episode_0155

“W-what did you say?”

“You heard me, why are you asking again?”

“Ugh!”

Her face flushed too easily, as if she had no tolerance for such rough words.

Despite her meticulous appearance, she was simple.

Seeing the corners of my mouth twitching right in front of her, she trembled, and I could almost feel a satisfying impact.

Just as I was about to press on, intending to make her cry until tears streamed down her face, Captain Lee re-entered the conversation.

“Secretary Choi-nim. That’s enough.”

“Captain-nim. This feels like a waste of time. She doesn’t seem to be listening to a word we say.”

“…Secretary Choi-nim.”

Captain Lee spoke firmly, silencing the secretary, but I was impressed.

“You know how to read people.”

“Huh?”

“She’s right. It’s a waste of time. So, why don’t you just get lost?”

“Hey! You really—”

Shielding the fuming woman behind him, Captain Lee took a step forward.

“Seonghan. I understand your distrust of us. I also understand that you harbor negative feelings.”

He spoke politely, but it seemed he didn’t understand even an ounce of it.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be babbling like this in front of me.

Usually, by this point, people would explode, but this military guy remained calm the entire time.

“Hey, military man. You’re surprisingly clingy for how you look. Why are you doing this to me, anyway?”

By now, I couldn’t help but be curious.

I wondered why they were crawling all the way here, wasting each other’s time, when they had weapons, a safe zone, and people.

As I conveyed the nuance of ‘I’m really curious!’, the military man’s eyes glinted.

He straightened his posture and spoke with a grave and serious tone.

“We need your help.”

“……”

Simple and clear words, without any embellishments.

‘…He’s serious.’

His serious gaze, the slight shift in facial muscles that clearly showed his emotions, and his unwavering breathing and posture.

The military man in front of me truly meant what he said.

If this was acting, Hyuk hyung would need to take acting lessons from this man.

I somewhat softened my hostility and met his gaze.

After a brief silence, Captain Lee continued.

“Please give me some time so I can explain calmly. I beg you.”

‘Ah, damn it…’

People held their breath at his slight bow.

A person who had been so unwavering and confident was doing this.

Towards me, a complete stranger.

I’d heard that in Japan, it’s customary to introduce yourselves even to enemies.

For a man, bending his waist to another is not easy.

Seeing him do it politely and without hesitation, my heart was slightly stirred.

As a fellow man, I sensed an atmosphere where I should at least humor him, if not be entirely polite.

I looked at the bowing Captain Lee and then sought out Director Jang.

Without turning my gaze, I quietly spoke.

“Those people were held captive by thugs for a long time. They’re very weak from hunger and exposure to violence, but there are no signs of bites.”

At my words, Director Jang adjusted his glasses and looked at the people I had rescued.

“Can you examine them?”

“No problem. Leave it to me.”

“How long will it take?”

“Hmm… detailed treatment will depend on the diagnosis, but the diagnosis itself won’t take long.”

I nodded at Director Jang’s simple yet reassuring words.

And then I immediately motioned for Captain Lee to stand up.

“Hey, military… Captain.”

“I’m Lee Kanghoon.”

“Captain Lee Kanghoon. You heard Director Jang-nim, right? Until their examination is finished. I’ll listen to you during that time.”

At my words, suggesting I would listen, Captain Lee’s face brightened.

“Director Jang-nim. Please.”

“Understood. Then. Ah…!”

Director Jang, letting out an exclamation as if he had forgotten something, subtly approached me.

“Kang Incheol is fine. His skin was just slightly torn and bled a bit, but I don’t think there will be any major problems. His loss of consciousness is due to a mild concussion, and he’ll recover quickly with plenty of rest and care.”

“……”

“The others also only have minor scratches from glass shards, and I’ve already taken care of them, so you don’t need to worry.”

“…Thank you. I will definitely repay you.”

As I expressed my gratitude with a sense of relief, Director Jang smiled gently.

“Since Seonghan says so, I won’t refuse. Hehe~”

Leaving a good-natured remark, Director Jang led the patients towards the hospital.

Only after seeing that, did I lower my gun and forcibly suppress my hostile, uncomfortable feelings.

“Haaah…”

Team Leader Daehan, who had been completely cowering in front of the gun muzzle until now, exhaled with a look on her face that was almost on the verge of tears.

But in truth, I was the one who wanted to sigh.

Because I was abandoning the easy path and actively inviting trouble.

I looked at Captain Lee, a hint of discomfort still on my face.

I pulled out a slightly crumpled cigarette from my pocket and lit it.

Captain Lee, who had been waiting silently as I puffed on my cigarette, slowly opened his mouth.

“First… I want to clear up the misunderstanding.”

“We don’t have much time.”

“Even so, shouldn’t we button it up properly?”

“…Do as you please.”

Captain Lee, giving a small nod, did not rush.

“Firstly, as Secretary Choi-nim said, we have no connection to Taesung.”

“……”

“In fact, it might be more accurate to say we’re hostile towards them. It’s an undeniable fact that our relationship is uncomfortable in many ways.”

