episode_0250

A family refers to those who share meals together.

Eventually, it came to mean a tight-knit group, a word encompassing familiarity and intimacy.

Now, perhaps the word carries a little more weight.

Today, we send off three family members.

Incheol, Sohee-ssi, and Reporter Kim.

Everyone, including myself, could have held them back, but we didn’t.

We simply respected their decision and quietly saw them off.

Thanks to that, there was no melodrama of tears flowing with that uniquely Korean sentiment during the farewell.

“Just stay safe and alive, wherever you are.”

With emotions exchanged calmly and silently, we parted ways.

However, perhaps unable to help feeling regretful, our luggage increased slightly.

“Eat this with your Hyung. Don’t starve yourself there.”

“…Thank you.”

Incheol and Sohee-ssi carefully hugged their lunchboxes wrapped in traditional cloths.

Grandma had urgently prepared a lot of food and sent them off with it.

It felt like lunchboxes prepared for grandchildren embarking on a long journey.

The atmosphere was getting a little emotional…

“We will depart now.”

Just as the situation seemed like it might drag on, Representative Choi quietly broke the atmosphere.

And without hesitation, everyone boarded and left the shelter.

Besides the three, there are others heading to Konkuk University.

Representative Choi, Hyung, Young-cheol, Dong-woo, and Miri’s family.

Negotiations with the Konkuk University Shelter can be left to Representative Choi, but the main reason for going is to observe the atmosphere.

It also serves the purpose of gaining experience.

Representative Choi, in particular, wanted to teach Hyung as much as possible.

Hyung also seemed to be learning a lot behind the scenes.

Miri’s family, though it might seem a bit forced, is going along for humanitarian reasons.

Before departure, the couple quietly approached and conveyed their wishes:

“…We know it’s dangerous, but we really want to thank the people who helped us.”

It was a continuous string of difficult times, but they endured solely with the single-minded belief of reuniting with their family.

Before meeting me.

Miri’s father explained that his group had supported each other by boasting about their families. They also said that they had promised each other that when they reunited with their families, they would surely show them off and boast about them to everyone.

‘Ah…’

Miri’s father seems to have a special affection for the people he was with.

Isn’t it like the feeling of our own family members?

“If it weren’t for Sergeant Kang and those people, I wouldn’t be here.”

Miri’s father consulted, saying he wanted to keep that implicit promise.

He said that after discussing it with Miri’s mother, they made the decision after much thought.

This cautious speech was because they themselves knew well:

That it was still dangerous outside.

Nevertheless, they asked to accompany us.

Because of this, I couldn’t help but ask again.

“Are you sure about bringing Miri along?”

“Well, it’s shameless of me, but I thought it wouldn’t be a problem if we went with Seonghan-ssi… Haha.”

“……”

Representative Choi and I, speechless, accepted Miri’s father’s request.

“Really? Are you sure it’ll be okay?”

“Actually, as long as we move quietly, there shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Then, please take good care of us.”

I added that if Miri’s father, who bowed deeply, didn’t attract attention, they wouldn’t encounter zombies.

If it had been our first time on this path, I would have definitely refused.

Bringing a child along on a dangerous path is nonsense.

However, based on experience, areas where zombies had been cleared were relatively safe.

As evidence, we can travel freely near Sagajeong.

A section they had traveled back and forth many times to clear the path and meet me.

If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be relatively safe?

For these reasons, I decided to let them accompany us.

And Miri…

‘Staying inside too much is a bit…’

Among our family members, only Miri hadn’t come outside.

Other family members had at least walked inside the fence, but Miri hadn’t.

She hadn’t taken a single step outside the shelter’s gate.

Or perhaps, she couldn’t come out.

Fortunately, after reuniting with her father, she started going out for walks.

Everyone’s concern was that the small child’s world might become too narrow.

One might say there’s nothing to see in a world that has already collapsed, but I also felt a significant bond from Miri’s father’s promise, so I thought it was a good opportunity.

Furthermore, Dr. Jang’s opinion that outdoor experience could help overcome aphasia also played a part.

It was a rare outing, a mix of various reasons.

We headed towards the Konkuk University Shelter with relatively calm minds.

And as expected, the road was quiet.

“Hyung. Is it going to take long?”

Dong-woo, who was behind the wheel, asked, perhaps a little bored.

“No. We’ll arrive soon. Why?”

“No reason. It’s just that it feels strange to be going this far in a car for the first time.”

Pffft.

“Oh, why?”

“Just because it’s so like you.”

At my words, Dong-woo pouted his lips but remained busy driving and observing the outside.

‘……’

Dong-woo came along because he wanted to see Incheol off.

But I just hoped he would see and experience many things.

I had no intention of ordering him to do anything or burdening him.

I just… wanted Dong-woo to gain experience and become more reliable.

