's the eater, Yoo Hyun the meal.
I warned him to watch out at night.
She might actually barge in.
He shuddered, said he'd bunk with Hyung-jun hyung awhile.
Poor guy.
Anyway, her arrival quieted Gimhae area.
Monsters still around.
Zombies persist, goblins and kobolds threaten.
But infighting dropped—blessing.
I headed to Gimhae New City with Mi-kyung.
Finish this, then Changwon, settle, find Bunny Duo.
Next: Orc first-kill event... Events piling up.
Orcs and werewolves'll make it harder.
Need sturdy base before they spawn.
Mi-kyung and I scouted New City—no leads.
Apartment complexes collapsed; survivors fled elsewhere.
Back, told them; hyung looked conflicted but resigned.
"Situation's like that—no choice. Thanks anyway. Now I can let go..."
Having lost family early, cut ties with relatives—I couldn't fully get hyung's feelings.
But no moves for now, obvious.
Hyun-woo and two soldiers finally headed to Seoul.
They knew we wouldn't linger at Gimhae Battalion.
Asked to share supplies with mild survivor groups.
Hyung-jun hyung agreed.
Sergeant Jo asked Mi-kyung something; she refused flat-out.
Probably "dance for me."
Creepy knowing her past, plus dancing's embarrassing.
Sergeant Jo slunk off to Seoul.
I prepped to leave for Changwon.
Scout ahead for base—they worried but didn't stop me.
Used to solo, I guess.
"Uncle, go with me—we'd be quick."
Mi-kyung offered, but I declined—prefer alone.
Together faster, sure, but goals beyond: meet Bunny Duo, prep orcs. Her presence complicates.
She read the room, didn't push.
I packed, set off to Changwon with Dingo.
Zombie Queen - 2 END