episode_0017

Everyone has their own trigger switch.

A part that should never be touched.

Someone who has lost their mind is truly dangerous.

For Choi Dong-woo in front of me, that switch seemed to be his family.

From what I could gather from their conversation, his grandmother’s condition didn’t seem good.

“Grandfather!! Where are you! I! I’ll go right now!”

This crazy bastard suddenly became incredibly brave.

Wouldn’t Zhao Zilong have been like this when he single-handedly charged into enemy lines to save Lady Mi?

Of course, it’s not that I completely don’t understand Choi Dong-woo’s feelings.

“I’m going! I’m going! So, uh—”

Unable to watch any longer, I snatched the phone. His voice was too loud.

It was as if he was about to gather all the zombies in the neighborhood.

I wondered if this was the same person who had been dying and begging for help just moments ago.

Choi Dong-woo, suddenly deprived of his phone, was momentarily flustered before his eyes rolled back and he lunged for the phone. His attitude was so rude that I frowned.

‘This bastard?’

It looks like this won’t do.

“Quiet. Shut your mouth. Hello?”

Still frowning, I raised my index finger and gently placed it over my lips.

At my ‘shut up’ gesture, Choi Dong-woo, his face flushed, stopped for now.

No matter what, it seemed he couldn’t talk back to the person who saved him.

“Hmm? Did it get cut off?”

“Ah, hello! I’m listening.”

The old man’s voice. It was a tone that would normally sound hale and hearty, but perhaps he was very tired, as it lacked vigor.

‘He sounds very weakened. If Grandfather is like this…’

Grandmother might be in even worse condition.

It seemed understandable that Choi Dong-woo was anxious.

“Ah, yes. I’m the owner of the phone, but I’ll call you back shortly.”

“W-What?”

“This friend is very agitated. Please wait a moment.”

I immediately hung up.

At the same time, Choi Dong-woo’s eyes went wild.

“N-No! Why did you hang u- Ugh!”

*Thud!*

A dull thud that echoed beautifully inside his skull.

At the same time, Choi Dong-woo clutched the top of his head and collapsed with a thud.

“A-Argh!”

“Quiet. Stop being so dramatic.”

I just gave him a light tap on the head, but for someone his size, he was being overly dramatic.

Regardless, I had to say what I needed to say.

“If you keep shouting like that, the zombies will gather.”

At these words, Choi Dong-woo, who had been clutching his head and rolling on the floor, paused.

Then, as if coming to his senses, he slowly got up and looked around.

“I’m sorry, Hyung-nim….”

Realizing he had almost made a mistake, Choi Dong-woo apologized, deflated. It was a bit strange to see an angry bear look like a sullen teddy bear.

“It’s fine. More importantly, where are you going? There are so many zombies swarming around.”

“But! Grandfather and Grandmother are alive!”

“Then you’re going to charge in alone and die?”

I’d just given him water and food, and now, after one phone call, this guy was straining himself to die again. It’s not that I don’t understand, but what would he do alone? I wasn’t going to stop him from going. Rather, I was thinking of packing some water and food for him. Who would have the right to stop someone from going to save their own family?

Choi Dong-woo’s reaction was, if anything, full of humanity, and I liked it.

However, I wanted him to calm down first.

To have just survived and then waste his life would truly be unfilial to his grandparents.

But perhaps he misunderstood because my words were too brief, and Choi Dong-woo became agitated.

“Then what! Grandmother is sick! She’s my grandmother! I have to go! Those damn zombies! I’ll all—”

“Where’s the guy who got thrashed by a single zombie and was begging ‘Please save me!’ from the ceiling?”

At the sudden factual attack, Choi Dong-woo clamped his mouth shut.

“I-I know! But they’re my family! I have to save them!”

A suppressed, swallowing expression. Tears welled up in his bloodshot eyes…

“They’re people who only suffered because of me… I couldn’t even properly perform my filial duties…”

“I’m not telling you not to go.”

“…Huh?”

I stopped him before he could start crying.

“If you want to handle your own life, what right do I have to stop you? And if you’re going to save your family, there’s no reason for me to stop you. I was even thinking of sharing some food with you.”

“Oh… really?”

Choi Dong-woo, who seemed to have calmed down a bit and was quietly listening to my words, finally shed a single tear. But thankfully, he didn’t break into a full-blown sob, contrary to my worries.

“Wouldn’t it be unfair to have just survived, only to get killed like a dog from getting so agitated?”

“T-Then what do I do… That’s all I can do…”

Choi Dong-woo’s face was etched with anxiety and displeasure.

