episode_0068

Wounds received from people are healed by people.

It’s a truly moving statement.

It’s a sentence that makes listeners reflect on humanity.

My thoughts on that are…

“Wounds differ.”

Wounds heal and mend. If severe, scars remain. Sometimes, they prove fatal, taking one’s life.

Where did Representative Choi’s statement about it being ‘because of people’ apply? I didn’t know the full story, but if this man was expressing such a deep emotion, it couldn’t have been an ordinary matter.

“There’s no telling where to begin with that, is there?”

At my words, Representative Choi’s expression hardened, and he spoke in a deeply lowered voice. A faint, subtle anger, impossible to conceal, was discernible in his words. Fortunately, it wasn’t directed at me.

“I originally had an appointment with a high-ranking official, but it was suddenly canceled. So, I was on my way to see Hyuk and Shia to cheer them on when I experienced that chaos.” Representative Choi cleared his throat and briefly recounted his story. He simply followed the escaping crowd amidst the zombies rushing from all directions. Without even realizing he was escaping. Then he encountered soldiers, just when he thought he was going to die like this.

“Were those Sergeant Kang and Kang Ilbyeong?” Representative Choi nodded and continued calmly. He thought they would be safe after meeting the military, but that was short-lived. Pushed back by an incredible number of rushing zombies, they had to flee again, and people started dying once more.

“It was around that time. People gradually began to lose their reason.” “Hmm…” “Those who had relied on the soldiers began to blame them instead.”

Reason, paralyzed by fear, loses its function and begins to follow instinct. As their wild emotions sought release, the soldiers became their target. Unable to do anything, the soldiers were increasingly driven into a corner.

Listening to the explanation, I felt the soldiers were foolish. To have such power and yet be unable to control the rampaging citizens. Conversely, there were also people who were not like that.

“A few of us sided with the soldiers. We tried to persuade them to regain their reason and act calmly, but…” “As if words would work.” At my half-sarcastic remark, Representative Choi nodded heavily. It was astounding that civilians, who should have been uniting, instead made them targets for their anger. Lee Deokgyu at least had the badge of a congressman and the resources of thugs. Though the wrath of the masses can be terrifying, the situation Representative Choi experienced was merely a misdirected emotional release.

“Eventually, a conflict broke out, and in the midst of it, an incident occurred where some tried to snatch the soldiers’ guns.” “An incident? Did someone die?” “No one was injured or killed. But the sound of the accidental firing drew in the zombies.” “…So they must have died from the zombies.” “…Many people died then. And the survivors started fleeing again.”

Representative Choi’s hand trembled slightly as he lit another cigarette.

“From that point on, we were chased not only by zombies but also by people.” “??” For a moment, I didn’t understand what he meant.

“There were people rushing at us to get their hands on our guns.” “…What incredible bastards.” That there were humans targeting the soldiers’ weapons. For that moment, I couldn’t hide my astonishment. But it didn’t end there. Survivors openly demanding weapons. There were also those who demanded guns and food in exchange for hiding them. Representative Choi’s continuing story even included groups that set traps to make them encounter mutated zombies.

“Seonghan. Do you remember the convenience store where we met?” “Yes. I remember it.” I couldn’t forget it. It was the site of my monumental first encounter with a mutated zombie.

“There was a department store nearby, and people had occupied it and were holding out there. Those humans… they threw us out as bait. Knowing that there were mutated zombies.” The soldiers, who had been fleeing for several days, were promised food and rest. They did not refuse the requests of civilians asking for a little help. Among the zombies they encountered that way, there was a mutated one. And many of the soldiers who had held out until then died. Thanks to one soldier’s sacrifice, they barely managed to escape to the department store, but were instead attacked by other humans.

“Those bastards intended to throw us to the zombies from the very beginning.” “Because zombies don’t need weapons. They planned to retrieve them after everyone was dead.” Hearing it from a third-person perspective, it was such an obvious story. If I had been in that situation, I would have been suspicious from the start. I’m someone who learned firsthand from a young age that there’s no such thing as kindness without a reason. Perhaps Representative Choi, or the military commander at the time, might not have been so easily played if they had maintained a little more composure. I can only assume they couldn’t make sound judgments after overcoming a series of life-threatening situations and being in a state of shattered mental fortitude.

“The place we arrived at, fleeing from those bastards, was that convenience store. We were preparing for our last stand there…” “And then I appeared?” Hearing it like that, I understood the general flow of events. Representative Choi’s expression, as he nodded slightly in quick succession, was quite relaxed. Perhaps it was because he had vocalized the pent-up resentment in his heart. Or perhaps he held it in because I saved his life.

“After surviving all that, I met Jihyeok, and the situation there was also terrible.” “Ah… those bastards.” I can’t say it now, but not a single one of the thugs who laid hands on our group is alive. As for the civilian survivors who tried to do terrible things to Shia and Bomi, we only threatened them without resorting to physical harm. Listening to his story, I understood why Representative Choi suffered from misanthropy. This man had experienced all these things in just three or four days. A continuous series of life-threatening situations. It might seem unbelievable, but Representative Choi, suppressing his anger next to me, was the proof.

