episode_0023

While Seonghan was verifying something with the thug.

A slow meal continued in the lounge.

There wasn’t much, and they wanted to scoop it up and eat it all, but the group, as per Seonghan’s warning, slowly chewed and swallowed, calming their stomachs.

It was a bland, unstimulating porridge, but it stuck to their mouths so well that they almost felt like they were enjoying a delicacy.

To say ‘hunger is the best side dish’ [a proverb meaning hunger makes any food taste good] didn’t quite capture it.

Everyone in the group had been facing death.

Amidst the grip of fear and despair, there was thirst and hunger.

It was, quite literally, a narrow escape from the brink of collapse.

Perhaps it was the taste of reward for overcoming the crisis and surviving.

That might be why, when the atmosphere softened a little:

“Shia. Why did you say something like that?”

Lee Bomi rebuked Shia, mumbling around her porridge.

Her concern for Shia was greater than any sexual notion.

Lee Bomi’s gaze felt exactly like she was looking at a younger sister.

“No… Unnie. I told you, I said it with a reason, okay?”

“You have to cherish your body!”

“I know my body is precious. The problem is I know it too well.”

“And a girl like you says something like that!”

As the tense atmosphere had eased, perhaps their heavy hearts had eased too.

Shia seemed unfazed compared to the overly worried Lee Bomi.

“It’s good if it can be solved with just me.”

“Are you really going to say that?!”

“Ouch! That hurts, Unnie! I told you I had a reason! It’s not just that!”

“What reason? Let’s hear that reason! You brat.”

In contrast to her small stature, the sound of her hitting Shia’s arm and back was quite firm. Perhaps because it was laced with worry and affection, Shia simply took the blows.

Kim Jihyuk and the others watched with bitter smiles.

If it weren’t for the content of the conversation, it would have been a heartwarming scene between sisters that one could watch with a smile, but the situation and the topic prevented that.

“Ugh! Unnie, stop! I don’t think he’s a bad person! Right, Sunbae-nim?”

“Actor-nim, please say something too! This kid is too fearless!”

As the arrow of their words turned to Kim Jihyuk, he, who had been slowly swallowing his porridge, responded with a faint smile.

“I don’t know yet, but I don’t think he’ll harm us immediately. And Bomi-ssi is right.”

Kim Jihyuk put down the can he was holding and looked at Shia.

“Shia. What you said earlier was reckless. Even if it’s not that method, we might be able to make a good, mutually satisfying deal with Seonghan-ssi. I was really surprised when I heard what you said. I never imagined that you, of all people, would say something like that.”

“Exactly! Even after she suffered so much from stalkers and malicious commenters!”

When Kim Jihyuk, whom she trusted, offered a half-and-half opinion, Shia ultimately had no choice but to surrender.

“Alright. I’ll be careful from now on. So, Unnie, you stop too.”

In the end, Shia squatted down and quietly scooped up her porridge.

“Jihyuk hyung. Can we trust this person named Seonghan-ssi?”

Park Youngchul, who was next to him, subtly asked.

In public, he addressed him respectfully as Actor-nim, but in private, they were close enough to call each other hyung and dongsaeng. They relied on each other enough to exchange such questions.

Kim Jihyuk couldn’t answer immediately.

He had just met Seonghan a little while ago, and their conversation had been brief.

There wasn’t enough basis to judge Seonghan.

However, seeing Seonghan’s actions so far, he wanted to believe him.

Even if Seonghan were a villain, his honest feeling was that he wanted to rely on him.

‘If only we can survive…!’

Although he had rebuked Shia, Kim Jihyuk’s thoughts were slightly different.

If he himself were a woman, he would have made the suggestion.

Lee Bomi, the stylist, wasn’t wrong either.

If they had to pay with their bodies, it should be the last resort. Sexual notions were only possible in normal, peaceful times.

The reason Kim Jihyuk said something to Shia was because he didn’t want to burden her with such a painful weight. Lee Bomi wasn’t the only one who cared for her like a younger sister.

The group’s thoughts were as such.

But what if Seonghan decided to act with ill intent and force?

Considering the strength he briefly displayed, resistance would be absolutely impossible.

Kim Jihyuk’s calm and confident demeanor was partly due to his usual personality and habits, but the gangster who was with them was also a factor.

Despite being overweight, he was large.

Weapons subtly glinting from within his clothes.

If three strong men had rushed him, it wouldn’t have been impossible to subdue him.

But there was a high probability that someone would surely die or be seriously injured.

In that case, the young women and elderly people would have suffered greatly.

‘If you touch us, you’re screwed too.’

