episode_0173

Named Freedom (2) – Double-time notice at the northern tip of Korea

It wasn’t long before the strange repetition became scary.

[After a while, a large zombie colony appears in the northern part of Korea!]

A moment that was clearly a boring part of daily life becomes a hell that I wish would never come.

Keekeeek!

Everyone was unable to relax due to the howling of the zombies that resounded in the air and the roar of the iron that was refreshingly bombarding it.

I just stared at the sky with anxious eyes.

Cuuu!

A huge sphere that gradually obscures the sun as if covering the sky.

“Number 1, Number 1 is coming—!”

“The leader is coming~!”

Second-place national Lee Dong-hyeok also stared blankly at the sky while holding a baton and a riot shield.

The soldiers shout out in fear.

He couldn’t possibly deny the object mentioned in that shout.

It was rare for someone to bring about such a huge disaster.

“Aaaaa—!”

Ta-da-da-da-!

As soon as the surroundings turn black, a loud gunshot rings out.

The soldiers all raised their guns to the sky and started pulling the triggers.

Keekeeek!

However, no matter what they did, the result was the same.

Pow! Pow! Pow!

Black rain begins to fall in countless quantities from the sky.

Where, how, what.

A strange phenomenon that cannot be prevented even though the cause and effect are fully known.

Therefore, the zombie shower was a disaster that came to Korea.

Keekeeek!

Lee Dong-hyuk tightened his grip on the baton as he heard a vivid howling coming from close range.

I couldn’t take a single step forward with my trembling legs.

Yet, surprisingly, I felt free to step back.

“kkieeek―!”

“Cibaal—!”

The zombies throwing their half-distorted bodies and the soldiers cursing loudly are heard.

An eerie feeling fills his entire body along with the sound of the wind tearing.

Lee Dong-hyuk continued to walk backwards, looking around with an anxious gaze.

What he needs now is some consolation that he is getting away from this hell.

Vibrating batons and riot shields.

Even if a zombie were to attack him now, he wouldn’t have the energy to use these formal weapons.

If he had had the courage to face the zombies falling from the sky, he would have put on a military uniform and been sent to the front lines a long time ago.

So you just have to hold on a little longer, just a little longer.

“Fuck off, you idiots—!”

Kwaaang!

Because the soldiers fall from the sky instead of the ground, they are unable to maintain their formation and become entangled with zombies.

The officers who are busy going back and forth between them, crushing zombies, are spouting out irritated words.

Keekeeek!

Even though they fell from the sky and let out strange and horrifying cries, in the end there were only regular zombies and a few mutants.

These crudely constructed zombies were a very familiar challenge to veterans who had already overcome countless challenges.

“Drive them to the center—!”

“I’ve memorized all the faces of those idiots, so if you don’t want to be left behind, come to your senses—!”

As time passed, the gunshots spread out, suppressing their howling.

In an instant, the zombies that covered my son-in-law are being eliminated step by step.

However, the faces of the soldiers and officers who were mechanically killing the zombies that were throwing their bodies barely straightened.

This light yet soggy zombie shower will come tomorrow as well.

The next day, and the day after that.

An irritating and horrifying sensation, as if metallurgy is being eaten away.

“… … Fuck.”

The officer wiped the putrid blood from his face and looked at the dark sky.

Cuuu!

As soon as the zombie shower ends, sunlight comes down on Daehan again.

A huge black sphere was slowly disappearing across the sky.

It was very clear who did it.

A black sphere blocking the path of advance sharply engraved in everyone’s mind.

The problem was that among the awakened people in Korea, there was no one who could stop the religious leader’s nonsense.

Since I couldn’t figure out where and how the cult leader was sending down the zombie shower, I had to just stare at the sky like a dog chasing chickens.

Of course, everyone knew that even if the whereabouts of the cult leader were identified, nothing would change.

The moment when soldiers and officers gazed at the sky with eyes filled with despair and fear.

Lee Dong-hyuk was staring at the floor.

A supply T-shirt hung at his feet, fluttering in the wind.

Familiar phrases written on that t-shirt.

