Late at Night, Aunt Min-jung Opened My Door... [Kim Min-jung's Heart Toward Geum Tae-yang] [1]
"Uwaaaaaaah!!! What the hell!!! Geum Tae-yang, why are you raising that steel pipe like that!!! This wasn't the deal, Geum Tae-yang!!!! And that steel pipe of yours!!!! That steel pipe?????"
Kim Man-bok's eyes went round as saucers, his sudden relief flipping into pure terror like a roller coaster drop. He'd been shocked enough by the sight of Geum Tae-yang raising the steel pipe against their agreement — and then shocked all over again by the mana energy coating the weapon.
"What do you think? I'm an Awakened. As thanks for all that good intel you gave me, I'll finish you off in one clean hit — as painless as I can make it."
A smirk tugged at the corner of Geum Tae-yang's mouth.
For him, this was a thoroughly satisfying situation. Kim Min-jung's reaction when she'd seen his Projection ability had been adorable, but that alone hadn't been enough. He'd wanted something rawer, more unfiltered — and Kim Man-bok was unexpectedly delivering exactly that.
"Then... wait... you figured out I murdered people too??? You found out with your Awakened ability???"
All kinds of emotions had been thrashing around inside Kim Man-bok's head ever since he'd gotten tangled up with Geum Tae-yang today, but the one thought that kept circling back was always the same: How the hell did Geum Tae-yang know I'm a rapist-murderer???
That was the real inner monologue of a psychopathic killer. The moment something resembling an answer surfaced, Kim Man-bok's face went completely blank with shock as he asked the question.
"Of course!"
Feeling the perfect counter land, Geum Tae-yang savored a massive rush of catharsis — even throwing in English to fully enjoy the exquisite thrill of it.
"Uwaaaaaaah!!! Fuck!! Fuuuuck!!! Keep your promise anyway!! I told you everything!!! Don't kill meeeee!!!!!"
"You fucking bastard Geum Tae-yang, why won't you keep your promise!!!! Keep your goddamn promise!!!!"
Kim Man-bok thrashed desperately, flailing and thrashing, finally understanding the full picture. He scrambled across the floor like a crawling animal, trying too late to flee.
"Now that you know about my ability, even the bare minimum reason to spare you is gone, Man-bok."
The Special Quest's 150-point jackpot was already a hell of a justification. On top of that, now that Kim Man-bok knew he was Awakened, Geum Tae-yang had even less reason to keep him alive. Without hesitation, he swung the Projected steel pipe down toward Kim Man-bok's crown.
Geum Tae-yang's Projected steel pipe came down like an axe and struck Kim Man-bok dead center on the top of his skull — and Kim Man-bok's head simply exploded.
Eliminate the Murderer Kim Man-bok
🎁 Reward: 150 Growth Points awarded to Awakened Geum Tae-yang
Kim Man-bok's brain matter and blood sprayed out like a fountain. At the same time, the Special Quest clear notification window appeared before Geum Tae-yang's eyes.
"Auntie~~ I'm back~~ A-young, I'm home~~"
Having finished the mart-looting mission, Geum Tae-yang returned to the bunker. He opened the front door and called out his homecoming greetings to Kim Min-jung and Park A-young.
"Tae-yang's back!!! Tae-yang, are you hurt anywhere???"
Kim Min-jung had already been waiting near the living room, and she came running at full speed, her face melting with worry. Ever since shady figures had started lurking around the house, Geum Tae-yang's side had asked her not to wait outside for him the way she had on the first day.
"Of course not~! Look at me, I'm totally fine~!"
Geum Tae-yang spread his arms wide with a big smile, showing Kim Min-jung that there wasn't a single wound on his body.
"Auntie was so worried!!! I was really, really worried, Tae-yang!!"
Her enormous breasts bouncing wildly with every step, Kim Min-jung charged in and pulled Geum Tae-yang into a passionate embrace.
"Aigoo~~ Auntie!!! I'm dripping with sweat!! And look how much zombie blood is all over my clothes~~!!!"
Geum Tae-yang was thoroughly flustered. His condition really was a mess. That first real expedition mission had been brutal, and it showed all over his appearance.
"What are you talking about, you silly boy!! That kind of thing means nothing to Auntie!! I already feel terrible enough for sending you out alone. And you don't even understand how Auntie feels, you heartless boy..."
Kim Min-jung pouted with pure wounded affection and hugged him even tighter.
"Haha...! Well, this is..."
Geum Tae-yang scratched his head in embarrassment. But at the same time, a smile bloomed across his face.
This is so good... my Aunt Min-jung... Honestly I was pretty wiped out... but this heals me in one shot...
Watching Kim Min-jung not care one bit about his sweat stink or the reek of zombie blood, Geum Tae-yang felt a massive wave of healing wash over him. He'd Awakened, but that didn't make him immune to becoming a zombie. One careless mistake and he could turn. The reason he'd taken that risk and carried out the mission was ultimately to protect the women at his side — and Kim Min-jung's embrace made him feel that reason completely, pure and whole. It reminded him all over again that these were people who loved and cherished him this much. Geum Tae-yang was swept up in an enormous sense of fulfillment.
"Alright~~ from here on out, my extremely personal gifts!"
After stashing every food item he'd stored in his Inventory into the bunker's massive basement refrigerator, Geum Tae-yang settled at the living room table and started showing off.
