episode_0029

Jiyu couldn’t shake off her lingering concerns. The farewell party where everyone bid farewell with a tinge of regret. Yoon Siwoo was wandering alone.

Although she wasn’t particularly concerned about appearances, as someone who knew better than anyone about Siwoo’s contributions and efforts, Jiyu couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

Without Siwoo, the foundation of this place wouldn’t have been properly established. Despite Summer Master’s disdainful remarks, Jiyu knew. She knew how diligently Siwoo had been conducting experiments in the underground.

Fortunately, Sangyeop was paying attention and staying by her side, but even that was short-lived.

So, after exchanging pleasantries with the others, Jiyu intended to spend the remaining time with Siwoo. But in the blink of an eye, Siwoo was nowhere to be found.

Worried, Jiyu sought the understanding of the others and discreetly slipped away.

“Um… do you happen to know where Siwoo went?”

Sangyeop, who was swaying from intoxication, suddenly stood up as Jiyu approached.

“Hmm? Ah! Jiyu! Our Seoul Base’s Blacksmith! Everyone! If it weren’t for Jiyu! Who else could have taken down that big Beta! Holding a knife, charging at the Beta’s face and stabbing it in the mouth! The big Beta would have fallen with just one strike— that’s what I’m saying! Cheers to Jiyu’s future!!!”

“Cheers!”

After being held captive for a while, Jiyu finally managed to escape.

Driven by unnecessary worries, Jiyu made her way to Siwoo’s room. Her hand paused before knocking.

Perhaps he had already fallen asleep, thinking about tomorrow. It might be more disruptive to wake him up.

She closed her eyes and focused. After being infected, her senses had become more acute. With Jiyu’s accumulated training, she could even sense a presence beyond a wall with a little concentration.

There was no presence felt from inside. Thankfully, he wasn’t asleep. This meant she could spend the last night with Siwoo here.

But if he wasn’t in the room… where could he have gone?

Could it be… the underground lab…?

As she pondered this, scenes flashed through her mind. Kim Yeoreum clinging to Siwoo’s arm and teasing him, the Master casually touching his body while walking.

At first, Siwoo had hesitated to be called the Master in front of others, but Yeoreum, with her forgetful nature, kept calling him that even after being corrected multiple times. Now, it seemed like Siwoo had given up.

The idea of being a Master… Jiyu couldn’t even imagine it. To call a comrade who trusted each other with their lives a Master…

Strictly speaking, Kim Yeoreum wasn’t a comrade. She was brought along by Siwoo for experiments as a condemned prisoner.

Now, it seemed like their relationship was more than just that. Jiyu could tell from Yeoreum’s red eyes. She, too, had a periodic relationship with Siwoo.

Jiyu could understand that part. She also felt sorry and grateful for Yeoreum’s sacrifices, knowing that she had been a great help to Siwoo’s experiments.

Spending time together naturally led to building a friendship…

So, what was Yeoreum to Siwoo now?

Lost in her thoughts, Jiyu was startled and looked up. Unknowingly, she had arrived at the entrance of the underground research lab.

Could it be that Siwoo had come down to the underground lab with Yeoreum on the last night…?

The room was soundproof. There was no sound coming from inside.

Jiyu closed her eyes to sense a presence. She needed to focus… to focus…

My heart was pounding. I couldn’t focus because of my strangely pounding heart. My closed eyelids were trembling.

Eventually, I opened my eyes again.

Do I really need to confirm this? Wouldn’t it be wiser to just turn back? What if Siwoo and Yeorum are together? If they are up to something?

A jumble of thoughts swirling in my head. Without realizing it, I found myself knocking on the door.

-Knock. Knock.

A timid sound echoed against the thick iron door. There was no response. I took a deep breath and knocked again.

-Thud! Thud!

This time, I was startled by the loud sound even though I was the one knocking.

……

But still, there was no response. Unable to bear it any longer, I turned the doorknob.

The door, which should have been locked, opened easily.

Before leaving, I tidied up the empty laboratory. There was nothing and no one there.

“Phew….”

For some reason, a sense of relief washed over me as I sighed.

Where could they have gone? Not in the room, not in the basement.

Lost in thought, I walked wherever my feet took me.

After wandering aimlessly, I ended up on the rooftop.

A guard on duty noticed me and greeted me. I absentmindedly replied.

