episode_0067

Our smooth journey continued along the quiet walking path.

I subtly glanced up, and the sky was turning orange.

The autumn season had provided us convenience during the day.

Conversely, the night, which had advanced just as quickly, urged us to stop.

‘The days have gotten much shorter.’

Night was approaching, when all things rest.

My companions and I also needed to rest for tomorrow.

Of course, it didn’t matter to the zombies, who were the main reason for our suffering.

Although we had alternated between moving and resting, the sudden increase in activity would be exhausting. After all, we had been walking continuously from early morning until now.

Each of us carrying heavy loads.

If circumstances didn’t allow it, we simply wouldn’t do it.

We were in no hurry now.

‘Oh…’

I wondered if it was luck or a sign to rest.

A similar space to where we had rested at lunchtime caught my eye.

Temporary fences, printed with ‘No Entry’ signs, were set up for a long stretch, as if it were under construction.

The ground was covered in sand, and sidewalk blocks lay scattered around.

It was a bit of a mess, but it was a suitable place to spend the night.

After stopping my companions for a moment, I slowly surveyed the vicinity.

I thoroughly checked the exercise facilities, nearby trees, and public restrooms.

Perhaps because no one had touched them for a while, the areas I checked were fine.

Only the cluttered appearance of a construction site remained.

Fortunately, water came out in the restroom, and the lights turned on.

The floor was dirty with sand and dust, but there was no sign of use.

In a way, it was clean, and seemed good for avoiding the night dew.

Most importantly, there was no trace of zombies passing through.

Once safety was confirmed, I gathered my companions.

“We’ll stop here today and rest.”

“Whew…”

As I announced the end of our march, my companions collapsed onto the ground.

They all seemed quite exhausted, patting their calves and thighs.

But it was still too early to rest.

I moved immediately to take action while the sun was still quickly setting.

First, I gathered the fences and set them up in a double layer around the restroom.

Everyone who had collapsed helped with the setup.

It was like a small barricade in case zombies appeared.

At night, when visibility was limited, they might react to rattling sounds.

It was a bit crude, but once the preparations were made, we finally put down our bags.

“We’ll sleep inside. Before that, let’s wash up a bit.”

“Oh…!!”

People’s faces brightened at the mention of washing up.

The women, in particular, seemed tempted, but unfortunately, it wasn’t a full shower.

It was just wiping down with a wet towel.

Still, it was much better than sleeping while feeling sticky, and the degree to which it relieved fatigue was completely different. Perhaps satisfied with just that much, the companions hastily began preparing.

We decided to wash in shifts, separating men and women, leaving two people on watch.

In the restroom, I filled a large pot with water, put it on a portable stove, and heated it slightly.

While the water was heating, I bravely washed my hair with cold water.

Not just me, but all my companions.

We had sweated a lot, and the sticky, itchy feeling was hard to bear.

Now, when we couldn’t go to a hospital or get medicine.

Hygiene management was important.

Since water was available, everyone agreed to get clean while we could.

A full shower was impossible, for fear of catching a cold.

After soaping and washing our hands, feet, and faces, we repeatedly wiped our bodies with towels soaked in warm water.

Even doing just that, the refreshing feeling in our bodies was quite good.

By the time everyone had washed and come out, the sun had already set, and the surroundings had grown dark.

Streetlights, sparsely placed, flickered on, illuminating the walking path.

Unlike the city center overrun by zombies, these intact streetlights functioned perfectly.

My companions slightly recoiled in the darkness that had arrived in an instant.

As night fell, forgotten threats seemed to resurface.

A quiet night has the power to induce all sorts of thoughts.

At this moment, the probability of fear of zombies and death arising was higher than positive thoughts.

First, I ushered my companions into the restroom and prepared for them to rest.

For a public facility, it was needlessly spacious, allowing everyone to sit down comfortably. Rather than discomfort, my companions felt relief at the prospect of spending the night in the restroom.

“It’s clean enough.”

“Oh, it’s so cold at night! This is much better than the roadside.”

“If you fall asleep on the roadside, you’ll get a stiff neck, you know.”

A smile appeared on my face as I saw my companions cracking jokes.

It was proof that there were no trolls, at least.

We had avoided the cold night wind, but it was still too cold to just fall asleep.

It would have been nice if the restroom had a heater, but its absence was a pity.

As a temporary measure, I tried raising the indoor temperature by boiling water.

For now, even if just a little, conditions were suitable for us to relax and rest.

My companions, sitting comfortably on the floor, were quiet.

Grandma, Byeongsu, and Young-cheol were nodding off.

First, I had everyone prepare their sleeping arrangements.

Although the floor was dirty, we spread out blankets and then sleeping bags on top.

They were consumables anyway, so we could use and discard them without worry.

Seeing what I was doing, my companions followed suit and prepared their sleeping spots.

As soon as preparations were finished, my companions almost collapsed, lying down.

Seeing them, it seemed they were very tired.

‘Well, they’ve been walking all day, so….’

Although I had warned them beforehand, it was a boring and difficult journey.

The psychological burden must have been heavy, so it was natural for them to be more tired than expected.

