episode_0021

The appearance of the small zombie hadn’t changed much. Although the rotten skin had decreased and the eyes had darkened a bit compared to before, it was still about half zombie. Nevertheless, the face had returned to normal, so it was somewhat tolerable.

But the most important thing was…

It recognized me.

It stared at me with a blank face, turning its head as I moved.

Just in case, I tried speaking to it…

“Hey, can you understand me?”

“Uhh…”

Only meaningless sounds came out.

“Follow me.”

This time, I gave a command and tried moving. The zombie followed me, its short arms outstretched.

After testing various things, it seemed like it could follow simple commands that a dog could understand.

This might come in handy.

I also brought it in front of Kim Yeoreum, but it just growled and didn’t show any signs of aggression.

Feeling a bit sorry for it, I fed it, and surprisingly, it ate well.

Still, just in case, I tied up the small zombie again before leaving.

Today, there was a call from Ian.

In a room with a long conference table, only two seats were occupied among the many chairs.

I thought the key members would gather, but it was just the two of us.

I was going to say something to Hanjiyu when we met.

After exchanging greetings briefly, Ian got straight to the point.

“As you know, our power situation isn’t good.”

I nodded. The plan to supplement the solar power was just starting.

Power outages were still happening several times a day. At this rate, the generators wouldn’t last long.

“And the food situation isn’t that great either. And as you know, the number of people who can go outside is limited.”

Most of the people who could fight were either dead or injured, and those left here were mostly elderly, women, and children.

“So, I’m thinking of clearing out the zombies surrounding the building first. Then we can go out to gather supplies.”

It was a natural course of action. The zombies were densely packed around the building where the survivors were gathered. It would be unimaginable to go out and get something without dealing with them first.

There was a limit to the number of zombies. Although there were some approaching, reducing their numbers would make it much easier to operate outside.

This strategy would become meaningless when the variants became more active.

But it was too early. In the original work, the external cleanup came after the internal maintenance. They set up a lure on the rooftop and killed the attracted zombies with rocks…

“I want you and Jiyu to take care of that.”

“Me?”

Ian nodded with a serious expression.

Of course, Jiyu and I dealt with the zombies that came to Zones 1 and 2 on the surface, but in reality, it was all Jiyu’s doing. Why me…

While others might not know, Ian did. He knew that my physical abilities were just at an average level. As I pondered his intentions…

“I checked the CCTV footage.”

I flinched. Ah, the CCTV… I had completely forgotten about it. That means…

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to spy on you. I just wanted to see how to fight those variant zombies if we encounter them in the future…”

Ian paused for a moment.

“Siwoo, the zombies didn’t attack you, did they?”

“…”

“Jiyu was infected during the battle, right? That’s why her eyes are still red, and her movements… seem to have become faster, as if she absorbed the characteristics of the larger zombies.”

A somewhat knowing attitude. Ian had always intended to tell him eventually. He was someone trustworthy. It was faster than he had expected, but it was probably best to reveal it at this point.

“Yeah. I’m actually immune. Somehow ended up treating Jiyu too.”

After revealing it to Jiyu, the conversation turned to developing a vaccine. I gave the same answer as before. I couldn’t be an experimental mouse. Since Ian wasn’t the type to force things on others, he easily accepted it.

“Alright, I’ll keep the fact that you’re immune a secret. What about my proposal?”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“Well, if the boss approves, then we should go for it.”

Ian found my words amusing and burst into laughter.

“I’d like to go with you, but honestly, I think I’d just be a hindrance if I joined now. Kim Munhyuk has almost left things to rot, so there’s still a lot to do internally.”

After that, we discussed plans on how to operate and reinforce the place.

“For now, we’re reinforcing and repairing with metal plates to prepare for the acid-spewing creature, but the problem is the second variant that appeared. If the same creature appears again, no matter how much reinforcement we do, it’ll tear through like paper.”

I was worried about that too. According to the original story, no Beta appears while staying here.

The creatures evolve based on human responses.

If humans build a wall, Alphas that can penetrate the wall appear. If humans arm themselves with firearms, Betas that can counter firearms appear.

