Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: D - 28
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I completely cleared the entrance to the kobold den.
Or no. Since it was mine now, maybe I should call it the Kang Sung-ho den?
Either way, just looking at the cave put me in a good mood.
Now I finally had a base in this forest where I could hold out.
Assuming I could defend it from the monsters' clutches, that is.
I shone my flashlight into every corner of the cave.
"It's not that big..."
The entrance was so narrow I had to hunch over to get in.
There were no forks—just a straight shot ahead.
For a cave, the humidity wasn't too bad, so it seemed cozy enough to live in.
No bugs or baby rats in sight.
"Did the kobolds eat them all?"
Those things devoured anything they could get their hands on.
At the end was the kobolds' nest.
A wave of junk, bloodstains, and a musty stench hit me all at once.
I pinched my nose and measured from the entrance to the nest with my tape measure. It came out to about 15 meters.
"This should be decent enough to live in."
For now, I needed to get rid of this disgusting kobold nest.
Heave-ho.
Walking on the uneven cave floor was pretty tough.
Even more so when you were already worn out.
I gritted my teeth and worked to erase every trace of the kobolds.
Phew, barely made it.
"Maybe I should mortar the floor..."
It was cozy and the right size, but the ground was way too bumpy.
If I smoothed it out with mortar, it'd be livable.
I could even bring in sandwich panels to divide it into rooms and storage.
As I wandered the cave, I spotted a glowing stone embedded in the floor.
"Haven't seen one of you in ages."
This was a glowstone.
Nights in the apocalypse world were pitch black, so lighting was essential.
But you couldn't just light a fire willy-nilly.
All the nocturnal monsters nearby would swarm you.
So we'd light our hideouts with candles or glowstones.
Just hang blackout curtains, and no one could see in from outside.
"Wonder if I can mine this out."
I bought a pickaxe through the dimension gate.
I was dying to flop onto my bed, but I held back.
Luckily, the ground was soft, and soon I had a fist-sized glowstone in hand.
"Pretty big. Any more around?"
If I mined a few and placed them around the cave, I wouldn't trip over anything.
I turned into a miner.
I dug eagerly, and before long, I found a red stone too.
"Whoa... jackpot, total jackpot."
This red stone was an ignition stone—a kind of premium flint.
Rub two together, and you'd get a roaring flame. Worked even if they were wet.
"The more ways to start a fire, the better."
With lighters, flint and steel, firesteels, and ignition stones, I'd never be caught without fire.
Of course, ignition stones had other uses too.
I pocketed the glowstones and ignition stones in my backpack and eyed the cave entrance.
It'd be evening soon...
"...No way in hell I can stay here yet."
It was my cave, but fixing it up to live in would take time.
I camouflaged the entrance well and headed home through the dimension gate.
I was dying to crash into bed, but first I had to plan the renovations.
"Mortar the floor... level it out..."
Then fit sandwich panels to divide the space.
Bed and stockpiling supplies could come after.
"Gotta start spending nights in the forest soon too."
Going out was scary, and holing up in the cave swinging a pickaxe...
As I thought that, my desk suddenly loomed before me.
"Ow, my nose."
I was so sleepy I'd faceplanted into it unconsciously.
It didn't even hurt much. I just wanted to close my eyes.
"Screw it, sleep..."
I threw myself onto the bed, and my mind sank into oblivion.
What a tiring day.
.
.
.
"Ugh."
Lately, my days started with groans.
I checked the mirror, wondering if I'd lost some weight, striking a pose...
Ooh, yeah.
I had slimmed down for sure.
Couldn't pinpoint where, but overall, it showed.
And somehow, my body felt more defined.
Probably just wishful thinking for now.
"Three days running around the forest, and what?"
The zombie outbreak was right around the corner. I needed to get agile.
Thought about joining a gym but scrapped it.
Forest workouts should suffice.
I whipped up some food and was eating when a delivery text came.
That fast...? Damn, it's already afternoon.
I was totally out cold.
"What's here today..."
Heading down the stairs—ow, a dull ache in my ankle.
What'd I do with my foot yesterday?
Oh... kicked a kobold.
Adrenaline must've masked it.
Plus all the fatigue piling up.
Testing the stairs up and down, I could walk okay.
"Shoes the problem?"
Maybe they didn't support my ankle right.
Should grab some ankle-high hiking boots or tactical ones.
Thinking back, yesterday's brawl at the cave entrance was risky.
I needed gear that protected me even in close combat.
"Not full stab-proof, but..."
Stab-resistant gloves, tactical vest and pants, tactical boots should do.
Motorcycle helmet for the head.
I ordered some well-reviewed ones.
Down on the first floor, my hard drives and bays had arrived.
Ten 3TB drives should hold plenty of footage.
