episode_0188

Inside the helicopter, heading to Yongsan Base, the atmosphere was slightly awkward.

Just a moment ago, we had exchanged blunt and unpleasant words, so it would be strange if the atmosphere were good.

Captain Lee didn’t say anything particular to me.

Leaning back comfortably, he didn’t seem upset.

His expression was just as usual.

‘…….’

However, my gaze fixed on the white bandage wrapped around his neck.

A man exuding masculinity with only his neck bandaged was, how should I put it…

…visually unappealing.

Adding to that, his shirt front was stained with a lot of blood.

It felt exactly like hitting someone and waiting at the police station with the victim.

Of course, I’d never actually done that.

At least not on this side.

He ended up like this because of me, but I felt no remorse.

Wouldn’t he be grateful that his neck wasn’t severed?

As I thought this, our eyes met.

“Ah. It’s just a slight cut to the skin, I’m fine.”

Of course. Whose skill do you think it is?

By the way, is this person bold or just oblivious?

“Captain, are you truly unaffected?”

I calmly asked him, who seemed no different from usual.

It felt a bit funny for me, the one who caused it, to ask, but I was curious about his thoughts.

At my question, Captain Lee simply gave an easygoing smile.

Gently stroking the bandage wrapped around his wound, he slowly began to speak.

“Honestly, I was scared. Very much so.”

“…….”

It’s normal for anyone to flinch when a blade is held to their neck.

But seeing him say it with an unaffected expression, it didn’t seem to be the case.

“I’ve suffered various injuries many times… but this injury was the scariest.”

Captain Lee slowly lowered the hand that had been stroking his neck.

“It’s fine. It was something I brought upon myself.”

“…….”

“…I always had a saying.”

Captain Lee scratched his cheek with a finger, an embarrassed expression on his face.

“Accurate transmission and communication of information are important, and very important, in any situation.”

“That’s a good saying.”

“I thought the same when I first learned it.”

Captain Lee gave an awkward laugh.

“But I failed to do that, and this is how things turned out.”

“Hmm.”

“If it had been a battlefield, it wouldn’t have been strange to die right then and there.”

It seemed he was reflecting on himself now.

“…There was a similar incident. It happened when I was dispatched overseas.”

Captain Lee swallowed once and recounted a past memory.

“Simply put, we received an order, deployed, and suffered heavy damage. The cause was an unexpected surprise attack.”

A surprise attack exploiting a weakness has a high probability of being a fatal blow.

“The funny thing is that we had information about the situation on site.”

“?”

“…Though I couldn’t know the details. A misjudgment and delay, and mistimed information relay, were the biggest reasons.”

“Oh.”

“It was also a valuable lesson, as an accident that caused significant damage started from such a foolish mistake.”

Captain Lee gave a bitter laugh.

“To experience such a thing after going through that…”

“Hmm…”

He gave a self-deprecating smile along with his brief story.

This man also seemed to have some lingering memories…

“Dr. Jang Myeonghwan and the two of you apologized to me, but I didn’t do so well either. Perhaps… no.”

He didn’t add any lengthy caveats.

After a brief pause, he continued.

“…As you said earlier, we are currently fighting. We are waging a war against zombies. In such a situation, just surviving is fortunate.”

“…….”

It seemed Captain Lee had a lot on his mind as well.

The saying that people learn from mistakes and develop further is famous.

The problem is that it’s difficult to actually put into practice.

However, when one’s life is on the line, feedback seems to quicken.

Just like today.

“You could have died by my hand.”

I said in a blunt tone.

“That’s right.”

Captain Lee, speaking calmly, did not avoid my gaze.

“But I didn’t feel like I was going to die immediately.”

“…A knife was at your throat?”

“That was scary. I’m just a regular soldier, you know?”

His shrug made me doubt his sincerity.

As I narrowed my eyes, Captain Lee smiled faintly.

“I know you’re not someone who kills people without reason. Perhaps that’s why.”

“You don’t know much about me, do you?”

“That’s true.”

I was dumbfounded by his immediate and unhesitating reply.

“Aren’t you taking me too lightly?”

He seemed to feel comfortable with me. Quite a lot.

But he merely smiled slightly.

Seeing him fall silent, I didn’t say anything more either.

‘…He doesn’t seem to be looking down on me…’

It’s a little ambiguous.

I know he’s not despising me or taking me for granted.

To be so carefree in front of someone he barely knows and who almost slit his throat… well.

I leaned back and looked out the small window at the scenery.

Anyway, we had to work together for a bit longer.

I thought it would be better than needlessly provoking him and ruining the atmosphere.

It also didn’t seem like he was wary of me or blaming me.

‘…He’ll figure it out himself.’

I decided not to worry about it anymore.

As both of us fell silent, a slightly awkward atmosphere hung in the helicopter.

