Chapter 53

—Kyaaak! Kyak! Kyaaak! Kyak!

Miu was standing in front of a fence packed with thrashing dark zombies, and judging by the way he stood still with the hand holding the collection bucket extended, he had indeed come to collect zombie mucus.

Mo Yeonhoo had been about to call Miu in the alliance chat window, but then he remembered how the other alliance members had been watching their reactions, so he sent a whisper instead.

(Whisper) 0momo0: Miu!

But.

(Whisper) 0momo0: Miu??

(Whisper) 0momo0: Miu~

(Whisper) 0momo0: Are you there~~~!!~!

Miu did not respond at all.

Was he pretending to be AFK because he hated him?

(Whisper) 0momo0: Cutiieee?

(Whisper) 0momo0: Baby rabbit?

(Whisper) 0momo0: Miu~!!

(Whisper) 0momo0: Miu ♥♥

(Whisper) 0momo0: Stu, pid

But no matter how much he called, Miu did not respond.

......Did he go somewhere?

Finding it strange, Mo Yeonhoo sidled closer. Since they were in the same alliance, they were in a <Friendly Relationship>, so he could view Miu’s status.

His stats are low.

Miu seemed to have been away from his seat for quite a while, because none of his character’s needs had been managed. In Zombie Village, if hunger, thirst, and physiological needs were not managed, a player sometimes died even out in the field.

Of course, at a high level like Miu’s, it was very rare for him to die even if he did not manage them, but....

He has to eat. My Miyoung must have been so hungry and thirsty.......

There was no way Mo Yeonhoo, seeing those low gauges, would register a fact like that. The Miu before his eyes was not a high-level ranker. He was a skin-and-bones granddaughter he had met for the first time in ages during the holidays who kept refusing to eat.

Mo Yeonhoo hurriedly rummaged through his inventory. Conveniently, he had bread and water, so when he held them and clicked on Miu, the items in his hand vanished at once, and a green plus sign appeared over Miu’s head with a bright little sound.

Fortunately, the numbers rose quickly.

It would’ve been more efficient if I’d brought BBQ’s food. What a shame.

He’s eating well. Mo Yeonhoo looked proudly at the filling gauges, then rested his chin on his hand for a moment and stared fixedly at the screen.

When he’s just standing here like this, it’s so quiet and peaceful and cozy.

A sigh slipped out on its own. How nice would it be if Miyoung’s in-game self were similar to reality too?

At the café, Miyoung smiled softly whenever their eyes met and was warm to him. But Miu in the game....

[(Alliance) Miu: I can’t kick you out because there’s no proof, but don’t think staying here means you’ve cleared every accusation.

[(Alliance) Miu: I still think you’re the most suspicious one.

He was terribly cold, and now that he had decided Mo Yeonhoo was a spy, he seemed desperate to kill him just from seeing his face.

The situation was so bleak that just thinking about it made another sigh rise from him.

—Boom!!!

Suddenly, a huge sound rang out, and at the same time, the screen turned red.

<img alt="warning2.png" src="https://webview-cache.ridibooks.com/3302046724/epub/images/Images/warning2.png"/>

ZOMBIE WAVE!

Due to abnormal weather, a <B-Class Boss Type: Core Beast> WAVE has occurred in Sector B-3!

It is currently approaching your coordinates. Prepare immediately!

Zombie WAVE?

It was coming this way? Mo Yeonhoo blinked at the alert that had popped up without warning, then pressed the system window, and the detailed information appeared.

Combat spec judgment for 0momo0 regarding this WAVE:

Danger

※ Solo engagement in the current situation is not recommended.

Server X-1211 was barren land, so zombie WAVEs appeared often in the first place. However, a “Danger” display did not usually appear at around Mo Yeonhoo’s level.

I should run away fast.

At this level, it had to be a fairly vicious WAVE. It meant there was a high chance he would hold out for a while and then eventually be reduced to bone dust, so running away was safer.

Mo Yeonhoo confirmed that there were about three minutes left until the zombie WAVE reached him, estimated the distance back to the alliance territory, and then froze.

But even if I run.......

Mo Yeonhoo stared at the alert window, pushed it to the lower left, and turned his head.

In front of him, Miu was still standing motionless.

What about Miyoung?

He still had not woken from being AFK. Mo Yeonhoo blinked in bewilderment while staring toward Miu, then quickly opened the mini-map and the alert.

The red dot symbolizing the zombie WAVE was drawing closer and closer to Miu and Mo Yeonhoo....

It’s exactly here, isn’t it?

It was certain to pass through this place without the slightest deviation.

(Whisper) 0momo0: Miu, are you still AFK??

