Became A Necromancer In a Zombie World

After leaving the department store, I stretched out under the sunlight, feeling like it had been a long time since I had basked in its warmth.

"Ahh~ People really need to be outside!"

It truly felt rare to be so relaxed under the sun. Ever since the zombie outbreak, I had been shivering inside the dormitory.

'So, where should I go first?'

I felt as if I had been dropped into a vast open world, free to roam wherever I wanted. However, while I enjoyed this newfound freedom, I wasn't sure what to do next.

After all, there were no immediate threats or food shortages.

"Should I start with a quest?"

If there was something that needed doing right now, it would be enhancing my crystal. I definitely needed twenty corpses for that.

Oh, since I just dealt with the Dongtan zombie, that means I need nineteen more.

Zombies required for enhancing crystals were scattered around the department store as well. However, just like inside the store, I didn't want to reduce their numbers here either.

Their mere presence served as a strong defensive barrier for me.

Increasing their numbers was one thing, but reducing them would be a significant loss for me.

'…Then I'll have no choice but to bring them from somewhere else.'

If I could gather not just nineteen but dozens or even hundreds of zombies, that would be ideal.

However, there was a problem: how to move these zombies.

These creatures only act by biting and infecting living beings. And here I was, immune and not hostile to them.

To move them on my own—like earlier with the Dongtan zombie—I'd have to pull them myself.

'Maybe if I put a leash on them… No, dragging nineteen alone would take too long…'

This would take quite a bit of time. And during that time, survivors might discover me…

"Wait… survivors?"

Suddenly, an idea sparked in my mind.

"Alright then, let's go."

Thus began my first outing as a necromancer: my target was set on the university where my despicable enemies lived.

I moved cautiously along the buildings to avoid detection by survivors. If someone saw me casually wandering among the zombies, it could lead to trouble.

In this world, being invulnerable to zombies meant having access to resources without limits. However, not all survivors with strong capabilities were just military personnel from the dormitory.

So I kept myself hidden while ironically searching for survivors.

"Hmmm… It's hard to tell if anyone is around just by looking."

Survivors in dormitories lived quietly, fearing any noise might alert nearby zombies. Upon arriving at the university's studio apartment area, it was challenging to find signs of life.

'Should I shout out to see if anyone responds…'

Frustrated by the silence, I considered this reckless idea but quickly dismissed it; if soldiers were nearby, it could end badly before I could take revenge.

Then I noticed something:

'The curtain just moved.'

The window was closed; thus it was unlikely due to wind. This indicated at least something was moving inside.

'There are quite a few zombies gathering around the building…'

If there were people inside, they might have attracted those zombies. Investigating wouldn't hurt.

'But what about my safety…'

What if there were multiple survivors? And what if they were desperate outlaws due to starvation? They might see me as a meal instead of a visitor.

I needed some form of safety net.

"Should I use this?"

I found a relatively intact and pretty female zombie. If you're wondering why I chose a female zombie over others—well, even in death, it's better than an old man.

Whether pretty or not, all zombies have the same attack power—they bite when they see a human.

So why not choose a pretty one?

"Alright then…"

She was a college student zombie dressed in training clothes and dolphin shorts. Since her face didn't ring any bells for me, she likely wasn't from my department. Unfortunately, she had smaller breasts than the Dongtan zombie.

Still, I couldn't resist reaching out and groping her once.

*Squish, squish.*

'This might become a habit.'

Once was awkward; twice felt easier. Although I had never touched a warm woman's breast before, the thrill of touching a dead college student excited me even more.

The thought of such a pretty girl being subjected to me was exhilarating.

"Whoa there! Calm down junior; let's at least wait until we've had some fun with living women first."

I removed my hand from her breast and secured a rope around her neck. As soon as I pulled on it, she followed my lead obediently.

"Alright then, let's go."

*Ughhh…*

The female zombie responded with a moan as if answering me.

I donned my hood and black mask for safety against potential attacks from dangerous survivors. If someone showed signs of aggression toward me, I'd simply present the female zombie; any normal survivor would avoid approaching me upon seeing one.

After all, getting bitten would mean instant death for me.

'I'm sure it was on the second floor…'

I ascended cautiously up the building stairs without making noise.

Would the college student zombie manage the stairs? It seemed she could handle it just fine; otherwise surviving would have been much easier for her.

Finally reaching the room where I'd seen the curtain move earlier, I pressed my ear against the door.

'…No sounds at all.'

If there were several people inside, some noise would likely be heard. Of course that wasn't guaranteed either; still it seemed unlikely many people were present inside based on what I sensed.

Carefully grasping the doorknob, I tried turning it.

*Click.*

It wouldn't turn past a certain point—it was locked.

'So there must be survivors inside.'

