He stopped right in front of her.
Then casually pressed the cold coffee can against her cheek.
"Chill."
She flinched at the cold touch.
"And look at yourself. Your infection isn't spreading anymore. It's even decreased a little."
She looked down.
Her breathing stopped for a second.
"It… it really decreased…"
Confusion filled her eyes.
"But how?"
Ren shrugged.
"All good now."
She nodded slowly.
"But… how?"
He looked away casually.
"I used my skill. It stopped your infection and suppressed it."
"Skill? What are you talking about?"
"You'll understand eventually."
She looked at him for a long second.
"…Thank you for saving me."
Ren waved it off.
"No big deal. It was an equivalent exchange for your help."
She blinked.
"Equivalent exchange?"
He paused.
Oh.
She really doesn't remember.
"You see…"
He scratched his cheek.
"What happened back then… it's not that important."
She narrowed her eyes.
"…Okay…"
Then she froze.
"…Wait."
She looked down at herself.
"Why are my clothes changed?"
Ren smiled casually.
"I changed them."
"…What?"
"Wha—whattttt?!"
She almost jumped.
"It was no big deal after what happened."
He stopped.
"…I mean."
Her face turned red.
"What happened? Answer me! I'm more curious now!"
Ren thought—
Oh shoot. My big mouth.
He laughed awkwardly, scratching his head.
"You see… long story short."
He took a breath.
"I killed a big zombie. Opened your locked room. You attacked me. I was almost dead. My skill activated. Things got… chaotic. You passed out. I used another skill. And now you're here."
She grabbed his collar.
"You call that no big deal?! I—I…"
Her voice trembled.
"I lost my first time to a boy I barely know!"
Ren placed one hand on her shoulder.
"Hey. It was my first time too. Fair trade."
Her face turned completely red.
Memory fragments flashed.
Heat.
Confusion.
Desperation.
She immediately looked away.
"I… I don't remember anything."
Ren tilted his head.
"Well, if you don't remember it, does it even count?"
She glared at him, flustered.
"I said I don't remember!"
Ren stared at her.
Why is she this red?
She lowered her gaze.
Better pretend I don't remember anything…
"Oh, right," Ren said suddenly. "What's your name?"
She blinked.
"You're asking that now? After all that?"
"Well, you weren't exactly in your senses back then."
She hesitated.
"…Lucia."
She swallowed.
"Lucia Aregenteno."
Ren nodded.
"Fits your figure."
"…Excuse me?"
"And I'm Ren. Ren Solis."
She stared at him.
"Out of everything, you compliment my figure?"
"What? It's hot."
She opened her mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
Ren suddenly turned.
"Anyway. Bye."
She froze.
"What?! You're leaving me alone?!"
He glanced back.
"What? You expect me to carry you?"
Before she could speak—
Ren's expression changed.
Cold.
Flat.
Expressionless.
"Let me make one thing clear."
His voice dropped.
"I'm not a good person. If someone is dying, I don't care. If someone tries to kill me, I'll kill them first. Human or zombie—it's all the same. If I decide to save someone, I will. If I decide to kill, I will. I don't care about this world. Not even a little."
Lucia felt a chill down her spine.
Why am I getting goosebumps…?
Then—
Ren smiled brightly again.
"So. After hearing that, if you still want to come with me, you're free to."
He turned away slightly.
Phew… that was cringy. Definitely cringy.
But at least everything's clear.
Lucia looked at his back.
This world isn't what it used to be.
It's ruthless.
Dangerous.
And what's even more dangerous… is this person.
She clenched her fists.
But if that's what it takes to survive…
She stood up.
"I'm going with you."
Ren froze.
What?
Even after that speech?
He let out a breath.
"Just don't be a burden."
Lucia nodded firmly.
"I won't."
And just like that—
The two of them stood in the middle of a ruined supermarket.
Ren led Lucia deeper into the mall.
Their footsteps echoed in the hollow corridor.
She looked at his back suspiciously.
"So… where are we going?"
Ren glanced over his shoulder with a light, almost playful smile.
"You'll see when we arrive."
They kept walking past broken stores and shattered glass displays.
After a short while, Ren stopped.
"Here we are."
He turned with that same casual smile.
Lucia stepped beside him—
—and froze.
Her eyes widened in shock.
Her hand slowly covered her mouth.
In front of her…
Around twelve zombies.
Their arms had been cut off.
Their legs severed.
They were nothing more than writhing torsos dragging themselves across the floor like discarded corpses.
GHHRR…
SKRRR…
GRRRAA—
They were still alive.
Because the only way to truly kill a zombie was to destroy its head —or damage it beyond recovery.
Lucia's voice trembled.
"What… did you do?"
Ren answered casually,
"Oh, about that."
"I found them gathered here earlier."
"So I cut off their arms and legs."
"I thought they might be useful later."
Useful.
He said it so normally.
She stared at him.
He cut them apart like it was nothing…
I know they're zombies…
But they were once human.
