episode_0200

There are people you’ve spent a long time with, but don’t think of when you don’t see their faces. Or there are people who, even if you only brushed past them, remain long in your memory.

The tenacity to resist without giving up until the very end. The loyalty of not abandoning comrades even in the face of death. Young yet resilient mental strength and quick situational awareness. Someone I’ve only been with for a few days, but who impressed me from our very first meeting.

“Sergeant… Kang?”

“You remembered!”

I couldn’t help but let my jaw drop in surprise. I simply stepped closer and extended my hand.

*Grab!*

The heavy feeling in my grip made it easy to tell. I could feel exactly how happy Sergeant Kang was. His eyes, as we looked at each other, trembled, and I could see intense emotions welling up.

“Hyung-nim…”

“Sergeant Kang. You were alive.”

Without realizing it, I lightly patted Sergeant Kang’s shoulder with my free hand. It was a feeling that was equally surprising, welcoming, and complex. To think that someone I thought was dead would suddenly appear. What did he feel from my patting hand on his shoulder? His firm shoulders began to tremble, albeit slightly. His face, which had been full of shock and welcome, was now overlaid with agitated emotions.

“…It’d be a bit troublesome if you started crying…”

“*Chuckle*…!”

Sergeant Kang let out a wry laugh at my quick retort.

“…To think I’d see you in a place like this…”

“That’s what I should be saying. I never dreamed you’d save me again this time.”

“Right? You’re not even a princess, yet every time I see you, you’re in danger.”

“*Pffft*… It’s not on purpose?”

“*Heh*~ Back then, I found you because of gunshots, but this time it’s a flare. It seems we have a deep connection with guns, somehow.”

“Ah! Now that you mention it, you helped me again while I was riding in a car this time too.”

“It was quite chaotic back then, wasn’t it?”

“What more is there to say? Today was just as nerve-wracking.”

We tightly held our clasped hands and exchanged welcoming smiles. Thanks to the brief recollection of memories (?), there was no chance of Sergeant Kang shedding tears. When he seemed to have calmed down a bit, we released our hands.

“I’m glad to see you safe.”

“Hyung-nim… You haven’t changed.”

“Is that so? Sergeant Kang, you’ve grown your hair out quite a bit.”

“Ah… haha…”

In his action of scratching his unkempt, shaggy hair, I caught a glimpse of his old self. He was clearly the same person, but the youthful aura he once had was almost entirely gone. Instead of the bright and affable senior private he used to be, it felt like I was facing a seasoned warrior.

“Sergeant Kang… no, should I call you Incheol?”

“Haha. Please call me whatever you’re comfortable with.”

“Sergeant Kang would be better. I might confuse you with Incheol…”

“…What? No way?”

At my words, Sergeant Kang’s eyes widened. I smiled and nodded.

“They’re safe. Sohee and Reporter Kim are too. Miri and Miri’s mother are all safe.”

“Th-that’s really—”

“W-what did you just say?!”

Suddenly, a man who burst out from among the crowd interrupted Sergeant Kang and raised his voice.

“Ah, Mister!”

“O-our Miri and my wife! They’re safe? Really?!”

A burly man, greatly agitated with bloodshot eyes, grabbed my arm. I gently stopped Sergeant Kang and the others who were reaching out in surprise. And I calmly spoke to the highly agitated man.

“Are you Miri’s father?”

“Yes!! I’m Miri’s dad! Where’s our Miri?!”

“They are all healthy and doing well.”

“*Waaah!*”

The people behind him collectively cheered at the news that they were safe.

“Ah! Ahh!! *Sobbing*…”

Miri’s father, overwhelmed by the extreme shift in emotions, simply collapsed. He wailed, covering his face with his hands, then staggered back to his feet.

“Our Miri! My wife! I have to see them now!”

“Calm down.”

“I have to see them now!! Where’s my daughter!!!”

*Thump—* *Squeeze—*

“*Gasp*?! Ah… Ahhh—!”

I gently squeezed Miri’s father’s shoulder.

“Are you coming to your senses?”

“Ahhh! Yes! Yes! Please, my arm!”

“Will you stay quiet?”

“Yes, yes! *Ouch*!!”

When I let go, Miri’s father dramatically whined and shed a few tears. As the commotion subsided, an awkward atmosphere settled in. Miri’s father, seemingly regaining his composure, took a step back from me.

“Neither Miri nor Incheol are here right now.”

“What?? What do you mean…”

“They are in another place.”

I continued speaking to Miri’s father, who was about to get agitated again at the fact that he couldn’t see them immediately.

“To begin with, I’m not from this place. I just came here for a short time.”

“Ah…”

“I received a request from the leadership of the Konkuk University Shelter here and worked as a temporary helper. I found all of you on my way back after finishing the job.”

“Oh, I see. I’m sorry…”

“It’s alright. I… somewhat understand your feelings.”

