episode_0004

The front door was made of opaque glass, typical of an old house. Naturally, it was locked. The group pondered how to pick the lock and enter.

I borrowed duct tape from Ian’s bag and stuck it on the glass, then wrapped a towel around a bat. Just as I was about to swing the bat, Hajiyu stepped forward and stopped me. She then took the towel off the bat and wrapped it around the end of a knife.

“I’m better at controlling strength than you. Can I just hit it like this?”

I pointed the bat towards the edge.

“Just hit it with enough force to break the edge.”

After tapping the spot I pointed to, Hajiyu used just the right amount of force to break the glass.

“Crrrrrr-.”

For a moment, we heard a zombie growling outside the door, so we all held our breath, but fortunately, there was no further movement. We sighed and opened the door, entering inside.

“Wow, did you learn all this from watching movies?”

Actually, it’s from the original novel of this world. I nodded without correcting her.

Suddenly, a tingling sensation on the back of my head.

When I turned around, Hajiyu quickly turned her head. She looked embarrassed, with a blush on her face.

What the heck…?

I couldn’t understand. At first, I thought it was just caution towards a stranger, but was it jealousy? Why on earth?

Yeah, I get it that Ian likes you. With that face and physique, it makes sense. But I’m a guy. We’re of the same gender. Why is she acting like this towards me?

The character who dies early on didn’t seem to have a well-defined personality, but this wasn’t the case…

While pondering, a realization flashed through my mind.

When Ian praised me, she ran out to face the zombies first, and just now, she broke the glass herself. And that tingling gaze after Ian’s compliment…

She must have had that role all along. With her unbelievable physical abilities, she must have easily taken care of all the zombies. Every time, Ian must have praised her like he did to me just now. That’s the kind of person Ian is.

Naturally timid and fragile, Hajiyu naturally received Ian’s care and protection. On the other hand, Hajiyu, who excels in everything and can handle things on her own, would have limited ways to attract attention compared to Ian.

I took over that role.

Realizing this, a wry smile escaped me. Childish. Wanting attention from a guy you like, no matter how strong you are.

The rest of the day proceeded swiftly. They had been through hardships before and had a system in place, so they efficiently carried out their tasks.

They split up to search the house for curtains, edible food, and useful items. I also wandered around, looking for anything necessary.

Since the electronics were not working due to the power outage, they focused on battery-operated items. While they had gathered enough food, not many people would have thought to bring batteries.

Of course, in times like these, there wouldn’t be many items that could be operated with batteries…

But I found some. In a dusty old cabinet filled with antique items, I found a battery-operated flashlight and a recorder. I tried putting in some batteries, and they worked fine. Just in case, I decided to keep them.

I had hoped to find some bullets, but of course, there were none…

I looked at the revolver in my hand. Five empty chambers. The revolver that Ian was supposed to take. The weapon that would help them overcome a crisis.

What would happen if it wasn’t here? Could Ian die? What would happen then?

The future is not going to be resolved properly. People gather around Ian as the focal point, and the spark of hope to resolve the situation gradually ignites.

Even if I am immune and know what lies ahead, I don’t have the ability to gather talented individuals. I don’t even know how to deal with Hajiyu and Chadoman right now.

But I don’t want to be left alone in this world either.

So, if possible, I will save Ian. I can’t think of it right now, but… well, somehow it will work out.

***

“Get up.”

I jolted awake at the sharp voice, as if a blade had been drawn.

In the still dark, I absentmindedly reached for my phone to check the time, then suddenly realized. Yes, this is a different world.

Hajiyu, who was coldly staring down at me in that state. Ah, the torchbearer.

One person stands guard on the first floor, prepared for any unexpected situations, while the rest gather near the evacuation route on the second floor to sleep.

With shifts every two hours, it must be around five o’clock now, as I am the last in line.

I got up with a groggy body, relying on the torch held by Hajiyu to make my way down to the first floor. Hajiyu had placed a candle on the table. I was about to go up when he stood still in his place.

I wondered if there was something to convey, but it didn’t seem like that kind of atmosphere.

Could it be… he’s telling me to leave the group?

Considering how he had been watching me all day with suspicion and disapproval, it was entirely possible.

Hajiyu’s lips moved.

Just say something unpleasant. I won’t stay silent this time either.

I was ready to retort, but Hajiyu turned abruptly after muttering a few words.

What’s with the sudden change? Well, telling someone to leave in this situation is as good as telling them to die. Just as I was about to think that he wouldn’t go that far, a faint voice was heard.

“Sorry…”

“What did you just say?”

I asked again, thinking I misheard, but there was no response. His small hand was trembling slightly.

Time passed in silence. This time, Hajiyu spoke in a voice soft enough to be heard.

