Apocalypse king

A Night of Peace

The celebration lasted for nearly an hour.

For the first time since the apocalypse began, smiles appeared on people's faces.

The Bone Claw Mutant had been terrifying.

Yet they had survived.

A few survivors even began calling it a miracle.

Meanwhile, Arthur sat alone near the apartment entrance.

The cool night breeze gently blew against his face.

He finally had time to relax.

DING!

---

Status Window

Name: Arthur Stronghold

Level: 5

Strength: 21

Agility: 19

Stamina: 20

Spirit: 17

Titles:

• First Shelter Leader

• Shelter Guardian

Skills:

• Eye of Appraisal Lv.1

• King's Aura Lv.1

• Battle Command Lv.1

Storage Capacity: 100 Cubic Meters

---

Arthur let out a small breath.

His growth speed was absurd.

Just a few days ago, he could barely fight a single zombie.

Now he had killed multiple mutants.

But somehow—

It didn't make him feel relieved.

Instead, he felt uneasy.

Because if monsters were growing stronger this quickly...

What would appear next?

The world announcement from earlier suddenly resurfaced in his mind.

Phase Two begins in seven days.

Arthur frowned.

He had a bad feeling.

Very bad.

"Thinking again?"

A gentle voice interrupted him.

Arthur looked up.

Aiko was standing there.

This time, she had brought two cups of warm tea.

Well...

Warm water with tea leaves.

Still, it smelled pleasant.

She sat beside him.

Neither spoke for a while.

They simply looked at the burning city in silence.

Eventually—

Aiko spoke first.

"You're carrying too much."

Arthur blinked.

"What?"

Aiko looked at him.

"You always look like everything is your responsibility."

Arthur smiled bitterly.

"Isn't it?"

The shelter.

The survivors.

Food.

Monsters.

Everything depended on him.

If he made one wrong decision—

People would die.

Aiko quietly listened.

Then she softly shook her head.

"You don't have to do everything alone."

Arthur looked at her.

Aiko smiled gently.

"People are willing to help you."

"...Including me."

Arthur suddenly felt his chest warm.

For some reason—

Her words made him feel lighter.

Aiko looked down at her tea.

"When the outbreak happened..."

"I was terrified."

"I thought I would die in that hospital."

Her voice became softer.

"But then you appeared."

"You kept risking your life for everyone."

"You saved strangers."

"You gave away food."

"You protected us."

A faint blush appeared on her cheeks.

"I think..."

She paused.

Arthur waited.

"I think you're an amazing person."

Silence.

Arthur stared at her.

For some reason—

He suddenly didn't know what to say.

No one had ever looked at him like that before.

Back in the old world—

He had been ordinary.

Forgettable.

Just another office worker.

But now—

Someone genuinely admired him.

Aiko finally realized what she had said.

Her face instantly turned red.

"I-I didn't mean it like that!"

Arthur laughed.

Aiko froze.

"...You laughed."

Arthur blinked.

"What?"

"You've been serious all day."

"And now you're laughing."

She smiled.

"...It suits you."

For a moment—

Neither said anything.

Their eyes met.

The atmosphere slowly became strange.

Warmer.

Closer.

Arthur suddenly noticed how beautiful Aiko looked under the moonlight.

Her tired face.

Her gentle eyes.

The way the night breeze moved her hair.

For some reason—

His heart skipped a beat.

Aiko also seemed to notice.

Her cheeks slowly turned red.

The distance between them suddenly felt very small.

Very, very small.

Then—

"AHEM!"

Both immediately jumped.

Yuna stood nearby with crossed arms.

She looked at them with an amused expression.

"I knew it."

Aiko nearly choked.

"W-What are you doing here?!"

Yuna smiled mischievously.

"I came to thank our great leader."

She looked between the two.

"...But it seems I interrupted something."

"N-Nothing happened!"

Aiko's face had become completely red.

Arthur rubbed his forehead.

This girl really enjoyed teasing people.

Yuna sat beside them.

