Surviving the Apocalypse as an All-Time Best Overpowered Necromancer - Chapter 74

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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 74
74. New Changes (2)
The next day.
The moment Lee Gang-hyuk woke, he logged into the Community.
He wanted to check people’s reactions to yesterday’s notification and gather any new information.
As expected…….
The Community was filled with talk about the notification.
But there was one strange thing.
Some people spoke as though they’d never seen the notification, discussing it as if they’d heard about it for the first time on the Community.
Some received the notification while others didn’t.
As everyone logged into the Community puzzled over this, it wasn’t long before the question was answered.
Those without the notification.
They were all Non-Awakened.
Through this, those accessing the Community reached one conclusion.
‘The system is deliberately excluding the Non-Awakened.’
The moment that conclusion formed, all manner of conspiracy theories began to surface on the Community forums.
Claims that a world was being created for Awakeners alone.
Extreme opinions that the Non-Awakened would eventually all perish, and even talk of driving them out because one couldn’t keep such unpredictable infection risks beside them.
‘……This is serious.’
When the first Mutation ended and people who’d learned about the Community logged in, the atmosphere had been similar.
But back then, there had been many posts about how everyone had to work together to overcome the catastrophe…….
Now not a single such post was visible.
Rather, the mood actively supported the conspiracy theories.
‘Most of the food-gathering has fallen to the Awakeners, so I understand some resentment piling up…… but this seems rather dangerous?’
Awakeners protect the survivors.
Great power demands great responsibility.
On this logic, countless Shelters had been maintained.
Despite that, many places had still collapsed…….
Somehow, if a wall of distrust formed between Awakeners and Non-Awakened because of this, it felt like far more Shelters would fall.
‘Honestly…… it’s not really my business…… but I’m still worried.’
Without realizing it, Lee Gang-hyuk thought of the Jungnang-gu Alliance and let out a small sigh.
At that moment.
A message came from the man who’d gone to Yangju City Hall.
[Couldn’t gather enough scattered Zombies, but we’re moving to Gangwon Province. The Zombies’ aggression and movement speed have increased compared to before. Be cautious.]
“Hmm.”
The man’s faithfulness to his duty made yesterday’s worry seem groundless.
That must mean his stealth ability was that good.
“Aggression and movement speed, huh…….”
Having learned of changes from the man’s words, Lee Gang-hyuk looked at the Zombies he’d tamed.
Soon the Zombies, ordered by the Command Domain, began to move.
But…….
Unlike the information the man had sent, the Zombies’ movements showed little difference.
Was it simply that he couldn’t feel it?
Or did the tamed Zombies not apply?
“Should I retame them?”
If he tried taming an empowered Zombie, he’d find out.
Lee Gang-hyuk thought this and stood up, heading straight to the 23rd floor.
He’d gone up out of habit since, with the decision to lay low until he understood the situation, he had little else to do.
Upon arriving at the 23rd floor, he found Seo Hwa-rin working on something, and he tilted his head curiously as he approached her.
“What are you doing?”
“Oh! You’re here. Just…… I had some time, so I was making a sofa. A-rin asked me to make one.”
“Ah, I see.”
Honestly, he didn’t quite understand.
There’d be no need to make a new sofa when they could just go into any house and take one…….
He wondered why she was putting in the effort, but rather than let it show, he nodded, and Seo Hwa-rin laughed and asked back.
“While I’m at it, I’ll make something for you too. Is there anything you need?”
“Not really…… Oh! I do need a place to store the Bone Armor. I’ve looked around, but haven’t found anything suitable.”
“That’s not hard. I’ll make it for you right away.”
At those words, Seo Hwa-rin nodded and set down her hammer, then laughed in an embarrassed way.
“……You saw the Community?”
“Yes. It seems a lot of people are in chaos.”
At his words, Lee Gang-hyuk’s expression became troubled, and Seo Hwa-rin’s face hardened on its own.
“The Jungnang-gu Alliance will be fine, right?”
“Well…… it seems Kim Tae-sik as leader should be able to handle it adequately…… but we’ll have to see how it actually plays out.”
