episode_0020

Even the distinct stench of decay. The mixed smells tormented my nose, making my head throb slightly.

The lights, still functioning, illuminated the passageway. Zombies were visible beneath the lights. Thankfully, there weren’t many.

Being covered in rotten zombie fluids was harder than the fight itself. Since I was going to get covered anyway, I headed towards the zombies, intending to finish them quickly.

The passageway wasn’t wide, so swinging was out. Gripping the crowbar with both hands like a kendo stance.

Thwack-! Wham! Focused strikes aimed only at their heads. Downward blows that leveraged power and weight without breaking my stance. The rushing sound of air with each swing told me how quickly I was striking.

Every time I heard the sound of wind being cut, it was accompanied by the sound of heads bursting. The few zombies were quickly dealt with.

【 Staff Lounge B 】 Wondering if this was it, I opened the door and checked inside, but there was no one. I shook my head left and right at Dong-woo, who was watching right behind me.

“Let’s try the other side. She must be somewhere around here.” Dong-woo, about to be disappointed by the empty room, nodded slightly at my words.

‘…Over there, perhaps?’ From the opposite side, I heard faint cries from zombies. It seemed a few were gathered in the distance. Since they hadn’t noticed this side yet, either the distance was far, or there were people nearby.

“…Follow me quietly.” After speaking softly to Dong-woo. I quickly rushed at the zombies and began crushing them.

Six zombies were lingering in front of the door. As if something was inside, they were staring only at the door. Thanks to this, they were slow to notice me, allowing me to take the initiative with a flashy preemptive strike and clear them out.

First, I pushed the scattered zombie corpses on the floor to one side, clearing them away. I stood before the door, which was heavily scratched and covered in fluids.

【 Staff Lounge A 】 Dong-woo, who had followed behind, swallowed hard beside me. “Could Grandma be in here?” “……I’ll have to check.”

‘I think I sense people inside….’ If there were other people inside, I’d have to search for a long time. The thought of ‘please’ filled my mind.

Looking around once more, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. I grabbed the doorknob and pulled it down, but it only rattled.

Knock knock knock- “Is anyone in there?” …It was silent, with no particular response.

“Is no one there? Kim Jihyuk-ssi?” “J-just a moment! I’ll open it right away!”

Soon, a man’s voice and some commotion arose from within. I also heard the sound of things being moved, as if something was blocking the door.

I looked at Dong-woo standing beside me; he was gritting his teeth and stomping his feet. He probably wanted to shout “Grandpa! Grandma!” and pound on the door, but he was holding back, perhaps obeying my instruction not to make loud noises. He really was an obedient kid.

A moment later, the door finally opened. From inside, a handsome man, whose good looks couldn’t be hidden despite his disheveled appearance, emerged and greeted Dong-woo. ‘Actor Kim Jihyuk?’

Contrary to my surprise, I spoke calmly. “You two are?” “……” “Kim Jihyuk-ssi?”

Pushing past Kim Jihyuk, who could only stare with wide eyes, Dong-woo rushed inside. “Grandpa! Grandma!”

Dong-woo quickly scanned the room, then rushed to embrace the elderly couple leaning against the wall in the corner. “Dong-woo!” “Grandpa! Grandma!”

Dong-woo threw down the hand axe he was holding, and his body shook greatly as he hugged his grandparents. He sobbed, checking on his grandmother, whose condition was expected to be poor.

Fortunately, she was still conscious and could be seen caressing her grandson’s face with joy, but just by looking, her condition seemed very bad. Still, hurrying was worthwhile. ‘Not too late.’

“You brat! What are you doing coming here, huh?!” “H-huh! I had to come! I’m family!”

The joy of reunion and scolding for his reckless bravery in risking danger continued. It was a touching reunion, but I needed to take some action first. As I moved, thinking I should give them something to drink.

“You. Stop right there.” A middle-aged man, taking advantage of everyone’s distraction, was trying to pick up the hand axe Dong-woo had thrown down. At my words, everyone’s gaze, including Kim Jihyuk’s, who had been dazed, turned to me.

He seemed to pause, then picked up the hand axe and smirked obnoxiously. “Come on, don’t be so stingy, huh? There are monsters teeming outside, don’t we need some weapons?”

“That’s true, but it’s not yours. Put it down.” “Hmph… Some punk who looks young is spouting informal speech, what a state this country is in.”

A body covered in fat, wearing a black suit. His vulgar way of speaking made him seem like a thug. His antics were amusing.

“Put it down.” “Ha! This punk’s words are really short, aren’t they? Look at your own state! You might have been bitten!”

“I’m more tolerable than you. This is the last time. Put it down.” He couldn’t grasp the atmosphere, perhaps because he’d starved for days and gone crazy. Such an attitude towards someone who might help. He was the type to die easily.

