episode_0102

The feeling of returning to the shelter was similar to the feeling of coming home.

I’m not sure why spending only a few days here made me feel that way.

But the warm air and sense of relief that enveloped me the moment I opened the door and stepped inside were enough to soothe my senses, which had been sharpened by tension.

And that feeling was quite similar to how I felt returning to my small room after a grueling day of work.

A comfortable space where I could rest.

The weariness that washed over me with the thought of being safe made my body relax.

At times like this, a warm shower and then lying down in bed would guarantee a good night’s sleep.

As I walked towards my room, not thinking much, anticipating a warm shower.

Clatter!

Of all times, I ran directly into the group.

Most of them were even gathered in the living room.

Perhaps they had been drinking tea, as a cup someone was holding clattered to the floor.

“……”

“……”

“You, you… ”

“Um… good morning?”

Perhaps it was because they were surprised by my dirty appearance.

Everyone just widened their eyes and gaped.

They couldn’t speak.

At least Hyuk hyung reacted, but…

“Are you calling that a greeting?!”

He rushed over violently, and at the same time, the scolding began.

When did I leave, where did I go, why do I look like this, and so on.

Even setting aside Private Kang’s group, who had just arrived, the scolding from our own group was quite grand.

“…Are you smiling right now?”

“No, it’s not that I was trying to smile….”

I did smile a little, but I certainly didn’t mean to upset them.

In the words of the group, who swarmed around me, scolding and rebuking, there was a warm feeling.

Surprise and bewilderment, worry and care.

The various voices, carrying an inexplicable sense of hurt, seeped warmly even into my rather broken emotions.

…It’s not a bad feeling.

If I had a family who worried about me, wouldn’t it feel something like this?

It was certainly right for them to scold me for secretly going out at night, but for some reason, I felt pleased.

I merely smiled without realizing it, in the tickling, warm atmosphere.

However, the group seemed more upset than I had thought.

Especially, Grandma’s and Shia’s reactions were a bit…

“……I thought you left without a word….”

“…Huh?”

“I went to wake you up for breakfast, but there was no one in the room….”

I wondered what she meant, but then it dawned on me.

‘I said something like that before, didn’t I?’

I recalled the group looking worried, as if I might suddenly leave. I had no intention of doing so, but I must have inadvertently caused them anxiety.

Perhaps that’s why Shia’s voice was slightly choked.

Tears were welling up in her large eyes.

Seeing her like that, I felt a little flustered.

I wondered if this was something to cry about.

“No, where would I even go… *Gulp*…”

In the serious atmosphere, I instinctively shut my mouth.

I didn’t know why she was upset, but putting aside the tearful Shia.

The atmosphere from Grandma, sitting perfectly straight with an unreadable expression…

‘……’

…was terrifying.

Without realizing it, I felt a chilling shiver and my body stiffened.

I may not be perceptive, but my senses are quite developed.

Those developed senses were warning me now.

“If you run your mouth now, you’re in big trouble.”

I quietly shut my mouth.

The noisy, worried atmosphere, disguised as scolding, instantly calmed down.

It seemed everyone felt Grandma’s formidable aura, exuding an inexplicable sense of intimidation.

Taking advantage of the silence, Grandma spoke calmly.

“Seonghan, young man.”

“…Yes.”

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Ah, no. I’m perfectly fine.”

At the words “perfectly fine,” Grandma’s expression softened considerably.

With a voice as gentle as her softened expression, she spoke.

“You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”

“No. I’m hungry.”

“Hurry and wash up. I’ll set the table for you.”

“Oh… thank you.”

“Yes, yes. Hurry and get ready.”

In the hastily concluding atmosphere, I thought, ‘Oh…’ but subtly rose from my seat.

Thanks to Grandma’s unexpected shield, I overcame the crisis.

The group looked at me with expressions that said they had much more to say, but I quietly slipped into my room.

“Ah… *Tsk*…”

I hadn’t noticed, but some of the hardened blood was falling off like powder.

I quickly went into the bathroom, and before taking off my clothes, I caught sight of myself in the mirror.

‘…No wonder they were startled….’

When I took off my hat, my hair was matted with blood and grease.

When I took off my neck warmer, the streaks of blood looked grotesque.

The same went for my stripped-off body.

I was literally covered in blood from head to toe.

