"Then I will select the personnel who will accompany us on the exploration tomorrow."
Around lunchtime, the group of civilians gathered in the second-floor lobby of the dormitory, listening to Private Yoo Jae-wook's voice.
Among them, I was trembling with my pale face downcast, staring at the floor.
**Exploration Team.**
This refers to a team that literally leaves the dormitory to explore the surrounding area.
Usually, a few soldiers and several civilians are chosen to go out for exploration.
However, this time, the exploration was different from usual.
It had been discovered that some civilians were planning a rebellion due to Chae Soo-ah's betrayal.
She was spreading her legs for Captain Kang Hae-seok.
By doing so, she secured the safest position in this group.
There's no way she wouldn't have mentioned her plan to kill Captain Kang and his soldiers.
In other words, the civilians being selected for this exploration team meant they were going out to die.
"Um, excuse me… I have a suggestion."
At that moment, our leader, Professor Lee Sang-woon, raised his hand while planning the rebellion.
"Yes, what is it?"
"Is it alright if we select the civilians ourselves today?"
"Hmm… that's fine. But please choose carefully. Only one person can be selected."
One person.
Certainly fewer than usual for an exploration team.
This meant they would be killed as an example.
I raised my head to look at Professor Lee Sang-woon.
'Surely… surely he has something in mind.'
After all, he is a doctor. The person with the highest education and knowledge among us.
There must be a way to resolve this issue.
I had no choice but to believe that.
Afterward, we gathered around Professor Lee Sang-woon and began selecting the exploration team.
"How about we choose by voting?"
"Voting? What about the usual drawing lots?"
Ryu Da-hee tilted her head in confusion at Professor Lee Sang-woon's suggestion.
The usual exploration teams go out into areas swarming with zombies, which makes it a dangerous situation.
Therefore, civilians mostly drew lots created by soldiers or chose someone with good physical strength to go out.
However, Professor Lee Sang-woon proposed voting this time.
'Yeah…! He must be trying to avoid picking useless people and escape punishment this way.'
For example, choosing someone like Shin Joo-ha or another non-rebel through voting.
Then the rebels could survive and wait for another opportunity.
I forced myself to think positively like that.
But I knew the truth.
One of those participating in the rebellion had to die without exception.
That trash Shin Joo-ha?
There's no way soldiers would send someone like him who sucks up to them out on an exploration team.
Especially since they were now determined to select a rebel for execution during this exploration.
If anyone other than a rebel was chosen, the soldiers would refuse it outright.
And they would likely pick one of us themselves arbitrarily.
I understood all of this completely.
So perhaps…
This outcome was inevitable.
"...Huh?"
"Then Seo-ho Lee… be careful out there."
After unfolding all the ballots, the result revealed that I would be executed as an example of rebellion.
"Wait! Is it right for Seo-ho to go out when he already has so much work to do?"
"I also think that's not right…"
Seeing the voting results, Ryu Da-hee and Han Mo-ah spoke up one after another.
But the others lowered their heads and ignored their words.
"Don't worry too much. The soldiers are nearby; it won't be that dangerous."
Professor Lee Sang-woon explained to Ryu Da-hee and Han Mo-ah, who were protesting against this decision.
Unaware of the underlying situation of rebellion, Ryu Da-hee and Han Mo-ah fell silent at his words.
They had been chosen by majority vote and had nothing more to say about safety assurances.
Moreover, he was Dr. Lee Sang-woon.
His statements carried a strange persuasive power due to his background as a doctor.
"But isn't this too much…?"
Ryu Da-hee looked at me with discontented eyes.
And I watched all of this with my pale face blankly as I gazed at Professor Lee Sang-woon and other rebels who had joined him quietly.
I also noticed Cha Soo-ah silently observing those who knew I would die.
'You fucking bastards.'
They all plotted a rebellion for our group but turned their backs when it was discovered.
Even those who planned this rebellion alongside me discarded me like an expendable tool.
Knowing full well that this exploration was a path to execution.
"Hey… just be careful out there."
