Surviving the Apocalypse as an All-Time Best Overpowered Necromancer - Chapter 64

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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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Episode 64
64. Hearts Connected by Rail (6)
“So what do you say? Will you help us? We… no, I need the knowledge you possess, Lee Gang-hyuk.”
“Knowledge?”
“Yes. The kind of knowledge that others can’t easily grasp—the survival knowledge that’s kept you alive until now.”
Mm.
Lee Gang-hyuk finally understood why Kim Tae-sik had been so fixated on him, why he kept trying to recruit him.
His expression hardened as he asked, “Do I need to answer you right now?”
“I’d prefer to hear your answer immediately if possible. Though I won’t force you.”
Kim Tae-sik replied without hostility and shifted his body slightly, signaling that Lee Gang-hyuk was free to leave whenever he wished.
‘So he’s serious about this.’
Honestly, if the Chungmuro Alliance fell apart, it wouldn’t be entirely disadvantageous for Lee Gang-hyuk either.
With them gone, the threat would vanish, so helping the Jungnang-gu Alliance made sense from that angle.
‘Still, I need to know what and how I’m supposed to help before I make any promises.’
Kim Tae-sik had only asked him to promise help in bringing down the Chungmuro Alliance—he’d been vague about the actual methods and specifics.
So Lee Gang-hyuk pressed for clarification. “If I were to help, what exactly would you need me to do, and how?”
“Your survival knowledge, strategy, tactics. We’d like you to share all the knowledge and experience you possess with us.”
“You want everything in my head, in other words.”
“That’s correct.”
He answered straightforwardly to the counter-question.
Faced with such confidence, Lee Gang-hyuk let out a quiet sigh and shrugged his shoulders. “Sharing knowledge isn’t particularly difficult. I’ve been doing it for a long time.”
!!
For a moment, Kim Tae-sik’s eyes widened.
He’d thought it was an outright acceptance, but Lee Gang-hyuk shook his head, indicating that wasn’t the issue at all.
“But I think we may have different ideas about how to convey that knowledge. How do you feel about that?”
“Ideally, I’d ask you to stay with us and teach our members directly, but if that’s too much, what about visiting our Shelter twice a week?”
“Twice a week is too far. The railway isn’t even properly connected yet, and besides… the Line 7 section runs underground with no lighting, so visiting would be difficult.”
That’s why Lee Gang-hyuk had said from the start that exchanging via the rail line between Myeongmok-dong was ambiguous.
Underground.
Now that electricity was cut, no one had cleared out the Zombies settled in the underground. The risk was too high with no benefit to be gained.
When Lee Gang-hyuk, who had suggested connecting the railways for exchange, spoke negatively, Kim Tae-sik stroked his chin and countered, “That problem should be something we can solve on our end. So when you wanted to connect the railway, how were you planning to exchange with us?”
“I was thinking we’d meet at Changdong Station for exchange. The Jungnang-gu Alliance has already expanded that far.”
“Hmm, Changdong Station, you say… You’re right that we have expanded that far, but it’s not exactly an easy distance to travel back and forth, so it is awkward as you say.”
Even though they’d expanded to Changdong Station, it wasn’t a distance that was easy to traverse regularly.
Of course…
The Vanguard Strike Force under Park Mu-jin and Jang Man-ho as commanders could make the trip easily enough.
But given the uncertainty of when the Chungmuro Alliance might launch a surprise attack, it felt like a burden.
“Hmm, but why specifically that place?”
“Because unlike Line 7, Line 1 runs above ground.”
“Line 1, you say… Line 1… Then what if you visited Kyunghee University twice a week to teach our members there?”
“Kyunghee University?”
“Yes. Kyunghee University’s Shelter is also part of our Alliance. Since that location connects to where you are via above-ground routes, wouldn’t you be able to travel there easily enough?”
Mm.
Lee Gang-hyuk didn’t answer immediately, emitting a low groan instead as if pondering.
‘This is troublesome.’