From his direct meeting, Kim Tae-sik seemed like a very capable person.
Someone willing to bow his head when it served his purpose.
With someone like that, control should be manageable.
Lee Gang-hyuk thought this and sat beside Seo Hwa-rin, watching her work.
* * *
“Leader, the Non-Awakened are growing restless.”
At his subordinate’s report, Hwang Kyung-sik frowned as if asking what he was supposed to do about it.
“And?”
“Perhaps it would be good to say something at a time like this…….”
As the subordinate continued, Hwang Kyung-sik raised his hand, and the subordinate fell silent, lowering his head.
“Hmm.”
When quiet returned, Hwang Kyung-sik let out a small groan, then asked the person beside him.
“What’s our current personnel count? Awakeners and Non-Awakened separately.”
“Should I break it down by Shelter?”
“Just the total.”
“551 Awakeners, 832 Non-Awakened.”
As the man reported, Hwang Kyung-sik smiled as if a good idea had occurred to him.
“Select from the Non-Awakened those with low contribution, severe restlessness, or those instigating others, and isolate them. As for numbers…… well, since this is a first attempt, about 200 should be appropriate.”
“Just isolate them?”
Hearing this order, the man beside him questioned further.
At the same time, Hwang Kyung-sik laughed as if pleased, shaking his head.
“If they’re no longer useful, we should make them useful. Since they say infection happens, let’s verify that aspect.”
“Understood. Once we’ve confirmed the infection, will you handle them directly?”
“I’ll handle half. You lot handle the rest. Distribute them mainly among those who haven’t been hunting. We can’t have them falling behind the scum from other regions in level.”
“Yes!”
As the man lowered his head and left, Hwang Kyung-sik’s smile deepened.
At that moment.
The subordinate who’d reported first spoke up.
“But…… if that happens, won’t there be backlash from people……?”
“They don’t give Experience Points and just consume food—now that we’ve found a use for them, shouldn’t we employ it? Awakeners growing stronger is a decision for everyone’s benefit, so comply. This is the path to our better future.”
“……Ah, understood.”
As Hwang Kyung-sik declared this, the subordinate finally submitted and lowered his head.
Because he’d grasped why he hadn’t been punished and killed—what his boss really meant beneath the kind words.
Awakeners.
To Hwang Kyung-sik, only Awakeners mattered. The Non-Awakened were mere burdens, save for their labor value.
Learning through yesterday’s notification how to use such burdens, the man understood he could only obey.
* * *
After furniture-making was done and they’d all gathered for lunch, Lee Gang-hyuk, who’d been thinking hard about something, spoke as if he’d made a decision.
“I need to check the Zombies’ performance and possibly replace them. Or else exclude Zombies entirely and compose my forces only of Skeletons.”
Though abrupt, Seo Hwa-rin seemed to understand, tilting her head slightly.
“Is there a big difference in ability?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll have to see.”
He understood that the notification meant mutated ones when it said “Zombies.”
So the tamed Zombies’ power should have risen too, but…….
Watching them move about, it didn’t feel right.
Wondering if things might change once combat started, he’d mentioned it to both of them, and just as a conclusion was being drawn, Seo A-rin raised her hand and spoke.
“But wouldn’t we still need Zombies? Skeletons can’t farm.”
“Ah! That’s right…… farming existed.”
As she said, Skeletons couldn’t use the Farming Skill.
Only Zombies could.
Honestly, two days ago he’d have abandoned Zombies and composed forces only of Skeletons.
But now that he understood the power of the farming category, he couldn’t abandon Zombies.
“Then let’s check their performance first and decide whether to replace the Zombies.”
“Good. I’ll go with you and help.”
“I’m coming too!”
The moment she finished speaking, her eyes gleaming as she stared at him, a startled Lee Gang-hyuk calmed both of them.
“I’m going with you both, so please, both of you, settle down.”
“We’re worried you might go alone.”
“That’s right.”
Perhaps because the notification that appeared to everyone yesterday, both their faces were full of worry. If he left them and came back alone, it would surely cause a commotion.