“I’m sorry…”

“Huh? What?”

The woman who had been acting tough all day was apologizing? I must have misheard.

I couldn’t believe it, so I asked again, but Hajiyu turned abruptly. After meeting my gaze, he shivered slightly and bowed his head.

“I’m sorry.”

“…”

“I don’t really know why I did that. I think I was just too sensitive due to the burden of having to protect everyone. I’m sorry.”

This time, he bowed his waist 90 degrees.

Why now? But when I thought about it, it made sense. Sitting alone in the dark before dawn, all sorts of thoughts must have crossed his mind. Reflecting on his actions, he must have realized how childish they were. But the conclusion was strange.

The burden of having to protect everyone? No, it was clearly jealousy of being usurped from his role. Self-denial?

Whatever the reason, his 90-degree bow made me uncomfortable.

“Okay. I accept your apology. So you don’t have to keep bowing like that.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Hajiyu straightened up. In an instant, he returned with a cat-like, haughty expression.

“Alright. Then I’ll go up…”

“Just a moment.”

As Hajiyu turned around, he paused and looked back at me.

I can’t be the only one to be treated like this.

“That’s not it, right?”

“What do you mean?”

“You didn’t tic-tac at me because of the burden of having to protect everyone, did you?”

Where did the apologetic attitude just go? Ha Ji-yoo’s expression quickly turned serious.

“What do you know about me…?”

“Ian likes you. He wants attention, but since that role fell on me, he’s acting up.”

“What, what!”

Ha Ji-yoo let out a scream-like sound, startled, and quickly covered her mouth. Looking around in a panic, she glared at Ian.

“What do you know about me…?”

“Is it not true? You don’t like Ian?”

“N-no, it’s not that but…”

“What? So you do like him, right?”

“Just because I don’t dislike someone doesn’t mean I like them…”

“So you don’t like him? Right. Even I could tell as soon as I saw you. Right?”

“I-I…”

With a face turning red as if about to explode, Ha Ji-yoo let out a strange groan, then quickly turned and disappeared up the stairs with fast steps.

Phew. That should be enough. I waited for morning with a lighter heart.

***

In the novel, I, Yoon Si-woo, couldn’t adapt to the atmosphere, and on the day after joining, I ran away with food at dawn and ended up being killed by zombies.

On the other hand, I remained unharmed for three days. I worried about what would happen if my fate was predetermined as in the original work and I died in some way, but that didn’t happen.

Arriving at the place at a slow pace to avoid zombies. The noise-filled voice came through the AM radio.

“This is K-Mart Yangjae Branch. Survivors are gathered here. We provide water and food, although it may be insufficient. We plan to create a community here for survival. If there are survivors, let’s gather our strength and overcome this adversity together.”

Broadcast every day at 12:00 and 20:30, with 5 minutes each at the hour and 30 minutes. The building indicated by the broadcast was right in front of us.

The three-story building looked different from the surrounding buildings at a glance. A large trailer was collapsed, blocking the entrance to the underground parking lot and the main entrance, and sturdy wooden boards were propped up behind the broken first-floor windows.

Most of all, the zombie horde. Zombies staggered around the mart, densely surrounding it as if to prove that there were people here.

“Seems to be correct, right?”

I deliberately looked at Ha Ji-yoo and asked, and she turned her head with a serious expression.

It’s easy to understand.

Ian, who briefly glanced at us with a doubtful look, shifted the topic to a more important issue.

“By the way, how should we contact them?”

I pointed to the rooftop. There, a person was leaning on the railing with arms crossed, smoking a cigarette.

I eagerly stepped forward and waved the red underwear I had brought. I waved my arms vigorously for about 10 minutes.

“Heuk… heuk…”

“Should I do it?”

Sweating profusely and struggling to wave his arms, Ian reached out his hand. This guy’s stamina…

Why is he even there?

Just as I was about to hand the underwear to Ian, who seemed to be staring blankly at the man smoking even after finishing his cigarette, our eyes met.

He seemed momentarily surprised, then carefully examined our group and smiled slyly. Then he pointed to the wall on the right side of the building. He walked to the left and picked up a slingshot. Soon after.

Twang! Twang! Twang! Twang!

“Ahhhh!”

“Kwaaah!”

“Shaaaah!”

Various cries rang out as the zombies gathered. Attracted by the slingshot sound, the zombies spotted the man on the rooftop and shouted in a frenzy.

“This is insane…”

I knew it, but curses kept slipping out unintentionally. If I do this, all the zombies around the building will gather to the left, but we’ll be exposed to the zombies running towards us from afar without any defense.

In the midst of this, Ian quickly made a decision and grabbed Cha Do-ah’s hand, shouting, “Run!”