episode_0085

The three women continuously gasped in admiration from the moment they entered the shelter. They remained faithful to their original mission.

“Where is the most urgent patient?”

They must have had many questions they wanted to ask, but their act of putting everything aside to first find a patient was quite impressive.

First, I sent away everyone except for myself and Bomi-ssi. The female doctor carefully examined Byeongsu-ssi, who was in the most critical condition. I didn’t know much, but the way she took various measures with the two nurses was exactly like the doctors I’d seen on TV. Serious eyes and gentle hands for the patient. After moving busily for a long time, the female doctor finally took her hands off Byeongsu-ssi’s body.

“For now, we’ve done everything we can.” “Is he okay now?”

Bomi-ssi, full of worry, questioned in response to the doctor’s calm reply. Seeing Byeongsu-ssi lying there with a pale expression, receiving an IV drip, her eyes welled up again. It seemed that if she cried any more, there would be even more patients.

“…We’ll have to monitor his progress a bit more, but if the prognosis is good, he will open his eyes.” “Is his condition very bad?”

I asked, on behalf of Bomi-ssi who was about to burst into tears. The female doctor wore a troubled expression but answered calmly.

“He’s very weakened, and although it’s faint, there are signs of shock. I don’t know how you calmed him down, but if he had been left as he was, it wouldn’t have ended well.”

The female doctor, after taking a moment to catch her breath, briefly explained. Byeongsu-ssi’s body had fallen ill due to the accumulation of various factors. Measures were taken well in response, but they were slightly insufficient. There were also parts that were more severe than expected. In other words, only the minimum definitive measures were taken for his critical condition.

“There are a few more necessary medications, but we don’t have them….”

The female doctor lowered her gaze, wearing an apologetic expression. No precise examinations, not even blood tests, can be done now, and the necessary medications are also unavailable. …It was a moment when the harsh reality pressed upon me once again.

I showed them the medicines I had randomly picked up at the pharmacy and asked if they could be used, but the female doctor and nurses shook their heads. More specialized and delicate medication was needed. In the end, Byeongsu-ssi had narrowly avoided the worst-case scenario, but his dangerous condition remained unchanged. At least, it was fortunate that my efforts today were not in vain.

‘…I can’t just leave him like this.’

If I hadn’t started at all, it would be different, but once I’ve laid hands on it, I have to see it through. There’s still a chance for Byeongsu-ssi. And finishing things halfway isn’t my style.

“Please write down what’s needed. Where can I get them?”

My unvarying tone surprised the people in the room slightly. The three newly arrived women looked quite surprised that I would be leaving again immediately. Bomi-ssi, who was beside me, was also surprised, but less so than the three women. Her worry remained unchanged, but she seemed unable to stop me.

The female doctor, quickly sensing the atmosphere, soon spoke.

“If it’s somewhere relatively close, you might be able to find them at the Red Cross Hospital.” “Is it perhaps a hospital with a large red cross sign?” “That’s right. Do you know where it is?” “I have a rough idea.” “There’s a possibility it’s in the hospital’s drug storage room, or at the pharmacy right in front of the hospital.”

A nurse, who knows when she prepared them, handed me a pen and paper. The female doctor, quickly jotting down the necessities, urged me to be careful.

“…I don’t know what your plan is, but you should be careful of all the humans you encounter outside.”

Should I say the wording was strong? The words “be careful of humans, not zombies” sounded very sensitive. And their expressions turned cold. …I had an inkling.

“Are there many guys like those men?”

The female doctor, slightly nodding, gritted her teeth with eyes full of contempt, as if she didn’t even want to speak about them. But perhaps to give me information and a warning, she began to explain in a subdued voice.

“At first, they were just local thugs.”

They were thugs who were nothing more than a nuisance in the area. But immediately after the zombie outbreak, they rapidly grew in size. It’s unknown how they did it, but they transformed into a very dangerous organization. They apparently looted as a basic practice, and had no hesitation in wielding violence. Their behavior, kidnapping people, raping women and torturing men to break them, felt alien, like creatures with their humanity excised.

“…It was as if they were toying with lives for fun….”

‘These must be the guys, right?’

