I walk through the quiet hallway.
My steps echoed through the walls.
The hallways were relatively clean, no blood or anything.
However, classrooms on the other hand –
Blood and grime splattered everywhere I look, from floor to ceiling.
Every classroom I have passed by was in the same condition.
Few of the classrooms had their doors open.
This indicated that either few people besides me had survived or that at least one other person was alive and had searched through the classrooms.
This concerns me somewhat.
I feel anxious about encountering others.
It is difficult to gauge how individuals are coping mentally.
Many may have been forced to take the life of someone they cared about as the cost of survival.
I walk through the quiet hallway, the ground shaking periodically every few minutes.
At a distance I can hear roars.
Despite the bright sun, noon was shining bright in the blue sky.
My heart leaps in fear each corner I turn.
As I turn a corner…
A deafening roar echoed through school, glasses shaking.
I duck quickly as my grip increases on the chair.
I cautiously look around.
My body-shaking
After my nerves calmed down, I got up slowly and started moving.
I am heading for the staff room.
The staff room is on the end of the hallway of the first floor. To the right of the stairs from the second floor is the nurse's office.
After walking down to the first floor
I waver between heading to the staff room or retrieving first aid from the nurse's office first.
After about 10 seconds I decide that I will go to the staff room after going to the nurse's office.
-At best it will take a minute or two.
In the nurse's office, everything was in disarray; at the corner, I saw Ms Eun-young, dead. She was a woman in her 50s.
I stare at her body for a bit; unease settles in my heart.
I turn away from her body instead, focus on getting the first aid kit, and then move toward the staff room.
My heart pounds erratically as I go closer to the door.
I pause with my hand on the doorknob.
All of a sudden my body feels heavy.
-Sluggish
For a second I thought that it would be better to turn away; I don't need to confirm. I already know.
Yet my heart still wanted to confirm.
Still holding the faintest of hope that maybe she made it.
I stood in front of the door for minutes, my head leaning against the door, contemplating confirmation. whether I should go in.
Finally, I built up the resolve. I twisted the doorknob.
Creak.*
Before the door could open completely, a heavy smell of blood hit my nostrils.
With a heavy heart I push through anyway.
I stare at the staff room, once a pristine place, now in ruins.
Desks toppled, plant pots broken.
Papers scattered everywhere
Above, long fluorescent tubes are flickering.
By the door, bodies were stacked.
There's a blood trail from that entrance to the pile.
Meaning someone moved them away from the door.
I unconsciously tighten my grip on the chair.
But another part felt anticipation, hope
Maybe she made it.
I look at the side of the door that faces inside.
-Splattered with blood
That gave enough of an idea as to what happened.
But I don't linger much on that; I move forward cautiously.
I'm checking the faces of every dead body as I move forward.
Until I have circled the whole staff room
'Yeah, she's none of the dead.'
Hope blossomed in my heart at the possibility of her being alive.
My heart felt alive at the thought that I could see her again.
'This time for sure I will make it right.'
'I will apologise.'
'I will thank her for all the years she took care of me.'
'I won't push you away like I had.'
But unfortunately, life is not a fairytale.
It's not very forgiving.
There are mistakes that, if you don't correct then and leave them for later,
You may never get to fix it – ever.
After that I move to the teacher's lounge area.
There I bear witness to a scene I will have nightmares about forever.
It felt as though something had punched my insides. As I walk over bodies after body, at the corner I see the familiar figure, the one for whom I am in search.
There she lies –
Buttons were missing; the collar hung open where it shouldn't. Her skirt was bunched and dirt-streaked, the hem ripped unevenly. He couldn't bring himself to look for long.
Bruises darken her once-flush white skin. That beautiful face is now bloodied.
Her hand twisted in a way that is not natural.
Eyes wide open
Tear marks still visible.
Mouth open
Tongue sticking out
A red mark around her neck
I kneel beside her, unsure what to do.
Hands shaking
'Why are all the good people that suffer the most?'
Ms Ji-Yoon
She was a woman in her late twenties.
She was a kind person, not someone you could complain against or even think badly against.
The woman, who took me in when I had no one,
Even after all I had said, she still found ways to take care of me.
I had no idea that tears were streaming down my face.
My heart hurt.
It felt like a hot knife was being curved around in my chest.
I felt winded.
I pull her up into my arms.
Even though the body was there, the hug was different when I pulled her in for a tight embrace with my head in her chest.
The ease I felt is gone.
Sensation of safety
The melody of the heart had gone silent.
The warmth had vanished.
I had braced myself for this, yet seeing her in this state….
The strength and stability I was feigning finally collapsed as I felt something inside me snap.
I cried hysterically and howled.
"I-I'm sowwy, vewy sowwy…pleaseee."
However, it's too late for that.
Guilt cut deeper into my soul than any blade could. I suppose I'm paying for my sin, the sin of hoping, the sin of the past, but …. But what had she done wrong? Why has the world handed her this?
She ought to die in the company of loved ones or at least die without suffering.
"Why do I cause suffering to everyone I love?"
[Many constellations are shedding tears in sorrow.]
[Many constellations watch in silence.]
…
Time zoomed like a blur.
Don't know how long has passed.
I sat with her in my arms.
My body felt weak.
Even trying to move my leg felt laborious.
I slowly force myself to get up. Picking her up in a princess-carry…
With arduous steps I move forward.
…
With the shovel in hand, I sat in front of her grave.
I felt hollow.
The sorrow had gone numb.
I felt scared – very lonely.
I stare at the sky – it's almost mid-afternoon.
My arms hurt from digging.
Yet it didn't matter to me.
Nothing felt to matter.
Tears start to fall again.
[Some constellations express sorrow for your loss.]
