Chapter 105
“-12th floor clear.”
“-13th floor as well.”
The search team had split into two units, each sweeping either odd or even-numbered floors.
‘It’s about time.’
The target must be feeling the pressure. Pinned down, unable to escape. They knew this operation was meant specifically for them.
Yohan clicked his tongue, looking down at a fallen zombie.
A hand-driven arrow had been driven directly into its eye. Not just a marksman’s skill, but also a calm and precise reaction in a close-range emergency.
“Starting 14th floor.”
“Jung-hwan.”
“Yes?”
“It’s about time they show themselves. Slow down and prioritize safety.”
“Understood, hyung.”
Jung-hwan nodded, then ripped open the door with force.
A shrill beeping alarm from the lock filled the hallway.
‘Another empty unit…?’
The apartment was noticeably cleaner than the others. The kind of place that made you pause for a moment upon stepping inside.
Jung-hwan lowered his breathing, carefully searching the place with extra caution, gripping a knife tightly in one hand.
Every possible hiding spot was checked.
No sign of a survivor.
‘They must have relocated.’
Jung-hwan clicked on his radio.
“1405—signs of habitation, but no survivor. Likely moved elsewhere.”
As he placed the radio back on his shoulder, he reached for a small cabinet in the living room.
It was too small for an adult to fit inside, but his instincts told him to check.
His fingers clicked open the latch.
THUMP!
Something sprang out from inside, slamming straight into his nose.
“ARGH!”
“Jung-hwan? What happened?”
A small figure darted past him like a bullet.
Not an adult. A child.
Jung-hwan clutched his nose, shouting into his radio.
“1405! Survivor spotted!”
The child bolted into the hallway, sprinting toward the emergency exit.
But she had nowhere to run—Seri was already there.
As she raised her bow and nocked an arrow, she growled through gritted teeth.
“…Move.”
“…A girl?”
For a moment, Seri doubted her own eyes.
The survivor pointing a bow at her was a girl no older than a middle schooler.
Seri hesitated, momentarily forgetting to subdue her, but the girl didn’t move recklessly—she had noticed Seri’s gun and was wary.
Within seconds, the search team surrounded her.
Expressions shifted as the team got a better look at the unexpected survivor.
“Didn’t see that coming.”
She was around 14, with a sharp, tomboyish appearance.
For Yohan, who had briefly hoped for a strong recruit, this was disappointing—but he didn’t let it show.
“Hey, kid. It’s dangerous. Why don’t you put that down and talk to us?”
Sweeper attempted a gentle approach, but the girl only pulled her bowstring back further.
Somewhere in the background, someone muttered:
“Calling her ‘kid’ might be pushing it.”
“Get out.”
Her voice was cold, but the reply was even colder.
“Seri, raise your gun.”
“H-Hold on—”
“I said, raise it.”
Negotiation wasn’t the issue—letting someone pointing a weapon at them go unchecked was unacceptable.
The girl wavered, her voice losing confidence.
“I-I’ll really shoot.”
“Lower the bow. You have three seconds.”
“Wait, Yohan, isn’t that a bit—”
“Three.”
“Yohan!”
“Two.”
“Wish card! I’m using a wish card!”
Yohan frowned.
The hell was she talking about?
“Why are you pretending not to remember? You promised me last night. You said you’d grant me a wish.”
Seri pulled out a folded piece of paper.
Yohan’s face immediately stiffened.
A “wish card”—something he had signed off on last night when drunk, giving in to Seri’s whispers just to shut her up.
“Even if you were drunk, it doesn’t matter. This is your signature.”
“…Fuck. You’ve got to be kidding me.”
To make it worse, his team’s expressions were softening.
“She’s just a kid, isn’t this too much…?”
Underdog sympathy.
They didn’t get it.
A middle schooler was more than capable of killing someone.
“Cut the crap—”
“Going back on your word?”
“…….”
“Leave it to me this time. Please.”
Yohan clicked his tongue.
“Disarm her first. No compromises.”
“M-Maybe we should lower our weapons first? She doesn’t actually seem like she wants to shoot.”
At that moment, Hajin interjected, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.
“You heard him. Lower your weapons.”
Yohan let out a deep sigh, frustration evident.
But he lowered his gun.
If someone got hurt, it wouldn’t be his problem. A costly lesson, but one they’d have to learn on their own.
As soon as he lowered his weapon, the others followed suit, relief evident on their faces.
Of course, they couldn’t resist making comments.
“Damn, the quiet ones are the worst.”
“See? This is why pillow talk wins every time.”
“Yohan, maybe cool it? The kid’s still here, you know.”
Even though no one outright said it, it was obvious what had happened between Yohan and Seri.
The jokes only made his irritation worse.
“Hey, kid. How about lowering your bow too? We’re not here to hurt you. Let’s just talk.”
