24. A Person Who Has Lost Their Mind. (1)

Many eyes.

They were watching me without making a sound.

I swung my sword in the air.

Chirp!

Blood splattered, and the sword gleamed clean.

Sheathed the sword and turned around.

Shurur- Thud.

Stepping on blood puddles and intestines made a squelching sound with each step.

Blood from my cheek reached my mouth.

A metallic taste rose.

They cleared a path as I walked.

The circle became a C shape.

Spit gathered in my mouth, and I spat it out as I walked through them.

The trail of intestines ended, revealing the road ahead.

Dull thuds.

Stepping on solid ground felt better.

A large mart building.

Looked up at the building.

People were peeking out from the second and third floors, and the rooftop.

Faces filled with horror.

Startled faces.

None of them had their usual expressions.

The faces disappeared one by one.

Even the women who hadn’t seen me slaughter someone before watched.

They saw me ruthlessly kill people right before their eyes.

My heart feels a bit heavy.

Those people must fear me now.

The smiling faces that greeted me might be gone.

Feeling a bit bitter.

Walked toward the shutter.

Dull thud-

The shutter opened.

People were standing there.

Hwan-ajusshi, inline Taeyoung and Junhyuk, Hwan-tae.

And Sohee.

Everyone was staring at me.

A woman came down the stairs.

It was Jung Eun-seo.

Her expression…

Impossible to read.

Ding-

The elevator on the other side opened, and people got out.

Ye-eun, So-eun, Hwan-ajusshi’s wife, and the woman from the 10th floor.

They walked quickly.

I went up the stairs and entered through the shutter.

Hwan-ajusshi followed me.

Dull thud-

The shutter closed.

People who came out of the elevator stood behind.

Everyone stood at a distance, staring at me.

No one spoke.

Why is no one saying anything?

They must have seen everything.

Opened my mouth slowly.

“…Are you all okay?”

As I spoke, blood dripped from my cheek and head.

Sohee’s lips moved subtly.

Looked sad.

A woman approached me.

It was Jung Eun-seo.

The woman who lost her sister.

The woman who lost her only family to the cockroaches.

Jung Eun-seo looked at my eyes and face, trying to observe or memorize them.

Then, she grabbed my face with both hands and kissed me.

A soft touch on my lips.

I was slightly startled and froze.

Her tongue entered.

My jaw opened involuntarily.

Her tongue brushed against my teeth and entered my mouth.

Taste of blood.

The blood on her lips mixed with mine, leaving a metallic taste.

But Jung Eun-seo showed no signs of stopping.

Her tongue persistently licked my lips and wrapped around mine.

Smack.

She pulled her lips away.

Blood.

On her nose, nostrils, and lips.

Red traces were left.

Jung Eun-seo said.

“…Thank you.”

She took a step back, glanced at the people, bowed her head, and quickly walked toward the elevator.

People approached me.

The inline men…

Junhyuk and Taeyoung.

With bruised and messy faces, they approached me.

Their faces were on the verge of tears.

They placed their hands on my arm and shoulder.

Didn’t say a word.

Just nodded.

Hwan-ajusshi also approached and placed a hand on my shoulder.

So-eun, married woman, and the woman from the 10th floor.

They stood a step back, holding their hands tightly or clasped together, looking at me.

Their eyes were slightly teary.

Sohee and Ye-eun.

Why are you two about to cry?

Sohee approached and held my hand.

Ye-eun looked at me with teary eyes.

Oh, right.

It was scary.

Over a hundred of them swarmed, beating people and demanding women.

It’s natural to be scared.

Perhaps, at that moment, humans were scarier than the human beasts.

People’s hands on my chest, Sohee’s cheek covered in blood.

Ye-eun’s tears rolled down her face.

I wiped her tears with my hand.

Got blood on my face.

Said.

“Don’t cry. It’s okay now.”

Ye-eun, with a bloody face, sniffled and forced a smile, nodding.

Looked at Junhyuk and Taeyoung.

One had a cut by his eye, bleeding a bit.

Junhyuk’s nose was bleeding.

Probably broken.

Still.

“Glad you’re safe. All of you.”

Junhyuk’s Adam’s apple moved.

Then nodded.

“Yes, Seong-hun. Thank you.”

There was no cheering or blame, no sorrow or fear.

Some smiled, some cried.

Everyone gathered around me like that.

 * * *

Managed to wake up again.

Felt consciousness returning faintly and opened my eyes.

Ticklish hair on my cheek.

Sohee was lying on my right.

Smiled and wrapped my arm around her, gently stroking her breasts.

Kissed her forehead.

Warm body temperature transferred through the lips.

“…Eung.”

Sohee stirred slightly and made a sound.

She’ll wake up too.

Slowly withdrew the arm under her head.

Sohee murmured in discomfort.

But soon calmed down.

Because of the movement, Ye-eun, lying on my left, stirred slightly.

