episode_0038

The two young lieutenants, who appeared to be in their mid-twenties, had good reactions.

They seemed like young men of that age, startled and objecting when I said I would go alone.

They immediately gave several reasons, vehemently opposing my solo action.

‘I appreciate the sentiment, but still…’

I calmly explained why I had to move alone.

The reason that convinced the two lieutenants, setting aside other things:

“If it fails, it ends with just me.”

I made them clearly understand the damage in case of failure.

The burden is lessened just by the fact that there will be no innocent soldier casualties.

I added a clincher: “And if anything goes wrong, no one will be held responsible!”

From a soldier’s perspective in a situation akin to war, it was understandable.

But as people, it was an incredibly difficult point to accept.

After much deliberation, the two finally accepted my stubbornness.

Their subsequent actions were swift.

They showed me the map, pointed out the areas where they had attempted reconnaissance and supply procurement, and repeatedly urged me to be careful.

Receiving such concern, I looked at the map and asked one thing.

“Where exactly did you miss the supplies?”

“Here. Back then, the zombies were coming from everywhere…”

Lieutenant Park unhesitatingly pointed to the entrance of Mapo Bridge.

Considering they originally intended to head towards the district office, they were pushed back ridiculously far.

After hearing the rough explanation, I immediately decided to act.

The two lieutenants followed me out, seeing me off towards the main gate.

As we reached the entrance, Lieutenant Kim quietly asked.

“It might be late to ask, but is there a reason you’re going this far?”

“…It’s because I empathize a little.”

“…Empathize?”

“Regarding the sacrifice of the soldiers… I also find it regrettable.”

“……Please, come back safely.”

My murmured words seemed to have touched their emotions, as they appeared choked up.

There was no more talk, no ifs, ands, or buts.

Leaving the lieutenants who wished for my safe return behind, I began to move.

Accepting Lieutenant Kim’s suggestion was close to an impulse.

I somewhat understood the pain of witnessing the death of young soldiers.

I, too, had witnessed the deaths of child soldiers in wars where swords and spears raged.

The deaths of those young soldiers, who looked at me with shining eyes as if I were an object of admiration, are unforgettable memories, even for someone like me whose human emotions have been worn down.

Even though I never met them, the scene of young lives, unable to blossom, vanishing so meaninglessly, still remains as pain and emptiness.

The blood flowing from Lieutenant Park’s fists, Lieutenant Kim’s eyes filled with grief.

The context was different, but I could understand a little.

Back then, I could only swing my sword like a madman, losing my reason to rage, but it’s not like that now.

I just want to be a small help to them, who still have a chance.

And at the same time, satisfy a small desire of my own.

‘Isn’t it a win-win for everyone?’

I feel a little guilty, as if I’m hiding my true intentions.

So, I intend to finish this job thoroughly.

First, the areas where they attempted reconnaissance are places I’ve already visited, so I’ll bypass them.

My current objective is the location of the lost supplies.

It was already past noon.

For fast movement, I ran across the rooftops of buildings without hesitation.

In the scene below the buildings, there were quite a few zombies.

Zombies scattered everywhere without any noticeable pattern.

Compared to before, a significantly larger number were roaming the streets.

‘It seems like they’ve been chasing living people….’

Hidden survivors come out, unable to endure hunger.

If we assume those were zombies tracking them…

It’s a plausible story.

Moving through the streets will entail even more difficulties in the future.

My head is already aching.

Running quickly, I reached the vicinity of Seoul Bridge and saw traces of battle.

These were presumed to be the traces of their escape that the two lieutenants had mentioned.

Crucially, zombies in military uniforms were occasionally seen.

The direction towards Seoul Bridge, continuing past the chaotic Yeongdeungpo Rotary.

There seemed to be relatively more space.

The road above was indeed a mess, but there seemed to be just enough room for one vehicle to squeeze through. It looked like traces of a desperate push to create an escape route.

On that Seoul Bridge, no moving beings were visible until the very end.

Only the corpses of zombies, hunted down by gunfire, lay scattered everywhere.

I traced the desperate struggle for escape in reverse.

As I followed, there were fewer traces of the military than expected.

The road wasn’t as chaotic as I thought, and it seemed somehow passable by car.

‘Perhaps…?’

I turned my head and stared into the distance.

The broadcasting station building and the National Assembly Building, visible even from afar.

