I Became The Necromancer In The Post-Apocalyptic Zombie World

Chapter 60

—–CROW—– 

After clearing the toppled shelves, she opened the door and was met with the man’s easy smile.

A world gone mad, where people devoured each other.

He had a peaceful face, unlike someone who had struggled to survive in such a world.

Every survivor she had encountered, no matter how brightly they smiled, couldn’t hide the underlying exhaustion.

But this man, who introduced himself as Lee Seo-ho, greeted her with a serene smile, devoid of even a hint of fatigue.

“That was close.  Luckily, I was just passing by.”

“…Yes, really… thank you so much. You saved me.”

Perhaps because he was a man…

…Lee Seo-ho effortlessly dealt with the two zombies outside the door and helped Grace out of the storage room.

When they emerged, the traces of zombies and the signs of their struggle had vanished.

Even her clothes were perfectly in place.

‘What kind of magic did he use…?’

Despite her faith, the unbelievable situation could only be explained, in her mind, by magic.

Moreover…

‘A nice scent…’

A faint shampoo fragrance, something she hadn’t smelled in a long time.

As Lee Seo-ho approached, the familiar, nostalgic scent of shampoo wafted towards her, a scent from the peaceful world.

Come to think of it, not only was his face serene, but his attire was also immaculate.

His face was spotless, and his clothes were clean and crisp, as if he had just bought them from a store.

All of this felt out of place to her.

In this world where mere survival was a struggle…

…Lee Seo-ho standing before her looked as if he had just stepped out of the happy world they had lost, a mystical figure.

“…Are you… an angel?”

Perhaps because of this, Grace stared blankly at him and muttered unconsciously.

Lee Seo-ho looked back at her, bewildered.

It didn’t take long for her to realize her murmur had been nonsensical.

“Oh, n-no! I’m sorry!  I was just… a little shaken up from being trapped.”

“I understand.  You were confined, after all.”

He simply smiled gently and acted as if nothing had happened, despite her odd remark.

Touched by his consideration, and slightly embarrassed, Grace felt her heart flutter.

‘I shouldn’t feel this way…’

She had vowed to become God’s bride, yet she felt a girlish attraction towards this miraculous man who had saved her.

But it couldn’t be helped.

He had rescued her from the brink of death, appearing like a gift from God.

Moreover, he was handsome, clean, and kind.

‘It’s only natural for a woman…’

Even though she was a nun, she was still human.

As a woman, it was only natural to be drawn to an attractive man.

She simply had to suppress her instinctive attraction and adhere to the ascetic life she had vowed to God.

‘Come to think of it… do I smell?’

Next to the immaculate Lee Seo-ho, she became self-conscious about her appearance and scent.

She maintained basic hygiene using river water, but she still might smell unpleasant to Lee Seo-ho, who smelled of shampoo.

She glanced at him worriedly, but his expression was gentle.

She wondered how he could maintain such a peaceful expression in this world.

And then, belying his gentle appearance, he skillfully started a fire.

He created a makeshift brazier using a large can to prevent the fire from spreading inside the restaurant and lit it with a lighter from his bag.

A soft glow filled the dimly lit restaurant.

Watching him, she finally realized that he was also a survivor, navigating this ruined world.

After boiling water over the small fire, Lee Seo-ho handed Grace a warm cup of coffee and asked her the questions he had been curious about.

“Is Grace your baptismal name?  You’re a nun, right?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Are you staying nearby?”

“Yes, at the church I attended before the pandemic…”

Grace gently blew on the warm coffee he offered and took a small sip.

‘It’s warm… and sweet.’

The coffee was fragrant and sweet, perhaps with a touch of honey.

As the warm liquid flowed into her chilled body, her tense muscles relaxed, and she felt drowsy.

‘It’s been so long since I felt like this…’

She had been pushing herself to the limit, both physically and mentally, for the sake of the children, and she had almost forgotten what it felt like to have a moment of peace.

It was strange.

Although their situation hadn’t changed, a single cup of coffee he offered made her feel as if she had returned to the old days.

“With the children… that must have been very difficult.”

“No, it’s no different from what you and others are going through.”

“That’s not true. It’s hard enough to protect myself in this world, but taking care of children, especially five of them, is completely different.”

They shared stories about themselves while having a simple meal with the food Lee Seo-ho had provided.

And when he heard about her struggles to protect the children, Lee Seo-ho’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

She had simply done what she felt she had to do.

Grace felt as if she had been rewarded for her hardships.

