Multivers, Leveling Up in the World I Created

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of someone knocking on the car door.

I got up, folded the blanket, and stepped out of the car.

The man outside looked at me and said, "I heard a soldier came in yesterday. Handsome guy. Nice to meet you, I'm Kenny. By the way, that's a really cool vehicle."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Jin. As you can see, I'm in the military, so I'm used to this kind of vehicle."

Kenny and I shook hands.

Kenny was one of the key supporting characters in the Walking Dead game.

He was a white man in his 40s with a baseball cap and a well-groomed beard, originally a fisherman.

He could be a bit stubborn, but he cared deeply for his family and friends, and was loyal to those he trusted.

On the flip side, he could be quite cold toward people he didn't know or those he felt weren't on his side, sometimes even hostile.

In a way, Kenny might have suffered more than Lee, more than any other character in the entire game.

In terms of misfortune, he rivaled Maggie from the TV show.

'Come to think of it, Maggie and Beth should be on this farm too, but I haven't seen them.'

While I was greeting Kenny, Lee and Clem woke up and came out of the car.

I introduced them to Kenny.

"This is Lee, and this is Clementine."

"Ah, I see. Nice to meet you. I'm Kenny. You don't look like a family, though."

"You could say we're friends who happened to end up traveling together in this situation."

Kenny sighed in agreement. "Yeah... with things the way they are, that makes sense."

Kenny introduced his family: his wife Katjaa, a plump blonde white woman, and his son Kenny Jr., who was about Clem's age.

The kid was running around the farm like crazy and couldn't stay still.

That's why Kenny had nicknamed him "Duck."

'That kid probably needs to be tested for ADHD.'

Anyway, Kenny's family had also ended up here fleeing from the zombies after the outbreak.

We had breakfast first.

Duck smelled the food and came over, so I ended up giving him some, and naturally, we prepared a meal for Kenny's family too.

Before we knew it, all the frozen food in the fridge was gone.

I hadn't brought that much, so it couldn't be helped.

"Phew... thanks for the meal. Frozen food is a bit disappointing, but it's better than nothing."

"Thank you."

Kenny's family all expressed their gratitude.

"Since we're done eating, let's share information. From what I've seen, getting bitten seems to be the cause of turning. What about you guys?"

Kenny thought for a moment and said, "Yeah, that seems to be it. I also saw a dead person turn."

"Then that's probably confirmed. We need to avoid getting bitten at all costs. Any other characteristics?"

Lee hesitated for a moment, then spoke. "I noticed something strange. I think I saw someone turn without being bitten. Of course, I might have missed a bite, but I'm pretty sure there were no bite marks."

He was probably talking about the police officer who had been transporting him.

"Hmm... so it's not certain yet. Anything else?"

Just then, someone answered from behind. "I haven't seen any animals turn."

Everyone turned around.

It was Hershel, the farm owner.

He must have come out and overheard our conversation.

Kenny's wife Katjaa spoke up. "Now that you mention it, that's true. I'm a veterinarian, and I released all the animals from my clinic before I left. Some were eaten by the turned, but I never saw any animals turn."

"Animals don't turn... if things get really bad, we could hunt for food."

Hershel said, and I gathered all the information we had and summarized it.

"So for now, we need to avoid being bitten, and we should keep observing people who die from other causes. And since we know we can hunt for food, that's something everyone should remember for survival."

Lee asked seriously, "Is this a virus?"

"Probably. Rabies spreads in a similar way."

"It doesn't seem like a naturally occurring virus... where could such a malicious virus have been made?"

"I'd suspect China or Russia, but a virus this dangerous would be uncontrollable even for them. Besides, international relations weren't that bad at this point. So while they could have created it, it's unlikely they deliberately released it."

At that time, international relations were relatively stable.

I thought for a moment and continued, "I think it's either a bioweapon that was being developed, or an accidental leak of a virus created by chance... by now, labs around the world are probably trying to develop a vaccine."

Kenny said optimistically, "Then our job is clear. Just hold out until a vaccine is made. I'm going to take my family and my boat and leave this place. We'll head to a quiet island and wait it out. I need to fix my car first so we can get moving."

Kenny immediately went to work on his car.

Lee let out a deep sigh. "Yeah... Kenny's right. All we can do is endure. How ironic. The people who made this are out there, and we're the ones suffering..."

Everyone at the table wore bitter expressions.

I had a reason for sharing information, to prevent people from doing stupid things and to give them hints to improve their chances of survival.

