39-53

EP. 53. Securing the Apartment (5) 

A zombie, no different from a corpse, soaked in the “Womb’s” mucus, had been left leaking brain matter and blood for nearly a whole day. With the Korean Peninsula’s weather already feeling like early summer, the stench from zombie corpses that had started rotting in the stairwell over a day was beyond imagination. 

It was incomparable even to the fermented skate I’d once smelled… 

“Uuugh…” 

“Guh…” 

At this, everyone-including me-held their breath as best they could. Park Sanghyuk, at the front, quickly climbed over the pile of corpses and opened the stairwell window. 

Screech! 

As the air began to circulate and the stench slightly faded, the real “job” of clearing out the corpses began. If the “Womb” detected our approach again and released zombies, we couldn’t risk having our escape route blocked by bodies filling the stairs. 

Zzzz… whooom… thud! 

Of the roughly 70 corpses, we threw about 30 out the window and piled the rest into two apartments on the 20th floor to secure our retreat. But even with the path clear, we couldn’t head straight for the 18th floor where we’d found the “Womb.” 

“Huff, huff…” 

“Pant, pant, cough!…” 

Moving bodies weighing 50–80kg each left everyone out of breath and drenched in sweat. Only Catherine, Park Sanghyuk, and I were in decent shape, but even we needed at least a 10-minute break. 

“Let’s catch our breath here before heading to the 18th floor-” 

Creak! 

Just as we were about to rest on the stairs between the 20th and 19th floors, we heard something sticky drop below. Instantly, everyone raised their weapons and went on alert toward the lower floor… 

But for nearly a minute, there was no sign of zombies, not even the Womb’s low growl. 

After a moment, realizing the huge “Womb” wouldn’t suddenly run away, I sat down and again ordered a break. 

“Let’s rest here while keeping watch below. Sanghyuk, let us know if you see or hear anything.” 

“Yes, understood.” 

Thus began a sweet but uneasy 10-minute rest. 

Tap… tap… tap… 

Once everyone’s breathing and stamina had recovered, we cautiously descended to the 18th floor. As we rounded the last corner, the source of the strange sound from 10 minutes earlier was revealed. 

Squelch… plop, plop… 

The massive “Womb” that had filled the interior was gone, leaving only sticky mucus dripping everywhere on the 18th floor. 

Next moment. 

Squelch… plop! 

A chunk of membrane, the size of a soccer ball, fell from the ceiling, and something squirmed in the corner near the elevator. 

Immediately, we carefully approached it, watching for falling mucus and bits of membrane. 

Soon, we realized the mysterious creature, now shrunk to the size of an outdoor AC unit and squirming, was the same “Womb” we’d seen yesterday. 

At first, its shrunken form was unrecognizable, but- 

“Guuuu…” 

That familiar low sound and the presence of the dark red membrane proved it was the “Womb.” But what convinced me most was the “MILF Collector” notification: 

[The “Womb” is currently so weakened it cannot resist. We recommend you dispose of the creature and collect its byproducts for sale in the shop.] 

Not only did the app confirm this was the “Womb,” it advised us to finish it off and sell the byproducts. 

I didn’t know why the once-massive Womb had shrunk so much, but I knew what had to be done. 

“Let’s finish it.” 

Whack! Thud! Squelch… 

As soon as I said the word, Catherine’s axe and Park Sanghyuk’s crowbar swung down. The two metals easily pierced deep into the Womb’s membrane, and we dragged it out from the corner. 

Once the helpless Womb was moved near the fire door, everyone took out their frustration from the previous day’s ordeal and started hacking it to pieces. 

Having survived a wave of over 70 zombies yesterday, we were much more skilled at chopping up the Womb than before. 

Whack! Thud! Thud! Crack! 

We struck it dozens of times as it writhed but did nothing to resist. As we mercilessly punished it and the Womb was smashed to bits, something shiny caught my eye among the shredded flesh. 

A pearl-like object tinged with red. 

[Womb’s Pearl: A mass of weaponized material formed inside the mutant zombie “Womb,” resembling a pearl. Each one has a different color, and the higher the saturation, the higher the sale price. ▲Shop sale price: 30MP] 

After the “punishment” of the Womb ended with everyone in high spirits, I discreetly pocketed the “Womb’s Pearl” and immediately sold it in the shop window. 

[You have sold “Womb’s Pearl.” 30MP has been credited. ▲Current MP: 81] 

Then we resumed searching the 1,2 line in earnest. 

Amazingly, what greeted us below the 18th floor was utter silence. 

Not only was there no sound, but the scanner showed “0” living creatures. 

Wary that there might be a mutant I didn’t know about, we searched every apartment thoroughly, but… 

By just past noon, when we reached the first floor, we hadn’t seen a single survivor or even a single zombie. 

This meant that the 70 or so zombies that had attacked us yesterday were all that was left of the 1,2 line. 

We couldn’t know why all the residents of the 1,2 line had ended up inside the Womb with not a single survivor, but one thing was certain: 

“For stable survival going forward, we need to be especially wary of mutants.” 

Meanwhile, with nothing left-no survivors, no zombies-Kim Chansu sighed with a complicated expression. 

“Should we be grateful for this…?” 

The mood grew heavy for a moment at his words, but I quickly said, 

“For now, let’s just focus on our survival and interests. Let’s block off that entrance first.” 

Accepting reality, everyone gathered furniture from the first and second floors to build a barricade at the entrance. 

During this, I realized something new: 

There’s no need to use precious MP for everything-most things can be handled with “human resources.” 

But why did the word “small business” (jotso) pop into my head here…? 

… 

The day after securing the 1,2 line, the morning of Day 8. 

With far more people than usual gathered on the 20th floor, the women survivors-who’d had little to do until now-were finally given a task. 

“As I mentioned before, you brought rubber gloves and cleaning supplies, right? Then follow Mr. Kim Chansu and clean the assigned areas thoroughly. Everyone okay with that?” 

“Yes…” 

The interior of the 1,2 line, filthy with the Womb’s mucus and zombie filth. 

At my order to clean it up, the ajummas glanced at my crossbow and nodded. 

Maybe because it hadn’t been long since I “executed justice” on Lee Changseop, their obedient attitude was very satisfying. 

No wonder dictators can’t let go of “rule by fear”… 

About ten minutes later, as Kim Chansu returned with the ajummas, we quickly headed to the 5,6 line rooftop exit. 

Right after, 

As we entered the 5,6 line and searched each floor one by one, descending to the 17th floor, a barricade studded with hand-carved wooden spears blocked our way. 

“Kiheeek!” 

A zombie impaled on a wooden spear saw us and started thrashing wildly. 

Despite its abdomen being split open by the spear, it reached for Park Sanghyuk at the front. 

It wasn’t very threatening, just noisy, so I was about to shoot a bolt into its head when- 

We heard movement beyond the barricade. 

“Who’s there?” 

… 

About two hours after encountering the barricade, the zombie, and the survivors of the 5,6 line, 

I shook hands with a sturdy man in his 30s named Yoo Minhyuk, and at the same time, my phone strapped to my left forearm vibrated. 

[Congratulations! You have completed the quest “Master of the Apartment (2).”] 

[Reward: 50MP, 9mm automatic pistol, 30 rounds of 9×19mm Parabellum acquired. The pistol and ammo are stored in the temporary inventory, which can be checked via the shop window. Once claimed, they cannot be returned to inventory.] 

Author’s note: 

??? : People are free, so why use equipment?