episode_0144

There are three things one should never delve into with a woman.

Her age, her weight, and her past.

They say it is the virtue of a gentleman to pretend not to know, even if you do.

That was life advice from an old man who could make Casanova blush.

Though in a different direction, I nearly touched on one of those subjects just now.

*Thump!*

If this situation were a sitcom, that sound effect might have played.

Right now, the women’s gazes are fixed on me.

Even Grandfather paused with his raised drinking cup.

I instinctively knew.

Though completely unintended and sudden, I had to choose my words carefully.

In this brief moment, even I felt a chill run down my spine.

“No. You haven’t gained weight.”

It felt perfectly natural.

“…Really?”

“You look just right. So put your arm down.”

“……”

“If it really bothers you, why don’t you exercise? Want to do it together?”

At my blunt words, Shia pouted her lips.

I wanted to tug on those soft, duck-like lips that had suddenly created a crisis, but I held back.

Fortunately, the women averted their gazes from me, and Grandfather, as if nothing had happened, continued to drink.

‘I’m not even dating her, why am I doing this…’

I felt a little unjustly accused, but the child was kind, so I let it slide.

I took the opportunity to turn my gaze to hyung, whose conversation had momentarily stopped.

“Hyung, why don’t you do some exercise?”

“Huh? Me?”

“Dong-woo and Incheol too.”

“Eh? Me too, hyung-nim?”

“At the very least, I wish all the men would exercise a bit.”

At my sudden mention of exercise, everyone’s attention refocused.

I finished my drink and set the glass down.

“I’d like everyone to exercise for the sake of health and physical fitness.”

“Well, if you put it that way…”

“And… from now on, I’m thinking of going out as a team.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, I am.”

I answered hyung cleanly as he asked, slightly surprised.

Everyone else was just as surprised.

It wasn’t unreasonable for hyung to react that way, as I had insisted on going alone until now.

But I’ve changed my mind a bit.

Yesterday, watching the market survivors get robbed, I thought.

Let’s prepare enough for us to protect ourselves.

I can’t always be with our group.

Something might happen while I’m briefly away.

Self-defense? It sounds good.

But it’s not a problem that ends by simply handing them a weapon.

If there’s no preparation, they can’t overcome the approaching crisis.

‘They need to get tough.’

Getting tough makes you stronger, and real-world experience fosters growth.

I want to boost the physical abilities of our group.

That’s why I brought this up.

While Yongma Shelter, where we are, isn’t easy to find, there’s no guarantee it won’t be noticed in the future. More importantly, the Daehan Team Leader might know about the shelter’s existence.

His gaze towards the shelter from Yongma Intersection still bothers me.

A small regret lingers, wondering if I should have silenced him.

…It’s already in the past.

For now, I’ll focus on our family.

Thinking it was good timing, I briefly recounted what happened yesterday.

From the events at Sagajeong, through Sangbong-dong.

All the way to the shelter being established at Konkuk University.

The explanation wasn’t long, and everyone listened intently to my story.

Then, each of them seemed lost in thought, not easily opening their mouths.

The silence was broken by Chairman Choi’s question.

“What was the atmosphere like at Konkuk University Shelter?”

“I didn’t go inside, so I don’t know for sure, but I could tell they were quite prepared for defense. There also seemed to be a considerable number of survivors.”

I described what I had seen with my own eyes at the time.

A solid defensive line, visible firearms, and even a tent village believed to be for survivors.

After hearing my story, Chairman Choi’s expression hardened slightly.

He seemed to ponder for a moment before seriously voicing his thoughts.

“The situation doesn’t look good. Saving the citizens is a commendable act, but it will be overwhelming to care for all of them.”

“Sleeping arrangements will be a problem, and food will be scarce. Everything will be lacking.”

Chairman Choi and Grandfather chimed in, as if something struck them.

Grandfather, in particular, spoke from experience, and it sounded quite plausible.

“I can’t guarantee it, but listen. Making people sleep in tents or makeshift shelters in this bitter cold is proof of harsh conditions. It means they weren’t prepared. They’ll surely be short on water and medicine. I know it well from experience.”

“The elder’s words are likely correct. A crisis encountered without preparation will expose various problems. Their situation will certainly not be easy.”

I shared the same opinion on this point.

“I heard that Taesung, Jincheon, and Daesan Group joined forces.”

“You heard that from the man who called himself the Team Leader, correct?”

Chairman Choi stroked his chin after seeing me nod slightly in affirmation.

“It’ll probably be a superficial effort [a proverb about doing something in a shallow or incomplete way].”

“…?”

“Leaving aside their status as conglomerates, the chairmen of Taesung and Jincheon are unusually greedy individuals. They aren’t top-tier business groups for nothing. They are, in essence, lumps of pure desire. They would go through fire and water for profit… but the very idea of those two joining forces is impossible.”

Chairman Choi’s words were unwavering, as if he was stating a definitive truth.

As if…

“You’ve experienced it?”

“Indirectly, yes. There is no concept of ‘cooperation’ between Taesung and Jincheon. Unless they’re tearing at each other’s throats. Even if they formed an alliance, it wouldn’t last long.”

“Hmm…”

“Unless there’s something to mediate or coordinate between those two, Konkuk University Shelter won’t last long.”