"Toss some other stuff on there too, hmm."
I downloaded Mityube videos I'd bookmarked.
Tons to save.
Had to go primitive in the forest.
Everything doable with wood and stone.
Weapons especially.
I used a store-bought bow, but crossbows intrigued me.
Slower reload, but more power, less effort, compact size—can't ignore that.
"Look perfect, but can't buy one..."
After that crossbow shooting incident, they tightened certification.
Compound ones were straight-up import banned.
Even recurve treated like firearms.
Had to store at the station otherwise.
This country's regs are insane.
"Compound bows look nice, but..."
Too precise-looking for forest abuse.
Reviews said powerful but high-maintenance.
"How to make wooden bows and crossbows..."
Plenty out there.
Mityube had white dudes posting killer tutorials.
I picked the most-liked ones and packed my hard drive.
Useless now, but gold later.
"These guys even build houses."
Not mansions, but wild cabins from chopped trees.
Using easy-to-find woodworking tools.
"Impressive, seriously impressive."
Saving related vids, it was already 3 PM.
Phoned the building supply store for mortar and tools.
"And sandwich panels? You need to come measure? Yeah, heading over now."
Busy, busy.
I fired up my Tamah on the street.
.
.
.
I bought a bunch and headed home.
Sandwich panels cost more than expected, but I ordered a ton anyway.
Money turns to toilet paper eventually.
Better swap it for supplies now.
Panels would make my hideout way comfier.
Overdid it on everything else though.
Dozens of mortar bags, 20L water jugs, wheelbarrow—too much for the Tamah.
Supply boss offered delivery.
Dump in the shop downstairs, stuff in dimension gate later.
Killed the engine and got out—then a pale face popped from the salon next door.
Mi-kyung.
"Uncle, time for a cut?"
"Oh... yeah?"
Not that long, but a clean buzz wouldn't hurt.
Would have to DIY with clippers soon anyway.
She smiled brightly.
"I'll make you look handsome. Auntie's out."
"Sure."
I sat in the chair she offered.
It creaked under my weight.
Mi-kyung draped the cape and chattered.
"You've lost a lot of weight, Uncle."
"That obvious?"
"Yeah. Face especially. Thought you weren't you at first."
Smooth sales pitch, but I'm a guy—no spending beyond the cut.
She rested a hand on my shoulder and asked softly.
"How do you want it?"
"Buzz it all. Military style."
"Uh... sporty?"
"Yep."
"You grew it out. Shame."
"Fresh start vibe."
"Gotcha."
She smiled knowingly, grabbed the spray bottle, and misted my hair.
Snip snip.
Hair fell away.
Squinting, another guy walked in.
Short, tattooed forearms...
Tow truck guy nearby. We'd argued once.
His modded ride roared, headlights blinded, music blared—total nuisance.
Told him to pull over in front of the shop, he bolted like a punk.
Reported for illegal mods every time, but nada.
He spotted me, flinched, and plopped on the sofa.
Then sidled up to Mi-kyung.
"Mi-kyung? I checked it out. Big trouble."
"What happened?"
"Guy deleted all vids and ghosted. Our group's hunting his address."
"Isn't that illegal?"
Tattoo dude smirked.
"Illegal? We're covering for it. You need to loosen up, Mi-kyung."
"Still..."
I got the gist.
Tattoo guy had heard bits on Survival Life and doomsday.
The deleter was probably me.
Chatting in front of me to spark curiosity.
Ask, and he'd play dumb.
And doxxing me? Whatever, for now.
Law still worked.
I stayed quiet; he cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Ahem, frustrating, huh? It's unfolding just like that. Signs in ten days. Too late then. Prep now."
Wasn't the only one prepping.
Tattoo guy maybe awakened? Nah, didn't look it.
Mi-kyung hesitated; he pushed.
"Can't wait forever. Group's growing. More people, more risk. We're taking that risk inviting you."
Zombie monsters instinctively sniffed life signs.
Bigger groups meant easier detection.
Survival Life frowned on six-plus.
Short-term okay.
Anyway, tattoo guy wheedled with "insider info."
My haircut dragged on.
"Don't know the details, but wrap it up. Cutting my hair here."
I spoke up; he twisted his lips weirdly and stood.
"Said my piece anyway..."
Muttered leaving.
"Clueless dope blinking away... let's see how long you last."
Longer than you, punk.
No plans to let doxxers slide.
His exit looked off though.
Shied from bumping a passerby, yanking hands back...
Suspicious.
Cold vibe; Mi-kyung fidgeted.
Best to focus on work.
"Hurry it up. Got stuff to do."
"Y-yes. Sorry."
She bowed low and dove into my hair.
Nice scent.
[D - 28] End