It was completely unexpected.
Of course, the voice itself could have led to such thoughts, but before the zombie incident, I had experienced a sense of dissonance while watching VTuber streams alone and taking the red pill.
Ah, one can never judge a woman solely by her voice.
Thus, I had no expectations whatsoever.
"Ugh, uncle…. I'm so sorry. Please don't go…. I've really reflected on my actions…"
Though she looked haggard from not eating well, her skin was pale, and her features were delicate and cute.
And above all,
━Soft.
Her size was quite substantial.
Currently hanging at my waist, I couldn't accurately measure her body, but it was certainly not small.
Oh dear, if I'm not careful, it might get out of hand.
"Ah, ah…! I'm sorry! I accidentally left it in the hallway…! Uh, please come in quickly!"
Yoo Ha-yeon, who had been clinging to me in tears, seemed to recall something upon seeing me remain silent and urgently pulled me into the room.
She must have remembered something I said earlier.
'Hmm, she's been trained quite well.'
Though unspoken, she guided me into her room herself.
Opening the door was easy; I thought it would take several requests to enter.
It seemed she had learned a lot during my absence.
After all, she must have regretted her past actions.
That was my intention all along.
'Oh, this is a female college student's room….'
The room was quite simple.
Overall, it had a white tone filled with cute items that a girl would like.
Since the zombie incident occurred, it hadn't become too messy; only some trash was piled in one corner.
'Anyway, from now on is what matters.'
I stopped surveying the room and sat down in a suitable spot.
Yoo Ha-yeon, looking anxious, carefully sat down in front of me.
"Um, um… uncle…. Or should I say… oppa?"
She seemed to be reconsidering how to address me upon realizing that I looked younger than she expected after seeing my face.
"No, just call me whatever you used to."
There's only about a four-year age difference anyway.
But somehow, being called "uncle" by such a pretty girl felt oddly sinful.
Of course, we hadn't done anything yet.
"Um… were you not tired coming here?"
Declining the title led her to offer a casual greeting this time.
She likely felt her lack of consideration while I was away and wanted to make amends.
Perhaps she wanted to demonstrate that she had changed.
I think she meant: "Now that I respect you, please don't abandon me."
'Certainly her attitude toward me has changed since last time.'
But simply letting me into her room wasn't enough for satisfaction.
There's still more to be done.
What I need isn't a companion who desires me but rather a slave who obeys me.
"Ah…! Uncle…! That wound on your shoulder…!"
Seeing that I didn't respond, Yoo Ha-yeon pointed at my shoulder with her finger.
'Ah, this….'
My shoulder is currently wrapped in bandages.
Of course, it's from the bite I received from a robe zombie at the department store earlier.
It's just immunity; the wound hasn't healed yet, so I did some basic first aid.
And blood from the wound had stained the bandage.
'Perfect timing.'
I found an appropriate topic to appeal to her feelings.
"In fact… there was a dangerous situation while gathering food. Ah, of course, it wasn't with zombies so don't worry."
"Th-that's…"
Upon hearing my answer, Yoo Ha-yeon turned pale and looked shocked.
"Ah,… ugh! I-I'm sorry! I didn't know…"
She bowed her head with tears welling in her eyes.
She probably wanted to say next: "I didn't know and just comfortably accepted food."
Yoo Ha-yeon looked at me cautiously as if she were guilty of some crime.
Her eyes were trembling.
By now, guilt towards me must have firmly settled in her heart.
She would think she owed me a great debt.
'Good timing.'
Humans are social creatures that grow in groups.
When they feel indebted to someone else, they tend to want to repay that debt.
Of course, there are sometimes psychopaths among them.
Yoo Ha-yeon is fearful and doesn't want to lose me; thus she would want to repay that debt.
'Shall we start slowly?'
I began taking food out of the bag I brought with me.
"Uncle… this is…"
Yoo Ha-yeon looked at the food anxiously.
"In fact, I came here because I was worried about you on my way to the base we talked about."
"Are you going to that base?"
"Yes, as I mentioned before; there's nowhere for me to stay."
At my answer, Yoo Ha-yeon's pupils shook violently as her shoulders trembled.
I'm going to the base means that I'm completely leaving this place behind.
From her perspective, she thought she had barely survived but now faced her last chance.
Thus she desperately grabbed my hand.
"Ah, uncle…! How about staying here instead?"
"…Here?"
Hmm, I thought she would ask me to take her with me.
But then again, it wouldn't be easy for someone who couldn't even come out due to hunger caused by zombies to decide on leaving this place.
"It must be hard for you alone too… right? So let's join forces together…! I-I'll take care of your wounds and do all sorts of things…!"
She forced a smile despite looking anxious.
Surely that beautiful smile has worked wonders for her throughout life until now.
Perhaps instinctively knowing this made it difficult for her not to smile prettily as if refusing wasn't an option.
Of course, any ordinary survivor would have accepted her proposal right now.
Even if they didn't accept it outright; they would suggest going together instead.
But since my goal isn't that,
I decided to bounce back once more.
"…I'm sorry. Ha-yeon."
"...Huh?"
I released her hand that was holding onto mine tightly.
Then turned my head away from her eyes and explained the situation I had thought up beforehand.
"In fact, I was almost killed after being betrayed by my previous group."
This is indeed an excuse mixed with plausible details from actual experiences.
"So I prefer to stay alone as much as possible."
When I glanced at her face again, despair was written all over it due to my unexpected attitude.
"Ah, no…! Uncle, I promise I won't betray you! Really! Ugh, please believe me…!"
