episode_0158

His tastes, and the way he got fired up in unexpected areas, made his personality unpredictable.

Yet, it was ironic how he actually felt more reliable.

After calming his excitement and regaining composure, he returned to his usual composed middle-aged man, but now, I suspected this appearance was just a pretense.

Noticing my suspicious gaze, CEO Choi let out an unnecessary cough.

“Ahem! I got a little too excited.”

“…No.”

Unlike me, who couldn’t hide my reluctance, Jihyeok hyung waved his hand at CEO Choi, as if to say he couldn’t be stopped.

“Junseong hyung-nim often gets like that when he’s really into something or gets motivated.”

“Ohh…”

“You’ll get used to it over time.”

“Hyuk. If you say it like that, I sound like a strange person.”

Everyone chuckled at his complaint, laced with a hint of laughter, asking them to consider his image.

CEO Choi had always exuded an air of nobility and a strong sense of a gentleman.

Everyone cheerfully accepted this different atmosphere from his usual demeanor.

Thanks to this, the tense atmosphere was able to soften a bit.

Once the atmosphere had somewhat settled, I subtly asked CEO Choi.

“If we proceed, what should we demand from those people?”

My interest lay here.

To move people, a price is usually required.

In a normal situation, I would have demanded an insane sum, but now, money had lost its meaning.

Food and daily necessities were sufficient.

Didn’t Captain Lee and Secretary Choi also look surprised when they saw me and my companions?

At this point, we must be in the top 10% in terms of food, clothing, and shelter.

We have few weapons, but we have spares, and enough bullets to last for a while.

In other words, my companions and I are in a position where we have nothing to lose.

At my question, imbued with these thoughts, CEO Choi stroked his chin.

“How about this?”

“??”

Leaning forward, CEO Choi articulately began to recite his thoughts.

‘…He wasn’t waiting for this, was he?’

The more I listened to CEO Choi’s explanation, the more I thought this.

For an idea conceived on the spot, it wasn’t bad at all.

It was simple and straightforward.

I showed my agreement by nodding.

Instead, the hyung next to me raised a question.

“…It’s good, but will they accept it? This is a bit…”

“Too much, you think?”

“Yes, Junseong hyung-nim. I was next to Seonghan when he was talking. They say that side is in quite a difficult situation. They have many people. Just by looking, it doesn’t seem like they’ll easily agree.”

“That’s why we need to push harder.”

“……”

“This isn’t me being greedy.”

Smiling widely, CEO Choi sipped his refilled tea, like…

‘…A villain.’

Even if not a complete villain, it was definitely that feeling, somewhere between a shrewd businessman and a ruthless one.

A warning bell rang, telling me not to have CEO Choi as an enemy or a negotiating partner.

CEO Choi turned his gaze from Hyuk, who was shaking his head in disbelief, to me.

“Hyuk still has a long way to go to be a businessman.”

“…Is that so?”

“Does Seonghan-ssi also think it’s excessive?”

“I don’t know about that, but I don’t think they’ll agree easily. They might flip the table and leave…”

CEO Choi gave an additional explanation to my words.

“Even if we proposed a reasonable limit, they would try to cut it down anyway.”

“…Hmm. So you intend to negotiate.”

“That’s right. We’ll give them some leeway while trying to extract everything up to the absolute limit. If we have no intention of ever seeing them again, we could go for broke, but…”

“Do you think we should maintain relations with them, CEO Choi?”

CEO Choi drew a deep smile on his lips.

“Humans are creatures who cannot live alone. And I am one of those who optimistically believe things will get better in the future.”

“……”

“If we think about the future, we need to forge friendly relationships. I believe the people at Konkuk University Shelter are worth it, but ultimately, we’ll have to meet them face-to-face to know for sure.”

“So…?”

“…Whatever it is, Seonghan-ssi will be putting himself at risk. I’ve judged it necessary to confirm if they are a target worth Seonghan-ssi taking that risk for.”

His tone was calm, but the cold meaning embedded in his words was palpable.

Seeing CEO Choi, who was utterly serious, naturally inspired admiration.

His unfiltered words, spoken for my sake.

…They felt a little awkward and thankful.

I scratched my temple unnecessarily.

“If Seonghan-ssi negotiated with them alone, I don’t think they would have refused, pretending they couldn’t win. That’s why I think I need to step forward.”

I felt a slight surge of emotion.