I glanced at the meticulous woman called Secretary Choi.

“…I am Representative Pyo Sangsu-nim’s aide and secretary.”

“Congressman?”

Captain Lee continued, instead of the secretary who wore a slightly sour expression.

“That’s right. Representative Pyo-nim represents the survivors gathered at Konkuk University. Secretary Choi-nim is someone who assists the Representative-nim and us in various ways.”

“……”

“Right now, we…”

Captain Lee began to describe the situation they were facing.

Despite the limited time, he didn’t rush.

Instead, he strove to explain concisely and logically, leaving no room for misunderstanding.

Captain Lee and his followers watched us silently.

Hyung and Sohee-ssi were also quietly by my side.

Feeling the gaze of many, I quietly listened to Captain Lee’s words.

The content wasn’t surprising.

That they had somehow established a safe zone, but the situation was not favorable.

That everyone was struggling and having a hard time, but somehow summoning strength to endure.

That they had even managed to rescue citizens at a high cost of sacrifice.

But limits were rapidly approaching.

And what hastened it further was the neglect of the large corporations.

“It’s an undeniable fact that Taesung, Jincheon, and Daesan Groups provided significant assistance in constructing the shelter.”

At those words, I subtly glanced at Team Leader Daehan.

She flinched when she saw me, confirming she hadn’t lied.

“But they turned their backs in an instant. They abandoned the shelter without mercy and left. At that time, they pulled out a considerable number of people and resources, which caused…”

“All three groups…”

“Ah. Not Daesan. They are still in the shelter, working hard for us and the citizens.”

‘…That’s ambiguous.’

After hearing about their daily lives, it was clear they were different from the military bastards I’d encountered until now. I acknowledged that point.

And what he was saying now meant they had been betrayed by two of the groups.

So, naturally, they had to be in an uncomfortable relationship.

But it was different from my situation.

I had started with an unsavory relationship, not just an uncomfortable one, from the very beginning.

If Taesung ever found out about me, I wondered if they would try to kill me.

Of course, the feeling was mutual.

That’s why I had considered skinning everyone at the Konkuk University Shelter in front of me, but their position was ambiguous.

Eradicating them outright felt forced.

In this apocalypse, it wouldn’t matter if I pushed through with the logic of force.

Because an era like in the movies had begun.

Dead men tell no tales, so who would blame me?

But I didn’t particularly want to go on a hack-and-slash spree against an ambiguous opponent.

If it were a definite enemy I had to fight to the death, no words would be needed.

However, if it wasn’t, all that would remain after doing so would be emptiness, the stench of stale blood, and the sensation of slaughter ingrained in my hands.

I’d done it to my heart’s content when I was on that side.

That’s why I didn’t want to deliberately create that familiar feeling of desolation.

I gazed blankly at Captain Lee, who was speaking earnestly.

Unlike me, who started as an enemy, their relationship began as a symbiosis.

Although feelings were bad due to a unilateral breakup, it meant they might clasp hands if a hand of reconciliation was extended later.

Not now, but a potential enemy.

That was the position of Captain Lee’s group, but unexpectedly, their emotional rift seemed deep.

Especially when I heard Secretary Choi’s interjection, I understood it well.

“Every single time! All they do is interfere! Whenever they open their mouths, it’s ‘it’s difficult!’ ‘Wait!’ If that’s the case, they shouldn’t even talk!”

“Secretary Choi-nim. Please calm down…”

“They’re only big corporations in name, but their actions are like a shoddy company! A shoddy company! There are no thugs quite like them! And they talk such big talk behind your back, seriously! Do you know how much our Representative-nim suffered because of them!”

“Hmm…”

Once she got started, Secretary Choi was on the verge of losing it.

It seemed a lot had built up for her…

‘Old maid’s tantrum?’

Secretary Choi, displaying a quite similar reaction, ranted for a long time.

Still, after listening, I could feel the traces of effort she, Representative Pyo, the soldiers, and the citizens had put in. The only problem was her lack of filter.

Thanks to Captain Lee’s intervention, Secretary Choi barely managed to regain her composure.

“I-I’m sorry. I made a mistake…”

“Seonghan. Secretary Choi-nim didn’t mean anything bad by it, but…”

I raised a hand to show it was fine.

Although Secretary Choi had a tantrum, she spoke clearly enough for me to understand.

Thanks to that, I learned a little about what had happened within their group.

A shelter where over ten thousand people had gathered.

Its achievement was certainly remarkable.

But what happened inside it only made me scoff.

Undermining opponents, exploiting their weaknesses, shaking them, and neutralizing them.

Annoying backroom maneuvering to expand one’s influence.

It was presumed that this happened within the Konkuk University Shelter.

The target of the two corporations’ attacks was probably Representative Pyo.

The title of politician and citizens’ representative.

I didn’t know what kind of person he was, but he must have had considerable influence over the people; otherwise, Taesung and Jincheon wouldn’t have acted so underhandedly.

Simply put, the source of power is the people, the citizens.

