episode_0243

Waking up, I felt good. It seemed the enjoyable eating and drinking had a significant effect. I felt fine, but I wasn’t sure about the others. The reason was simple. The celebratory meal that started in the morning didn’t end quickly.

“Seonghan. Isn’t the way to spend a holiday gathering together to eat, drink, and let loose?” “That’s what I’ve heard.” “It’s nothing much. Families simply gather closely and enjoy their time together.” “Ahaha…” “It passed by vaguely because you weren’t here, but since things are this way, why not create the atmosphere now?” “Oh… I’d like that very much.” It was a mistake. Grandfather’s idea of creating our own holiday atmosphere was good. The response was actually very positive, and no one refused. But I truly didn’t expect them to drink all day long. I didn’t know if everyone had been holding back their appetites or had been waiting for this chance.

‘…Did I know my family too little…?’ They ate and played so well that such a thought crossed my mind. Not only Hyung and Commander Choi, but even the introverted Byeongsu didn’t stop. Everyone truly drank until their noses were crooked. For everyone’s enjoyment, Grandmother didn’t rest for a moment. She kept making all sorts of dishes without stopping, and we couldn’t dissuade her.

“This is nothing, really. Since you’re here, try some of this. Hehe~” She was enjoying herself while cooking, so it was awkward to stop her. As a result, whether there was little or much, she made and fed us all sorts of dishes. In response, Commander Choi even brought out hwatudo and cards, heating up the atmosphere. I was astonished to see him even wearing comfortable sweatpants, with his belly out. A cycle of eating, drinking, playing, and sleeping. Unexpected sights that were hard to see normally. A time of joyful rest, not essential labor for survival. We completely unwound our bodies and minds, which had been suppressed and tense. During all this, I even thought, ‘I wish it could be like this every day.’ And so, after spending a day, it was now the next morning.

The shelter, with everyone asleep, was very quiet. “Hmm…” It was calm, as if yesterday’s ruckus had been a lie. Heading to my room so as not to disturb anyone’s sleep, I went down to the basement. The basement, equipped with facilities and a warehouse for the shelter that protected us. I looked around the warehouse and began to replenish the depleted items. Food and daily necessities were still plentiful. Even so, I filled the empty spaces and added more varieties for now. Not too much, just enough so it wasn’t noticeable.

“Is this enough?” I looked contentedly at the supplies, which had subtly increased in quantity. When I was assisting with the operation at Yongsan Base, a vague thought crossed my mind. What if I was forced to be away for an extended period? What if I was away for more than a fortnight, or even a month? Being separated from my family, my thoughts weren’t just about delicious food. It was about preparation for the unexpected. I felt the need to prepare, assuming I wasn’t there. Of course, my family members are the kind of people who would band together and face crises themselves. They would have continued to survive somewhere even if it weren’t for me. However, the outside world for ordinary people is too dangerous, harsh, and cruel.

‘……’ I imagined Hyung and Dong-woo struggling fiercely outside, taking risks. I imagined Incheol and Sohee risking their lives with a single old rifle. I imagined Grandmother and Grandfather wanting to feed their companions even in harsh conditions. I imagined Commander Choi attempting negotiations with unfamiliar groups. I thought of Shia and the women trying to support everyone somehow. I even thought of Miri, shivering and emaciated from the cold. I recalled the men, gritting their teeth and sticking together no matter what.

“Damn it.” If I hadn’t gotten involved at all, maybe it would be different. Now, just thinking about it makes me furious. I can never let that happen. Especially not before I die. It’s different from before.

‘……’ I admitted it. I now consider this place my home and everyone here my family. I accepted that I had grown fond of them all. It had felt foreign and unfamiliar because I had spent too much time alone, but now it felt good.