Now that the information was out there, maybe it would reduce the chances of someone getting bitten by carelessly lingering near a corpse.

I stood up and said, "I'm going to Macon to get guns, food, and other supplies. We can't go on like this."

Hershel grabbed my shoulder and stopped me. "Macon is a big city with a lot of infected. Don't go there. Go to Fayette instead. It's closer and safer. Plus, since a lot of farmers use it, there are plenty of gun shops."

"Got it. Thanks for the tip. Lee, I'll leave Clem with you for a while."

When I asked Lee to watch Clem, he looked worried. "Are you sure you'll be okay alone?"

"Don't worry. I'm a special forces soldier. And right now, I'm the only one with a gun."

"Yeah, you're right."

Clem didn't look happy about me leaving either.

I patted her head to reassure her.

"Clem, I'll be back soon. Stay close to Lee. It won't take long."

"Then take this with you. With this, you can contact me anytime."

Clem handed me a walkie-talkie that her parents had bought for her when she used to play in the treehouse.

"Got it. But I'll be the one contacting you. If you're hiding and suddenly get a call, it could alert the infected."

"You have to call me often."

"Promise."

I got into the Scorpion MRAP and drove off.

I went to Fayette, just as Hershel suggested, and started clearing out gun shops.

Some had already been looted, but many were still intact, so I was able to secure a large amount of firearms and ammunition.

Then I hit pharmacies, grocery stores, and supermarkets, taking medicine, food, clothing, and various supplies.

By the time I was done, there was almost nothing left in Fayette.

Once I left, the place would practically be a dead town.

Naturally, there were too many items to fit in the Scorpion MRAP, so I stored the excess in my inventory after sterilizing them.

Zombies attacked a few times, but they were no match for me.

And it didn't take long, since no one was watching, I could use my abilities freely.

After that, I parked the car in a quiet spot, teleported to the Newport News shipyard in Virginia, and headed to where the USS Gerald R. Ford nuclear aircraft carrier was docked.

As expected, there were only zombies around, and the carrier was left completed and abandoned.

I cast a barrier around it, used [Life Magic] to sterilize the interior, and stored it in my inventory.

Sterilizing everything every time was a hassle, but the zombie virus could potentially affect other worlds, so I had to be thorough.

Once everything was done, I teleported back to the Scorpion MRAP and contacted Clem on the walkie-talkie.

"Clem, can you hear me?"

—"Yes, loud and clear. I'm so glad you're safe."

"I got everything. I'm heading back now. Anything happen at the farm?"

—"No, nothing."

"Good. I'll be there soon."

When I arrived at the farm in the Scorpion MRAP, people started gathering around.

Clem, who had been worried, ran and hugged me as soon as I stepped out.

I held her gently and patted her head.

"You were really worried, huh?"

"Yeah, Clem was really worried. Anyway, I'm glad you're safe."

Lee said that, but he had clearly been worried too.

I opened the trunk and handed out guns to everyone.

The pistols were mostly Glocks, and the rifles were AR-15s.

Lee, Kenny, Hershel, and his son Shawn each took a pistol and a rifle.

Kenny's wife Katjaa took only a pistol.

"Hey, give me one too!"

Duck tried to get a gun too, but Kenny gave him a knuckle sandwich, and he started crying.

So I gave him a bag of candy instead, and one for Clem too.

"You two need to make it last."

"Yes~!"

After that, I taught everyone how to shoot.

Not all Americans are familiar with guns, many people go their whole lives without ever firing one.

"You're a capable man. I didn't expect you to bring back this many guns and ammo in such a short time."

"Dad, I told you, he's Delta Force."

Shawn answered for me, and as expected, the "special forces" label worked like a charm.

No need for further explanation.

"Lee, Clem, let's get going!"

"You're leaving now?"

When Hershel asked, I nodded. "I promised to help Clementine find her parents. We don't plan to stay long."

"That girl, huh. Wait a moment. Let me pack you some food. Consider it payment for the guns."

Hershel probably felt bad letting us go after receiving so many guns.

"I've finally got it fixed."

Kenny had apparently finished repairing his broken truck.

Just then, a loud cracking sound came from outside.

We rushed over and saw that Duck had been messing around on a tractor and damaged Hershel's fence.

"Hah... Duck! You just can't help causing trouble, can you!"

The noise attracted zombies toward the fence.

"Damn it, Duck!!"

Bang, bang, bang!

We quickly pulled Duck off the tractor and shot the approaching zombies.

