Chapter 8

I became a game character in the apocalypse, Chapter 8

If there was something to hide, he must have lied.

The man who came out of the warehouse looked at the man at the counter and said with an awkward smile,

"Calm down. It seems like that guy was flustered and made a slip of the tongue. Let's resolve this through our conversation."

"What slip of the tongue?"

"He said he was alone to keep his word. Of course, as you can see, there are two of us."

I can't even believe the word 'two.'

I opened my bag warily and started putting in canned goods, snacks, and drinks while looking at the two men.

The man who came out of the warehouse watched me quietly, then said with a bitter smile,

"Who said you could take whatever you want?"

"I decided to take it."

"Hey, let's talk about it."

"We are talking, aren't we?"

I filled my bag to the brim and took a few steps back towards the entrance.

The man who came out of the warehouse looked incredulous and said in a low voice,

"Are you going to die if you go out that door?"

Do you have some confidence?

I didn't feel any other presence nearby.

The survivors here are just those two, or maybe a few more are hiding in the warehouse.

They don't have any weapons, and the entrance is a narrow size for one person to pass through.

If I steel myself, I can handle them.

I gripped the iron pipe and said,

"Try it if you can."

"Do you not need to know the hideout?"

The word 'hideout' made me flinch reflexively.

Is there someone surviving in this dormitory?

Thinking I had taken the bait, the man smiled and said,

"Put down the stuff in your bag. Then I'll tell you."

I don't know if these people are really protecting survivors or if they're lying.

If I think positively, they can't just reveal the survivors' hideout, so the man at the counter must have been lying.

But if I think negatively, they might be lying to get back the food I gathered.

It's a tempting offer, but they're underestimating me.

I asked in a calm voice,

"Do I really need to know?"

"…What?"

"Is the location of the survivors more important than food?"

"Planning to survive alone? Haven't you seen the zombies outside?"

"Mr. Nam."

I have a destination: the student council building.

Whether there are survivors in the dormitory or not has nothing to do with me.

Two weeks ago, on the day I cleared Last Ark.

My classmates said they were gathering in the club room to prepare for the final exams.

They told me not to stay in the dormitory and to come to the club room, so there's a good chance they're still there.

So, whether there are survivors in the dormitory or not, it's none of my concern.

Moreover, with the appearance of the leader zombie, staying in the dormitory is like living with a time bomb.

I looked at the men in the kiosk and said,

"Even if I don't know where the hideout is, if it's in the dormitory complex, you should leave quickly."

I was about to leave after giving them a warning, but the man who came out of the warehouse flinched.

He frowned and glared at me, asking,

"Are you a player?"

His words made my eyes twitch reflexively.

How does he know?

When I didn't say anything, he laughed dryly and said,

"What, if you're a player, you should have told me earlier. We just wasted time."

"…"

"Let's go together."

When I didn't answer, he smiled thinly and extended his right hand.

There was a hint of something sinister in his smile.

When I didn't move, he shrugged and continued,

"Don't look at me like that. We have one too. A player."

"…What's your job?"

"Me? I'm just a regular survivor."

"What about your group's abilities?"

"I don't remember the name, but they said they can see well in the fog."

If they can see clearly in the fog, it must be Gabriel.

If Gabriel is there, the journey to the student council building will be much safer.

I fell into thought for a moment, and the man in the warehouse took a step closer and said,

"Besides, the one who can see well in the fog is a girl. She's pretty."

"Don't come any closer."

I raised the iron pipe and glared at him, and he said with an awkward expression,

"Still don't believe me?"

It's tempting, but just because there's a player doesn't mean I can trust them.

I still had doubts.

They seem to be looking for food, but it doesn't make sense that they didn't bring Gabriel, who can see clearly in the fog.

Even if they had a clear path, the zombies in the fog wander aimlessly.

It's impossible to guarantee safety without clearing all the zombies in the area.

If they've survived this long, they must know that.

Moreover, if Gabriel was there, they would have known about the leader zombie sooner, so it's strange that they're still in the dormitory.

Most of all, the man's sinister expression… it felt different from me.

With my doubts unresolved, I slung the bag over my shoulder and said,

"I don't believe you."

I gave a short answer and left the kiosk.

A voice calling out to me from behind.

Shouting like that in the fog.

They can't be trusted.

I glanced back at the entrance to the cafeteria, but the men were nowhere to be seen.

They didn't follow, and after a few calls, they seemed to have given up on me.

I want to go to the survivors' hideout and bring Gabriel, but that's wishful thinking.

I don't know who the player is, and the chances of them following me are slim.

So, I'll just go to the student council building as planned.

Ding, ding, ding!

At that moment, a clear sound echoed from the kiosk.

The sound of a wind chime attached to the kiosk's glass door.

It wasn't moved by the wind, but was intentionally making noise.

Thump, thump, thump—

Roar!

The sound of zombies' footsteps and a deafening roar followed.

The wind chime continued to ring, and zombies started gathering.

Are they trying to trap me using the zombies?

As this thought crossed my mind, I felt a surge of anger.

Zombies don't seek human food.

They only crave humans.

They're trying to throw me to the zombies and take the bag later.

"Damn bastards…"

Glaring at the kiosk won't change anything.

Roar!

The sound of zombies coming from the kitchen in the distance.