“You won’t be Oppa anymore!” “…….” Shia’s words came to mind. It had only been about four months, but compared to then, things had truly turned out as Shia had said. It was a slightly different direction, but still…

“I’ll protect my man.” “Pfft…” Thinking of everyone, I didn’t feel that the countless supplies in my inventory were a waste. 『Please send my share to my family.』 I deeply understood the feelings of those men who had made such requests. Now, I felt like I would say something similar. “Hmph~ Am I the young head of the household now?” Chuckling idly, I slowly walked out of the building.

The cold air of the early winter morning awakened my mind. *Whoosh—* “Huu~” I decided. From just myself to everyone. To take a more active role in protecting our current way of life. It wasn’t just because of those two women’s desires. I just wanted to do it. Nothing would change immediately. Only my mindset had shifted, just a little, a very little. Having settled my mind, I returned to my room and opened my inventory. Then I casually checked my tools and laid them out repeatedly.

I had an abundance of mass-produced kitchen knives to use for throwing. There were also many axes and crowbars that I could use casually and discard. “…Damn, there’s a lot, isn’t there…?” From small items like batteries to large ones like construction materials, the variety was diverse, and the quantity was immense. The largest portion consisted of food and ammunition. Frankly, it was enough to start a business. At this point, among my peers, I wondered if I was the richest person in the world.

“I don’t understand the principle of it.” I idly gazed at the sub-space open in mid-air. When I was over there, even the system was unhelpful. But now, it was even worse. There were no explanations or notifications whatsoever. Aside from the clumsy usage method I accidentally discovered, there was nothing else I could figure out. The capacity, which had once neared its limit, had increased again, and now I didn’t know its limit. The inventory had grown little by little.

‘…Well… does it matter?’ It wasn’t hindering my life immediately, nor were there any noticeable penalties. Since it had only been helpful so far, there seemed to be no need to worry. In fact, the thought of not having it made me dizzy. The thought of having to carry every single item by hand made me curse automatically. Frankly, I should be thankful it wasn’t a setting where you had to pay to expand your inventory, like in a game. Attaching meaning to the ability to use it… ‘I’ll make good use of it in the future too.’ After making a small resolve and a rough assessment, I tidied up the scattered items.

*Knock-knock—* Just then, Shia entered the room. …She looked terrible. “Oppa. You’re up?” “…Are you okay?” “Yes.” “…….” When I stared at her, Shia let out a small sigh. “Actually, my stomach really hurts.” “You should have drunk in moderation then.” As I chided her and stood up, Shia gave a small laugh. “It was my first time drinking so joyfully like yesterday…” “Drink in moderation next time.” “Okay~” Shia replied sweetly and, as always, led me to the dining room.

There were no empty seats at the dining table. They had eaten and drunk that much, yet no one was hungover or suffering from an upset stomach. It seemed true that Koreans never fall behind when it comes to eating and drinking, no matter where they go. Even now, they were expertly finishing the mixed stew Grandmother had made as a hangover cure. I had eaten a lot, and everyone else had just finished their entire meal.

“I have something to say for a moment.” Commander Choi, wiping his mouth with a tissue, got everyone’s attention. “Commander Choi. Is something the matter?” “Hmm…” To Grandfather’s careful question, Commander Choi composed his expression. “It’s not quite that, but it will be a rather serious topic.” “In that case, we should listen carefully.” “Thank you, Elder-nim.” “Why so formal between us~” “Huh? Hahaha~ You’re absolutely right.” Everyone laughed together, but the dining table soon fell silent.

Once the atmosphere was set, Commander Choi slowly began. “As you know, Seonghan did a great job at Yongsan Base and returned. I wanted to tell you about it earlier, but it was delayed a bit. Ah! I’m not blaming Seonghan, you know?” *Chuckles—* Commander Choi, looking perfectly fine as if unaffected by yesterday’s drinks, lightened the mood slightly. Then he carefully chose his words so as not to startle anyone. As previously discussed, he told the story of what happened at Yongsan Base well. The swarming zombies and the soldiers who fought against them. And leading up to the success of the mission. Commander Choi demonstrated his eloquence, explaining the grim reality quite well. He also recounted the conversation they had at Konkuk University Shelter. Thanks to him, the family’s shock was lessened, and their vigilance was awakened.

