Chapter 14: A Brother’s Resolve and a Sister’s Safety

I explained to my sister that I needed to go out and do some things, telling her to wait at home. My sister was clearly displeased. With a pout and wide, staring eyes, she seemed eager to join me.

However, going out to kill zombies was far too dangerous; I didn’t want to bring her along.

So, when I pointed a finger towards the window, her expression suddenly froze.

As if recalling the zombie that had just ripped off a head for fun, she clamped a hand over her mouth and rushed to the bathroom to throw up.

I shook my head, a wry smile playing on my lips. In her current state, Bai Xia absolutely couldn’t venture outside.

“Bai Xia, you should just stay home and wait for me! Taking you outside would make me too uneasy, you…”

“Hmph, you should have said so earlier! I knew you loved me the most, big brother, which is why you don’t want me to take risks. Alright, alright, I’ll listen to you and wait patiently for you to come home.”

The two words ‘come home’ struck the softest chord in my heart, causing an unconscious smile to spread across my face. I reached out and gently patted her head.

Having family felt truly wonderful.

“Mm-hmm, wait for me at home. I’ll be back soon. But while you’re here, remember not to open the door for anyone, not even if they’re asking for help! I have the house key, so I can let myself in.”

“Mm, I know.”

“Bai Xia, I’m being very serious with you. From now on, no matter who it is, you mustn’t let anyone in. It’s the apocalypse now, remember, you can only trust me.”

“…Mm.”

Seeing the indifferent expression on my sister’s face, I knew I had to impress upon her the gravity of the situation. If I allowed her to remain naive, she might not even recognize danger when she encountered it later.

After I finished speaking with a serious tone, I noticed my sister dropping her dismissive attitude. Instead, a blush spread across her face, and her eyes darted away from mine.

‘Had I said something I shouldn’t have?’

While I was still pondering, my sister simply reached out and pushed me, ushering me out of the room.

I raised a hand to scratch my head, then dismissed the thought.

Turning my head to look at the main entrance, the expression on my face slowly faded.

Ah, the familiar apocalypse! I’m back.

****

No longer needing to steel myself, I simply opened the door and stepped out.

After securely locking the door behind me, I drew the knife from my waist. Its blade glinted brightly, reflecting the light, and a smile involuntarily formed on my lips.

Without further hesitation, I kept close to the wall as I walked towards the adjacent street.

Although that area was more populated, in the early stages of the zombie virus infection, a zombie’s sense of smell wasn’t particularly acute.

They primarily pursued fast-moving objects, making running people and vehicles easy targets.

Moving slowly, as I was now, remained the safest approach.

Being on the main street, slaying zombies here would easily attract trouble. It would be better to find a secluded spot before taking down a few.

As for why I needed to kill several, it was because the crystal cores inside zombie heads weren’t guaranteed; their presence was random.

However, once zombies evolved to higher tiers, they would definitely possess crystal cores, as these were essential for their upgrades.

Gripping my knife, I began to select my targets among the various shops.

By the time the virus erupted, most of the street zombies had scattered. Only a few still lingered on the main thoroughfare, but my gaze was drawn to the storefronts.

I noticed that clothing stores and eateries had the highest concentration of wandering zombies.

Conveniently, a small convenience store stood before me. Peering through its display window, I saw only three zombies aimlessly shambling inside.

While my physical condition wasn’t optimal, three initial Level 0 zombies posed no real threat.

With my decision made, I pushed open the store’s glass door and quietly stepped inside.