episode_0181

“Hoooh… hoooh…”

I took deep breaths to calm my churning emotions.

It helped me regain my wits, but my feelings remained unchanged.

The emotions, blazing like oil set alight, refused to subside.

“…Why am I acting like a rookie?”

It felt similar to the first time I’d defeated a monster.

Back then, I’d even cried and snot-filled my face.

Now, having grown accustomed and adapted, there’s no need for that.

Perhaps… it’s the lingering effect of living comfortably for too long.

Or maybe it’s because I finally got a chance to go wild after a long time.

Drip-drip-

As I stood motionless, blood dripped from the tip of my sword.

‘…No way?’

I’d been covered in zombie bodily fluids and blood countless times.

More times than I could count.

Could these things somehow be affecting me?

As I continued my thoughts, I let out a snort.

Considering everything that had happened so far, any problems would have already emerged.

Even factoring in the zombies’ infectivity and mutation speed, it was the same.

There were no negative changes in my body.

Swish-swoosh!

I flicked the blood off my blade, clearing my thoughts.

With my sword lowered, I slowly surveyed my surroundings.

‘…….’

The street, once a gathering place for zombies, had become a field of corpses.

Nothing moved, and nothing stood upright.

No large or small groans could be heard.

The only sound was the sizzling of burning flesh.

What I saw were flames, fed by zombies as fuel, adding breath to the night.

They stubbornly held onto their flames, illuminating the dark night streets.

‘…I sure fought with enthusiasm.’

Thanks to the burning corpses scattered everywhere, it was easy to tell what I’d done.

The traces of me letting loose and having a blast were blatant.

Where my sword had swept, a path of corpses had formed.

Where I had stood firm, piles of flesh were strewn about.

‘Ugh… Even dead, these bastards are a nuisance.’

I could somewhat ignore the stench of zombies, having grown accustomed to it.

But with so many of them gathered here, ignoring it was impossible.

Added to that were the pungent smell of waste oil and burning corpses.

There was no way I could endure the incomparably foul odor.

I immediately moved, leaving the spot.

I stored my sword in my inventory and brushed myself off.

Rustle-rustle-

‘…….’

I’m not a neat freak.

But every time I brushed my hands, I felt like I was having a fit.

No, it was only because it was me that it was merely this bad; anyone else would have frothed at the mouth.

After roughly dusting off the filth, I headed for the helipad.

It was separate from the area where the commotion had taken place, but not far.

A sense of anxiety crept in, wondering if anything had been affected.

It seemed the drum barrels that had flown up with the explosion had landed near here.

Explosions, it seemed, had more power than I thought.

I walked for a long time, passing through the remnants of the fire party, observing the debris.

Stop.

Where I stopped was a considerably wide open space.

It wasn’t just an open space, but rather a plot of land where buildings were absent.

Instead, a significant amount of cargo was visible in parts of the open space and scattered around.

It was the helipad.

Along with it were piles of neatly arranged cargo, taller than a person.

Some were covered with thick netting.

Some were just large, solid wooden crates.

Some were organized and thickly wrapped in plastic film.

Discarded bullets and broken guns were also visible on the ground.

Even at a glance, there was a lot.

While not completely filling the helipad, it was an enormous quantity.

And most of it looked intact.

I’d have to check in daylight, but the goods seemed to be safe.

‘Is that it?’

The two helicopters Captain Lee had spotted with his binoculars.

Approaching closer, their exterior seemed quite…

“Cool, huh?”

They looked pretty good.

I examined both helicopters, and they appeared undamaged externally.

No scratches, no dents, no crumpling.

Fortunately, they seemed unaffected by the explosion.

I sighed softly in relief and looked around.

Vehicles were also visible a short distance away.

There were transport trucks and military vehicles like those seen in movies.

Only a few, but they lay dormant in pristine condition.

“…Is this enough?”

The helipad was clean, indicating the zombies had been properly driven away.

I had cleared out the zombies and confirmed the supplies were safe.

This much, I thought, should mean the immediate major task was done.