I understand protecting state facilities, but I hope they didn’t withdraw troops to save those higher-ups.

Rising black smoke visible beyond the massive Yeouido Park.

I tore my gaze away from the momentarily captivating destructive scene and diligently moved my feet.

Traces of destruction were evident everywhere.

The wounded streets had lost their vitality.

The ruined streets were filled with zombies instead of people.

The wails of zombies filled the streets.

Spreading in all directions to the point where it was impossible to discern where they came from.

Continuing to move along Yeouidae-ro amidst the irritating cacophony.

I found the location the lieutenants had mentioned.

‘That must be it?’

An overturned military vehicle, spewing black smoke.

Behind it, several military trucks were lined up.

There was a considerable number of fallen zombie corpses, indicating significant resistance.

Blackened indentations visible here and there seemed to be traces of explosions.

No zombies were seen moving around the fierce battleground.

‘…….’

From the rooftop of the stopped building, I calmly surveyed my surroundings.

To the left of the road where the battle took place, Yeouido Park spread out.

Traces of rushing towards the park, disregarding the road, were deeply etched on the ground, but not many had moved in that direction.

On the opposite side, where the forest of buildings stood.

Along the road, there were fragments of broken cars and bloodstains.

And on top of those traces, zombie corpses lay scattered along the road.

And traces of movement soaked in blood, strewn everywhere.

“Ugh, damn it….”

Survivors who broke through during the battle and moved towards buildings where they could hide, followed by hordes of zombies clinging to them like demons.

Following the traces with my eyes, they eventually scattered to the point of being indiscernible.

That was all I could definitively make out.

I don’t know if they were annihilated or if survivors remained.

If there was any possibility…

It would be the large corporate headquarters building in front or the department store building behind it.

Unless they blocked the entrances and defended inside those buildings.

It was a sight that made it difficult to believe they could have defended themselves while being pursued.

It was a scene I gazed at dispassionately, yet it was nothing short of horrific.

The streets were immediately filled with mangled and shattered corpses.

There were dried dark red bloodstains on the road, as if dots had been painted.

Wherever corpses were even slightly gathered, sticky pools of blood remained.

Everywhere was a feast of finely minced flesh.

The creeping stench of decay, combined with the zombies’ cries, was enough to make one’s head dizzy.

This is what a finished scene looks like.

If it had been an ongoing situation, would I have been able to endure it with a clear mind?

Even if I had endured it, the horror would undoubtedly have left a deep scar on my heart.

“The living must live.”

I feel sorry for the extinguished lives, but those who remain must live.

I stopped thinking and took action.

Thud-

I jumped down from the building rooftop and checked for any movement.

The wailing of zombies could be heard everywhere, but there was no movement nearby.

Moving quickly, I approached the stopped military trucks.

Something was heavily spilled around the overturned vehicle.

‘There it is!’

Bullets spilled onto the road.

Inside the vehicle, several boxes were strewn about, and some of their contents were visible.

‘I came to the right place. These are supplies.’

Sturdy military-green boxes, designed to be carried by two people.

Upon checking, they were full of magazines and ammunition.

I was startled to see one box filled with grenades.

‘It’s a good thing they didn’t explode….’

A cute, round, military-green exterior, but contents that were anything but.

I was simply grateful they were intact.

Going further in, something snagged under my foot.

‘Found it!’

The reason I ignored everyone’s dissuasion and forcibly came out alone.

The true nature of my hidden agenda.

It was for a gun.

It couldn’t be obtained through normal channels.

But what if it was lost property?

I don’t intend to deceive the soldiers.

It’s merely about sharing a little.

It’s not much of a replacement, but I intended to deliver the other items intact.

‘…I should only take a little.’

Just as I was about to cheer, I had to clamp my mouth shut.

The gun was firmly held by its owner, not letting go.

A soldier, crushed by boxes and killed, perhaps while protecting the supplies.

Perhaps aggrieved by his sudden death, his eyes remained open.

‘….’

I slowly knelt on one knee and carefully reached out my hand.

I gently covered his lifeless eyes, closing them.

“…May you rest in peace.”

I offered my condolences to the deceased young soldier.

Perhaps it was fortunate that he died as a human, without turning into a zombie.

I slowly lifted the firearm lying beside him.

Due to rigor mortis, the gun didn’t come out easily.

I sighed softly and took hold of the corpse’s fingers, intending to pry it loose by force.