The traces of chaotic murder I passed when first entering Myeonmok-dong. The feeling that I was witnessing humans being hunted wasn’t wrong. Listening quietly to the story, I posed a question.

“Do those guys also herd zombies around?” “That’s right. They often did that while riding motorcycles.”

Hearing the story, it was quite outrageous. They mainly used young people or child students. I wondered what they could possibly be thinking to do such a thing, and the female doctor gave me the answer.

“They would abandon zombies in front of resisting people and then escape.”

‘Wow… these guys are crazier than I thought.’

It’s not that I hadn’t thought about herding zombies myself. I had considered herding them to some isolated place and abandoning them, or luring them off a Han River bridge into the water. But I stopped at just thinking about it, fearing harm to places beyond my sight or to potential survivors. But in this neighborhood, there are already guys carrying out such acts. They’re even using it as a tactic to attack survivors. I couldn’t help but feel a small admiration for their crazy idea.

It seems there were also times when they failed, according to the thugs’ conversations I overheard inside the hospital. But those guys probably wouldn’t care about such minor things.

‘Because they’re already insane.’

These guys are already individuals whose humanity and moral concepts have collapsed. The more I listened to the explanation, the clearer that fact became. As I mulled over that fact, the female doctor’s words came back to me.

“Everyone remaining in the building was killed….”

Patients in the upstairs wards, or people on other floors. All of them were thrown to the street zombies as food. The female doctor, briefly recounting that time, bowed her head and shivered. The conversation paused, but I carefully asked.

“How did you all end up being left behind?”

It was a question that could sound somewhat malicious. Many people had been sacrificed, but these three were relatively safe. Though escaping harm was purely luck.

“They said they were gathering doctors.”

The answer came from the nurse who had almost been harmed. She said she overheard it from the thugs’ grumbling conversations, though she didn’t know their purpose.

“Ah, so that’s why….”

I understood why they had reacted sharply to me when I first asked if they were doctors. With doctors being dragged off like that, wouldn’t they have been suspicious? Even though I had knocked down the thugs, it was understandable for them to be wary after seeing me abruptly looking for doctors.

“…I’m sorry for the misunderstanding then. But… I was scared….”

Her bowed head and slumped shoulders looked pitiful. I wasn’t bothered at all, so I replied that it was fine and moved on. These three were about to be dragged away when they were trapped in the building due to a mistake by the guys herding zombies. And that’s when I intervened.

‘The timing was good.’

I was lucky enough to save the three women and attempt to treat Byeongsu-ssi. And I gained the possibility of a definite recovery. Having heard the general story, I nodded and put away the memo.

The gist was that those guys, who wouldn’t be adequately punished even if beaten to death, were roaming around in gangs. And that I should be careful on my way to and from the hospital. That’s about it.

‘They should be careful of me instead.’

I got up, thinking I’d make an example of at least one of them if I ran into them.

“Are you, are you going?”

The three women were restless, and Bomi-ssi hesitated.

“Don’t worry too much, and please look after my companions. Bomi-ssi, please take good care of Byeongsu-ssi as well.” “Seonghan-ssi… I…”

Bomi-ssi, on the verge of tears, couldn’t speak but was greatly apologetic.

“Hmm. In times like these, you can just say thank you.” “…Thank you. Really.”

I gently helped Bomi-ssi, who was bowing to express her gratitude, to stand up. I gave a slight nod and exited the room. My companions, looking haggard, were standing in front of the room door.

“How’s Byeongsu Oppa? Is he okay?”

Shia, who asked in a low voice, had a stiff expression. I reassured her that Byeongsu-ssi was fine and patted her shoulder. When I said we still needed to observe him, Shia bit her lip hard, and I stopped her.

“Don’t do that. You’ll tear your lip.” “……Okay.”

Seeing her listless appearance, she seemed very worried. Since Byeongsu-ssi is Shia’s manager, they must be close. It’s not unreasonable for her to be so worried.

“Seonghan. Who are these people?” “Ah. These are the doctor and nurses I brought in quickly.”

I had moved so hastily that I hadn’t even properly introduced them. Just as they were about to introduce themselves.

“Jang Teacher-nim?” “Oh my! Junseong-ssi!”

A mix of surprise and welcome flowed between President Choi and Jang Heeyeon Teacher-nim. It seemed they knew each other.