(Whisper) 0momo0: Even if you hate me, say something T_T

(Whisper) 0momo0: It says a WAVE is coming right now, and if you can’t dodge, you’re gonna get beaten up T_T

(Whisper) 0momo0: Miu????

(Whisper) 0momo0: Miu~;;

He hurriedly called Miu, but there was no answer.

Right, if even his needs aren’t being managed, he must really have left the character standing here and gone somewhere...!

It seemed that when Miu went AFK, he really went AFK! In the end, Mo Yeonhoo decided to send an SOS to the alliance members.

(Alliance) 0momo0: (Coordinate link) We’re here right now and it says a WAVE is coming this way T_T T_T T_T Could anyone help!!! Miu is AFK so he can’t move!!!

(Notification) During abnormal weather phenomena, radio usage range is reduced to 500m.

(Alliance) 0momo0: ???What is this

(Notification) During abnormal weather phenomena, radio usage range is reduced to 500m.

(Alliance) 0momo0: Hello??? Everyone~!!!

(Notification) During abnormal weather phenomena, radio usage range is reduced to 500m.

......Huh?

Mo Yeonhoo blinked.

Wait, why was this happening?

I can’t contact the alliance members because of the abnormal weather?

What the fuck, did this make any sense? Mo Yeonhoo looked at the time remaining until the WAVE arrived with a horrified expression.

<img alt="warning2.png" src="https://webview-cache.ridibooks.com/3302046724/epub/images/Images/warning2.png"/>

ZOMBIE WAVE • 00:02:08

※ A horde of infected entities is approaching your coordinates.

Only about two minutes were left before he knew it!

Even if I run like crazy from here to the alliance territory, it’ll take at least seven minutes?!

Even if he ran right now and asked the alliance members for help, there would be more than enough time for the zombie WAVE to pass through in the meantime.

(Whisper) 0momo0: Miu T_T T_T T_T

(Whisper) 0momo0: Miu.... A WAVE is coming for us...

(Whisper) 0momo0: T_T T_T T_T T_T T_T T_T T_T T_T T_T We’re gonna die like this, Miu!!!!!!!

It would have been nice if Miu miraculously moved, but there was no chance of that. At the warning sounds that kept appearing, Mo Yeonhoo’s face went pale.

Should I run away, at least?

As if a zombie WAVE was some small thing.

Mo Yeonhoo had already been beaten badly by them several times.

Why were zombie WAVEs scary? The sheer pressure of a countless number of zombies rushing in was already huge, but what came after was the problem.

My corpse gets looted!

That was right. Zombies did not loot corpses, but humans did....... Because if he got beaten to death by zombies, another user would see the alert, appear as if they had been waiting, and loot his bag.

I was basically a donation angel....

Mo Yeonhoo had no idea how much he had donated to the users of this server. Because of that, he had reached the point where he nearly had a fit whenever he heard that WAVE alert sound.

Of course, this time was different. Since he had entered a top alliance, there was a high chance that no one would touch him or Miu.

But.......

He remembered the recent Siege War. He had already encountered three separate forces targeting his alliance. He felt pointlessly uneasy and could not move his feet. Then, with a cloud of dust appearing in the distance, a massive warning sound rang out.

<img alt="warning2.png" src="https://webview-cache.ridibooks.com/3302046724/epub/images/Images/warning2.png"/>

ZOMBIE WAVE • 00:01:21

※ A horde of infected entities is approaching your coordinates.

He could see the zombie horde approaching this way. Mo Yeonhoo’s gaze shifted beside him. Miu, utterly unaware of the world, was AFK while holding a bucket for harvesting dark zombie mucus.

No matter how much of a ranker he was, if that zombie horde dealt damage to him nonstop, it would be difficult for him to survive. There was a high chance—no, he would almost certainly die.

Would I even be any help?

But he was a beginner. With Mo Yeonhoo’s strength, he could not stop that WAVE.

It’s better if I hurry and bring the alliance members.

Thinking about just how much help he could possibly be, Mo Yeonhoo summoned his bike for now and moved. With the roaring engine, Miu grew farther away.

—Rustle!

However, Mo Yeonhoo could not go far before he had to stop. He heard a clear rustling sound and looked around, but there was nothing. Yet he had definitely heard it.

An artificial sound that belonged neither to zombies nor animals.

“......A person?”

A user.

But even when he whipped his head around, he could not see any user. In other words, it meant they were hiding with a Stealth item.

If there’s a reason to hide here right now.......

Mo Yeonhoo glanced back and saw Miu still standing tall and the zombie horde swarming in. The horde, much closer than before; Miu, left alone; and the presence of someone nearby.

They’re targeting him.

Mo Yeonhoo realized it instinctively.

The user left behind after the WAVE hits.

He did not know who it was, but someone here was waiting for Miu to die.