Untouched by the Outbreak

Ken commanded his female zombie harem to head down the stairs ahead of him, their blank yet obedient eyes fixated on him as they moved to secure the way. The others stayed close, flanking him protectively as he descended each step, his senses alert. Even though Ryo had assured him that the town's zombies wouldn't attack, Ken wasn't one to take chances—better safe than sorry.

When he finally stepped onto the ground floor, Ken felt the chill of countless eyes on him. Zombies filled the streets, some of them growling lowly in his direction, their pitch-black eyes watching his every move. But as promised, they didn't advance, their loyalty to Ryo holding them back. Ken exhaled, feeling a sense of relief mixed with exhilaration. This unusual arrangement with Ryo had turned into a blessing; he was free to roam as he wished, something few survivors could even dream of.

With his harem trailing closely, he made his way to the stream, their presence constant and oddly comforting. They clung to him with unwavering devotion, always a step behind or by his side, never straying far. The way they moved as one, protectively surrounding him, stirred an odd satisfaction in Ken. He loved it—the way they gravitated toward him, their loyalty and obedience absolute.

Reaching the stream, he set down his supplies and prepared to capture some fish, glancing occasionally at his harem. They stood guard, unmoving yet vigilant, their forms like silent sentinels against the quiet backdrop of the abandoned town. Ken knew he'd stumbled upon a rare opportunity for peace and survival, and he intended to enjoy every moment of it.

When Ken arrived at the stream, he was surprised by the abundance of fish gliding through the clear water. The scene was almost surreal—hundreds of fish, undisturbed for so long that they practically teemed in the shallows. It struck him that, with no humans around to catch them and few predators left on land, nature had flourished in ways he hadn't expected.

Grinning, Ken took his fish net and waded in carefully, casting it with practiced ease. In no time, he captured enough fish to feed himself and his harem—a thought that brought a slight chuckle. Ryo had once mentioned trying to feed the female zombies, suggesting it might improve their strength and loyalty. He hadn't been entirely convinced at the time, dismissing it as another strange quirk in Ryo's approach to the undead. But now, with his net brimming with fresh fish, he thought, *Why not give it a shot?*

At first, he was hesitant. Feeding zombies seemed counterintuitive—weren't they supposed to be mindless and beyond any need for sustenance? But he was curious to see if they could gain something from it. One by one, he handed pieces of fish to his harem, watching as they took the offerings with an eerie calm. They looked at him with vacant yet somehow softer eyes, taking his lead without hesitation.

As they consumed the fish, Ken thought he noticed a subtle change, as though they grew more alert, their movements slightly quicker, more fluid. He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but something in them did seem to come alive, if only a little.

Ken decided he'd experiment with feeding them again later, but for now, his own hunger took priority. He wanted to enjoy a hot, freshly grilled meal by the stream, savoring the quiet freedom he'd carved out for himself. Looking around, he spotted some dry wood nearby. Gathering an armful, he carefully arranged a small fire pit and got to work trying to light it.

After a few tries, the fire finally caught, crackling to life and casting a warm glow over the bank. He skewered a couple of the fish, setting them up over the flames to cook, and the delicious smell of roasting fish soon filled the air. His female zombies watched him in silence, their pale eyes reflecting the flickering firelight, patiently waiting at his side.

Ken leaned back, feeling a rare sense of peace. As he watched the fish begin to brown and crisp, he thought of taking some back to his apartment—a little reward for himself after his quiet, uneventful day.

Ken savored the moment, his grin widening as he thought about how much he enjoyed this life, the odd sense of companionship he'd found in his loyal "harem" of female zombies. Sure, they weren't quite alive, but they still looked human enough, especially compared to the rotting ones he'd seen in other towns. In fact, he mused, he was pretty lucky; he'd somehow landed in the best possible situation while everyone else had flocked to overcrowded so-called safe zones where fear and rationing ruled.

With a chuckle, he leaned closer to the fire, the smell of freshly grilled fish wafting around him. The others in the safe zones would never know the freedom he had out here, away from the endless rules and paranoia. Here, he had all the food, power, and "company" he wanted, with no one breathing down his neck about regulations or curfews.

Ken bit into his meal, savoring the fresh, warm fish, feeling even more content.

Ken stretched out near the fire, his body sinking comfortably onto the soft grass by the stream. He didn't have to keep an eye open here—Ryo's zombies wouldn't touch him as long as he stuck to his promise, and his loyal harem surrounded him, keeping watch with their unsettling yet familiar gaze. The night air was quiet, and the soft sounds of the stream and crackling fire only made him feel safer.

He smiled, closing his eyes with a sense of rare peace. He could lay here and drift into sleep, knowing his harem would guard him until morning. For the first time in a long time, he felt almost… at home.

He didn't care what anyone thought about his unusual "taste" or the odd company he kept. Why should he? Even Ryo, the one with real power and influence over the zombies, didn't judge him. So, if anyone—survivor or otherwise—had a problem with his lifestyle or decided to judge him, well… they'd be meeting an unfortunate end as harem food.

Ken grinned at the thought, feeling a surge of satisfaction. His life was his own now, with his harem loyal only to him. And anyone foolish enough to cross his path would just end up feeding those who followed him without question.

Ken looked at his girlfriend—the one he'd been with before everything went to hell, before the virus stole her humanity. He felt a twinge in his chest as he thought back to those days they had together, the life they'd shared before the outbreak. They'd been living together, and when the infection overtook her, he'd barely been able to hold onto himself, shocked and numb as he realized she had turned to zombie right in his arms.When they were doing sex in bed.

Now, she was different, but somehow, she was still his Akiko. Even with all the others around him, there was something about her he couldn't let go. She was beautiful, with an eerie elegance that the virus had not stripped away. Ken motioned for her to sit beside him, and as she knelt by his side, he started talking to her as if nothing had changed. He spoke of the days they spent together before everything went dark, their shared memories bringing a sad, almost wistful smile to his face.

He leaned back, resting his head on her lap, chatting softly as he recalled each moment.

"Right? Akiko?" he murmured, his voice catching as he looked up at her. A tear slipped down his cheek, though he quickly brushed it away, trying to hold himself together. He sat up, pulling her into his arms.

"I promised we'd be together, till the time I die," he whispered, hugging her tightly, clinging to the last piece of his old life.

"I'm good at keeping promises, right, Akiko? Right?" Ken's voice wavered as he choked back a sob, burying his face into her shoulder. He clung to her, fingers digging into her cold, unresponsive skin, as if holding her tighter could bring back the warmth he remembered.

The quiet of the abandoned world surrounded them, broken only by his soft cries as he let himself fall apart, letting out the grief he had held back for so long. The others, his so-called "harem," watched in silent obedience, but in this moment, none of them mattered. It was just him and Akiko, like it had been before.

Ken cried against her, his body shaking with each suppressed sob. "You're still here… still with me," he whispered desperately. He held her close, not wanting to let go, as if she were the only thing keeping him from being completely alone in this unforgiving world.

"No matter what, no matter where I go, I'll bring you with me, Akiko," Ken whispered, his voice a mix of tenderness and desperation. "I'll never let you go. I'll be right here… always."

He gently brushed a strand of her hair back, his fingers lingering, remembering the softness it once held. He looked into her vacant eyes, feeling the weight of his own promise pressing on his heart. The world may have torn them apart in every way that mattered, but he would hold on to this—hold on to her—as if nothing had changed.

In the silence, he vowed again, "We'll be together… until the end, Akiko." Enjoy exclusive content from empire