While Jin Seo-yoon was in the mansion drinking Yoo Hye-jeong’s breast milk,
outside the mansion, along the walls lined with tents and deep in the distant forest, raised voices began to echo.
“Damn it, how long do we have to put up with this treatment!”
Someone shouted in rage.
“Exactly! The men need to band together and do something!”
“Do what? Fight the guy with guns? He’s got soldiers and young guys backing him!”
“And you saw it yourself. That freak’s sword emits something weird, slicing zombies like they’re nothing… he’s not human.”
“So we just live like slaves forever?”
“Ha… then you go deal with him, lady. Or, hell, spread your legs and try seducing him.”
“Hey, you done talking?!”
-Thud!
Insults and shouts flew, and a fight broke out.
“Stop it! They’ll hear us, you idiots!”
Someone tried to intervene, but the tangled crowd was beyond control.
Over a hundred survivors were crammed into the tight space. Pent-up frustration and fear erupted all at once.
“If we band together now…!”
“Band together for what? Throw water at him? Get real!”
“Seriously… how long do we have to cower under that guy…”
The atmosphere grew increasingly volatile. People grabbed and shoved each other, shouts escalating beyond control.
Then, a man who had joined a few days ago stepped forward. He clapped his hands twice, drawing everyone’s attention.
-Clap, clap.
“Alright, everyone. What do we gain by fighting among ourselves?”
He adjusted his glasses with a smile.
“What’s important right now isn’t emotions lunettes, but survival, isn’t it?”
“…Safety.”
Someone answered, and he nodded, continuing,
“Exactly. Safety. Without it, we’re just meat on the streets.”
His words briefly silenced the crowd.
Seizing the moment, the man stepped forward with a smile.
“To change this situation, we need power. Power to overthrow that tyrant, Jin Seo-yoon.”
“You think we don’t know that?”
“If you’re gonna say that, go fight him yourself.”
A few men bristled, but he shook his head slowly, a dark smile spreading.
“I’m not saying we charge in blindly.”
“…?”
“Some people inside the walls are already listening to me. We quietly recruit them, form a team.”
He met the eyes of those around him and continued,
“There are guns out there. Ammo too, in police stations and military bases. If we secure those—”
“If it was that easy, we’d have done it already!”
Someone shouted, but another muttered quietly,
“…If we had guns, it might be possible. He’s still human, right?”
With that, eyes began to focus on the man.
He spoke with confidence,
“What we need isn’t recklessness, but a prepared plan. And I… have a plan.”
Some faces shifted subtly.
Hesitation.
Fear.
And… greed.
The man slowly curled his lips into a smile.
“I’m going to quietly gather people. Will you join me and prepare?”
***
Starting from Gangnam, Seoul, I began swiftly sweeping through crowded areas alone.
Subway stations, large shopping malls, busy streets, schools, hospitals, military bases. This wasn’t just a search—it was to confirm how closely this world matched the original story I knew.
At the same time, the real purpose of my exploration was singular.
The Zombie King.
Finding out where he was hiding—or if he had even been born yet.
But after days of searching, all I found were a few survivors and low-level zombies still roaming the streets.
“Not in Seoul, huh?”
If so, I’d have to scour the provinces one by one.
“That’s too much hassle.”
I had a mountain of women to impregnate.
“Wasting time on one guy is too much.”
Instead of searching myself, I’d select capable men and train them into a force. I’d need combat personnel for an all-out war with the Zombie King anyway.
I returned to the mansion and gathered all the survivors.
“Starting today, we’re selecting combat personnel.”
My firm words made some men’s eyes waver. Some were excited, others already terrified.
“The criteria are simple. Intact limbs and willpower are all you need.”
One man cautiously raised his hand.
“What kind of treatment do combat personnel get?”
I grinned.
“The same treatment as the current fighters. And I’ll assign you women.”
A murmur ran through the men, many of their eyes changing at the mention of women.
“But if you desert during training, you’ll be executed on the spot.”
The atmosphere turned cold instantly.
I silently pulled a sword from my inventory.
“And those selected will gain this kind of power.”
I slowly raised the sword.
-Swish!
A blue aura shimmered along the blade as I swung it lightly.
