Season 3: Chapter 12: The Need to Die (1)
over forty and showed excellent organization.
"Yes... they encountered a natural disaster..."
— Disaster level "Hard"
— A natural disaster LOL
— So does that mean it's covered by insurance?
— Well, it's a nut, so a natural disaster fits
— Are you talking about Almond? LOL
"Ah, you mean the battle with Almond?"
The commentators described it as a battle not just with Class 3, but specifically with Almond. Of course, that was a more accurate description.
"They suffered too many injuries from Almond. Right now, they’re almost exclusively devoted to treating the injured on the second floor... Basically, their morale is at rock bottom. There’s practically no hope left. They’re essentially out."
"The nickname Challenge Hunters seems ironic now."
"It’s because the Challenge Hunters met a real hunter."
— A challenge hunter hunter LOL
— The hunter who hunts hunters LOL
— The highest on the food chain surpassing humanity: nuts
After discussing Class 1, the commentators turned their attention to the next topic.
"Now, let’s move on to Class 2. They never made it into the main building. We’ll take a look. They drew some attention as a team of foreigners... but their numbers have drastically decreased. Was there some sort of restructuring within their group?"
— Restructuring LOL
— IMF-style management LOL
— Being a foreign team, they seem to have high employment flexibility LOL
"Yes. Class 2 went to the cafeteria, right? Food should be plenty there, of course. However, it's really tough to survive outside the main building because there are too many zombies. It’s impressive that even fifteen of them are still alive."
"Ah, that’s one way to look at it. Next up is Class 3. The number for Class 3 is very unusual, isn’t it?"
Class 3 was the only class where the number of people had increased compared to the previous count.
"They were last before. Now, they were in first place!"
"Such a delightful uprising!"
— A comeback wow
— Amazing
— Clap clap clap
"Yes. By my calculations, shouldn’t their total have originally been twenty-eight? Didn’t a few die?"
Class 3 currently had more people than when they started. Some additional members had joined them.
"That’s probably because the snack bar NPCs have joined them."
"Ah...!"
— Wow, even the snack bar NPCs are included
— General Hyun-Ah joined wow
— Oh...
— But only 25 can survive, right?
"This is good, but it’s a bit worrying, isn’t it? Only twenty-five can leave the school."
"Yes, but that’s a problem for later. For now, Class 3 is the strongest."
"Very well."
After briefly commenting on Class 4 and 5, they returned to the current situation.
"So, the broadcast camera... where to?"
"We’re on the second floor here."
— Class 1??
— Wow, they're ruined.
— Disastrous...
The camera showed Class 1 hiding in a classroom on the second floor. Their situation was dire.
They had ripped the curtains here and there to obtain bandages. The students, wearing uniforms stained with blood, stared blankly at the ceiling. It was evident from their eyes that they had no hope left.
The players hardly spoke to each other at all. It seemed like there had been a conflict.
"Ah, Class 1... is in such a dire situation. But why are we showing this?"
As if in response to that comment, the camera zoomed in on someone.
"Uh... is that Player Radish Kimchi?"
"Why are we showing... ah?"
Almond had badly beaten Radish Kimchi from Class 1. Initially, it was unclear why the camera was focusing on him.
[Nausea]
[High Fever]
The symptoms indicated that this person had been bitten.
"Ah...? Was, was he bitten?"
"How could this happen? When was he bitten?"
The camera zoomed in on a particular wound.
"Ah... it's hard to tell it apart from just a scratch."
"It looks like he was scratched by some teeth. This means the infection will spread slowly... which actually puts Class 1 in a dangerous situation!"
The injured students were confined in a closed classroom. If Radish Kimchi suddenly turned into a zombie, could they respond appropriately?
"Right now, the others can't even imagine... such a scenario!"
"It’s Radish Kimchi! Shouldn't he be telling them? That he's turning into a zombie!"
"Is he saying, 'Let's all die together?’ Was there an internal conflict among the players?"
For some reason, Radish Kimchi hadn’t told the others. Perhaps he just wanted to ruin the game or something. Despite his imminent transformation into a zombie, he remained silent.
"Look, Radish Kimchi. You're starting to react, right? Other players are panicking... uh?"
Something unusual was happening.
"Wait, this change is unusual!"
"It's almost like a transformation!"
The commentator's eyes widened.
Beeeep.
An alert sounded, followed by this text:
[Player Radish Kimchi has transformed into a special zombie]
"Kuuuaaaahhhhh!"
Radish Kimchi didn’t just turn into any zombie. His shoulder muscles swelled enormously and his upper body grew abnormally large.
Crrrrrunch...!
His muscles continued growing to the point where every blood vessel could be seen.
[Charger]
He had transformed into a special type of zombie called a charger.
[Chargers have high defensive capabilities due to their thick muscles and can charge at enemies. The damage caused by such a charge is devastating.]
An explanation appeared in Radish Kimchi's vision.
"Ha... haha?"
He read it and laughed as if he liked what he saw.
"I knew it! Players can turn into special zombies! I wondered why there weren't any!"
While Radish Kimchi felt pleased with his prediction, what about the other students?
"Ugh, aaaaaaah!"
"Oh my god! A zombie! It’s a zombie...!"
"Shit, open the door!"
The NPCs were in utter panic. Even the players felt taken aback.
"Damn, what are you!?"
"What kind of fucked up zombie is this? Why did you keep quiet about it!?"
Thump...
The now bigger and heavier Radish Kimchi took a step forward.
"Why? We have no hope anyway, right? Let's just take revenge."
"Revenge?"
"Yeah. On that guy who messed us up."
That guy from Class 3? Was it possible?
Radish Kimchi caught a female student running away from him in one hand and crushed her.
Thump!
"Look."
Crunch. Crunch.