Ye-eun, hugging my left arm, sleeping with her head slightly raised.

Habit of sleeping like that, it seems.

Lightly kissed Ye-eun and placed my hand between her legs.

Soft fur and smooth slit greeted my touch.

Gently stroked.

Faint moans.

Feels good.

But…

Faintly smiled and sat up.

Can’t sleep.

With women on both sides hugging me, the feeling is nice, but I can’t sleep.

Queen-sized bed is too small for three.

Next time, should sleep in Ye-eun’s room.

King-sized bed can accommodate three.

Stretched my legs toward Sohee.

Her breasts were in front of me.

Sucked on her nipple and got out of bed.

“…Aang.”

Cute.

Stood by the bed, looking down at the two women.

Nude women sleeping peacefully.

Strange sight.

As if they’re offering their bodies to me, washing together, and sucking me without hesitation.

In the end, finished in Sohee, then in Ye-eun, and continued petting until all three fell asleep.

Nice view.

But… damn, I’m sleepy.

Woke up multiple times, making my eyes sore.

Scratched my head and yawned.

Clothes and bras scattered on the floor.

Stepped carefully to avoid bras and opened the closet drawer.

Put on shorts and a t-shirt and went outside.

Since I’m up, might as well smoke a cigarette.

It was early morning, so the hallway was quiet.

Or rather, not particularly quiet.

Faint moans could be heard in the distance.

Women’s moans that could be missed if not attentive.

The woman who lived on the 10th floor.

Inline real estate agent, got along well with Junhyuk, and ended up like that.

Perhaps after being caught by cockroaches and beaten, they comforted her.

Anyway.

If they like each other, that’s fine.

Men don’t seem to mind me having multiple women.

After all, Hwan-ajusshi has his wife.

Taeyoung lives with his girlfriend from the same inline club, and Junhyuk seems to be doing well based on the moans.

Except for Han-tae…

He might be too much of a boy in the women’s eyes.

Leaving me as the only man.

It’s up to the women who they choose.

Men seem to accept that.

Smiled and walked to the end of the hallway window.

Chick.

Whoosh-

Smoke poured out the half-open window like a waterfall.

Strange experience.

Women choosing me is one thing, but three in the same bed?

Perhaps due to the horrifying experience and the relief that followed.

Excessive fear and sudden relief?

Whoosh-

Don’t know.

Since the apocalypse, I’ve been surrounded by tens, hundreds of human beasts.

A hundred cockroaches are nothing to fear for me.

Smirked.

For sure.

A part of me has gone numb.

Reflecting on the threesome and the events of the day, I smoked a cigarette and turned around.

Hmm.

Wide awake now.

Maybe get some fresh air.

Went up the stairs to the rooftop.

Opened the metal door, and the wind rushed in.

Summer night’s lukewarm but refreshing breeze swept through my hair.

Took out another cigarette and walked slowly toward the wall.

It’s the end of the world.

But the electricity is still on.

Meaning, the city lights are on.

The night view of the city, under the clear post-rain sky, created a longing scene with the starlight.

Leaning against the wall, looking at the view, lit a cigarette.

Chick.

“Ah.”

Hmm?

A voice.

Turned around.

A woman was standing at the edge of the rooftop.

She was in the shadows, making it hard to tell who she was.

“Aren’t you sleeping?”

Ah.

That voice.

Jung Eun-seo.

Smirked and took a drag of the cigarette.

Whoosh-

“Did you wake up? And you?”

Jung Eun-seo’s shadow turned her head.

Looked below.

“I… can’t sleep.”

Can’t sleep…

Exhaled smoke and walked toward her.

“Are those people gone?”

Jung Eun-seo nodded.

“Yes. They cleaned up the corpses too. Though they left… the intestines… behind.”

“Tsk.”

Stood next to Jung Eun-seo, looking down.

As she said, the intersection under the streetlights looked like red paint spilled everywhere.

With unpleasant gutters here and there.

Smirked and turned away.

“Want one?”

Offered Jung Eun-seo the cigarette and lighter.

“I didn’t know you smoked.”

“I quit. But I wanted one today.”

Jung Eun-seo lit the cigarette and handed back the lighter and pack.

Took them and said.

“How is it?”

Whoosh-

Jung Eun-seo exhaled the smoke and said.

“Refreshing and smooth. Sad, missing my sister, angry at people, and fond of people.”

Jung Eun-seo said that and looked at me.

Smiling.

“I think I lost my mind.”

Laughed.

“No way. You’re quite normal.”

Jung Eun-seo looked at me with a peculiar expression, then smiled slightly and said.

“Sorry about earlier. I don’t know why I did that… Was it uncomfortable?”

Smiled and shook my head.

“It’s fine. Not at all.”

Jung Eun-seo nodded gratefully and looked outside again.

Smoke drifted from her lips.

I also leaned against the rooftop wall, exhaling smoke.

We stood there, facing the rooftop wind, smoking.