The Post-Apocalyptic Survival Journey After Becoming a Beautiful Girl Chapter 8

I repackaged the parcel and then rummaged through the wardrobe. I wouldn't have known if I hadn't looked, but what a shock—how coincidental that there actually was a set of women's clothes inside.

Biting my lip, I hesitated over and over, but finally decided to put them on. This hospital gown of mine had no pockets at all, while this outfit at least had a few pockets to hold my phone, right?

With that thought, I stripped off my clothes in a flash and looked down to size myself up.

"Damn... that really is a killer body!"

As soon as I said it, I felt something was off. Was this technically flirting with myself?

It seemed... it probably counted, didn't it?

Once I realized that, I lost any interest in staring further. I searched around and found a few pieces of clothing, and there was even a set of underwear. The bra was too small, but at least the panties would fit.

Most importantly, this set of clothes was brand new!

It looked like someone had booked this ward exclusively? Or maybe a nurse changed clothes here and left her everyday wear.

The clothes inside were very clean and tidy, and I was grateful for that—I didn't want to wear something filthy anyway.

A pair of jeans—well, the seat was a bit tight, but at least I could make do. The pant legs were a little short, but wearable.

The top was a short-sleeved shirt. Putting it on... aside from the chest being a bit cramped and the shirt being loose, it wasn't too bad.

But... what troubled me were those two bumps on my chest.

Even though no one could see my indecent state right now, it still felt weird. With no other choice, I put the hospital gown back on over the top, looking mismatched.

Still, at least those two bumps were covered—I even seriously thought to myself: am I a D or an E?

Ahem.

Once I was dressed, the original parcel was useless. I turned back, picked up the ZIPPO that was still lying on the floor with its glass shattered by me, stuffed my phone and cigarettes into my pockets, and didn't hang the keys on my waist but tucked them into my pocket too.

After all, these keys were metal—if they made any noise while I was running, that would be bad.

There was also a pair of shoes here—sneakers. I tried them on, and they fit just right. I looked down at the size on the other shoe, memorized it, and then put them on without a shred of guilt.

In this apocalypse, concepts like stealing... do they even exist anymore?

If they do, please bring that person here. Right now, I'd be thrilled to see anyone, just to know I'm not the only one.

The terror of loneliness—I've experienced it often. But back then, even when I was lonely, I'd occasionally exchange a few words with a neighbor or a shopkeeper. Now, though, I haven't seen a single living person.

I'm really afraid—afraid that I'm the only one left in this world.

My thoughts were drifting. None of this is what I should be thinking about right now.

I straightened my clothes, tied the laces of the sneakers tight, and then racked the gun!

With a click, I chambered a round. Holding the pistol, my heart settled a little.

I looked up at the door covered in black blood scabs, and slowly placed my hand on the door handle.

It was eerily quiet—quiet enough to be terrifying, as if I were living in another world.

Maybe... it really is another world?

I don't know if there are still living people outside, but let's assume there are. Would those people still follow the rules of the original society?

The answer is—impossible.

The world has collapsed, and the already unstable social rules will collapse along with it.

Thinking of that, I couldn't help but look down—and immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

I couldn't even see my feet!

Cough... now is not the time to think about this.

Forcing my attention back, I lowered myself and peered through the bullet hole I had discovered yesterday. It was a bit dim, but at least there was still a sliver of sunlight—enough to see, unlike the pitch black of night.

Returning to the earlier topic...

Since the social rules had completely collapsed, the people who had once lived peaceful lives under those rules would likely unleash unimaginable darkness. Would those hidden, sinister hearts, which had no choice but to stay concealed under the old order, erupt fully in this world where rules no longer existed?!

The answer hardly needed thought. I could say with certainty—yes.

Then... when considering human evil, its root was human desire.

There was a saying: humans are born evil. This was a universal truth, applicable to any living creature.

In the current society, human children were a bit better off. For example... if a mother gave birth to three children but didn't have enough milk, those three children would never yield to one another, because survival was instinct.

The two strongest children would eat their fill, while the weakest would gradually weaken. That was certain.

To put it simply... if one portion of food was placed before three people, they could not divide it equally. Among the three, one would eat their fill, one would eat little, and the last... would get nothing at all.

In an apocalypse like this, where resources were scarce, this evil would be magnified without limit.

As a novelist, this kind of human nature was a basic element in fiction, and I often pondered it myself.

So... the topic of desire was vast.

Some sought profit, some sought fame, some sought lust.

Chapter 7: Crisis!

Though the words "fame and profit" always outweighed "lust," it was undeniable that some would still choose beauty over empire.

My thoughts had wandered far. This habit of mine, always letting my mind drift, really needed to change in this apocalypse. Otherwise, if danger arose while I was lost in imagination, I'd be in trouble.

After staring through the bullet hole for a long time, I saw no danger outside. My hand returned to the door handle, turning it slowly, while my mind continued its earlier musings.

Fame, profit, lust—these three things were very easy to obtain in the apocalypse. The method was simple: strength.

As long as someone was stronger than you, resistance was futile. Especially in my situation, it was extremely dangerous. Though I had only caught a rough glimpse of myself in the mirror while changing clothes, that nearly angelic appearance still shook me. I didn't dare look further—I was genuinely afraid I might fall in love with myself.

This really was a tragic story...

With a face like this, I believed that out of a hundred men, at least ninety-nine would harbor some unpleasant thoughts. As for the last one...

Cough, he was blind.

Maybe I was exaggerating a bit, but in this apocalypse where desires were amplified, my appearance was far too eye-catching. Perhaps I should think of a way to cover my face.

If there were other living people besides me in this world...

Shaking my head, I cast those stray thoughts aside. The first priority now was figuring out how to escape.

When I had picked up the ZIPPO earlier, I had glanced outside briefly. My current position seemed to be around the twentieth floor. The city hospital... as someone who had never suffered a major illness in my life, I wasn't very familiar with this place.

But at least I had accompanied others here a few times. I vaguely remembered that the emergency stairwell should be next to the elevator, and at the far end of the hallway, there was also—

There was an emergency iron staircase, but that wouldn't be until the fifth floor.

The doorknob turned slowly. I pushed the door gently—something outside seemed to be blocking it, forcing me to use a bit more strength before I could barely shove it open. At the same time, a faint scraping sound rang out!

"Squeak, squeak, squeak~~"

The noise wasn't loud, but in this empty, silent stairwell, it was unmistakably clear!

"Hiss!!" My whole body tensed. I quickly pressed myself against the back of the door. At that moment, a hurried "thump, thump!" of footsteps approached. Pressed tight against the door, I could hear the heavy breathing getting closer with perfect clarity. Every pore on my body stood on end, and the hand gripping the gun was slick with sweat!

"Thump!"

With the final footstep, the labored breathing was right outside the door. And at this very moment, pressed flush against it, I—