14. Faction Tensions (1)

“What do you mean she’s injured?”

I set down my spoon and stood up.

“She’s downstairs?”

“Yes, sir.”

As I walked to the door, Suhyun followed. Then Ye-eun and So-eun put down their spoons too. Soon the newlywed ajumma and Hoon-ajae were trailing behind, even halmeoni rising with a concerned look.

…Why is everyone coming?

…Just eat your damn food.

Outside, three women from the inline skating club waited beyond the stone wall. Where were the men?

Club leader Jeong Eunseo’s cheek was swollen red, a ring-shaped wound oozing blood.

“What happened?” I asked.

Eunseo gave a hurried greeting. “Three of our guys are trapped at the supermarket. People are going crazy because it’s empty now.”

Behind her, another woman explained: “Some ajumma slapped Eunseo unnie when we said we had no more food to share. They think we’re hoarding supplies.”

A ring. The wound came from a ringed hand striking her cheekbone.

Suhyun bristled. “Why hit people over empty shelves? Why are the men trapped?”

“They demanded to know where we live,” Eunseo said. “When we wouldn’t tell, the crowd surrounded us. Our guys held them back while we ran here.”

The third woman pleaded: “Please help. We heard hitting sounds. Save my boyfriend.”

…What a headache.

I exhaled deeply. “Wait here. I’ll get my swords.”

Halmeoni grabbed my shoulder. “Alone against so many? Stay put!”

I smirked. “Don’t worry.”

To the women: “Stay here. I’ll be back.”

A tap on Hoon-ajae’s shoulder – he was coming too. His nervous hesitation gave way to resolve. They’d all seen what I could do against the infected.

…Problem was, after this morning’s raid, I only had one Acceleration charge left.

But these were humans, not monsters. A few decapitations should make them think twice.

…Damn. Too much zombie-slaying warps your perspective.

As we walked, Eunseo explained: “Greedy people cleared everything out last night. When others found empty shelves this morning…”

“They begged at first,” another woman added. “Then got angry. Since we’d been distributing food, they assumed we had secret stockpiles.”

I clicked my tongue. Our boarding house had months of supplies, but these volunteers had taken nothing for themselves while helping others. Now this was their reward.

At the supermarket parking lot, we found three battered men – faces swollen beyond recognition.

“Taeyoung!” The women rushed to them, some crying.

In the corner, an elderly woman sat shell-shocked. “They all went… to the milk distributor…” she mumbled before vomiting violently.

…They left her here like trash.

My grip tightened on my sword as anger simmered.

“Take them to our place,” I ordered. “Use our medical supplies.”

As they helped the broken men away, I steadied the trembling halmoni. “Come on. You’re coming too.”

She had that look – the thousand-yard stare of someone who’d witnessed savage violence. Left alone, she might jump off a roof.

The emptiness of the abandoned street felt heavier now. Those people saw her collapse and just walked away to loot elsewhere.

…I’m starting to get really pissed off.