Chapter 60 – Party Member Addition

People watching the wounded man’s arm muttered in surprised voices.

“The wound is disappearing.”

Just as they said, the arm bitten by the zombie was gradually healing within the light created by Ye-rim.

“I wondered why a management department employee came along, but wait… could this woman also be a superhuman?”

People who confirmed the wound’s disappearance turned their gaze to Ye-rim, who was pouring light onto the arm.

“Never expected this. I thought she came for personnel management and was inwardly cursing her…”

While most looked at Ye-rim with shocked eyes, some still appeared worried.

“But he was bitten by a zombie. Just treating the wound doesn’t mean he won’t become a zombie.”

Both Ye-rim and the bitten man seemed to share the same concern.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. I feel completely fine. No headache, no pain. I’m fully healed!”

The man vigorously waved his arms and legs, seemingly wanting to prove to everyone he wouldn’t become a zombie.

There was no need for such demonstration.

Ye-rim’s divine power had completely eliminated the infection within the man’s body.

I could clearly see the infected arm transforming cleanly.

Everyone would eventually understand he was fine, but there was no need to waste time.

“The infection is gone. He won’t become a zombie.”

Everyone looked skeptical at my statement, but their doubts had significantly reduced compared to moments earlier.

“With no wounds and his personal assurance, let’s not discuss this further. I’ll continue monitoring him, so don’t worry,” Jae-ha concluded decisively.

He subtly shifted some responsibility onto me, but I was willing to let it slide.

Certainly, if not fighting, Jae-ha had handled things well.

He was good at managing people, attentive to surroundings, and had a decent personality.

Though he seemed inexperienced during zombie fights, otherwise, Seo-eun seemed to have chosen well.

As concerns subsided, people’s attention returned to Ye-rim.

“Can becoming a superhuman be this easy?”

“That’s impossible. How many are in the sacred zone? Even including apostles, there were only three.”

“Now there are over 6.”

People marveling at Ye-rim becoming a superhuman looked at us after hearing this.

“Come to think of it, aren’t all those people superhumans? How is that possible?”

“Since she came with them, maybe they discovered her superhuman ability?”

They were unknowingly approaching the truth.

But they would soon discuss something even more terrifying.

“Her superhuman ability seems similar to the Apostle’s…”

“She healed someone bitten by a zombie. Isn’t she even more impressive than the Apostle?”

“But the Apostle creates and maintains the sacred zone.”

“But maybe she could do that too.”

These were horrifying words that could shake the foundation of the safe zone.

The speaker and listeners all fell silent with serious expressions.

Fortunately, Ye-rim hadn’t heard their conversation.

She was chatting happily with Hoffman.

“Could she have both purification and healing abilities? Something only top battle priests could do…”

“Is that so? Seems like your world has more people with powers like mine and the Apostle’s. But I was just lucky to obtain this power… I don’t even know how long it’ll last.”

Unlike the Apostle, Hoffman seemed to like Ye-rim.

Come to think of it, both were priests without fundamental roots.

In that world, since they didn’t pay attention to religion, I couldn’t understand by what standard Hoffman distinguished priests.

Still, it was much better than him disliking her, so I comfortably watched their conversation.

“Awakening? Oh, you mean how I obtained this power?”

Looking up at the sky, Ye-rim responded to Hoffman’s question.

“Back then, when my mother was sick, I prayed earnestly for her to be saved. Until she passed away, even after she became a zombie.”

Was her awakening due to that prayer?

In our world, endlessly praying until priests obtained divine power was entirely normal.

“But I think it was more like God answered my mother’s prayer. That day, my mother was praying for me until her last moment.”

Tears flowed from the woman’s eyes as she looked skyward.

“If I had prayed harder, maybe my mother could have lived… I survived because of my mother’s prayer.”

Though I lack belief in God, it seemed her awakening occurred through her desperate wish, but I didn’t voice that thought.

Her divine power awakening was certainly not without her mother’s influence.

“I’m fortunate. I wasn’t the only one saved. Just like my mother saved me, like my father thought of us until the end, now I can save people too.”

I understood how she obtained her divine power.

From the first meeting, I knew she was healthy and had a good character, but her belief and desire to help others were quintessentially priestlike.

Hoffman looked at Ye-rim with an uncharacteristically warm smile.

It was a horrifying sight. I’d need to wash my eyes immediately after turning away.

After learning zombie bite treatment was possible, people gathered supplies more enthusiastically than in the morning.

