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The apocalypse has already arrived. The smile of the Chairman in my head changed again. It was the smile of someone who had already achieved their goal.

“Chairman. What on earth are you…”

I quickly snapped out of my brief distraction. It was a bit late, but I needed to run away fast.

“Ahhh!”

People who saw the machete-wielding zombie’s blade swung were already screaming and running away. The zombies, stimulated by the screams, began to go wild.

A zombie eating chicken lunged at the security guards surrounding it, the machete zombie swung its blade wildly, and another zombie ripped off its suffocating mask and threw itself at the people around.

Even a few brave people resisting with baseball bats or golf clubs weren’t enough.

“Ugh!”

*Thwack!*

A full swing.

Whether it was someone who used to play baseball or not, they hit the fish zombie’s arm hard, but the sound of bones breaking was clear. The zombie staggered but still lunged forward and bit the person’s neck. Blood splattered.

All the zombies were busy attacking the people around.

‘They’re not interested in me.’

I could make a loud run for it. I immediately turned around and sprinted at full speed.

Just then, I saw Jeondohyeong on the way. He heard the commotion and looked around, spotting me. His eyes widened.

“When did you get here-”

“Let’s go quickly.”

He placed a few bags of cereal he was holding onto a cart piled high with stuff.

I panted as I quickly scanned the cart.

He had picked out a variety of things in a short time. Or rather, it seemed like he just grabbed whatever he could. He just neatly stacked them using his camping skills.

Anyway, the resources we aimed for were gathered.

‘The apocalypse has already come. We can’t give up on resources.’

I grabbed the front corner of the cart and pushed forward. Jeondohyeong, with his thief-like instincts, quickly understood the situation and pushed the cart, matching my pace.

The screams behind us echoed faintly.

Jeondohyeong suddenly lowered his voice.

“Should we check out later? I think there are zombies back there.”

As I ran, I glanced back and saw something strange in his eyes. They were shaking with fear, terror, or tension.

Even with the guts to steal the country’s electricity, zombies are scary, huh?

“We don’t have time to check out. Let’s get out of here first.”

Nonsense. In an apocalypse situation, if there’s no time to scan each item, we can just take the whole cart and run.

“No. Let’s head straight for the exit.”

“Huh? No-”

*Screech-*

I roughly pulled the cart. People in front got bumped, the cart hit things, and annoyed glances were directed at us, but they widened their eyes when they saw what was behind me.

The sound of a crowd rushing and shouting.

“Zombies over there! Four of them! Evacuate quickly!”

Someone shouted from behind. I gritted my teeth.

‘Why are you telling them that!’

People who were browsing items around started running, abandoning their carts and baskets. The narrow aisles of the mart were clogged with people, carts, and scattered items.

Even the escalator in sight was chaotic. People trying to push through the blocked path, others startled and falling over.

How high is the chance of everything going wrong if we all run at once?

“Keep pushing the cart!”

“Ah, seriously! This doesn’t feel right!”

I shouted as I roughly pushed aside the obstructive cart.

I got bumped by someone passing me, hit by the cart, and almost tripped over items scattered on the floor.

Even in these bad conditions, I quickly rolled my eyes and calculated the route.

Straight ahead is no good. Someone fell over up ahead, creating a human obstacle. We can’t get through that.

“To the left!”

*Screech-*

The cart tilted as if it would topple. I pressed it down firmly and quickly turned the corner. It’s the fruit section. Someone stood in the middle of the aisle with their back turned, blocking the way.

*Crunch-*

The person leisurely moved their hand, and the sound of chewing an apple was heard.

I felt like my eyes were about to roll back.

There are zombies behind us. A crowd is coming. We need to escape quickly. But you’re blocking the way? Holding us back? This is like telling me to die. That person must be an honorary zombie. Not human.

“Ram into them!”

I pulled my arm as if throwing the cart at that person, and Jeondohyeong, using all his strength, sent the cart flying like a cannonball.

The roughly moving cart rammed into the honorary zombie eating an apple. *Bang*, the honorary zombie staggered and slowly turned around.

*Creak*, I stopped.

“Ah.”

It’s not an honorary zombie, but a real one. With bloodshot eyes, drooling, and apple remnants in its mouth, it looked at me. Its expression gradually twisted.

A prelude to an attack. The target is either me or Jeondohyeong.

With one hand, I gripped the hammer in my hood pocket, unsure if it would work, and with the other hand, I gestured slightly as if to say it was Jeondohyeong who hit you.

At the same time, I whispered low.

“Jeondohyeong, grab any weapon. Anything. Even the cart.”

No response came.

“Jeondohyeong?”

The zombie crouched. I used the stopped cart between the zombie and me as a wall and moved sideways, glancing briefly.

And then, I saw Jeondohyeong sneaking away. Our eyes met. Jeondohyeong screamed.

“Get lost, you criminal bastard! I never liked you from the start! The world is ending? You’re just a crazy person! You’re insane-”

A betrayal in an extreme situation. The thick bond of friendship between comrades was severed.