The girl's scream quickly turned into the monstrous howls of a zombie.
"This is fucking powerful, isn't it?"
***
The basement was clear of zombies. Thanks to that, all of Class 3 could comfortably eat until they were fully satisfied.
"Oof, I'm stuffed."
"I'm never eating cafeteria bread again... wow..."
"Burrrp..."
After filling their stomachs, what would they do next? They slept.
"Yaaawn."
"I'm so sleepy."
After two days without any sleep or food and running around, they fell asleep almost instantly as soon as the tension eased. They just entered any classroom, joined the desks, and slept on them. They ended up sleeping for about seven hours straight.
"Nothing happened, right?"
"Yep."
Fortunately, nothing significant occurred as they took turns keeping watch.
"Now that everyone is recharged, we are going to pioneer routes to the infirmary and the bathroom. These two places are essential for survival."
Now, it was Tako who issued the orders. Originally, the children didn’t really trust his commands, but Tako was almost like a hero after they took over the snack bar and gained a lot of authority.
"Make armor out of textbooks and bring as many desks as you can. There are no fire doors in certain sections, so we need to barricade them ourselves."
They borrowed the strategies from Class 5 and used textbooks and desks to defend themselves. They also imitated Hyun-Ah's barricade designs.
Rustle.
The students moved uniformly and efficiently while preparing everything. For the first time in a while, all of Class 3 headed toward the first floor together.
There were a few zombies, but not too many. These zombies were an easy match for them now given their well-honed stats from numerous battles.
Thump!
Punch!
"What? That was nothing."
"Are they all dead?"
Class 3 cleared the zombies quite comfortably. Thanks to this, they quickly pushed through to their desired locations.
"Close all the fire doors. Use barricades where there are no fire doors."
Thump!
Class 3 had secured control over the snack bar, the infirmary, and bathrooms by sectioning off different areas. Their quality of life instantly shot up.
The injured received treatment in the infirmary, they ate at the snack bar canteen, and the bathrooms handled their sanitary needs. Even laundry could be done at the sinks.
Of course, just because life had become more bearable didn't mean they could stop there. The ultimate goal was to make it to the rooftop and escape by helicopter.
"I have a map now," Tako spoke separately to Almond and Bubblegum. "I didn’t see it before, but there seems to be something in the principal’s office."
"Really? What is it?"
"Weapons. If it’s specially marked... maybe it’s a good weapon?"
Their gazes met and they all nodded.
"Let's check it out."
***
The principal's office was located in the center of the main building. They only chose around ten students who were good at fighting to go.
"... This place was wrecked."
When they finally entered the central entrance for the first time in a while, they understood why zombies kept appearing. Eventually, the zombies had dented a section in the shutters and created holes big enough for several zombies to squeeze through at a time.
It wouldn’t be strange if all the zombies entered through here. Since they lacked intelligence, only one or two accidentally passed through these holes at a time.
Even now, they could see how many zombies were screaming while stuck in the shutters.
"Let's just go."
Tako decided nothing specifically needed to be dealt with and quietly passed by the entrance.
"Here we are."
Three players and ten students entered after opening the grand old-fashioned door. As soon as they entered, what caught their eye was…
"Why is this even here?"
Bubblegum pointed to an item.
It seemed the principal had a military background. In one corner of the principal’s office hung a dress uniform from his officer days and a long sword hung on the wall.
— Wow!
— If the principal had been from the archery club, this game would be over, lol
— Does that sword work??
— That must be why it was marked on the map
"Isn't that a longsword?"
"Oooh..."
Without any prior agreement, everyone naturally looked at Almond.
Almond went over and drew the sword.
Ssshh.
Bubblegum's face reflected on it as he watched. The sword was well-maintained.
"How is it? Is it sharp?"
"I don't know."
Almond wasn't an expert. Just looking at the sword wouldn't tell him much.
"We'll need to test it to know. Maybe cut something..."
"Wait, me?"
Bubblegum instinctively stepped back.
"No, I'm working hard!"
"Hmm. Then let’s try cutting that coat hanger over there."
— Not you, LOL
— No way
— Almond, why do you sound like you were really going to do it? LOL
— Almond seems disappointed, LOL
— Trying to eliminate the seed of trouble
Almond stood in front of a coat hanger that seemed to be made of solid wood.
Clang!!
Suddenly, the sound of glass breaking made everyone tense and defensive.
"What was that?"
"Where did that sound come from?"
It was definitely the sound of glass breaking from far away.
"... Guess it's not here."
Just as the students relaxed and sat on the sofa, Almond tried to cut the coat hanger again.
'Huh?'
Behind the coat hanger was a mirror where something else reflected.
'What's that?'
Something huge was approaching.
Thud!
Thump!
And zombies were following it.
"Watch out for the window—"
Almond quickly turned around to shout, but...
Crash!!!
The huge zombie had already smashed through the principal's office window and leaped inside.
"Ugh, aaaaaaah!"
"What the fuck!?"
Everyone was startled and disorganized when a loud voice boomed.
"Finally! I've found you!"
"!?"
A zombie was speaking? It had an odd voice, but was clearly speaking Korean.
"Charge!!!"
Whether the zombies understood the command or it was just a coincidence, they waited until that moment and charged through the window.
"Kaaaahhhh!"
"Growlll!"
The zombies pounced around and attacked the students. The principal's office quickly turned into chaos.
Radish Kimchi laughed gleefully as if enjoying the spectacle.
"You didn’t know this system, did you?! You’re all finished—"
Swoosh!
Thump!
Radish Kimchi's laughing head fell and rolled on the floor.
"Oh. Bro. This blade is sharp!"
***
[Beginner's Tip: Students, not knowing isn't something to be ashamed of. It's something to die for.]