Chapter 13 : Encounters (5)

“They can control zombies? You’re sure about that?”

“Absolutely. You see…”

Glasses, who’d been talking smoothly, clammed up again.
I gently raised my fist in front of his face.

“T-The deal included letting me and the boss kill zombies around here! We got massive experience points and leveled up easily!”

You guys seemed pretty weak, though.
Still, his story made sense.
There were noticeably few zombies in this area.
Even if it’s a quiet suburb, Gimpo’s outskirts should have thousands of people.

‘Too early to jump to conclusions. Their ability might have limits, or they used some trick.’
I wasn’t about to get spooked by something I hadn’t seen with my own eyes.

I quickly organized my thoughts and fired off another question.

“Fine. So why did they want you to kidnap kids? Is this guy some kind of pedophile?”

“I asked that too, but they only said it was a gift for a friend.”

“A gift?”

“That’s all I know. They didn’t seem to want to talk more…”

“Hm. What did they look like? Man? Woman?”

“They wore a hood, so I couldn’t tell…”

“What do you know?”

“I-I’m sorry!”

I grilled him with more questions, but Glasses was useless.

He didn’t even know when the next trade would happen—just that they’d come for the kids “eventually.”

“Ugh…”
I wanted to track this guy down now, but that seemed impossible.

“U-Um…”

Glasses, sensing my questions had stopped, cautiously spoke up while watching my reaction.

I stood still, staring at him.
Go on, say something.

“P-Please spare me! I’m useful!”

“…”

“In this broken world, don’t you need a faction? I can be your strategist!”

“Ha…”
This guy.
He knows I killed his boss and still wants to latch onto me?

“Look at this base! It’s got tons of food and weapons! You don’t even need to deal with that guy. Take this stuff and build a faction somewhere else!”

Mistaking my silence for interest, he grew more desperate.

“W-Whatever you want, Angel-nim, I’ll do it! I’ll never do bad things again! I’ll live in repentance, so please give me a chance! Please!”

He started rubbing his hands together so hard I half-expected smoke to rise.

“Let me ask one thing.”

“Y-Yes!”

“How does trash that kills innocent people and kidnaps kids repent?”

“W-Well… Sh*t!”
He’s got some sense, at least.
Realizing my intent, Glasses bolted for the door.

His body floated upward—probably using a telekinesis skill.

I pulled a rock from my pocket and hurled it at him.
The stone shot forward with explosive speed, smashing into his head.

Thwack.

He collapsed, head caved in.
No need to check—he was dead.

I considered making it more painful but decided my time was too valuable.

And just like that, the trafficking ring was done for.

‘Thought it’d be a dangerous fight, but it’s kinda anticlimactic.’
If this wraps up here, isn’t it just a MacGuffin?
For some reason, that thought hit me.

Leaving the corpse behind, I stepped outside.
The cleanup should be mostly done by now.

The survivors held a meeting and decided to head to Gimpo Agricultural College, where other survivors were gathering.

Apparently, some of them had been dragged here from there.

“It’s a college in the suburbs, so it’s sparsely populated, and it’s easy to drive to from here. The downside is food scarcity, but if we take the supplies from this place…”
The survivor talking to me trailed off, glancing at me.

He clearly wanted the food but needed my permission.

I nodded and said,

“Take it. I don’t need it.”
I wasn’t lying.
I was already ditching food I couldn’t carry since I had no inventory system.
More food would just be dead weight.
Better to let it go to the kids here.

“Thank you, Angel-nim! You saved us and gave us food!”

He then asked if I’d consider joining them at the college.

After a moment’s thought, I politely declined.

With a body as conspicuous as mine, living with others would be a hassle.

‘Group life might be easier, but… mental fatigue is the last thing I need.’
With my physical strength, mental health was the priority.

He looked disappointed but didn’t push.

“That’s a shame, but you’re free to go wherever you want, Angel-nim.”

Just in case, I considered escorting them to the college.
It’d suck if they got attacked by zombies or other survivors at the last minute.

When I offered, he politely refused.

“We’ve got cars and pistols. Plus, the college said they’re sending people to meet us, so no need to worry.”

I’d feel better sticking around, but it seemed he didn’t want to burden me further.

I wasn’t about to reject his consideration.

As I grabbed my bag and prepared to leave, a voice stopped me.

“Unnie… Are you leaving?”

“Yup. I saved everyone, so it’s time to go.”

“I want to stay with you longer…”
Minseo lowered her head, looking disappointed.
I chuckled and patted her head.

“You said your parents are at the college, right? You shouldn’t be apart from them now. Hold their hands tight so you don’t lose them.”

“Okay.”

Her expression was still glum, but it brightened a bit compared to before.

Probably excited at the thought of reuniting with her parents.

For some reason, the adults nearby, overhearing our talk, started gushing.

“Wow… Truly Angel-nim…”

“So holy…”

“Like a princess.”

…Getting praised so openly is embarrassing.

Being called an angel because of my looks is one thing, but their direct compliments made me cringe.

Time to get out of here.

I hoisted my bag and headed for the factory’s exit.

“Unnie! What’s your name? Tell me!”

Minseo’s voice rang out.

I froze.
Should I reveal my name?
It’s a ridiculous thought, but what if someone could trace me through it?
The odds were lower than winning the lottery.
But not impossible.

‘…In times like these, better safe than sorry.’
There’s a saying: new wine in new wineskins.
Since I’ve got a new body, maybe it’s time to ditch the past and take a new name.

“…Mika! Call me Mika!”
I picked it on the spot, inspired by Michael, the most famous angel.

If I were still a guy, I’d go with Kael, but Mika fits better for a girl.

“Okay! See you again, Mika Unnie!”

Alright, time to really leave—

[Mystic resonates with Divinity.]

[Mystic is unleashed.]

…Huh?

[You have acquired a Signature Weapon.]

Wha—?