"Oriental melons that our Aunt Min-jung loves!!! And this is Auntie's favorite brand of coffee!!!!!"
He began unveiling the surprises he'd prepared bit by bit even while looting the mart. Geum Tae-yang set out twenty oriental melons, then pulled out three boxes of premium coffee one after another.
"Oh my goodness~~~~! I was so disappointed I couldn't bring back the melons we bought that day, and look at this~~~!!"
Kim Min-jung let out a cry of delight at the sight of the perfectly ripe yellow melons. She was quite fond of oriental melons — the only item she'd bought for herself on that first shopping trip.
"And Tae-yang, how did you know Auntie likes this coffee?? You're amazing, you~!"
"Come on, Auntie! How could I not know your coffee preferences!! That actually hurts a little!!"
Geum Tae-yang even remembering her detailed tastes — Kim Min-jung thoroughly savored that happiness too.
"I got something for you too, Park A-young. Took some work finding this. Honestly surprised Ondol Mart even had it."
Geum Tae-yang had prepared a surprise gift for Park A-young as well.
"This is right, isn't it? The body wash and shampoo you use?"
It was shower products exclusively for the severely germaphobic Park A-young. When she'd come down this time, she'd only brought enough for the short stay at home — and she'd been stressing about what she'd do once her current supply ran out in a few days.
"Hmm, I don't really need to say thanks, do I? Do you know how many things I'm handling in this bunker right now?"
"Didn't expect you to. Just use them well."
Park A-young examined Geum Tae-yang's gift with her arms crossed and a deadpan expression. It was such a familiar Park A-young reaction that Geum Tae-yang didn't make a big deal of it either.
"I'm working on that hacking program I mentioned this afternoon, by the way. Want me to secure the CCTV on the route to the mart?"
Park A-young deployed her own particular brand of gratitude. She was the type who couldn't rest easy until she'd paid back what she'd received.
"Rather than that side, secure the area around the house first."
Geum Tae-yang had previously told her that once the first mart run succeeded, he'd go for a second and third right away. That was why Park A-young had mentioned securing the mart CCTV first. But Geum Tae-yang had changed the plan.
"Why? Not going to the mart tomorrow?"
Catching his intent, Park A-young tilted her head and asked.
"Yeah. For a while I'm going to focus on clearing out the zombies around here. Build up zombie points while I'm at it."
Geum Tae-yang confirmed the change of plans. Now that a concrete threat named Do Min-chul had been identified, prioritizing growth over securing quality food supplies was the smarter move. Geum Tae-yang intended to go hard on stacking zombie points.
"Auntie~ I'm gonna try to sleep a bit early tonight. Heading in first."
Geum Tae-yang's recent evening routine was chatting with Kim Min-jung, checking the outside situation online, then going to bed sometime past midnight. But it was only nine o'clock now — and given the massive mission he'd carried out today, the fatigue had clearly piled up.
"Alright, go ahead, Tae-yang. Oh! Before you sleep, drink a cup of Auntie's breast milk. It has a calming effect, so it'll help you sleep soundly."
Kim Min-jung, who had been sitting on the bunker living room sofa reading a book after dinner, turned toward Geum Tae-yang as he came over to say goodnight.
Geum Tae-yang carried the cup of Kim Min-jung's breast milk into his room and downed it in one go.
In a way, starting tomorrow I have to move even harder than today, so I should sleep early.
Looking exhausted, Geum Tae-yang collapsed onto the bed.
Holy shit...!
Curled up in a fetal position, he stared at both of his hands and let out a quiet gasp.
So there's a backlash like this...
The moment he turned off the lights and lay down, his hands started trembling uncontrollably.
While I was fighting, the trait was active so I didn't feel it — but once I entered a stable state, the aftereffects are flooding in.
Geum Tae-yang had committed murder today. Of course, Kim Man-bok had raped and killed several women, stalked Park A-young, and — under Do Min-chul's orders — even stalked Kim Min-jung. Even so, taking a human life that wasn't a zombie was a seriously mind-shredding experience. Until six days ago, Geum Tae-yang had been nothing more than an ordinary civilian.
At least when he'd killed Kim Man-bok, and when he'd first returned, the Combat Mental Master trait had been active and kept things under control. When he was with Kim Min-jung and Park A-young, a sense of responsibility surged up and his mind control more or less took care of itself. But lying alone in the dark like this, everything he'd been suppressing started pouring out all at once.
But I have to push through... They're targeting a woman as lovely as Aunt Min-jung — of course I have to push through... And A-young, who's fighting so hard to get the bunker running — I will protect her no matter what...
Geum Tae-yang clenched his fists tight. Just because it was natural didn't mean he had the luxury of leaving it alone or complaining about it.
Still... maybe because I drank Auntie's breast milk... I'm getting sleepy little by little... I thought I wouldn't be able to sleep right away...
The reason he'd lain down at nine was because he'd expected the pressure to keep him awake despite his physical exhaustion. But the breast milk he'd just drunk from Kim Min-jung was steadily calming his nerves, and sleep was washing over him.
Hugging even the pillow tight, Geum Tae-yang curled into a shrimp-sleep position and drifted off.
And roughly an hour after Geum Tae-yang had fallen asleep—
His door creaked open just a crack.
Through the opened door, someone gazed at the sleeping Geum Tae-yang.
It was Kim Min-jung.