Became A Necromancer In a Zombie World

Thud.

The zombie that was biting my shoulder suddenly collapsed weakly to the floor.

It was strange enough that a hologram-like message appeared before me, but I was even more startled to see the creature that seemed ready to devour me now lying motionless.

"What, what is this?"

I grabbed my shoulder where it had been bitten and looked at the zombie that had fallen away from me.

Its mouth was open, and it showed no signs of moving anymore.

'Am I dreaming?'

The message floating in front of my eyes read:

[ You have inherited a job: Necromancer. ]

[ Player's desires have been confirmed. The system is configuring and referencing data. ]

"…Necromancer?"

The pain in my neck made me realize this wasn't a dream.

I even wondered if I might be going insane.

But the fact that the zombie that had been biting me suddenly stopped moving was unsettling.

I raised my trembling hand, still filled with fear, and pointed my finger at the hologram.

*Ding.*

With a sound, the translucent blue window vanished from my sight.

I could even faintly feel its texture on my finger.

"This… could it be…"

Before the pandemic, when I was still adjusting to university life and often walked alone, I enjoyed various entertainment on my smartphone.

One thing that frequently appeared in such screen was:

"…Status window."

*Ding!*

As I uttered that familiar word, the window reappeared before me.

[ Name: Lee Seo-ho.

Job: Necromancer.

Trait: Aura of Death – As a necromancer who commands the undead, you are unaffected by them. ]

'This is absurd; not only zombies but now a status window…? What the hell.'

I let out a hollow laugh at how ridiculous it all seemed.

Countless times while enduring hunger in the dormitory, I wished this was just a dream—

that I was merely watching a zombie movie and having a nightmare.

"Well, considering there are zombies around, this fantasy stuff isn't too far-fetched…"

At that moment, something suddenly crossed my mind.

The appearance of the zombie lying next to me.

It wore a robe fitting for a necromancer's job.

To anyone's eyes, it looked like an outfit straight out of a fantasy comic—like that of a dark sorcerer.

How did such a creature end up as a zombie in a department store restroom…?

"Could it be…?"

A hypothesis formed in my mind.

But the unbelievable scenes unfolding before me lent credibility to that hypothesis.

"You… you were the first infected, weren't you…?"

The corpse didn't respond to my absurd muttering.

But if that were true, then I could understand how this nonsensical zombie outbreak occurred.

After all, the origin of the zombie crisis didn't start in America, Iran, or China; it began in Seoul, South Korea.

Suddenly overwhelmed by zombies, South Korea descended into chaos and eventually spread worldwide.

Before me lay the root cause of it all.

'Well, there's no point in blaming someone who's already dead…'

Instead, I decided to focus on the message before me—the status window.

**Status Window.**

It's a system that frequently appears in fantasy games to provide various information about characters.

And that system told me:

You have become a necromancer.

'Moreover, this description written under my trait…'

Aura of Death.

As a necromancer who commands the undead, you are unaffected by them.

Undead.

In other words—beings that act as if they are alive despite being dead.

That means…

"Zombies…"

According to the description in the status window, as a necromancer, I am unaffected by those who move after death.

'Could it really be…?'

Suddenly flooded with dopamine, I forgot about the pain in my shoulder and felt my lips curl into a smile.

Unfazed by zombies.

That means my chances of survival have skyrocketed in this world overrun by zombies.

'…And this is a department store.'

Moreover, it's the very department store where the first infected appeared.

During the initial outbreak of zombies—

there wouldn't be any idiots rushing to gather food or supplies amidst all that chaos.

In other words, this department store is an untouched treasure trove since the pandemic began.

I stood up and approached the restroom door.

Maintaining my tension, I placed my hand on the doorknob.

If I opened this door, there would be hordes of zombies waiting outside.

However, when I thought about that phrase stating I was unaffected by them—

it meant not only would I not be infected but also—

Even if I weren't infected but got eaten alive, it wouldn't matter at all.

Surely those zombies wouldn't attack me either.