I was deeply hurt and immediately ran towards Jeondohyeong. Behind me, the sound of the zombie pushing the cart and roaring was heard.

“Uh, uh!”

Jeondohyeong turned with a pale face, but it was a bit late. If he wanted to run, he should have run right away.

*Thud!*

My hand grabbed the collar of Jeondohyeong’s shirt. I kicked his legs and pulled hard, making him fall backward. Jeondohyeong fell on his back.

“No! Save me-”

I took a few more steps and looked down at Jeondohyeong. Expressionlessly, I pulled out the hammer and held it tightly behind my shoulder.

As Jeondohyeong, with his upper body barely lifted, opened his mouth to scream, the zombie reached him.

“Graah!”

Like a beast, it opened its mouth and lunged, covering the crouched Jeondohyeong. The zombie’s hair brushed against Jeondohyeong’s neck as it got close.

I stepped forward and swung the hammer with all my might. The hammer drew a curve and struck the zombie’s head hard.

*Crunch!*

A heavy impact sound and the sensation of something crushing. The zombie lost consciousness and lay like trash.

I said to Jeondohyeong.

“What did I say?”

“Uh, that.”

Jeondohyeong, trembling, pushed the zombie away and looked at my hammer. His face turned pale, almost blue.

“You are a visionary, a very wise person.”

I shook my head.

Such praise should be for the Chairman of Immortal Company. I wasn’t discerning enough to tell an honorary zombie from a real one.

I extended the hammer. Take this and get up. I didn’t want to touch him with my bare hands since he just had contact with a zombie.

Jeondohyeong, sensing the situation, grabbed the hammer and stood up. I said.

“I saved you twice. I saved you from dying by a zombie, and I forgave you for betraying me.”

“No, that’s, ah, right.”

“There won’t be a next time.”

There’s nothing heavier in the world than the debt of saving a life. Jeondohyeong owed me twice, so even if he betrays me again, he’ll have to think deeper before doing so.

Even if another emergency like this happens.

Jeondohyeong, looking dazed, pulled the cart, and I armed his complacent mind.

“Repeat after me. The world is ending. What?”

“The world is ending.”

“The world is.”

“Ending!”

Jeondohyeong closed his eyes tightly and shouted loudly.

***

While I bravely fought off the zombie, it seemed everyone else had run away. The mart was quiet. No more zombies were seen.

Well, it’s like the first wave, so there wouldn’t be many. They’ll probably increase over time.

We quickly headed to the exit, stuffing whatever items we saw into the cart.

And then, we just walked out the entrance.

*Beep-*

The anti-theft gate loudly announced the presence of thieves, but there were no security guards to stop us. The cashiers huddled far away, but seeing the hammer that had struck the zombie, they backed off even further.

“…Are we really leaving like this?”

“Let’s take the elevator.”

We wiped our hands and the hammer with the alcohol disinfectant at the entrance, and Jeondohyeong disinfected the parts the zombie had touched before we got into the elevator.

We got on at the first floor and pressed the button for the 7th-floor parking lot.

The narrow space as the doors closed. I checked my mask.

‘I hope I’m not infected.’

Wearing a mask and disinfecting hands seemed fine, but I felt uneasy.

*Ding!*

The elevator stopped around then. It was the 2nd floor. A person glanced at the hammer and got in. It wasn’t just once. The elevator stopped at each floor, picking up people.

The narrow space was filled with people, leaving little room. Silence continued in the elevator.

“…”

“…”

I felt uneasy. Cold sweat broke out. I wiped my forehead with my collar. My heart pounded.

What if there’s an infected person among them? What if they suddenly turn into a zombie? Then. *Squeeze*, my hand gripping the hammer tightened.

The short moment of going up to the 7th floor felt like it stretched on.

Fortunately, no one turned by the time we reached the 7th floor. *Ding*, as soon as the doors opened, I let out a deep breath. My mental and physical strength felt completely drained.

I said weakly.

“Let’s take the cart with us.”

“The cart too? Ah. It could be useful.”

Jeondohyeong nodded as if he understood.

The cart could be useful for moving luggage, pushing heavy loads downhill to hit zombies or people, or even as a barricade.

After somehow fitting the cart into the camping car, we got into the driver’s and passenger seats.

As Jeondohyeong started the engine, I suddenly looked at him.

‘…Is he not infected either?’

I couldn’t trust people. Beyond relationships or whatever, there was a fundamental distrust. It was an apocalypse where people couldn’t trust each other.

‘If this is the apocalypse, I’ll have to adapt. That’s how I’ll survive.’

I leaned back deeply into the passenger seat.

The camping car smoothly left the parking lot and drove through the city. Police cars and ambulances wailed their sirens. Occasionally, zombies ran across the road. Some lay wounded, others covered in blood.

I watched all these scenes through the window.

***

Day 6 of the zombie outbreak.

The apocalypse had already arrived, and the world was dyed with blood and distrust. It’s a world ripe for pillaging.

 

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