episode_0281

The hazy sky deepened the shadows cast in the dim hallway.

Thanks to this, Park Moojin and Kang-doo had no trouble concealing themselves from the outside.

It was fortunate for the two tall men.

They could see out, but those outside couldn’t detect them.

Holding this advantage, the two men calmly composed themselves for battle.

It wasn’t a matter of mindset.

The two men’s mental states were so robust that they wouldn’t suffer a single scratch even if someone brought something to hack at them.

It might be more accurate to say their hearts had hardened into a solid lump.

A heart that had burned out and solidified into coldness subtly seeped out through their eyes.

Just as their minds were set, their bodies also seemed to be in perfect readiness, with ominous gear plastered all over them.

It wasn’t just the rifles in their hands.

Every pocket of their vests was packed with spare magazines.

Hand axes of a portable size hung on both sides of their waist. The dirty, familiar stains were of a kind that needed no recognition.

Knife handles were holstered on both thighs, and even small knives were ready on their calves.

A slight difference was that Kang-doo had prepared a crowbar and heavy hammers good for swinging.

Anyone seeing them would flinch and think, ‘Oh, hell no?’ at their terrifying appearance.

The two men, with cold, sunken eyes, stared outside.

Though their agreement was rough, they waited for the signal, ears perked, and calmly regulated their breathing.

Otherwise, they felt as if they would rush at the enemies immediately, so they deliberately held back their bodies, which yearned to rampage.

‘Wait. Not yet.’

Park Moojin calmed himself.

It wasn’t a short wait.

Considering the time they had relentlessly pursued the enemies, this much waiting was nothing.

Worried that impatience might ruin their plans, he reprimanded himself.

All this time, he had persistently tracked them down, chipping away at them little by little.

It was conventionally impossible for just two people to confront a group of over 200, but a disaster-like reality made it possible.

Even though it was his original line of work, with the situation and motivation given, it was by no means impossible.

Like locusts, constantly moving, repeating plunder and predation, the enemies had flowed and flowed to reach this point.

There was no particular reason why it took so long.

The two men’s opponents were not just humans.

If only there hadn’t been zombies, they might have killed them much sooner.

And even then, they nearly lost them when a large horde of zombies blocked their way, but they managed to find them in the end.

It was truly an astonishing tenacity.

That was how they barely caught up with Kim Gwanghyeon and his subordinates.

As the saying goes, a dog can’t change its spots. Seeing the enemies settling down and repeating the same actions as soon as they found a place, Park Moojin felt greatly relieved.

He was grateful that the fact they were bastards who deserved to die a hundred times over hadn’t changed.

And so, Park Moojin smiled.

“Hyung…”

Kang-doo’s voice, as he spoke to Park Moojin who wore a chillingly cold smile, was tinged with clear regret.

“Just a little longer, Hyung. It’ll be soon.”

But he didn’t stop him.

Because Kang-doo felt the same way.

“…My apologies.”

“It’s the first time I’ve heard you say that, Hyung.”

“……”

“I guess I truly lived long enough to see everything. Heh.”

He chuckled with a silly remark but quickly returned to a stoic expression.

“That person. Can we trust him?”

Park Moojin didn’t react to Kang-doo’s question.

“It doesn’t seem like he intended to kill us…”

“Cannot be trusted.”

“I thought so too, right?”

Park Moojin nodded, affirming Kang-doo’s words.

“But he’s someone who will keep his promise.”

“Huh?”

“…I can only put it that way.”

Since their encounter was brief, he couldn’t fully grasp what kind of person he was.

But after exchanging a few blows, the man who suddenly appeared was truly dangerous.

Long-honed instincts and ingrained experience rang an unprecedented alarm.

He thought of death in front of that human.

Of course, it wasn’t as if he hadn’t faced mortal dangers before.

Still, Park Moojin could state definitively.

It was the first time he had felt death so close in his life.

However, the ominousness, clearly devoid of ‘killing intent,’ was somehow enough to inspire admiration.

He also realized for sure after crossing paths with him.

That no matter what he did, he couldn’t do anything to that man.

A man of such caliber would have no reason whatsoever to make false promises or mock them, who he had just met for the first time.

Unless he was a bastard like Kim Gwanghyeon.

But unlike a bastard, his mind seemed perfectly sane. That’s why he felt the man was dangerous.

Someone with a different dimension of power, yet completely sane.

It was a common observation that exceptionally talented individuals often had some twisted or broken aspect.

That’s why he couldn’t be trusted.

‘Where on earth did a person like that come from…’

Given how he appeared silently on the rooftop and overpowered Kang-doo, who was ignorantly strong, with sheer force, it was clear he was no ordinary human.

