Complacency Kills in an Instant

Crisis always strikes in a single moment of carelessness. That brief instant comes without warning or repetition. Just once. Just one gap. And the price is always total devastation.

So... in short, I'm fucked.

Why?

"......"

I got bit.

"Fucking hell."

I must have some kind of knockback immunity or something. The red zombie was different from the others. It didn't go down in one hit. It tanked my bat swing and chomped straight into my arm.

I killed it and got two red orbs, at least... but the important part is getting bitten by a zombie.

"Aaaah..."

I rushed back to my room and locked the door. That red zombie was no ordinary bastard. It chewed right through my arm guard. If it could pierce steel plating, those must've been steel teeth. Goddamn it. No wonder that red aura looked suspicious—it was one tough-mouthed fucker.

"Shit."

My right arm trembled with pain. Blood was gushing out of the puncture wound. First time I'd bled this much since donating blood in the army. My head spun, vertigo hit hard. My vision darkened, outlines blurring. It felt like fog was rolling in over everything.

This is seriously fucked. Am I dying? Just like this?

Who the hell dies from something like this?

I stripped the guard off my arm and reached into the box. I'd sorted all the starter items from Goinmul before heading out to fight. Made it easy to grab what I needed.

"...Potion."

I hadn't carried it into battle in case it broke. This thing better work...

I uncorked it and chugged. Sweet at first, with a bitter aftertaste. Poured some on the wound too. Bubbles formed like a chemical neutralization reaction. No heat, just insane itching. I held out without scratching, and then the miracle happened.

Magic, basically. Perfect recovery.

"...Oh."

Goinmul for real! True to his fixed nickname, a total veteran. Handing out something this insane as a gift without hesitation.

Is he an angel or what...?

I didn't get the mechanism, but my foggy mind cleared right up. Incredible stuff. And I hadn't even used a full bottle—just about half, between drinking and pouring. Half a bottle did this? Must be ridiculously expensive.

...Wonder if he's still taking a dump.

With my condition stabilized, gratitude welled up. I opened the Gallery to report my near-death experience and praise my angelic savior.

Then I froze mid-post. Relief was short-lived—something felt off.

"......?"

The puncture wound on my right arm had clearly healed. But veins were still bulging out all over it. Like varicose veins or something. What the hell? Why? Side effect of the potion recovery?

"......"

With a bad feeling, I checked my status window.

"Ah."

Infected. Zombie bite, figures. Bites infect. The "cellular degeneration 11%" stood out crystal clear. Wasn't a full recovery from the potion? Apparently not.

Not enough potency?

Just in case, I downed the remaining half bottle without sparing it. Poured more on the wound. But the infection status didn't budge. The number climbed instead.

"......"

If I leave this alone, I turn zombie, right? No need to overthink the outcome. This is seriously fucked.

I hit the Gallery help call right away.

I called out to Goinmul over the untrustworthy masses. But he was still ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠offline. Job not done yet?

...No vaccine in the gifts, right?

I double-checked the sorted supplies. Nothing but food, water, and the potion. No antidote anywhere.

So what now? How do I cure this infection?

Vaccine? Who doesn't know that.

The auction house was one of the Gallery's features. Recalling Goinmul's info, I checked it out. Easy to use—like any digital app, too familiar.

Jumped straight to consumables, searched vaccine: items popped up.

Instant buyout: Cell vaccine 50 gold, body purifier 50,000 gold.

Unlike Goinmul, they weren't that fond of me. Strangers gonna stranger. So I had to hold out till Goinmul returned. If my read was right, he liked me a ton. He'd probably help again. High chance, anyway.

Problem was surviving till then.

Gonna be tough...

Sensory math said about 5 minutes left. Would Goinmul show in time?

...No telling.

Zero chance he'd log back in 5 minutes. Even if he did, not 100% he'd help. Time for other options.

No, not the time...

Good thing two red orbs dropped.

Decision made. Checked auction house. Orbs traded fine, popular item with active deals. Red orbs exactly 30 gold each. Sell two for 60—enough for cell vaccine, 10 left over.

Listed Goinmul's starter gear too. Basic stuff didn't move much, low prices. Threw up everything unused anyway.

Eh? Already sold? I checked comments then auction immediately. Infection at 49%, 50%... accelerating.

Saw the message and sighed in relief. Saved.

"......?"

Not 50 gold like expected. Then it hit me—auction houses take fees. This one apparently 20%.

"...No, fuck."

Head heating up again. Too soon to relax. For real? 20% fee?

I vent-posted to the Gallery.

Checked other listings: potions, basic gear. Low demand unlike orbs—no sales. Dropped prices, shilled in Gallery, still nada.

Status check: 60%, 61%... speeding up. Not much time left.

"Aaah..."

End like this? Turn zombie after all?

Right then.

Geomseong commented. Insane. Still on apologies, obsession level scary.

No time to be picky.

I'm no idiot. Knew exactly what she wanted.

Shit.

You bastard!

Accepted instantly.

But the item wasn't a vaccine at first glance. Three small, round yellowish-brown ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pills. Rough, crude surface. And a weird herbal stench assaulting my nose.

"This... ain't a vaccine."

No choice though. 98%, 99%...

I dumped all three in my mouth at once. Swallowed the mouthful.

Ah, fuck. For real.