episode_0176

The team members, rushing up to the 9th floor, gasped for breath.

“C-Captain… *Gasp! Pant!* What’s…”

“?”

Captain Lee led the surprised team members, who had been called urgently, to the window.

They stared out the window, horrified.

“……”

“W-What on earth is that…?”

“My God…”

The team members, whose minds had gone blank at the sight of the swarming zombies, couldn’t utter a word.

Captain Lee calmly addressed them.

But everyone’s expressions remained grim.

Their eyes all said the same thing.

[This is the end.]

When the zombie apocalypse surfaced in Korea.

It was already too late to do anything.

The nation’s leaders abandoned the people and fled.

They hid everywhere, escaped to the sea, and left for islands.

But all that remained were the annihilation of the shelters and the destruction of those in power.

The truth is uncertain.

Only the remaining circumstances pointed to that.

There is no paradise in the place you escaped to.

A famous line from a comic book had become a proverb criticizing reality.

And now.

The same situation was about to unfold for us.

To turn back or not.

Even if they retreated now, it meant nothing more than prolonging their lives a little longer.

Even if they withdrew now, there was no guarantee they would return safely.

Even if they arrived, all that awaited them was powerlessness and terrible starvation.

No matter what, everyone dying and falling over was an unchangeable outcome.

You die whether you go straight or sideways [a saying about unavoidable doom].

It was a bleak reality that choked the breath from the people gathered on the 9th floor.

Because of this, Captain Lee and the team members were silent.

‘…There are so many.’

Though the distance was far, they could see them clearly due to the height.

The destination was there, but a huge obstacle stood in the way.

Six living humans vs. a hell of a lot of energetic zombies.

The outcome was obvious.

With this strength and in this state, they would be overwhelmed before they could even try to do anything.

Captain Lee and the team members, veterans of countless battles, maintained their silence.

They had come up to the 9th floor and confirmed the reality with their own eyes.

Though they didn’t speak, they had realized this was the end.

These were individuals who had survived countless near-death experiences before meeting me.

But the current situation was incomparable to such minor events.

That’s why no one easily opened their mouths.

No, they couldn’t.

Because they knew well that whatever they said would be nonsense.

Each of them sighed and roughly scratched their heads.

Sergeant Kim stared blankly at the innocent ceiling, muttering curses repeatedly.

In the suffocating atmosphere, Jo Junwi quietly spoke.

“…What is your plan?”

“We can’t retreat like this.”

At Captain Lee’s resolute words, the team members showed frustrated expressions.

“Captain. No matter what, this is like hitting a rock with an egg [a saying about a futile effort].”

“It’s no different than serving them meat.”

Starting with Sergeant Kim’s words, each person spoke up, trying to dissuade Captain Lee.

“Captain. How about transporting what we’ve found for now? It would be best to retreat first and plan for the future…”

Jo Junwi’s opinion was realistic.

The problem was the low probability of success.

“I’ve considered that too.”

“Then?”

“We don’t have time.”

“……”

At Captain Lee’s words, Jo Junwi fell silent.

The shelter and time.

These factors heavily shackled them.

“Temporarily retreating to request support…”

“That’s physically impossible given the time…”

“Setting up a position and pouring bullets…”

“The numbers are too many…”

The silent soldiers began to murmur softly.

Some outlandish and absurd suggestions came out, but they began to brainstorm.

But that only lasted a moment.

The overwhelming reality standing before them forced them to fall silent.

Captain Lee, who had been listening quietly, looked around at the team members and spoke.

“I apologize to everyone for coming all this way.”

“Captain…”

“First, we’ll divide into teams.”

“…Huh?”

Everyone’s eyes widened.

“I will remain here.”

“No, what does that mean!”

“I will stay here to find an opening and establish a plan. In the meantime, Jo Junwi will lead the support personnel here.”

“…You know that’s an absurd idea, right?”

“There’s no other way. Rather than sacrificing ourselves meaninglessly, I will aim for the path with even a slight possibility.”

Everyone was dumbfounded, but Captain Lee paid them no mind.