“…Junseong-ssi?” “Ah! Th-that is….” “This is someone I’m acquainted with. I never imagined I’d meet them here.”

President Choi’s body was trembling from incomplete recovery, but his expression was incredibly bright. Jang Heeyeon Teacher-nim also wore an expression mixed with welcome and relief.

“That’s good. President Choi, please introduce yourselves. I have to go out again.” “But, didn’t you just come in?” “There are still things we need. I plan to hurry and get them.” “Ah….”

At my words, President Choi couldn’t continue, and everyone’s gaze turned to me.

“Don’t worry and stay here. Get checked by these people. Dong-woo… where did he go?”

Dong-woo, who had been there just a moment ago but disappeared, soon reappeared.

“Hyung-nim. Here.” “Oh….”

As if he knew I was leaving, he brought a large-capacity backpack. At his thoughtful action, I smiled, turning up the corners of my mouth, and took the backpack.

‘He’ll probably do well in society.’

“Help the Teacher-nims and get them some food. You take care of it.” “Yep! Don’t worry!” “Heh… Alright.”

I don’t know if it’s natural, but Dong-woo has a knack for lightening a heavy atmosphere. The fact that he can make someone laugh even in this situation is proof.

“I’ll carefully observe the patients.” “I’d appreciate it.”

In the slightly revived atmosphere, I moved my steps to leave immediately.

“Seonghan-ssi. Please be careful on your way.” “Hyung-nim. See you.”

Receiving farewells from the worried President Choi and Dong-woo, who wasn’t worried about me, I walked towards the entrance.

“…Why?”

Shia, who had silently followed me to the front door, looked up at me. Why was she looking at me with such a deep gaze…?

“Do you have something to say?” “Just…” “Don’t worry, go inside and rest quietly.” “…I will. Please be careful on your way.”

Receiving a quiet farewell, I stepped outside.

“Oppa. Thank you.”

The words I heard from behind me were more pleasant than an apology. I chuckled and replied briefly.

“I’ll write it in the ledger, so show your gratitude later.” “Heh. Understood.”

After watching her gently smiling for a moment, I truly set off. I diligently moved my feet, carefully folding away the momentarily warm feeling.

‘These guys keep making me go through hell.’

As soon as I left the shelter, an annoying surge of irritation and frustration welled up. I retraced the path I had taken, running quickly through the streets. One of the most infuriating things for a person is doing something you’ve already done again. I went back along the same path I had taken with the three women and entered the hospital where I first met them. Before, there were eyes watching, but now I was alone.

I came looking for the source of my annoyance, and fortunately, those sources were crawling on the floor. It wasn’t for nothing that I had shattered their knees. The thugs started in surprise at my appearance as I opened the door and entered.

One was out from the start, with a knife stuck in his neck. The guy with the knife in his collarbone had crawled to the front of the door and was unconscious. The attempted rapist and his friend were in relatively better condition. The guys crawling on the floor with shattered knees screamed as soon as they saw me.

“You, you! What are you? How did you get here?!”

Seeing them yelling so loudly, my heart felt a little lighter. A faint smile bloomed on my face unknowingly. Though they couldn’t see it, hidden by my neck warmer. I slowly walked towards them.

As the distance narrowed, the guys flinched and cursed at me.

“Can’t you hear me?! You bastard! Who are you?!” “Me?”

These guys had been ambushed, so they hadn’t seen who I was. I paused for a moment and kindly answered their desperate question.

“The one who made you like that.” “…What?” “I had some questions, so I came back.”

At my light tone, one of them had a fit.

“Wh-what! You crazy bastard! Do you even know who we are—” “Exactly.”

The conversation was going in a good direction, so I instinctively snapped my fingers.

“I have a lot of questions. So I’ll ask, and you’ll answer. Easy, right?”

I slowly approached the thugs, who were blankly failing to understand the situation.

“What the hell….” “Let’s have a frank discussion.” “……” “If your answers aren’t satisfactory, you’re going to hurt a lot. You guys. Understand?”

Contrary to my friendly tone, the atmosphere froze over coldly.

“Alright then….” “Aaaaaaaargh!”

The conversation had now begun.