So if a Beta appears before we can acquire firearms, there’s practically no way to stop it.

“For now, if Jiyu is here, we can probably stop it, but…”

Even if we stop it after it enters the building, it’ll be too late. Just that alone will cause people to panic again. If there are casualties… Those who had just started to hope will fall back into despair.

For now, the best option was to clear out the zombies around us as much as possible and fight outside.

That’s how the conversation ended.

“Then let’s meet at the building entrance with Jiyu by 9 a.m. tomorrow.”

As I was about to leave, I expressed my confusion.

“It’s just Jiyu and me going out, so why did you call me separately?”

Ian gave a slightly awkward smile.

“Actually, I called Jiyu too, but he said he’s busy today and will join you directly tomorrow.”

What? What could he be busy with? Is he avoiding me…? I should be the one apologizing. Just by entering, my mood worsened for no reason.

As I was about to leave after saying I understood, Ian called me back.

“Kim Yeoreum, right? You’re conducting experiments on treatment, aren’t you?”

I nodded, and Ian continued.

“I might sound hypocritical for someone who killed his siblings, but please treat me like a human. I’m asking you.”

There was a weight in his quiet, introspective gaze, as if he was suppressing something within himself.

Treat him like a human?

As I pondered what to say, I gave a wry smile.

“I’m trying.”

***

We went out at the agreed time, and Jiyu was already there.

“You’re early?”

The casual greeting I offered was completely ignored. He didn’t even make eye contact.

Damn it… I saved him and thought we had become friends, but now it feels like we’re even more distant than when we first met.

I never imagined he would be this closed off.

In the end, I also kept my mouth shut.

Even when we went outside, there was no conversation.

Zombies rushing towards us with screams when they spotted a human. Jiyu, with a poised stance, leaped forward, kicking the ground with incredible speed. It was a terrifying speed that was hard to follow with the eyes.

In the wake of his movements, only decapitated zombies remained.

It was a cycle. Striking, beating, cutting alone.

I followed sluggishly behind Haji Yu, offering a prayer for the souls of the slaughtered zombies.

“If you were going to do this, you could have gone alone. Why did you bring me along?”

Of course, I understood the reason why Ian had sent us together. It was probably to prepare for the emergence of mutants or other unexpected situations. After all, he had seen what I was capable of.

Still, this was not like setting up a picnic.

After a long period of slaughtering, Haji Yu suddenly stopped in his tracks. It seemed like he had taken care of all the zombies in the vicinity.

The surroundings were literally a scene of carnage. It was precarious to walk as corpses littered every step.

In the midst of it all, Haji Yu stood with his head bowed.

Sensing something amiss, I approached him.

“Haa…, haa….”

Haji Yu was breathing heavily.

Even if he had inherited the Beta’s characteristics, moving like that would make anyone out of breath.

Despite Ian’s advice to take it easy over the course of a few days, Haji Yu had pushed himself to the limit as if being chased, already taking care of all the nearby zombies.

Do you not want to be with me? To the point of rushing to finish the job quickly?

I couldn’t bear it any longer.

Just as I was about to say something, Haji Yu collapsed to the ground like a broken doll.

I instinctively held him up.

“Huuk…!”

Haji Yu groaned in pain. His body felt hot as if it had been burned.

Was it worth pushing yourself to the point of collapsing? Unable to hold back any longer, I finally spoke.

“Did you not want to be with me that much?”

“Haa…, it’s not like that. Haa….”

“Then what is it?”

Haji Yu wordlessly reached out his hand, pointing to the closest building.

“Haa…, let’s… go inside… and talk….”

As annoying as it was, I couldn’t leave someone who was completely exhausted in a place like this. But it was too far to carry him all the way back to the mart. Since it seemed like the nearby zombies had been taken care of, I decided to go along with it.

Above all, it seemed like he had something to say to me, and I had something to say as well. I would listen first, but if he dared to bring up human rights or anything like that, I had no intention of holding back this time.

“Haa…, I thought moving my body like this would make me feel better….”