episode_0148

Our outing continued for four days.

Excluding the first day, our active hours were from early morning until sunset.

During that time, we scoured as many nearby places as possible.

We avoided residential areas and prioritized exploring commercial districts.

We didn’t overexert ourselves to reduce the risk of encountering too many zombies.

Though, in the current situation, is there any place that isn’t dangerous?

Nevertheless, the group didn’t hesitate to go outside.

They gritted their teeth, combining it with training to build strength for future survival.

Thanks to that, even though only a few days had passed, they were starting to get the hang of it.

Unfortunately, in comparison, there weren’t any significant gains.

More precisely, this was true from my perspective.

The group at least managed to fill the backpacks they brought.

But that was it.

Filling the cargo bed of the pickup truck we were driving around was a distant goal.

It meant that acquiring supplies was more difficult than expected.

It wasn’t just once or twice that we saw even slightly larger markets, let alone convenience stores, filled with nothing but dust.

It was a common sight for any place that might have had food, whether a restaurant or a small general store, to be completely looted.

If there was any silver lining, it was that we could at least find some clothes and cosmetics.

‘…We’re screwed.’

That was my honest feeling.

I felt that the difficulty of acquiring supplies had sharply increased.

Up until now, I had barely seen any living people while moving around.

I had only encountered zombies, so I thought everyone must have been almost wiped out.

But, as if to mock my thoughts, there were clearly survivors, and they too were struggling to survive.

We would have to compete with those survivors for limited resources.

A struggle for survival that we had to undertake even while dealing with zombies.

Thanks to this, the group’s morale briefly dipped, but they didn’t hang their heads.

They simply continued to explore silently with me.

While exploring, the group felt the reality of the situation.

“This place is a bust too.”

“Jihyeok Hyung. Haven’t we already looked through most of the nearby and noticeable places?”

“That’s right.”

“Hyung-nim. What should we do?”

At Dong-woo’s cautious question, I looked down at the map in front of me.

We had just drawn a major blank and entered a nearby real estate office to put our heads together.

We exchanged opinions while looking at the atlas and the local map on the wall.

Checking the places we had visited, it was clear at a glance that we had gone through quite a few spots centered around the shelter.

As much as the group’s experience had accumulated and become nourishment, there were no practical gains.

Looking silently at the map, I shared my thoughts.

“To find anything properly, we need to go to a large mart, or just go far away. It’ll be hard to find anything else this way.”

“Far away?”

“Yes. I think we need to at least get out of Myeonmok-dong to find anything.”

Myeonmok-dong was quiet, so perhaps because there were fewer people, it wasn’t overflowing with zombies. However, there also weren’t many commercial establishments there.

At most, there was a small cluster of something around the station?

That was roughly my impression after looking around the area.

“Will we be able to find anything by going far away?”

“It might be better than searching more in a neighborhood where there’s nothing left.”

“What about a large mart?”

“I heard there’s a D-Mart in Sangbong-dong. It might be worth checking out, but…”

According to the high schooler’s explanation from earlier, a huge D-Mart was squarely located there.

At a point when the city’s shopping districts have been completely ransacked, a large mart might not be much different.

‘It might be hard to find anything on the streets now… Should I try going to a logistics center or a factory instead?’

Setting that aside, there’s still a problem.

“Why? Is there something bothering you?”

“Inside buildings is too dangerous.”

The places we had searched until now weren’t large buildings.

We went to ordinary buildings that weren’t too big, where we could survey the inside to some extent from the outside.

The interior of a large, spacious building like a hypermarket has a completely different level of danger.

If zombies were to go wild there, the sheer numbers would be completely different.

At least, every large mart I’d entered was like that.

Of course, if it were just me, I could cut them all down.

But with the group, it would be too much.

The group had put in a lot of effort these past few days.

But they were only just getting used to guns and adapting to the field environment.

Explosive combat power couldn’t be expected from them.

Realistically and physically, immediate entry was impossible.

It was no different from a dungeon with a level restriction.

When I explained these points to the group, they nodded.

Sohee, who was listening nearby, also actively agreed with my opinion.

“Infiltrating inside a facility is a huge burden, even for trained soldiers. I think it’s best not to overexert ourselves, as Seonghan says.”

“I don’t want to overexert myself either, but…”

Hyung trailed off ambiguously.

It was unexpected for him to be so stubborn about something unnecessary.

“What’s the matter?”

“Well, the food consumption is what bothers me most.”

“Why? We still have plenty of leeway.”

“The amount we’re getting can’t keep up, can it?”

“Ah~”

I reacted indifferently, but Hyung seemed to have thought about it quite seriously. The amount of supplies we found during our exploration was insignificant compared to the amount everyone in the shelter consumed.

It seemed he had felt the bleak reality upon seeing that, and had taken it more seriously than I expected.

I let out a small laugh and reassured Hyung.

“It’s enough to get through winter, isn’t it? There’s no need to borrow trouble.”

