Chapter 73
The situation…?
Though Yongcheol looked shabby and was a timid, cowardly person, he was a well-known information source whose name rang out across the entire capital region. Separate from his timidity, he had sufficient abilities to fulfill his role as an informant.
So he didn’t fully understand what Shin Hae-jun meant by “the situation.” Had something happened recently? No, had something happened nearby? Scavengers? The infected? What was the problem? What was the problem? Was there something happening that he didn’t know about? His tightly sealed lips trembled.
“What… What situation? Is it a dangerous situation? Dangerous enough to worry about Ahyeon’s life?”
One of Shin Hae-jun’s eyebrows raised as he took a cigarette out of his breast pocket.
“You should worry about my life, not Lieutenant Min’s.”
“Pardon?”
“I feel like I might die from wanting to see Ahyeon so badly.”
What nonsense is this?
For a moment, Yongcheol thought he must have misheard. Yeah, I just misheard. How could Shin Hae-jun, of all people, say such an embarrassing thing? Maybe my hearing is off because I haven’t been feeling well lately…
“I miss Lieutenant Min. Why no response?”
Ah, shit.
Yongcheol held his head in his hands.
“Hey! Fuck, who the hell are you? Aren’t you General Shin Hae-jun? Well, there’s no way the General would come all the way here. Ha, you may fool others but you can’t fool my eyes, bastard! Who are you! Tell me who you are! Damn it, it hurts! Who are you!”
Shouting at the unbelievable reality, Yongcheol suddenly groaned in pain after receiving a blow to the back of his head. When he turned around, he saw the soldier who was with Ahyeon yesterday. His name was Oh Habin, wasn’t it?
“What’s going on here?”
While Oh Habin had a relatively calm expression when with Ahyeon, now it was absolutely not the case. He had a menacingly ferocious gaze as if he might point his gun at Yongcheol’s head any moment.
“Why is he spouting nonsense in front of the General? Shall I kill him?”
Instead of answering, Shin Hae-jun just smirked and looked down at Yongcheol. At that moment, Yongcheol could immediately sense the chilling atmosphere and simultaneously knew exactly what he had to do.
All he could do was meekly kneel down without the slightest movement and make the most apologetic expression possible. He focused solely on that—showing with his entire being that he knew nothing, that he was harmless.
“Sometimes I lose my mind a bit and go crazy. I guess it happened again this time. I’m sorry. Um, if kneeling isn’t enough, should I hit my head?”
Shin Hae-jun burst into laughter.
“Ah, Sergeant Oh. It’s fine, leave him be.”
“But.”
“An amusing fool is rare in a world like this. He’s amusing, so spare him.”
“…Understood.”
Though Oh Habin answered, he glared at Yongcheol with an unsatisfied look before going behind Shin Hae-jun to stand guard. Whew, Yongcheol let out a somewhat relieved sigh. Shin Hae-jun’s lips parted again.
“D.I.”
“…Yes!”
He called me Dragon Iron. Is he actually a kind person? Yongcheol was subtly moved.
“Where did Lieutenant Min go?”
So Yongcheol answered straightforwardly.
“She must have gone to get the car.”
“A car?”
“Yes. Lieutenant Min wrecked up my car, so I told her to do something about it.”
If he’s talking about the Jeep, I was the one who wrecked it… Shin Hae-jun avoided Yongcheol’s innocent gaze while taking a drag of his cigarette.
“So, where did she go?”
“She went towards Gwanak University. Our friends who helped us get the car are there.”
“Gwanak?”
“Yes.”
Shin Hae-jun chewed on his cigarette filter, racking his memory. Gwanak District, Gwanak District… He was sure he had seen it mentioned in a file. After briefly recalling his memories, Shin Hae-jun suddenly stood up abruptly from his seat. Kwang! The chair pushed back by the motion fell over weakly.
“General? What’s wrong?”
“Gwanak District.”
Shin Hae-jun pressed his eyebrow bone with his palm and leaned his head back. Though Habin tried to speak, his mind was already filled with ‘them,’ who had been reported in Gwanak.
“Is Lieutenant Min afflicted with a condition where he dies if she doesn’t encounter an incident for a single day?”