If the zombies in the cafeteria join, hiding inside the building will be impossible.

Without time to think, I rushed out of the building and blocked the glass door.

The zombies inside the cafeteria rushed towards the glass door, and I braced myself, thinking repeatedly.

The sound of footsteps from all directions disoriented me.

Should I move to the student council building?

The leader zombie must have heard the noise too.

I can't lead the zombies to the student council building.

Moreover, it's impossible to run the 1 km distance without stopping.

So, my only option is…

I turned to the left and pushed off the ground.

Roar!

The zombies in the cafeteria poured out, and the ones by the pond started chasing me.

I used to run 100 meters in the 11-second range when I was preparing for physical education.

With one hand holding the iron pipe, the other a monkey wrench, and a heavy bag on my back, I ran at full speed.

The thick fog made it hard to see, and I felt fear at not knowing what was ahead.

Each time, I clenched my teeth and pushed harder, running with all my might.

Creak!

A long arm shot out of the fog from the side.

I couldn't afford to waste time stopping the zombie, so I quickly dodged the reaching hand.

The parking lot lines came into view.

I made it.

The sculpture building and music building right in front of the dormitory complex.

The vast parking lot in front of them.

Due to the fog in the early morning, the students' cars were still parked.

I ran, scraping the parked cars with the iron pipe in my right hand.

Please, just one.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sound I was waiting for echoed soon.

As the saying goes, fight fire with fire.

I glanced back while running, and the zombies chasing me were clinging to the cars.

I think I've shaken them off, so if I move to the student council building now…

Grrrr…

But contrary to my expectations, I saw zombies blocking the back road of the art building.

The fog spread during the final exam period.

The students who stayed up all night to submit their work in the art building all turned into zombies.

Seeing the zombies in the fog means they've spotted me too.

I felt the collective gaze of the dark figures on the back road.

The moment of silence felt like an eternity.

As I stopped abruptly and swallowed hard, the zombies on the back road roared and charged.

I turned sharply, almost falling, and headed for the side alley of the art building.

An unpaved road not used by students.

The muddy ground was sticky due to the damp fog.

I kept running without time to wipe the mud splattered on my face.

Roar!

The sound of zombies coming from inside the building.

The deafening car alarms and the roaring of the zombies stimulated all the nearby zombies.

Clang!

Then, zombies fell from the second-floor windows.

Zombies with broken legs, twisted arms, and contorted heads.

Even the ones still alive stared at me and growled.

Zombies in front, zombies chasing from behind.

I don't know how to escape.

Is there no way to survive?

The right side is blocked by the building, and the left side is a steep cliff.

Cliff.

'Should I go there?'

I understand why people can't think clearly when they panic.

During the twin towers terrorist attack in a foreign country, people in the building jumped out of the windows to escape the fire, forgetting they were in a high-rise.

It's not a good solution in a critical situation.

I need to think on my feet.

I gripped the iron pipe and looked straight ahead.

About 40 meters to the end of the building.

Zombies are still falling from the windows, but the path isn't completely blocked.

There's no need to fear the zombies in their dying state.

I took a deep breath and ran forward.

Roar!

As I pushed off the ground, a zombie with a broken leg stared at me with wide eyes.

I stepped on its head and kept moving.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

Zombies falling from above, casting dark shadows.

I kept running, alternating between the ground and the air.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

The zombies chasing me were trampled by the falling zombies, and the sound of breaking bones echoed in my ears.

The concept of allies doesn't exist among them.

Creak!

As I reached the end of the building, a zombie with a broken arm lunged at me with yellowed teeth.

Too close to swing the iron pipe.

My heightened senses pushed my body to make a quick decision.

A 1.5 cm thick notebook wrapped around my right arm.

Human teeth can't penetrate it.

I glared and blocked the zombie's mouth with my arm.

Pushing it against the wall, I crushed its jaw.

The back of the zombie's head cracked, and its jaw dangled.

To ensure it was dead, I pierced its eyes with the monkey wrench and quickly checked behind me.

The tangled zombies were pushing off the ground and starting to run towards me.

I can't stop.

I have to keep moving.

What comes after the art building?

'Natural Science Building.'

I asked and answered myself, running without stopping.

My thighs and calves trembled.

I stumbled and winced in pain from a sprained ankle but kept running.

If I stop, death is all that's left for me.

Roar!

As I reached the parking lot of the Natural Science Building, the zombies scattered around started to approach, growling.

There are zombies here too?

The fog spread in the early morning, but the number of zombies far exceeded my expectations.

No matter how much I run, no matter how much I struggle, the shadow of death that has fallen on me shows no sign of disappearing.

I swung the iron pipe at the zombies in the parking lot and used the parked cars as cover, moving frantically.

But the zombies that chased me from the art building were already at my feet.

The pale fog and the zombies jumping out of it, the same scene no matter where I looked.

My exhausted body and lungs that felt like they were about to burst.

The ringing in my ears and the dizzying vertigo.

Breathing heavily against the thickening despair, I leaned against a car.

I have no more strength to swing the iron pipe, but the zombies' attacks show no sign of stopping.

I have no more options.

"Damn…"

I frowned and muttered a curse.

Whoosh!

At that moment, a huge flame erupted from the left, and the intense heat hit me.