14. Faction Tensions (2)

Back at the boarding house, Suhyun waited outside. “Oppa, the skating club people are in my room.”

“Your room?” I’d told them to use the rooftop.

“They were in no shape to climb stairs,” she said, playfully tapping my butt. “Moved your clothes to your room. Hope you don’t mind bunking with me for a while.”

I glanced back at the shell-shocked halmeoni still standing vacantly by the gate. Suhyun’s eyes widened. “Who’s that?”

How to explain? The woman had that thousand-yard stare of someone who’d completely given up on life.

Without a word, Suhyun took the old woman’s hand. “Come inside. It’s hot out here.”

As they entered, I whispered to Suhyun: “Take her upstairs. Keep her there.”

“But we’re already overcrowded,” she protested.

“Got a plan. Where’s Hoon-ajae?”

“Heard the baby crying and went inside.”

I knocked on Hoon-ajae’s door. When he appeared, I proposed clearing out the single-family home across the street for more space.

“Brilliant idea!” he agreed eagerly.

“Rest first, then we’ll handle the corpses. Oh, and…” I coughed awkwardly. “The skating club probably has no food. Could your wife…?”

Hoon-ajae waved dismissively. “After all you’ve done for us? Of course!”

Good man. Bringing him along had been the right call.

On the rooftop, I smoked while watching for zombie hordes or angry mobs. Only occasional distant screams broke the silence.

Odd. Those looters should’ve triggered more chaos by now. Unless…

They knew.

About me. About the charnel piles. About which houses were safe. The skating club must have told them.

Annoying.

I’m no savior. Won’t waste Acceleration on humans when zombies give better EXP. But ignoring them leaves a bad taste.

Especially after they beat our skating club friends.

“Oppa?” Suhyun interrupted my brooding. “Halmeoni’s not responding. Just stares at walls.”

Inside, the old woman sat rigidly, knees pressed together. I cracked open a soda. “What did you do before? Housewife?”

“…Doesn’t matter now…” she mumbled.

“Kids not picking up?” I blew smoke. “My family’s gone too. But I’ll keep looking until I see bodies.”

No reaction.

“Those people today… beating the ones who helped them…” I shook my head. “Makes me furious.”

Halmeoni’s eyes finally focused. “…Those helpers… what are they like…?”

Progress.