48. Operation Begins. (1)

The sun is setting.

Looking at the distant sunset, I smiled.

But it’s not a happy smile.

It’s a mix of discomfort, excitement, a sigh, and a strange sense of pleasure.

With two duffel bags filled with food slung over my shoulders, I walked out of the neighborhood supermarket.

The bags were packed with snacks, instant noodles, pasta, vermicelli, soy sauce, red pepper paste, and more.

I didn’t really need to come back with more, as I had already given two well-stuffed duffel bags earlier in the morning, but staying at the power plant was a bit uncomfortable.

The image of Sung Gyeon’s naked body kept haunting me, making it impossible to rest.

So, I came to the Bu-gu-ri village’s neighborhood supermarket.

It’s definitely better not to see it, but I also wanted to hurry back and see everyone’s faces.

With three partners, or rather four, I knew they’d probably scold me, but I couldn’t help feeling a bit excited.

…I shouldn’t have seen her naked.

“Sigh.”

I shook my head to clear the image of her full breasts and pink nipples, and looked up at the sky.

It’s around six or seven in the evening?

Beep, beep-

My phone rang.

A call from Soo-hyeon.

“Hey, Soo-hyeon.”

“Are you busy, Oppa?”

“Not really. I rescued some people in a nearby village and now I’m at a neighborhood supermarket getting some food. What’s up?”

“Nothing much. I just wanted to check if you’re busy.”

I felt a bit relieved.

“Ah, that’s good. How are Hae-jin and the other guys doing?”

“They’re patrolling the streets with guns, checking if the bombs are still in place. How’s it there? Is it dangerous?”

Dangerous…

Park Sojang, who sees and hears hallucinations, is a danger. And the creature I shot with an armor-piercing round is definitely still in the mountains.

That thing is a danger too.

But…

I smiled and said:

“There’s nothing I can’t handle. Don’t worry.”

“Okay… When are you coming back? How long will you be there?”

Soo-hyeon is probably acting as a liaison, passing on information to others. She’s curious too, but her call means others are curious as well.

It shows how much they rely on me.

I smiled and said:

“I’ll come back as soon as possible. It shouldn’t take long.”

“Oppa… come back soon, okay?”

“Sure. What are you having for dinner?”

“Grandma harvested some sprouts today. We’re making sprout bibimbap.”

That sounds good.

Sprout bibimbap…

I smiled and said:

“It would be better with a fried egg on top.”

“We don’t have eggs anymore.”

I slowly nodded.

“When I come back, I’ll try to get some chickens. There might be some in Pyeongtaek where people grow crops and raise livestock. I’ll see what I can do.”

“I don’t know… Just come back soon, Oppa…”

I laughed.

“Sure. Enjoy your dinner.”

I hung up the call.

I felt a warm feeling in my heart.

Soo-hyeon, Ye-eun, So-eun, and the woman whose name I don’t know yet. And the other men, women, and the grandmother.

They’re the people who survived the apocalypse and are now living together, like a family.

…I need to find my family.

I can’t just leave these people behind. I’ve grown too attached to them without realizing it.

If I do leave, it will be only for a short time.

I can’t reach my parents and sister.

I don’t think I ever will.

I hinted at this in my conversation with Park Sojang, but my family probably didn’t survive the apocalypse.

If they were alive, they would have contacted me somehow.

From anywhere.

“…Sigh…”

I took a deep breath and summoned the motorcycle, climbing on it.

“Tsk.”

Thinking about my family makes me feel heavy-hearted.

Even though I’m not the only one who lost family in the apocalypse, my family consists only of my parents and younger sister.

The image of Sung Gyeon’s naked body vanished from my mind.

I sighed again and rode the motorcycle back to the power plant.

As I leaped over the barbed wire fence, I heard laughter.

A man’s laughter.

A familiar voice.

Song Jungsah.

Screech, screech!

I stopped, the tires screeching, and immediately dismissed the motorcycle.

Turning around, I saw Song Jungsah and Park Sojang walking towards me from the power plant.

“Hey, Seong-hun. You’re back?”

Song Jungsah ran over with a happy face.

“What did you bring?”

I raised my hand and said:

“I raided a supermarket. I brought some snacks and chocolates.”

“Oh, chocolates! Do you have Hershey’s?”

I don’t know. I just grabbed whatever I could.

I shrugged and handed him the duffel bag.

Song Jungsah unzipped it and rummaged through it for a moment before pulling out a few chocolates with a bright smile.

