30. Special Forces. (3)

Two swords.

A bow and 30 arrows in the quiver.

I wish there were more arrows, but people need to protect their homes while I’m away.

So-hyun, Eun-seo, and the men have been practicing archery, so they should be fine.

I hope there are no problems.

The building should be sturdy.

The shutters and windows should be well-reinforced.

I feel a lingering anxiety, so I turn back for a moment.

I chuckle and light a cigarette.

One month and a week since the apocalypse.

Almost two weeks have passed.

In that short yet long time, I’ve grown quite attached.

I already miss Soo-hyun.

Ye-eun, Eun-seo, and the nameless woman too.

…My women.

Stay safe until I return.

“Phew.”

I exhale the smoke and continue walking.

Yongsan.

Han River Middle School is nearby.

The tree-lined road has many parked cars, some crashed into each other.

No road is safe after the apocalypse.

Following the map, the school comes into view.

And several people are standing on the street in front of the school.

They seem quite relaxed, dressed in casual clothes.

But they’re not ordinary men.

Their build is different.

Tall, around 180 cm, with broad shoulders and thick chests, clearly showing they’ve been in physical combat.

Their natural movements suggest they’re used to being in deserted areas without incidents.

They noticed me.

They turn one by one.

One steps forward, raising his hand.

Is he greeting me?

I also wave back.

There were four of them.

Appearances ranging from late 20s to late 30s.

I approached them and asked,

“Are you the Special Forces?”

The man who stepped forward, with short, neatly combed hair and thick eyebrows, said,

“Han Seong-hun, right? You look just like you did in the video. I’m Seong-gyu-hyeok, the leader of Special Forces Team 2.”

Oh.

He’s the Special Forces commander I spoke with.

I shook his hand and replied,

“Nice to meet you. I’m Han Seong-hun.”

“These are my team members. Let’s talk on the way.”

Special Forces leader Seong-gyu-hyeok led the way and said,

“Our mission for Team 2 is to escort you to the operation site and observe the situation before returning.”

He glanced at me and added,

“Whether you’re with us or not.”

I chuckled.

It’s clear they won’t be conducting a rescue operation.

Not when they wouldn’t even rescue the man from the YouTube video.

And they’re poorly armed.

The Special Forces members are equipped with tonfas and three-section staves.

They must have raided a police box somewhere.

I nodded and smiled.

“Where’s the operation site?”

“The U.S. military base.”

…U.S. military base.

I smirked and asked,

“Didn’t the U.S. troops withdraw? I think I saw on the news that it’s being turned into a park.”

Not sure.

News about society or economy wasn’t my focus.

Special Forces leader Seong-gyu-hyeok nodded.

“Yes, they were supposed to gradually relocate to Pyeongtaek. But that’s stalled now. Some facilities remain, and some U.S. troops are still there.”

“So, there’s an armory.”

“Yes, not much, but enough for immediate use.”

The five men walked.

On empty streets.

I nodded as I walked.

“You mentioned Pyeongtaek? The relocation site?”

“Yes.”

Spit.

I slightly clicked my tongue.

“It’s a shame. If they hadn’t relocated, there would have been more to gain.”

The President and Special Forces’ base location is unknown, but this is likely the closest military base to us.

The Special Forces leader glanced at me.

Meaningless, perhaps.

He said,

“Will you be okay alone?”

I chuckled.

“Depends on how many there are. How many do you think are inside?”

Special Forces leader Seong-gyu-hyeok said,

“I didn’t count, but at least a few hundred. The problem is not the remaining facilities but the park. It’s crowded and dangerous.”

Park…

I looked at the Special Forces leader.

“Did Team 1 get overrun there?”

Special Forces leader Seong-gyu-hyeok slowly nodded.

…Crowded…

“Will you be okay?”

The leader looked at me.

His expression subtly changed.

I was smiling.

…Crowded…

Having leveled up against zombie waves, it’s exciting to face a crowded one too.

My heart races at the thought of leveling up.

I met his gaze and nodded.

“I’ll be fine.”

The park under construction.

