Chapter 196 : Chapter 196
Chapter 196 - Combo (6)
"Unit Leader Ji-han. Fortunately, we do not seem to be late."
"Well, thanks to you."
I patted Rosie's head.
Once again, the dragon's ability proved useful.
Teleportation magic allowed for instantaneous movement to specific coordinates.
Of course, because Rosie was still a hatchling and had to transport me as well, there were many restrictions on her teleportation. Nevertheless, it allowed us to shorten our travel time significantly.
"You must buy me mint chocolate once this is over!"
"I will buy you milk caramel as well."
"Oh? Really?"
Color returned to Rosie's exhausted face.
"Shall we go deal with the zombies first?"
"I understand. Unit Leader Ji-han!"
Rosie began to lead the way with quick steps.
The strong, characteristic scent of zombies vibrated throughout the zoo, so tracking their location was not difficult.
We moved quickly, following the scent.
Fortunately, the range of the zombie spread did not seem wide.
It was still in the early stages of transmission.
"This is the place."
The location we arrived at was the wolf safari.
The wolves inside the wire fence had all turned into zombies.
With unfocused eyes, the creatures moved their heads up and down continuously in a bizarre motion.
"It is disgusting, Unit Leader Ji-han."
The wolves were gnawing and chewing on the wire fence.
SCRITCH, SCRATCH.
SCRITCH, SCRATCH.
The unpleasant sound of metal grinding vibrated in the surroundings.
Some parts of the wire fence were already in tatters.
If we had been just a little later, the pack of zombie wolves would have escaped the fence and rushed into the streets of Busan.
These creatures were clearly far superior to human zombies in terms of both mobility and lethality.
The entire city of Busan would have been reduced to ruins in a matter of time.
"Rosie. I will leave this place to you."
I needed to find the zombies of the Gwangun Sword Family first.
"Yes. I understand."
"Even if it is troublesome, refrain from using magic. You know that, right?"
"Yes, I understand everything."
CCTVs were installed throughout the zoo.
By tomorrow, every news outlet would be covered with reports of what happened here.
If so, there was no reason to draw attention with magic that defied common sense.
Since this also went against the hatchling's way of amusement, Rosie readily agreed.
"Go quickly, Unit Leader Ji-han."
I hurried to the next location.
The zombies of the Gwangun Sword Family had already swept through a few places besides the wolf safari.
I tracked them down rapidly.
Throughout my movement, the foul smell of blood characteristic of zombies stimulated the tip of my nose.
"You were here."
I was finally able to find them.
The six zombies of the Gwangun Sword Family.
The creatures were pouncing on a flock of goats, biting their necks.
"GRAAAH!"
A scream rang out, followed by a succession of the goats' mournful whimpers.
The goats caught by the zombies collapsed without even putting up a proper resistance.
The sight of them biting the goats' necks was extremely bizarre.
A short while later, the creatures began to mercilessly bite their own kin, who were family and friends.
The entire flock of goats turned into zombies in an instant.
"GRAAAH!"
The cries of the goats could no longer be heard.
'I must remove the source first.'
The zombies of the Gwangun Sword Family were already crossing the fence.
I immediately summoned daggers from my inventory.
WHISH!
The launched daggers flew toward the zombies' necks.
The creature stared in my direction with a blank expression. And then.
SLASH!
The daggers pierced through the zombies' necks, releasing mana.
Black blood splattered everywhere.
At that moment, the gazes of the remaining five zombies turned toward me simultaneously.
They all had unfocused, rotten gazes.
Once, they must have been ambitious warriors who entered the Gwangun Sword Family with swelling hearts.
It was certain that they could not have always had eyes like these.
Since every life has a story, it was unfortunate and pitiable, but it could not be helped.
The best thing I could do for them was to grant them eternal rest as quickly as possible.
WHISH!
WHISH!
The daggers were launched one after another.
"GRAAAH!"
The zombies collapsed without exception.
Seeing that, the goats inside the fence charged toward me in a mad rush.
The instinct for reproduction was much stronger than the fear of death.
The monsters created by the Demon King were truly horrific.
WHISH!
The heads of the flock of goats were severed at once by a long-drawn sword path.
[My friend! I never thought the day would come when something like goat blood would touch my blade!]
The smell of blood vibrated, and the situation in Busan was coming to an end.
***
As expected, all media outlets were pouring out news about yesterday's zombie incident.
Although the world had become accustomed to monsters since the emergence of the Abyss and dungeons, the new monster called a zombie was provocative enough to immediately catch people's attention.
"Unit Leader Ji-han! Seeing it on TV like this feels new! I know everything already, but why is it so interesting?"
"Because to use it for broadcasting, they have to process it with seasoning. It has become a flavor that even we do not recognize."
We watched various interpretations of yesterday's incident while flipping through the TV channels.
[Let us look once more at the CCTV footage captured yesterday!]
With the host's commentary, the screen switched to yesterday's tragedy.
Since it was a very cruel scene, the footage was being transmitted with mosaics, but the host and panelists covered their mouths in shock.
[Do ordinary goats ever attack by biting other goats like this?]
