RE: Survival - Chapter 12

Byung-jin answered awkwardly to Yohan’s firm statement.

“Yohan, I don’t think that’s right. These supplies aren’t even ours; by what right do we…?”

“Hyung.”

Yohan separated one of the keys from his pocket and slipped it into Byung-jin’s chest pocket, patting it firmly.

“None of the people here have the right to claim these supplies. And besides,”

Yohan added after a pause,

“I have no intention of treating people who betrayed me with any sort of courtesy.”

The hesitation on the faces of the two men dissolved as they trudged toward the food store, their steps heavy.

Yohan watched their retreating figures and put a cigarette to his lips.

Carrot after stick? No. The stick comes first, then the carrot works better.

* * *

Jung-hwan and Byung-jin began moving the supplies into the women’s break room. This space would now be their “storage depot.”

A few people showed up, watching them. Their expressions seemed to say, “What are they up to now?” But the two men ignored the stares and carried on.

As they struggled to move the supplies, Yohan returned with Seri and Min-seo. With five people working, the original storage area was soon emptied.

“Don’t bother moving non-essentials or luxuries. More supplies will come through the loading area. Focus only on essentials: water, rice, instant noodles, canned food, and compact, high-calorie snacks.”

“What are you doing now?”

A high-pitched voice interjected after Yohan’s directive. The group turned toward the source.

Survivors from the camp had gathered, including nearly everyone except for a few children.

Initially, they must have thought Yohan’s group was preparing for a meal, but seeing them take everything spurred them to gather others.

“We’re moving the supplies into a warehouse.”

“Why are you handling communal supplies without consulting everyone? People are getting the wrong idea…”

“A wrong idea? What idea?”

“They think you’re hoarding supplies for yourselves!”

“Oh.”

Yohan clapped his fist into his palm as if he understood.

“It’s not a misunderstanding.”

“What!?”

“From now on, we’re in charge of all supplies. We’ll inventory everything and allocate only the minimum necessary for survival. Meals will be distributed at set times in set amounts, so don’t be late if you don’t want to starve. It’ll be less comfortable and hungrier than now, but it’s for everyone’s benefit.”

Murmurs among the survivors swelled into louder protests. A man, seemingly in his early forties, pointed an accusing finger at Yohan.

“Who do you think you are?!”

A woman shouted sharply,

“We took you in from outside, and this is how you repay us?!”

The defiance grew louder, as expected. Yohan’s expression remained calm, but the faces of those moving the supplies showed clear discomfort as they glanced nervously at him.

“Oh, I forgot to mention something important. Anyone who doesn’t follow my orders will not receive any rations. You’ll have to find your own food.”

“You bastard!”

“Crazy man!”

“We’ll be clearing out the ground floor soon, and everyone will help with corpse disposal. I’m not asking you to fight, but no one is exempt except for the kids.”

The uproar peaked. Something flew and landed at Yohan’s feet—it was a used diaper.

“Why do you get to decide this? What gives you the right?!”

“Leave! We don’t need your help!”

Several men approached Yohan’s group, ready to force him out.

Yohan chuckled in disbelief.

So they cowered in fear against zombies but could act fierce toward their own kind.

Zombies were so terrifying, but the man who fought them wasn’t?

Yohan pulled out his second revolver, loaded with bullets, and aimed it at the advancing men. They froze.

Gasps escaped from around the room.

“Jung-hwan, Byung-jin, say something. Isn’t this too much?”

“Yes, Jung-hwan. I have pneumonia.”

“Min-seo…”

“I have a slipped disc…”

Realizing Yohan wasn’t someone to negotiate with, they turned to plead with Jung-hwan and Byung-jin, who looked troubled but stayed silent.

The survivors’ minds flashed back to the memory of the firmly locked door and the shock it had caused.

Yohan lowered the gun as if to gauge their movements. Tension hung thick until someone spoke up.

“I counted six gunshots earlier. He must be out of bullets.”

Oh, someone was actually counting shots? They hadn’t been completely oblivious to what happened on the first floor.

Yohan thought for a moment.

“Let’s kick him out. We can’t let this go on.”

The suggestion triggered the crowd, which began advancing, emboldened by the belief that he was out of ammo.

Yohan aimed at the nearest man’s feet and pulled the trigger.

Bang! The gunshot echoed, ringing painfully in their ears. Silence fell, and the man gaped at the bullet lodged right by his foot.

“You all seem to misunderstand something. I’m not here as a guest, a volunteer, or a refugee seeking help.”