He seemed to be asking, ‘Are you trying to pick a fight right now?’ with his gaze, conveying ‘I’m upset.’

“Try to think a little. Calm your mind.”

“Th-Think?”

“That thing on your shoulders isn’t just for hanging hats.”

I cut him off playfully.

Choi Dong-woo seemed to be racking his brain, thinking hard about something, but his eyes only furrowed more and more.

“……I don’t know.”

“Sigh…. *Tsk*.”

Getting entangled in troublesome matters was precisely what I detested.

I intended to continue traveling alone. Freely. Without burden.

I was confident that I wouldn’t die if I was just by myself.

That’s why I tried not to get involved with anyone.

But.

“Ask for help.”

“……Hyung-nim?”

I couldn’t just ignore this gentle friend who was about to charge headlong into an unknown place to save his grandparents; I’d grown a little fond of him.

‘I liked his politeness from the beginning.’

Compared to lively young people whose cheerfulness would make Satan send them a friend request, I felt like I could help someone with this level of character a little.

“B-But there are so many zombies, and it’s dangerous…”

‘Approved.’

He didn’t say, “What if Hyung-nim also dies to the zombies?”, but seeing this delicate young man worry about my life moved my heart.

Whether he was naive or good, truly…

‘Someone like Choi Dong-woo, it might be okay to help him just once. …Alright.’

Call it a whim. I made up my mind.

“As long as the price is right. There’s nothing I can’t do.”

“Price?”

“As you know, it’s this kind of situation. I can’t do it for free.”

“Uh… th-that…”

I made a proposition to the flustered Choi Dong-woo.

Choi Dong-woo, still young, could only stammer at the sudden situation.

Seeing him like this, with a youthful air contrary to his face, I made my offer.

“I’m pretty strong. With that strength, I’ll rescue your grandparents and take them to a safe place. Of course, you’re included too. How about it?”

“…It’d be great for me, but Hyung-nim, are you really sure?”

“Don’t worry about that. Just tell me what you think.”

When I spoke as if there were no problems, Choi Dong-woo actually seemed distrustful.

But soon, as if he’d made up his mind, his gaze became resolute.

It felt similar to when someone would stop at nothing to protect something precious.

I didn’t dislike it.

“Why are you doing all this for me?”

“Just because I like how polite you are.”

“Th-That’s all?”

“If I had to elaborate. My feelings.”

Choi Dong-woo soon chuckled, his expression visibly relaxed.

“…Grandmother used to say that people should be polite.”

“She’s excellent.”

“Hyung-nim. But I’m sorry, I don’t know what to give you.”

Although I’d mentioned a price, I was acting primarily because I was moved.

But if I helped for free, I might seem like a pushover, so I threw in that deal.

I didn’t really need anything, as I already had plenty of supplies.

The kind of ease that comes from a full wallet. That’s what it was.

People mistake continuous favors for deserved rights.

Just as I take care of my own bowl, he needed to know that help wasn’t a given.

“At my house, there isn’t much money…”

“Would money be needed in a situation like this?”

At my incredulous reaction, Choi Dong-woo seemed to genuinely ponder.

“I don’t really have anything either. Though Grandfather and Grandmother are good at cooking…”

“…Cooking?”

In a situation like this, it would be good to have someone who can cook.

I thought that would be excellent—

“They run a gukbap restaurant. In Dongdaemun. It’s quite delicious.”

“Gukbap? Dongdaemun?”

As I listened, something came to mind.

Come to think of it, this kid’s name was Dong-woo.

‘Could it be…?’

“By any chance, the Dong-woo Gukbap near Dongdaemun Station?”

“Oh? Hyung-nim, you know it too? It’s my grandmother’s shop.”

“……Really?”

“Why would I lie about something like this? It’s true.”

I was truly surprised.

To think this guy was the grandson of the owner of that gukbap place, the best I’d ever had, from just one visit.

It was no exaggeration to say that I got into gukbap because of the sundae-guk and suyuk from Dong-woo Gukbap that I’d coincidentally tried once. It was that delicious. A bowl of hot rice soup that soothed a weary soul.

I had heard rumors that a husband and wife ran the place.

A feast of flavors that would amaze any Korean.

The Owner-nim and his wife were truly masters who could be called grandmasters of the gukbap world.

It might have been a matter of taste, but I’d never found that flavor anywhere else.

Since I traveled to various regions for work, I rarely got to go, which was a pity.

After the zombie apocalypse, I thought that taste would just become a memory…

This guy… the successor?

“Dong-woo.”

Dong-woo suddenly looked handsome.

“I don’t need anything else.”

“Then what?”

