The Only Woman in a Zombie Apocalypse Vol. 1 Chapter 7 - Isn't this a zombie story? (1)

Dayoung felt grateful for Ian and his group’s support, but it also left a bitter taste in her mouth—was it only because she was a woman that they were taking her side? 

 

Overthinking wouldn’t help, so she tried to shake off her thoughts. 

 

However, her trembling made it seem like she was scared, and their expressions hardened. 

 

How could they drive out such a pretty, vulnerable woman? It was no different from telling her to go die out there. Those heartless bastards!

 

“I think kicking them out is the right call. If they’re like this from the first day, how can we ever trust them?”

“I agree.”

“Same here. How can we rely on them?”

“Well, the decision is clear. The three of you will have to leave.”

“Wait, we’re really sorry! We messed up!! If we go out there, we’ll die! You know that!!”

 

At Ian’s verdict, the men bowed their heads and begged for forgiveness. 

 

Their desperate pleas made the group waver. Dayoung knew that sending them out would mean their deaths, but for her own safety—and the safety of Ian’s group—they couldn’t stay. 

 

She remembered the five people who had died in the original story because of them. Suddenly, her eyes stung. 

 

Tears welled up as she spoke in a trembling voice.

 

“I… I’ll go. This happened because of me… Don’t worry about it. I’ll be fine…”

 

Seeing the petite Dayoung lower her head, Ian’s group grew restless.

 

“Noona, don’t cry.”

“Dayoung, stop. You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s those guys’ fault. Leader, just kick them out already.”

“Yeah. That’s for the best.”

 

Even without Ian’s answer, they moved to expel the three men. 

 

The group had all agreed, and Ian had no intention of leaving them be. 

 

Regardless of their attempt to assault Dayoung, Ian believed there was no benefit in keeping people around who were driven more by instinct than reason.

 

“Kick them out.”

“Yes!”

 

They untied the men’s hands and dragged the struggling trio outside. 

 

Some used the speakers at the main entrance to draw the zombies’ attention, while the rest led the men to the back door and pushed them beyond the barricade.

 

“The zombies are at the front right now, so run fast.”

“And never come back here. If we see you again, you won’t die by zombies—you’ll die by our hands. We won’t spare you just because you’re human. Understood?”

“Please, spare us! We were wrong!! Please!!”

“If you keep shouting, you’ll attract the zombies. Get moving.”

 

At the mention of zombies approaching, the three men scrambled away in panic.

 

Returning to the lobby, the group crowded around Dayoung, who was still standing hesitantly in the same spot.

 

“Noona, are you okay?”

“Dayoung, lift your head. Hmm?”

“I-I’m… fine…”

“Good. If you want anything, just say the word. Alright, let’s sleep on the first floor tonight.”

“Ugh… I’m jealous. Someone switch shifts with me, pleaaase!!!”

“Jiwoo, it can’t be helped. Your luck’s run out.”

 

Jiwoo and Minshik, who were on patrol duty that night, begged and clung to anyone who would listen, but no one was willing to trade away the chance to stay in the same room as Dayoung. 

 

Leaving the two on patrol behind, the group led Dayoung to their temporary quarters.

 

When they had first entered the mall, they had all slept together in one room before organizing their space. 

 

But after two weeks, they had claimed separate rooms, so it had been nearly two months since they’d last shared a space like this.

 

“Wow. Before we got separate rooms in our shopping mall, we always slept together. Thanks to Dayoung, we’re all sleeping together again after so long.”

“Yeah. Hey, Dayoung noona, where are you going to sleep?”

“Huh? Um… maybe in the far corner? It’s a little scary, though…”

“The corner’s scary too? Then sleep in the middle. Right in the middle.”

“Is it okay if I sleep in the middle??”

“Of course!”

 

The group laid out blankets, placing the softest, most comfortable one in the center for Dayoung and covering it with a cozy duvet before calling her over.

“Here, noona, this is the fluffiest blanket for you.”

“Thanks.”

 

Polite as ever, Dayoung’s spot was slightly spaced apart from the others’ blankets. Seeing this, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter. 

 

Grinning widely, she approached the blankets and had no choice but to thank them.

 

“Alright, then for the spots next to her—fair and square, rock-paper-scissors! If you don’t play, you lose by default!”

At Dohun’s shout, the group raised their hands above their heads in perfect unison, as if they’d planned it. 

 

Even those still laying out blankets in the distance had their hands up.

“Hey! You’re too far away. Gather first.”

 

They quickly huddled together in the center. 

 

With thirteen of them, it wasn’t easy to decide, and it took ten rounds of rock-paper-scissors before two winners emerged.

“As expected of our leader. Even wins something like this.”

“Right. Ugh. So unlucky.”

 

The winners who got to sleep next to Dayoung were Ian and Dohun.

Grumbling, the group settled into their spots. Maybe it was because they were lying together after so long, or maybe to lift Dayoung’s spirits—but they chattered away, cracking jokes and bursting into laughter. 

 

They even subtly teased Dayoung at times.

