episode_0038

” What? ”

What are you trying to do now? Are you trying to start a fight?

When my expression turned grim, the boy said in confusion.

” Sorry! I misspoke! Forget it! ”

” ….tsk. ”

I feel a little bad. No matter how young you are, it’s rude to say something like that to someone you just met.

” Think before you speak. And why did you think I was a monster? ”

Let me explain why.

” That’s… I read it in a book… It said that people with white hair and red eyes are vampires… And among the things that adults say, they’re mutants… They say that there are things that look like people but aren’t… There was also something like that… ”

Well, that’s absolutely true.

It is completely true that I crave human flesh and suck blood.

But it’s a bit awkward to say here, “Yeah, I’m a vampire.”

” Isn’t that a novel? And you’re saying that I’m not like that person? ”

” Oh, no.. that’s not it.. sorry.. ”

I turned my head and made a gesture indicating that I didn’t want to talk anymore.

The boy fidgeted, but I ignored him.

After a while, a woman came holding some candy.

” Sorry~, I’m a little late, right? I was busy helping my husband, but my feet were tied up. The water is almost full, so I can get it later, but can you drag it by yourself? If it’s hard, tell my husband. ”

” Oh, don’t worry about it, there’s a way. ”

” Really? Okay. By the way, how have you been with my kid? He’s shy and has trouble talking to strangers. ”

” Yes. Well, nothing really happened. Oh, I’ll go out first. ”

” Okay. Here, take the candy. ”

As I came out into the yard with the candy, Mr. Deokjae waved his hand and called me.

” Okay! It’s all over. You said this is the village chief’s house, right? I’ll take you there. ”

” Yes? This is heavy. It’s over 100kg. ”

” Then how are you going to carry this heavy thing? Carrying an empty can might be okay, but carrying a full can like this won’t be easy. ”

” Oh, it’s okay. ”

I put my body on the cart handle and started moving.

The cart moved without much resistance.

” Oh, could you open the door? ”

” Huh? Oh, okay. Got it. ”

Mr. Deokjae opened the gate for me, and I walked through it and started toward my grandfather’s house.

I could hear Mr. Deokjae muttering from behind.

” … That thing must weigh 150kg, and a child is pulling it by himself…? ”

############

I arrived at my grandfather’s yard and put the water tank down.

I went into the room where Seohee was sleeping and she was really sleeping soundly.

I asked my grandfather where he put his laundry, and then I took the used towels from the laundry. Then I went to the bathroom and got a bucket, filled it with water from the water tank, and took it to the bedroom.

I wiped Seohee’s face, which was covered in sweat and dirt, with a wet towel.

” Ugh… ”

” Hey, stay still. ”

For a moment, I thought I should wash my body too, but then I decided that it wasn’t right.

It was weird to wash the body of a woman I had just met, and what on earth was it like to wash a 20-something woman who looked like she was 8 years old.

I roughly washed my face, neck, hands, arms, legs, and feet in that order and then went out to drain the water.

The water was a mixture of light brown and light gray. I don’t know what color it is.

I sprinkled some on a corner of the yard, drew some more water from the water tank, washed the towels, and hung them on an outdoor drying rack or something like a clothesline.

Oh, come to think of it, I should wash too.

I quickly lifted the 80L water tank and took it into the bathroom.

It felt a little bigger than a drum can, so it wasn’t too difficult to get through the threshold.

As the car filled with water and went in to wash up, a loud bell began to ring.

Ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding

As I was getting annoyed by the bell that kept ringing loudly and nonstop, I heard a knock.

” Little miss, are you washing up? Something must have happened. ”

” No, I haven’t washed yet. I’ll go out now. ”

When I came out of the bathroom, the sound got louder.

” What does this mean? ”

” It’s called an emergency bell. Judging by the fact that it keeps ringing, I wonder if it’s meant to gather the townspeople. ”

” Then I’ll go out too. What about Grandpa? ”

” I am the village chief, so I have to go out and see. ”

” Then can I come with you? ”

The sergeant who came down from upstairs came up next to us and asked.

” No. Sergeant, watch over Seohee. She can’t move right now. ”

” Yes. Then I will do that. ”

” Let’s go, Grandpa. ”

I walked towards the place where the bell was ringing, carrying my grandfather.

############

” I know everything that’s here! Get out now!! ”

Outside the barrier of fences and abandoned cars, a loud voice echoed.

” That bitch killed our comrades! She took the women too! She must be in this town! Come out now! Or I’ll come right in!! ”

They were the robbers who had taken over the mart and the main force that had gone out to search it.

There were about 50 people, all armed with guns.

The village guard had already spotted the robbers with his binoculars before they approached.

The townspeople gathered in one place at the moment when the robber shouted those words, as the bell had already rung.

The number of villagers gathered here was about 80.

And there were also military supplies that Dacheon had brought.

However, the situation was not very good.

People who do not come to this place are those who are sick, old, or young.

And of those who came to this place, 40% were women of various ages, and of the remaining 60%, only about 60% had experience handling firearms.

In other words, there are roughly less than 30 people who know how to fight properly.

The opponents are robbers who have handled guns many times and treat the weak as toys, shooting them to death or playing with them before killing them.

