Chapter 6: A Moment of Rest

Ren moved cautiously through the darkened mall, his steps light as he scouted for food. The air inside was thick with the scent of dust and decay, and the occasional flickering lights above only made the abandoned space feel more unsettling.

Behind him, Lena followed closely, her small frame barely making a sound. She clutched her map tightly, occasionally glancing at it to check their surroundings.

The once-busy shopping mall was now a silent wasteland. Escalators stood frozen in time, store displays were shattered, and blood-stained floors told a story of the chaos that had unfolded here. Some clothing stores had been looted, their shelves and mannequins left in disarray, while restaurants were abandoned mid-service, trays of rotting food still sitting on tables.

Ren's stomach growled. Food first. Shelter second.

After a few minutes of searching, he spotted a small convenience store at the corner of the hallway. Its glass door was already cracked, but the shelves inside still held some supplies.

"Over there," he whispered to Lena, pointing at the store.

She nodded, and the two hurried inside, keeping an eye on their surroundings.

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Setting Up Camp

Ren wasted no time. He grabbed a few snack packs, canned goods, and bottled water, stuffing them into a makeshift bag he found behind the counter. His eyes darted around the shelves for anything useful—batteries, lighters, maybe even medicine.

As he picked up a can, a thought crossed his mind.

If this were a game, could I store items in an inventory?

He stood still for a moment, staring at the can in his hand. Then, he took a deep breath and said aloud:

"Inventory."

Nothing happened.

Ren frowned. "Figures…"

He sighed, placing the can in his bag instead. So this system isn't exactly like a game. No automatic inventory, no status screen pop-ups at will. It seemed like only specific functions existed, like class abilities and skill recognition.

With his supplies gathered, he returned to where Lena was waiting near a small open space inside the store.

He set down their loot and started making a simple shelter. He stacked a few boxes into a makeshift barricade near a corner, creating a space just big enough for them to sit and rest. He laid out a blanket he had found earlier to make the floor more comfortable.

Lena sat down, hugging her knees. "This is… kinda cozy."

Ren smirked. "Yeah, if you ignore the fact that we're in a ruined mall with monsters outside."

Lena let out a small chuckle but then grew quiet.

---

Conversations in the Dark

As they rested, Ren decided to ask something that had been on his mind.

"When all of this happened, what were you doing?"

Lena glanced at him before looking down at her hands. "I was drawing," she admitted. "You know… I'm a manga artist. It's my dream job."

Ren raised an eyebrow. "A manga artist?"

She nodded. "I was in my apartment, sketching, when I got hungry. I was about to go outside when suddenly, there was a huge earthquake. And then… a floating window appeared in front of me, telling me to grab anything to determine my class."

She touched the map in her hands. "This was hanging on my door, so I just grabbed it without thinking. Next thing I knew, I had a class."

Ren nodded, pretending to relate. But his case was different.

Lena then turned to him. "What about you?"

Ren hesitated. He couldn't exactly say that he had been in a convenience store, saw the system message, and then collapsed because of his illness. Even now, he still didn't understand how he got his Itemless Champion class when he hadn't grabbed anything.

So, instead, he half-lied. "Same as you. Just playing a game, then an earthquake hit. System popped up, told me to pick something."

He quickly changed the subject. "Anyway, how's the food?"

Lena blinked, then looked at the half-eaten bag of chips in her hands. "Oh! Uh… good, I guess?"

Ren smirked. "You answered that like I just asked you a life-changing question."

Lena pouted. "Well, it's not exactly gourmet."

They both chuckled, the tension between them easing slightly.

---

Family Matters

As the conversation continued, Lena suddenly asked, "What about your family, Ren?"

Ren's smirk faded. He stared at the floor for a moment before replying, "I don't have one."

Lena's expression softened. "Oh… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"

"It's fine," Ren interrupted. "I was abandoned at a church when I was a baby. Grew up in an orphanage, but… I never really knew who my parents were."

Lena stayed quiet for a moment. Then, she asked softly, "Did you ever want to find them?"

Ren exhaled. "Maybe when I was younger. But now? I don't really care anymore."

Lena bit her lip, then hesitantly spoke. "My family… they're far away."

Ren looked at her. "Are you worried about them?"

Lena shook her head. "Not really." She smiled a little. "They're trained soldiers. If they got a class too, I'm sure they'll be fine."

Ren raised an eyebrow. "Your family's in the military, and you became a manga artist?"

Lena crossed her arms. "Hey, just because my family's all about combat doesn't mean I have to be!"

Ren chuckled. "Fair enough."

She sighed. "Though… I do worry about them a little. I hope they're okay."

---

Keeping Watch

Lena rubbed her eyes, clearly exhausted.

"You should sleep," Ren said.

Lena hesitated. "Are you sure? What about you?"

"I'll keep watch," Ren assured her. "You need rest. You'll have more energy tomorrow."

Lena hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Okay… but wake me if anything happens."

She curled up under the blanket Ren had set down, using her arms as a pillow.

Ren sat near the entrance, keeping his eyes on the darkened mall. The only sounds were the distant echoes of monsters outside and the occasional drip of water from a broken ceiling pipe.

He tightened his grip on a metal pole he had picked up earlier—his temporary weapon.

His mind wandered. What happens next?

They had survived today, but what about tomorrow? What else was waiting for them in this ruined world?

He sighed. One step at a time.

For now, he just had to keep them safe until morning.