Maintaining a calm and confident attitude, exuding that strong vibe, was all he could do, and his only option. Fortunately, the outcome wasn’t bad; everyone united, and the gangster couldn’t pull any other tricks.

If a mere gangster was like that, what about Seonghan?

It seemed that such a tactic wouldn’t work on him.

He had seen Seonghan subdue the weapon-wielding gangster in an instant.

Force was also impossible.

Rather than that, he wanted to place his hopes on Seonghan.

It hadn’t even been two hours since the last phone call.

When Seonghan broke through real zombies and arrived, it was both absurd and joyful.

Though he was so surprised by the sight of Seonghan covered in blood and gore that he almost lost his mind.

Even then, he clearly felt profound relief and exhilaration.

“I can’t be sure.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Kim Jihyuk at his words.

“I just met him a little while ago, so I don’t know either. But he brought water and food all the way here. That, was it Dong-woo-ssi?”

“Ah. Yes. I’m Choi Dongwoo.”

“Yes. Seonghan-ssi promised to let you meet your two elders, didn’t he?”

“Yes. Hyung-nim said he would definitely let me meet them.”

“Through Seonghan-ssi, Dong-woo-ssi met the two, and we received water and food. He kept his promise even in this situation. Dong-woo-ssi. Is it very dangerous outside right now?”

At Kim Jihyuk’s words, Choi Dongwoo’s expression instantly hardened.

Choi Dongwoo, who had been glancing at his grandparents next to him, then…

“It’s not just dangerous. The zombies are swarming, and the streets are a mess. To be honest, I didn’t think he’d make it this far…”

At Choi Dongwoo’s words, the reviving atmosphere became heavy again.

It was because the fact they had temporarily forgotten while consuming the water and food resurfaced.

Especially, the expressions of the grandfather and grandmother were dark.

That their grandson had come all this dangerous way for them, old as they were.

The fact that they had put their grandson in danger pained them.

But it was also a moment where they deeply felt how much their grandson cherished and loved them. They couldn’t condone his recklessness, but the Choi family’s love became even stronger.

Kim Jihyuk, observing the Choi family’s expressions, looked around at everyone and continued speaking. His tone was calm, and his expression wasn’t overtly heavy.

“The situation outside is very dangerous right now. Yet Seonghan-ssi kept his promise. Rescue teams like the police or firefighters didn’t come, but Seonghan-ssi did. We haven’t paid the price yet, but he made the same promise to us.”

Kim Jihyuk gently patted Park Youngchul’s shoulder and said,

“Seonghan-ssi will keep his promise. It’s not a definite guarantee, but I trust he’ll do his best. Given Seonghan-ssi’s initiative and abilities, there’s probably a high chance we can survive and go to a safe place. So don’t worry too much.”

Kim Jihyuk added with a charming smile.

“I want to believe him. That’s what my gut tells me.”

“!! If hyung says so much…”

Park Youngchul’s eyes widened, and he smiled back, nodding.

“It’s just that his first impression was a bit scary. Haha!”

Park Youngchul scratched his head, perhaps feeling sheepish.

***

After observing the end of the thug zombie.

I didn’t immediately return to the group, but instead walked around the vicinity.

I needed to know if it was possible to move by car or for people to move on foot.

Zombies were not very visible at the back entrance, but it was different as I approached the main entrance.

The street extending from the main entrance was a wide roadway and a bustling area.

Seeing many restaurants and bars, it seemed there would have been a lot of foot traffic.

I saw a Daiso across the street, but I didn’t want to go in.

It was a bit insufficient to break through the zombies filling the street.

“There really are a lot.”

They weren’t swarming like ants, but there were many.

From the main entrance to the bustling area, all the way to the thoroughfare extending to Yeongdeungpo Station.

Wherever my gaze reached, groups of zombies milled about.

The familiar scene of people commuting and their daily lives.

Wouldn’t it be just like now if you replaced the people in that scene with zombies?

For now, they’re just foolishly loitering, but the moment they discover a human, those zombies would erupt with an unknown malice and rush all at once.

‘This way won’t work.’

I alone would be fine.

But bringing eight ordinary people is impossible.

The option of breaking through by force is out.

I’m not doing a raid or party hunt right now.

I carefully surveyed the area for everyone’s safety.

I looked around more, but the situation on the roads was not good for us.

I suppose I’ll have to put our heads together and ask for everyone’s opinions.

My mind only came up with options involving brute force.

‘Is there a good way… Hmm?’

While leaping over buildings, a vehicle caught my eye.

A top-loader truck that had crashed into a building.

What I saw inside the open rear door was…

“Water bottles? So people aren’t doomed after all.”