Shin Hae-jun muttered briefly before addressing Habin.
“Prepare a vehicle. And the men too. We’re going directly.”
“Yes, understood.”
Shin Hae-jun’s expression wasn’t particularly pleasant either. Not because he knew something, but because he had an inkling that if Shin Hae-jun was heading out personally, something must have definitely happened to Ahyeon. He swiftly exited, and Shin Hae-jun also stood up after shaking off his crumpled jacket.
“U-Um, excuse me, General!”
Then Yongcheol overcame his fear and called out to Shin Hae-jun. He tried to get up but having knelt for so long, his legs had gone numb, so he just sat back down clumsily and asked.
“Has something…happened to Ahyeon?”
He didn’t like how Yongcheol addressed her so informally. But Yongcheol’s expression showed how worried he was about Ahyeon, so instead of getting irritated, Shin Hae-jun answered.
“I’m going in case something might happen.”
Yongcheol bit his lower lip hard. Is she in danger because I told her to get a vehicle? What if Ahyeon dies or gets hurt because of that? Unaware, his hands trembled, but seeing this, Shin Hae-jun casually responded.
“Though wanting to see her is the bigger reason.”
“…Huh?”
“Don’t worry. I’m going.”
Yongcheol watched Shin Hae-jun’s retreating figure with a dumbfounded expression.
Shin Hae-jun… Maybe he’s a good person after all?
🕂
“Over here, Nuna!”
Following Yunho and Seungmin’s guidance, I entered the library building. Fortunately, the tall wire fences were still intact, which would allow us to stall and fend off a number of infected for some time if needed. Creaking, I squeezed through the opening door.
While many people may not know it, a library building is surprisingly suitable as a shelter. Libraries are built sturdily and with precise designs to bear the weight of books. Also, to prevent book discoloration, they minimize windows and other glass structures. So, they’re resistant to most impacts and with few windows to worry about, they make for excellent fortifications.
That’s why at most schools, the library became the primary shelter, with people then securing the cafeteria as the secondary shelter to solve the water supply issue.
In any case, the library was also the primary shelter at this university, but…
“You handed this place over to those outsiders.”
Due to the symbolic significance of the primary shelter, it was a rule not to let outsiders easily in. Most places adhered to this rule, and this university was no exception. However, it felt uncomfortably natural for them to guide us here.
“Ugh, Nuna. They’re not outsiders. They’re the ones who saved us!”
“Messiah, messiah! That’s what they call them at times like this, right?”
I glared piercingly at Yunho and Seungmin.
“Quote the Bible one more time in front of me and I’ll kill you. Come on, compare me to those pseudo-bastards again. I dare you.”
My stern words seemed to have some effect. Yunho and Seungmin slouched their shoulders and mumbled.
“Well, I was actually born into faith too? But honestly, isn’t it true? The world is ruined now. God doesn’t help us, but then people who do help us appear and claim to be the Messiah.”
“Right. So we have no choice but to believe, don’t we?”
From the moment we entered the building, the two began this strange praising and glorification.
Hmm. I narrowed my eyes while brushing the back of my neck.
“First of all.”
Snapping my fingers, I pointed ahead.
“Just guide me.”
“Got it.”
They led the way ahead, illuminating the path with a flashlight. To save electricity, only minimal lighting was on, so even though it was broad daylight outside, inside the building was dark. I listened closely to the various sounds echoing in the darkness, keeping my tension high. It seemed necessary, instinctively telling me I must.
“By the way, Nuna.”
Then, Yunho stopped in front of the last room at the end of the corridor and turned his head to speak.
“Remember when you first came to the university? You asked where the research facility was. If any researchers were left.”
Did I do that? I tried to recall.
“Weren’t there researchers in the life sciences department? Were they all dead? Even if some survived?”
“Why are you asking, damn it. Just do as you’re told.”
Ah yes, I remembered—back then I was trying to capture life science researchers to interrogate about the facility or learn about the infected. I nodded.
“Oh right, I remember. But why bring it up?”
Like Yunho, Seungmin also turned his head.
“That thing you said.”
“Why did you say it?”
They asked simultaneously, their expressions stiffening.
“Do you happen to know something?”
🕂
Thank you for reading! ♡