But it wasn’t uncomfortable or anything like that.

It was more like two unfamiliar men awkwardly facing each other.

…This, in itself, was a torment.

Fortunately, the painful time ended quickly.

We arrived at Yongsan Base unexpectedly fast.

‘…Helicopters really are good.’

Despite the difficult maintenance, the very ability to use air travel was a huge appeal.

There was no need to worry about zombies popping out from anywhere.

There was no need to squeeze through blocked roads.

Just freely soaring through the vast sky.

‘…I wonder if there’s anyone among our group who can pilot a helicopter…’

I became curious who among my people might be capable.

Beyond the various advantages, the feeling of flying in the sky was quite good.

Without thinking, I wished I had one of these.

Honestly, I coveted a helicopter.

As I gently disembarked from the smoothly landed helicopter, I added one item to my wishlist.

Seeing Captain Lee and me alight from the helicopter, the soldiers swarmed towards us.

All of them were filled with concern.

“Captain. Is something wrong?”

“It’s nothing. Everything was cleanly handled.”

“…Is that so?”

Sergeant Kim had a suspicious expression, but he didn’t press the issue.

“Captain. Blood. Hurt?”

“Ah. I’m fine.”

“Hm…”

Heize, wrapped in a blanket, seemed to have just woken up.

She examined Captain Lee’s neck area, then looked at me.

“Why?”

“Nothing.”

“But why are you like that?”

“Fell asleep. So cold.”

“Cold?”

“Yes.”

“Then you should get warm.”

“Really? Quick!”

Leaving Heize, who beamed and brightened up, I spoke to Captain Lee.

“Make her work too.”

“…what?”

At my words, Captain Lee let out a small laugh.

“What? Why? You said you work well?”

“Uh… uh…”

“You’ll get warm if you move. You work too.”

“…okay…”

She seemed to recall what she had said, and her face fell.

I laughed at the sight of her weakly folding the blanket.

Captain Lee, standing beside me, also couldn’t suppress his laughter.

“Ahem. Hem. Heize, please help these two here.”

“Okay.”

“Seonghan…”

“I’d like to catch some sleep for a bit.”

“Understood.”

Captain Lee added that he would wake me if anything unusual was found.

The soldiers, unlike before, were confused by the return to the normal atmosphere.

Especially Sergeant Kim and Jo Junwi, who were glancing around.

I left all the remaining work to Captain Lee and headed towards a two-and-a-half-ton truck.

I leaned against a pile of cargo in the truck bed and closed my eyes.

My eyelids were stinging and warm.

‘…….’

At night, my body was used, and during the day, my mind was used.

I was a bit tired, you could say.

Everything felt bothersome.

If I just fell into a deep sleep like this…

“Ah.”

Even sleeping was too much trouble.

I got up again and approached Captain Lee.

“Captain Lee-nim.”

“Seonghan. Why aren’t you resting?”

“There’s something I want to ask.”

“Yes.”

“Can Heize and Lawrence be sent to the shelter?”

At my words, Captain Lee made a surprised expression.

“I only reported that there were survivors, but I didn’t mention their whereabouts.”

“Will it be difficult?”

“If I had my way, I’d bring them immediately, but it’s not a decision I can make alone. Please wait a moment…”

I nodded, watching Captain Lee immediately take out his satellite phone.

Someone who didn’t know might feel hurt.

But it’s different from bringing people into a private home or just any building.

It’s putting outsiders into a place where a large number of people are holding out.

They couldn’t help but be cautious, even knowing it wasn’t wrong.

I thought Captain Lee was acting correctly.

If I were in Captain Lee’s position, I might have done something similar.

After a brief call, Captain Lee delivered good news.

“No problem.”

“Then can we send them both on this transport?”

At my words, Captain Lee glanced at Heize, who was helping with the work.

“But… it seems those two follow you. Will they want to go?”

“Isn’t the shelter better than being here? There’s a doctor too.”

“That’s true, but…”

“Just send them quickly so they can get medical attention and rest.”

I immediately called Heize, who was helping Staff Sergeant Park.

“Why called?”

“Wake Lawrence up and get ready.”

“What ready?”

“Captain Lee-nim said he came from the shelter, right?”

“Camp? Yes.”

“We’re going there. I’ve told them, so you can go.”

“Han?”

“I’m not going.”

Heize blinked.

“Work left?”

“That’s right. So get ready quickly.”

“No.”

“What? What are you saying…”

“No.”

A clear word, pronounced distinctly and with emphasis.

Her thoughts were conveyed just as clearly.

‘Didn’t I tell you?’

Captain Lee, standing beside me, gave me an expression that said ‘See?’.

Heize crossed her arms, stubbornly digging in her heels.

“But why?”

Their reactions simply left me speechless.