Ryu Da-hee, oblivious to everything, patted my shoulder and spoke in concern.
But I couldn't respond due to shock as I stared blankly into space.
There's no way to escape now.
Going out would mean facing hordes of zombies.
If I protested and refused to go, they would likely shoot me on the spot.
Even if I asked for a change now, no one would accommodate me.
I had been sentenced to death.
---
"Hey, follow along properly."
The exploration team consisted of five members including me: Corporal Park Seong-ho, Private Choi Hee-jae, Private Joo Tae-eun, and Private Yoo Jae-wook.
And there was me—like a cow being led to slaughter.
"By the way, did you hear? That department store we found not long ago? The one with zombies wearing cloaks."
"I know you idiot; we're heading there now."
"Oh, are we giving it to them?"
After leaving the dormitory and taking a safe route out of campus, they began discussing their plans freely.
In summary: how they were going to kill me.
"Hey! Why are you scheming like an idiot?"
*Thud.*
A hand flew into my head from behind.
"Why? Do you want to live? If you want to live so badly, try running away then! Heh! It's full of zombies anyway."
They mocked me as they dragged me along.
'We're heading toward some department store.'
'It's full of zombies so there should be plenty of food inside.'
'Try living well in there…'
…such conversations continued on.
While listening to all of this, only one thought occupied my mind:
'I need to escape…! I need to escape…!'
I tried thinking of ways to survive but couldn't come up with anything at all.
They told me:
If I tried running away they would shoot my legs and let me die painfully as zombie food.
They dared me to try running away if I was confident enough.
Trembling from their threats, I ended up walking along as they led me until we finally arrived at our destination—the department store.
"Damn! It's huge."
"If only there weren't zombies inside; we wouldn't have any worries about food."
"Heh! If we take food from there maybe Soo-ah will share some with me."
Corporal Park Seong-ho put his hand on my shoulder while talking nonsense as he saw me trembling in fear.
"Hey idiot! By the way aren't you classmates with Chae Soo-ah? Did you ever like her?"
"Haha! That's pretty pathetic then; dying after being backstabbed by someone you like."
"How tight do you think her ass is that our company commander only looks for her? Huh? Hey Seo-ho Lee! Isn't that right?"
He slapped my cheek playfully with his hand resting on my shoulder.
"Oh man! If it were me I'd at least ask her for one last favor before dying."
"Hey Sergeant Park! No way she'd ever give anything to someone like you."
Private Choi Hee-jae chimed in as others laughed along with him.
As I listened to all their taunts boiling my blood in anger but unable to express it outwardly—
the thought that I might die soon only chilled my head further down.
"In any case, if you die just watch from above; if our company commander gets bored we'll feast on Soo-ah."
"If you can watch from above then try having fun up there!" *Heh heh.*
Hearing such insulting remarks as they moved along safely down familiar paths filled with zombies—
they reached our destination—the department store without encountering any zombies along the way despite having done this several times before themselves.
The exterior wall of the department store had been breached by a bus crashing into it—creating an opening through which we approached—
and below that hole was an entrance leading down into what looked like a restroom on the basement level of the department store.
"This… is where you're going…"
Corporal Park Seong-ho pointed his gun toward the hole leading downwards.
"If you go in there it'll lead you down one floor—to the grocery section—go inside and assess your situation; grab some canned goods then come back through here."
"What do you mean come back?"
"If you bring back food from inside then our company commander will save your life; ha ha! Our company commander has a big heart."
I thought they'd throw me straight into zombie food but instead—they were testing whether there was an entry route into this department store through me first—
if I died it would be good for disposing of rebels; if I returned alive then they'd gain massive amounts of food supplies instead—
it was a win-win situation for them either way!
"Really… really will you save me?"
"This bastard has lived deceived all his life; yeah if you bring back food I'll ask our company commander if you can have one night with Soo-ah."
"Damn! If it were me I'd rush in there and grab tons of spam!"
They mocked each other while laughing at my expense—
but amidst all these humiliations—I focused solely on one thought:
'I can survive…!'
