How Zombies Survive in the Apocalypse

[... Accordingly, the start of that experiment...]

[Using the primordial blood... out of 13 discarded test subjects...]

[Proceeding with the final test of Subject 14...]

In a room of the devastatingly destroyed laboratory, a man in a suit was looking at documents that had been partially burned.

"Reporting, Colonel. Laboratory destruction complete. Incineration in progress."

A soldier appeared behind the colonel who was examining the documents and completed his report.

The colonel continued staring at the documents for a while after hearing the report before speaking.

"Sergeant, have all laboratory personnel and all test subjects been dealt with?"

"The number of bodies and test subjects matches the reported figures, sir."

"We can't waste any more time. Withdraw quickly."

The colonel walked past the sergeant and exited the laboratory.

His eyes were particularly cold as he looked at the burning laboratory.

"So there are no surviving test subjects."

His figure disappeared among the busily moving soldiers.

* * *

An office of the Exorcist Special Division in a church, filled with all kinds of books and bookshelves.

An elderly priest sits among the old desk and numerous file folders.

Knock knock

"Come in."

The priest, who was reviewing a document, granted entry.

Creeak-

Unlike his own worn priest's robe, a priest in a neat and tidy outfit appeared.

"Your Eminence. The laboratory has been destroyed."

"Hmm... which side made the move?"

The cardinal asked while putting down his document.

The priest immediately handed a report to the cardinal.

"Please review the report for detailed information."

The cardinal's eyes lit up as he briefly skimmed through the report he had just received.

"We were planning to send our own people to destroy that laboratory anyway, but how is the government reacting?"

"It seems they intend to act as if the laboratory never existed."

"They have no choice... unless they want to start a war right now."

The cardinal sighed after reading through the entire report.

"Was there a successful subject among the test subjects?"

"We received a final report a week ago that there was one subject nearly complete, but it's highly likely it was incinerated along with the laboratory."

"Did our infiltrated agent in the laboratory escape?"

"About that..."

The priest's expression darkened.

It seemed the agent had failed to escape.

"Please make sure the remaining families are well supported. Any additional matters to report?"

"There are no further matters to report, Your Eminence."

"The war will become protracted. The government always acts this way. We'll take our own actions accordingly."

"Understood."

As the priest turned to leave, the cardinal called out to stop him.

"Father Johansson. From now on, our Special Division will begin a war against monsters again after 50 years. Are the preparations complete?"

Father Johansson smiled.

"Of course, Your Eminence. Everything will be according to God's will."

"Very good."

Having said all he needed to say, the priest left the cardinal's room.

In the corridor where the cold winter air seeped in,

Click, click

Walking down that corridor, Father Johansson was lost in thought.

A week ago, the last contact from Nation who had infiltrated the laboratory.

[It seems the experiment will soon succeed.]

[It's the primordial blood. You must make the decision to dispose of it before it's completed.]

An artificially created monster, humans were truly foolish.

How much more sin did they intend to commit?

The church had been fighting monsters hiding in the darkness of the world for hundreds of years.

The nobles of darkness, vampires.

The rulers of the forest, werewolves.

And even the witch entities spreading heresy hidden among believers.

Countless exorcists had sacrificed themselves for the holy faith offered to God.

To think that the end of those sacrifices would not be the extermination of cursed monsters, but a means to line the pockets of government bastards.

The primordial blood is not something easily obtainable anywhere.

How on earth did the government obtain the primordial blood that even the church couldn't find?

His thoughts continued to branch out, and before he knew it, he had arrived in front of a room.

Creeak-

As he opened the door, five priests who had been sitting comfortably here and there stood up and greeted Father Johansson.

"Father."

"Ah, you're all gathered."

Johansson briefly explained the matter related to the laboratory and concluded.

"How is the conflict between vampires and werewolves?"

"It seems they noticed our intervention and quickly left the conflict area, hiding their presence."

Johansson frowned at the throbbing headache.

"They won't back down easily, so mobilize the hunters as well."

"Understood."

"It pains me that we have to use these money-grubbing heretical trash, but we have no choice."

To Johansson, faithless trash like hunters held little meaning.

He had heard that among them were madmen capable of hunting even mid-level monsters, but they were still just heretics.

Trash who don't know God's will, nothing more, nothing less.

Only we, the church, will save those poor lambs and burn to death with holy flames the monsters, the witches obsessed with heresy, and the filthy trash who have no faith in God.

We've been conserving our strength while watching the government's nonsense.

From now on, we will enter the hell-bound path stained with our own blood.

"All of you, prepare yourselves. It's time to show the power of God we've been preparing."

"Yes, Father."

Except for Johansson, the priests made the sign of the cross and prayed for their faith in God.

The government bastards will no longer be able to engage in futile actions.