To seize power within the shelter, all sorts of dirty tricks would have been rampant, but…

‘Specifically inside there?’

Corporations are organizations that pursue profit.

Corporations would never distribute resources and diminish themselves.

Whether a powerful figure or a merchant, they don’t move without profit.

Just as my thoughts were deepening, Captain Lee continued his explanation.

“Taesung and Jincheon suddenly left, but the reason was probably due to losses.”

“Losses?”

“You might not know, but the Gangnam Retake Operation was carried out. At that time, they were deeply involved and provided significant support… but it failed with immense casualties.”

Captain Lee’s expression soured as he paused his words.

Sohee-ssi, next to me, tried not to show it, but her breathing faltered.

That event, a major catastrophe, though I hadn’t witnessed it myself.

It seemed they hadn’t just deployed private organizations, but had invested quite a lot.

The enemy’s failure is my pleasure.

‘Serves them right. Those bastards.’

It was a pity for the soldiers who were sacrificed meaninglessly, but the massive failure of an enemy I couldn’t stand was a monumental event.

I kept a poker face without showing any reaction.

According to his explanation, after that, they suffered not a few failures and wasted resources during various large and small rescue operations.

And the decisive blow was the failed rescue operation in Cheongnyangni and the annihilation of the Sangbong-dong team.

Upon hearing the news, the shelter’s atmosphere grew tense, and power struggles between groups intensified.

‘Wow… CEO Choi-nim was right.’

CEO Choi-nim knew the tendencies of Taesung and Jincheon and predicted this situation.

And it actually happened.

I was impressed by CEO Choi-nim’s accurate foresight.

Indeed, business seems like something not just anyone can do.

Anyway.

Immediately after that, Taesung left the shelter without looking back, and Jincheon also pulled out as if tearing itself away.

As a bonus, they took a considerable amount of food and skilled personnel during this process.

Not a few ordinary citizens, unaware and swayed by propaganda, followed the two corporations.

The limit of endurance rapidly approached, and all members of the shelter were exhausted.

Just as everyone’s will was worn down by the bleak future, a small piece of news arrived.

“Team Leader Han-nim’s group from Daehan Security visiting alive became the turning point. How they knew about the Konkuk University Shelter and came here… we were truly surprised at first. It hadn’t even been a few days since we received the report that they had been annihilated, so we were bewildered.”

I nodded as I listened to Captain Lee, who sounded like he was recounting a heroic tale.

Then I gazed intently at the Team Leader.

Captain Lee then gave an awkward laugh and explained.

“They didn’t want to talk about Seonghan. They were quite afraid.”

“Then…?”

At Captain Lee’s subsequent explanation, I was utterly dumbfounded.

‘No way, I didn’t think they’d have cameras attached…’

I felt dizzy at the mention of them having miniature cameras attached and my image being recorded on them. I was caught completely off guard.

‘No, seriously? Did they also film me hammering?’

A slight chill ran down my spine.

Hyung and Sohee-ssi are next to me.

I’m about to be branded a hammer murderer in front of these people.

My companions know I fight well against zombies.

But they don’t really know how cruelly I’ve acted against people.

It’s possible they know but are keeping quiet, but…

With this sudden major pinch, I felt a drop of cold sweat trickle down my back.

Just as I was seriously considering leaving and quietly disappearing, Captain Lee quickly continued.

“Seonghan. We’ve confirmed that you possess abilities beyond ordinary people.”

“The camera was malfunctioning…”

“A few experts with relevant technical skills analyzed the footage.”

At Captain Lee’s words, I shut my mouth.

“And coming here, we were able to confirm it once again.”

“?”

At my puzzled reaction, Captain Lee gave a faint smile.

And he pointed his finger to the side.

“Daehan Security’s Team 2, who visited this place, are literally Taesung’s direct subordinates, or to put it simply, their pawns.”

“And?”

“Those vehicles they left behind have separate recording cameras in addition to dash cams.”

“…What?”

I was flustered again at the mention of cameras.

To me, speechless, Captain Lee showed a tablet he had received from behind him.

“Even after watching the video at the shelter, it was hard to believe, but we wanted to believe. And coming here, we could be certain. That your abilities are real.”

Letting Captain Lee’s words wash over me, I focused on the tablet screen in my hand.

On the slightly worn tablet, several videos were prepared.

A quick glance showed some I recognized and some I didn’t.

One of them was a short scene of me smashing zombies at Home Plus next to the goshiwon, right at the very beginning.

The other one contained a partial scene of me defending against zombies right here.

“……”

An awkward silence fell as I looked down at the tablet.

And it was Captain Lee’s words that broke that silence.

“Seonghan. As one of the surviving soldiers. As one of the surviving people, I ask you.”

Captain Lee bowed once more.

“For the sake of countless people, please lend us your strength.”

Words of a grave, serious, and desperate plea.

Listening to Captain Lee’s sincere and frank words, I thought.

‘Should I kill them all?’

The murderous intent that surged up in an instant.

Kill them all and make everything that happened today disappear.

I seriously began to consider whether to choose annihilation.