The Well of Purification

I felt it immediately. This is it. I checked the options right away.

Just as I thought!

From the moment I decided to build a structure using the impure water spirit’s core, I had guessed it might secure us a water source. After all, it had created a wetland and a small lake in such a short time. The fact that it would need purification was also within my expectations.

But how exactly do I purify it?

For now, maybe I should just summon it?

“Sis, I’m going out for a bit.”

“Huh? Where to?”

My sister poked her head out from the kitchen.

“Never mind. Want to come with me?”

“Sure? Hehehe.”

It didn’t seem to matter where we were going. She just liked going out together with me. I’d have to take her out more often from now on.

The apartment complex was already shrouded in complete darkness. So I headed to the playground near the shelter. It wasn’t that big, so this should be enough space.

Summon.

Wooooong—

It was different from when other towers were summoned. The ground parted on its own, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, creating space. Rocks and boulders rose from that space, settling into a circular formation. Water slowly filled the gaps between the stones, taking the shape of a spring.

“Wow… it’s so pretty…”

It was a mystical sight. Blue and purple lights danced around, illuminating the spring water and its surroundings.

“Oppa, what is that?”

“Looks like the squad leader summoned something again?”

Apartment residents passing by were drawn to the mysterious light and began gathering one by one.

When did they all get here?

I had been so focused on the Well of Purification that I hadn’t noticed, but they had already surrounded the area. Right now, testing was more important than admiration.

Let’s start by injecting mana.

Following the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠usage method that instinctively came to mind, I placed my hand on the Well of Purification.

Exactly the amount I wanted was injected.

Shall we try using it now?

Clear water gushed from the spring and moved according to my will. The stream of water soaring into the sky as if alive, following my intent, filled me with exhilaration.

Ooh.

But that didn’t last long. Suddenly, as if the connection had been severed midway, the water escaped my control and crashed to the ground.

Splash!

“Whoa!”

“Ah, it’s cold!”

The residents hurriedly stepped back as if waking from a trance. I didn’t do it on purpose. It’s not my fault. They were the ones who came close during a test.

The testing continued. I kept making water flow, but even consuming 1 mana took quite a long time.

Still, it’s a shame that it consumes mana.

I originally had nowhere to spend mana, but that would change from now on. It was because I had awakened a new skill. Maybe I could inject mana from outside?

“Come here for a second.”

I pointed at one of the watching residents.

“Me?”

“Yeah. Put your hand here and think about injecting mana.”

When the resident placed his hand on it—

Just as I thought!

The mana had filled up. I hadn’t told him to inject everything, but it didn’t matter. Second-class residents had nowhere to use their mana anyway.

Wait, in that case, shouldn’t I just have the second-class residents inject their mana whenever it fills up?

After all, the water would be for them too. I should spread the word right now.

All residents, gather at the playground.

A short while later, every resident had assembled.

“Since we’ve stored water in the tanks, we don’t have to worry about water for the time being.”

When the topic of water came up, the serious expressions on people’s faces changed to relief.

“But that won’t last forever. We need a new water source.”

At my following words, their faces clouded with worry again.

“However, I’ve found a way to solve that.”

“Really?”

“What is it?”

“As expected, we can only trust the squad leader!”

“Exactly.”

Hearing them say they trusted me felt good. But it also created a sense of burden. Somehow I had ended up leading this group of survivors, but since it had come to this, I might as well do my best. There was no one who knew more about WAW than I did.

“If you inject mana into this Well of Purification, you can obtain clean water.”

“So that’s the Well of Purification?”

“I thought it was just a pretty sculpture because it had lights installed.”

“Squad leader, how do we inject the mana?”

I answered Team 2 Leader’s question.

“Just place your hand on it and think about injecting mana. That’s all.”

“It’s simple.”

“Then should we start injecting now?”

That wouldn’t do.

“We don’t know what might happen, so squad ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠members must not waste mana recklessly.”

“Then…”

“Wouldn’t we be okay?”

The second-class residents standing in the back stepped forward.

“Yeah, since second-class residents ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠have no reason to consume mana, that should be fine. Let’s have the second-class residents inject their mana whenever it fills up. However, leave 30 behind. We don’t know what might happen to you either.”

“Yes.”

“Understood.”

The second-class residents approached one by one and injected their mana. I also practiced controlling the stream of water. It would come in handy someday. Controlling the water according to my will was fun. However, despite getting used to it, the connection would still break midway and the water would escape my control.

It must be because it’s only Stage 1.

If I raised the purification stage, maybe I could maintain it longer.

But how do I raise the purification stage?

As if answering my question, a message appeared.

This guy always cuts in at the perfect moment, doesn’t he?

That aside, was the condensed zombie cure meant to be used like this? Looking at it now, its purpose felt suspicious.

When I first created the structure, I also used the zombie cure.

The Zombie Cure is used to treat zombies suspected of being created through black magic or curses. Then, whatever corrupted the spirit must be something similar. It felt like the true culprit was slowly being narrowed down.

In that case, the zombie cure might not be solely for curing zombies.

Perhaps it was something created to fight against black magic, or even beyond that—against Haeju himself. But there weren’t enough clues to confirm it yet. I hadn’t directly seen black magic either.

I’ll use the Condensed Zombie Cure.