The gunfire drew everyone to the fence, including Hershel.

"I'm sorry. It's my kid's fault..."

Kenny apologized immediately.

"It's alright. Fences can be fixed. The important thing is that no one got hurt."

This was different from the original, where Shawn got crushed under the tractor due to Duck's mischief and was killed by zombies.

Enraged, Hershel would have kicked everyone off the farm, but because I had given them guns, Shawn was practicing shooting and survived.

We moved the tractor and started repairing the fence.

With several people working together, it didn't take long.

"Here, take this. You can eat it on the way. My daughters made it, so it shouldn't be too bad."

After we finished repairing the fence, Hershel handed us some sandwiches.

"We'll enjoy them. If we survive, maybe we'll see each other again."

"Come to think of it, I don't even know your name. I'm Hershel. Hershel Greene."

"I'm Jin Harrison."

"I hope you find the little girl's parents."

"Yeah, I hope so too."

We said our goodbyes and left the farm.

It was a relief that we parted on good terms, unlike in the original, where things ended badly.

A lot was going to happen at that farm.

Hershel had warned that Macon might be dangerous, but since the road led there, we had no choice but to head toward it.

Kenny followed behind us with his family.

Lee and Clem ate the sandwiches Hershel had packed.

"Not bad. But it's a shame we probably won't get to eat food like this again."

"Yeah, given the situation."

"Here. I made this so you can eat while driving."

Lee handed me a neatly wrapped sandwich.

I took it and started eating.

"Wow, you brought back a lot. Medicine too?"

"The infection isn't the only problem. We also have to watch out for regular illnesses."

"There's a lot to worry about."

I said to Lee seriously, "Listen, Lee. In this kind of situation, the infected aren't the only problem. I've been through situations like this before in the military. People can change drastically when they're cornered. If this goes on, there will be looters, and when food runs out, cannibals won't be far behind. That's why I went for the guns first."

"Se, surely not?"

"You'll see."

Lee said that, but as a history professor, he probably knew better, history was full of such examples.

"I don't want to be eaten."

Clem shivered after hearing my words.

I chuckled and said, "Clem, you're small, so there's not much meat on you. They probably won't eat you."

"But I'm still scared."

"Lee and I will always protect you. Don't worry too much."

Just then, a honk came from behind, Kenny must have had a problem.

We pulled over to the shoulder.

"What's wrong?"

Kenny said, "I'm out of gas. I can make it to Macon, but after that, I'm not sure."

"Then as soon as we get to Macon, we'll need to be ready to fight the infected. We were going to have to get gas anyway. And from what I've seen, if you destroy the head, they stop moving. Aim for the head."

"The head... got it."

We got back in the car and headed for Macon.

I handed Lee a dagger.

"I don't know how much fighting we'll have to do, but if you run out of ammo, use this."

"Got it."

"And Clem, absolutely don't get out of the car."

"Okay."

Everyone was tense as we arrived in Macon.

Kenny's truck stopped, it must have run out of gas, so we stopped too.

I grabbed my weapons, a fuel can, and a manual pump, and got out with Lee.

We went to a nearby abandoned vehicle, opened the fuel tank, and started siphoning gas.

Lee and Kenny kept watch.

"Almost done?"

Kenny was anxious and urged me on.

"This car doesn't have much. We'll need to do a few more."

"Damn... okay, let's try another."

We moved from car to car, siphoning gas, until we finally filled one can.

"That's it. Let's go."

Just then, zombies started approaching.

I handed the can to Kenny and said, "Kenny! Get to the vehicle and put the gas in! We'll hold them off."

"Got it."

Kenny hurried to his truck and started fueling up, while Lee and I held off the approaching zombies.

As expected of a larger city, Macon had a lot of zombies, they just kept coming.

Graaah...

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"I'm done! Let's go, friends!"

Kenny shouted, and Lee and I stopped shooting, got back in our vehicles, and drove off.

"Phew... that was intense..."

"You'll need to get used to the tension. Anyway, let's find a place to rest. It's getting dark."

We kept driving toward the outskirts of the city and spotted a quiet-looking two-story motel.

There were a few zombies there, but I took them out quickly and quietly.

Phut! Thud! Swoosh!

Thud! Thud!

"As expected of a special forces guy. Taking out infected so quietly and quickly."

People were impressed as I used my backpack or the Yukimura to dispatch the zombies quickly.

"The outside is clear, but there might be infected inside the rooms. Let's check."

We slowly opened each door and checked for infected.