So Lee Gang-hyuk, who’d initially meant to go alone, changed his mind and smiled.
“Then get ready and come down to the 15th floor. We’ll meet there and go together.”
“Okay!”
* * *
An hour later.
After combat preparations, Lee Gang-hyuk came down to the lobby and sent only the Bone Shielders outside.
“For now we’ll wait here in the lobby.”
“Okay.”
The moment the two answered, the Bone Shielders began striking their shields.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
It was to provoke and lure the Zombies that had gathered around the building at night.
Shortly after.
Four Zombies burst from a corner alley.
Just as the man’s message yesterday had said, the Zombies’ movements were faster than before.
Their aggression had also grown, and the moment they spotted a Bone Shielder, they rushed at them ferociously.
“It’s definitely different.”
Lee Gang-hyuk spoke matter-of-factly upon seeing this, and Seo Hwa-rin whispered a question.
“……So they’ve also mutated to cause infection?”
“Yes.”
Lee Gang-hyuk answered her question with a bitter expression and deployed Zombies.
“Now I’ll deploy tamed Zombies and compare the difference.”
Nod, nod.
As if speaking would draw unwanted attention, both remained silent, simply nodding.
Then Lee Gang-hyuk’s gaze turned to the Zombies.
‘I wonder…….’
How would it go?
He was curious.
Lee Gang-hyuk’s tamed Zombies were already far stronger than ordinary wild Zombies thanks to the Command Domain Effect.
But after yesterday’s notification appeared.
Even wild Zombies had grown stronger.
If the tamed Zombies had also been empowered, they should easily suppress the gathered Zombies.
‘Bone Shielders, fall back five steps.’
As the deployed Zombies joined the fray, he deliberately had the Bone Shielders retreat.
And at the same time…….
As the Bone Shielders fell back and the tamed Zombies filled the gap, the wild Zombies and tamed Zombies clashed directly.
At first the tamed Zombies seemed superior, but as time passed, they gradually became evenly matched.
“It seems the tamed Zombies were excluded from the Mutation’s benefits. We should retame them.”
They shouldn’t be evenly matched.
If the tamed Zombies’ power had also been strengthened, they should have won even if not overwhelmingly.
If they performed similarly to wild Zombies, it was right to replace them all.
Having decided this, Lee Gang-hyuk released control of one of the battling Zombies, and suddenly that creature’s movements changed oddly.
As if its power had become similar to the gathered wild Zombies, its movements became faster.
“W-wait, Gang-hyuk? Don’t tell me…….”
Seo Hwa-rin, also noticing the change, looked at him with a shocked expression.
“Yes. It seems their power weakens when tamed. But just to be sure, I need to retame this one I just released and a new one. That’ll confirm it.”
With those words, Lee Gang-hyuk used Corpse Manipulation to retame the one he’d just released and a new Zombie.
And then…….
The movements of the Zombies he’d tamed noticeably slowed.
“……This is an unexpected worst-case scenario.”
Facing an unforeseen situation, Lee Gang-hyuk’s expression froze.
But it wasn’t as though the tamed Zombies’ power dropped drastically.
The efficiency had only decreased; they were still at a level comparable to the empowered Zombies, so he could remain assured for now.
The problem was…….
‘If Zombies strengthen again, I’d need a higher ratio of Skeletons to Zombies…… but this is troublesome.’
Combat and farming.
To catch both rabbits, he needed to find an optimized ratio of Zombies and Skeletons.
Of course, raising Charisma would solve it, but then he’d lack Dexterity and couldn’t obtain good items.
What should he do?
After thinking briefly, Lee Gang-hyuk judged he couldn’t reach an answer now and let out a sigh, turning to Seo Hwa-rin.
“I’m done checking. Since we’ve come down anyway, let’s verify the weapon’s performance.”
“A weapon? Oh! Understood.”
He could ponder this upstairs later.
So Lee Gang-hyuk decided to check the performance of the sword he’d given her, and Seo Hwa-rin drew her blade and stood.

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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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