Traces of people reading the [Book of Salvation] in their own way even while being oppressed and controlled.

Lee Dong-hyuk stared blankly at the traces and trembled slightly.

These are hopeful verses that I have memorized so vividly that they now appear in my dreams.

But-

Lee Dong-hyuk followed everyone’s gaze and gazed at the brightly clear sky.

Why does the person who delivered such a verse bring about such disaster?

Are screening and aptitude tests really over as people say?

Will it bring salvation to those who believe and disaster to those who do not believe?

So, must all those who can’t trust him die?

“… … .”

No one gave him an answer.

***

“Be prepared for those who whine or cause trouble! Because I’ll just make that bastard cum-!”

A soldier’s shout rang out in the spacious auditorium.

Second-class citizens crowded into a facility created for training.

The soldiers, who had packed far more second-class citizens into one place than there were barracks, closed the door with expressions filled with annoyance.

Teuung-!

As soon as the door closed, the citizens let out a light sigh and lay down in their comfortable positions.

────.

An auditorium with no sound except for the faint sound of breathing.

Everyone remained silent and showed blank expressions.

Some people thought of their colleagues who had been attacked by zombies, while others recalled the howling of zombies still vivid in their ears.

Terrible nightmares that constantly descend from the dark sky.

“… … Was this really something that a person named the leader of the cult did?”

Lee Dong-hyuk turned his head to the question he suddenly heard from next to him.

A middle-aged woman who shared the same barracks.

She was looking at Lee Dong-hyuk with an anxious expression.

“No way. Isn’t this something the soldiers just made up to incite us?”

Mr. Choi, a middle-aged man who always diverged from what she said, also joined the conversation.

“I’m so anxious. These days, that big door doesn’t come down often.”

“… … That’s right.”

“I think that’s what the cult leader did. Could it be that the selection I mentioned is over?”

While they were in the middle of a conversation, they cast their eyes on Lee Dong-hyuk.

Lee Dong-hyeok shook his head with an ambiguous smile at the look in their eyes.

“… … I don’t know either.”

He muttered lowly and looked around at the citizens who had corpse-like eyes.

For everyone here, hope has long since disappeared.

“… … So now this too is becoming useless?”

Papers that a middle-aged woman carefully takes out from her arms.

Phrases written in squiggly letters on heavily crumpled pages.

Mr. Choi also presented a similar ‘Book of Salvation’.

“Just as Donghyuk said, the door won’t come down even though I desperately want it.”

“… … Me too.”

Listening to their whispers, Lee Dong-hyuk also took out the ‘Book of Salvation’ from his arms.

Frayed pages with lots of hand stains.

Lee Dong-hyuk, who looked down at the Book of Salvation for a moment, had no choice but to answer like a parrot.

“… … I don’t know either.”

What plans does he have, and what hidden intentions does he have?

Everything was pitch-black, covered in unknowns.

“But I know this one thing for sure.”

He put the Book of Salvation back into his pocket and gazed at the citizens.

Poor people who cannot hope for salvation through no fault of their own.

Precious people who talked together every night, shared pain, and shared sadness.

“The end is not far for us.”

There were a couple of times that I sneaked back and watched what was going on.

Zombie showers will continue to fall, and one day your secret escape will be discovered.

Lee Dong-hyuk once again swung at the second-class citizens spread out in the auditorium.

These were no different.

He whispered lower to the citizens listening to his story.

“This will be the last moment when you can decide for yourself, whether you want to or not.”

As long as the zombie shower continues, second-class citizens will inevitably die.

Even if not all at once, it will eventually be eaten away.

“Let’s escape Daehan tonight.”

“… … Today?”

“Suddenly like this?”

Lee Dong-hyuk quietly raised his head and stared at the auditorium door, then lowered his head again.

“Yes. As you all know, the morale of soldiers these days is incredible.”

Private soldiers who have to control the citizens on behalf of the executives who have to go to and from the new Blue House for various reasons, such as meetings and other things.

Lee Dong-hyuk would be the one who knows best how lax their discipline has become.

“When the sun comes up, you have to be dragged around all day and run around with human shields and labor, so the only way to escape is at night.”

