Became A Necromancer In a Zombie World

It was a miracle.

Yoo Ha-yeon thought this as she nibbled on the food left by the man beyond the door.

She had believed she would soon die, but now, having survived, tears streamed down her face.

"I don't want to die. I want to live in this messed-up world."

"Thank you... sob, thank you..."

In such circumstances, she repeatedly expressed her gratitude to the man who saved her, even though he had likely already left and could no longer hear her.

"Um, when will you come back next?"

[Well, I think I'll be back in two or three days.]

She recalled their last conversation.

In three days, it seemed she could barely survive on the food he had left.

"He probably doesn't have enough food himself."

From her perspective, he felt like a saint.

To help a stranger in this crazy world was remarkable.

Although the world was ruined, she believed that kind people still existed.

## The Dilemma of Resources

Now, the question was when to stop providing her with food.

"Is she doing okay today?"

Five days had passed since Yoo Ha-yeon and I met.

Two days ago, I had visited her again at the one-room building where she was hiding, bringing food and chatting.

Her name was Yoo Ha-yeon, a college student at my former university.

She had just turned twenty, four years younger than me.

"If a zombie crisis suddenly happened at twenty... she probably hasn't lost her virginity."

This increased my reasons for wanting her.

To do that, I first needed to make her mine.

Of course, there were easy ways to force her—threatening with zombies or withholding food—but I wanted her to willingly follow me.

Using coercive methods might lead to rebellion later when she felt full.

It was crucial that Yoo Ha-yeon willingly became my slave.

## Building Trust

So naturally, some story would be needed.

"Ha-yeon, have you been alright?"

[Yes! Thanks to you, I'm managing.]

Her voice sounded more vibrant than five days ago.

She must have felt despair due to hunger and hopelessness back then. However, after meeting me for the third time, she had begun to sound hopeful again.

She likely believed I would continue to visit with food from time to time.

Humans become foolish in front of hope. If one thinks about it carefully, hope is fragile and can vanish easily if things go wrong. Yet in tough situations, people blindly believe in hope.

"Today I'll leave more than before. There are plenty of high-calorie snacks like chocolate."

[Thank you so much. You really don't have to share your food with someone like me…]

But what if that blind hope suddenly disappeared?

"Um... about that, Ha-yeon."

[...Yes?]

Noticing my hesitation in tone, her voice became cautious too.

"As you've said, I'm running low on food now too. Coming here frequently is risky..."

[...Huh? What do you mean...?]

When hope disappears right before one's eyes, despair can engulf them even more deeply than before.

"So from today onwards... I won't be able to bring food anymore..."

[Wait! Please wait a moment!]

Yoo Ha-yeon urgently called out to me.

She must have firmly believed that I was kind-hearted and compassionate; that I wouldn't easily abandon someone in such a pitiful situation.

I would betray that trust beautifully.

I had ample justification. In this crazy world, providing this much help was already generous. But she wasn't in a good enough situation to understand that.

If my supply of food were cut off immediately, her life would be in jeopardy. For that reason, I had only given her enough food for immediate survival these past few days.

She probably consumed all the food I'd previously brought while believing I'd return again.

[Oh no! Please don't go! Please…!!]

As I stood at the door without responding, her voice grew more frantic. Finally, I spoke up.

"I'm really sorry. But I'm struggling too now. I'm wandering without a proper place to stay."

Of course it was a lie. What place? I was living comfortably in a mansion-like department store with plenty of food and warmth. But such details were necessary.

"However, I've found a decent place to stay. But if I live there, it's too dangerous for me to come here..."

Yoo Ha-yeon trusted me but still hadn't opened the door yet.

While thinking of me as a good person, she must also have been wary of potential harm coming from me. That thought was correct; if she opened the door, I would soon do something terrible.

And all of this was part of making her open that door herself.

[But…! I'm so ashamed to say this…! But without you... I might die soon…!]

Her trembling voice came from just behind the door.

She must have collapsed against it out of desperation. That showed how urgent her situation was. Yet despite being so close to the door, she still wouldn't open it.

Hmm... I thought she'd open it by now. It seemed Yoo Ha-yeon was even more cowardly than I'd anticipated.

Well, being fearful is why she's survived until now; otherwise she'd have ventured out for food and died by now.

'Then she'll need a bit more time.'

I took a step back from the door.

"I'm sorry; I want to live too. Ha-yeon... Besides, you won't even open the door for me when I'm standing in a dangerous corridor."

[...Yes?]

She must have been startled by my words; they were likely unexpected for her.

She must have unconsciously kept the door shut; honestly, I could understand that reaction.

While she considered me a good person, she couldn't bring herself to open the door right away either. Thus from inside came an anxious voice:

[Oh no! I'm just…!]

In her mind, she must have seen herself as selfish—keeping the door shut due to fear while leaving someone who has come three times already out in danger outside.

[Wait! Just give me a moment!]

The sound of locks being turned echoed through the door. I quickly stepped away before she could open it.

"I'm sorry Ha-yeon; please survive."

Then I walked away calmly down the corridor, making sure my footsteps echoed loudly behind me.

[Ah! No! Don't go—!!]