“I’ll take this gun. In return, I will shoot and kill the zombies that caused your death, until this gun’s lifespan is over.”

I murmured softly and applied force to my hand.

Snap!

Slide-

‘?’

The soldier’s stiff hand, which had been clutching the gun tightly until just now, loosened as if by magic. I had been prepared to break his fingers if necessary to get it…

I looked at the deceased soldier’s face again.

“……I will definitely keep my promise.”

I knew it wasn’t necessary, but somehow, I felt compelled to say it.

I observed a brief moment of silence for the deceased soldier.

When I opened my eyes again, I saw something glittering.

‘Dog tag….’

A metal tag, used as soldiers’ identification, was attached.

I carefully collected it and put it in my pocket.

I thought I should at least hand this over to the lieutenants.

I slowly stood up and exhaled.

I composed my complicated emotions.

The time for the dead ends there.

Now is the time for the living.

As someone alive, I will continue this time.

To do so, I began to gather the supplies without hesitation.

I picked up every single bullet fallen on the ground, missing none.

It only took a little time to pick them up.

In the cargo bed of the vehicle that was still upright, most of the boxes were intact.

Boxes neatly arranged, though not stacked high.

There was ammunition, magazines, and grenades, but no firearms.

I first put everything I could carry into my inventory.

Some vehicles had few boxes, as if the soldiers had taken them.

I didn’t particularly feel regretful.

I wished that their original owners had put them to good use.

Finally, the last two vehicles were filled with stacked combat rations.

The boxes looked slightly different, and seeing a full stack of them made me feel full.

Hadn’t I been terribly worried about the lack of food at the school already?

In this chaos, intact food looked like gold.

With a joyful heart, I gathered all the combat rations from the two vehicles.

And then, I immediately got out of the car and looked around.

I felt sorry, but I intended to collect the rifles of the deceased soldiers.

I searched among the mixed corpses of zombies and soldiers.

I picked up over 10 guns, but only 4 of them looked intact.

The guns that were clearly damaged, I regrettably discarded.

…And I collected all the dog tags I could see.

Though there weren’t many.

I gathered the supplies faster than expected, but I couldn’t go back like this.

I couldn’t openly take things out of my inventory in front of people.

I chose the vehicle in the best condition and began to stack the supply boxes I had taken out.

I packed them in tightly, as if cramming them in as much as possible.

‘Isn’t this too little…?’

There might have been other vehicles.

However, the items I had secured immediately seemed insufficient considering the number of soldiers.

Come to think of it, there was no water in the vehicles carrying food.

Was it because they hadn’t intended to cook, or because they had to deploy in a hurry and couldn’t pack it?

If they had to fight risking their lives with insufficient supplies….

The soldiers were pitiable and it was too harsh.

I truly hoped that the higher-ups, who think highly of themselves, hadn’t withheld supplies just to save money.

Lost in thought, I completely filled one military truck.

This much was expected to be a great help for immediate survival.

Above all, the biggest gain was the guns and ammunition.

Although only 5 firearms, I had obtained powerful firepower.

With luck, I might be able to acquire more later.

Just as I was feeling that anticipation, I heard the groans of zombies.

I had been so engrossed in looting, after confirming no movement nearby, that I had temporarily forgotten. Just then, I looked up at the sky and saw the sun slowly setting.

Now I had to go back.

This time, it would take a while, but I planned to drive a vehicle.

Based on what I observed coming here, I concluded that I could make it if I carefully weaved through.

But before that.

“…I have a feeling it might fit?”

The bulky military truck somehow looked like it might fit into my inventory.

A feeling of being on the edge, so to speak.

If the inventory was a pocket, its opening was about 1.5m…

Just as I was about to test that vague thought.

Bang-!! Bang bang-!

Groooaaan-!!

Rat-a-tat-tat-tat!

“!”

Startled, I turned my gaze.

Gunfire erupting from afar.

Followed by the monstrous cries of zombies.

Consecutive sounds of firearm engagement.

‘Someone is fighting zombies!’

Without delay, I turned and ran in the direction of the sound.

Power surged through my entire body.

The sensation of my lower body bulging, where power was concentrated, was vivid.

The sound of wind tearing past my ears struck me with intense acceleration.

Gritting my teeth, I rushed towards the people who were undoubtedly in a life-or-death struggle.

‘Don’t be late!’