Surviving the Apocalypse as an All-Time Best Overpowered Necromancer - Chapter 102

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 102
102. A Day in December (3)
“Everyone did well.”
Lee Gang-hyuk, who had returned safely to the Base, shook out his completely soaked hair and looked back at his companions.
Seeing them all standing there like drowned rats made him laugh despite himself.
Whoosh.
Patter-patter.
Seo A-rin wrung out her wet hair with a deep sigh, and as water cascaded down like a waterfall, Lee Gang-hyuk groaned in sympathy.
“Ugh… I really hate this.”
The snow-covered mountain had been absolutely miserable—so bad that even Seo A-rin, who loved hiking, never wanted to go back. Not once more.
Still, one way or another, everyone had returned safely.
That was enough.
Though…
Despite all the hardship, they’d come away empty-handed. But as long as everyone was safe, that was what mattered, Lee Gang-hyuk thought, and smiled as he spoke again.
“First, let’s all head home and disarm our gear, then meet at the Sauna.”
“Yes!”
In that instant, everyone’s expression brightened considerably.
And without waiting for anyone else to move, they climbed the stairs toward their respective homes.
Shortly after…
Once they’d washed up in warm water and changed into comfortable clothes before entering the Sauna one by one, Seo Hwa-rin and Yu Bit-na pulled out measuring tapes and broke into bright smiles.
“Alright, let’s take your measurements.”
“Please stand one at a time.”
At their words, the others exchanged glances without getting up.
Then Yu Ha-neul gathered his courage and asked.
“…Does it have to be right now?”
At the same time, Seo A-rin and Yu Bit-na growled with eyes sharp as ax blades.
“If we’re making it by tomorrow, we need to start now!”
Ugh.
Realizing that adding anything more would be unbearable, the resigned Yu Ha-neul went first to stand before the two of them.
He’d sensed it was better for him, as the youngest, to volunteer first.
Swish.
Whisk.
Seo Hwa-rin and Yu Bit-na then took measurements at remarkable speed, moving with practiced ease.
Their pace was far faster than when they’d been hunting Skeletons during training.
What’s more, the two moved in perfect synchronization.
When Seo A-rin went to measure his waist, Yu Bit-na would lift his arm to measure arm length; when measuring thighs, she’d measure his chest instead.
Boasting flawless coordination, they finished Yu Ha-neul’s measurements in an instant, then cast their eyes about for fresh prey.
“Next.”
…
When young Seo Hwa-rin stood up next, the two of them wagged their fingers and shook their heads.
“Not yet, lady.”
“We can’t reveal a lady’s measurements!”
“R-right.”
As Seo Hwa-rin sat back down with flushed cheeks at their words, the two turned their gaze toward Lee Gang-hyuk and Kang Pil-du.
“Next.”
…
…
When their stares sharpened, Lee Gang-hyuk tilted his chin at Kang Pil-du.
Kang Pil-du snorted and pointed at Lee Gang-hyuk while shrugging.
“You’re the older one. I’m the uncle.”
So he was repaying that old quip in this way.
Ugh.
Flustered, Lee Gang-hyuk let out a groan and reluctantly stood up.
His measurements were taken in a flash, and he dropped back into his seat looking utterly exhausted.
But the moment he realized it was now Kang Pil-du’s turn, he opened his eyes wide and watched.
He’d been hoping to see him roughed up the same way he was.
Yet when Kang Pil-du’s turn came, he simply sat there smiling and spoke.
“Arm length is…”
As he rattled off his measurements, Seo A-rin and Yu Bit-na simply jotted them down without bothering to measure, smiling happily.
“Thanks for your help. We’ll get started now!”
“Hey. Help us a bit.”
“M-me? Oh, sure.”
As the satisfied pair whisked Yu Ha-neul away outside, Kang Pil-du turned to face Lee Gang-hyuk, who’d been staring at him in dismay, and waggled his index finger.
“Knowing your measurements is basic for a man.”
…
That was Lee Gang-hyuk’s first defeat.
* * *
After Seo A-rin and Yu Bit-na left, calm and peace returned to the Sauna—but only briefly.
Seo Hwa-rin, who’d been stroking her chin in thought, asked a question.
“That aside… isn’t this Christmas Eve? Shouldn’t there be a tree?”
“A tree… now that you mention it, that’s a good idea.”
It was true.
