Kore
Yu Yeoleum had no way of knowing what was happening outside. The zombie outbreak and the disaster alerts were stories from another world. That didn't mean she was enjoying a peaceful time, however.
“......”
Yu Yeoleum stared at the monster crouching in the corner. A sky-blue cotton candy monster. She had been glaring for hours at the cloud-like creature that looked like it had stepped out of a child's dream, lying on the floor and wriggling nonstop.
Ing-ing-ya-ing.
“...Be quiet.”
Yu Yeoleum had not forgotten that this suspicious being was a monster. Even though Ha Namjin and Seo Gaeul treated it like a pet or something close, a monster was ultimately a creature that killed and devoured humans no matter what it looked like.
'A monster is a monster in the end. An untamable beast.'
Yu Yeoleum expected the cloud monster would attack her the moment it grew hungry. It was knowledge her body had learned the hard way.
'I have the Candy concept, so I need to be especially careful. Monsters seem to like candy.'
Fortunately the monster stayed obediently on the bed. Its appearance alone was adorable, but the slightly anxious Yu Yeoleum fetched a blanket and covered its body completely.
Whether it liked the warm blanket or not, Ing-ing wriggled happily underneath.
Kyu-ing.
With the monster's form hidden by the blanket, Yu Yeoleum felt a measure of relief. Five minutes passed, then ten, and time kept flowing.
Yu Yeoleum grew frustrated wondering exactly how long she would have to live with this monster.
Rattle—.
Then came the sound of something moving across the ceiling. A tiny secret window opened and a round face appeared.
“The ditch water nymph Inonoi has arrived, it is...!”
It was the fairy Inonoi. Probably one of the residents of the Great Labyrinth.
Inonoi scanned every corner of the room with her honey-colored eyes.
“Hieek...! One of the Kores has disappeared, it is...! This Inonoi had something to ask that Kore...! I wonder where she went, it is...!”
The conversation was almost impossible to follow.
“What is a Kore?”
“Explaining what Kore means is not very Kore-friendly, it is...! For example, our fairy princess's nickname is Kore, it is...!”
‘Kore’ seemed to be fairy language for princess or young lady. It looked like Inonoi was searching for Seo Gaeul, who resembled a princess.
“Why Seo Gaeul? What did you want to ask?”
“I wanted to ask if you knew the fairy princess, it is...! Because that Kore gave off a feeling very similar to the fairy princess....”
The fairy princess. She must have been the woman who once lived in this Flower Room.
“The feeling was so similar that I wondered if she might be a Kore born from the fairy princess, it is...! Ah! Looking closely, this Inonoi senses the fairy princess's vibe from the candy Kore as well, it is...!”
Inonoi's eyes sparkled like stars.
‘Candy Kore’ was clearly referring to Yu Yeoleum.
“I shall ask if you are a Kore born from the fairy princess, it is...!”
Yu Yeoleum considered whether her mother had been a princess of some strange fairy kingdom. She had not.
“My mom isn't a fairy. She was just an ordinary... single mother.”
As Yu Yeoleum shook her head, Inonoi's pointed fairy ears drooped.
But only for a moment.
“Then please tell this Inonoi how to use this item, it is...! If Inonoi can use this magical item, she will definitely be able to find the fairy princess, it is...!”
The fairy Inonoi dangled something tied to a string and held it out to Yu Yeoleum.
“A radio?”
“Inonoi once saw people from outside the labyrinth speaking into this, it is...! It is clearly a mysterious magical tool that lets you hear other people's voices, it is...!”
It looked more like an old, thick walkie-talkie than a phone. It had the feel of a worn antique. It refused to turn on—probably broken.
“But even the smartest of the ditch water nymphs, Inonoi, does not know how to use it, so I cannot speak to the princess, it is....”
A broken walkie-talkie. Fixing it probably wouldn't let her talk to a princess, but—.
Yu Yeoleum didn't want to crush the fairy's dream.
“What are you planning to do by calling that princess?”
“I want to ask why she left this Inonoi behind and went outside the labyrinth, it is...! Whether she abandoned Inonoi because I was annoying every day, begging for candy, it is...!”
Yu Yeoleum recognized the look on Inonoi's face. It was the same expression children made when remembering the parents who had left them at the orphanage. She herself must have worn that face once.
“Hieek...! Now that I think about it, this isn't the time for Inonoi to be here, it is...! I must secure food before the Food Warehouse is swallowed by the Red King's darkness, it is...!”
The Red King? She wanted to ask what that was, but Inonoi had already vanished completely.
Instead, after about ten minutes, Seo Gaeul returned to the room.
“Ugh, this is so fucking annoying!”
Her face burned bright red as she rubbed her cheeks furiously. Something had clearly happened outside.
“What's wrong? Your heart rate is abnormally high.”
“Ha Namjin kissed my cheek! That worthless bastard!”
Ha Namjin had kissed Seo Gaeul on the cheek? How had that happened?
“What exactly happened outside?”
“Listen to this!”
Seo Gaeul told Yu Yeoleum everything about the zombie outbreak that had taken place outside. After the long explanation, Yu Yeoleum felt like she was being lied to.
“Seo Gaeul, you bitch. Stop bullshitting me. Zombies my ass.”
“What are you talking about? Have you been living under a rock? It's real!”