That's what I thought as I swallowed dryly and gently turned the doorknob.

Then suddenly—

'What if I'm wrong?'

A sense of unease surged within me.

In this crazed world where only I had become special—it excited me slightly.

But upon reflection, there was also a possibility that I might just be seeing things.

'What if I just came back to life only to die again…?'

My hands began to tremble again.

And scenes from moments before death replayed chaotically in my mind—

among them was myself consumed by resentment and burning with revenge:

'Those bastards….'

The ones who treated me like a slave; those who didn't regard me as human; those who closed their eyes to it; even those who pretended to be kind while stabbing me in the back.

Suddenly anger surged up within me and began to consume away at all those lingering fears from moments ago.

"Fuck it! It's not like I'm living on borrowed time anyway—!!"

With burning determination in my heart—I trusted my thoughts and flung open the restroom door wide open!

*Ugh!*

*Grrr...*

What met my eyes was the chaotic grocery section of the department store filled with hordes of zombies.

However, they couldn't reach right up to where I stood at the restroom door—

because there was a shutter blocking their path!

'Well yeah; if they were right outside the restroom they would've come rushing when I yelled earlier.'

Zombies recognize humans primarily through sound and smell—

they are drawn toward unfamiliar noises and scents wafting through the air.

The soldiers sent out for exploration actively utilize this fact to navigate relatively safe routes.

So just moments ago when I was attacked by that robed zombie—

"Hey!! You bastards!! There are zombies inside!! You fucking bastards!!"

If it were normal circumstances they would've swarmed toward such loud cries for help!

But instead they were merely flailing their arms against shutter blocking their way while struggling helplessly!

*Shuffling sounds.*

"…Is it safe?"

Even as I approached closer there was no significant reaction from them at all!

Countless zombies reached toward me from behind shutter while pressing their bodies against it—

but none seemed capable of recognizing me!

*Swallow.*

To confirm further—I raised my trembling hand toward them cautiously!

Among them stood one zombie directly before me—

its jaw hung loosely as though dislocated!

I brought my hand closer and poked its head with my finger gently!

*Tap.*

As expected—it showed no reaction whatsoever!

"…Huh... heh heh."

Seeing this caused all tension within me to dissipate; laughter escaped from my lips uncontrollably!

Clenching my fists tightly—I raised them triumphantly above my head!

"Ha ha ha ha ha━!! Now I'm fucking safe from you bastards━!!!"

All this time while trying desperately to survive—I had unconsciously kept myself tense throughout!

Always alert and cautious about everything around me; reacting strongly even to minor movements—

my body had been fatigued from constant fear!

But now that tension lifted—I couldn't help but shout out in overwhelming relief and joy!

*GRAAAAHHH!*

*Ughhh!*

*Kyaahhh!*

Hearing my loud voice—the sensitive zombies began shrieking in response too!

But they merely reacted out of noise sensitivity—

none displayed any aggressive behavior whatsoever!

"Louder!! Louder you fucking corpses!! How satisfying!! You idiots!! From now on I'm living an entirely different life than you guys!! Got it?!"

Liberated from all those years spent suppressing myself—I shouted freely without restraint; feeling lighter than ever!

"Ugh... ugh..."

As laughter escaped from within—I recalled one thought that had been nagging at me since earlier:

"Just wait for me you bastards... I'll take good care of you soon enough."

I smiled pleasantly while thinking about those bastards back at the dormitory!

---

**Zombie Pandemic**

A common theme where an unstoppable zombie virus leads to global destruction.

In such scenarios during zombie pandemics—what is most essential for survival?

It's certainly having both an ability to evade zombies and skills necessary for securing food and shelter!

"Ahh damn it; it's been so long since I've gone shopping."

*Rattle rattle.*

I strolled leisurely through grocery section of this wrecked department store while pushing around shopping cart filled with supplies!

"Hey there little one; did you come shopping with your mom?"

*Kyaahhh...*

A ten-year-old zombie missing one arm responded with cries upon hearing my voice!