[Demon like judge of fire urges you to calm down.]
[Many constellations have their eyes turn watery seeing you mourn.]
[Some constellations urge you to move reasoning; she would want you to.]
[Song of the Sea-sponsored Fruit of the Sea]
I stare at the messages, head tilted to the right, confused.
[The song of the sea urges Incarnation to go inside and eat it, saying he will feel better.]
A light blue, peach-like fruit appears in my hands.
The outer shell had a smooth, glossy look.
It almost looked like Christmas decoration.
I take it close to my nose; it smelt very sweet.
The smell was a blend between strawberry and orange.
[Song of the sea encourages you to eat it.]
I stare at the message.
[Item: peach of the sea]
[Eat the fruit to receive a stamina recovery.]
[Side effect: calms the mind]
I take a bite from it.
A unique flavour exploded in my mouth.
VERY SWEET!
But not the kind that makes you ill.
In no time the fruit was devoured.
I stare at my empty hand.
Promptly I was hit by intense drowsiness.
It was hard to keep my eyes open.
With unsteady steps I move toward a random classroom.
I barely manage to sit with my back against the wall when
My vision went dark as I rolled in the lap of sleep.
….
I slowly open my eyes.
My body felt better, full of energy.
I felt calm and grounded.
My mind wanders to her, but I push the thought away, as I know if I think on it I will be in tears again.
I don't want to stay here any longer. After picking a few more items, I start walking toward the station. I am carrying an IV drip behind my back. It looks stupid, but before I can get my hand on a bat, this is the best choice I've got.
I plan to change my clothes from my house and take other necessities, as my house is close.
Also, I allocate most of my coins to my stats, keeping 3 levels worth as an emergency.
Physique Lv.2 >> 6, Strength Lv.4 >> 6, Agility Lv.6 >> 7
It felt too risky to try and go out with those abysmal states.
I walk under the afternoon sun, basking in it for the first time without fear.
It was warm.
As I walk down the quiet street
I came to realise something: society has fallen, meaning no more obligation to one fixed boring life cycle.
I felt a fuzzy feeling that was hard to explain.
I felt light.
As the wind passed by my face, I felt free.
A mysterious feeling kindled in my heart that was hard to articulate
I would like to enjoy it more.
But the periodic ground shakes and loud roars made it difficult to focus on it.
I slowly approach my neighbourhood.
The once sturdy houses have cracks on their walls.
It was starting to feel scary. I have walked all this way, yet I have yet to encounter anyone.
As I walk closer to my house, I see more and more houses are appearing more demolished.
Big holes and footsteps on the ground
At a distance, loud rumbles could be heard.
Unease settles in me.
With each step, the sounds got louder.
I cautiously approach the last turn –
The surrounding houses were levelled, including where I used to live.
At the distance I could see a giant grasshopper fighting a giant cockroach.
A deep sense of helplessness settles down in me.
Change of plans I guess.
I am not going this way.
I slowly stepped back.
'This is really frustrating.'
This route is the shortest path.
I let out a deep sigh.
If I go around, I will have to go through the flea market, then make many turns.
This will add about 1-2 more hours at my current pace.
"No use complaining."
The last half an hour was uneventful.
I slowly made it to the flea market.
The whole place was quiet. It felt weird; this flea market would be crowded at this hour. Bustling with salesmen calling customers
Now, it was covered in blood.
I continued walking.
Suddenly, I felt icy daggers on my back.
Without thinking I swing my shovel.
Nothing
Am I paranoid?
I walk very slowly, looking for something.
Nobody was there.
But the feeling persisted.
Letting a sigh out, I started walking again.
At a distance I spot a convenience store. Happiness filled me up.
Finally, food!
I had planned that I would eat at home, but since my home went MIA, I have been walking hungry for a while.
My guard drops as I rush toward the store.
Big mistake
My whole back was drenched in an icy sweat as my instincts started screaming at me to swing.
I didn't have time to register, but my body already swung.
In the air is a wolf-like creature, open maw, claws extended toward me.
My shovel hits the wolf in the face.
I was not in any way able to exert enough force to make it fly away.
But I was able to get out of its trajectory by altering its flight path just enough.
Though it's worth mentioning, I was the one who ate dirt, but I quickly got on my feet.
We both eye each other, moving in a circle. -Waiting for the other to initiate the first more.
[Second Scenario – First Hunt]
[Category: Sub]
[Difficulty: E]
[Clear Condition: Hunt the Mutated Dog]
[Compensation: 500 coins]
[Penalty: Death]
Though the screen appeared, I didn't have the leisure to read.
We stare each other down.
'This can't go on.'
I suddenly stumbled, stepping on my own feet.
The mutated dog doesn't miss the chance as it lunges forward.
Its tactic was on point; it seized the opportunity when the enemy was weak.
However,
What it didn't account for was whether the stumble was intentional or not.
As the wolf was midair,
I dump the rest of the coins in strength as I side-step from the lunge's trajectory and swing down my shovel with all my strength.
A crack sound resonates through the streets.
The wolf lay there, motionless. Brain matter scattered around.
I pant.
Not because I am physically tired, but because of how nerve-wracking this was.
But my heart filled up with pride.
[You cleared a sub-scenario.]
[Reward 500 coins]
[You successfully hunted a Grade 9 monster, "Mutated Dog".]
[Reward: 100 coins]
[Congratulations on being the first to kill a Grade 9 monster.]
[Reward: 500]
[Some constellations are pleased with your cunningness.]
[Sponsored 100 coins]
My eyes glitter.
Monster kills do give coins. This felt reassuring.
Seeing money, all the tension of the first hunt washed away.
My blood was boiling to hunt more.
But first,
Looking at the convenient store –
Need to borrow some things.