Food Frenzy (5)

The rumor that healthy food had been added to the shop began spreading among the patients at the relief center.

"Tu... tuna cans on the shelves...!"

"Ra... ramen too...?"

Amid the groans and the stench of blood that had permeated the rundown tent hospital, swelling murmurs of excitement and sniffles of emotion began to spread.

Watching the scene, one nurse wiped her reddened eyes and gazed at the gallery window before speaking up.

"Director... if the shopkeeper keeps selling food like this, maybe... just maybe we can hold out until Project Eden is complete!"

"Project Eden, you say."

Kang Seok-hyun, the director, nodded slowly.

Project Eden. A secret research project supposedly started right after the apocalypse for humanity's reconstruction. There were hopeful tales that its completion would bring immense benefits to mankind, but now it was just rampant rumors with no trace left—not even the location of the lab could be found. To those at the relief center these days, it was little more than a ghost story or fairy tale, a pie in the sky.

We're... just delaying the end, that's all...

Kang Seok-hyun shook his head firmly, cutting off the nurse.

"Don't pin your hopes on a baseless phantom with no substance."

"Ah... but Director."

"We must believe only in the reality before our eyes. Getting that food into the patients' mouths right now. Our last remaining task is simply survival—nothing more."

The nurses swallowed dryly at the director's heavy words. This wasn't the time to get emotional. They had to compete with other shop members to snag the limited stock.

"But Director... are you sure... about that user...?"

Kang Seok-hyun knew who she meant. Everyone gearing up for the upcoming open run was wary of the same person.

"That user will show up again this time too..."

As a sense of defeat mingled with worry hung in the tent, Kang Seok-hyun ran a hand over his balding head, then quietly removed his glasses from the bridge of his nose and set them down.

"Director...?"

The glint in his eyes, hidden behind the glasses, flashed for a moment like that of a starving beast.

"Right now, I'm lucky enough to have awakened as a healer, so I'm wearing this doctor's coat and tending to patients..."

Kang Seok-hyun interlaced his thick fingers, cracking his knuckles as he murmured low.

"But don't let the looks fool you—I was a pro boxer before the apocalypse."

"Di-Director...!"

He glanced one last time at the remaining time on the shop ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠window and said,

"So let's give it a shot."

In the command center of Pangyo North Fortress, a suffocating tension hung in the air, thick enough to choke on.

"I wonder... how many we can snag?"

Someone swallowed dryly and spoke cautiously.

"Even last time with the water, it sold out in the blink of an eye. But this is pre-apocalypse food. The competition will be insane."

"Fuck... just one tuna can... one sip of cup ramen broth would be a dream come true..."

The soldiers gripped their rifle stocks so hard they threatened to shatter. The bone-chilling tension pressing down on the command center was worse than waiting on the barricades for a wave of hundreds of zombies.

Only about 100 tuna cans and 200 cup ramens in stock. Watching the scene with a heavy heart, the adjutant approached Captain Kim and asked carefully.

"Captain... think we can pull it off?"

Captain Kim shook his head with a bitter expression.

"No. Honestly, no confidence."

"Pardon...?"

"Last time the stock jumped to 700, and I learned the hard way. Proud 707 gamer here, mashing like a maniac... and I barely got two. I can't keep up with those gallery ghosts' reaction times."

"C-Captain..."

"And... you know who else is in. No way I can win against that."

"Th-Then... do we just give up...?"

The captain grinned ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at the adjutant's words.

"Nah? That's why it's time to unleash our unit's secret weapon."

"Pardon? Secret weapon...?"

Captain Kim's heavy gaze turned to the corner of the command center.

"Private Choi."

At the call, a skinny guy huddled and trembling in the corner sprang up like a coiled spring.

"Private! Choi! Jin! Su!"

Slow at rifle disassembly, always pissing himself in fear during waves—the unit's official problem child. His only redeeming trait, and butt of jokes, was that he'd been a pro gamer in the first division before the fall.

"Your reflexes... what were they? 95ms or something?"

"...Yes. Pre-apocalypse form, I headshot in 0.1 seconds..."

Captain Kim strode over, looming above Private Choi, and whispered so no one else could hear.

"Private Choi. You got the shop invite too, right?"

"H-How did you...?"

"That's why you hid in the bathroom last time and bought Odasu for yourself?"

"P-Private Choi Jin-su! Uh, th-that was..."

Private Choi's face went pale. How did he know? He'd snuck it in secret!

"Don't freak. Company commanders know everything."

"S-Sorry...!"

Captain Kim smirked and warmly gripped the private's narrow shoulders.

"Normally I'd stick you on night guard duty, but I'll let it slide this time. Instead, I'm giving you a very important official mission today."

"A m-mission...?"

"Yeah. Not stopping a wave or pulling the trigger."

Captain Kim handed him the magic stones collected by the unit.

"Your mission is just to hit the buy button."

Private Choi glanced at the timer, then saluted with a trembling but determined shout.

"Private Choi Jin-su! I can do it!"

The Capital Region Survivor Gallery brimmed with praise posts.

"Jeez, straight to worship already."

I awkwardly scrolled through them. As you know, what I listed was Saball Myeon.

"Okay. If it all sells, that's 24,000 stones in revenue!!"

Need to sell this much to unlock tiles faster.

Stones were already tight, but if they sell, no problem. Still, a bit anxious.

"Hope the kids can afford it...?"

What if it's too pricey and they can't buy? Classic middleman jitters, but can't help the nerves.

"Gotta invite more members."

Seeing their adaptability, no need to worry.

"Damn... good ideas."

Seafood ramen? Smart.

"But pet food... chew..."

How do you even eat that.

Even kinda jealous.

"How do I poach those illegal mages... dang..."

Come grill some meat... anyway.

"How much time left?"

As the fateful buy-open time approached, the gallery began to buzz with anticipation.

"Showtime."

I adjusted my posture. Right now, the members I invited were all locked in, desperation fueling their countdown watches.

The moment the countdown hit zero.

"Wha-what the hell!!!!"

I recoiled in disbelief. With a sound like space ripping, magic stones poured down over me like a literal waterfall.

"Aaaaaah!!!! Fuck I got itttt!!!"

"I got it!!!"

Across the ruined world, safe zones and danger zones alike, joyous screams and gut-wrenching sobs intertwined.

"Two ramens...! I got two!!!"

"Mom!!! I snagged a tuna can!!!!"

"Didn't get shit fuuuuck!!"

Some clutched the tuna cans and cup ramens pouring before them, sobbing; others wept blood at the hovering [SOLD OUT] in the air.

At the same time.

One woman returned to her hideout.

Clunk!

Tight black leather pants clinging to her legs for max mobility, exposed abs taut between her crop top. A perfect athlete's build like a track star, blonde ponytail neatly tied, rider goggles perched atop her head. Most striking: dozens of different watches and timers wrapped like shackles from her wrists to forearms.

Thump-thump-thump!

"Huuu..."

She turned off her beat-playing old cassette radio and glanced to the corner of the room.

There sat exactly 10 tuna cans, 6 ramens, and 11 bottles of Odasu—what she'd just bought from the shop.

"Aah... 0.9 seconds for 27 items. I overachieved again...!"

Her name, eyes gleaming with madness: Cha Do-hee.

Gallery's Speedrun.

"Shop goooood!!! Perfect for my tastes yesssss!!!!"