After all, Kang-doo was a man who could break walls with a sledgehammer and even lift a car slightly to move it.

He didn’t know the reason, but the person they were hostile towards happened to be a common target. Park Moojin judged that there was no room to doubt the small proposal that man had offered.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you speak well of anyone, Hyung.”

“……”

“Oh, there he goes again. Look at him shutting up.”

Kang-doo clicked his tongue at the blunt response, but Park Moojin didn’t mind. Rather…

‘…If he’s going to stab us in the back…’

Just as Park Moojin was gently caressing the handle of the knife at his waist.

Bang!

Shrieeeeeek-!!!

“?!”

“Hyung!”

A tearing scream from a living person echoed along with something breaking.

Soon, more of the same sounds were heard, and then a human, wreathed in flames, was seen writhing.

Instantly, Park Moojin revised his judgment.

‘Th-that crazy bastard!’

He couldn’t believe he’d set a living person on fire.

He said they’d know when they saw it, and it was exactly as he said.

The two men had received the ‘signal’ clearly.

Just as they were shaking off their disbelief from the unimaginable signal and preparing to move.

Crash! Boom!

Aaaaaaaah-!!

Park Moojin couldn’t help but say something upon seeing the flames mixed with black smoke rising from ahead.

“I love it.”

Park Moojin grinned widely.

“Hyung!”

“…We go according to plan. Run.”

The two men started running, avoiding the gazes that were surely drawn to the commotion.

***

Waste separation is important.

Even in less civilized places back then, the concept of waste separation was clear.

For example, wooden buildings were dismantled and recycled.

They were processed to be thinner and flatter, or if that wasn’t possible, used as good firewood.

Nails were individually pulled out, collected, and refined.

Food waste was finely chopped and spread on the ground, and bones were crushed into fertilizer.

Of course, there were always some wastes that couldn’t be recycled at all, and the solution for them was simple.

Incineration.

Leather scraps from armor, or heavily decayed chunks of meat.

All unmanageable waste was burned.

So, I pulled out a Molotov cocktail.

‘No wonder I felt like making a lot.’

This is why one should cultivate the habit of preparing in advance.

Waste needed to be burned, and it was also time to send a signal.

A bonfire is an excellent means of notification.

I quickly finished preparations and moved.

Climbing over the rooftop and finding a spot, I was in a straight line with the side of the enemies guarding the entrance.

The distance was about 50m.

Click-

‘Shall we begin?’

At this distance, I could hit them.

First, I threw a Molotov cocktail at the one standing on the edge.

Whoosh-

The Molotov cocktail flew in a cute parabola and precisely landed on the head of the guard.

Bang! Whoosh!

…Shrieeeeek-!!!

The guard, who hadn’t realized what was happening for a moment, immediately screamed, looking at his palms.

The contents splattered onto the pants of the guy chattering right next to him, and it began to burn fiercely.

What the hell-!! What’s going on, goddammit!!

Chaos erupted at the entrance as flames suddenly erupted from a person who had been standing normally.

‘Sigh.’

Unfortunately, the opponents were living humans.

Knowing the danger of fire, they didn’t approach.

They just kept their distance, pointed fingers, and gasped in horror.

It would have been better if they had rushed in, obsessed with fire, like zombies.

Click- whoosh!

This time, I aimed for the guy at the opposite end.

Splat!

Aaaaaaaah-!! Save me-

The enemies panicked as people on both sides were engulfed in flames.

Shuffle, shuffle-

The enemies rolling on the ground and moving away from their burning comrades naturally converged toward the center.

Whizz- whoosh! Whizz- whoosh!

Crash! Boom!

Flames surged with the explosions.

The flames scattered black smoke, blood, and flesh fragments into the air.

Two grenades, falling precisely into the midst of the retreating enemies, created a magnificent sight.

Soon after, two men were seen dashing forward.

As if they had planned it in advance, they moved towards the side entrance, not the main one.

‘They’ll manage well enough.’

Especially the man named Park Moojin.

Back in modern times, he was the first human to lay a hand on my body, excluding Heize.

He must be a considerable expert.

Snap-

Putting aside concerns for others, I descended from the rooftop and calmly headed towards the main entrance.

Just then, hearing the loud noise, a group of enemies came pouring out from the entrance at the top of the stairs.

“Damn it! What the hell is going on!!”

A man cursing loudly, looking at the ones turning into chunks of meat and burning.

‘Not the boss.’

He had an ordinary physique, unlike the description.

At first glance, they all looked similar.

Unwashed, grimy appearances.

Randomly picked up clothes.

