episode_0248

“How on earth did you survive?”

Heize, who had been enjoying her time with the women, was appalled. After hearing how they met and how they got this far, she simply shook her head repeatedly.

“Everyone’s too mushy? Oh, ‘soft’ is the word.”

“What did you say?!”

They flared up at the sudden remark, but Heize paid no mind.

“…What else do you need?”

“Knowledge is needed.”

The only reason they were able to arrive here safely was because of my desperate antics. Heize clearly pointed that out.

“This can’t go on.”

“Hmm…”

“You’ll learn properly through training. All of you.”

The gist was simple. From now on, they should properly learn and master things to build their abilities. Simply acquiring food and fighting isn’t everything!

Heize’s opinion seemed valid, and no one disagreed. So, the additional training that followed piqued everyone’s interest. Perhaps because she was from America, a country sensitive to disasters unlike Korea, it was quite plausible. For example, packing a survival bag received a good response. They would set a destination and duration, then prepare the minimum necessary luggage accordingly. It was similar to military gear but structured entirely differently, drawing deep interest from everyone.

‘This is quite something…’

At first glance, it seemed similar to preparing for camping. But in terms of content, it was considered very plausible. The family members who had walked together from Yeongdeungpo had experienced something similar. Of course, the contents of the backpacks they carried then were nothing but food. Even I only made them carry as much as they could handle, without any particular structure. Perhaps that’s why. Everyone learned the systematic packing with joy and engraved it carefully in their minds.

“The point is, you must be able to grab it and go immediately.”

“That’s right. You mustn’t forget that the purpose is ‘survival,’ not precious metals or valuables.”

“Food should be light, storable for a long time, and easy to eat.”

Heize, Sohee, and Incheol stepped forward enthusiastically…

“Uhm… emergency rations… like hardtack?”

“Correct.”

“Ugh… hardtack…”

It might not taste good, but there’s no better preserved food than hardtack. Dong-woo and Hyunwoo, who knew it in their heads but showed their dislike with their mouths, were made to sample it on the spot. Without the sugar stars, with just a tiny bit of water. Watching the two dry, crumbly boys, opinions on preserved food also arose. The discussion concluded with the agreement to calmly try each one.

Besides that, there were methods for emergency treatment and moving injured people. How to secure drinking water, how to distinguish edible wild ingredients, and so on. From simple and easy things to those that required a lot of effort and skill. They were able to encounter various topics on survival.

‘…It’s interesting?’

It’s not something to say in a serious atmosphere, but it is interesting. There were so many things worth learning and mastering. And I also realized why Heize had reprimanded them for being complacent. Looking back now, I painfully realized how haphazardly they had managed to survive until now. They were lucky they could just grab various things and use them immediately; if not for that…

‘…Oh dear…’

Just thinking about it makes me dizzy.

‘But is it really necessary now?’

“Is it needed now? You might think that, but that’s precisely why we must prepare.”

“That’s right. You’ll need it when you go outside too.”

“Even when we go outside?”

“Because you never know when or how the situation will change. And we’ve already experienced it.”

Everyone focused on the words of the two instructors who spoke seriously.

“Instructor-nim!”

“Dong-woo! Speak.”

“Do we absolutely have to prepare our backpacks this way? Can’t the men carry the heavy ones or something?”

Heize answered Dong-woo’s raised hand with a smile.

“No.”

“Huh?”

“One person, one backpack. Important.”

“Uh…”

Dong-woo was slightly flustered by the sharp answer. Sohee gently stepped forward.

“When moving as a family unit, it’s easy to think that way. But you must consider contingencies.”

“Contingencies…”

“What if someone carrying food is left behind? Or if they lose their backpack?”

“…”

“You must reduce the burden in the worst-case scenario.”

Her words were somewhat cold, but they felt reasonable. And it seemed the same for others. Miri’s dad, in particular, quietly and strongly sympathized. It seemed he had experienced something related… Perhaps because of that, his attitude towards the lesson was excellent.

Besides that, Dr. Jang Heeyeon also lent a hand. Like a doctor, she created small first-aid kits and distributed them to people.

“This is strictly a temporary measure in case of injuries outdoors.”

