The Calm Before the Storm (1)

As the speedrunners one by one wandered off to eat their meals amid the frenzy of purchase proof posts, the Capital Region Survivors Gallery burned hotter than ever.

"Only 4?"

Reading through that string of bitchy posts, Speedrun—Cha Do-hee—let out a leisurely laugh.

"Tuna cans 10... Saball Myeon 6... Odasoo 11 bottles... All bought!!"

Cha Do-hee hadn't bought this much just to bitch or play a character.

The reason for her manic shopping spree was simple and clear.

"This is all investment... and growth..."

It was all because of her ability.

Cha Do-hee's ability was Challenger. She set tasks for herself, and upon success, she received rewards proportional ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to the system's judgment of difficulty.

"Ahh~! Rewards so sweeeet...!"

She was an Awakener who grew by succeeding at challenges matching the difficulty she set.

Of course, she couldn't set easy tasks like "hold breath for 10 seconds" or "do ten jumps." The system judged the difficulty and success probability of her self-set tasks and often rejected them outright.

And the biggest reason Cha Do-hee was feeling such a dopamine rush right now was something else.

The greatest risk of this ability—the penalty for task failure.

"...Phew. Close one."

This was why she was obsessed with this ability, with extreme speed and speedruns.

The cost of failure was brutal. It wiped out multiples of the rewards she'd earned so far, hitting her with overwhelming penalties like limb paralysis.

For Cha Do-hee, failure meant certain death. Every moment was a tightrope walk in a death game, betting growth and her life.

"The best... This thrill is insanely exhilarating...!"

Yet she fully enjoyed this ability.

Once a task was achieved, she couldn't repeat it for rewards. Cha Do-hee had to surpass her past self every time.

That made the shop system perfect for her. The insane competition where everyone rushed in was the ideal stage to push her trait to the limit.

No other place gave such overwhelming dopamine and rewards without diving into mutant hordes.

"Phew..."

Of course, that wasn't the only reason Do-hee obsessed over the shop.

"Sluuuuurp!!!"

Cha Do-hee took a deep breath, then yelled at the grandfather clock that didn't fit her hideout.

"Faster than anyone else!!!"

One second, two, three.

"Different from the others...!"

Childish voices echoed from behind the grandfather clock.

"Come out! Kids, come out!"

As soon as Cha Do-hee's shout fell, the massive grandfather clock creaked—kiiik-—and swung open like a secret door.

Behind it, a dusty but spacious secret room the size of a gym.

Then, a dozen grubby kids poured out like a puppy pack.

"Sis!!"

"Do-hee unnie!! You really came!!"

"Ehey stop! Yelling like that almost drew all the mutants, didn't it?!"

The kids clamped their mouths but stared sparkling-eyed at Do-hee's bulging bags.

Do-hee grinned, plopped down in the gym's center, and yanked open her bag zippers.

Whoosh-!

"Gasp...! F-Food..."

"T-Tuna... Tuna cans...!"

"Isn't that Saball Myeon...? Cup ramen...!"

As the food from the shop piled up like a mountain, gasps near screams burst from the kids.

Even the little ones fuzzy on pre-apocalypse memories instinctively knew how insanely delicious those oily cans and ramen were.

"U-Unnie..."

"C-Can we eat now...?"

Do-hee snapped her fingers at the kids swallowing hard, ready to pounce.

"Ahem, you all know the rules? To survive this world, you gotta be faster than everyone else."

She nodded at a pillar at the gym's far end.

"That pillar. Touch it and race back—first come, first served."

"...!!"

"Winner picks first."

The kids, already familiar, dropped into ready stances.

"Ready... Gooo!!!"

"Yah!!"

The kids bolted across the gym floor like maniacs. Tripping, tumbling, but touching the pillar and staggering back.

Do-hee watched, recalling when she first took them in.

Kids fighting tooth and nail over half-rotten rat corpses. They were skin over bones, not people—one was nearly eaten alive after being hunted.

Kids without combat or labor power, unawakened, were the ultimate burdens in this brutal era—first discarded, utterly ignored.

Even the weakest Awakener could tough it out on enhanced bodies and low-quality food.

Speedrun herself survived on a sip of purified rainwater, her last meal a Bug Block yesterday evening.

But for normals, especially kids with zero combat ability, this world was pure hell.

Miserable sight...

That atmosphere even deemed caring for kids a sin. No one dared step up.

Yet Do-hee's reason for taking on these burdens was simple.

I believe. That you kids are the hope.