This means I’m a pushover…

“…Aren’t you seeing me as too soft?”

“Isn’t there a bit of that side to you?”

“Ha! Me?”

Hyuk interjected at my dumbfounded reaction.

“Heh. Seonghan. Anyway, just leave the behind-the-scenes stuff to Junseong hyung.”

“……”

I glared at Hyuk, who was faintly trying to suppress his laughter, with cold, disappointed eyes.

The atmosphere had gone from good to bad.

In response, genuine laughter erupted in the reception room.

I couldn’t quite follow where everyone else found the humor, but in the end, I also laughed weakly.

After a brief moment of laughter, the atmosphere naturally shifted towards parting ways. It was almost mealtime, so Grandma and the women headed to the kitchen.

Meanwhile, CEO Choi, the remaining companions, and I stayed put.

It mostly turned into a session where CEO Choi briefed us, but everyone listened intently to the discussion.

I didn’t know for sure, but they seemed to consider the matter important.

This was especially evident in CEO Choi.

As I listened to his rational opinions, I vaguely understood.

‘…Reconstruction, perhaps.’

CEO Choi wanted to guide this meeting in a positive direction.

Even I, listening quietly, found myself hoping it would truly turn out that way.

‘Do the people at Konkuk University Shelter think the same?’

A businessman from the entertainment industry, completely unrelated, worries so much about the future.

If all politicians and corporate executives were like CEO Choi, wouldn’t our country have developed quite a lot?

‘I’d be happy if I were even half as good as this person.’

I placed a vague hope in CEO Choi, who was seriously and enthusiastically racking his brains.

I sincerely hoped the people I would soon meet would be decent humans.

***

“Ugh~ I only closed my eyes for a moment, but it’s already morning…”

I squirmed in bed.

I deeply regretted the sleep time that had been so meaninglessly erased.

To wake myself up, I sat on the edge of the bed and zoned out for a moment.

Grrrrrumble-

“……”

I don’t know why people have to eat three meals a day.

On top of that, I wonder if a gluttonous demon had attached itself to my stomach.

Normally it’s less, but on days I exert myself, I invariably have to eat 5 to 8 servings of food alone. Otherwise, even if I eat, it feels like I haven’t.

One meal costs almost 30 servings of food just because of me.

People work to eat, and eat to work.

Therefore, I must work.

As soon as I recognized this fact, my body, which had been clinging to the bed, reacted.

More than three months had passed since the zombie outbreak, but this body couldn’t shake off its working-class diligence.

I naturally got up and stretched.

‘……’

Yesterday, the conversation had lasted for quite a long time.

Even after finishing dinner, the discussion continued with a few people until late into the night.

Thanks to this, CEO Choi, brimming with enthusiasm, said he had a rough plan and would refine the details today.

Watching CEO Choi, various thoughts came to mind.

I had only thought of solving things with force or ending them quickly.

If things went wrong, I’d just sweep everything away.

It’s also because I’m a straightforward, no-nonsense type.

The time and experience accumulated throughout my life, both in Korea and in that other place.

These things had shaped my current disposition.

I don’t think my current self is wrong.

It was just a small realization that CEO Choi’s way wasn’t entirely bad either.

And the big part was that it seemed interesting.

While I lived by pushing through each day, CEO Choi seemed to find satisfaction in building towards the future.

Although his method was similar to that of nobles, merchants, or high-ranking officials I had encountered before, which felt a bit distasteful, CEO Choi’s direction was good.

And CEO Choi hadn’t just painted a picture of a “flower bed.”

“Our plan is this, but if the other side isn’t amenable, we’ll have to overturn it.”

“…Overturn it?”

“If we end up helping them, we plan to extract everything we can, with the intention of seeing it to the very end.”

“Oh…”

“If they cross the line…”

“…Then what?”

“They’ll suffer immensely.”

“……”

“Wouldn’t they regret ever making an enemy of us so terribly? Hah!”

CEO Choi’s cunning at the end was extraordinary.

It was good to see a side of him I hadn’t known before, but it was also surprising, making me feel sorry for any hypothetical opponent who would have CEO Choi as an enemy.

Indeed, you can never tell a person by their outward appearance.

Waking up, recalling the events of last night, I quickly prepared to go out right after breakfast.

“Oppa. Are you going out again?”

“Yeah.”