[There is no way. Even the most aggressive goat would only butt with its horns, but this scene is simply too horrific!]
Naturally, all these suspicions were pointed toward the Gwangun Sword Family.
This was because the identities of those who appeared like the wind in the zoo after closing time and attacked several animals, including wolves, were revealed to be from the Gwangun Sword Family.
However, it was reported that the Gwangun Sword Family was still only repeating the words, "We do not know."
Even though a message from someone who appeared to be their superior was sent to the cell phones of the Gwangun Sword Family warriors, the identity of that sender remained mysterious.
"Unit Leader Ji-han. Still, everyone is watching the Gwangun Sword Family right now! So, wouldn't it be difficult for them to cause another zombie incident recklessly?"
As Rosie said, we had bought some time.
The Gwangun Sword Family would have no choice but to keep a low profile for the time being.
And we intended to finish off the Family Head, Kang Jae-gu, within that time.
[But look at this! Up until this scene, the behavior of the Gwangun Sword Family warriors seems natural, does it not? Of course, it is strange in itself that they infiltrated the zoo after closing time, but their actions do not feel bizarre at all! We cannot hear what they are saying, but looking at their expressions, they seem to be joking with each other.]
[But the problem is this very scene. Suddenly, their expressions and gazes change completely, and they start acting like monsters!]
[But isn't the condition of the corpses strange as well? The blood is entirely black, and the smell is said to be much more disgusting than that of an ordinary corpse. Even though it has only been a day since they died.]
Suspicions were directed not only at the Gwangun Sword Family but also toward the zoo.
This was because the situation outside the zoo last night had been as peaceful as any other time.
[We must investigate in depth whether an unidentified toxic substance is being released at JJ Animal Park in Busan...]
They were barking up the wrong tree.
Rosie stared at the screen with a look of disdain.
And the public's greatest interest was the identity and whereabouts of the two men and women who had ended last night's zombie incident.
[It is simply amazing! Are those daggers, which appear to be thrown nonchalantly, not being stuck in the monsters' necks without a single exception?]
[That is not all. Even though they are goats, the skill of accurately severing the necks of over a dozen animals with a single sword path is simply astonishing!]
[With this level of swordsmanship, what kind of rank can we consider this to be?]
[I cannot be certain, but a Sword Expert? I think it might be around there.]
[Oh, come on! A Sword Expert appearing in a place like this wearing a mask?]
It was Rosie who became more excited at the panelist's words.
"Honestly, there are very few among humans who walk around with their eyes properly open. To call it an expert level just for taking the heads of some goats?"
"It would be even more abnormal to speak of anything higher. Among the existing famous warriors, there is no one who has transcended the level of a Sword Expert."
"Even so, it is starting to get annoying."
At that moment, the screen switched to a breaking news video.
[This is just in! A corpse, which appears to be identical to those from the Busan zoo incident, has been found in a vacant lot in Gyeonggi Province. The identity has been confirmed as Yoo Seong-jin of the Taewol Unit of the Gwangun Sword Family, and the cause of death is...]
***
The talk about zombies quieted down after a little more time had passed.
No more zombie incidents occurred, and the Gwangun Sword Family consistently put forward the position that they knew nothing at all.
'Well, except for Kang Jae-gu, all the involved parties are dead.'
Since no one could even approach the truth, people's interest was gradually fading.
However, a moment like this was precisely when one had to be most careful.
If Kang Jae-gu were the type to be scared into stopping by this much, he would not have started in the first place.
It was only a matter of time; a second zombie incident was bound to erupt eventually.
Of course, it was clear that it was still a turbulent time.
Yoo Seong-jin, who had been leading this situation, was dead, and all the improved zombie capsules on the 10th floor had disappeared, so Kang Jae-gu would inevitably have a complicated mind.
'He must be working hard to find them.'
The one who killed Yoo Seong-jin, the one who stole the capsules, and the one who stopped the zombie incident at the zoo.
"Ho-joong, send word to the Gwangun Sword Family."
"The Gwangun Sword Family? The atmosphere there will still be quite cold. What is the matter?"
"I intend to have a private meeting with the Family Head. Tell him that I am coming to see him."
"Do you mean Kang Jae-gu? Rumor has it that he has not even appeared in his office lately. It must be because he has been hounded so much due to the recent incident."
"So, are you saying you do not want to deliver the message?"
"No, sir! I was just saying that it might be difficult to meet him even if we initiate contact."
"He will understand if you say I have urgent matters to discuss regarding what happened in Hardeon."
I did not know if he had forgotten the fact after handing me the report.
Since I had reminded him, if he had, he would have been jolted awake.
A short while later, Choi Ho-joong returned with a puzzled expression.
"Unit Leader, Kang Jae-gu says he will meet you immediately."
"Immediately?"
"Yes. He said you can come to the Gwangun Sword Family anytime today if you have a possible time."
It seemed Kang Jae-gu was quite desperate right now.
"I am a bit busy today, so set the appointment for two days from now."
In those two days, all sorts of thoughts would inevitably cross his mind.
I should go find Rosie again.
Her dragon abilities would be very useful this time as well.