I heard her cries fade as I distanced myself from the door.

'After all this effort…'

I expected she'd rush out and grab me as I walked away down the corridor, but she didn't do that.

Did she conclude that opening the door wouldn't change anything once she heard me leaving?

'Hmm… then I'll wait about five more days before visiting again.'

Calculating how much food I'd just left behind,

I figured if rationed well enough it could last three or four days.

Perhaps she'd give up on life and consume everything in one day.

Regardless of what happened though—she'd last at least five days.

Of course there was also a chance she'd lose hope and commit suicide.

But I thought that possibility was quite low.

Suicide requires courage, and someone who doesn't even leave their room at this point probably lacks even that courage.

If death came for her, it would be through starvation alone.

'Well then… dying wouldn't matter much.'

If she died it would only be disappointing for me; I'd just have to look for other survivors then.

## Five Days Later

The sound of footsteps faded away,

and eventually there were no signs of life outside her door.

Even then Yoo Ha-yeon didn't open it.

With trembling hands, she unlatched one of the double locks and released the chain on the door, trying desperately to unlock it further.

But those trembling hands wouldn't obey her will.

The fear buried deep within had overpowered any rational judgment.

And now three days had passed since then.

"I should've opened it… should've opened it… should've opened it…"

Yoo Ha-yeon murmured as she sat on the floor hugging her knees tightly.

That man really left.

He had abandoned her while leaving behind someone who couldn't survive without him,

going off somewhere else in search of safety.

'Besides he said: You won't even open your door when I'm standing in danger.'

And those words echoed back in her mind,

striking home harder than expected.

It hadn't occurred to her before,

but it made perfect sense now: that man risked his life foraging for food just so he could come here and share with someone starving like herself.

Yoo Ha-yeon had been so preoccupied with saving herself that she hadn't noticed such simple kindness being offered by him at all.

Everything wrong lay within herself alone; he'd been nothing but kind throughout their interactions.

'If only… if only I'd opened that door when he came.'

Yes—if only she'd welcomed him instead of keeping him out, he wouldn't have gone off looking elsewhere for safety either; he probably would've felt more secure staying together with someone rather than being alone.

They could've shared this space together,

making it their home instead of letting fear drive them apart.

But being cowardly led Yoo Ha-yeon to throw away every possibility presented before her,

foolishly believing he'd always keep helping indefinitely without needing anything back from her.

"...I don't want to die."

Fear gripped tightly around her heart;

the last remnants of food he'd left were dwindling fast now, and starvation loomed ever closer on its horizon.

Yoo Ha-yeon thought about how she'd never dared venture outside where zombies roamed freely, and concluded: she'd simply starve here instead without accomplishing anything worthwhile at all...

Tears streamed down as despair settled deep within; her gaze fell upon nothingness around herself—regretting cutting off hope's lifeline right before reaching out for help once more...

'Oh God please…'

"Please give me one more chance…"

Yoo Ha-yeon buried her head against knees while praying fervently towards heaven above.

## A New Beginning

"Alright then; let's head out."

Five days had passed since saying goodbye to Yoo Ha-yeon; it seemed like time for action finally arrived now that my own supplies were running low too...

What if that bus which I'd thought missed its stop actually waited around nearby?

I'd probably sprint towards it without hesitation!

Having fallen so low might mean today could turn out better than expected after all...

"Phew… another nice day."

Reaching Yoo Ha-yeon's building didn't take long at all; initially cautious about attracting attention from other survivors slowed down my pace slightly—but after delivering supplies earlier along with scouting around thoroughly— it became clear: she was indeed alone here amidst hordes upon hordes of zombies surrounding their territory nearby!

'Hmm... maybe I should move those zombies further away just in case.'

Previously encountered female student zombie remained tied up on second-floor stairs—a precautionary measure meant solely for keeping Yoo Ha-yeon safe should she decide venture outside alone later...

However today's results promised success instead—so perhaps hindering progress wasn't necessary anymore?

Untying rope binding its ankles allowed moving downstairs temporarily instead...

'Now then... let's see how she's doing.'

Having completed minor preparations carefully approached towards Yoo Ha-yeon's door cautiously knocking softly first:

"Ha-yeon? Are you there?"

Waiting briefly yielded silence—a sinking feeling creeping into mind—

couldn't be possible...

"Ha-yeon? If you're there please respond."

Knocking again felt necessary despite growing anxiety bubbling inside—

what if something terrible happened?

[Aah... is that you?]

Weak-sounding voice barely reached through closed barrier between us—

[Aahh... AAHHH!!]

Yet almost immediately after recognizing my voice excitement surged forth causing frantic calls echoing back towards my direction!

Then came sounds resembling locks being hastily undone followed by—

*Thud!*

"AHHHH!!"

Suddenly bursting forth from behind tightly shut entrance stood one girl rushing straight into arms without hesitation whatsoever!

"Ugh! You really came back!! So sorry! So sorry! It's all my fault—I didn't mean any harm!"

Tears streamed down cheeks as realization struck home hard upon seeing familiar face once again!

And somehow despite not expecting anything like this whatsoever—her beauty radiated brighter than any woman I've ever seen thus far!