It was certainly enough to surprise anyone who saw me.

Since I was used to it, I started showering without much thought.

‘What should I do….’

I worried about what I should say to explain myself to the group after I washed up.

If I had been hunting zombies, it would be one thing, but I had just hunted humans, even if they were scum.

Should I tell them honestly, beat around the bush, or remain silent?

As I soaked myself in the hot water, my thoughts lingered.

‘I guess I’ve grown fond of them.’

In the past, I would have just brushed it off without a thought, but the very fact that I was agonizing over this now was proof that I didn’t take the group lightly.

It felt crazy, but chuckles escaped me.

‘A guy who slaughtered nearly 300 people overnight is agonizing over a few?’

There definitely seemed to be something broken inside me.

I had no regrets about hunting down those rampant thugs.

It was just that the guy who had unhesitatingly twisted necks at human depravity was now having human worries because of human warmth.

And in just a few hours.

Could I be considered normal like this…?

I mulled over that thought in my head.

And I simply stared blankly at the blood washing off my body, flowing endlessly.

* * *

‘Human blood….’

Dong-woo’s grandfather, Choi Deokman, immediately recognized it the moment he saw Seonghan.

And several others also noticed that fact.

They didn’t know why Seonghan went out at night or where he had been.

But they could roughly guess what had happened.

He must have killed someone, enough to bathe in human blood, not the blood of monsters from outside.

‘Seonghan… what happened?’

Choi Deokman’s mind became complex.

It was certain that Seonghan had committed murder outside.

The strong metallic smell of blood was evidence.

But Choi Deokman didn’t think Seonghan was a criminal murderer.

Because of his long life experience, he could discern things a little.

He felt no murderous intent or other dangers from Seonghan.

To humans, murder is a grave sin.

Seonghan wouldn’t have done that without reason.

It was biased, but that thought came first.

And Ms. Park Younghee thought the same.

She was greatly surprised by Seonghan, who was covered in blood.

But she was soon able to calm her startled heart.

As a couple, her thoughts were similar to her husband, Choi Deokman.

Normally, one would feel threat and fear from Seonghan’s appearance.

However, Ms. Park Younghee felt that Seonghan’s appearance was precarious, like a child left by the water.

Even if one said she was senile, she would have no retort, but that was how it appeared to her eyes.

Therefore, rather than questioning Seonghan, she comforted him and advised him to rest.

Seonghan then complied with Ms. Park Younghee’s suggestion without complaint.

Seeing that, Ms. Park Younghee realized.

That Seonghan was indeed a dangerous man, but not threatening.

That Seonghan, knowingly or unknowingly, thought well of them and treated them with respect.

That Seonghan was somehow out of sync.

‘In times like these…’

She drew upon her accumulated experience from a long life.

Ms. Park Younghee thought it best to quietly wait for him from behind rather than rashly approaching and interfering.

Therefore, she urged the group not to question Seonghan about this and that.

She didn’t know how Seonghan would think of them in the future, or if he would talk about himself.

But for now, she deemed this enough.

Above all, Seonghan was a great benefactor to the Choi family.

And the same went for the others.

Everyone here owed their lives to Seonghan.

It was an old-fashioned way of thinking, but one did not argue with a benefactor.

Though somewhat forceful, she conveyed her thoughts to the group.

“I hope you’ll trust Seonghan.”

Though her words were disorganized, everyone agreed.

Each of them might have had things they wanted to say, but they didn’t voice their disagreements openly.

Once the atmosphere was settled, Seonghan appeared, looking clean.

To Seonghan, who was devouring the prepared food, Ms. Park Younghee quietly spoke.

“Seonghan, young man.”

“Yes, Grandma.”

“If you ever leave, at least say a word. Can you do that much?”

Seonghan, who had been eating his meal with relish, paused.

And then, he calmly gave his answer to the question.

“I will do that.”

“Good. Thank you. And…”

Seonghan definitely thought well of the group.

Ms. Park Younghee, feeling that once again, felt grateful to Seonghan.

‘That’s that, and this is this.’

Ms. Park Younghee gifted Seonghan a piece of advice born from her life experience.

“You shouldn’t make women cry.”

“*Cough!*”

Seonghan, choking on his soup, looked no different from any of his peers.

The elderly couple, watching him, simultaneously smiled warmly.