Because the first person I forged a bond with was none other than Dong-woo.

‘Even if not a Robin, he should at least become an Alfred.’

Unaware of my thoughts, Dong-woo’s eyes moved without rest.

“Oh right. Heize Noona seemed quite upset, you know?”

“……”

“Wouldn’t it have been fine if she just came along?”

Thinking of Heize, who had thrown a tantrum about wanting to come along, made me laugh.

“She might look fine on the outside, but her condition isn’t normal.”

“Huh? Really? She looked perfectly energetic!”

“She needs to rest for a while.”

It had only been a week since she came to the shelter.

Her overworked body needed a long rest and stability.

Heize says she’s fine, but not in my eyes.

Either she was just enduring it, or she had simply gotten used to it.

The burden on her body that she doesn’t perceive is poison in itself.

That’s why I left her with Dr. Jang, almost like tossing her aside.

As I recalled the brief incident, Dong-woo subtly asked.

“Hyung.”

“What?”

“Do you think there are actually any people still alive?”

Dong-woo was still gazing out the window.

It felt awkward to hear Dong-woo ask such a serious question in an uncharacteristically subdued voice.

However, it wasn’t unreasonable for Dong-woo to ask such a question.

The cityscape, devoid of vitality, was desolation itself.

Right now, Dong-woo was directly facing that sight in broad daylight, unfiltered.

Continuously, throughout the entire drive.

Representative Choi had similar gloomy thoughts, and so did I.

I understood Dong-woo’s worry.

“There are, yes. Everyone’s just hiding.”

“To think people have to live in hiding… How did it come to this?”

“……”

‘I don’t know the details, but it’s because of some crazy bastards.’

I couldn’t voice my true thoughts.

I couldn’t answer Dong-woo, who was gravely internalizing the visible reality.

A heavy atmosphere settled in the car, and not long after, we reached our destination.

We saw temporary walls encircling the Konkuk University campus grounds…

“Oh! Hyung. Is that the Konkuk University Shelter?”

“…It is, but….”

Something had changed.

It clearly looked like various things had been haphazardly attached.

Even on the road leading to the main gate, there was a slight sense of unease.

“Woah… They cleared out all the street trees and streetlights. That must have been tough…”

“Ah.”

Dong-woo was right.

In the unsettling view, there were no street trees or the like.

Most of the abandoned derelict cars were reduced to mere skeletal frames.

There were clear signs that materials had been stripped from the buildings as well.

The immediate pathway we were on was like the body of an insect, stripped bare by ants.

The desolate roadside was full of traces of human passage.

“It looks like people were doing some construction.”

“Not construction, it looks like they dismantled things.”

“Huh? Dismantled?”

“It seems like they got what they needed. Turn left up ahead, for now.”

“Ah. Yes, sir.”

Following my instructions, the car turned left and slowly headed towards the main gate.

“STOP!!”

At the loud voice heard through a loudspeaker, Dong-woo immediately hit the brakes.

“Uh…”

“It’s okay. Just wait a moment.”

I immediately got out of the car and slowly walked forward.

The spacious main gate, upon closer inspection, had changed considerably.

The temporary walls around the main gate and the newly built walls had taken on a shabby appearance.

Various iron plates, stitched together like rags for reinforcement, caught my eye.

Armed personnel were positioned at regular intervals on those walls.

Besides the existing watchtowers, crudely built watchtowers were visible.

And heavy weapons resembling machine guns were visible in various places.

‘Hmm… quite…?’

Although the level of completion couldn’t be compared, its structure was similar to the defenses at Sangil-dong.

It seemed intended for defense, aiming for a height advantage, and it looked quite plausible.

Below, quite a few barricades were installed.

In addition, although crude, they had reinforced the gate with iron plates.

“…Is this Captain Lee’s work?”

A defensive line that had taken on a considerable shape within a week was impressive.

Taking in the work, which must have required a lot of effort, I walked a certain distance and stopped.

Then, I felt numerous gazes fixed on me from the guard post and barricades.

A faint chuckle.

As if to respond to the piercing gazes, I cleared my throat.

Inhale-

“I came because I was invited-!!! Open the gate-!!!”

Open the gate— …open… …en… …

Murmuring-

My booming shout caused no small amount of alarm in front of me.

A moment later, amidst the fading murmurs, a familiar man approached with quick steps.

As he drew closer, his broad smile became clearly visible.

He approached and extended his hand first.

“Please go easy. You’ll scare the kids.”

I lightly clasped his hand, which felt firm, unlike his casual banter.

“It’s because their gazes were piercing.”

“Oh, that’s the result of training, so it can’t be helped.”

“Is this how it is?”

Squeeze-

“Long time no see, Captain Lee.”

“Welcome. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Captain Lee, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time, welcomed us with an unfeigned smile.