The small first-aid kits contained the bare minimum for emergency treatment. This also received a good response. Everyone chuckled softly at the female doctor’s plea for them not to get hurt so they wouldn’t have to use these.

After classes proceeded in this manner, everyone ended up having a survival backpack ready in a corner of their room. It looked a bit awkward, but it was definitely better than having nothing.

‘…’

The best thing would be never to need that backpack. No sooner had I thought this than Heize moved on to the next topic.

“…What are you doing?”

“Decorating the house. Like my hometown.”

“…”

Heize walked around inside, placing guns in various spots. She even placed heavy weapons scavenged from the barricade on the rooftop. Heize, intensely working, even personally repaired damaged items.

“A shotgun is standard in a home. You never know?”

“…This is Korea.”

Is this a difference in values? She thought of guns as extremely natural. It seems I didn’t know enough about America…

“Pick this up and put it here. Hurry.”

“…Alright.”

Because she was ‘decorating’ the shelter whenever she had a moment, the feel of the place changed a lot. On the outside, it looked the same, but from the inside, it was no different from a fortress. It felt like they could win a desperate battle against 100,000 troops here. Both the people and the building seemed to have become more battle-ready.

…A small doubt crept in: did I perhaps unleash something?

But regardless of my thoughts, it was true that the shelter had become safer. That alone made me feel considerably more at ease. They maintained and nurtured this feeling. They spent their time practicing shooting, training their bodies, and eating well.

‘…Why does it feel like the military…?’

I couldn’t enlist, but isn’t their lifestyle similar to the military? A large group living together and conducting military training. If this isn’t the military, then what is it? Thinking that, a bitter smile naturally emerged.

Anyway.

The items plundered from Taesong’s base were very helpful. But not everything was useful.

“Seonghan. It would be better not to use this.”

“Hmm.”

Dr. Jang Heeyeon expressed difficulty regarding the modafinil they had seized.

“First, it’s not good for your body. Plus, it’s a drug whose handling is unknown…”

“Then I will dispose of it.”

I didn’t hesitate long over the negative opinion. Considering how that team leader used it, it’s better to get rid of it. But Dr. Jang cautiously suggested another opinion.

“Or, how about we ask my uncle to analyze the ingredients?”

“…This? Would that be possible?”

“I can’t guarantee it. But the university hospital is right next door, isn’t it?”

“Ah.”

“There might even be usable equipment there.”

“…Let’s take it when we visit this time.”

The four boxes of modafinil were decided to be sent to Konkuk University. Whether they analyze it or use it after receiving it is not my concern. As long as we don’t use it. Only us.

They neatly put the ‘hideous’ boxes aside and spent their time appropriately. They exercised, happily practiced shooting, and built up their skills. In the meantime, I didn’t just play around either.

“…”

I paid attention to the minigun batteries and ‘links’ I had separately found. The thick batteries, about half the size of a laptop, were heavier than they looked. A total of six batteries, including those already found, were significant. And the charmingly small metal links. Only after seeing these did I understand what an ammo belt was. The ‘tan-tti’ I knew was a belt-like item worn around the waist to hang heavy things. But after seeing the links, I realized the other meaning of ‘tan-tti’. The ‘tan-tti’ referred to by linking bullets together in a long chain with links. To properly use the minigun, something needed to be done with these ammo belts.

‘…For now.’

Quietly in the room, I checked each ammunition box I had collected from various places. Some had a few rounds fixed in clips, while others were attached to links. I took out the bullets that were linked together. 200 rounds, 300 rounds, 500 rounds, 800 rounds, and so on.

Click-click.

7.62mm bullets, compatible with the minigun’s specifications. I linked all of them from end to end into one continuous chain.

Click-click.

It wasn’t difficult or tiring. You just had to align them and insert them to connect.

Click-click.

200 rounds became 500 rounds.

Click-click.

500 rounds became 1000 rounds.

Click-click.

If I linked 10,000 or 20,000 rounds like this and shoved them into my inventory… Then, without worrying about reloading, I could…

Click-click.

“…Damn it.”

…It’s too bothersome. This was nothing but manual labor, like gluing eyes onto dolls. I regretted telling Sohee in the past to calm her mind by at least filling magazines. Doing it myself, I realized this wasn’t it. I put about 20,000 linked rounds into my inventory and stopped. And immediately sought out Dong-woo and Hyunwoo.