“Wow, wow! Seong-hun, can I eat these? I’ve been following Director Park all day and my sugar levels are low.”

“Sure.”

Park Sojang, who had been walking leisurely, smiled at me.

“You’ve been busy. I heard you brought back food. Well done.”

“Thank you.”

I had fled the power plant because I couldn’t handle the image of Sung Gyeon’s naked body.

I smiled and asked:

“I heard from Park Sojang that you’re learning quickly. How’s it going?”

Song Jungsah scratched his head, looking embarrassed.

“Not that fast. Director Park is a good teacher, so I’m managing to keep up.”

Park Sojang shook his head.

“No, you’re really smart. You have a good head for work. It’s a waste to keep you as a maintenance worker. Gwetae, why don’t you stay here? You can learn a lot about managing the power plant. See that building over there?”

Park Sojang pointed to a white building in the distance.

It looked like a white brick villa.

Park Sojang continued:

“That’s our training center. We train new hires there before sending them to the field. Interns and college students also learn there. All the textbooks and training equipment are inside. If you just study what’s in there, you’ll be able to manage the power plant without any issues. I’ve even written a manual.”

Song Jungsah laughed awkwardly and broke a chocolate bar in half.

He handed half to Park Sojang and said:

“Me, manage the power plant? How can I do that with just a few days of training?”

“I believe you can.”

I was slightly surprised by the conversation between the two.

They’ve become really close.

Is this the same Song Jungsah who was shouting about the danger?

How did they get along so well?

Song Jungsah shook his head and said:

“Director, you should keep doing it. I’ll help where I can. I can run errands and assist.”

He’s trying to persuade me.

Song Jungsah knows his role.

I nodded and said:

“You’re right. A few days aren’t enough. With Director Park here, we can feel more at ease. Please stay a bit longer.”

A shadow briefly crossed Park Sojang’s face.

He smiled and said:

“I have to leave. Those who need to leave should go.”

Song Jungsah opened his mouth to say something, but Park Sojang placed a hand on his shoulder, nodded slightly at me, and walked towards the management building.

Song Jungsah sighed, watching Park Sojang’s back.

I asked Song Jungsah, who was taking a bite of chocolate:

“What do you think? Is he really going to leave?”

Song Jungsah chewed the chocolate a couple of times. Despite the sweetness in his mouth, he shook his head with a troubled expression.

“I think so. I’ve been working with him and trying to persuade him, but it’s not working. He won’t change his mind unless his dead child comes back to life.”

“Dead child?”

Song Jungsah nodded and said:

“Yes. He said the child died. I don’t know if it was before or after the apocalypse. He doesn’t like to talk about his family, so I don’t know the details. I’ve only heard bits and pieces.”

“Is he sure the child is dead?”

Song Jungsah looked at me and slowly nodded.

“I think so. He said his child is dead and that he has no blood relatives left. He said he has no regrets.”

…Hmm.

His family probably turned or was brutally killed in the apocalypse. Seeing his colleagues leave and commit suicide, and being trapped here alone for months, his heart must have rotted.

That’s why, perhaps.

The occasional dangerous vibe he gives off.

Maybe it’s because he’s given up on everything and wants to die, which is why it’s affecting me and others.

I said:

“Keep trying to persuade him. There aren’t many survivors left. We need to keep those who survived the apocalypse alive.”

Song Jungsah nodded a couple of times, then frowned and said:

“I’ll try, but don’t get your hopes up. He’s completely broken inside. He’s fine when working, but when he talks about personal matters, his brokenness shows. It’s unsettling.”

I chuckled and said:

“You two seem pretty close, though.”

Song Jungsah scratched his head awkwardly and said:

“Well, he’s fine when working. He’s interesting and knowledgeable. He’d make a great teacher. He’s really patient and can teach even the most clueless person well. Maybe it’s just his nature.”

“Is that so?”

I looked up at the spot where Park Sojang had walked.

He was already inside the building.

Only the space he had walked through remained.

Park Sojang.

If what Song Jungsah says is true, he’s a very capable person. He has extensive knowledge in his field, is patient, and is a good teacher.

He’s useful.

It’s a waste to let a useful person die.

The problem is changing his mind.

Just then, two people walked out of the management building.

Special Forces Commander Sung Gyuhyeok.

And Sung Gyeon.

They were having a conversation as they walked out. Sung Gyeon turned her head towards me.

Our eyes met.

My heart skipped a beat.

Damn.

I took a deep breath and sighed.

Without realizing it, I turned my gaze away.