“Seonghan.”

“Yes.”

“Can you lead our team members and those two back safely?”

Instantly, everyone’s gaze in the room turned to me.

“It’s possible, but I can’t guarantee everyone will return alive.”

“That’s enough. If the probability isn’t zero, it’s worth trying.”

At this point, Captain Lee seemed half-resigned.

It was almost as if he was throwing caution to the wind.

The team members, apparently thinking the same, wore expressions of disbelief.

Then they grabbed Captain Lee and began to persuade him.

“Stop! I’ve made up my mind.”

“Captain! Don’t be so stubborn! That’s a meaningless death!”

“No, I won’t die so easily.”

“Oh, seriously!!”

I stared intently at Captain Lee, who was being incredibly stubborn.

He spoke of probabilities, so why was he wishing for a certain death for himself?

Watching the soldiers argue and raise their voices, I calmly interjected.

“Captain Lee-nim.”

“…Yes.”

“Is it because of the shelter survivors?”

At my words, everyone fell silent as if by magic.

“To save everyone…”

“Or is it because of the sacrifices who died?”

“!”

Captain Lee froze.

At first, I thought Captain Lee felt responsible.

“To me, it looks like you’re looking for a place to die.”

“……”

Captain Lee remained silent, and the atmosphere became heavy and solemn.

“…Why do you think that?”

“It just looks that way to me.”

“…Ha.”

Captain Lee let out a self-deprecating smile.

“You have good eyes.”

“Let’s just say I have a good hunch.”

“……”

“So you think this would be a meaningful resting place?”

“……”

I spoke to Captain Lee, who remained silent.

“No matter how you sugarcoat it, death is death. There’s no meaning beyond that.”

“……”

“As Sergeant Kim said, it’s just giving fresh meat to the zombies.”

“S-Seonghan…”

Sergeant Kim looked troubled and at a loss, but what I said was true.

“I haven’t heard anything, so I don’t know what pain you carry or why it’s so difficult.”

“……”

“Your life is yours, so it’s not for me to interfere.”

“Hmm…”

“Think of Representative Pyo-nim and the survivors who are waiting. And these team members here, too.”

At my words, Captain Lee subtly glanced at his subordinates.

“If you’re doing this out of a desire to atone for the dead, I hope you’ll reconsider.”

“Seonghan, that’s…!”

“There’s nothing that can be done for those who are already dead.”

*Gnashing his teeth!*

Captain Lee gritted his teeth.

Seeing his reddened eyes, it seemed I had hit a nerve.

‘Not my problem, though.’

Captain Lee’s face contorted, a mix of pain and fury.

The veins bulging in his neck and forehead showed his intense emotions.

The team members seemed quite surprised by Captain Lee’s reaction.

“I hope you prioritize those who are alive and breathing beside you, rather than those who have already fallen.”

“*Gasp*…”

“If you wish to apologize with your death, I won’t stop you.”

“S-Seonghan?”

Jo Junwi looked at me, startled.

Regardless, I said what I needed to say.

“But before that. Please do what you must. You’ve worked your butt off for it.”

“…Huh?”

“I’m telling you to fulfill your current duty.”

“Ah…”

“It’s still too early to look for a place to die. Get a grip.”

“……”

At my words, Captain Lee lowered his head.

He was a captain, a man called ‘Captain’ by everyone.

I had assumed he might have some burden on his mind.

But it seemed he carried a wound as big as the weight on his shoulders.

I’d put that aside for later and signaled Jo Junwi with my eyes.

*Glancing, glancing.*

When I pointed at Captain Lee with my eyes, Jo Junwi subtly understood.

“T-That’s right! Captain! It’s too early to give up!”

“That’s right. Let’s calmly gather our opinions again.”

Clumsy comforting began, lacking eloquence.

But perhaps because they gave it their all.

The team members’ words seemed to reach Captain Lee.

“You guys…”

Each of them faced Captain Lee with sincere expressions.

Sergeant Kim rubbed beneath his nose, pretending to be distracted.