I led people towards the shops I’d scouted earlier, and they collected several times more supplies than expected.

Backpacks were filled, and excess food was loaded onto nearby carts.

People returning home looked extremely happy.

Unlike their initial worried departure, they had neither casualties nor injuries.

They were so relaxed that Jae-ha, who was leading the group, even came over to experience combat again.

“I never thought gathering food could be this easy,” Jae-ha said with a relieved face after decapitating a zombie on the jungle road.

“Thank you for coming. I know this was all thanks to everyone. I’ll make sure to tell Seo-eun and others.”

He was indeed a good person. He expressed gratitude to us again.

“If things continue like today, even people in the sacred zone will find hope. Not just barely surviving, but gathering people, rebuilding civilization, returning to our previous lives.”

He said this with a bright face.

It was a good story, but unfortunately, I couldn’t agree.

It was too early to hope.

The world’s collapse was merely due to infection spreading and part of the Demon King’s army moving.

Unless the Demon King moved, the true apocalypse hadn’t yet arrived.

More importantly, I was uneasy about the surrounding situation.

We had cleared the undead and had a priest who made them uncomfortable, but the undead numbers were suspiciously low.

“Seems fewer than yesterday,” Zahina said.

I nodded.

Something was definitely strange.

Even if the Demon King’s army had recalled the undead, they couldn’t have reduced numbers to this extent.

There must be another reason.

However, without knowing that reason, others wouldn’t accept my unease.

People welcomed our safe return to the safe zone with joyful faces.

They were happy everyone returned safely, but they were even more excited about the backpacks and carts the collection team brought back.

Everyone knew the rations would definitely increase since the amount was far more than expected.

I witnessed an affectionate couple’s embrace.

“You’re not hurt? Are you okay? I was so worried.”

“I’m fine. I missed you. Nothing happened here, right? People helped us return safely.”

When I heard their whispered words, I cut off the flowing mana with my ears.

Afterward, there were various complicated tasks like first allocating resources to the collection team and organizing supplies, but everyone processed the work with enjoyable expressions.

We escaped the chaos with the understanding that what was given was sufficient.

My two space-expanded pouches were already full.

I had filled them with collected resources from yesterday and today, leaving no more space.

Even if I received additional food or supplies in this situation, they would only become a burden.

I needed the locations of gold and silver shops in this city more than additional supplies.

They had gathered food, so now I needed to focus on my own matters.

Even if the world collapsed, rumors spread at the same speed as in my previous life.

Along with the news that the collection team returned safely, rumors about Ye-rim becoming a superhuman spread incredibly quickly throughout the safe zone.

“The personnel management deputy became a superhuman.”

“I heard that too. She healed someone bitten by a zombie.”

“Her abilities seem similar to the Apostle’s?”

“I heard she’s even more impressive than the Apostle.”

“Does this mean the person managing the safe zone will change?”

“Probably?”

“Honestly, that Apostle was a bit scary.”

“But will they just step down?”

“Unlikely. Those who joined under the Apostle won’t easily back down.”

“Then the Apostle’s opposition might not stay quiet?”

“Oh, would a fight break out? Everyone just survived getting here, so they probably won’t fight if they don’t want to die.”

“Who knows. Human greed is like that.”

That evening, I stopped walking upon hearing voices on the street during my walk.

How far had rumors spread in such a short time?

People were discussing unconfirmed stories as if they were facts.

I ultimately had to move up my schedule.

That night, at a gathering with party members and Ye-rim, I announced to everyone that Ye-rim would become a party member.

“From tomorrow, Ye-rim will patrol the safe zone’s surroundings with us as a party member.”

My sudden announcement made Ye-rim open her mouth wide.

“What? I’ve gone out two days in a row. I haven’t even completed the handover. There’s still a lot of work in the management department.”

To her urgent words, I explained calmly.

“I’ve already spoken with Team Leader Seo-eun. Since she approved, you don’t need to worry about the handover.”

After hearing the conversation outside and discussing it with Seo-eun, she immediately agreed.

With potential internal turmoil due to rumors, I couldn’t leave the subject in the management department.

At times like these, one must distance themselves from the storm. With safe people.

After hearing my words, she made an expression like an abandoned daughter, then glared at me with an angry face.

“I haven’t rested a single day! And now I have to go to a dangerous place again! This is an incredible black party! You tricked me!”

Before she could get angrier, I needed to explain the situation.

As I was about to speak, I noticed Hoffman and Zahina nodding in agreement with her words.