“…That’s true, but I keep feeling anxious. I feel like I want to stock up even more.”

“Oh, that’s a desirable attitude.”

A mindset that doesn’t settle for the present but prepares for the future is highly commendable.

I’m sorry I can’t tell Hyung, but what he’s worrying about won’t happen.

In my inventory, there’s an incomparable amount of food sleeping, far more than what’s in the shelter’s storage.

If push comes to shove, I can just take it all out.

“There’s no law saying we’re doomed. Even if not now, things will work out somehow.”

At my words, Hyung playfully remarked that I was too carefree, but his expression brightened as if he had shed some of his worries.

“So, what should we do now?”

“First, let’s go near D-Mart.”

“Didn’t you say that place was dangerous?”

“We won’t go in, but we’ll look around the vicinity. Still, there might be something, right?”

At my words, the others immediately began preparing to move.

They carefully packed the map and got into the car, heading towards D-Mart.

Coincidentally, the distance wasn’t far either.

Instead of Sagajeong, we just had to go a little ways along Yongmasan-ro towards Sangbong.

This area, unlike the one below, had quite a few abandoned cars.

“Can we get through?”

“If we drive carefully, we can get through.”

“It’s fine if it gets a bit scratched, just keep going.”

We moved without obstruction, smoothly passing between wrecked cars and even driving onto the sidewalk. Incheol, who was at the wheel, was quite a skilled driver.

While heading to the mart, something suddenly caught my eye.

‘What kind of shoulder parking is this?’

Was it because there was no other parking space?

Cars were tightly packed on the shoulder, which was as much a problem as cars in the middle of the road.

And that sight continued all the way to the mart.

It made me realize once again that there were too many cars for such a small landmass.

As I expressed my mixed admiration, the pickup truck carrying us slowly arrived at its destination.

D-Mart quickly stood out, appearing as if it was flaunting its imposing presence.

Beyond the alley next to it, the unlit signs of bars and motels were visible.

Across the street, there was a multi-story commercial complex connected to a low-rise velodrome.

The surrounding buildings, which were quite old, showed no particular distinctive features.

‘…….’

It was clearly evident that it had already been looted by people, rather than being anything special.

The wide-open doors and shattered glass everywhere made it look as if there had been a riot.

D-Mart, standing tall, was quite a contrast to that.

The visible parking lot exit was blocked.

The shutter was down, and it looked like it had been blocked with something.

The first-floor windows of the building were the same.

The side facing the sidewalk had its view obscured beyond the glass, or it had been reinforced with metal plates or something similar.

The entrance was also the same.

D-Mart, with its entrance barricaded by all sorts of fixtures, was occupied by someone.

“Hyung-nim, this…”

“Looks like there are people holding out inside.”

It seemed people had put in a considerable effort by working together.

Looking around, the hoods and doors of abandoned cars were ripped off.

It was immediately clear what they had been used for.

“What should we do?”

“What else can we do? We’ll have to turn back.”

Coincidentally, the road leading to the large intersection was blocked by cars.

There was nothing specific around for us to search through either.

The exploration route ended here.

“Still, I guess there are survivors.”

Hyung’s small exclamation of admiration upon seeing the scene didn’t hold much meaning. It was just a realization that there were other survivors besides us.

I felt the same way.

It seems remarkable that they managed to fortify a building quite vulnerable to defense to that extent.

I don’t know how many are alive, but I hope they hold out well.

Incheol skillfully turned the car around and changed direction.

Just as we were about to smoothly set off again.

“Agh?!”

Incheol spotted a figure suddenly darting in front of the car and slammed on the brakes.

“H-Help me!”

In front of the car stood a young woman, holding a large belly, blocking our way.

“Huh? A pregnant woman?”

“…….”

I narrowed my eyes.

What I saw was just the woman in front of me, but that wasn’t all I sensed.

Concentrating my senses, I commanded Incheol.

“Drive.”

“Huh??”

“Drive, I said!”

CRASH!

“W-What the!”

No sooner had I finished speaking than something slammed into the windshield, cracking it.

“I-Iron, a piece of iron?”

Incheol, having identified the projectile, was startled and tried to step on the pedal.

Before that, a group of humans rushed towards the car.

Through the shattered windshield, I glimpsed people rushing in.

And I also saw something being placed on the ground.

“Stop! Don’t drive!”

At my urgent words, Incheol hastily lifted his foot.

Checking the side mirror, the rest of the group following us was also under attack.

THWACK! THWACK! CRUNCH!

The suddenly intruding assailants began smashing all the windows.

SMASH!

“Ack?!”

Just as the driver’s side window shattered, Incheol’s head was violently jerked.

And a hand suddenly thrust in, roughly grabbing Incheol by the collar.

The attack was happening rapidly.

Seeing the seasoned skill, not something done just once or twice, I didn’t hesitate.

CLICK-CLACK! BANG!