If they were going to set the mood, having a Christmas Tree wouldn’t be amiss at all.
The problem was…
Where would they get a tree to use?
“We can’t go back out because of the Yeti, and we should’ve cut one down on the way here.”
Hmm.
As Kang Pil-du sighed and muttered, something seemed to stir in Lee Gang-hyuk’s mind. He stroked his chin in thought with a groan, then suddenly clapped his hands together with a bright smile.
“Ah! There might be a tree in the warehouse the Security Office staff used to keep.”
“The Security Office warehouse?”
“Yes. The security team used to set one up in the lobby every Christmas season.”
Lee Gang-hyuk answered Kang Pil-du’s follow-up question as his memory returned.
“Location?”
“I’m not sure. It’s definitely somewhere in the basement, but I don’t know the exact spot.”
“This is ridiculous. You used to live here—you should at least know what’s where.”
Kang Pil-du grumbled at his own words, and Lee Gang-hyuk shot back incredulously.
“I wasn’t in the Security Office. Anyway, it’s definitely in the basement somewhere. Let’s just head down and look around.”
“Fine.”
Since it wasn’t a matter of going outside, just wandering the Underground Parking Lot, Kang Pil-du nodded readily.
“I’ll come too.”
Seo Hwa-rin volunteered, thinking they’d need light in the basement, and Lee Gang-hyuk gestured toward the outside.
“You sure about that?”
“Ah…”
Only then did Seo Hwa-rin realize her predicament. Her face fell and she let out a disappointed sigh.
* * *
“A battery? What for?”
Kang Pil-du tilted his head when he saw the Large Capacity Battery in Lee Gang-hyuk’s hands.
“While we’re down there, we might as well charge it.”
“Charge it? Does the building even have a generator?”
“Something like that.”
Finding it faster to show rather than explain further, Lee Gang-hyuk shrugged and headed down the stairs.
Moments later.
“Light.”
Snap! Snap!
Whoosh.
As Lee Gang-hyuk entered the Underground Parking Lot and spoke briefly, Bon Mage ignited Spark Creation.
Though not as bright as Burst Burn, the area lit up, and Lee Gang-hyuk matter-of-factly started up an automobile and connected the Large Capacity Battery to it.
“I wondered where the electricity came from, but I never imagined this method.”
At first, he’d thought Electric was charging the battery directly.
He’d had no idea they could use an automobile instead.
Astonished, Kang Pil-du murmured, and Lee Gang-hyuk handed him the Large Capacity Battery and spoke.
“This is something you’ll need to know how to do from now on. The number of the vehicle that starts is posted on the emergency stairs at Basement Level 1, so remember it.”
“Got it. So we start the ignition and connect the battery here?”
“That’s right.”
Afterward, the two worked in silence connecting the battery, then chuckled quietly together.
Shortly after…
Once they’d connected all the batteries, they wandered through the parking lot searching for the Security Office staff’s warehouse, but they found no sign reading “Warehouse.”
“…You sure it’s in the basement?”
From Basement Level 1 through Level 5.
They’d checked all the nameplates on the Iron Doors.
Finding nothing that looked like a Security Office warehouse, Kang Pil-du asked incredulously.
“I heard the security team chief tell staff to go to the basement warehouse to get supplies.”
“Hmm. Then it sounds like we’ll have to open each door and check inside.”
Until now, they’d only looked at the nameplates.
Since they’d never opened any doors to check inside, Kang Pil-du approached a nearby Iron Door and grabbed the handle.
“Wait.”
Seeing this, Lee Gang-hyuk called out urgently, and Kang Pil-du asked irritably.
“What now?”
“There might be Zombies on the other side, so be careful.”
“…I really have no idea what kind of building this was.”
Even as he griped at the warning, Kang Pil-du didn’t open the door, bringing his ear closer instead out of genuine concern.
Groan.
Splash—!
At that moment, the Water Snake that Im Jae-beom had created slid smoothly into the gap beneath the door.
“Does that tell you anything?”
…
Kang Pil-du fell silent, suddenly embarrassed, and Lee Gang-hyuk waved his index finger side to side with an amused grin.
“Not this one. Next.”
Score: one to one.
Lee Gang-hyuk considered himself even for his loss at the Sauna and examined the next Iron Door.
And so…
As they worked their way deeper, confirming the contents with the Water Snake,
On Basement Level 3, behind an Iron Door labeled “Mechanical Room,” they found the tree.