Formerly a U.S. military base.

Arrived at the Yongsan U.S. military base site.

“We’ll wait here.”

They sat on a low wall, each perched.

Good posture.

Not too close to attract zombies but high enough to observe the U.S. base.

Special Forces leader Seong-gyu-hyeok said,

“The armory is inside the base, next to the hospital. The path won’t be easy, so be careful.”

“Understood.”

I replied and walked.

“Seong-hun.”

I stopped and turned; the leader nodded and said,

“Good luck.”

I nodded and turned, then drew my bow.

Twang-

The bow, attached to the quiver, was drawn.

Already visible from here.

The park under construction.

Crowded with them.

I glanced at the base.

It looked like a quiet American village, with wide roads, large houses, and small buildings arranged in square blocks.

Signs here and there were in English.

And nothing else.

Facilities and buildings likely have some inside.

…But using a bow indoors is tricky.

I drew an arrow, aimed at the park, and pulled the string.

Whoosh-

Transparent circle.

A group of human beasts about 200 meters away.

One turned red.

I released the arrow.

Thud.

One leaped as if electrocuted and fell.

I continued drawing arrows and sniping them.

While walking, arrows kept replicating, and I’ve amassed over 40.

Draw, nock, shoot.

No hesitation, no delay.

I fired almost a shot per second.

Every shot was a headshot.

After a while, only one arrow remained.

“Phew.”

The ones near me were all dead.

If I take a few steps further, it should be manageable.

Lowering the bow, I stood and felt a gaze.

The Special Forces members were staring at me in shock.

Unbelieving that I hit 200 headshots from 200 meters.

Special Forces leader Seong-gyu-hyeok said deeply,

“Your archery skills are exceptional. What did you do before?”

Hmm.

Explaining the status window is tricky.

I chuckled, placed a hand on the sword hilt, and walked.

“See you later.”

U.S. military base.

Except for the low and wide buildings, nothing special.

The issue is the windows.

A large cafeteria, including a cafe, and house-like buildings, with a hospital in the distance.

Need to cross at least six houses.

From afar, not very noticeable, but windows are broken here and there.

Some shattered inward, others exploded outward.

And distant bloodstains.

Dark red, still fresh.

Recent blood.

Team 1 must have been ambushed there.

I looked around and walked slowly.

Then drew a sword.

Shirr-

The first visible place was the cafe.

…Quite a few.

Wooden fences with terraces and road planters.

Probably why Team 1 could infiltrate without being detected.

I stopped, took out my phone, and called Special Forces leader Seong-gyu-hyeok.

“Yes, Seong-hun.”

“It might take time, is that okay?”

“Do you think it will take time?”

I spoke slowly and clearly,

“I’ll kill them one by one, crossing each building.”

No response from the other side.

He’s surprised.

Need to recharge stats for at least five hours.

After a moment, Special Forces leader Seong-gyu-hyeok said,

“Is that possible?”

I looked aside.

Not far away, the wall.

Special Forces members sitting.

Their faces aren’t clear, but their expressions seem worried.

I replied,

“Yes.”

Hang up.

And entered the cafe.

With large strides.

Crash-

Zombies spotted me through the window.

Their heads snapped toward me.

I shoulder-barged the door, slamming it open.

“Graaah!”

They charged.

And I slaughtered them.

Whoosh!

Blood sprayed everywhere.

Decapitated skulls and brains erupted like fountains.

Zombies vanished in an instant.

“Phew…”

I wiped the blood on my cheek with the back of my hand and exited the cafe.

Creak-

Must have slammed it too hard.

The door hinges might be damaged.

I cleaned the sword and sheathed it.

Shirr-click.

Descending the cafe entrance stairs, I glanced at the Special Forces members.

Their eyes widened in shock.

Their expressions nearly vanished.

Even seasoned special forces veterans wouldn’t have seen this.

Special Forces leader Seong-gyu-hyeok offered me a thumbs-up.

I chuckled.

Don’t be surprised here.

I’ve just begun.

I turned and walked, giving them a thumbs-up in return.