And he didn’t betray my expectations. “F*ck off! You bas—”

Thwack—!! I said no more and threw the crowbar. Warning him three times was doing my duty as a gentleman.

The man, accurately struck in the wrist, dropped the axe and let out a shrill scream. “Aaagh!! Damn it! You son of a bitch!”

People flinched at the suddenly hostile atmosphere. Ignoring them, I slowly approached. That man was tired and hungry, but he picked the wrong timing.

I stepped towards the man, who was stumbling and trying to pull something from his pocket with his left hand. Grab-! “Are you a gangster?”

Gripping his thick neck, I lifted his large frame straight up and looked at him. “Cough! Choke! Choke! Gaaah!!”

“I’m asking. Are you a gangster?” As I shook him back and forth, the man flailed and pulled a gleaming blade from his pocket.

People gasped in surprise as he drew the knife. He swung it towards my face without hesitation.

Clicking my tongue, I calmly snatched it with my free hand. And then, I slowly applied force to my grip.

Crrunch- “Uwaaaah!! My hand! My hand! You bastard!!” A scream filled with pain and the sound of bones being crushed. The two sounds formed a chilling harmony that made listeners shudder.

I gently kneaded his breaking hand, as if caressing it. “Ughhhhhh!!”

His reaction was good. Seeing him flail and tremble uncontrollably made me smile. I wanted to instill a little more polite etiquette in him, but fearing his screams would attract zombies, I threw him into a corner.

Crash-! The man, who had hit the wall and been covered by equipment, finally fell silent. His body twitched, so he wasn’t dead. With both arms broken, things would be difficult for him going forward; perhaps it would be better if he just died quickly.

I dismissed the lump of a man from my mind and picked up the hand axe. “Choi Dong-woo.”

Dong-woo, who had been crying for a long time while holding his grandparents, was startled when I called him in the sudden situation. “Never let go of your weapon, no matter what. Remember that.”

I approached and handed him the hand axe, holding it in a reverse grip. Dong-woo snapped to attention and carefully received the hand axe.

“Uh, Hyung-nim.” “Wait.”

I cut Dong-woo off and checked on the couple’s condition. They were severely weakened, perhaps from a long lack of water and food. The grandmother was especially worse, her face a deathly pale color.

The fortunate thing was that she was still clearly conscious. And the grandfather was relatively somewhat better.

I quickly confirmed their condition and gave Dong-woo instructions. “Open your bag and take out the electrolyte drink first. Give it to them the way I did for you.” “Ah!! Yes!!!”

Dong-woo, now alert, was as quick as a squirrel. He had them drink the beverage slowly, just as I had done for him.

“Grandfather, you drink too. You must drink slowly.” “Th-thank you.”

His hands, trembling from weakness, couldn’t even open the cap. I opened the cap myself and handed it to him, then turned around.

I took out water and other drinks from the bag, laid them out, and called the others. “Let’s drink first, then talk. Kim Jihyuk-ssi?”

As I handed over a large electrolyte drink, I realized my mistake. “Oh. My apologies.” Of course people were surprised when I handed it over while wearing gloves soaked in blood. I immediately took off my gloves and offered the drink again.

Kim Jihyuk, who had still looked very surprised until then, soon collected himself. He slowly approached, received the drink, and only then did his eyes regain their light. As if he was realizing, ‘Okay! We’re alive!’

“Thank you very much. I’ll give my thanks later.” Kim Jihyuk, having given a brief greeting, immediately began to tend to the women and other men who were sitting slumped. He himself was pushed to his limit, yet seeing him swaying but still taking care of others didn’t seem bad. He seemed to have something about him.

‘Is that the dignity of a top star?’

The impression I got when I talked to him on the phone was also good. A calm and firm feeling. He was a completely different type from me.

I admit that my empathy for others is severely lacking. To put it simply, I’m selfish. I only care about myself. It’s not to the point where it hinders my daily life. It’s just that sometimes in life, I’ve heard the phrase, ‘You only care about yourself.’

Living alone in a cold world, my life was tough. When I fell into this other world, I was busy just surviving. It’s not an excuse, but these things combined made my personality terrible. Of course, if they don’t cross the line, I don’t step forward and act out. I’m just a little bit selfish.

While I was lost in thought for a moment, I saw the people who had completely emptied the drinks and were now watching me, and I snapped out of my reverie. “Ah… don’t mind me, please drink. You’ll need to drink a lot.”

I took off my sunglasses and neck warmer, which were covered in blood. Shaking my head, I slumped to the floor and gulped down the drink.

I watched the people continuously drinking water and other beverages, expressing their gratitude. I could see life gradually returning to their eyes. The same went for Dong-woo’s grandparents.

People who had been trapped in the room, unable to do anything, enduring the approach of death. Watching them regain their vitality in a place surrounded by the undead, by zombies, felt strange.

My whole body got dirty, but it was good that I hurried. It was truly fortunate.