For now, I needed to see how it worked.

Purify?

Since it was called the Well of Purification from the start, it wasn’t strange. Then!

A grin escaped me.

Sploosh.

A stream of urine poured out vigorously.

This should get purified too, right?

I tested purifying toilet water using the Well of Purification. The spring’s mana was consumed, and the yellowish urine instantly turned into clean water.

“Just as I thought!! Whew.”

I let out a sigh of joy.

“This is it! We’re good now!”

If I used this properly, I could completely solve the sewage treatment problem.

I’ve found a way to solve the sewage treatment issue. Come to room 502.

After talking with the resident who had been a plumber and pump technician, we finally found the solution. The Suyeon Apartments we lived in was an old complex. Each building had a septic tank that collected sewage. We decided to purify the sewage with the Well of Purification and pump it outside.

“Will this solve it?”

“Yes! As you said, if it can be purified, discharging it outside won’t destroy the environment.”

“Good. You can go rest now.”

“Understood. I’ll be going.”

Even the biggest headache—sewage treatment—had been resolved.

“Whew.”

It felt as if a rotten tooth had been pulled out. There was no longer any need to give up modern living.

If we didn’t have the Well of Purification, we would’ve had to use an outhouse.

Just thinking about it was horrifying. To be freed from all water-related worries with just one Well of Purification… it was truly a blessing. Moreover, if the stage increased further in the future, I expected it could be used in many different ways. Simply put, as a water-attribute tower. If I thought even further, it might even be possible to change the environment itself.

After finishing everything, drowsiness hit me hard. I had done too many things in one day. There had been too many things to worry about.

“Tired? Let’s go inside and sleep.”

“Yeah, we should.”

My sister took my half-asleep hand and led me into the room.

Swish.

It had been a while since I felt her body heat, so it felt incredibly cozy. I slipped my hand under her clothes and groped her breasts, then fell straight asleep.

“Sleep well, Suhyuk.”

In my hazy consciousness, I heard my sister’s voice.

I woke up feeling her warm body heat. From the morning, my fully erect cock rubbed against her ass before I got up. After washing up and coming out, my sister was preparing breakfast.

“Suhyuk, did you sleep well?”

“Yeah. Did you sleep well too, sis?”

“I sleep much better now that you’re back.”

Did she have trouble sleeping when I wasn’t around? It was a bit too sensitive to ask lightly. It was related to my sister’s trauma.

“You’ll sleep soundly from now on, right? I’ll always be by your side.”

“Hehehe.”

Chu.

She gave me a light kiss on the cheek and went back to preparing breakfast.

Now that I think about it, is Chaei still not awake?

Chaei, who used to cling to me even if I moved just a little, was still sleeping.

She must have been tired.

Around the time breakfast was ready, the delicious smell seemed to wake her. Chaei came out of the room.

“Miss Chaei, you’re up?”

My sister took Chaei to the bathroom to wash her. And when she came back out and sat beside me, I felt a sense of discomfort.

She followed my sister obediently today?

She hadn’t thrown a tantrum like usual.

What’s going on?

It was only then that Chaei linked her arm with mine.

Is it really because she’s tired?

I thought it was possible if she was exhausted. She was a person now, not a zombie. That’s what I thought until we left the apartment.

Chaei held my arm. With only one hand.

Huh? Why is she only holding it awkwardly instead of clinging to it?

At this point, I couldn’t help but notice.

Her sanity has finally returned.

Once I realized it, it became obvious. Her extremely awkward expression, attitude, and atmosphere. Even her gaze darted around as if she was constantly reading the room. She was practically broadcasting, ‘I’m acting right now.’

What should I do?

Seeing her act like this, it seemed she had some memories left. It must be awkward. It was practically like meeting for the first time. She had been without her sanity back then. Well, she might still have some memories.

I think playing along would be more fun.

A mischievous smile almost slipped out. This was all for the sake of breaking the ice anyway. While walking together, I stopped and looked down at Chaei. When I stopped, she looked up at me as if asking what was wrong.

“Chaei is pretty today too.”

I said it in the same admiring tone I used when she didn’t have her sanity. At my casual remark, Chaei’s face began turning bright red. I could even see it reddening in real time.

Hehehe, how cute.

I was curious how long she would keep up this act. Just then, I spotted someone.

“Hana.”

When I called, Hana waved her hand.

Chaei’s sanity has returned. She still seems awkward, so let’s pretend we don’t know.

I secretly sent the message using Territory Control. Hana gave a small nod, then immediately glared at me as if she had caught on. She mouthed at me.

You’re going to mess with her, aren’t you?

I answered with a sly grin. Every time I walked toward Hana, Chaei’s breasts brushed against my arm. She wasn’t openly rubbing them against me like before, but it still felt good. Chaei seemed conscious of it too, flinching every time they touched.

Is this really acting? It’s way too obvious.

It was hard to hold back my laughter. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Thump. Hana poked my side while I was laughing.

Hey!

What? I haven’t done anything yet?

We communicated only with our mouths.

Isn’t this too mean to Miss Chaei?

It’s just a joke. Ice breaking. I’ll end it soon.

I was curious when she would confess that her sanity had returned. And I need to check what skill Chaei awakened.

I was really looking forward to seeing what kind of skill Chaei had awakened.