 

As time passed, the lively chatter slowly faded, and one by one, the sound of soft snoring filled the air.

 

Dayoung tried to fall asleep while listening to the breathing of her companions, but the faces of the three men kept resurfacing in her mind. 

 

The vicious expressions they had when she opened her eyes—it was a terror she had never experienced in real life. 

 

At least the room had no door, and the thought that Ian was nearby gave her just enough strength to move.

 

As Dongwoo had said, she couldn’t even begin to imagine how much the Dayoung in the novel must have suffered to survive in this wretched world. She remembered her own foolish self, who had once liked them just for their pretty faces and bodies.

 

If she had never met them… She didn’t even want to think about it.

 

The fear those three men had instilled in her was now accompanied by guilt—the guilt of having driven them outside, into a world swarming with zombies. She recalled how they had struggled as they were dragged away by the group. 

 

Even though they were characters who wouldn’t have survived to the end anyway, it still felt as if she had personally killed them.

 

Of course, the novel’s plot might have changed, allowing them to survive longer. 

 

As Dayoung continued to toss and turn, Ian quietly spoke up, sensing her restlessness.

“Noona, can’t sleep?”

“Huh? Sorry. Was I moving too much?”

“No. I can’t sleep either.”

“But you’re exhausted… It’s weird that sleep won’t come.”

“Then… want to come over here?”

“Huh? Oh—”

“They say body warmth or the sound of a heartbeat helps when you’re anxious.”

“D-Does it…?”

 

At Dayoung’s hesitant response, Ian moved his blanket next to hers. He could have just slipped under her blanket, but instead, he lay between the two, keeping a slight distance in case she felt uncomfortable. 

 

Listening to his steady breathing right beside her, Dayoung felt a little more at ease. She let her mind drift over everything that had happened that day.

 

When Dayoung opened her eyes in the world of the novel, she had possessed someone else—a person with the same personal details but a completely different appearance. 

 

To her immense relief, she was inside her favorite novel, one she had reread dozens of times, so she knew the plot all the way to its ending. 

 

But what would happen to her once the novel concluded? What had become of the real Kim Dayoung? And why had she ended up here? 

 

She had never once wished to possess a character in a novel. 

 

Sure, she had imagined romantic scenes with the characters before, but she had never dreamed of actually inhabiting their world.

 

Though she knew this was a fictional world, the people around her didn’t feel like mere characters. The lively personalities of the Zombieverse cast—laughing, getting angry, feeling shy—their warmth. 

 

They were real people. 

 

Dayoung found it harder and harder to see them as just characters from a novel.

 

“Noona, still can’t sleep?”

“Mmm…”

 

While lost in her thoughts, Ian spoke up. 

 

Seeing Dayoung struggling to fall asleep, he scooted a little closer and lay down beside her. 

 

Then, he gently placed his hand over her blanket and began patting her stomach with care.

 

“Lullaby, lullaby, our noona~ Lullaby, lullaby, fast asleep~”

“Pfft… What is that?”

“A lullaby. Don’t you think it’ll help you sleep?”

“Well… I do feel a little drowsy now.”

 

Dayoung burst into laughter at Ian’s antics. In the novel, he was always portrayed as the strong leader of the team—someone who had to remain unshaken in his role. Though he was one of the most kind-hearted characters, his position never allowed him to show weakness. 

 

After meeting countless people, parting ways, losing some, and being betrayed, he had slowly learned to guard his heart, trusting only those closest to him.

 

At this point, not many in the group had died yet, so emotions were still raw and openly displayed. 

 

Starting with the deaths of five people caused by three men, their numbers dwindled to just five by the time they reached the bunker in Gangwon-do. 

 

When the first five died, Ian closed off his heart. 

 

The three men who had made things difficult for Ian had left this place, and perhaps now, Ian would be able to remain as he was. 

 

Dayoung’s eyes gradually fluttered shut as she felt the soothing hand patting her stomach.

 

Even after Dayoung’s breathing changed, Ian continued to pat her stomach for a while. 

 

It had only been a day since they met Dayoung, yet everyone had easily warmed up to her and opened their hearts to her. 

 

Ian was no different. 

 

Was it because she was the first woman they had seen in a long time? Or was it because of her striking beauty and figure, which were rare to come by? 

 

Ian felt a slight unease, wondering whether Dayoung’s presence would bring misfortune or luck to the group. 

 

But they had already accepted her as one of their own—what could he do? Shaking off his thoughts, Ian soon fell asleep.

 

🫧

 

How long had he been asleep? 

 

Ian stirred, feeling unusually hot, but his arm wouldn’t move. He cautiously opened his eyes and turned his head—then nearly let out a scream. 

 

There was Dayoung, fast asleep, using his arm as a pillow. She must have taken off her cardigan in her sleep, as she was now lying there in nothing but a loose tank top. 

 

Ian’s body jerked in surprise. 

 

One of the wide straps of her tank top had slipped down, revealing the full curve of her ample cleavage.

 

What the hell is this?!