While there were things I didn’t know, seeing Chairman Choi infer the situation based on human tendencies and experience showed that he was certainly no ordinary man.

According to Chairman Choi, their collapse seemed like a matter of time.

It didn’t seem like a good synergy would emerge from rotten things that were different on the inside and out.

“Hyung-nim, what are you planning to do?”

Incheol, who had been listening quietly, asked.

So I told him my thoughts without holding back.

“I’m not really planning to do anything.”

“Huh?”

“It has nothing to do with them and us.”

“That’s… true, I guess?”

“Just keeping myself safe is already tough. I don’t have time to worry about them.”

“Hmm.”

I looked around at the serious faces and said,

“There’s no special meaning behind me bringing this up. I just wanted to let you know about the situation outside. Although it’s safe here, there might be other opinions. I have no intention whatsoever of keeping you all confined.”

At my words, everyone blinked.

“I… I haven’t really thought about that.”

“That’s right. The meals are good, it’s warm and comfortable… we have no complaints.”

Starting with Bomi-ssi, who spoke hesitantly, everyone began to offer their own thoughts.

The kitchen instantly became noisy.

I gently raised my hand to calm everyone down.

“If so, that’s a relief. My thought is that to maintain this lifestyle in the future, we must work together. That’s why I brought this up.”

“Working together, does that mean going out for outdoor activities together?”

Hyung, who interjected calmly, was close to the point.

“That too, but it’s more about preparing yourselves so you can protect yourselves.”

“Is it because of what happened at the market?”

I nodded heavily at hyung’s accurate observation.

“I can’t always be with you, after all.”

At my words, everyone’s eyes widened.

“Ah… I don’t mean going somewhere, but when I’m briefly away.”

“Ah, I see~”

Unlike before, now that I had weapons like guns in hand, I considered it a fully viable preparation. Highlighting this, I suggested being somewhat prepared in terms of combat.

Exercise was also a topic brought up as part of that.

Of course, if I were involved, it wouldn’t be mere exercise but training.

Everyone except me showed a thoughtful reaction.

The fortunate thing was that there was no opposition or grumbling whatsoever.

Perhaps because of their own experiences, they had no aversion to the notion of protecting themselves.

“I’m in favor. Just tell me what to do.”

The first to express willingness to cooperate was Lee Sohee-ssi.

Following her, Incheol expressed his intent, and everyone, without exception, eagerly vied to say they would lend their strength.

A unanimous agreement was reached in the heated atmosphere.

“Haha~ This is quite something. This feeling of my blood boiling is rather good.”

“Hmm! It makes me feel like I need to do something, too.”

Chairman Choi and the aged Grandfather also seemed ready to lend a hand.

It was as if they had caught the momentum, so to speak.

The aspect of protecting themselves seemed to have ignited their motivation.

It was understandable, given that they had all suffered a lot and struggled because of people.

In particular, Lee Sohee-ssi and Incheol, who had been badly burned by the military organization and Taesung’s conduct, were no exception. It almost felt as if twin flames had ignited in their eyes.

Though unspoken, their hostility was openly apparent.

“Seonghan-ssi.”

“Yes, Lee Sohee-ssi.”

“Please just call me Sohee. I’m three years younger than you.”

“Hmm. Yes, Sohee-ssi.”

“If you ever come into contact with the Konkuk University faction, what will you do?”

“If they don’t provoke us first, I have no intention of bothering them.”

Though hostile towards Taesung, they weren’t the direct cause.

Besides, it was a personal matter that involved me.

It was just a slight, unlucky entanglement each time I passed by.

As long as they didn’t openly provoke us or bother our group.

Being covered in zombie blood was enough.

Sohee-ssi burned with hostility, but she seemed to have some sense and didn’t take an aggressively hostile stance. She merely hinted at her discomfort.

“What if they ask us for help?”

“Would they ever do that to us? By numbers and scale, they’re in a different league.”

“They might forcibly demand supplies or request us to join them.”

“Then they’ll get beaten.”

*Pfft!* “Oh, I’m sorry.”

Thanks to Incheol, who let out a snort at my resolute words, everyone chuckled.

I also smiled and said,

“Who knows? If they come and beg us, kneeling and bowing their heads to the ground, maybe I’d consider it?”

*Hehe.* “That’ll never happen.”

“You think so too, Sohee-ssi? We just need to take care of ourselves.”

At my words, everyone laughed, looking incredulous.

Sohee-ssi, who had initiated the conversation, also snorted, as if dumbfounded.

She showed her acceptance, hiding her hostility.

‘They say if a woman holds a grudge, frost falls even in May or June [a proverb about the powerful and lasting nature of a woman’s resentment].’

Sohee-ssi, who was laughing now, wasn’t truly laughing.

The emotion hidden behind her natural smile was clearly palpable.

It was truly fortunate that this deep-seated resentment wasn’t directed at me.

We continued our conversation in a slightly changed atmosphere, discussing various things.

Everyone was motivated, so diverse opinions were exchanged, and the discussion concluded on a good note.

And that day, we spent our time leisurely relaxing.

After that, we filled our days with time spent getting used to working together.

It was a relatively smooth period.

However…

It wasn’t long before I would deeply regret the words I spoke that day.