A small faint glimmer of hope appeared before me—
compared to certain death ahead—it was far too sweet an offer for me not to take it up!
I gazed at the restroom below through that hole—
it appeared safe enough at first glance—
as I cautiously approached and leaned down peeking inside—
"Get in quickly idiot!"
*Thud.*
"Wahhh!!"
Someone kicked my back from behind sending me tumbling into the pit below!
"Wait! Wait just a moment! You didn't even let me say yes!"
"What does it matter whether you agree or not? You're going anyway; get in quickly—we're leaving now!"
With those words—the shadows above began disappearing from view slowly—
"Wait!!"
It was too high up for me just climb back out so while searching around for something stable enough beneath my feet—
*Graaah…* *Ahhh...*
From behind came familiar sounds echoing within darkness—a voice that made chills run down my spine:
"Hiiik!"
Turning around—I saw zombies standing there—a grotesque figure wearing strange robes with its hood pulled over its head looming ominously before me—
"Hey!! You bastards!! There are zombies inside!! You fucking bastards!!"
Terrified—I cried out desperately through tears and snot streaming down my face toward where those bastards had disappeared above—
"I don't want to die here—I want to live!"
"I can't die like this!"
"My life can't end here!"
*GRAAAAHHHH!*
"You bastard!!"
Hearing my screams—the zombie lunged towards me grabbing hold of my arm—
"Hiiik!!"
I turned my body instinctively trying desperately trying shake free—but before I could stop it—
*Crack.*
"Aaaahhh!!!"
It sunk its teeth deep into my neck—
*Ugh!* *Ugh!*
"It hurts!! It hurts!! Please save me!! I'm sorry!! I won't do anything weird anymore!! I'll listen well from now on!! Please!! Please save me!!!"
Screaming while blood poured from my neck as tears streamed down my face—I cried out into empty space—but received no response whatsoever from anyone around—
Thud...
*Ugh!* *Ugh!*
"Kuh... kuh…"
Ultimately—I fell onto ground pushed over by zombie gripping tightly onto my waist while biting into flesh beneath its teeth—as if devouring prey like an animal—I gazed upward toward restroom ceiling slowly sinking deeper into abyss of death—
the burning pain radiating from shoulder felt unbearable alongside unpleasant sensations coursing through body—
as visions blurred by agony replayed memories filled with regret swirling around within consciousness:
"If only I'd raided food storage beforehand until full before dying…"
What if I'd gotten shot instead?
Even while dying hunger gnawed at insides relentlessly reminding me how famished I felt—
and thoughts drifted back toward what those soldier lackeys had said earlier:
"Oh man! If it were me I'd ask her for one last favor before dying!"
Those worthless bastards' nonsense echoed within brain as moment approached death's door—they'd spoken truly when saying things like this could happen:
Chae Soo-ah—the same girl who spread her legs before Captain while stabbing others' backs—that bitch who betrayed us all...
If I'd known I'd die like this—I should've stormed into dormitory early morning before leaving—and filled her womb with seed only getting shot afterward instead...
I hadn't even gotten sympathy yet...
"Shit... damn..."
And finally—even setting aside everything else—that dog-like soldier who treated me like slave all along...
and survivors who turned their backs while using each other selfishly too...
lastly Chae Soo-ah once again spreading her legs while betraying everyone else...
'Fuck... fuckers... They should all die.'
*Ugh!* *Ugh!*
Tears welled up spilling down trembling cheeks—not shedding tears due fear of death—but rather feelings of injustice...
rage... revenge...
All these emotions surged forth mixing together forming blood tears streaming down face cursing those responsible putting me here...
vowing somehow even after death—to take revenge upon them somehow...
as consciousness slowly faded away further beyond reach...
In dimming vision—a multitude faces filled with resentment flashed across mind just before slipping away into darkness...
Suddenly—a change occurred...
[ You have inherited a job: Necromancer ]
A translucent blue window appeared before eyes suddenly revealing itself—I muttered upon seeing unexpected message:
"…What kind of bullshit is this?"
---