After I Fully Prepared for the Apocalypse, the Ungrateful Cried with Regret-Chapter 41: Reluctance

The zombies in this early stage hadn’t yet evolved Superpowers. As long as they stayed quiet and kept the doors and windows shut, the ones outside would eventually disperse.

Still shaken, Leo Hale and the others looked around the room.

"Nina Jacobs, you still have electricity?"

Chelsea Walsh didn’t dare to speak loudly, only whispering her question.

"Yeah, I had solar panels and storage batteries installed a while back."

Nina Jacobs had actually hired someone to install a simple solar power system just two days before the acid rain.

It shouldn’t be a problem for short-term lighting and powering small appliances.

Not only that, but Nina Jacobs’s refrigerator was also stocked with plenty of eggs and root vegetables, and the freezer below was packed full of meat.

"Your place... is pretty nice."

Leo Hale had to admit he had been too loud earlier.

Nina Jacobs’s place wanted for nothing; it had practically everything. These supplies could last them for a month without any problem.

Besides, they had also unexpectedly acquired a ton of supplies on the road today.

"I’m going to get some rest. Make yourselves at home."

Nina Jacobs returned to her room and opened the system.

She had gained some Experience Points today, a few of which came from Leo Hale and Ian Chandler.

’Just like in my past life, the system can only absorb half the Experience Points shared by teammates.’

’In other words, if Leo Hale killed two zombies, I would absorb one Experience Point.’

Nina Jacobs opened the teammate page and saw that Leo Hale’s Friendship level had risen to 40, while Ian Chandler’s had reached 85.

She then opened the Skill panel and carefully read the description for ’Heart of Strange Fire’.

’The Heart of Strange Fire can be used continuously for one hour at a time. If supplied with a Fire Element Crystal Core, its duration can be extended.’

’Without a Fire Element Crystal Core, the cooldown is three hours.’

’I held back a lot when I used my Fire Element Superpower earlier. I can’t believe the effect was so good when combined with the Heart of Strange Fire.’

’It’s time to do a quest.’

Nina Jacobs discovered that after she returned to the old house, the system’s "Free Shopping Spree" quest location had also refreshed to her current vicinity.

[Apocalypse Survival Quest Activated: Free Shopping Spree Quest 12

Quest Details: In three days, the Rondale Food Factory will be destroyed by a fire. To prevent the waste of supplies, please collect 90% of the factory’s supplies.

Quest Reward: 1 System Storage Slot, +30 Experience Points.

Quest Difficulty: ★★★]

In addition to the Free Shopping Spree quest, there was also a daily quest to kill zombies that appeared after the outbreak.

[Daily Quest: Kill regular zombies (9/30).

Quest Reward: +30 Experience Points.]

The nine zombies she’d just killed were automatically counted toward the quest, and Nina Jacobs felt it wasn’t nearly enough.

’In my past life, I almost always fought zombies in close combat.’

’I thought that as long as my teammates had Superpowers, leeching their experience would be just as good.’

’But reality taught me a harsh lesson.’

’I never expected that killing zombies with a Superpower would be so effective.’

Nina Jacobs activated ’Five Senses Enhancement’ and carefully surveyed the situation around the old house.

Nearly all the remaining residents in the vicinity had turned into zombies.

It was as if they were in the middle of a zombie nest.

’We have to clear out the surrounding area,’ Nina Jacobs thought.

Good thing those zombies were all trapped in their homes. But if they waited a few more days for them to evolve Superpowers, they would be in real danger.

Nina Jacobs noticed that Vera Coleman had looked preoccupied ever since they’d arrived.

She’d barely eaten a few bites of the delicious dinner Chelsea Walsh had made.

And it wasn’t just Vera Coleman; Daniel Hale had grown quiet too.

"It’s nothing. I’m fine."

That was Vera Coleman’s deflective reply when Nina Jacobs asked her directly.

Nina Jacobs didn’t press the issue.

「The next day.」

Daniel Hale suggested they go out to kill zombies and, while they were at it, look for a nearby pharmacy.

"A pharmacy? Is someone sick?"

Leo Hale asked, confused.

"Just to take a look. No one’s sick," Daniel Hale stammered.

"Uncle Hale, what’s really going on?"

Nina Jacobs noticed that Daniel Hale’s eyes were red, too.

So were Vera Coleman’s. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Your Uncle Hale and I discussed it, and we’ve made a decision. We’ve decided to... terminate the pregnancy."

Vera Coleman finally said the words.

She and Daniel Hale hadn’t slept all night. Though it broke their hearts, they had still come to this decision.

"Why? I won’t allow it!"

Leo Hale was the first to object.

"We don’t want to do this either," Daniel Hale said, his head hung low, looking utterly dejected.

God only knew how much he and Vera Coleman had been looking forward to the birth of these two children.

But to bring children into this world, only to have them face such cruelty?

And what if they became a burden to everyone?

"Using medication is too hard on the body. What if something goes wrong?"

Nina Jacobs wanted to respect Vera Coleman’s decision.

But she was already over four months along; a medical abortion would be extremely unsafe.

"We have to face it sooner or later," Vera Coleman said, stroking her abdomen, her face a mask of sorrowful reluctance.

’Without a hospital, the actual birth will be incredibly difficult, too.’

"Keep the babies. Maybe things will get better," Nina Jacobs sighed, deciding to speak up.

"Get better? How could things possibly get better? In this situation, things will only get more and more dangerous."

Daniel Hale had already thought it through. The number of people infected with the zombie virus wouldn’t decrease; it would only grow.

Faced with this disaster, none of them could afford to be optimistic.

"Have you all forgotten about the government?" Nina Jacobs reminded them.

"The government?"

Several people looked at Nina Jacobs, speaking in unison.

"Things can’t go on like this forever. Haven’t the broadcasts these past few days said that rescue operations are underway? If there are rescue operations, then what about the survivors who are being rescued?"

As Nina Jacobs guided their thinking, a flicker of hope appeared on Daniel Hale’s face.

’That’s right. If there are rescue efforts, it means the government hasn’t abandoned us.’

’If the rescued survivors can live under protection, then why can’t our children?’

"But..."

Vera Coleman was still deeply uncertain.

"Don’t you worry, Mrs. Coleman. Once we get to a safe place, I’ll make sure you’re given the best care," Ian Chandler chimed in.

"Thank you."

Ian Chandler’s words made Vera Coleman crack a smile.

"That’s right, Miss Coleman. I think Nina Jacobs has a point. My brother’s in the army, and they always risk their lives saving people during disaster relief. A country like that would never just abandon us," Chelsea Walsh said, her voice full of conviction, certain that Nina Jacobs was right.

"Honestly, you two... just relax and let us handle things. You still have me, you know."

Leo Hale’s voice choked with emotion. Daniel Hale and Vera Coleman had always been his rock, his safe harbor. From now on, he would be the one to protect them.

"I think the kids are right. Maybe things aren’t as bad as we thought."

Once Daniel Hale came around to the idea, he suddenly felt the heavy weight in his heart lift.

Perhaps their earlier decision had been a mistake after all.

"So... we’ll wait and see?" Vera Coleman asked, still hesitant. More than her two unborn children, she was worried about becoming a burden to Nina Jacobs.

"Don’t worry."

Nina Jacobs wasn’t good at comforting people, but that one word conveyed everything she wanted to say.

’I have no plans to have children in this life.’

’But being a big sister to two little bundles of joy... that doesn’t sound so bad, does it?’