As she sipped her coffee shyly, Lee Seo-ho, who had been silent for a moment, cautiously spoke.

“Um… if you don’t mind, Grace…”

His usual relaxed smile disappeared, replaced by a serious look in his eyes.

“Would you like to stay at the place where I’m living?”

“…Excuse me?”

An unexpected offer.

As he had said, taking in five children and a frail woman in this world where even individual survival was a struggle meant taking on a significant burden.

Therefore, Grace hadn’t expected such an offer from Lee Seo-ho.

She was already grateful that he had saved her and shared his food.

“A-Are you sure it’s alright?”

“Yes, we have plenty of food at our base.  Six more people won’t be a problem.”

“Really…?”

His words were miraculously sweet.

Overwhelmed by his gracious offer, Grace teared up.

“Sob, t-thank you…!  Thank you so much, Seo-ho…! You must be a blessing from God…!”

Lee Seo-ho, offering to help her without hesitation, seemed like an angel to her.

But Lee Seo-ho waved his hand dismissively, as if her words were burdensome.

“I’m not that great of a person. Of course, I’m not taking you in without expecting anything in return.”

He would provide food and shelter, but in exchange for something.

But Grace simply smiled brightly.

“Of course! That’s only natural!  I wouldn’t dream of accepting food for free!”

She could do cleaning, laundry, even manual labor.

Anything was fine.

Without Lee Seo-ho, her future was bleak.

Even though he had saved her, once they finished the canned food he had given her, she would have to risk her life searching for more.

A precarious tightrope walk where her death could mean the death of the children.

She was infinitely grateful to Lee Seo-ho for rescuing her from that tightrope.

She would gladly do anything he asked, no matter how difficult.

It would be less painful than watching the children starve.

。 。 。

“Sister―!”

“Sister―!”

Early morning, as the sun rose…

…Lee Seo-ho drove Grace and her children to the church where they had been staying.

As they entered the church, the children, who hadn’t slept due to their worry for Grace, rushed towards her, clinging to her.

They seemed more overjoyed that she was safe than about the food.

Watching them, Lee Seo-ho could sense how much Grace cherished the children.

“Shall we pack your belongings then?”

Lee Seo-ho approached Grace, who was wrapping up the emotional reunion, and said.

Only then did the children notice Lee Seo-ho.  They widened their tired eyes and asked Grace,

“Belongings…?”

“Sister, who is this mister?”

Grace then packed their meager belongings with the children and boarded Lee Seo-ho’s van.

The van drove smoothly, choosing only roads clear of zombies.

Grace found this quite amazing.

How could he navigate so flawlessly, avoiding zombies?

If she had this ability, finding food would be much easier.

Filled with renewed awe for Lee Seo-ho, she enjoyed the rare drive…

…until they arrived at the department store, where she was struck by a level of astonishment she had never experienced before.

Lee Seo-ho led Grace and the children into the department store through the fourth-floor parking lot.

He then took them down to the third floor, showed them his living space, and introduced his women.

Grace couldn’t hide her surprise at the bright lights and the large TV where they were playing games.

‘How is there electricity…?’

The power had gone out long ago after the zombie outbreak.

But Lee Seo-ho’s group members were using electricity freely, as if it were natural.

And the next thing that surprised her was…

“Ahjussi! Oh…? Are these the new people?”

“There are children too? Hyun-seo will be happy.”

“As expected of Seo-ho oppa… so kind.”

Beautiful women with immaculate appearances, just like Lee Seo-ho.

They were all exceptionally beautiful, beyond ordinary.

And like Lee Seo-ho, their faces showed no signs of worry or anxiety.

After being introduced to everyone by Lee Seo-ho…

“Would you like to take a shower first? I’ll prepare dinner while you do.”

“…Excuse me? A shower…?”

Grace tilted her head, confused by his offer.

Her question was answered…

…when Lee Seo-ho led her to an unbelievable space.

“T-This is… a bathhouse?”

“Feel free to use it. Shampoo and body wash are over there, and towels are…”

Grace felt as if she were dreaming, looking at the warm bathhouse filled with steam.

Things she thought she would never see again in her life.

Especially a bathtub overflowing with warm water, something she could only dream of.

The bathtub was large enough for Grace and all the children to fit comfortably.

“Haaa…”

After washing herself clean, she sank into the hot water, feeling her muscles relax and a sense of bliss wash over her.

As the children splashed and giggled around her, she felt so happy that she almost wondered if the zombie outbreak had all been a dream.

