3. Base Camp (4)

I slowly moved the shelf aside.

No telling how many beast humans might be outside. Moving it quietly to the side, I carefully opened the door.

Only four corpses lay piled by the entrance.

Four.

With four skulls pierced, there should’ve been massive blood loss.

Should’ve formed pools.

Yet the floor was clean.

Remembered that cop at the precinct whose neck was torn out – that’s how much blood a healthy, circulating body contains.

But four skull-pierced corpses with a clean floor?

…Confirmed – nothing to do with hearts.

It’s the heads.

“Come on So-eun, get up.”

Ye-eun was helping her sister.

What about the corpses?

Haa…fuck.

Grabbed the plaid shirt’s collar and dragged it behind the counter.

Groaned while hauling the high schooler’s uniformed body too.

Two still block the entrance, but the path is clear.

“Hoo, hoo.”

Out of breath from exertion.

Ye-eun and So-eun slowly emerged.

“…Is…is it safe to go?”

So-eun clung to Ye-eun’s arm, face buried. I nodded at Ye-eun.

“Watch your step. Don’t trip.”

Spear in hand, I walked to the storefront.

Shattered glass crunched underfoot.

Dawn.

Silent.

Sunrise still an hour or two away.

Despite the apocalypse, streetlights still dutifully illuminated the roads.

Must be automated.

We quietly entered the alley beside the store.

Quiet.

Still.

No cats, no dogs barking.

Under dawn’s streetlights, we entered the alley.

Rows of two-story houses.

Ye-eun tapped my shoulder.

Ah, here.

Low brick wall with spikes – a typical detached house.

Black iron gate.

Entered the code – *beep click* – unlocked.

Even this modest house has an auto-lock.

High theft neighborhood?

Letting the girls enter first, I followed.

Tight courtyard with stairs along stone walls, two first-floor doors.

Probably two households.

The girls ascended.

Second floor must be theirs.

Ye-eun grabbed my hand.

Huh?

She whispered:

“Eat…before leaving.”

…Hmm.

Hard to refuse.

Only had one cream bun in two days.

Nodding, I followed her inside.

Key turned – someone else’s home smell hit me.

Slightly musty.

Old lady smell?

*Click*

Door closed – the girls collapsed, panting in relief.

Ye-eun bowed.

“Thank you for bringing us home.”

Barely a distance worth thanking for.

Third house from the store alley.

Though in this situation, even meters feel vast.

Nodding, I set my bag down.

Contained dumplings.

What the fuck was I thinking?

Frozen dumplings with no way to cook them.

Should’ve grabbed hot bars or bread like them.

“Here. Take these.”

Offered the dumplings.

Too drained to respond.

Then someone emerged from inside.

A hunched grandmother.

“Oh my, Ye-eun, So-eun. I told you not to go out.”

Spotted me – eyes widened.

Ye-eun explained:

“He saved us and brought us home.”

The grandma knelt tearfully.

“Oh thank you, sir. Been waiting all night! Police wouldn’t help. Thank you!”

I shook my head.

“Don’t mention it.”

*Growl*

…Damn.

Can’t control that.

Ye-eun jumped up.

“I’ll cook. So-eun, help me.”

“Yes, hurry. Oh sir, thank you!”

So-eun grabbed the dumplings.

Made eye contact.

Hmm, youthful.

Clearly Ye-eun’s sister.

Bowed shyly.

So timid – hasn’t spoken to me once.

Uncomfortable with men?

Grandma urged me inside.

Removed shoes, sat on floor.

Very…

Grandmotherly house.

Dark brown furniture from decades past, amateur ink paintings.

Typical middle-class elderly home.

“My son’s family lives downstairs. Traveling in Japan – no contact. Your family?”

Nosy grandma.

Shook my head.

“Far away. No contact.”

She sighed deeply.

“Oh…what’s happening? TV only shows SBS news – all terrible reports.”

Oh.

Broadcasts still running?

SBS building must be intact.

“SBS is broadcasting? What do they say?”

Hoping for SWAT or military news.

She shook her head.

“Reporters trapped inside. Only sending what they see – thousands running wild outside…”

…Thousands running wild?

…Sounds like the beast humans.

If they’re moving in hordes…

…Fuck, worse than I thought.

Even with Acceleration, can’t handle thousands.

Ah…fuck…

A delicious smell.

Making dumpling soup with my offering.

*Growl*

“Ah…sorry. Haven’t eaten all day.”

Grandma patted my shoulder.

“Don’t worry. Eat first. Where will you go? You said home’s far.”

“Ah…yeah. Need a plane.”

Ye-eun called from kitchen:

“Grandma, can he stay in the rooftop room? It’s empty.”

Grandma nodded.

“Of course. After eating, I’ll give you the key. Only women here now.”

Hmm……

This is absurd.

Feeding and housing a strange man?

Unthinkable normally.

But with man-eating monsters outside…

Stranger danger < monster danger.

Alone in the room, thoughts clarified.

Need to level up.

Need a base until Acceleration is secured. Can’t make them uncomfortable.

Especially with only women here – must be careful.

A knock.

So-eun scurried to the door, whispered.

Opened it.

A short, bespectacled young woman entered.

“Smells delicious. Eating now?”

So-eun whispered to her.

The woman glanced at me, eyes widening.

Bowed.

“Hello.”

Returned the bow.

“Ah, yes.”

Fucking awkward.

Ye-eun called me as food finished.

Hoo…

Uncomfortable being the only man, but hungry…

The table became lively.

Grandma, Ye-eun, So-eun, glasses girl, and me.

We received bowls of dumpling soup.

“Thanks for the food.”

…Five people?

Means four before me.

“Sir, you saved them? What do you do?”

Glasses girl.

Shrugged while eating.

“College student. Just discharged, returning to school when this happened.”

“Oh? Major?”

Didn’t ask which university – only one nearby.

“Journalism. Haven’t learned much yet. Took a gap year, then military.”

“Ah. Age?”

“Twenty-five.”

She nodded.

“Same university. Mechanical engineering. Twenty-three, Ahn Su-hyeon. Nice to meet you.”

Shook her offered hand.

…Wait.

“Han Seong-hun. Mechanical engineering?”

“Rare, right? Only female in my department.”

Ahn Su-hyeon smiled.

Pretty when smiling.

Petite, slightly plump, busty – warm impression.

I smiled back, glancing at the sisters.

Glasses girl explained:

“No introductions? Tsk. Ye-eun’s twenty-four – Japanese tutor. Her sister So-eun – high school senior.”

“Ah.”

The sisters bowed again.

Returned the nod.

Japanese tutor, high schooler, engineering student.

Quite the variety.

Nodding, I devoured the soup. Ah, fucking delicious.

Starving – tastes heavenly.

Good.

Can’t cook for shit anyway – now have meals and shelter.

A base for leveling up.

A center for growing stronger.

This is now my base camp.