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Chapter: 15
Click.
As soon as she confirmed the door was closed, Jigu immediately activated her skill. A faint blue line, marking the skill’s range, softly glowed along the boundary of the second-floor bedroom.
This place was now the safest area in the world.
After checking the bluish boundary one more time, Jigu looked at the skill window.
– Guiding (Passive)
Lowers a Sentinel’s mutation rate through physical contact.
If the mutation rate is 100%, the skill does not apply.
Until now, the words had felt unclear, but she finally understood.
In this world, there were humans, zombies, and special beings called Sentinels.
Sentinels did not get infected when bitten by zombies. Instead, the more they used their abilities, the higher their mutation rate became. When it reached 100%, they would mutate into zombies.
The number shown on the watch indicated a Sentinel’s mutation progress, and that mutation rate could be lowered with the skill Guiding.
And to use Guiding…
‘Physical contact.’
Beep— Beep—
Beep— Beep—
At the sharp warning sound, Jigu’s face stiffened.
“His mutation rate…”
It went up.
The number that had briefly dropped to 97% had already risen back to 98%. Because his wounds were so severe, his ability—regeneration—was constantly activating, pushing the mutation rate higher.
Caliph lay neatly on the bed, looking like someone sleeping peacefully.
If not for the dark red blood soaking his abdomen.
Jigu quickly placed her hand on his cheek and stared at the watch.
Even with such light contact, Guiding was working. The number flickered rapidly between 98% and 97%.
As if making up her mind, Jigu leaned closer to Caliph’s face.
‘His eyelashes are really long.’
Long lashes casting shadows beneath closed eyes, a straight, sharp nose, and a clean forehead. His flawless appearance felt almost unreal, like something carefully crafted.
‘Well, of course. Caliph is a created character.’
This world was a game. Zombies, survivors, and even Caliph were all programmed characters, made to guide the player through quests.
‘But he feels like a real person.’
The warmth beneath her hand was gentle and real.
His brows occasionally tightening in pain, the hot breath escaping his dry lips—everything showed that he existed here, alive.
She remembered the feeling of his warmth turning cold.
That memory was far more painful than she had imagined—too painful to dismiss him as just a game character.
“…Caliph.”
He twitched.
Had he heard her voice? When she called his name, his tightly shut eyelids trembled.
After a brief silence, his eyes opened.
Burnt-gray eyes met hers, and—
Boom.
A shock like lightning echoed through her body.
“What… are you?”
His low, cracked voice brushed against her ears. Jigu bit her lip and stared back at him.
‘That’s what I want to ask.’
What are you, to shake me like this? Just meeting his eyes, just holding his hand, made all her senses focus on him. It was a strange feeling she couldn’t explain.
Their gazes tangled, tension and heat mixing between them. Jigu swallowed hard and clenched her fist. Her palm was damp with sweat.
Since waking up in this world, nothing had made sense. He was just another mystery.
But there was one difference.
“Don’t die, Caliph. Stay with me.”
She wanted him to live.
Jigu slowly cupped his tense cheek and lightly pressed her lips to his.
Caliph’s gray eyes widened.
“Mm…!”
A hand grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her in. Jigu let out a small sound as a large shadow leaned over her.
In an instant, their positions reversed.
The mattress creaked under his weight as he pinned her down.
Jigu stared up at him with wide eyes.
“Caliph…?”
Desire burned clearly in his darkened gaze. When their shaking eyes met, she realized—
She wasn’t the only one feeling this heat.
He wanted her too.
Her hesitant hand touched his stiff cheek, and his dry lips came down firmly over hers.
“Mm… ah…”
His lips were hot and dry, but his tongue was wet and slow, making her toes curl.
“W-Wait…!”
How could she describe this feeling?
When their skin touched, tears almost spilled out.
It felt like a missing piece inside her finally clicked into place.
Like she finally existed fully in this world.
And what followed was intense excitement.
It was the same for Caliph.
“Haa…”
He let out a heavy breath and pushed his tongue deeper. Even though they were already pressed together, it wasn’t enough. He wanted to swallow her whole.
“Mm—wait, Caliph, I can’t breathe…!”
When she tapped his shoulder in distress, his greedy lips slowly pulled away.
His lips were flushed red, shining with saliva whose it was unclear.
Embarrassed, Jigu turned her head slightly—but his burning gaze followed her every movement.
Beep— Beep—
The warning sound from Caliph’s wrist cut through the silence.
His eyes hardened as he finally came to his senses.
[Mutation Rate: 94%]
Despair flashed in the man’s eyes.
Hope filled the woman’s.
‘It dropped by 3%!’
It had only been a short kiss, but the number fell more than she expected. She thought the stronger the contact, the better the effect—but maybe not?
She didn’t know why.
For now, she chose to enjoy the moment.
‘Just a little more…’
Caliph wouldn’t mutate.
Jigu smiled brightly and looked up at him.
But Caliph’s face was stiff with fear.
“Get out. Leave right now.”
“What?”
“Stay away from me. If you don’t want to die!”
Rarely raising his voice, Caliph clenched his teeth and pulled away. Jigu grabbed his retreating hand in confusion.
“Why?”
“Because it’s dangerous.”
“What is?”
“Me.”
“Why?”
The repeating questions left Caliph speechless.
Did this woman even have common sense?
“Damn it! Can’t you hear this sound? Can’t you see this number? I’m going to mutate soon. And when I do, I’ll devour you—every piece of flesh, every drop of blood.”
Only then did Jigu understand what he feared.
“Ah…”
The emotions in his eyes mirrored her own reflection.
Fear.
And loneliness.
Looking quietly at those familiar feelings, Jigu pulled his hand firmly.
“It’s okay, Caliph. Stay by my side. That’s all.”
At her soft voice, his eyes shook deeply.
“I…”
Beep— Beep—
The alarm was still screaming.
He knew he should push her away.
Or leave this room himself—far, far from her.
But her words pierced deep into his chest.
Stay by my side.
Only then did Caliph realize what he had wanted to hear all along.
What he truly desired.
Yes.
He wanted to stay with her.
As long as possible.
Very long.
His gray eyes burned brightly with passion.
