Chapter 51
“What? How on earth did you find him?”
Though she had asked for my help, Eunjin didn’t seem to expect me to locate her husband so quickly.
Her wide-eyed expression was adorable, and I chuckled before settling into a camping chair. The creaking sound of the chair legs echoed loudly inside the tent.
“I went to the mayor’s office where the mayor was.”
I opened up to Eunjin, recalling the blueprints I found in the office. Fool. Not preparing for unexpected visitors was a complete failure on his part.
Despite his attempts to hastily cover them with his chubby arms—not cute vienna sausages but thick handmade sausages—I couldn’t avoid seeing the wind turbine blueprints on his desk.
Throughout our conversation, I tried to gauge his intentions, focusing on unraveling his true thoughts.
After careful consideration, I concluded before leaving his room.
Why on earth was he looking at wind turbine blueprints? Certainly, a mayor who wasn’t a construction site manager wouldn’t be examining building blueprints without reason.
“Hmm.”
I let out a short snort in front of Eunjin.
There was only one reason: there must be something at the power plant.
As I pieced together the clues and subtly probed the feelings of the security guard, I learned that the city hall directly managed the power plant. As each clue fell into place, the puzzle was finally complete.
The truth is always one!
Like a character from an anime I had glimpsed before the world ended, I extended my finger forward. Pretending to push up my glasses.
“Your husband is probably trapped in the power plant.”
The clue I found pointed to one fact: people were trapped in the power plant. In fact, the power plant was quite a decent shelter.
“Firstly, the thick steel doors and sturdy outer walls make it advantageous for defense, right?”
“True.”
“And with electricity available throughout the spacious interior, it’s not bad for living.”
“Mmm.”
“Of course, food supply could be an issue… but you can always sneak out and bring supplies back, right?”
So, unless you had to endure for a long time, the power plant was indeed the best refuge.
Eunjin’s eyes sparkled as she echoed my deductions. And it wasn’t without reason—most survivors in the Gangwon region had indeed used the power plant as a shelter.
Then after the Cheorwon retreat incident, some brave souls along with the mayor escaped from the power plant. And somehow, while raiding nearby military units wasn’t enough, they managed to acquire tanks, bombs, guns and other weapons to wipe out the infected. The mayor and others pooled their forces to build fortified walls in Gangneung city center, blocking the infected and forming their own town.
‘So that’s why their loyalty to the mayor is high.’
It wasn’t a bad way for people to band together to survive, but the problem was the leader of Gangwon, Yang Jun-tae. He wasn’t such a decent person. He was ruthless and selfish, caring little whether Gangwon’s people lived or died. Just look at how he clung to his desires even as the world crumbled around him. He was truly a pathetic and foolish man.
Recalling the luxurious leather sofa I had seen earlier, I finished my scathing assessment of Yang Jun-tae. Yet it was almost pitiful that there were still people he had to cling to in order to maintain control, so I couldn’t help but click my tongue.
Tsk. Feeling a bit ashamed, I redirected the conversation.
“Anyway, all we need to know is where the malfunctioning power plant is. Then I’ll sneak in at night and rescue the people.”
Brightening at my words, Eunjin called out to Seo Bo-kyung.
“Got it. Bo-kyung! Bring a map over!”
This was the most lively and hopeful voice in our conversation today. She seemed so happy. I couldn’t help but smile contentedly. Eunjin wasn’t the only one delighted.
“Yeah, got it!”
Seo Bo-kyung also replied loudly, followed by the sound of her running footsteps, presumably to fetch a map.
“Okay, so….”
Once we confirmed the location and waited for Shin Hae-jun to return, we could depart. As I organized the actions to take, repeatedly tossing and catching the keys in the air, Park Eunjin suddenly leaned in close to me.
“You know…”
I raised an eyebrow at her cautious tone. I did it without realizing it and flinched for a moment. Ah, damn. I didn’t usually express emotions like this, but over the past few days spent with Shin Hae-jun, I seemed to have picked up some of his habits. The thought of being influenced by him suddenly annoyed me.
“Yeah?”
I replied casually, but Park Eunjin looked at me, pursing her lips, as if sensing my indifference. She hesitated, as if debating whether to speak or not. Irritated by my curt response, I softened my attitude and opened up to her with a more attentive demeanor.
“What is it? Did you want to ask me something?”
As if waiting for that, Eunjin countered with a question.
“Will he be okay?”
Huh? I tilted my head, puzzled by Eunjin’s subject-less statement. It wasn’t like she was making a comment with a hidden subject to avoid legal trouble, so why speak without specifying the subject?
“Who?”
I asked to clarify what Eunjin was referring to, and she scratched her cheek, looking somewhat sheepish.
“About Shin Hae-jun. He’ll be fine, right?”
Ah.
“Hey, you worry about what you need to worry about.”
He was the kind of guy who could survive even if he were stranded in the middle of the desert. He boasted an astonishing level of survival skills.
I chuckled softly and shook my head.
“Anyway, they’ve only caught the healthy ones. What could possibly go wrong? As long as they don’t starve to death, it’ll be fine.”
And besides, that guy was pretty big, so even if he skipped meals, he could probably hold out for quite a while.
I added nonchalantly, but Eunjin pursed her lips and smacked my shoulder.
“Oh, the things you say!”
“That’s why I’m saying not to worry.”
I patted her shoulder reassuringly. Ah, this casual patting was another habit I picked up from Shin Hae-jun.
I gradually felt my mood souring as I realized how many of Shin Hae-jun’s habits had rubbed off on me.
“Anyway, he’s not someone who dies that easily.”
After mulling over my words, Eunjin finally nodded while caressing her pregnant belly. Though not hugely protruding yet, if you looked closely, you could see her lovingly stroking the swollen bump.
“Thank you.”
Instead of replying, I hugged Eunjin tightly, patting her warm back.
“Everything will be okay. The baby and him too.”
In a world where everything seemed to be descending into darkness, amidst chaos and despair with infected and lawless individuals running rampant, body warmth still feels comfortingly warm.
I closed my eyes, feeling the warmth emanating from Eunjin and her unborn child.
🕂
In stark contrast to the warm embrace from earlier, the evening air now whipped coldly against my cheeks.
The sharp winter winds brushed past my thin coat as the season seemed to approach rapidly.
It seemed like winter was already on its way.
In a world ravaged by apocalypse, where even breathing felt like a struggle, the most challenging aspect was undoubtedly the changing seasons.
The weather changes that came along with the apocalypse transformed every season into extremes. It was as if it was seeking retribution. No, perhaps it was simply inevitable.
Whether because most of humanity had vanished, factories ceased operations, or simply because humans no longer had the power to harm nature, the exact cause was unclear.
But nature was displaying its true scenery to the world, as if rising from death like newly born life.
Due to the abrupt changes in seasons that seemed to come as if they had been waiting, winter had been dreadfully cold throughout the four years since the apocalypse.
🕂
Thank you for reading! ♡