“Kids.”

“Yes, Hyung-nim.”

“You guys need to do some work.”

“Yes, sir! Just tell us what to do!”

“Alright, alright.”

Cute little guys. I simply threw the ‘task’ to my two younger brothers. This was too lonely and solitary a battle for me to fight alone. The two diligently linked bullets. The plan shifted to them linking in 1,000-round units, which I would then link again. Dong-woo and Hyunwoo, surrounded by bullets, obeyed my words without a word.

Fumbling with them, click-click.

Fiddling with them, click-click.

“Oh, this…”

“It calms my mind.”

“…You think so…”

Seeing them leisurely link bullets, it seemed that manual labor suited them well.

“Sigh.”

In the end, I sat down, and the three of us focused on linking bullets. The family members were puzzled, but knowing it was my work, they didn’t mind. In pleasant indifference, I focused on the task. They shot guns, exercised, ate heartily, and linked bullets. At night, they linked the already long ammo belts even longer before falling asleep. When five days had passed like that.

“Seonghan. The Konkuk University shelter has requested a visit.”

Finally, the awaited news arrived.

***

While the people of Yongma Shelter were spending their time productively, there were others who were not.

“So…”

“…”

A space reminiscent of a luxurious office. A man slightly over 50 stood with his head bowed. A man who appeared close to 40 was buried in a luxurious chair. With a single desk between them, the temperature difference between the two men was extreme. One exhibited a detached and boring dryness. The other was extremely tense, completely frozen, sweating cold drops. A situation that seemed familiar yet with reversed positions.

In the silent space, a business-like standard tone began to be heard.

“Less than two days after I left, that disaster happened. Did I understand correctly?”

“…”

“Manager-nim?”

“Yes, yes!”

“When someone asks a question, you must answer.”

“So-sorry.”

At that moment.

“If you say ‘sorry’ one more time…”

“Gasp!”

The middle-aged man swallowed a gasp, chilled more deeply than frost.

“Hmm…”

The man who had sighed deeply slowly looked up at the middle-aged man. Neatly combed-back hair. A clean complexion and intelligent eyes. A jawline that seemed to cut through women’s hearts, and a sharp nose. Added to that, lips that showed masculine steadfastness. The handsome man in the chair said nothing.

“To summarize the situation… the Sangildong Center collapsed, and there’s no one left alive except for those who escaped.”

“…”

“And all the supplies we painstakingly scraped together were left behind… Is that right?”

Thud!

The middle-aged man knelt and slammed his head to the ground.

“I have committed a grave sin! Director Choi-nim!”

“Hmm.”

The man called Director Choi closed his mouth once more.

Tap-tap-tap.

Only the sound of fingernails tapping the desk could be heard repeatedly.

Knock-knock.

“Director-nim.”

“Come in.”

The one who opened the door and entered was a robust man. Perhaps in his mid-40s. Judging by the numerous scars on his face and exposed skin, he didn’t seem to have lived an ordinary life.

“Commander Kim Heejun. You’ve had a lot of trouble.”

“…”

Director Choi, seeing him give a slight bow, harbored a faint smile.

“…So, what happened with what you went to do?”

At Director Choi’s words, Kim Heejun glanced downwards.

“The Center Manager’s words are correct.”

“…”

“It collapsed under a zombie attack.”

“The scale?”

“One can only describe it as massive.”

“…”

At the word “massive,” Director Choi’s eyes twitched.

“Were there that many in that area?”

“No.”

“That’s strange.”

“There’s something else strange.”

“What is it?”

In response to Director Choi’s dry question, Kim Heejun presented a tablet.

“…What is this?”

“It’s the Sangildong Center.”

“I know that too.”

Director Choi did not take his eyes off the buildings displayed on the tablet screen. The buildings, charred black and on the verge of collapsing, had turned into monstrosities. Despite this, his voice showed no change.

“The exact cause is unknown, but we presume the fire started in a vulnerable facility. Beyond that, no traces remain to infer anything else.”

“A vulnerable facility?”

“EPS. The equipment room.”

“Was it an accident? Or arson?”

