-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Welcome Back!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Acquired 38 points.
There were 38 zombies reduced to ash.
Zombies keep shambling even with their bodies ablaze, but once their joints melt and they can't move their limbs anymore, they stay rooted in place until they're fully incinerated.
That's how 38 of them ended up as piles of cinders.
"Oppa, what about a shirt?"
She must have been startled when I suddenly showed up in running gear.
I explained the whole story, and she looked visibly relieved.
There was plenty of clothing back home to change into—we just needed to get out of here now.
Flames and smoke shrouded the path ahead, blocking our scent even from zombies.
The stench of that black liquid burning was that overpowering.
We slipped around the pillar and hustled toward the mountain.
From here, following the walking trail would take us straight home.
...but the world had grown far too treacherous for any sense of relief.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Crossing the back mountain, the only living things we spotted were a handful of squirrels.
Thinking we were in the clear, we quickened our pace—until I sensed movement from the construction site.
This was the spot where I'd picked up an iron pipe before scaling the ridge.
We crept closer, but they saw us first.
They were a pack of lowlife thugs, just like the ones whose throats I'd skewered at the convenience store.
Three of them, surrounded by a mess of scattered liquor bottles.
Slumped beside the fattest one was a woman, half-stripped.
What the hell—some rape kingdom?
The guy who locked eyes with me flashed a sleazy grin.
"Ha, send one packing and another shows up. Hey, boys—this one's sleek as fuck. Bet she'll feel real nice."
The other two snickered at his crass line.
Six pairs of eyes glittering with raw lust zeroed in on Yun-ji.
Overwhelmed by the stares, she ducked behind me.
"Why'd you kill the woman?"
"Nah, nah—why kill her when there's no one else to fuck? She bit her own tongue."
The pipe-wielding guy shrugged.
"Fucking bitch was thrashing and screaming her head off, bad luck."
He advanced, slamming the pipe against the ground.
Some street brawler type.
"Leave the bitch and I won't kill you. Deal?"
"Why would a dead man walking need a woman?"
His face contorted.
"You fucking mutt...!!"
He raised the pipe high, but I was quicker.
I smashed his shoulder with the pickaxe and yanked back like ripping out a nail.
Crunch!
His whole shoulder tore free, the pipe arm slicing empty air.
The geyser of blood made it hit home—his arm was gone.
"Arrrgggghhh!!"
That scream was his last.
Because I'd spun the pickaxe and caved his skull with the long end.
His cranium crumpled, shock popping both eyeballs loose.
The guy behind him charged right after.
A Chinese cleaver in his grip.
"Fuck, dieee—!!"
He swung for my neck, so I tilted the pickaxe to parry.
Clang!
A crisp ring echoed as the cleaver ricocheted away.
As he reeled from the impact, I didn't miss—smashed his wrist.
"Aaaack—!!"
His wrist snapped at a grotesque angle; the knife clattered free.
One hit to the ribs with the pickaxe—he howled and dropped to his knees.
I snatched the fallen cleaver and closed in.
"P-Please... s-spare... me."
He clutched his side, shivering uncontrollably.
"Bet that woman begged the same. What'd you do then?"
"Th-that was..."
"Go tell her you're sorry—in person."
I plunged the cleaver into his skull.
It split open like a cabbage; damn fine edge on that blade.
The last one lost all fight, stumbling backward.
I advanced; he screamed and bolted deeper into the site.
I gripped the pickaxe in a javelin throw, sighting him down.
Quite the distance, yet he felt inches away.
Thanks to my [Perception] skill picking up his presence crystal clear.
I hurled it at where he'd vanished.
"Kyaaaaah—!!"
Up close: pinned to the wall, body quaking.
Terror-stricken face met mine, then he slumped lifeless.
Yanked the pickaxe free and headed back to Yun-ji.
"Blood... splashed on you."
"Not scared? I killed three people."
"You did it to save me. And those three? They deserved it. How could they do that to a woman..."
She shuddered, head bowed.
If I hadn't shown up, Yun-ji would've suffered the same from that psycho manager.
The end times hit everyone hard, but women and the vulnerable worst of all.