My companions, who were physically different from me, were keeping up well.

To help my companions, who had been exhausted from the very first day, I rolled up my sleeves.

Mindful of the rapidly dropping temperature, I tried preparing warm food.

As I rummaged through my backpack, making a rustling sound, Shia quietly approached.

“If you’re preparing dinner, I can help.”

“There’s nothing much to prepare, so just rest.”

“Hmm…”

Shia’s gaze, squatting beside me and staring intently without returning to her spot, was burdensome. It truly was a menu with nothing much to prepare.

I was just tossing whatever I could get my hands on into the ramen.

It was practically an atrocity committed by trusting in the power of MSG.

“Oppa. If there’s any leftover canned tuna, add that too.”

Shia went a step further, even making requests.

“Seonghan. If there’s any ham, add that too.”

“Hyung-nim. I have cheese. Should I add this instead of eggs?

“Seonghan. How about adding a little kimchi for a spicy kick?”

“……”

As the requests piled up, so did the calories.

More than that, I worried about what kind of taste it would turn out to be.

‘Have I been feeding them too carelessly until now…?’

I wondered if I had unknowingly downgraded my companions’ palates.

Anyway, it took some time, and the noodles got soggy, but a bizarre noodle dish was born with everything everyone asked for thrown in.

Various ingredients were intertwined among the noodles, and perhaps because of the cheese, the thick soup’s color was indescribable.

‘Am I going to get cursed at even after making it?’

The sudden worry that sprang up tightened my throat and made my fingertips tingle.

I carefully distributed the meal to my companions and observed their reactions.

My worries were unfounded.

My companions exclaimed ‘Delicious!’ repeatedly, devouring it as quickly as their eyes were covered.

The quantity was considerable, but the pot was emptied in an instant.

Taking a bite belatedly, I found that the subtle, deep flavor was somehow delicious.

“No, why is this delicious?”

“What?! How can you say that after you made it?”

“…Indeed.”

Accepting Shia’s scolding, I emptied my ramen bowl completely.

Like me, everyone seemed to have enjoyed the hotchpotch-like ramen and felt their spirits lifted. When it’s cold, warm soup really hits the spot.

As our body temperatures rose and our stomachs filled, I felt a sense of ease growing in our minds.

But before I could even fully register that feeling, my companions had fallen fast asleep.

After a moment of drifting thought, I looked around and heard only their steady breathing.

My companions lay motionless in uncomfortable positions.

Even Shia, who had seemed full of energy, was fast asleep, curled up tightly.

She must have been tired herself, but she brightened the mood with her cheerful demeanor.

The playful, cheerful appearance Shia showed throughout the day was her own effort.

I really liked that commendable, hardworking aspect of her.

But Shia’s sleeping face made my thoughts feel awkward.

I chuckled at the sight of her mumbling with her lips and eating her own hair.

I gently removed the hair she was chewing on, tidied it, and turned my gaze.

The ones who hadn’t fallen asleep yet were Jihyeok hyung and CEO Choi.

“Shall we have a cigarette?”

At my quiet whisper, the two silently rose from their spots.

For the sake of our companions, who were exhausted and asleep, we quietly stepped outside.

“Whew~ it’s chilly!”

Just as hyung said, the dark outside air felt cold.

Just a few days ago, it was merely cool, but now it was already turning cold.

The three of us put cigarettes in our mouths and exhaled long plumes of smoke.

I followed the cigarette smoke as it seemed to vanish into the air.

Perhaps the clouds had moved away, as the night sky was clear and pristine.

Even though it wasn’t a full moon, the strong moonlight illuminated the night streets.

It had a different feeling from sunlight, creating a peculiar atmosphere.

“It’s a beautiful night. If not for this situation, it would have been perfect for a drink.”

“Definitely…”

“It really is.”

At CEO Choi’s words, Jihyeok hyung quietly agreed.

It was, literally, a good night.

Enough to make us crave a drink, even though we had just eaten.

Even after finishing a cigarette, I had no desire to move.

The two others seemed to feel the same, just gazing at the night sky.

Ultimately, the three of us continued to chain-smoke in silence.

Breaking the silence was CEO Choi’s compliment.

“Following Seonghan was truly a good choice, it seems.”

“Were there other options?”

“Originally, I was going to follow the soldiers.”

There wasn’t really an alternative besides the military, a recognized organization armed with firearms.

I didn’t know the full story, but CEO Choi’s original choice to meet the soldiers and prolong his life was not wrong.

I became curious why he had proposed a deal to me and chosen to follow me.

I thought that his previous high appraisal of me wasn’t the only reason.

The man before me was not that simple of a person.

I voiced these thoughts without filter.

CEO Choi lowered his gaze and remained silent for a moment.

Only after putting a cigarette in his mouth did he slowly open it.

“It’s because of the people.”

CEO Choi’s expression, which usually exuded a strong aristocratic feeling, now showed raw anger.

At the end of his gentle and polite tone, a faint killing intent even flowed.

CEO Choi, who had suddenly flared up simply because I asked out of curiosity.

My words caught in my throat from the considerable bewilderment that welled up.