“My God…”
Some, already familiar, were unfazed, but first-timers gasped in a mix of awe and fear.
Yet, their eyes soon changed. Beyond the fear lay greed and desire. In this ruined world, “power” meant authority and survival.
“Sure, it’s a flawed martial art, but it’ll make you strong fast.”
A forbidden technique from the Demonic Cult, acquired while fucking Wi Dan-wol in the world of *Taoist Yin-Yang Steps*. It ate away at your lifespan for rapid growth, but in a zombie apocalypse where death could come any day, it was perfect for these guys.
“This is called Blood Demon Art. I’ll show you its power directly.”
I slowly raised my palm.
-Whoosh…!
A red aura swirled above my palm, the air trembling with pressure. The entire mansion fell silent, people holding their breath.
My version was the flawless original, free of side effects.
I quietly clenched my fist.
-Boom!!
An explosion rang out as the red aura surged like a wave, tearing up the ground and leaving only red smoke.
“…!”
“Want it?”
“Yes!!!”
They shouted in unison, desperate and fervent.
“But not everyone can learn it.”
“Then… how do we get it?”
A man asked urgently. I paused for effect, then slowly scanned the men and women gathered.
“Simple. Pass the selection test.”
“Test…?”
I grinned silently.
That smile made the crowd shudder instinctively, unsure of what crazy thing I’d do next.
“Fail the test, no problem. Bring me a beautiful woman, and you can learn it.”
“A beautiful woman…?”
“Bring women from outside. The prettier, the better.”
A small murmur spread.
“But if I really like the woman, I’ll grant an elixir.”
“An elixir… what exactly is that!?”
Another man shouted.
“Simply put, it’s an enhancer that multiplies your strength and vastly improves your physical abilities.”
“That kind of thing… really exists?”
“It does.”
I pulled an elixir from my inventory. It was made by diluting *Gongcheongseokyu* from *Taoist Yin-Yang Steps* to one-tenth strength.
I planned to use cheap ones, but they’d take too long to make someone strong. I wanted useful guys now, so I chose *Gongcheongseokyu*.
“It’s a waste on these losers, but I have plenty of *Gongcheongseokyu*.”
I put the elixir back in my inventory and said,
“One of these makes an ordinary human as strong as an Olympic athlete. Add martial arts, and?”
They understood without me finishing. They’d become superhuman.
“The rules are simple. Bring me a woman. If I like her, you get coins. Save up coins, and you can buy an elixir. And the one who brings the most beautiful woman gets an elixir for free.”
Chae Yi-ryeong frowned.
“That’s… no different from human trafficking.”
“So?”
I looked at her coldly.
“Is this a peaceful era? Is there law? Police?”
“……”
“If you want to survive, get strong. To get strong, pay the price. Don’t like it? Go fight zombies.”
Chae Yi-ryeong shut her mouth.
“One hour from now, the combat personnel selection begins.”
I scanned the crowd.
“The rules are simple. Bare-knuckle fighting. The last ten standing are the first picks.”
“Bare-knuckle fighting…”
“Yes. Only the winners get picked.”
Someone raised their hand.
“Can women participate?”
It was Chae Yi-ryeong.
“Of course. No gender restrictions.”
“That’s unfair! How can a woman beat a man!”
A woman protested.
“Unfair? Bullshit.”
“……”
I laughed coldly.
“When a zombie attacks, does it go easy because you’re a woman? If you’re weak, you die.”
The protesting woman fell silent.
“Fine, if it’s so unfair, women get a chance. Weapons are allowed. Sticks, rocks, whatever.”
“Really?”
“Yes. But men fight bare-handed. Fair enough?”
Some women’s eyes changed.
“One hour from now, gather in the yard.”
The crowd dispersed, murmuring, preparing themselves.
Chae Yi-ryeong stayed behind and quietly asked,
“Why use such a barbaric method? With your power, you could—”
I cut her off.
“Barbaric? Is this a civilized era? In a world where zombies run rampant, distinguishing between barbarism and civilization is a luxury.”
“But…”
She bit her lip.
“To survive, we need strong people. The selection is the most primitive but reliable way to find them.”
I turned and added,
“Oh, and you’d better participate. Set an example for your subordinates.”
“I was going to, whether you said so or not.”