The name said mechanical room.
In reality, it was part warehouse, part break room—crammed with blankets, pillows, and all manner of junk.
“Unbelievable. Did they really expect people to rest in a place like this? This is absurd.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
Kang Pil-du spoke angrily, and Lee Gang-hyuk, equally annoyed, scrunched his face and agreed.
But what good was anger now?
After venting briefly, the two gathered the tree and battery and climbed back upstairs.
“A tree!”
When they reached the 23rd Floor, Yu Ha-neul emerged into the hallway, saw the tree, and shouted.
At the same time, all traces of the exhaustion he’d suffered at Seo A-rin and Yu Bit-na’s hands vanished, and he broke into a bright smile as he bounded toward them.
“Where are the others?”
“Inside! I’ll go get them!”
When Lee Gang-hyuk asked, Yu Ha-neul answered with a smile and enthusiasm before bounding away again.
The sight was so endearing.
“It was worth the effort.”
Kang Pil-du and Lee Gang-hyuk exchanged contented smiles and nodded.
* * *
They decided to set up the Christmas Tree in the house where the children were staying.
It was what they loved most, after all.
After setting the tree up in one corner of the living room, Lee Gang-hyuk turned to the children and spoke.
“Now let’s find some decorations for the tree.”
“Yes!”
When Yu Ha-neul and Yu Bit-na scattered at his words, Seo Hwa-rin smiled softly.
“Even if they’re high school students, they’re still children at heart.”
“They’re at an age where they’ll laugh at falling leaves.”
“Isn’t that what people usually say about typical high school girls?”
“Is it?”
Lee Gang-hyuk gave a sly shrug, and Seo Hwa-rin laughed softly.
“In any case, thank you for the trouble of finding it.”
“Please, don’t mention it.”
Though the wrong nameplates had caused them to wander a bit, it wasn’t particularly difficult. Slightly embarrassed, Lee Gang-hyuk suddenly asked with expectant eyes.
“So what’s for dinner tonight?”
“Ramen, of course.”
“…Ah.”
He’d quietly been hoping for something special since it was Christmas.
At the unremarkable menu, he clicked his tongue in disappointment, but Seo Hwa-rin laughed brightly and continued.
“The Eve is tomorrow, after all.”
“Right, you’re correct.”
Now that he thought about it, the Eve was tomorrow, not today.
Realizing he’d gotten caught up in the children’s excitement without meaning to, Lee Gang-hyuk laughed awkwardly, and Seo Hwa-rin emphasized again, as if not to let him forget.
“The Eve is tomorrow.”
“Yes. Tomorrow.”
Why was she repeating herself?
Puzzled, Lee Gang-hyuk tilted his head, and Seo Hwa-rin broke into laughter.
“So you can look forward to tomorrow.”
Understanding at last, Lee Gang-hyuk laughed heartily and nodded repeatedly.
“Oh!”
Suddenly remembering something as he looked at the tree, Lee Gang-hyuk exclaimed and, after asking permission, headed to his house.
He’d remembered a Star-Shaped Lantern he’d received as a gift long ago when he bought camping gear to shoot videos.
‘I can’t make tree decorations out of bone.’
He’d initially thought about using Tactical Processing to create a star ornament, but making the tree’s centerpiece—the star—out of someone’s bone felt wrong. So he’d settled on the lantern instead.
And so…
Searching his memory, Lee Gang-hyuk found the lantern and made his way back up to the 23rd Floor.
When he reached the children, who were hanging decorations they’d found somewhere, he handed them the lantern and asked.
“Who wants to put the final star decoration on top?”
“Bit-na.”
“N-no, you do it.”
At the question, the children pointed at each other.
Yu Ha-neul spoke without hesitation, while Yu Bit-na, unlike when making clothes, blushed with apparent embarrassment. The sight was so precious and endearing that a smile bloomed naturally on Lee Gang-hyuk’s face as he shrugged.
“Why not do it together?”
The children nodded enthusiastically, and shortly after hanging the lantern together at the very top, they giggled with delight.
‘This isn’t so bad after all.’
Lee Gang-hyuk, who’d only focused on survival until now, felt as though the world had returned to how it was before the Calamity, and his mood lifted.
‘Please…’
At the same time, he gazed out the window at the sky and prayed fervently to God that this feeling—one he could never have felt alone—might continue indefinitely.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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