ALL NOVEL Chapter 42
Winter had arrived.
With white, beautiful snow and the festive mood of year-end laughter…
Unfortunately, such things were now tales from another world.
In this era, winter was something much colder, harsher, and dreadful.
“Damn, it’s freezing as hell!”
A man, armed with a thick padded coat and hood, spat out mist as he spoke.
At least the man had it better.
He was a [Streamer], after all.
His body, transcending humanity, had some level of resistance against the cold.
This was the result of bravely fighting against [Zombies] to protect his family.
The problem was he was the only one who was a [Streamer].
To become a [Streamer], one must turn on the broadcast and face the monsters known as [Abnormalities] while viewers were watching.
Anyone could become a [Streamer], but it meant one had to have the courage to gamble their life.
In other words, the man’s family was still ordinary people.
“I should have made them into [Streamers] while there were still [Zombies] around…”
It would be cruel to say he didn’t think of winter…
During such turbulent times, not many would be concerned about such matters.
The man clicked his tongue and pulled out his phone to check his remaining points.
35P
“Damn…!”
With the power of the [Broadcasting Station] and [System], things like water, electricity, and the internet were still available in this apocalyptic era, but of course, they weren’t free.
While that could be overlooked with the internet, water and electricity each cost 50P for a month.
Having 35P meant he couldn’t renew either one.
At this rate, the water and electricity of the house registered as a stronghold would be cut off in a few days.
If that happened, it would be hard for his family, being ordinary people, to survive the winter, let alone for him, a [Streamer].
‘What the hell can I do…’
Unfortunately, this was a common worry not just for him, but for most lower-tier [Streamers] in Korea.
Unlike foreign countries, where a recent raid event meant they didn’t have to worry about electricity or water for a while, Korea had long dealt with the [Artist] Han Yu-seong capturing all the event maps.
No, even if there had been an [Artist], it wouldn’t have changed much.
Unlike other high-ranking officials, the [Artist] was an existence that even the [Streamers] couldn’t dare approach yet.
A world devoid of [Zombies].
Seoul was practically facing another upheaval.
In the current Seoul, only [Streamers] ranked [Bronze] or higher had the capability to hunt [Abnormalities].
Those stuck at lower ranks like [Iron] found it increasingly hard to hunt in Seoul.
Naturally, the inflow of points had also ceased.
In fact, this was an expected outcome.
Most of them were just ordinary people trying to protect their families or loved ones from [Zombies], gradually clearing out the nearby threats.
I don’t intend to belittle their courage in facing [Zombies] to protect their lives, but those who had grown satisfied after their families became somewhat safe had no means to contend with more powerful [Abnormalities].
In a way, one could say that Seoul was finally returning to normal.
The city overflowing with the weak near [Zombies] was an unusual case in the first place.
[Streamers] from other countries had fought against challenges far beyond comparison and gained strength.
Many blamed the first-level [Gold-tier Streamer], but in truth, it wasn’t something to complain about.
While everyone grew stronger by sucking on the honey pot of [Zombies], it was their choice to remain stagnant in their current position.
If it were another country, those people should’ve long sought out other [Streamers] to join their ranks, but due to the relaxed situation in Seoul, they only just began to recognize reality.
Ding ding~
At that moment, the man’s phone started ringing.
It was another [Streamer] in a similar situation living nearby.
“Uh, what’s up?”
….
“What?”
He let out a bewildered sound upon hearing what came through the phone.
So now…
“You want me to go to Busan?”
*
Quite some time had passed since the incident in the Vatican.
As the tension everyone had was dissipating, kept alive by the [Artists] who were not responding, I too was starting to relax when Seoul’s [Streamer] population began dispersing nationwide.
“Well, they really did have no choices, didn’t they?”
I never imagined the capital’s overcrowding would be solved like this.
I said while monitoring the Korean [Streamers] after a long time.
Seoul is safe.
Surely there’s no place safer in the world than Seoul right now.
An [Ordinary City] resembling a terrestrial paradise.
With soldiers buffed to the point that they could attack [Abnormalities].
A powerful couple like Lumi and Jung Seong-min who specialized in hunting strong [Abnormalities].
I’m not saying that’s all there is.
Of course, I don’t deny that they were of great help to maintaining order.
But that’s merely a plus alpha.
Even without them, Seoul would still be the safest zone in the world.
Why?
Because fortunately, during the [Abnormality] flood, [Zombies] appeared.