“… … That’s right.”

“But even if I escape, where should I run to?”

Lee Dong-hyuk, who had been silent for a moment in response to the woman’s question, opened his mouth.

“Minguk.”

He gathered his thoughts after a moment of contemplation and continued speaking firmly.

“Let’s go to Republic of Korea.”

“Isn’t it the Church of Salvation?”

“I want to go, but I don’t know the exact location. But Minguk knows.”

Trains, which are the best route to begin with, are under strict surveillance 24 hours a day.

Then we had to choose the next best option, and that was Minguk.

What I learned from overhearing the soldiers’ conversations is that Seodaemun-gu is the midway point between Korea and the Republic of Korea.

Also important was the fact that Seodaemun-gu, like Daehan, remained Seodaemun-gu without much change in its topography and appearance.

The best way to escape was to take a familiar route as much as possible.

“… … So are we the only ones going?”

A middle-aged woman quietly looked around and asked.

“… … .”

Lee Dong-hyuk couldn’t answer her words for a long time.

People who have lost their vitality and are staring blankly at the ceiling.

As I said before, these people were no different.

Poor people who couldn’t, or rather couldn’t, get on the white door.

“… … Tell us your plan quickly and very quietly.”

Die or live?

Now this was all they had left.

Lee Dong-hyuk whispered again to the citizens who nodded slightly.

“Everyone, take heart. It’s tonight.”

Tonight, we escape Daehan.

***

“… … Let’s just go smoke a cigarette.”

“Yes? Then the person guarding the door-”

“Mr. Ai- We already confirmed that you are sleeping. Let’s just kill time by smoking a cigarette. Let’s take Corporal Heo with us on the way.”

“… … Yes.”

The chattering outside the door stops and the sound of military boots becomes more and more distant.

Lee Dong-hyuk, who had been quietly pressing his ear to the door, quickly gestured.

Second-class citizens cautiously gather at his gesture.

“Shhh―”

Lee Dong-hyeok, who again placed his finger on his lips and made the most important point known, quietly opened the door.

Wow~

The stuffy night air greeted him as soon as he opened the door.

Lee Dong-hyuk quickly checked the surroundings, left the auditorium door open, and started gesturing with his hands.

Second-class citizens stumbling out of the auditorium.

As the procession, which had been lined up for a long time, came out, Lee Dong-hyeok, who was at the front, began to guide.

“… … So I said to Sergeant Kim-”

The sound of soldiers chatting from afar and cigarette smoke creeping up into the sky.

After finding out the soldiers’ location, he began to cross the auditorium and get to the training ground using the minimum course possible.

As they exit through the back door, a dark, devoid of light greets them.

I moved through the deserted Daehan, paying attention to each step.

The escape was successful until they passed through the central region where the training ground was located and even came into sight of the barracks in the southwest that had originally housed them.

Just as I was about to let go of the surveillance net that was unexpectedly looser than I expected-

Aaaa!

Suddenly, a red light flashed and the siren began to sound loudly.

[A fugitive appears! A fugitive appears! A deserter appears—!]

Beep!

A whistle radiates out as a sharp noise from the familiar barracks seen in the distance.

[A fugitive appears! A fugitive appears! A deserter appears—!]

A warning sound that repeats infinitely, as if waking Daehan from his sleep.

Those who saw the panoramic view of Daehan suddenly becoming busier started running at full speed.

“Run, everyone! Quick—!”

Lee Dong-hyuk encouraged the second-class citizens with urgent hand gestures and ran with them.

Still, as if our efforts to keep our toes on and walk quietly were not in vain, we were not detected all the way to the southwestern part of Daehan.

The situation was discovered later than originally thought.

As long as you entered Seodaemun-gu, your escape could have been much easier.

If they last until morning like that, the soldiers who were searching them will also have to leave to prevent double time and zombie showers.

“Just a little more, everyone! You really just need to go a little further! Let’s just run to Seodaemun-gu―!”

Tung-! Tung-! Tung-!

Sleeping streetlights illuminated the surroundings, and the exhaust sound of a military vehicle began to be heard in the distance.