Having confirmed the helipad was safe for now, I decided to return.

Slowly, I left the helipad and walked along the path.

To the hotel, I just needed to follow this road.

Considering how I’d turned left and right before starting the job, this was a peaceful and relaxed journey back.

With a relaxed mind, I pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

“Hmm…”

Perhaps because I’d seen good things, my mood had somewhat lightened.

My heart also felt lighter, probably because I was walking leisurely instead of running myself bald.

Though I had rolled around in the mud, it was fulfilling.

As I walked towards the hotel, I felt nothing behind my back.

There was no nauseating feeling that made my skin crawl.

Only the gentle, swaying night breeze seemed to caress my back.

And the brightly shining moonlight.

It felt like walking along a quiet forest path.

Was it because I had incinerated so many zombies?

The remaining ruined buildings, though hideous, didn’t feel eerie.

‘As expected, the zombies were the problem.’

Look at how peaceful this night becomes just by clearing a few of them out.

Perhaps I’d feel a night like this again on the day all the zombies were completely eradicated.

I hope people like Captain Lee multiply and solve this quickly.

I want to leave the troublesome tasks to others and just relax, hidden away.

‘Should I get some DVDs? And a game console…’

No matter how broken the world is, entertainment is necessary.

For me, and for others…

The unending tension, the pressure of reality, the confinement of being trapped.

It’s an environment perfect for driving people mad.

Eating and sleeping are fine, and the means to protect my body are now resolved.

If I manage my mental health well, I think I can live comfortably.

‘Should I discuss it when I get back?’

Was it the backlash from the intense fight?

Just moments ago, I was fighting, covered in blood, but now I was filled with relaxed thoughts.

Others might think I was crazy, but I didn’t care.

I considered it natural after working so hard (?).

It wasn’t over yet, but thinking about eating and playing already brought me near the hotel.

As expected, time flies when you’re fantasizing about fun things…

“Seonghan. Do you hear me?”

Captain Lee’s voice came through the radio attached to my shoulder.

I picked up the radio and saw it was covered in blood.

I wondered if it would even work, but…

“Transmitting.”

“Are you safe?”

Fortunately, it worked well.

It must be more high-performance than I thought.

“I’m perfectly fine.”

“We’re waiting on the first floor. We’ll come to pick you up.”

“No need. I’m almost there, and I’m a mess.”

“…Is that so.”

“Let’s talk face-to-face.”

“Understood.”

I tried imitating them for once, but it felt awkward.

At the end, Captain Lee seemed to chuckle slightly…

I trudged along and finally arrived at the hotel.

It seemed they had turned the car around and were on standby, ready to depart at any moment.

Was it because they didn’t trust me?

Or was it to support me?

Given Captain Lee’s behavior over the past few days, it was probably the latter.

Seeing them anxiously holding the radio, looking on edge, confirmed it was the latter.

I smiled faintly and walked toward the soldiers, who radiated an anxious atmosphere.

“I’m back.”

“Seonghan…?”

“Huh…”

“Oh, no…”

“Oh my god…”

Everyone was aghast at my appearance.

Even Captain Lee couldn’t properly articulate his words.

They all froze, eyes wide and mouths agape.

Heize’s surprised expression was quite something.

The shocked Captain Lee approached me and inspected me from head to toe.

“W-what is this… no, are you really okay?”

“Yes. As you can see, it’s not my blood.”

“Huh…”

“I’d like to wash up before giving a situation report.”

“Ah… ah? Yes! T-then, first, a shower…”

“I’ll take care of it myself. Just wait for me.”

“O-o-okay.”

Seeing me soaked in sticky, dark blue fluid, they seemed quite flustered.

I left the stammering people and headed to wash up.

I could endure anything else, but not this.

I planned to go into any room on a lower floor and shower.

Walking mindlessly, I quietly spoke.

“…Why?”

“Nothing~”

Heize trailed behind me.

“No water. What will you do?”

“I’ll handle it. You go on up.”

“Hmm~”

Humming a strange nasal sound, she kept following.