"In just two days, the world's gone to shit like this. Right now it's thugs running wild, but soon regular folks'll turn looter, killer. Gotta, to survive."
"..."
Silence meant agreement.
In the half-day we'd stuck together, Yun-ji had seen the change plain as day.
She'd felt it in her bones: survival hinged on my help.
"You won't end up like that, so no worries. If I wasn't gonna look after you, I never would've come to your rescue."
"Why... did you save me?"
The question I'd anticipated.
"You and I... we've never met. You don't know me. How'd you know I was trapped—and come get me?"
"For survival's sake? You wouldn't buy it?"
"Huh?"
If I don't save you, I'm dead.
Reason doesn't get surer than that.
"Later. Got some things to sort out myself. Once my questions clear up, I'll tell you everything."
She dropped it at my plea for time.
I said it casual, but truth was, I had no clue when I'd spill.
Who'd believe a game turned the world zombie hell?
I thumbed toward my studio apartment.
"C'mon. Going a full day without a shower's driving me nuts."
"You've mentioned showering nonstop since we left the building."
"Yeah. Miss one day, and it's like thorns sprouting from my skin."
"Weird. Thought guys crash dirty when beat."
"Never dated, yet you know that?"
"Friends with boyfriends galore. Act prim, but filthy pigs."
"Dunno their type, but not me. You'll see firsthand."
"Guess I gotta stay spotless then. Gonna be by your side."
"Damn right. Get messy, you're out."
"Eek—you said you'd protect me earlier."
Chatting nonsense like that while walking, my 'Perception' pinged a warning.
Nothing in sight, but the signal thrummed in my skull—something was there.
Felt like a bat echolocating obstacles for real.
"Something ahead."
"Huh? See nothing."
Off in the distance, zombies shuffled lazily.
'Perception' triggered at a range smell-attuned zombies hadn't picked us up yet.
Closer look: right in front of that convenience store where I'd offed the thugs yesterday.
Ah.
Rushed looting yesterday, left the bodies.
No way zombies ignore fresh, warm meat.
"Hide behind the utility pole. I'll clear 'em, wave when safe—then come."
"Okay. Careful."
Three shambling by the door.
More inside likely, but my condition now? Double digits no sweat.
Dragged the pickaxe deliberately loud—they whipped heads my way instantly.
"Graaaargh—!!"
That guttural roar of biting hunger? Familiar as an old friend now.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Acquired 7 points.
Cleared the four inside too—netted 7 points total.
Dragged the corpses out and dumped them off-road so Yun-ji wouldn't freak.
I waved; she scanned around, then trotted over.
"No one's close—no rush."
"How do you know?"
"Since zombies hit, my senses went super sharp. Danger nearby? Alarm blares in my head."
"Whoa, straight out of a movie. Marvel? DC?"
"That OP? I'd have cleared 'em all by now. This is just survival-grade."
"Plenty. Means you and me live."
"You buy it easy. Figured you'd call bullshit."
"Zombies you smashed believable? Saw you wreck the floor—can't deny it."
Fair. That chaos? Disbelief harder.
Bodies left behind drew 7 zombies on guard duty.
Store shelves untouched.
"Women's stuff—you handle it. Box here."
"Okay, Oppa."
Pulled a cart, swept up yesterday's misses.
Yun-ji roamed aisles, boxing tampons, makeup, that sort.
Condoms and lube aisle: peeked at me, snuck some away.
Made it this far—she's resolved, one way or 'nother.
"Take this up first. I'll hit it again later."
Hauled the cart home.
Normally it'd tip; now felt like empty.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Cleaner than our dorm!"
"Entry and kitchen trashed. Zombie fight yesterday—no choice."
Spotted grimy black goo, grabbed a rag.
"Wipe it and done. What guy's this tidy?"
Personality forces it.
Cleanliness aside, stuff outta place? Uneasy vibes.
"Shower while I tidy. Soap, shampoo inside; towels in drawer."
Fetched my tee and trunks, hung 'em in the bath.
"No girls' clothes—wear these today. Loot outfits tomorrow."
Size fuzzy, but solo woman's place nearby.
Tomorrow: start there.
```