The tools each of them held were greasy, as if they hadn’t been maintained.

Some of them carried shotguns.

Despite that, they didn’t think of coming down the stairs, only spewing curses and raising their voices.

‘A disorganized rabble… no, is it obvious?’

It’s rude to expect anything from guys who push others around with numbers and only prey on the weak.

That’s when I reached the main entrance.

“Th-there!”

“What?! ?? What the hell is that bastard?”

“Maybe he did it?”

“Damn it, what are you talking about, you bastard!”

They say you’ll get beaten up if you’re the only one to shout ‘Yes!’ when everyone else is shouting ‘No!’, and it’s true.

I sent a melancholic gaze to the guy who got cursed at for saying the right answer.

Whizz- whoosh!

Just sending a gaze is boring, so I’ll add a grenade.

“?”

Thud! Rolling-

A cute grenade dropped right into the middle of the huddled group.

“…Ooh-”

Boom!

“Hmph…”

The grenade showed its proper effect.

Fragments from the explosion flew upwards and bounced sideways.

None of the nearly twenty people were standing upright.

A single grenade instantly killed a significant number.

“Ugh…”

“Aaaagh…!”

“Mommyyyy…”

‘Who’s the bastard looking for his mom?’

There are always bastards who call for their mom when things get tough. Even such a bastard is a child, and a mother is someone who will rush over, hug them, and cry for them.

What sin have all the mothers in the world committed, I wonder.

‘I want to call for my mom too.’

Among those who survived now, some had lost a limb, and some had spilled their guts.

Showing themselves rolling on the floor in that state would definitely be like driving a nail into their mother’s heart.

So…

Click- whoosh!

Splat!

Whoosh!

“Kyaaaaaaah!”

“S-save me! Save me!”

I decided to clean them up myself before they could show that sight.

Exterminating pests and tidying up these filial sons of the fire element.

This is truly killing two birds with one—

Bang! Thwack!

“……”

Amidst that, there was a human who fired a gun.

I turned my gaze and saw a guy leaning against the wall, bleeding from his stomach.

Overwhelmed by pain, he desperately aimed his wildly shaking muzzle and somehow pulled the trigger.

“…Cough- dammit…”

And yet, with bloodshot eyes, he stared at me intently.

“Bastard.”

A rare, good tenacity.

I responded to that damn persistence by throwing a Molotov cocktail.

Bang!

“…Ughaaaaaa…”

Perhaps it was the final blow; the man, unable to even scream properly, merely twisted and writhed.

Those who happened to be nearby and caught some sparks were a bonus.

“……”

Before long, even the small writhing stopped.

Around the entrance, heavily painted with blood and fragments of organs, only pieces of meat cooking in the fire remained.

How bland.

Zombies would have shown a more satisfying reaction.

Somehow, more than I thought—

Rumble-

‘As expected.’

I believed the main game was still remaining.

And indeed.

The ones coming out this time seemed a little better.

They burst out, disregarding the remaining flames and piles of corpses.

Their eyes were more ferocious, clearly showing they had seen a lot of action.

And some were carrying rifles…

“Kill them-!!!!”

Bang! Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat!

Unprovoked gunfire.

I immediately pushed off and retreated.

I heard the sound of stray bullets hitting my feet and smashing various things around.

Thud-thud-thud- swish-

I ran straight to a discarded scrap car on the road and rolled myself behind it as if throwing myself.

Thud, thud, thud! Ping! Whizz! Shatter!

A hail of bullets mercilessly hammered the car body.

The car windows shattered, and bullets lodged into the chassis.

“……”

Gunfire without question.

The car body felt precarious, shaking because they kept firing without rest, clearly enraged.

‘A bit better.’

From the receiving end, it sucks, but this is how you’re supposed to fight.

Rat-a-tat-tat! Bang! Bang!

I waited for a moment, and then the gunfire stopped.

Soon, I heard rattling sounds instead of gunshots.

‘Stupid bastards.’

To expose themselves while reloading.

This is why people need to learn from experts.

Whoosh-

I quickly opened my inventory and took out a weapon.

I gripped the handle tightly, bracing against the weight and strong recoil.

I sprang up from my spot and extended my body from behind the tattered scrap car.

Clack-

I rotated the barrel, confirmed it was loaded, and then.

“My turn, isn’t it?”

?!?!?!?!?!

My nameless friends froze, eyes wide.

“Wh-what…”

Grin-

I sent them a refreshing smile and slowly pulled the trigger.

Whirring-

The barrel smoothly rotated, preheating…

Squeeze!

Roaaaaaaaaar-!!!!

The minigun began to spew fire towards the frozen group.