“No, why?”

“What?”

“Why are you following?”

“I help scrub back. Scrub back?”

“What nonsense are you spouting! Where did you learn that?”

“Shy?”

“Oh, come on!”

Heize, who seemed to have learned something strange, grinned and showed no sign of backing off.

So I raised both my arms.

“Huh?”

“Grooowlll~”

“Ouch!!”

Heize shrieked in terror as I approached, imitating a zombie.

When a piece of flesh fell off with the blood, she screamed and ran away.

“Fooling around.”

Acting playful, unlike a soldier… no, she did act like a soldier.

Skilled with an axe, proficient with a blade, and even martial arts.

But why was she so playful?

I smiled the victor’s smile as I watched Heize run away.

The area became quiet, and I entered a random guest room, heading for the shower.

First, since it was dark, I stood up my flashlight to create light…

There was a little dust on the floor, but it didn’t matter.

Just in case, I turned on the water, but as expected, nothing came out.

It was a waste, but I comforted myself that it couldn’t be helped and pulled out a water bottle.

…It was an emergency situation, after all…

First, I stripped off the clothes soaked in blood.

Splat-

When I threw them in a corner, they looked like nothing but a rag.

As soon as I was naked, I upended the water bottle over my head.

“Gasp! Splutter!”

I poured the entire 18L bottle of water without hesitation.

The cold water jolted me awake.

As the blood washed off my body and the cold water flowed, my agitated emotions subsided.

“Hoooh…”

I wet my body, soaped up…

The blood washed off quickly, but the damn smell wouldn’t go away.

Only after washing several times with fragrant shampoo and body wash did the smell finally dissipate.

Perhaps the smell had permeated me, as the fragrant scent felt awkward for a moment.

I used several large water bottles just for one shower.

But there was nothing I could do.

If I had stayed like that, I might have caught a disease I didn’t even have.

…If you save water or anything else, it turns to crap.

You have to use it when you have it.

Still, after washing thoroughly, I felt refreshed.

This fresh feeling.

“Humans really need to wash.”

Matching my mood, I pulled out new clothes and put them on.

Though “new clothes” meant the same work uniform I always wore.

Finishing up with a similar outfit to the one I’d discarded, I headed for the 9th floor.

The room where everyone was gathered was a bit noisy.

The chattering could be heard down the hallway, but the atmosphere wasn’t tense.

As I slowly entered the room, everyone fell silent as if on cue.

“wow…”

Typical American, a good reaction.

Heize and everyone else seemed eager to ask something.

I had been gone for a moment and reappeared clean, so they must have been curious.

However, no one opened their mouths.

Judging by the atmosphere, Captain Lee seemed to have put them in line.

Leaving Heize, who was about to speak, I approached Captain Lee.

“Seonghan. I roughly anticipate, but… what happened?”

Captain Lee, a little tense, cautiously brought up the main topic.

“First, the giant zombie and the ones nearby have all been cleared.”

“!!!”

“I checked the helipad too, and it was clean.”

“T-then?”

“You can all go and check it out together once the sun rises.”

Whoaahhhhh!!!!!

The soldiers cheered in unison.

They hugged each other, jumping up and down, making a huge fuss.

Heize also raised her arms among the team members and bounced up and down.

Lawrence, who had been quiet, covered her mouth, celebrating with them.

The room instantly became a chaotic mess.

They had all come prepared to die, so such an intense reaction was not unreasonable now that things had gone well.

I waited for a moment, watching them celebrate to their hearts’ content.

Everyone soon composed themselves, but the excitement didn’t easily subside.

The quickest to regain composure was, as expected, Captain Lee.

Taking advantage of the subsided commotion, I added a few more things to him.

“First, I confirmed there are two helicopters.”

“How did their condition seem?”

“They looked okay externally.”

“We’ll check their condition.”

Jo Junwi and Lee Junwi stepped forward as if they had been waiting.

They showed eagerness, asking to be entrusted with the helicopters.

“There were a lot of supplies, and most of them were in good condition.”