Yeah; even in such world—a ten-year-old kid would've found survival difficult anyway;

perhaps becoming a zombie early on might've been easier for them!

With that thought—I hummed cheerfully while pushing along cart filled with goodies!

First stop: snack aisle where I gathered every leftover snack available!

Then picked up some high-calorie chocolate biscuits tearing open package immediately!

Those chocolate biscuits often mentioned as emergency food supplies during disasters!

"Ahh... so good."

As rich flavor burst forth filling mouth—it revitalized body worn down by hunger!

Returning now back onto topic—the most important aspects during pandemic revolve around avoiding zombies while collecting survival items!

In terms of meaning—I was practically invincible right now!

Primarily due because zombies posed no threat whatsoever—that accounted for over 99% significance here!

In fact getting bitten by zombies hardly ever resulted in serious issues anyway—

as generally speaking when outbreaks occur people go mad trying hoard supplies left behind everywhere!

Yet reasons why people fail obtaining these resources always stemmed back down towards presence of those same undead creatures lurking about like here inside this department store!

"Well then shall we call it good for now?"

Having filled cart sufficiently full with groceries—I decided enough was enough for today!

Honestly could leave everything right here until needed again later—but indulging pent-up desires felt great too after so long without any fun shopping experience lately!

"Still kinda sad frozen foods went bad though."

That part couldn't be helped unfortunately—

with nearly two months passing since outbreak began!

Naturally electricity had been cut off entirely while tap water flowed brownish sludge instead!

Even if refrigeration kept things fresh—their expiration dates were already perilously close given current situation without power supply available anywhere nearby!

Yet still—it didn't matter much overall!

Canned goods snacks etc., were plentiful regardless whether conditions permitted storage or not!

I stuffed groceries into backpack found nearby then headed towards bedding section located on third floor next up ahead!

This is one advantage department stores possess over regular grocery chains!

Unlike typical supermarkets where only food items sold exclusively—all sorts available here across various floors each themed accordingly too!

"Wow so soft!"

I threw myself onto cleanest bed available nearby among many others surrounding area!

Dormitory had beds sure—but how comfortable could those really get after all?

Laying down atop king-sized mattress complete with plush pillows eased away fatigue built up throughout previous days spent running around aimlessly trying survive amidst chaos outside world beyond walls surrounding us constantly threatening danger lurking everywhere nearby always watching waiting…

I settled comfortably onto bed grabbing drink outta backpack beside pillow resting conveniently nearby too…

Though slightly warm due lack refrigeration—it still quenched thirst quite nicely while sweetness tasted delightful refreshing palate immensely uplifting spirits overall making feel human once again after ages lost wandering aimlessly through life devoid anything resembling normalcy anymore…

"Status window."

Instantly memories flooded back recalling earlier status seen moments ago displayed before eyes once more appearing right now before face again clearly visible again shining brightly illuminating surroundings…

[ Name: Lee Seo-ho.

Job: Necromancer.

Trait: Aura of Death – As a necromancer commanding undead beings unaffected by them.]

"…Hmm can only see status?"

Definitely media representations always included skills inventories etc., alongside basic stats shown normally right?

"Where... skill window?"

Upon uttering test words aloud—a pleasant sound rang out through air immediately following suit after speaking those words aloud just moments ago earlier today…

*Ding!*

[ Cannot summon yet due conditions unmet currently still awaiting fulfillment requirements needed first.]

"Oho so once requirements fulfilled can access then?"

It's not that it doesn't exist; it's just not ready yet.

Seeing that message sparked my curiosity, and I called out the next system command I thought of.

'This kind of game system usually has to include it.'

Conditions must also be met.

In that case, there's no way this wouldn't exist.

"Quest."

Immediately, there was a response in the air to my voice.

Ding.

[ Calling up quests. ]

[ Survival Quest ]

[ Growth Quest ]

[ Main Quest ]

The list that appeared before me contained three items. If you need any further assistance or translations, feel free to ask!