With my firm stance now causing distress for her; she could no longer smile and clung desperately onto my clothing as if fearing for her life now depended on it.
"I-I'll do anything you ask…! I really will do everything! Ugh! Please don't abandon me…!"
Now completely bowing her head again with tears streaming down her face wetting the floor beneath us,
'Oh wow... She said anything.'
This was precisely the response I wanted from her.
Of course; it could be words spoken in haste just for survival right now—
After feeling full and warm later on; she might change her mind about everything too…
But how exactly I'd choose to educate or train her on those matters will depend on future circumstances…
For now though—this was enough for what I'd planned ahead of time!
Still; rejecting once more would be necessary before proceeding further into anything else…
"I'm really sorry…"
Feigning genuine remorseful tones; pushing back against those pleading hands gripping onto mine once again…
Her tear-streaked face looked at me in despair—did she see some kind of future reflected within my unwavering refusal?
Trembling slightly—she grabbed hold tightly onto my collar once more…
"Uncle…. Wh-why? I can really do anything…. Why can't it be okay!"
Now raising voices filled with protest—seeming incomprehensible towards why despite all desperate pleas—I still wouldn't accept any offer made by herself!
'Good.'
I had reached desired states indeed!
Claiming she'd do 'anything' but still being rejected outright—yet what if such stubbornness showed even slight cracks?
Then they'd truly do 'anything' possible just trying slip through those cracks…
Their very lives depended on such matters after all!
"In fact…"
Sensing right moment had finally arrived—I began speaking softly once more…
"The reason why cannot be together—Ha-yeon—isn't solely because worries about betrayal exist…"
"Huh? Then what is it…?"
Upon hearing there existed another reason—Yoo Ha-yeon looked at me with earnest expressions now forming across features!
Gently holding shoulders while looking directly into eyes seriously—I spoke clearly:
"If beautiful person like you stands next side by side…I might develop bad thoughts."
"...Huh?"
For brief moments—she seemed unable comprehend meaning behind words spoken—staring blankly back at myself…
Then realizing implications behind statements made earlier—her face flushed bright red!
"That means…"
"Yes—it's embarrassing for myself too since I'm man…but it's been building up quite awhile now—if just two us remain within such situations…"
Not finishing sentence entirely—I simply closed eyes tightly turning head away—as if nothing could really be done about circumstances surrounding us both…
"Uh um…"
When casually glancing back towards Yoo Ha-yeon again—I noticed how flushed embarrassment painted across cheeks!
Slowly gaze drifted downward—perhaps looking lower body area instead?
Saw swallow hard movement occur within throat area…
"Anyway; because possibility exists making such mistakes—it'd probably best we simply accept some food while surviving separately…"
Of course saying something like this during current situation seemed rather absurd!
Who'd scoff at notion of not being able stay together due fears assaulting woman during zombie apocalypse?
In life-or-death scenarios—who cares about trivial matters? They'd say stick together & endure hardships together instead!
But Yoo Ha-yeon wasn't positioned question such things right now either way—
To hear such trivial reasoning behind inability join company must've felt frustrating indeed!
"...Okay."
"…Huh?"
Suddenly heard small voice escape lips unexpectedly!
And then—
━Tightening grip around fabric near arm area!
"I-I can... h-haha... do it."
Her face reddened with embarrassment yet filled desperation too—
Eyes held strange mix longing not die while determined refuse give up easily either way…
Seeing reaction unfold as expected made urge laugh uncontrollably arise within myself—
Yet despite urge—I managed suppress laughter while faint smile appeared across features nonetheless!
"Ha-yeon; what do mean by 'you can'?"
Surely couldn't possibly mean something nonsensical right?
But important nonetheless—
For express what desired own words rather than mine held significant weight altogether!
"...S."
"S? What does that even mean?"
"...Sex."
With great difficulty & embarrassment—finally spoke up as if made up mind regarding matter discussed earlier!
"I-I'm okay having sex with you."
At answer given—I smiled broadly without hesitation whatsoever!
But wait—she's okay with it?
That didn't sit well within mind either way...
To say it's okay implies granting permission regarding what soon become slave ultimately—
This needed established right from start indeed!
Shaking head while smiling gently—I spoke clearly once more:
"I'm sorry Ha-yeon—you don't need push yourself!"
"N-no...!! It's not pushing myself! Really! I'm fine! Can do this!"
As pulling back slightly—she came closer clinging desperately onto myself vowing never let go either way...
"Please don't do this—Ha-yeon! Just because I want something doesn't mean you should allow it!"
"I-I'm really fine! Ugh! Please believe me!"
Unable hold back embarrassment any longer tears began streaming down face again uncontrollably—
In response raised hand gently wipe away tears softly patting head reassuringly too...
"Then can answer me?"
"...Huh?"
Tear-filled trembling eyes looked towards myself again expectantly—
Seeing embarrassed nature suggests perhaps first experience regarding matter discussed beforehand too—
On one hand embarrassed while other hand excited asking something crude like this from myself—
Breathing becoming ragged noticeably too...
"If not something I'm forcing upon—but rather truly desired by yourself…"
And then smiled again warmly towards direction facing—
"Might consider possibility too…"
Realizing implications behind words spoken made Yoo Ha-yeon tremble slightly before lowering head momentarily once more...
Was pondering or trying think next words say perhaps?
However time spent head down wasn't long before lifted gaze met mine again—
Eyes staring intently as if entranced by something unseen altogether…
"Please have sex with me."