Seri’s softer tone finally made the girl hesitate, and she slowly lowered the bow.
But her words remained sharp.
“Do me a favor and leave. I’m not as weak or helpless as you think.”
“Are you alone?”
She nodded.
“Don’t stay here alone. Come with us—it’s safer.”
“And you think you’re safe?”
Seri winced at the response.
“Look, I’m sorry we scared you. But you pointed a weapon at us first. We had to be careful.”
“I appreciate the concern, but it’s unnecessary. Just go. You’re annoying me now.”
Seri stood there, speechless. The girl’s firm response had left her utterly at a loss.
Beside Yohan, Sweeper snickered and leaned in to whisper.
“That little brat’s got the same personality as you, boss.”
“Shut up.”
While the two of them exchanged words, Seri persistently tried to convince the girl. She was putting in way too much effort, enough to make Yohan wonder what she was even trying to accomplish.
And yet—her persistence seemed to be working.
At some point, their distance had visibly shrunk.
Yohan glanced at his watch, his expression turning tense.
They had wasted enough time.
Who knew if other survivors were lurking nearby?
“Seri, enough.”
“Huh?”
Yohan yanked Seri back.
She stumbled slightly, breaking away from the girl.
“We get it. We’re not going to hurt you. Let’s both disarm and go our separate ways. And you guys—give it up. We’re not in the business of forcing people.”
“Ah, but she was almost convinced…!” Seri protested.
“Yohan, say something! She’s got talent! Don’t you always want to recruit skilled people?”
Yohan paused.
She wasn’t wrong.
“I keep telling you, I’m not a kid.”
The girl cut in again, but her small voice was drowned out by Sweeper and Jung-hwan’s conversation.
“Boss, if she’s going to fight, she’ll need to learn firearms. A bow isn’t exactly ideal.”
“Archers serve a different purpose.”
“Different purpose?”
“Against hordes, they’re invaluable. No gunfire, no noise. Even a crossbow makes some sound. Silencers can only do so much. Think before you speak, newbie.”
“Ugh, hyung!”
“What? You better not have pulled that kind of garbage on Ah-young—”
“HYUNG!”
Yohan ignored their usual bickering.
A crossbow still made noise. While quiet compared to guns, it was mechanically powered, and thus louder than a traditional bow.
“For the same reason, it’s useful for stealth kills. Faster reload time, too.”
“But before that—”
Seri suddenly lunged forward, snatching the girl’s bow away.
“Ah!”
Seri twirled the weapon in her hands and smirked.
“A weapon like this is too dangerous for you, kiddo.”
“I’M NOT A KID!”
The girl screamed in frustration.
Most of them dismissed it as childish tantrum.
But that changed the moment she pulled out her ID and held it up.
[1998-born, Choi So-hee.]
“…Huh.”
“Wait, is this real?”
“Ninety-eight? Are you sure that’s not your sister’s ID?”
“I SAID IT’S MINE, YOU MORONS!”
To be fair… it was hard to believe.
No matter how they looked at her, she barely passed for a middle schooler.
“Whoa, this is totally legal ro—”
Before Sweeper could finish that cursed sentence, Hajin clamped a hand over his mouth.
Sweeper gave him a questioning look, but Hajin’s reply was dead serious.
“There are words no human should ever utter.”
Clap.
Yohan clapped once, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.
His patience was wearing thin.
“Enough. Time’s up.”
His voice turned cold and sharp.
“We’ll clear out the zombies on our way out. Don’t worry about it. But if you stab us in the back, you’ll answer for it as an adult.”
He fixed So-hee with an icy glare.
“I don’t go easy on kids… but count yourself lucky today, brat. Pack it up. We’re leaving.”
“Yohan—”
“That’s an order. I won’t say it again.”
A chill ran through the entire team.
It was rare for Yohan to issue direct orders unless the situation was critical.
They had been too relaxed.
This needed to end here.
Hajin turned to Seri.
“Let it go.”
Seri let out a deep sigh, shoulders drooping.
Everyone else turned away without another word.
The sudden shift in attitude left So-hee flustered.
She had been on the verge of changing her mind—considering following them.
But now…
“W-Wait!”
Yohan stopped and glanced back at her blankly.
“Just… give me a little more time to think.”
“There’s nothing to think about. The offer is closed.”
“But—”
“What? Didn’t you say you’re an adult?”
Yohan’s voice was flat, almost mocking.
“Then handle your own decisions. Oh, by the way—”
His eyes turned sharp.
“There are other survivors around. Not all of them will be as ‘kind’ as us.”
So-hee’s eyes widened slightly.
“Survive on your own. We’re not desperate enough to drag someone kicking and screaming. Your skills are decent… for a middle schooler. But at your age? You’re not exactly promising.”
His words were emotionless, almost cruel.
From behind, he heard someone mutter:
“Damn. That’s cold.”
Yohan ignored it.