One might ask how a zombie apocalypse could be considered fortunate, but I’m serious—it really was a stroke of luck for Seoul.
With the weakest combat potential on the brink of becoming [Abnormalities], and durability allowing them to be hunted if one set their mind to it without needing special equipment or being a [Streamer].
And the overwhelming spread proportional to that weakness.
The latter was crucial here.
Spread.
The biggest feature of [Zombies].
Because of that one property, [Zombies], despite being the weakest [Abnormality], were rife with a quantity of consciousness, colloquially known as ‘high-cost, low-spec units’.
And since the growth power of a [Streamer] comes from refining and absorbing the consciousness of the defeated [Abnormalities], it naturally led to faster growth for those who captured more consciousness-laden [Abnormalities].
In other words, [Zombies] were classified as weak monsters that could be easily hunted even at a low level while also providing experience points equal to that of mid-tier monsters.
Moreover, the fact that consciousness births [Abnormalities] means the quantity expended is substantial.
In simpler terms, [Zombies], which are packed with large amounts of consciousness and can continuously reproduce, are also devices that suppress the birth of other [Abnormalities].
The situation in Seoul just prior was one where weak, high-experience-giving monsters littered the area, while high-level monsters or boss monsters that would hinder their growth were completely absent.
If others from different countries had known, they probably would have begged for balance patches due to the incredible circumstances.
In fact, the first [Silver-tier Streamer] and the first [Gold-tier Streamer] both originated in Seoul.
But it’s not just the frontrunners who are strong.
With the entire region effectively being an experience point event, the average power level was the highest in the world.
In other words, for lower-tier [Streamers], not only could they not narrow the gap with the frontrunners, but they couldn’t even catch up with mid-tier [Streamers].
In the current situation, in order to survive in Seoul, they had no choice but to bow down beneath the already established [Streamers].
“… Honestly, even I can see that there are quite a few low lives.”
Aside from the rare case of Lumi during her [Streamer] days, it’s fair to say that the likes of Kim Min-seong are more the average [Streamer] personality.
Korea has plenty of diverse trash options.
In the end, the [Streamers] who failed to grow during the [Zombie] crisis chose to scatter for survival rather than fall beneath those low lives.
“The most crowded place would be… Busan?”
The city known as Korea’s second capital,
“Not bad.”
Yeah, it’s not a bad choice for settling down.
Since it had been swept clean once, the existing power would likely not have a stronghold, and with the lack of [Streamers] to hunt, [Abnormalities] would be overflowing.
While having many [Abnormalities] also meant it was dangerous, it also meant there were plenty of chances to feast and grow.
If they didn’t want to continue as lower-tier [Streamers], then it was necessary to risk a bit for a chance to rise now.
“However, it would be dangerous to tackle it alone, so you decided to gather [Streamers] in similar situations to form a group?”
Smart move.
The largest group headed towards Busan at that moment was surprisingly led by what appeared to be a high school-aged boy.
He had awakened after killing his father, who had turned into a [Zombie], to protect his mom and sister.
From his hunting records and videos, he seemed to have enough courage and skill…
But he must have been unable to grow while caring for his family, traumatized by the shock of his dad turning into a [Zombie].
His rank is…
Iron I?
He’ll likely be up to Bronze soon.
With a force of that size, he should easily progress to Silver…
“Will this kid be the one to take Busan?”
Hmm, he seems to have potential, and it wouldn’t hurt to push one person for the quick stabilization of Busan.
Time to issue the quest…
“Huh?”
At that moment, the boy on the screen suddenly collapsed.
Not just the boy.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
People started to fall one by one.
Attacked?
From where?
I can’t even see it with my own eyes?
Wiped out.
It was instantaneous.
The leader—the boy collapsed, and in just 3 seconds, the remaining members were wiped out.
More than 100 people vanished in an instant.
With the last [Streamer’s] consciousness cutting off, the broadcast ended.
I looked at the darkened screen and spoke to the teddy bear.
“Gather the entities and send them to Busan.”
As soon as possible.
*
Amid the fallen people, music began to play.
Majestic, sorrowful, despairing music that dripped with a sense of defeat…
A melody that drew listeners into despair.
The end.
Let us share in our sorrow and despair.
All together.
The fallen began to rise one by one.
Swaying to the music of hopelessness, they staggered to their feet.
Hollow.
With empty eyes devoid of any light.
As a blonde woman watched, a pale-haired man let the sound of a violin echo throughout Busan.