More like an invader. Yohan withheld the rest, replacing it with a chilling smile.

“Don’t make me waste bullets. Just follow the rules while I’m being nice.”

No one spoke after that.

The situation was settled swiftly.

Yohan left Byung-jin in charge of the supplies. The man, sweating profusely, began checking the stock of food and water.

Rations were set: full portions for combat and management, half portions for support, and none for those who refused to comply.

The daily ration was barely enough for one meal, stretched thin for two: one packet of instant noodles, a can of food, and two biscuits, for example.

When the first rations were handed out, people reluctantly lined up, bitter expressions on their faces. The camp’s atmosphere turned grim, eyes filled with hatred directed at Yohan, though he knew it would pass.

He didn’t intend to keep using the stick forever. Once control was established, he planned to improve living conditions.

The first step was to get everyone out into the open for sunlight and fresh air. These people had been living underground for six months. The confined, dark space drained their energy and morale.

Most importantly, they needed hope. The camp was filled with people who had given up halfway, resigned to their fates. They needed stability.

Once they secured the supermarket and increased their food stock, the more the camp stabilized, the stronger the “learned loyalty” would become. In this era, people would give their all for safety and sustenance.

But before that, Yohan lit a spark.

“Hwang Seo-jun is now part of the management team. He’ll receive full rations.”

“What… What’s this?”

Yohan appointed Hwang Seo-jun, who wasn’t part of the original group, to the management team for his initiative in locking the door to protect the camp.

If someone acted for the camp, whether out of personal safety or not, they would be rewarded.

Seo-jun, stunned, took his share of supplies under the piercing eyes of others. It wasn’t long before he quietly withdrew from the gossiping crowd and offered to help Jung-hwan and Byung-jin.

Yohan allowed himself a subtle smile.

Managing a crowd was hard, but swaying an individual was easy.

* * *

After the first distribution, a few people came forward, wanting to learn how to kill zombies. Yohan had expected few participants.

Despite reclaiming essential supplies, there were still snacks and substitute foods left in the store. But as those dwindled, more people would join out of necessity.

Welcoming the early volunteers, Yohan paired them with Min-seo and Byung-jin.

He could have taught them himself but wanted to build the couple’s confidence. They were brave and determined but lacked self-assurance.

Surviving near-death experiences twice and teaching others would bolster their confidence and make them stronger.

Managing people was the least of his worries. His real concern was elsewhere.

Yohan set two guns on the table and propped his chin in his hand.

Normally, this was when Gun would be armed and made the de facto leader of the camp…

But Gun’s survival was uncertain, and even if he survived, losing his right arm meant his combat effectiveness was halved. His capacity for ranged combat could be close to zero.

In this chaos, a weakened leader was useless.

“Damn it. This is a headache.”

He needed to pick an alternative. Yohan ran through the candidates in his mind.

Elder Park was too old. Min-seo and Byung-jin were brave but indecisive. Jung-hwan had initiative but couldn’t yet be trusted with a gun or leadership. Hyuk inspired some confidence as Gun’s brother but was overly reliant on him.

A camp with no real talent.

No one to take charge.

Seri?

Yohan stopped at the thought of her and quickly shook his head.

“Must be losing my mind with all this thinking.”

She was an unpredictable wildcard. Not a chance.

After a long period of thought, Yohan stood up. It wasn’t urgent for now; there were more immediate tasks.

He walked toward the emergency exit, catching Jung-hwan and Seri’s attention.

“Hyung, where are you going?”

“Hunting. Time to clear some zombies.”

“Now? Alone?”

“What else would I do?”

Seri and Jung-hwan exchanged looks before speaking almost simultaneously.

“I’ll come with you, hyung.”

“Me too.”

They’re already adapting. Just days ago, they were trembling messes.

“I appreciate it, but your intentions are enough. You both need rest.”

“And you? You’re not made of iron. You must be the most exhausted.”

“Killing zombies clears my mind. I won’t go far; I’ll just use the crossbow nearby. Don’t worry.”

“Is something wrong?”

“What could be wrong? It’s not like I enjoy being blamed for everything. Don’t overthink it. I’ll be back.”

“Take a break! You’re so stubborn!”

Yohan frowned in confusion.

Why are they making such a fuss when I said I’m fine?

“Listen to me, and I’ll make it worth your while.”

“…”

Seri’s bold statement made Jung-hwan blush, while Yohan let out a dry laugh. The first time he had indulged her whims, and now she felt free to joke like this.