Seo Gaeul recalled how skillfully Ha Namjin had handled the zombies. Even though they were corpses, he had crushed their heads without the slightest hesitation.
“Ha Namjin really is a psychopath.”
“But how did Ha Namjin know cola was the zombie cure? The odds of a random delusion turning out to be correct are ridiculous.”
“I don't know either. More importantly, give me that!”
Whoosh—! Seo Gaeul snatched the communicator from Yu Yeoleum's hand. Her expression brightened instantly.
“This is the VX Communicator made by Seonam! With this we might be able to contact the outside even from inside the labyrinth! Where did you get it?”
“Inonoi gave it to me. Do you know how to use it? It seems broken.”
It was a very old antique. The VX Communicator was a device made at least twenty years ago, so it couldn't be helped. But Seo Gaeul possessed the Restore concept.
When Seo Gaeul reached out, the communicator was repaired by the power of a miracle.
“Oh, it's working, it's working. But the real problem starts now.”
Unlike ordinary phones, this VX Communicator used special short-range frequencies instead of regular networks. You could only talk to someone carrying an identical device after matching channels.
“Hello! Testing, testing! Hello!”
Seo Gaeul adjusted the frequency with familiar movements, seeking a response. Was there really someone nearby with a twenty-year-old antique? The odds of matching their channel were slim.
Crackle—.
How much time passed like that?
An unfamiliar voice finally came from the old communicator.
Seo Gaeul and Yu Yeoleum's hair stood on end. Making contact with someone outside was already astonishing. It was nothing short of a miracle.
“...Are you perhaps that fairy princess?”
“This week’s content ends here like this?”
The first morning after martial law was declared had arrived. Time had flown while reading the manga.
“The manga content really hasn’t changed at all from the past to now.”
I tossed my phone aside and started brushing my teeth. Since I already knew the future chapters through my future knowledge, there was no need to keep reading. Saving time is great!
When I turned on the TV news, it was full of talk about the martial law imposed because of the zombie outbreak. Panels who called themselves political experts were chatting away, and it was pretty entertaining.
“You’ll find out soon enough whether it’s real or fake, so don’t worry too much.”
The zombie Main was undeniably real. Thanks to Seo Gaeul, I had a rough idea of its identity. Starting today, I planned to find a way to approach it.
Tap tap tap, tap—.
I sat at the computer and typed on the keyboard.
Searched: Nam Taegeon's Adopted Sons
“Let's learn about Nam Taegeon's princes. The 'Supernova' called the Crown Prince of the Seven Powers is...”
Not the result I wanted. It would be faster to investigate in person rather than typing on a keyboard.
But in the current martial law situation, approaching President Nam Taegeon’s adopted sons through normal means would be difficult. I would need impressive connections.
Should I use the in-law card again and contact Seo Docheol? No, after yesterday’s events Seo Docheol’s senses would be sharp. Contacting him now would only raise unnecessary suspicion.
While I was deep in thought, my eyes landed on the family photo hanging in the living room. It reminded me of the first time I met Ppang-daeng-i in this house.
─What are you talking about? Are your parents the president or something? I’m Baek Yeoul of Baekdang! Our family used to supply ingredients to the presidential residence, you know?
They say even a rich family stays rich for three generations. If I asked Baekdang, which had ties to the presidential office, maybe I could get close to the president’s adopted sons.
And those adopted sons might know a lot about Nam Sanho, who was declared missing at the N-Mart that day.
Nam Sanho, reported dead.
A moving corpse, a zombie.
It smelled fishy.
“Something smells suspicious.”
“I don’t smell anything! Maybe it’s the grapes I stepped on and squished yesterday!”
When I came to my senses, Ppang-daeng-i was lifting her foot and sniffing it. Next to her, Changsik and Deoksoon were also sniffing around.
“I don’t smell anything in particular.”
“Me neither….”
“Wait, when did you guys get here?”
I asked in surprise. Ppang-daeng-i frowned and slapped my butt with her palm.
“Ha-Nam-jjin! What are you talking about! You’re the one who contacted us! You said let’s meet today! We’re going to find the mastermind behind the zombie outbreak, remember?”
“I saw the broadcast yesterday too! That masked man! If we catch him, will martial law end?”
“...Is it true a zombie virus has broken out in the world? And cola is the cure….”
I had summoned everyone through the No Leftovers Day group chat. They arrived faster than I expected!
“I was already on self-suspension anyway, and now with martial law and school closed, this is perfect!”
“My friend, have you seen the soldiers patrolling outside? Security is tight across the whole city. I’m not sure we can find that masked man.”
“...We have to move quietly. We absolutely cannot broadcast anything….”
Everyone was tense about the chaotic world, yet also excited. No matter what, having comrades is truly wonderful!
“Then kids, let’s go beat up Nam Sanho right now!”
“Yeah!”
“Sounds good!”
“...Wait, who?”
The children who had bravely raised their hands turned pale. Had I not told them?
“In my opinion the zombie Main is Nam Sanho. If we succeed in capturing him, we’ll find out whether this pandemic was intentional by the government or not. If it was intentional—.”
There was no more time to waste. I would deliver fair judgment to the wicked government and everyone involved.
The Alpha Male Ha Namjin’s presidential declaration! Only one year remained until the completion of the Republic of Korea!