And the surprises didn’t end there.

Still reeling from the clean, fragrant sensation she hadn’t felt in so long…

…Lee Seo-ho led her to the fifth floor after she finished her bath.

The fifth floor was the men’s clothing section, and Lee Seo-ho had cleared a space and furnished it with a sofa, beds, and other necessities.

“A-Are you sure we can stay here?”

“Yes, no one uses this floor anyway, so feel free to make yourselves at home. Let me know if you need anything.  And about dinner…”

Unlike the church where they had been staying, the fifth-floor space was clean and cozy.

He had even arranged for electricity to be drawn from the third floor so they could use simple electronic devices.

“Ah, here it comes.”

As the children played cheerfully, arranging their beds, Lee Seo-ho said, looking towards a rattling sound.

The woman he had introduced as Yoo Ha-yeon approached, pushing a silver cart.

“You must be hungry. I prepared plenty, but let me know if you need more.”

“Excuse me?  Oh, t-this is…”

“Wow! Food!”

“It’s steaming!”

She had brought the dinner Lee Seo-ho had mentioned.

But it was far beyond what Grace had imagined.

She had expected simple canned food or crackers…

…but the cart Yoo Ha-yeon brought contained steaming kimchi stew, various vegetable side dishes, warm rice, and fried eggs.

It seemed she had prepared a combination that no Korean could dislike, since she didn’t know the children’s preferences.

‘There’s even pork in it…’

Where had they gotten all these ingredients?

Grace was beyond surprised; she couldn’t comprehend it.

She could understand electricity with solar panels, and maybe even plumbing with electricity.

But the food was beyond her comprehension.

Moreover, the side dishes weren’t canned food but freshly made.

She couldn’t help but believe that Lee Seo-ho was truly an angel sent from heaven.

If this wasn’t a miracle, what was?

“Seo-ho…”

After dinner, Grace put the tired children to bed and cautiously called Lee Seo-ho.

She called him through the radio he had given her, telling her to contact him if she needed anything, and he personally came up to the fifth floor.

They sat facing each other at a table, a little distance from where the children were sleeping.

Grace looked at him nervously, fidgeting.

Everything she had received today.

A safe and clean place to stay, a warm bath, and fresh food.

Overwhelmed by it all, Grace now felt more fear than gratitude.

She hadn’t imagined such a comfortable environment was possible in this ruined world.

And her conscience couldn’t bear the thought of repaying all this kindness with mere labor.

“Thank you so much for today.  For me and the children, for this precious space and precious food.”

Although it felt burdensome, Grace bowed her head and expressed her gratitude.

“I-I’m not sure if I should accept all this…”

Even if Lee Seo-ho had the means and resources…

…all of this was too precious in this zombie-infested world.

It wasn’t something to be given so easily to someone he had just met yesterday.

Lee Seo-ho smiled gently at her worried words.

“Don’t feel so burdened.  I told you, I’m not giving this to you for free.”

“Yes, of course, I’ll work hard to repay you, but… what you’ve given us is too much to repay with just labor…”

Grace, unable to shake off the burden despite his words, lowered her head slightly.

Lee Seo-ho tilted his head at her words.

“Huh? Oh… I think there’s been a slight misunderstanding…”

“Yes? What…”

“The compensation I’m asking for from you.  I’m not planning to make you work.”

“B-But! If I don’t work, I can’t possibly repay your kindness…!”

“Don’t worry. You can offer me something much more valuable than what I’ve given you.”

Lee Seo-ho calmed the anxious Grace with a gesture and smiled gently.

His seemingly kind smile only deepened Grace’s confusion.

Seeing her innocent expression, Lee Seo-ho grinned and stood up.

He walked behind her…

…and gently placed his hand on her slender shoulder.

Startled by the large, firm hand on her shoulder, Grace flinched and looked up at him.

“Seo-ho…?”

His eyes seemed different from the gentle smile she had seen so far, carrying a hint of something lecherous.

Grace’s eyes trembled instinctively, feeling his gaze as if he were licking her body.

“Hngh…!”

He was simply touching her shoulder, nothing more…

…but Grace felt her heart race, her face flushing as she let out a ragged breath.

A story came to mind.

The devil who tempted God’s followers…

…always appeared alluring and beautiful.

Remembering that story, Grace looked at Lee Seo-ho, his hand gently caressing her shoulder, preventing her escape, and wondered…

…if he wasn’t a blessing from God…

…but a trial.

Her eyes wavered, caught in his temptation.

—–CROW—– 

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