There was also a chance they locked themselves away from zombies but for now; I assumed there were survivors inside. If it turned out to be zombies instead then it would be an empty room for me anyway!

So I decided to speak up so anyone inside could hear me:

"It's locked."

Now how would they respond?

There were two possibilities:

They might hold their breath and pretend no one was home after hearing me or…

[Who are you...?]

A voice came from within—female and weak-sounding—familiar yet distant. It reminded me of voices from group members during times when food supplies dwindled in dormitories.

The survivor inside must be starving:

[Um… excuse me?]

After my silence lingered too long her voice grew more urgent:

"…How many are inside?"

Excitement surged through me upon realizing I'd found what I'd been searching for! Still keeping calm and collected—I needed to maintain control over this situation since she might view me as dangerous too:

[W-what about you? …How many are you?]

She sounded wary of me but also fearful—understandably so given her circumstances; being alone here made her vulnerable prey in this lawless world filled with dangers lurking everywhere!

Yet she asked about my numbers instead of hiding completely—indicating she might want something from me too…

That meant it was time for acting like an ordinary survivor while easing her suspicions:

"I won't tell you unless you share first."

[W-wait!]

She sounded desperate now!

[Just one…. Only me here! Please help me….]

Her voice shifted from cautiousness into pleading as she revealed her situation:

[I've been trapped here without food for days now! Please help!]

"A 'please' is nice," but at twenty-four years old hearing 'mister' made me feel older than necessary!

Yet it matched what I'd expected—a survivor isolated and starving—just like what I'd hoped for!

'This is perfect prey!'

She fit exactly into my plan: someone utterly alone without anyone else relying on them—a person resigned to death yet still clinging onto life!

And she happened to be female too!

[Quest Received]

[Acquire Virgin's Blood.]

Recalling what I'd seen about quests earlier in the department store made me think: though uncertain whether she truly qualified as virgin based on appearance alone—her voice sounded youthful!

Of course asking outright "Are you a virgin?" wouldn't work well either; that'd raise suspicion immediately!

She'd never open up without food either!

Now how should this play out…

[Um… excuse me? Mister? You're still there?!]

As silence stretched on too long again—the girl grew anxious once more:

- Ughhh…

While lost in thought about how best to proceed—the urgency returned into her voice again causing another reaction from my college student zombie companion beside me:

"Shhh! Quiet down! What if they hear us?!"

[Oh! Sorry!]

Her immediate response showed how easily startled she was—typical behavior for someone trapped under such dire circumstances!

If she were an ordinary survivor—she'd likely respond angrily instead—but that wasn't happening here!

[Please don't leave!]

Her tone shifted once more into pure desperation:

"I really don't want to die! Please help!"

With no option left but pleading tears streaming down her face—it became clear that without assistance soon enough—she'd perish here alone without any means left available…

And while feeling pity for her plight seemed reasonable—it also presented an excellent opportunity!

If she needed help desperately enough—it opened doors wide open for manipulation on my part!

Let's see how far we can take this…

"Hey there," I said casually while trying not to sound threatening,

"The outside feels unsafe right now—do you mind opening up your door?"

[....]

Her silence lingered heavily before finally breaking through again after contemplating things carefully:

"I'm sorry…. If you're hiding from something dangerous—you might want another room instead…"

She wasn't desperate enough yet—but clearly didn't want anything bad happening either way!

Perhaps starvation hadn't fully taken hold just yet either?

That meant some work ahead lay waiting patiently until ready…

'This will need some finesse.'

Of course breaking down doors forcibly could yield results—but also risk drawing unwanted attention leading straight towards danger instead!

No good at all if things went sideways like that!

So instead let's see what else might work better here…

"I understand your hesitation,"

"But since supplies are running low—I'll leave behind some food in exchange."

[Really?!]

"Yeah—but only limited portions since sharing means taking away from myself too."

[Thank you so much! Really appreciate this…. Thank you!]

Gratitude flowed freely between us despite knowing full well repayment would come later through other means entirely once things settled down properly…

With supplies packed safely away into my backpack—I pulled out just enough rations fitting within two days' worth maximum—

'Not bad considering current circumstances.'

If this didn't suffice enough causing death eventually—then so be it; fate wasn't mine alone deciding outcomes anyway!

But should these few days buy time until next encounter arises?

"Should anything change while searching nearby—I'll return again soon."

[What do you mean by that?]

"If food becomes plentiful later on—I'll bring more next time!"

[…Oh wow…. How do I repay such kindness though?]

In a situation where death loomed right before her.

At that moment, a hand of salvation arrived.

She would come to desperately await this hand.

And gradually, she would cling to it more and more.

Well then, let's enjoy the process and see how long it takes to conquer her.