The conversation had burst out in excitement, so the content was a bit mixed up. But one thing was certain. It was truly remarkable that he didn’t go mad. ‘If it were me, I might have killed every single one of them.’ It was a survival story so brutal it made my ears tingle just listening to it.

At this point, I saw Representative Choi in a new light. This person, whom I had thought of as an inferior version of Jihyeok hyung, had an incredibly strong will. I had thought our first meeting was awkward, but it wasn’t. Representative Choi Junseong had thought things through and approached me even with his insides rotting away. He used his head and made a judgment, choosing to accompany me in a situation where it wouldn’t have been strange for him to lose his reason. I was honestly impressed. Thinking about it again, if it were me, I would have smashed everything and started over. Hyung, Shia, and the rest of our group also overcame life-threatening situations and went through tough times. But compared to Representative Choi’s experience, it was damn mild. I couldn’t say it out loud given the atmosphere, but I shouted “respect” inwardly.

Representative Choi was a person who would have survived through effective choices even without me. Seeing him spilling out his thoughts and suppressing his anger by swallowing cigarette smoke, I felt a strong sense of empathy. That’s because I had also experienced similar things multiple times on that side. Just when my mouth was itching to speak, making it hard to hold back. Representative Choi’s eyes, which had been blazing with anger, gradually softened.

“Seonghan. You believe my story… no, you sympathize with it.” “…How did you know?” “Just looking at your eyes, I get that feeling.”

Though not entirely, I was feeling a certain sense of kinship. Seeing Representative Choi notice that almost gave me goosebumps.

“Seong hyung’s perceptiveness is unusual. Should I say he has good intuition?” “…Yeah.” I couldn’t help but agree with Jihyeok hyung’s slight interjection. I wondered why this person had developed to such an extent. As I was thinking that, Representative Choi continued plainly.

“From now on, I might often have selfish thoughts. And I might have conflicts with you, Seonghan, and the others. So I wanted to tell you beforehand.” “Seong hyung…” Listening to Representative Choi’s words, I pulled out another cigarette and put it in my mouth. I deeply inhaled the smoke, exhaled it, and muttered as I spoke. “You don’t need to worry about that. I’m not that kind of good person.” “……” “And I haven’t mentioned it yet, but if you break your promise with me or stab me in the back…”

I gave Representative Choi an unflinching gaze. With a feeling of “nothing more, nothing less, just as it is.”

“You will regret drawing breath.” “Seonghan…” “I’ve informed everyone in the group about this, and it’s something we’ve all agreed upon. Remember that.” Representative Choi listened silently to my words, which sounded emotionless and brutal.

“I only take on what I can handle. Representative Choi, you just think about our group. That’s all you need to do.” “I see. Understood.” Only then did Representative Choi offer a relaxed smile. I couldn’t tell if he fully understood my words, but at least he didn’t seem likely to act in a way that would harm me or my group. Because he seemed to have properly accepted my warning, which was close to a death threat. He seemed to have sensed that my plain-spoken words were all sincere.

I couldn’t cure Representative Choi’s misanthropy and hatred. But I could ensure our relationship didn’t worsen. From now on, it was up to Representative Choi. My only concern was the reaction of the others in the group. Especially Jihyeok hyung, who, despite denying it himself, has a strong altruistic side. He is closer to the opposite disposition of me and Representative Choi, who fundamentally don’t trust humans. However, among the group members, he is someone I trust as much as Dong-woo. Although the depth of that trust is still shallow. So I decided to bring it up one more time.

“Jihyeok hyung. I didn’t just give you that handgun for no reason. There might be more situations where you’ll have to aim at people than at zombies.” “…” “Put aside your morality and prioritize our group. That’s why I entrusted it to you.”

There was a possibility that situations would arise where people would be more dangerous than zombies. I had that in mind.

“You don’t need to be as extreme as me. You’re someone who knows how to make the right decisions, so I’ll leave the judgment to you.” Jihyeok hyung, unable to answer easily, lowered his gaze. His expression showed deep thought. With just us, he didn’t try to control his expression. I was grateful that he thought of me as comfortable and good to that extent. He doesn’t seem to realize it himself, but he’s a person with a soft side. Even if not to my extent, I wish he had a bit of a selfish side. Only then could we promise a tomorrow together.

Under the clear moonlight, we listened and talked for a long time. It was a time to get to know each other better, as much as we revealed our inner thoughts. One soothed his festering insides, and the other gained deep worries. It was difficult to predict what would happen with these two people in the future. Even I, who am close to being a free spirit, don’t know what will happen next. I just want to remain in a good relationship with the group I’ve grown somewhat fond of. I want to get along well for a long time. Such simple and naive thoughts filled my mind.

I sent Hyuk and Representative Choi inside first, then pulled out another cigarette. Lighting it, I looked at the moon, clearly visible in the night sky. As if entranced by the beautiful moonlight shining down, I couldn’t take my eyes off it. I just stared blankly at the moon. I just gazed idly at the sky until late into the night. Until my restless mind calmed down.