The answer Director Choi heard as he put down the tablet was the latter.

“Arson… interesting.”

“You won’t find the next part interesting.”

“…”

Director Choi slowly flipped through the tablet to check the photos. Photos showing the interiors and debris of buildings, all burnt and collapsed.

“…Where are all the supplies that were inside?”

“Unknown.”

“What did you say?”

“Unknown.”

“…”

Director Choi looked up at Kim Heejun as he had looked at the middle-aged man, but Kim Heejun didn’t flinch.

“When the reconnaissance team arrived, there was already nothing left.”

“…”

“The basement, as well as the temporarily modified upper floors, were the same. Everything vanished, except for what we transported.”

“…Does that make sense?”

“No. It doesn’t make sense.”

The moment Director Choi’s expression was about to contort fiercely at the unhesitating answer.

“But it’s the truth.”

“…”

“There’s nothing we can find out about the vanished supplies.”

At the explanation that they couldn’t even check the CCTV because the control tower had been incinerated, Director Choi swallowed a hollow laugh.

“Ha…”

“Instead, we’ve recovered some of the cargo that escaped.”

“…”

“I will inform you separately of the interrogation results.”

Only then did Director Choi’s expression relax, and he wore a faint smile once more.

“Of course. There’s truly a reward in entrusting the work to Commander-nim.”

“What shall we do with this person?”

“I will leave it to the Commander.”

“D-Director-nim!!”

The middle-aged man was startled, but the two men remained expressionless.

“He was greatly angered not by the material loss, but by the disruption of the plan.”

“…”

“What to do with this…”

“As for that part…”

Kim Heejun, who was about to speak, closed his mouth. Thereupon, Director Choi subtly opened his mouth.

“Manager-nim, please go outside and wait.”

“D-Director-nim! Pl-please, just one more chance!”

“I won’t dispose of you. So, shut your mouth and leave.”

“Th-thank you! Thank you!”

The middle-aged man, exuding the joy of a narrow escape from death, staggered out of the office. Then Kim Heejun, as if he had been waiting, opened his mouth.

“There’s a strange part.”

“What is it?”

“They say there was an intruder.”

“…An intruder? In that center?”

Director Choi tilted his head.

“Did I hear that correctly?”

“Yes. I also found it hard to believe and confirmed it several times, but…”

“The Commander, several times…”

“There was clearly an intruder, and that person released the cargo.”

“…And that person is the culprit who caused all this trouble?”

Kim Heejun did not reply to Director Choi’s speculation.

“It’s merely a possibility. Considering the time, it’s physically impossible.”

“Hmm… Or there were other companions…”

At those words, Kim Heejun shook his head.

“One person. There was no one else.”

“Hmph… well…”

“And…”

“What else?”

“Traces of mutated beings were found.”

This time, Director Choi didn’t brush it off lightly either.

“The number?”

“We can’t be sure, but at least two or more.”

“Securing the bodies?”

“We couldn’t find them.”

“Tsk…”

Director Choi expressed genuine regret.

“That’s truly regrettable. Well, what’s past is past. What’s the plan moving forward?”

“Nothing for now.”

“Hmm… Can you find that intruder?”

“…There are no clues.”

“This is truly… maddening.”

Director Choi raised both hands.

“According to witness testimony, if there’s a defining feature, it’s that he’s a young man, strong, and had his face covered.”

“…However strong he might be—”

“They say he ripped off a lock with his bare hands.”

Flinch.

“The lock of that ‘waiting area’ with his bare hands?”

“Yes.”

“…”

“The intruder. Should we pursue him?”

Director Choi, who had been thinking expressionlessly, finally opened his mouth after a long time.

“Find him.”

“Understood.”

“It would be good if we could recover the supplies, but I won’t prioritize that. Please prioritize tracking down that intruder.”

“I cannot guarantee it.”

“I will accept that.”

After those words, Kim Heejun left the office. Director Choi, left alone, slowly re-examined the tablet on the desk.

“Someone who bares their teeth at Taesong… Who on earth could it be?”

A deep smile hung on Director Choi’s lips as he gazed expressionlessly at the photos of the burnt buildings and corpses. And his eyes began to sparkle with curiosity.