“Stop! Avoid escapees at all costs—!”

A fierce shout that echoes from the second-class citizens who are gasping for breath until their hearts explode.

A small feeling of anxiety flickered in Lee Dong-hyuk’s pupils.

The only one who can make all their efforts in vain.

Officers with mana and skills could arrive soon.

“I can just drive them away with my wind anyway, so just shoot if you have to, you bastards—!”

Kwaang-! Kwaang-!

At the same time as the officer shouted, a loud noise rang out on the escape road a little ahead.

Push profit profit!

Disparate smoke rising from the place where the impact sound was heard.

Everyone took a step back due to the light yellow light that clearly encroached on the space even in the dark of the night.

A threat that is clearly felt even without being said.

“Hurry up and catch him! Quick—!”

From behind, the shouts of soldiers who have now narrowed the distance considerably ring out.

Lee Dong-hyuk stared back and forth alternately, his eyes shaking slightly.

A dilemma.

There was suspicious light yellow smoke in front, and soldiers full of venom were coming behind.

“… … Ah.”

“… … Do, Donghyuk.”

Citizens looking at themselves with anxious eyes.

Lee Dong-hyuk had nothing to say in response to that look.

Should I tell you that you’re going to die anyway, that you’ll just die faster and more painfully?

Should we judge ourselves that the situation was so hopeless that we had to resort to such a lame plan?

Push profit profit!

The yellow smoke that had already enveloped the front was slowly approaching them.

Lee Dong-hyuk, who instinctively took a step back, suddenly heard a small noise.

The Book of Salvation slipped out of his arms and spread out at his feet, perhaps because he was moving violently while jumping.

[Look at the sky.]

A phrase that caught his eye as if by chance or fate.

In the quickly raised gaze with weak expectations-

─────.

Only the dark night sky greeted him.

“… … Ha.”

Even in moments like this, I-

He let out a sigh that fluttered into the air like a laugh and shook his head.

“I asked if the pigs and dogs were coming, but now they are escaping from us―!”

He felt the end coming from a scream that sent shivers down his spine.

The passage of time stretched out like a flash of light.

I quietly closed my eyes in that short but long flow.

What is the Salvation Church and what is the religious leader?

What is an awakened person and what is a god?

The threats and warnings from officers and soldiers continued continuously during labor.

Even then, your words on the broadcast were kept in my heart like a precious treasure.

Where on earth are you, the person who made me hope for the next step in life more than anything else?

You talked about the happiness you lost.

You talked about freedom, didn’t you?

Is it your will to take those who were hoping for salvation through that great white door?

So, does God only bring disaster to those who can no longer hope for salvation?

I am… I, who still foolishly believe and hope in you, cannot abandon those people.

I cannot hope for salvation and abandon those who suffered with me and walked through hell with me.

You said you would give happiness, you said you would give freedom.

Didn’t you say that salvation communicates with us?

Those people are my happiness and freedom.

So, please.

… … please.

Lee Dong-hyuk bit his lip and lowered his head.

I whispered as if I was crying with tears falling.

Please, like you said, let us—

“… … Save me.”

Thick tears slowly flowed toward the verses written in the Book of Salvation.

[Look at the sky.]

Kiiing—!

At that moment, a faint echo echoed from the sky.

Everyone’s eyes slowly turned to the sky.

White starlight emitting brilliant light in the dark night sky.

[Look at the single sun that bloomed with purest faith.]

Kiiing—!

Everyone’s eyes widened as the echo repeated once more.

[For he who alone will judge you has come.]

The soldiers were frozen in place as if time had stopped, and the light yellow smoke stopped their advance.

The smoke slowly began to recede and began to gently part.

Push profit profit!

The smoke split like waves and formed a straight path.

Lee Dong-hyuk looked blankly at the white stars shining in the night sky.

A huge white door naturally reminiscent of the sacred light.

Lee Dong-hyuk realized this as he took slow steps.

The heart of the believer who was smiling brightly even as the end approached in the courtroom.

As he walked straight through the night sky, he repeated what he had whispered.

“… … Salvation will come.”