“Have you seen Yoon Siwoo by any chance?”

“Who is Yoon Siwoo?”

I furrowed my brows. How could they not know Siwoo, even though they are new here? Maybe I should educate them a bit more…. Oh, but I’m leaving this place tomorrow, so it doesn’t matter….

Deciding to turn back, I was about to leave.

“Oh! You mean the researcher. He was over there….”

Without listening to the rest, I ran in that direction.

Loneliness crept in even when pretending otherwise. That’s why I came up here alone to enjoy the night sky.

“Siwoo…!”

As I ran calling out his name, my movement suddenly stopped. Siwoo wasn’t alone. The unmistakable feature of someone I knew just by their back. The curly blonde hair that was rare to see in this place. Yoon Siwoo was with Kim Yeorum.

***

I went to the basement with the thought of having a beer with Yeorum, but there was no one there. Not even Mini, the little zombie Yeorum had nicknamed.

Did they go somewhere with the zombie? I sighed unconsciously and shook my head.

Well, it’s the last day, so….

There was only one place Yeorum could have gone.

Since we decided to leave together, Yeorum would sometimes come up to the rooftop alone to look at the stars.

Although there are more new people now, the existing ones wouldn’t be pleased to see them…. But I can’t say much, considering I’ve played various games with Yeorum in the building at night.

Well, it’s okay since we’re leaving soon. Yeorum always covers their face as much as possible anyway.

The night devoid of smog, fine dust, and neon signs illuminating the city. The densely packed stars in the night sky were now shining on the city.

As I climbed up to the rooftop, a new guard greeted me dryly. I acknowledged them and walked towards the end of the rooftop.

There, Yeorum was holding Mini’s hand, looking up at the night sky together.

Seems like they have a special bond, even giving a nickname. Well, they must have grown attached, considering Yeorum spent months locked up in that underground room. It would have been much lonelier without Mini.

With gloves and a turtleneck pulled up to cover their chin, Mini was indistinguishable from a person.

Seeing them like this, I thought they looked like sisters as I stood next to Yeorum.

Yeorum belatedly felt my presence and turned to look at me.

“Oh? Master? Why are you here? Isn’t it the farewell party?”

Somewhere, the tension was lower than usual. I opened a can of beer and offered it to Yeoreum.

“Well, I just came to say hi roughly. I’m not really a fan of crowded places.”

Yeoreum, who was still staring at me without taking the beer, playfully raised the corner of her mouth.

“Is the owner a nerd?”

“Cough! Cough!”

Unexpectedly, Yeoreum’s attack made me choke on the beer.

As I coughed, Yeoreum patted my back.

“Haha! Why are you so flustered?”

“I’m not flustered… more importantly, why aren’t you drinking this?”

Only then did Yeoreum accept the beer can. She looked at it for a moment before taking a sip.

“Tomorrow, we’ll say goodbye to this place…”

A voice tinged with regret.

“You didn’t want to leave here?”

“Well… that’s true. But now that I’m actually leaving, I feel a bit sad. And…”

Yeoreum looked down at Mini, whose hand she was holding.

“I can’t take Mini with me…”

Of course, she couldn’t leave Mini behind. They were people who had lost everything to zombies. If it were revealed that they were harboring zombies, it would only cause unnecessary chaos. And now, while they were quiet, if they turned into zombies again, who knew what kind of unexpected events would occur when they encountered humans. If, by some chance, the worst-case scenario happened and the infection started from within…

Even if they tried to survive, they would eventually become zombies and wander around until someone killed them.

“There’s no other way, right?”

Keeping a person isolated on an island would only make them a volleyball, but Mini now had a human face, a bit of body heat, and only made growling noises, but they could speak and didn’t refuse Yeoreum’s touch when she told them to take care of herself.

In the dark basement where not a single ray of light shone, although it was probably just talking to myself, Mini was the only one who had been a companion to me. Mini must have a special meaning to Yeoreum beyond just being a friend.

The words “let’s end it with our own hands” didn’t come out easily, as it might sound too cruel to Yeoreum, who was like that. In the end, Yeoreum nodded in resignation.

“I guess that’s the only way…”

I grabbed Yeoreum’s wrist firmly.

“Huh?”

Yeoreum, who raised her head slightly, had tears in her eyes.

“I thought of a good way. Let’s go outside.”