“A lifetime free pass to Dong-woo Gukbap.”

“……Huh?”

I was half-serious.

I believed it was worth that much.

At least for me, it was.

“It’s fine if the two of them make it for me, or if you learn and make it. If the shop reopens later, give me a lifetime free pass.”

“No, Hyung-nim, are you serious?”

This time, Dong-woo looked incredulous, but I was serious.

It was definitely worth it.

“If you accept. I’ll take responsibility and rescue you, and your grandparents. All of you, limbs intact.”

“R-Really??”

“Yeah. What do you say?”

Dong-woo didn’t hesitate at this joke-like deal.

“Okay! If you rescue them safely, I’ll do anything for you.”

“Good. No backing out.”

If anyone had been watching from the side, it was a conversation that would have made them think, ‘Are you crazy?’

But there was no need to overthink it at all.

Dong-woo needed help, and I could provide help.

Dong-woo and his grandparents were valuable people to me, and by saving them, I would secure a continuous reward.

This was a cool deal, what else could it be?

I picked up the phone, exulting inwardly.

In a situation like this, grandmasters like those two were treasures among treasures.

‘I will definitely rescue them.’

I, who had only been procuring supplies without a clear goal, began to burn with determination.

I reconnected the call with Grandfather-nim.

When I said I was coming to rescue them, he was surprised and tried to object, but I was confident.

I had to quickly confirm what needed to be confirmed before his blood pressure rose and then make my move.

“More importantly, there’s something I need to confirm. Are you truly the Owner-nim of Dong-woo Gukbap in Dongdaemun?”

At my voice, more serious than ever, Grandfather-nim seemed to tense up too.

Still, I had to confirm what I needed to confirm.

“W-Well, it is me and the old woman, but… is that important?”

“Yes. It’s important.”

“Heh heh….”

Now I had to get to the main point.

“More importantly, Owner-nim. Where are you currently located?”

“Ah, here! Let me see, this is…”

“Elder. May I take the call instead?”

‘Who is this?’

A young man’s voice heard over the phone.

He sounded tired, as expected, but his clear pronunciation caught my ear.

Soon, with a rustling sound, the man began speaking on the phone instead.

“I’ve taken the call.”

“Who is this?”

I was talking to the Owner-nim, how rude…

“My name is Kim Jihyuk. I’m in the same room as the elders. I took the call to explain things in more detail.”

“…Is anyone else there?”

I only thought of the two of them, I didn’t imagine anyone else would be there.

“There are 8 people in total, including the two elders. They are very exhausted.”

“What about their condition?”

Kim Jihyuk seemed quite flustered by my flat question.

This person didn’t matter.

It’s not my business.

“I’m not a rescue team. And certainly not a soldier or police officer. I’m going at the request of Choi Dong-woo, the grandson of the two elders. Please understand that point.”

“Understood. The two elders are still alright, but the Grandmother-nim is not doing well.”

‘Ah… so that’s why Dong-woo freaked out.’

With the situation roughly pictured, I glanced at Dong-woo and spoke.

“What’s the exact location there?”

“It’s Yeongdeungpo Times Square.”

“Where are you currently located within it?”

“Uh… well.”

I heard someone notifying him from the side.

“Just send a text message to this number instead. I’ll look at it and find you.”

“Excuse me, are you—”

“Detailed matters can be discussed after I arrive. We’ll talk face to face. Again, I’m not a rescue team. We can talk about the remaining people besides the two elders. And there are prerequisites.”

“I’m listening. Please speak.”

The man, surprisingly calm, seemed quite resolute.

Normally, they would abandon reason and cling on, begging to be rescued as well.

“Grandfather-nim and Grandmother-nim must be safe. If you look after them until I arrive, then we can have a serious discussion. And I’ll bring some water and food when I come. How does this sound for now?”

“Understood. I will send you the location via text message.”

“I don’t know how long it will take, but it won’t be long. And just in case, conserve your phone battery and don’t make calls.”

“…Please. We’ll be waiting.”

With that polite and earnest request, the conversation ended.

‘Kim Jihyuk? A cool name.’

In a crisis situation like this, a clean, concise call had the effect of sparking curiosity about the other party.

Dong-woo, who had been watching the call from the side, looked very curious.

But curiosity could wait.

“Can you move?”

“Yes. No problem.”

“Get up. Let’s get ready to leave.”

Leading Dong-woo, who answered resolutely, I went back inside.

His bloodshot eyes, which had been moist as if about to shed tears just moments ago, slowly began to fill with tension and firm resolve.

A little preparation was needed before departure.

From now, the time attack for the two of them begins.