In particular, they properly recognized the seriousness of the variants. Several people, including myself, had witnessed them directly or indirectly. And the testimonies of those who had survived afterward. This thoroughly convinced everyone. Then followed Hyunwoo’s tale of hardship. It was a series of situations they could have faced themselves, so no one listened carelessly. Added to that were the stories of collapsed shelters, starting with Miri’s father’s testimony. As Commander Choi said, it was not a light topic. However, the family maintained a relatively calm demeanor.

Amidst the silence, Commander Choi spoke again. “And this matter… I’ve thought a lot about it.” “…….” “The day before yesterday, when Seonghan didn’t return. I looked through the documents Sohee brought back.” ‘Aha…’ He seemed to be referring to the documents brought from the district office. “They were official documents, and the issue date was four months ago, but…” Commander Choi hesitated for a moment. “…It seems it’s difficult to expect anything from the country…” Everyone held their breath.

“Although the information is fragmented and incomplete, I am certain. The government has not prepared any countermeasures whatsoever.” “Hmm…” “Everyone probably expected this to some extent, but please consider this as confirmation.” The family’s expressions darkened slightly. It was Grandfather who broke the silence. “Commander Choi.” “Yes, Elder-nim.” “This is an opinion you’ve thoroughly reviewed and considered, isn’t it?” “Yes. In particular, I also took Sohee’s opinion as a soldier seriously.” At the firm answer, Grandfather nodded heavily. “Then do you have a plan?”

It was a direct question that everyone else refrained from asking. “The basics don’t change. Like now, we do what we need to do and stick together. That is the answer.” “Mhm. Indeed.” “You might all be surprised, but what we need to do hasn’t changed.” *Grins—* Commander Choi smiled at me. “And there is a need to be more cautious when dealing with strangers.” Commander Choi reiterated Hyunwoo’s story of hardship to emphasize his point. No one complained about this part either. In particular, Miri’s parents expressed strong agreement. After speaking passionately for a moment, the two soon came to their senses and looked embarrassed.

“Of course, that doesn’t mean we’re completely cutting off ties with the outside world.” “Are you… referring to the people at Konkuk University?” “That’s right.” “Uh… Commander Choi. Can we trust them?” Commander Choi looked surprised. “Is there something you dislike about them?” “It’s not that…” Grandfather glanced at me. “I just worry that Seonghan might be dragged into dangerous situations.” “Ah.” “He went through a lot of hardship again this time, didn’t he?” Grandfather took a sip of his lukewarm coffee and continued. “…I don’t feel at ease. I apologize for an old man’s unnecessary worries, but…”

“No, not at all. I agree with your words, Elder-nim.” The two elders couldn’t hide their bitterness. Commander Choi clearly looked hesitant. It seemed even more so because maintaining a bridge with the Konkuk University Shelter was his idea. So I quietly helped Commander Choi. “Grandfather.” “Yes, Seonghan.” “I’m sorry, but it’s already decided.” “Is that so…” I added to Grandfather, whose gaze wavered as much as his words trailed off. “Still, there’s no need to worry. We won’t be meeting often. If it’s something dangerous, I’ll know to withdraw myself.” “That would be a relief, then.” “Elder-nim. This is merely about maintaining a relationship. Of course, there might be times we help out, but we will absolutely not leave Seonghan in danger.”

At my words and Commander Choi’s, Grandfather relaxed his stern expression. “You two have decided on this yourselves, I suppose. I was just worried, that’s all.” “Thank you for understanding.” “Then is there anything we can help with?” “Right now…” “There’s one thing I’d like to ask for.” Everyone’s gaze turned to me as I cut Commander Choi off. “It’s nothing else, just…” Although I brought up something a little unexpected, everyone listened intently. I quietly conveyed my thoughts, and our conversation continued for a bit longer.