When this hellish apocalypse passed and the world rebuilt someday, the hope blooming from the ashes wouldn't be from despair-crushed adults—but those small, pure kids.

"Huff huff! I'm first!!!"

"Yesss! Second!!"

The kids crossed the finish line gasping, plopping down in order.

Breath burning their throats, they clutched tuna cans and Saball Myeon, beaming like they owned the world.

The smallest, youngest straggled in last, tears welling.

"U-Unnie... I'm so tired..."

Last place, no food left—grief exploded.

But Do-hee crossed her arms firmly.

"To survive, run faster than anyone, different from the rest."

"B-But... my legs hurt..."

"Slow like that, you get bitten, no one to heal you, infection spreads—what then?"

"..."

Her words sharp, but her hand wiping grime from the kid's grubby cheek was endlessly gentle.

The youngest sniffled and nodded. Do-hee rummaged her bag, tossing something into the tiny arms.

"...Ah."

A slightly dented Saball Myeon and crinkly chocolate snacks she'd farmed outside.

"Consolation prize."

"Hehe... Choco! Thanks unnie!!"

Do-hee ruffled the kid's hair lightly, stood, brushed dust off her clothes, and shouldered her bag.

"Alright, unnie's got places to be."

The youngest blinked big eyes, grabbing her pant leg.

"Huh...? Unnie, where? Outside again...? It's dangerous..."

"Back soon. Eat well, no leftovers, stay hidden and quiet. Got it?"

"Unnie, can you give this to the uncles this time?"

The youngest held out a paper to Do-hee.

"Pfft. Cute."

It was a childish drawing in nearly used-up colored pencils.

Do-hee folded the picture neatly to avoid creases and tucked it deep in her bosom.

"Yeah, I'll deliver it this time for sure."

"Yay!!! Thanks unnie!!! Hurry back super fast!!!"

Leaving the kids' spirited chorus, Do-hee stepped out of the gym.

Kiiik-!

She muttered as the grandfather clock secret door fully closed.

"Good, kids are set. Next up, the blank zone."

Exiting into the dark hallway, an excited smirk—not the tenderness for the kids—curved her lips.

She summoned the gallery window in midair and grinned.

Her one sanctuary keeping her sane in this hellish world, promising dopamine.

"Yesssss!!!"

She posted.

In an empty disaster preparedness room, she asked the air in a stern, serious voice.

"How ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠many."

Again.

"How many. Magic Stones."

Then quickly lowered her voice to answer herself.

"Yes, Chairman. This shop run profit is water 700..."

"24,000."

"Pardon...?"

"If just water like usual it'd be 14k but with food too make it 24k got it."

"Yes, Chairman."

....

The ridiculous one-man show ended, and I burst into hearty laughter.

"Kekekeke!!! F*ck this is how much!!!!"

The system window shows all my held Magic Stones anyway—just trying to hype the chairman vibe.

"Heh heh heh."

Sweeping up the Magic Stones spilled on the floor, I mutter.

"Aigoo Magic Stone you're a big shot today don't go anywhere."

Honestly worried they might not all sell. Never lived outside, no price sense, didn't know the line.

"But they all sold!!!"

My BBIP customers are the best!! (English level 9)

Grinning ear to ear, I open the gallery.

"Bought 27 alone???"

Magic Stones are pricey too—how fast are those fingers.

"Beyond human...?"

Last time this guy claimed 8 water, now the number's way up.

"Solo... record breaker...?"

Invited him myself but hilarious, can't believe it.

"Ooh... really?"

Accidentally revealed how insanely I'm raking in Magic Stones.

Damn, reevaluate on reevaluate—this ability's gold.

"Zombie apocalypse starts, my success era begins."

Outsiders have names for each zombie type.

"Already all in my zombie observation diary."

Seen those basic zombies since early apocalypse. Just basic zombie plants to me. Yup.

I turned to the CCTV, muttering.

"Wonder what those are called..."

Beyond CCTV, pitch-black night sky between buildings—something glided silently.

Semitransparent leather wings, dozens of arms rowing air like oars along edges, elongated tail spiked with vertebrae.

Hundreds of eyes on smooth underside hunting next prey.

Zombies look better maybe.

"What's zombies' name anyway?"

Caaaack-!

Something like "The One With Myriad Branches" fits.

"Anyway!!!"

Dunno shop profits exactly but boiled ramen in zombie juice tossed in crap made 10 servings, yeah.

Speedrunners trickling off to eat.

Me earning tons too—time to vent this hype.

"Yeees!!! Dinner party's on me today!!!!!"

Zombies, my treat tonight!