"You two are getting closer."

"We are not!"

"Oh?"

Yuna looked innocent.

"Then why are your faces red?"

"..."

"..."

Neither could answer.

Yuna laughed.

Even Arthur couldn't help smiling.

The atmosphere instantly became lighter.

For a few minutes—

They simply talked.

About ordinary things.

Favorite foods.

Old hobbies.

Funny childhood memories.

For the first time—

It almost felt like the apocalypse didn't exist.

However—

Reality soon returned.

Several injured survivors approached.

"Aiko."

Immediately, her expression became serious.

"Coming."

She stood up.

Before leaving, she looked at Arthur.

"Don't stay up too late."

Arthur nodded.

"I won't."

Aiko smiled softly before leaving.

Arthur unconsciously watched her go.

Yuna suddenly looked at him.

"...You like her."

Arthur nearly coughed.

"What?"

Yuna giggled.

"You've been staring."

"I was not."

"You were."

"I wasn't."

"You definitely were."

Arthur sighed.

"You're imagining things."

Yuna smiled knowingly.

She did not continue teasing him.

Instead, she looked toward Aiko.

"She's nice."

Arthur remained silent.

"She worries about everyone."

"Even when she's scared."

"And..."

Yuna smiled.

"She worries about you the most."

Arthur froze.

"...Really?"

Yuna nodded.

"After every battle, she's always the first person asking if you're okay."

"She almost cried when you got injured earlier."

Arthur looked toward Aiko in the distance.

She was currently treating several injured survivors.

Despite being exhausted—

She still wore a gentle smile.

For some reason—

His heart suddenly became warm.

Perhaps...

He really was becoming attached to her.

DING!

---

Relationship Update

Aiko Tachibana Affection:

25% → 30%

---

Arthur nearly jumped.

This system really had terrible timing.

Yuna looked suspicious.

"What happened?"

"...Nothing."

She narrowed her eyes.

Definitely suspicious.

Suddenly—

BOOM!

A distant explosion echoed through the city.

Everyone immediately became alert.

Several survivors looked frightened.

Arthur stood up.

Far away—

A huge pillar of fire had risen into the night sky.

Then—

Gunshots.

Explosions.

And screams.

Arthur frowned.

There were other survivors nearby.

And they were in trouble.

DING!

---

Emergency Side Quest Detected.

A nearby survivor group is under attack.

Estimated enemies:

Mutated Zombies ×50

Possible survivors:

23

Reward:

Random Supply Crate

Reputation Increase

---

Arthur sighed.

Of course.

Aiko also walked over.

"What happened?"

Arthur looked toward the distant flames.

"Another group is being attacked."

Silence.

The survivors nearby became nervous.

"Should we help?"

"But it's dangerous."

"We barely survived ourselves."

Everyone began discussing.

Arthur remained quiet.

Truthfully—

He knew helping was risky.

But...

If he ignored them—

Those people would die.

Aiko looked at him.

"You want to go."

It wasn't a question.

Arthur smiled helplessly.

"...Is it that obvious?"

Aiko smiled softly.

"Very."

She already understood him.

Arthur was simply that kind of person.

Even in the apocalypse—

He couldn't ignore people in need.

Aiko sighed.

Then—

"I'll come with you."

Arthur frowned.

"It's dangerous."

"So?"

"Aiko—"

She looked directly into his eyes.

"You don't have to do everything alone."

Arthur became speechless.

Those were the exact words she had said earlier.

Yuna also stepped forward.

"And I'm coming too."

Arthur looked between the two girls.

One smiled gently.

The other grinned brightly.

For some reason—

He suddenly felt less burdened.

A small smile appeared on his face.

"...Alright."

Immediately—

Both girls smiled.

Far away—

Another explosion echoed.

The night was still far from over.

Arthur looked toward the burning city.

His eyes slowly became serious.

Perhaps tonight—

They would gain new allies.

Or encounter even greater dangers.

Either way—

The apocalypse continued.

And Arthur's legend had only just begun.