Captain Lee’s eyes reddened with overwhelming emotion, and he was about to speak…

*Stomach rumbling~*

“……”

“……”

“…oops.”

Heize, a female soldier, stuck out her tongue and turned her face away, embarrassed.

Unable to read the room…

*Stomach rumbling~*

“…sorry.”

She lowered her rapidly reddening face and covered her stomach with both arms.

The continuous rumbling alarms instantly cooled the mood.

“*Ahem.*”

“Um…”

“*Cough!*”

The atmosphere changed, and an undeniable awkwardness filled the air.

Captain Lee, who was washing his face dryly and pretending to be busy, also looked flustered.

Seeing the scene that instantly lost its tension, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Time has passed, shall we eat something?”

“Oh, oh! That’s a good idea.”

Those who had been squirming in awkwardness brightened and prepared a meal.

Perhaps their minds would work better after eating something.

There wasn’t much, but there were things to quench their thirst and fill their stomachs.

It wasn’t difficult to make it feel like a shared meal.

Captain Lee, still with a reddened face, ate silently.

Heize, on the other hand, didn’t care about appearances.

*Munch munch-*

*Slurp slurp-*

She stuffed her mouth full of bread and sausages, chewing with bulging cheeks.

She even cleaned out the canned goods, drinking the broth.

‘……’

Tears welled up in Heize’s eyes as she continuously moved her mouth.

The pregnant woman eating nearby at least chewed and swallowed carefully.

Jo Junwi, unable to watch any longer, gave Heize water and comforted her.

Seeing that, the pregnant woman quietly spoke.

“She says she’s very grateful for the food.”

“Name?”

“She asks to be called Lawrence.”

I nodded slightly, looking at Lawrence, who was carrying a child.

As I quietly ate, Jo Junwi burst into laughter.

“??”

“She says she’s sorry for pointing a gun at you.”

“Ah. Tell her not to worry about it.”

“She said it was a fake gun, though.”

“…Fake?”

Jo Junwi smiled and showed me the gun Lawrence had been holding.

“It’s a kitchen gun, a cleaning tool for the kitchen.”

“Oh my God…”

So, all that commotion was caused by a toy gun…

I looked at Lawrence, admiring her fearless actions.

“That was a reckless act.”

“…She says Heize is a precious person who protected her.”

At Jo Junwi’s translation, I looked at the food-devouring Heize.

She was currently emptying a can of corn.

Heize was eating with the intensity of a food fighter.

My illusion of a beautiful blonde disappeared then and there.

…It seems I’m realizing many things since coming here.

My appetite vanished due to the feeling of emptiness.

While I was lost in thought, Jo Junwi, who had a brief conversation, translated Lawrence’s words.

“She originally planned to evacuate, but she suddenly felt unwell and couldn’t move.”

“Hmm.”

“Heize has been protecting and caring for her ever since then.”

“…Since when?”

“She says it’s been about three months.”

“Oh…”

I looked at the two of them with surprised eyes.

I thought her axe-wielding form was unusual, but I never imagined she had endured for three months.

And while protecting a pregnant woman.

The female soldier, who was unhesitatingly biting into a large sausage, suddenly looked different.

“…what?”

It was a cat-like reaction.

I offered a can of ham to Heize, who was glaring at me with an unenthusiastic look.

“No. Eat a lot.”

“…Thanks.”

Thanks, really.

What I gave her was luncheon meat.

I’d be grateful if she ate it deliciously.

Why would I care for a woman who tried to stick an axe blade in my neck?

Heize took the can of ham coolly.

She was truly hungry, as she spooned it up so well.

Captain Lee, whose mind had been scattered, also ate heartily.

It seemed his intention was to eat well and regain his strength.

Mealtime was good for taking a breather and clearing their heads.

Everyone, including Captain Lee, seemed calmer.

I pulled out a cigarette for an after-meal puff but put it back.

Smoking in front of Lawrence, who was clutching a belly as big as Namsan, felt a bit…

Feeling apologetic, I rummaged through my bag and pulled out several hot packs.

I tore each one open and handed them all to Lawrence.