“Can’t you rest for today? You have plans tomorrow, too. And what happened yesterday…”

I gently soothed Shia, whose eyes were noticeably filled with worry.

“I won’t go far today. I’m trying to find a car.”

“A car? Isn’t it dangerous?”

“Is there any way it wouldn’t be dangerous?”

“Ah…”

“Still, it’ll be relatively less dangerous. Don’t worry.”

“Then can I go with you?”

“What?”

I looked at Shia, slightly surprised.

To volunteer to go out, knowing full well what it was like outside…

“You said it’s okay. I’ll be well-behaved. Please?”

“No, it’s not… It’s not completely safe.”

“I think I’ll be fine if I just stick right next to Oppa.”

“Hey…”

“Dong-woo goes out, and Sohee Unni goes out too. Everyone is working hard outside, so I want to help with something.”

Why was she suddenly throwing a tantrum like this?

I appreciated her sentiment, but it was dangerous for a woman’s body.

Sohee-ssi was trained, so I could understand that.

She was the one who didn’t fear zombies and fought against assailants.

But Shia was just a healthy, ordinary woman.

Fighting was out of the question, and she would probably freeze if she saw a zombie.

Of course, I didn’t say that aloud.

It wasn’t right to refuse by comparing her to someone else.

“Young man. Why don’t you take her with you just once?”

“Grandma…”

“You’re not going anywhere dangerous today, are you?”

“That’s true, but…”

I was trying to gently persuade her when Grandma interjected.

“You can’t just stay inside here forever. Think of it as letting her gain experience and give her some odd jobs.”

“……”

After hearing Grandma’s words, it was hard to refuse.

I was the one who said that I didn’t just collect people like toys and put them in the shelter.

As part of that, I also took people outside.

More than anything, she had allowed Dong-woo, their only grandchild, to go out.

“Dong-woo gets noticeably more mature every time he comes back. She needs to go out and experience some hardship to become more docile.”

“Grandma…”

“Seonghan. Wouldn’t it be okay? You said you weren’t going far.”

“Hmm…”

Indeed, I was only planning to look around the nearby areas that had already been cleared and organized.

“If anything happens, the young man will protect her, won’t he?”

“That’s right.”

“With the young man there, what is there to worry about?”

I couldn’t give any other reply to Grandma, who was smiling and speaking.

Because she was right.

‘How petty, cornering me with facts…’

In the end, I decided to include Shia after ensuring she was thoroughly prepared.

If she wanted it herself, introducing her to hardship was no trouble.

Hyuk and Sohee-ssi, who had no injuries, and Shia decided to go out.

Incheol and Dong-woo also tried to follow, but I passed on them.

I couldn’t make the guys with bandages wrapped around their heads and hands do work.

After sorting that out, while the others got ready, I moved quickly.

I went out alone and loaded food into the bed of the parked cargo truck.

Not a full load, just a moderate amount.

The items I took out of the inventory were ones I had picked up at D-Mart.

Things like canned beans, and more canned beans.

Soon after, the prepared group walked out.

They each asked why there was suddenly food, but I clumsily brushed it off, saying I had moved it because I couldn’t sleep early in the morning.

The group didn’t ask further questions and got into the car.

“Why did you suddenly load food?”

“I told Dr. Jang I’d repay him. I’ve been indebted to him.”

“Ah~”

“Aren’t you cold?”

“No. It’s not that cold, so I’m fine.”

“…Okay.”

“I’ll quietly do only what I’m told.”

“There’s not much to do. Just be careful not to get hurt.”

“Got it!”

Shia, sitting in the back seat, was strangely excited.

Looking at her reaction, I thought it was understandable.

She hadn’t been out of the shelter at all until now.

Everyone must have felt stifled, even if they didn’t say it.

‘Will that day ever come?’

Will we be able to return to the past, when everyone roamed the streets freely?

Not worrying about whether we could find food, but debating what to eat… No, not that.

Anyway.

Whoosh-

Sitting in the passenger seat, I felt the direct blast of wind from the wide-open front.

The cold wind hitting my face cleared my head.

It cleared so much it started to hurt.

‘First, deliver the food and then the car…’

I blew away the gloomy thoughts with the wind.

Today, I had to diligently move and get a car.

I glanced at the clear sky.

Today, the weather had deceptively cleared up, but it was a fake.

I felt like the weather would soon turn erratic.

General Winter was approaching.