Fortunately, there were no zombies around the truck.

Only traces of zombies were on the ground.

I felt no tingling sensation on my neck.

I jumped down and cautiously investigated the truck.

There was no sign of zombies inside the building or the truck.

‘I need to take these.’

On the ground where I landed, there were shards of glass, heavily stained with blood, perhaps from the building’s windows. Wearing safety shoes had been a good choice.

The area around the truck was also clean.

Except for a few water bottles rolling on the ground, the truck was full.

“Oh…”

The person who had been delivering them must have been skilled, as the 20L water cooler bottles, stacked higher than a person’s height, were neatly arranged. Seeing them still well-stacked despite the impact of the collision, one could feel the work of a professional.

“I’ll make good use of these.”

I expressed my gratitude to the unknown water bottle professional and began to collect them.

The water bottles were quickly swept into my inventory.

Though the number wasn’t huge, the volume was substantial.

‘Still not enough.’

Water has too many uses. Even if there’s a lot now, it’s not enough.

It’s just a precaution, but the safety of the tap water is still questionable.

If there are no other issues, we can last as long as we can get water.

But what if drinking water turns people into zombies?

If even the water source becomes a cause of infection, then the difficulty would be truly hellish.

Water would become even more precious than food.

Suddenly, a scene from a movie came to mind.

A destroyed civilization and looters.

The pinnacle of looters, a powerful ruler who monopolizes water and controls people.

But if even the water were contaminated, it would be questionable whether any life, let alone such humans, could survive.

My mind was complicated, and idle thoughts wouldn’t stop.

I picked up only the intact-looking items from the scattered debris on the ground.

I looked around, but nothing else useful was visible.

I was about to go back, but then changed my mind.

“Let’s just get some things ready in advance.”

I started taking out items from what I had collected at the Holy Sale, things I wanted to bring with me.

Jeans to tear up and wrap around my body.

A container burner and a pot.

Food and water and a little alcohol.

‘Shoes… I don’t know their sizes, so I’ll pretend to go out again later.’

Most of the group were wearing dress shoes.

The women, especially, were wearing heels.

If we have to move on foot, shoes are important.

More than anything, securing mobility when frantically fleeing from zombies would increase their survival rate.

Among the items I had collected without discrimination, the duffel bag was truly useful.

A large-capacity, sturdy item.

It wasn’t military green, but it had a military feel to it and was a good item.

I packed the items tightly and, finally, the weapons.

Crowbars, lighter, shorter, and easier to handle than a Missile.

I neatly tied five of them together and put them on top to finish.

I filled the 100-liter duffel bag plump and lit a cigarette.

Even so, smoking in an enclosed space felt a bit off.

‘There are elderly people too…’

Even in this situation, my Confucian soul poked its head out.

I chuckled at the absurd thought, then put out my cigarette and stood up.

The Times Square back entrance was right ahead.

I jumped down from the rooftop and walked towards the back entrance.

I scanned my surroundings as I walked, but indeed, no zombies were visible on this side.

Even though it was my second round trip, only the path felt familiar.

The tension didn’t decrease, just in case.

Sometimes they’re not visible, and sometimes they’re swarming.

I have a suspicion, but no way to confirm.

It’s just a guess.

There are too many uncertainties.

I organized my complicated thoughts and quickened my pace.

And before entering the lounge, I thoroughly checked the staff passage.

I looked for more zombies nearby and confirmed it was safe.

Even then, my thoughts kept piling up.

I decided it wouldn’t be too late to think about things when I picked up some new information, rather than unnecessarily stressing my mind.

As I thought that and arrived at the lounge.

“「It’s just that his first impression was a bit scary. Haha!」”

A man’s voice came from beyond the door.

I still didn’t know who was who.

‘Well… I guess it’s not unreasonable for them to think that?’

Anyone who appeared covered in blood and adorned with flesh, carrying a thick steel club, would evoke such a feeling. It wasn’t particularly offensive.

Thump, thump, thump-

“Dong-woo. Open the door.”

The inside instantly fell silent, and the locked door opened.

Dong-woo, whose complexion had visibly improved, greeted me.

“Hyung-nim! Where have you been?”

“I just looked around the area.”

I said, placing the plump duffel bag down, with everyone watching.

“Unless you treat me as an enemy or stab me in the back, you don’t need to be afraid of me.”

“Gasp!!”

At my casually spoken words, everyone except Dong-woo gasped.

Seeing their wide eyes, they apparently considered me scary.

“……”

…It seemed I needed a bit more time with Kim Jihyuk-ssi’s group.