Miri’s father, having calmed down, let out a deep sigh.

“Hyung-nim. Then where is everyone…”

“Before that.”

I cut off Sergeant Kang and pointed behind me.

“Here, Representative Pyo, Director Kim, and Captain Lee are the key figures of this shelter.”

“These people…”

“Whether you trust them or not is up to you, but for now, I don’t fully trust them.”

“……”

At my words, Sergeant Kang closed his mouth and the atmosphere grew cold.

“Based on living together for a few days, at least we can eat, sleep, and fight together. And we can communicate fairly well.”

I could hear the leaders behind me sighing in relief.

“Sergeant Kang.”

“Yes, Hyung-nim.”

“I’m sure you have many questions… but I heard you had something to say.”

“That’s right.”

“My interruption made things a bit jumbled, but let’s address the main point first. Our reunion can be dealt with later; it won’t be too late.”

“Ah… I apologize.”

“You don’t need to apologize to me. It’s just that these people are quite busy.”

I glanced back at Representative Pyo, who stepped forward with a generous smile.

“It’s fine for us too. To think you two would have a connection… it’s quite an unusual one.”

“Well, I was truly surprised, but we can talk about that later.”

Representative Pyo nodded, and Sergeant Kang composed his expression.

“I’ve been quite rude.”

“It’s alright.”

Sergeant Kang, starting with a polite apology, appeared somewhat calm.

“…To put it simply, we didn’t come here to ask to be accepted.”

“Hmm?”

“We are truly grateful for your help. However, we plan to leave the city.”

“The city… you mean?”

“That’s right. Even though it ended up like this…”

‘Leaving the city…’

It’s a good option. If I had been alone, if it hadn’t been winter, I might have left the city too. My party had grown, and since it was winter, I discarded that option. And, very fortunately, thanks to Director Choi, I was able to enter the Yongmasan Shelter. If zombies are the problem, then it’s a matter of escaping to a place without zombies. The problem is that it’s not easy. Sure enough. The Konkuk University leadership also showed a considerable look of bewilderment.

“Excuse me, do you have a specific destination in mind?”

“…No.”

“Please don’t misunderstand. Hmm. Isn’t that a reckless plan? Moving without a definite destination in such a harsh winter…”

Director Kim’s tone was uncharacteristically cautious. Perhaps because of that, Sergeant Kang didn’t lash out or show an agitated reaction. However, he seemed to shrink back a little.

“We are well aware. That it’s reckless.”

“Is there a reason?”

At Representative Pyo’s gentle words, Sergeant Kang looked back at his group. After exchanging glances, Sergeant Kang’s expression hardened.

“We are people who were at the Jamsil Shelter.”

“Ah…! I heard it was quite large in scale.”

“It certainly was, before.”

“…Before?”

Sergeant Kang paused for a moment, and Representative Pyo’s face hardened.

“No way…”

“…The Jamsil Shelter has fallen.”

“……”

The air grew heavy with the unfortunate news Sergeant Kang delivered.

“Commander Choi’s plan, who was leading the shelter, was to leave the city and head to a less populated area.”

“And then?”

“In the process of preparing the plan… we were attacked by a large-scale horde. So…”

“No, wait a minute.”

Director Kim interrupted, her expression uncontrolled.

“I heard the Jamsil Shelter was enormous in scale. And its combat strength was considerable.”

“That’s correct.”

“And yet it fell?”

“Director Kim…”

The collapse of the Jamsil Shelter seemed to be quite shocking. Director Kim’s truly startled expression clearly showed her emotions. Seeing her trembling eyes, Sergeant Kang continued with difficulty.

“…Certainly, there were many soldiers and firepower, but… it was breached.”

“……”

Neither Representative Pyo nor Director Kim could speak. It was clear why they were reacting that way. The Konkuk University Shelter had barely over 100 personnel as troops. Their armaments could only now be said to have taken proper form. Yet, they seemed considerably shocked by the fact that the Jamsil Shelter, which appeared much larger and superior, had fallen.

“Um, Sergeant Kang?”

“Yes.”

“Was the shelter’s military force sufficient?”

“Sufficient… I don’t know, but there were 700 soldiers, and they maintained a thousand people by accepting volunteers.”

“*Huh*…”

“Then what about the number of survivors?”

“…Over 40,000 people.”

“…4, 40,000?”

“Did you just say 40,000 people?”

We were startled by the sudden appearance of such a large number. Director Kim even asked again.

‘So that’s what happened.’

The moment I heard the story, I felt like I understood what had happened. But I didn’t feel the need to pretend I knew. Sergeant Kang’s expression, as he continued the story, was pitiable. A mixture of gloom, pain, and sorrow… Sergeant Kang seemed somehow precarious as he continued his explanation calmly, but for now, I simply listened quietly. Inside the tent, only the subdued sounds of conversation quietly flowed. And so… our conversation continued a little longer.