How many of the people in town who have experience handling firearms are capable of killing a person?

These factors made people listen to those words of low intensity.

If you’re going to fight an opponent and someone dies, wouldn’t it be better to give them what they want?

” You hesitate because you don’t know who it is! It’s the one with white hair and red eyes!! You’re a young punk! Bring me out right now!! ”

People’s eyes were fixed on Dacheon, who was standing next to the village chief who had come to this place.

Dacheon opened his mouth while receiving that gaze.

” What. ”

” Is it true that you messed with the robbers? ”

” Well, maybe I’m just talking nonsense after drinking. ”

” You gathered all like that for that nonsense? ”

Until just now, a man in his 20s had been saying that, and this time, a woman who looked to be in her 40s or 50s approached and spoke.

” You negotiate. You’re the cause. ”

” You want me to go out alone? ”

” Then. For the safety of the village. Get out. ”

” You know exactly how that robber is going to treat me, right? ”

” Isn’t this for many people? ”

When I stared blankly into the eyes of the woman without saying a word, she avoided eye contact.

While I was doing that, I heard people shouting one by one from the side.

” Get out! ”

” Because of you, we’re in danger too!! ”

” If my family dies, you’ll take responsibility?! ”

” If you have a conscience, get out! ”

Then he started reaching out his hand towards me.

Several people grabbed my arms and started dragging me towards the exit.

I saw the village chief while I was being dragged away.

The village chief had been trying to persuade others for some time, but no one listened.

The fire burning in the crowd is not going to be easily quenched even if someone pours water on it.

While being dragged away, I saw the three men I had met when I first entered the village.

They met my eyes and looked pained.

Even if they think it’s not true, they must be scared of fighting with guns.

I understand. Who would like to go to war, and who wouldn’t be afraid of it?

Mr. Deokjae and his wife, who had stopped by to get water, did nothing about my leaving.

I couldn’t see where Jaha went. I guess she’s still at home.

Tiri wasn’t there, but Tiri’s parents were there, trying to come towards me, but the other villagers were holding them back.

It seems that he was caught because he protested against the benefactor who saved his child being dragged to the gallows.

The fenced door leading to the exit opened and pushed me in.

Then he locked the door.

That probably doesn’t mean much.

” Hahaha! You’re finally out! You monster bitch! ”

Looking at the person shouting, it was the robber I missed last time. I should have finished him off for sure.

I said as I walked towards the man.

” You came all the way to my residence so petty. Are you that upset? ”

” Stop right there! ”

The man aimed his gun at me and shouted to keep me from approaching.

As expected, those with experience are different. You can see that the people behind them also grab their guns right away.

I said, raising both hands.

” What are you so scared of? I have nothing. ”

I left most of the weapons I used at home. I couldn’t help it. I didn’t think they would come this quickly.

I’m really unlucky in many ways.

” I saw you kill your comrade with your bare hands. ”

Oh, I saw that too. Or maybe I showed it to you? I don’t know. I enjoyed it so much that I don’t remember the details.

” Was it so? ”

” Don’t be so stubborn! ”

Bang! Bam!

A bullet hit my shoulder. Pain shot through me.

It was annoying that my sense of taste was dying but the pain was so definite.

” Hey.. shit.. Why are you shooting all of a sudden.. where are you.. ”

My voice shook with pain. As I sat down, wrapping my arms around his shoulders, several people came over and aimed their guns at him.

” That’s not something you should hear from a monster who killed countless of your comrades. Now die. ”

Taang! Ta-tang! Bang! Toodoodoodo!

The eight people who approached started shooting at the same time.

They were firing nonstop as if their goal was to completely erase me from this world.

A crazy pain came rushing in, and at some point my senses became dull.

It feels like even the nerves that should feel pain are being torn apart.

My body had already collapsed and was still being shot by bullets.

Dozens… hundreds… I don’t know how many times I got hit.

Even though there were countless bullets lodged in my head, my thoughts continued without any problems.

Last time I got shot in the head, I couldn’t think clearly.

After a while the shooting stopped.

Right now I can’t even move and I can’t feel anything. But I guess my hearing is still alive.

” Withdraw. Return to the mart. ”

Among them, the leader who tried to raise me said that.

Ha, I guess they thought I was dead. Well, anyone who saw me now would know that.

As the robbers left, the fence gate opened.

It was a footstep that seemed difficult. Then, he collapsed down in front of me and spoke while sobbing.

” I’m sorry.. The little girl is the village’s benefactor.. But because I’m lacking.. Because this old man is lacking… Really.. I’m sorry.. ”

My grandfather hugged me, who was a rag. His voice was shaking, so I could tell he was shedding tears.

My grandfather’s body must have been covered in all the blood and internal organs from my body, but he didn’t seem to care.

I… don’t know. I don’t know why I’m so sad.

He is a stranger whom I have only recently met. He is someone who can be either there or not.

I just did whatever I felt like doing, so I don’t deserve any sincere gratitude or sorrow.

It was just a consequence of what happened. It didn’t matter if there were no survivors in the mart, and the weapons were just brought because they were visible.

I am just a stranger who has come and gone, a person passing through.

But why are you so sad?

I don’t know.