Ren pulled out his short sword and held it out toward her.
"Here."
She slowly took it.
The metal felt heavy in her hand.
"What is this for?" she asked, confusion filling her face.
Ren stepped closer.
He placed one hand firmly on her shoulder.
Then he leaned slightly forward, a cold smile forming on his lips.
"You already know."
He whispered near her ear.
"Just kill them."
Her body stiffened.
"In a shaky voice she asked, "Why? Can't you do it yourself?"
"I can't."
He straightened and gave her a small, almost encouraging smile.
"You have to."
He even gave her a thumbs-up, as if motivating a child.
She trembled.
"B-but… I can't…"
His expression changed instantly.
The playful look vanished.
His face turned cold.
Intimidating.
"Are you backing off?"
His eyes sharpened.
"After you said you would follow me?"
"Or were you expecting me to carry your weight for your survival?"
Her breathing grew uneven.
"If you want to survive in this rotten world," he continued in a chilling tone, "you'll have to make your hands dirty."
"And if needed…"
"Your whole soul too."
He stared straight into her eyes.
"So just do it."
"Or don't you want to survive?"
Fear gripped her chest.
He stepped closer again.
"Hey."
"Are you really not going to do it?"
"Because if you can't…"
His lips curved into a cold, unsettling smile.
"You won't survive."
"And if that's the case…"
"I'll kill you myself. Right now."
Silence.
He's really a maniac…
If I don't do anything, I'll die anyway.
Her hands trembled violently.
She forced herself to breathe.
There's no point thinking about right and wrong.
Maybe I made the wrong decision.
But I want to survive.
I want to live.
Even if it means staining my hands with blood.
She stepped forward.
A zombie dragged itself toward her.
GRAAA—
She swung the blade.
SHHK—
CRACK—
A head flew into the air.
THUD.
It rolled across the floor.
Dark blood spread across the tiles.
Lucia stood frozen.
Behind her—
A bright voice.
"Well done."
She turned slightly.
Ren was smiling cheerfully.
Like she had just completed a small task.
He's insane.
How does his expression change that fast?
"It's still slow," he added calmly.
"Let's speed it up."
Before she could react—
He grabbed her hand—the one holding the sword.
His grip was firm.
Guiding.
Controlling.
"Watch carefully."
SWOOSH—
CHHK—
THUD.
Again—
SHRAAK—
THUD.
Again—
SWOOSH—
CRACK—
THUD.
The rhythm accelerated.
SWOOSH—CUT—THUD.
SWOOSH—CUT—THUD.
SWOOSH—CUT—THUD.
Heads fell one after another.
Blood splattered across the floor.
Bodies twitched, then stilled.
Within moments—
All twelve zombies were decapitated.
Silence returned.
Ren released her hand.
Then gently patted her head.
"Well done."
She immediately stepped back.
"Hey. Don't do that."
He blinked in mild surprise.
"Why? You didn't like it?"
"It's not that."
She looked away slightly.
"You should do things like that… with someone you love."
Ren paused.
He nodded seriously.
Ren lowered his gaze slightly. "Yeah… after you forgot everything we did, I can't do that to you—you're right."
A faint blush spread across her cheeks as she quickly looked away.
"Y-Yeah… you're right. I don't remember anything," she said with an awkward, breathless laugh, avoiding his eyes.
He turned slightly, his expression dimming.
So that means there's no hope for me.
I'll probably die a virgin—
He paused internally.
Sorry.
Single.
He let a faint smile slip out as if it had been intentional.
Die, you damn virgin.
He almost laughed.
But suddenly—
A sharp sting hit his throat.
"Ah—"
He coughed.
"My throat… what the hell?"
I was just thinking that.
I didn't even say it out loud.
Lucia blinked.
"Hey… a screen popped up in front of me."
Ren's attention shifted instantly.
"What does it say?"
"It says I obtained a title and a gift box."
"Open it."
A faint glow flickered.
"Oh. I got a skill."
Ren's eyes narrowed.
"What skill?"
"Unique skill - Alpha Zombie Strength."
He froze.
"What's the description?"
She read slowly.
"All physical stats increase by 0.5 times."
"For every 100 zombies killed, physical stats increase by an additional 0.1 times."
"There is no upper limit."
"Additional perks unlock when the skill rank increases."
Ren's mouth slowly opened.
He was stunned.
What the fuck?
Now I am envious of her?
That skill suits me perfectly.
I kill more zombies than her.
With that scaling… I'd become unstoppable.
And what's my skill, fuck, really fuck others to get skill?
Lucia looked at him.
"So… what now?"
Ren crossed his arms, thinking.
We have plenty of supplies.
Storage still full.
Skills intact.
But still…
I really wanted to go there.
He suddenly snapped his fingers.
"I've got it."
Lucia raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
He said with a faint smirk, eyes glinting , "We're heading to the biggest pleasure district around here… to Black Lust City."
Her eyes widened in disbelief. "What?!!!!!"