I thrust the gun past Incheol’s upper body and pulled the trigger.

Simultaneously, a sickening splat was heard as red blood splattered.

“G-Guns! These bastards have guns!”

At someone’s shout, the attack on the vehicle paused briefly.

Seizing the opportunity, I sprayed bullets across the front windshield and the passenger side, as if drawing a line.

As blood splattered, the shattered front windshield collapsed.

Through the now clear view, several humans were visible.

I sprayed bullets while pulling Incheol’s body towards me.

A quick glance showed Incheol seemed to have been hit in the head and was unconscious.

“Hyung!”

At my shout, Hyung, who was sitting in the backseat, covered Incheol with his body.

At that moment.

‘A sling?’

In front of me, I saw a man swinging a rope over his head.

That guy seemed to be the one who attacked the car window.

BANG!

The man, who had been adding rotational force, had his head burst open, and his body crumbled.

Simultaneously, I kicked open the passenger door with all my might.

THUD!

With a dull thud, a person was pushed back and fell.

Just as I stepped out of the car, I heard a sound of something cutting through the air.

THWACK!

The man who was swinging a sledgehammer had his eyes wide open.

As soon as I quickly stepped out, I pulled the sledgehammer and kicked the man away.

“Gah!”

Ignoring the man powerfully flying backward, I turned my body.

Even though I was shooting and someone was shooting from behind, the assailants didn’t stop rushing forward.

Right now, they were swinging weapons and charging at me.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

I quickly took aim and didn’t hesitate to pull the trigger.

Consecutive dull sounds of flesh bursting were heard.

Heads burst open or necks were perforated.

The parts where the bullets struck didn’t go any lower.

“Cough! Ugh…”

When one of the men, who hadn’t died instantly from a neck shot, frothed blood, the assailants stopped their charge.

There were still six of them standing in front of me.

The assailants hesitated, but I didn’t stop.

A single pull of the trigger for each direction my gun was aimed.

Five men instantly splattered blood and tumbled to the ground.

The last man was frozen, trembling, when—

CLICK!

The gun struck an empty firing pin.

“D-Die, you bastard!”

As the man, who had immediately caught on, charged forward.

THUMP! THWACK!

“?!”

I flicked my foot, flipping the sledgehammer’s handle up to grab it.

GRIP!

“W-Wait a—”

CRUNCH!

The sledgehammer, brought down with full force on the charging man, crushed his head and mangled down to his chest.

I threw the sledgehammer onto the twitching, flailing corpse and quickly replaced the magazine.

There were still about ten to fifteen assailants attacking the back car.

All the windows were shattered, and a struggle was unfolding inside.

It seemed they had run out of bullets and were resisting with brute force.

It appeared they were trying not to give them time to reload.

Had they noticed that the front had gone quiet?

Among them, some were hesitating and trying to flee.

I slowly approached, lining up the assailants in my sights.

And calmly pulled the trigger.

The fired bullets primarily dealt with the ‘bugs’ clinging to the door.

THWACK! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

At the impact-laden sounds of skulls bursting, the assailants’ gaze focused on me.

“F-F-ck! R-Ru—”

BANG! SPLATTER!

When I blew apart the head of the guy about to order a retreat, some threw down their tools and turned to run.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The assailants, fleeing for their lives, collapsed mid-stride.

At that sight, one of the remaining men, who couldn’t decide what to do, threw down what he was holding and raised both hands high.

“S-Surrender! I surrender!”

One assailant desperately shouted surrender.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

THUD!

“U-Uwaaahhh!”

“Shut up, or I’ll shoot.”

“Gasp!”

I immediately dealt with the four who hadn’t raised their hands.

“Kneel.”

THUD!

Leaving the man who had quickly knelt as if his knees would break, I turned my gaze.

A little distance from the front car, the woman who had first intervened was trembling.

I strode towards the woman.

‘…….’

I looked down at the woman trembling while clutching a roadside tree.

As expected, the pregnancy was a fake.

It seemed she had something wrapped around her belly, as it was now flat.

Seeing that her skirt was completely soaked underneath, it seemed she had wet herself.

The grimy woman, tears and snot streaming down her face, begged desperately.

“S-Save m— ACK!”

I grabbed the woman’s filthy, matted hair and roughly dragged her. She shrieked loudly about it hurting, so I slapped her cheek, which made her a bit quieter.

I threw the woman who acted as bait next to the last remaining survivor and checked on the group.

“Anyone hurt?”

“Only a slight graze.”

Sohee, who had a few scratches on her face, answered calmly.

Dong-woo and Young-cheol luckily showed no significant injuries.

“Incheol is a bit injured. Quickly…”

WHIZZ! THUD!

“Gurgle…”

With the sudden sound of something piercing, an arrow lodged itself in the neck of the woman who had acted as bait.

“Duck!”

I estimated the direction the arrow came from and reacted quickly.

BANG!

The fight wasn’t over yet.