The moment Kim Tae-sik mentioned Changdong Station, any excuse to refuse the Kyunghee University offer simply evaporated.
Just as he was wondering whether he should accept all the terms as they stood, the man behind him—Park Mu-jin—spoke up.
“I apologize for interjecting mid-conversation, but would it be alright to say something?”
Puzzled by Park Mu-jin’s sudden intervention, Kim Tae-sik assumed there must be a reason and sought Lee Gang-hyuk’s consent.
Lee Gang-hyuk nodded, and Park Mu-jin bowed his head before continuing. “A few days ago, while we were scouting near Banghak Station, we discovered a Mutant Zombie not on any list and drove it into Banghak Station. Given that situation, we judge it’s currently difficult to use Line 1 immediately.”
“A Mutant Zombie not on the list? Ah, that’s the one reported recently.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Hmm.
Kim Tae-sik nodded, evidently having received a report about it, but his brow furrowed in frustration.
It seemed they were almost there, but Park Mu-jin’s words—dumping ash on an already-cooked meal—made Kim Tae-sik sigh. He looked toward Lee Gang-hyuk and added, “Well then, we’ll clear out all the stations along the path from here to Kyunghee University, including Banghak Station.”
With such an offer, there was no reason left to refuse, no more excuses to be made. Yet Lee Gang-hyuk couldn’t simply accept all the terms as presented.
Since the other side had stepped back, he too needed to draw a clear line and ensure both parties benefited.
Lee Gang-hyuk nodded in agreement and made a final proposal. “Fine. Since you’re willing to do all that, I won’t refuse. But once a week is too often.”
“Once a week.”
The moment he heard the counter-offer, Kim Tae-sik responded immediately as if he’d obtained his desired result.
It seemed he’d been aiming for once a week from the start.
‘This isn’t easy.’
Never knew negotiating with people could be this exhausting.
Still, satisfied that the conversation was flowing in roughly the direction he wanted, Lee Gang-hyuk moved on. “That works. Then as compensation for sharing my knowledge, what will you give me in return?”
“… This really isn’t easy, is it.”
“Well, since lives are on the line.”
Kim Tae-sik found Lee Gang-hyuk’s refusal to relent—even when Lee Gang-hyuk seemed ready to cross the finish line—amusing, and he appreciated how Lee Gang-hyuk steered negotiations toward mutual benefit. Smiling, he pondered briefly before speaking. “Is there a specific item you’d like?”
“Can we get anything we want?”
“Anything we can provide is yours.”
“Since I don’t know what you have, it’s hard to answer right away.”
It was indirect, but he was asking them to make suggestions—something that might tempt him.
Faced with Lee Gang-hyuk’s composure and directness even in a disadvantageous position, Kim Tae-sik burst out laughing, then nodded approvingly. “Then take your time thinking about it and let me know. Either way, we’ll need time to clear the path from here to Kyunghee University, so think it over and tell me later—we’ll procure it for you.”
“Understood. I’ll see you again next time then.”
“Good.”
After a long conversation, both men got what they wanted. They concluded the discussion with a handshake.
“Ah! This is a gift we’ve prepared to commemorate today’s meeting.”
Though he’d failed to recruit Lee Gang-hyuk, perhaps because he’d still obtained his desired outcome, Kim Tae-sik turned to Jang Man-ho and spoke.
…
But Jang Man-ho, still looking dissatisfied, unfastened the bag slung across his back and handed it to Lee Gang-hyuk without a word.
It was enormous—clearly containing something bulky.
“Thank you. We’ve also prepared something.”
Lee Gang-hyuk accepted the bag and, expressing gratitude, handed over a bag containing alcohol and tobacco to Jang Man-ho.
Clink.
!!
The moment Jang Man-ho received it, he understood the contents just from the sound and his expression brightened with satisfaction.
At the same time, he glanced nervously at Kim Tae-sik.
‘So he’s caused problems because of alcohol before, apparently.’