The five branch leaders who have excellently nurtured their power, and the 250 lower-ranking exorcists under their command.

They will show the majesty of the great God and the glorious path of light.

Having finished his thoughts, Johansson prayed.

May God bless the holy war that will now begin in earnest...

"Amen..."

* * *

My name is Frill, a researcher.

Right now, I'm running away with the 14th test subject codenamed [Primordial].

To be honest, I didn't think this escape would succeed.

Was the timing good? No, was I lucky?

I guess you could think of it that way. Leaving my dummy corpse behind and placing a dummy baby in the experimental tube filled with culture medium, up to this point, yes, it was as prepared.

Just, even with these preparations, whether I could escape or not.

That was the problem I couldn't solve...

The situation moved quite differently from what I had expected.

At that moment, when I was timing as the person on duty in the culture room.

Gunshots going off like crazy everywhere, and people's screams.

It was a perfect opportunity for me who was preparing to escape. After all, this laboratory is under government surveillance.

The sound of gunfire means there's something unexpected.

I took Subject 14 out of the experimental tube, hurriedly placed the dummy corpse on the floor, and put the dummy baby in the tube.

Then I wrapped 14 in a blanket, tied it well with a baby sling, and set fire to one of the culture tanks.

This should make them think I set the fire to dispose of the experiment, I thought as I quickly jumped into the hidden escape route in the culture room.

"Huff, huff."

I ran like crazy.

Whatever sounds I heard behind me, whatever light burst forth, I just ran forward.

This mountainside is behind the laboratory. Those who might know about the secret passage are already...

Anyway, they're people I don't know. I had no rapport with them. I didn't even exchange a single greeting.

Why did I save 14...

I guess it's okay to move past such sentiments now.

"Awu-a..."

I hear 14's babbling from inside the blanket.

Yes, for now, I save it. I run away.

If I go just one more hour, there will be a small village. If I spend the dawn there and secretly board the truck I've arranged in advance, I should be able to escape.

"Ugh!"

It's no wonder I fell after sprinting madly up a steep hill. The moonlight is a small hope, but this is in the forest.

Even as I rolled down the hill, I hugged 14 tightly to my chest, afraid it might get hurt.

Fortunately, it doesn't seem like anything is broken.

My whole body feels heavy and painful. But I have to get up.

I will definitely escape with 14... this child.

And... after that...

I don't know. I only planned the escape, I didn't decide to do anything.

Just that feeling of wanting to run away with this child, without any consideration as a scientist, created this situation.

I ran for a while longer like that.

Fortunately, I've come down all the hills and although my body aches, from now on I need to conserve my energy as I go.

"Awu~."

Hearing the baby's voice, it doesn't seem to have any injuries.

That's a relief.

I could see a road in the distance, but I can't go that way.

Instead, I walked deeper into the flat forest.

"Ha... This is tough."

With those words that slipped out unconsciously, I just moved forward.

In the forest where I couldn't see even an inch ahead, my breath was catching in my throat.

As I ran aimlessly, finally a small light appeared in the distance.

My whole body was so exhausted that I felt like I would collapse, unable to run anymore, but I just ran and ran towards the light.

At the edge of the cliff surrounded by trees. I only stopped when I arrived there. And looking at the lights of the small village visible far below, I slumped down.

After catching my breath for a while, I gently unwrapped the bundle I was holding.

14 looks at me and smiles.

...I'm done for. I don't think I'll be able to betray that smile.

Drip drip.

Drops of blood falling continuously from my chin landed on 14's mouth.

14 licked the falling blood and fussed as if wanting more.

"Just wait a little, it's okay now..."

The lights of the small village visible at the bottom of the cliff gave a small sense of relief.

My body, which wouldn't be strange if it collapsed, is screaming.

Still, I forcibly got up and headed towards the village.

It felt like I moved forward again for over 30 minutes by my estimate.

As soon as I arrived at the village with difficulty, I drank water from a well near the village and exhaled deeply.

The small lights I saw from the cliff had almost disappeared as dawn approached, and the streets were quiet.

"Huff... huff..."

After catching my breath for a while, I slowly looked around and headed towards the shabby small warehouse I had investigated in advance.

Fortunately, the door of the warehouse was not locked, just like before.

For now, I need to rest a little to be able to move.

Thinking that, I lay down among the scattered objects.

The preparations to escape far away, starting from this rural village I had set as the escape route, were already complete.

I mustn't let my guard down.

It's only a 30-minute drive from the laboratory to this village. If the dummy was discovered, the search will start from this village.

When morning comes, a truck will arrive in front of the warehouse.

If I can just get on that, the first hurdle will be over.

The next challenge will be how well I can hide.

I prayed and prayed again that everything would pass without incident.