Lawrence took the hot packs and looked up at me, showing a touched expression.

“Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome.”

After replying in awkward English, I averted my gaze.

The blonde woman ate until her belly was bulging and drank orange juice.

‘……’

Her face was as pretty as Shia’s.

But her actions were… not so much.

Her chest also reminded me of a luxury TV.

There was a somewhat regrettable aspect…

“…?”

Our eyes met.

I spoke to her, who was giving me a “What are you looking at?” glance.

“Heize.”

“Huh?”

“What do you mean the zombies are strange?”

“Oh…”

She had eaten a lot, so now she had to cough up some information.

Jo Junwi stepped forward to relay my words.

Heize chattered something in English, which Jo Junwi translated in real-time.

“First, she says the zombies move in groups.”

“How many?”

“She doesn’t know for sure. Sometimes there are many, sometimes they just do as they please.”

“…They roam around?”

I asked seriously.

At my low voice, Heize slightly glanced at me.

*Nodding, nodding.*

Heize nodded as she listened to Jo Junwi’s translation.

Captain Lee, who was listening nearby, asked cautiously.

“Seonghan. Have you ever seen moving zombies?”

“No. At most, only those lingering nearby…”

My mind started to get complicated with this new information.

“And she says there are many slow zombies.”

“The ones that don’t run?”

“Yes. But they suddenly speed up when you get close.”

“Ah!”

Captain Lee reacted to Heize’s information.

“Remember the zombies we encountered when we passed through the gate earlier?”

“Ah. Those ones.”

“They suddenly charged when the car approached. It felt even more dangerous.”

“Hmm… Heize. Is that all?”

“She says the slow zombies are incredibly strong.”

“How strong?”

“…Strong enough to tear a person apart, she says…”

The air grew heavy at those words.

“Are you sure?”

At my question, Heize looked straight into my eyes.

“She says she saw her comrade torn apart in front of her eyes, in her place.”

I nodded.

“And…”

“Something else?”

“She says there are also some that go into buildings and don’t come out.”

“……”

That statement had a familiar ring to it.

The ones that burst out of alleys and commercial buildings when we passed the gate earlier.

What Heize saw was undoubtedly true.

However, the problem was…

“Why would those guys crawl in there?”

It was a rhetorical question, but Jo Junwi translated it anyway.

“She doesn’t know why. But they go into buildings, or go in and come out, or wander around inside the base. She says it all just looks weird.”

“Okay.”

I was about to leave it at that, but Jo Junwi’s English sped up.

Captain Lee’s expression also grew serious.

“Hey, Seonghan.”

“I’m listening.”

“…There’s, a real monster, she says.”

“…Monster?”

Heize abruptly stood up, took my hand, and led me to the window.

“She says to look closely at the area in front of the hospital and the helipad.”

“Wait.”

Captain Lee brought over binoculars and observed for a long time.

“…What is that?”

“Is there something?”

Captain Lee silently stroked his chin and handed me the binoculars.

I took the binoculars and carefully examined the described area.

“…Shit.”

It was far, so I couldn’t confirm the details.

But even at a glance, I could see a creature with a different class of size.

It was more than twice the size of a normal zombie.

“How did I not see that?”

“That thing goes back and forth between the helipad and the front of the hospital, she says.”

“…That son of a bitch is doing cardio.”

I had dealt with large creatures before.

But they were only a little over 2 meters tall.

Of course, they had deformed limbs.

Still, they hadn’t deviated much from the human form.

But that thing over there was clearly alien.

‘…That’s a real pain in the ass.’

With so many people, there could be variants.

But why would something like that appear?

“She says that thing can throw cars and shot down a helicopter.”

I could tell that without her saying it.

Assuming the worst, what couldn’t that massive creature do?

While I was admiring its size, I heard some English.

“…Really?”

“Ugh!”

At Jo Junwi’s heavily subdued words, my gaze instinctively shifted.

When I turned my eyes from Heize to Jo Junwi…

“…She says it chews and swallows people…”

“……”

That was TMI I really didn’t want to know.