The instant Lee Gang-hyuk saw this, he understood exactly what kind of person Jang Man-ho was.
Just then…
“Well then, shall we part ways here for today? It was truly good to see you.”
Having read Lee Gang-hyuk’s gaze, Kim Tae-sik expressed his thanks and hastily wrapped up the situation.
“The pleasure was mine. I look forward to working together. Please be careful on your way.”
With no real reason to detain them, Lee Gang-hyuk concluded the meeting and offered his farewell, but then remained seated without standing.
‘To the very end…’
Recognizing this was deliberate—to conceal the Zombies and Skeletons hidden nearby—Kim Tae-sik let out a quiet sigh.
“Then we’ll head down first.”
Though they’d agreed to work together, he understood that complete trust hadn’t yet been established. Time would naturally resolve that, he figured, and led his people downward.
Sigh.
Only after they’d gone did Lee Gang-hyuk finally relax, exhaling a breath of relief from where he sat. He turned back to look at the two women and spoke. “That wasn’t as straightforward as I’d planned.”
Kim Tae-sik had seen through everything Lee Gang-hyuk had prepared.
It was fortunate that Kim Tae-sik had been favorably disposed toward him; otherwise, both the two women and Lee Gang-hyuk himself could have been in danger.
Undoubtedly, Kim Tae-sik had known this and applied subtle pressure throughout.
“I’m sorry. I was overconfident. I should have prepared more carefully…”
“No, we were careless too!”
At Lee Gang-hyuk’s apology, Seo A-rin jumped in alarm and waved her hands frantically.
Meanwhile, Seo Hwa-rin seemed somewhat uneasy about the decision they’d just made and asked worriedly, “But… will we really be okay?”
“We will be. If we go there ourselves, it’ll be easy to gauge their military strength, and we can identify their weaknesses too. It’s not a bad trade.”
“Weaknesses…”
At his words, Seo Hwa-rin stroked her chin and murmured softly. Lee Gang-hyuk, changing the subject somewhat, extended the bag they’d received as a gift. “Anyway, let’s see what they gave us.”
“Yes!”
Sure.
When both women agreed, Lee Gang-hyuk opened the bag. The moment the three of them saw the contents, their eyes widened and they drew in a sharp breath.
Inside were a Military Combat Suit, Night Vision Goggles, and a single Short Dagger. The entire blade of the dagger shimmered with a blue light, as if Mana had been infused into it.
“This is…”
“Yes. It looks like it was made by an Awakener with Crafting Ability.”
“Wow.”
He’d heard that those who awakened with Crafting Ability could produce weapons, armor, and accessories, but seeing it in person for the first time was something else entirely.
Lee Gang-hyuk could craft too, of course, but only items made from bone as material.
He’d never seen a weapon made from steel before.
Perhaps because of this,
all three gazed at the blue-gleaming Short Dagger before looking back at the figures descending the stairs.
“The weapons they were carrying looked like they were made by the same person.”
“Now that you mention it… they really were impressive.”
Though never drawn during the meeting, the weapons wielded by Kim Tae-sik, Park Mu-jin, and Jang Man-ho were of a type not easily found on the market.
If he’d thought about it for even a moment, he could have figured it out.
‘…I was so stupid.’
Lee Gang-hyuk, recalling how he’d focused entirely on conversation without properly assessing their armaments, shook his head with a hardened expression.
‘Next time, absolutely not.’
He would never make the same mistake again. Never, no matter what.
Sigh.
Having made a firm resolve, he exhaled and picked up the blue-gleaming Short Dagger.
“I’m curious about the dagger’s performance.”
Oh!
If an Awakener with Crafting Ability had made the dagger, then like the equipment Lee Gang-hyuk had crafted himself, viewing its information should be possible.
As Lee Gang-hyuk examined the dagger’s stats, he found himself stroking his chin. “Combat Knife
– A short dagger crafted from steel ingots infused with Mana.
– Magic Power + 3
– Slight increase to Mana and Core Force natural recovery rate.”

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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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