“…Phew! That’s a huge relief. I was very worried they might be damaged or contaminated… It’s truly a relief.”

“You still need to verify them.”

“Of course.”

At the string of good news, everyone’s eyes sparkled.

Their top concern was the presence of helicopters and cargo.

Now that these had been clearly confirmed, the atmosphere was excellent.

But the report wasn’t over yet.

“There are also things to be careful about.”

“…Please tell us.”

“First, I’ve dealt with the zombies there, but it won’t be all of them. We don’t know what else might pop out from where.”

“Indeed… now that you mention it, the densely packed commercial district is still there.”

Nodding in agreement, Captain Lee was cautious.

I could sense his intention not to mess things up at the last minute.

I borrowed a small flashlight and shined it on the map.

“If you look… there was waste oil around here.”

“Hmm?”

“The nearby wall collapsed due to the explosion.”

“…The wall?”

I nodded.

“It seems there are still many zombies in the vicinity.”

“…Are you suggesting they might be drawn by the sound of the helicopters?”

“Yes. It’s not a certainty, but the possibility is high.”

“No. I also think there’s a possibility.”

Captain Lee mentioned the first day, discussing the zombies that had followed the helicopter.

After a moment of thought, Captain Lee quickly formulated a plan.

“First, I plan to establish a defensive line centered around the helipad.”

“Ah.”

“Most of the supplies will be weapons. We need to collect them anyway, so there’s no problem in using them in advance.”

“That’s true, but will this number of personnel be enough?”

At my words, Captain Lee smirked.

“Naturally, I plan to request reinforcements.”

Captain Lee was by no means rushing.

He said he would adjust things after checking the quantity of supplies and the condition of the helicopters.

From the start, there was a lot of work, from deployment to transporting supplies.

He emphasized that he had no intention of finishing in a day or two and prioritized safety above all else.

The plan was simple.

Launch the helicopters, send the first batch of supplies, and then resupply troops on the return trip.

It was fortunate that more hands were needed anyway.

Once defensive capabilities were established, all that remained was to transport the supplies.

A repetition of simple tasks.

If this much was accomplished, the immediate major task would be resolved.

“Don’t forget the armory and the PX.”

“Of course.”

Captain Lee’s face, as he straightened up and smiled broadly, was bright.

Checking his watch, he maintained his smile and rummaged through his bag.

“Seonghan. Do you know something?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Exactly 48 hours have passed since we began the operation.”

“Ah… today is the third day.”

Captain Lee, seeing my puzzled look, took out his familiar large satellite phone.

“The shelter will be in an uproar.”

“?”

“This was originally an operation with a low success rate. The period was set for over ten days, but there was no guarantee.”

“……”

No matter how determined they were, wasn’t that too reckless?

“So there was considerable opposition, but everyone had no choice. There was no alternative. But what would happen if we reported the news now, on just the third morning?”

“Aha.”

I didn’t know for sure, but it would probably be an explosive reaction.

Perhaps a collective sigh of relief and a flood of tears.

“Councilman Pyo-nim might even collapse. Hahaha~”

“Heh…”

It was so likely that a wry laugh escaped me.

As small laughter erupted all around, the satellite phone connected.

Captain Lee exchanged quiet words and then relayed the current situation.

“…So, as soon as day breaks, we plan to move to the next phase. Please begin preparations on your end as well.”

Captain Lee concluded the brief call, having promised another call from the field.

“The reaction is quite bland, I thought.”

Captain Lee, smiling wryly as if disappointed by Councilman Pyo-nim’s reaction, his eyes shone.

It seemed his morale was overflowing as success was within reach.

“Seonghan, would you like to get some rest? We’ll go ahead and prepare.”

“I’m fine.”

“Still…”

“How about we eat before we start?”

“That’s a good point. Alright.”

Geumgangsan is best viewed after a meal [a proverb meaning it’s best to eat before enjoying a beautiful scene or starting a task].

The morning of the third day.

We had a hearty breakfast in a completely different, bright atmosphere.

Now, the hard labor begins.