Chapter 128
“I see…”
Jae-ho trailed off, casting his eyes over the people around them.
Thinking back, it was something he could deeply relate to. Just like Yohan said, he and the others had also carried the same deadened expressions before meeting Yohan.
He felt again how remarkable Yohan was—not just someone strong enough to protect others, but someone who gave people direction, a reason to live, and a future to believe in.
That was where Yohan’s true strength lay.
As Jae-ho stared at him with that burdened gaze, Yohan waved it off.
“There you go looking at me like that again.”
“I respect you, Captain.”
“Just don’t die.”
Yohan’s response was curt, but it was spoken from genuine concern. Don’t die. Stay alive. What could be more heartfelt?
Jae-ho could feel the weight of how many people Yohan must have lost along the way.
While they exchanged those few words, a messenger arrived to guide Yohan to the principal’s office. Yohan told the others to wait a moment and followed him.
Inside the principal’s office, the leader of Camp Chunhyang greeted them warmly.
“Welcome, old man. And you too, newcomer. I’m Yeon-hee, the leader of this camp. Feel free to call me that.”
“I’m Yohan Lee.”
“Unusual name. Are you Christian?”
“No, I was raised in a church-run orphanage when I was young.”
“I see.”
She didn’t seem surprised.
The leader sitting across from Yohan appeared to be in her late thirties. Yohan couldn’t hide his surprise at the unexpected leadership.
It was due to the camp’s unique makeup.
Camp Chunhyang had almost no production or technical teams—only combat personnel. During their many relocations, any survivors lacking combat ability had either been killed by other survivors or torn apart by zombies.
A camp forged through such brutal hardship—its leader being a gentle-looking woman was unexpected.
‘A strong woman.’
Despite her calm demeanor, she didn’t come across as soft. On the contrary, she radiated a strength that made the word “admirable” feel fitting.
“You’re looking lively, old man.”
“Ah, Chunhyang-mom, it’s been a while.”
“I told you not to call me that.”
“How’s your little girl?”
“She’s doing well.”
“Call her in. Let me have a little eye candy.”
“You say the most inappropriate things about someone else’s daughter.”
When the old man joked, she responded with a scowl.
“If I were fifty years younger, I’d have started flirting right away.”
“I’ll cut you in half, old man.”
“Oh no, how terrifying.”
They’d supposedly only recently formed a trading partnership, but their familiarity suggested a close bond—likely thanks to the old man’s knack for getting along with anyone.
Yeon-hee called to someone outside.
“Bring in Hyo-jeong.”
Soon after, the girl known as Chunhyang entered.
And the moment Yohan saw her, he immediately understood why the old man had talked about “eye candy.”
The girl’s beauty was striking. Her delicate features looked like something out of a painting on creamy, porcelain skin—like a child actress.
It felt wrong to describe her as beautiful, given her age.
She looked to be just past elementary school—a girl so lovely you might want to pinch her cheeks. One who, when grown, would surely turn heads everywhere.
Hyo-jeong ran straight into the old man’s arms.
“Hi, Grandpa!”
“Oh my. Our Hyo-jeong just keeps getting prettier. Wanna be my granddaughter?”
“There he goes again.”
Hyo-jeong’s cheeks turned red as she wrapped her arms tightly around the old man’s neck.
He embraced her, lifting her up like an airplane and stroking her hair. The sight of this hardened old man doting on the girl like a beloved granddaughter made Yohan let out a dry chuckle.
To think someone with such a cold face could have such a soft heart.
“You’re hopeless, old man. Anyway, young commander—you’re the one who took down Gae Baekjong?”
At Yeon-hee’s question, Yohan turned his gaze and gave a slight nod.
“That’s incredible… I heard the story from the old man recently, but I didn’t believe it. I still kind of don’t.”
“You don’t need to. All that matters is that he’s dead.”
“Could you tell me how it ended?”
So there’s a story there.
Yohan caught the subtle change in her expression and began recounting the tale—how they first encountered Gae Baekjong, the clashes and casualties, the trap, and finally, how Gae Baekjong died in flames.
With each part of the story, Yeon-hee’s face grew more astonished. And when Yohan mentioned they confirmed the body and desecrated it, she collapsed into her seat and let out a long, relieved breath.
“Ah… that’s a weight off my chest. He’s really gone. That bastard’s really gone.”
“Would you mind telling me what happened?”
“There’s not much to say. Just the usual story—a strong bastard bullying the weak.”
Yeon-hee explained calmly.
Camp Chunhyang had once operated a sturdy shelter near Yongsan Station, scavenging from nearby supermarkets to survive.
Then a new group appeared. Anyone who left the camp was either killed or kidnapped. Eventually, Yeon-hee gathered her best fighters and tried to strike back—but they were crushed. Total defeat.
In front of her own men, Gae Baekjong raped her.
From that day on, Camp Chunhyang’s strength plummeted. Seoul Survivor Union demanded they send supplies weekly—or he’d kidnap her elementary-aged daughter and use her as a prostitute.
“There was a time I thought it would be better to just die with Hyo-jeong. But… I couldn’t even muster the courage to do it.”
Yeon-hee’s second-in-command and a few others sacrificed themselves so the rest could flee. But Gae Baekjong pursued them, and more than half died. The survivors finally made it to Yeongdeungpo.
“They didn’t chase us past Yeongdeungpo. Shin Noah’s camp was right next door.”
“The Yeouido Camp didn’t clash with them?”
“No. After we went into hiding, those bastards swept through Yeouido and ran into Shin Noah. In that fight, Yeouido suffered more than half their forces lost, and Gae Baekjong’s side also took heavy casualties. After that, strangely enough, Gae Baekjong never touched Yeouido again.”
He was probably planning to “break” the camp. Yeouido Camp had heavily fortified around the I-Mall and committed everything to defense. Even Gae Baekjong wouldn’t have been able to guarantee victory in an all-out war.
Yohan quietly listened, recalling the faces he missed.
“Then, like he was possessed, Gae Baekjong went on a long excursion.”
“…And left Yeouido Camp alone?”
“Yeah. He left to hunt you. Yeouido Camp didn’t pose any immediate threat since they never left their perimeter. But honestly? It was a dumb mistake.”
“That’s just the kind of man he was. He couldn’t tolerate losing what he thought was his.”
Especially not after losing his concubine.
“Everyone cowering under his shadow didn’t even think to run. But the guy never came back. Even after several weeks. And then… rumors started going around that he’d died.”
“Noah must’ve made his move.”
“Right. Shin Noah began to act after that. He wiped out the remaining Seoul Survivor Union remnants monitoring the camps. Then he went after the camps that had stood by while his was attacked. Most of them were wiped out or driven off—including us.”
“…So that’s what happened.”
Yohan could picture the situation in his mind. Though it was a changed past and just a guess, knowing Noah’s character, there was no way he would have taken Gae Baekjong’s actions lying down.
He probably went from camp to camp trying to unite them against Gae Baekjong—only to be met with cold refusals.
Camp Chunhyang in particular had survived because of him. For them to turn their backs would’ve felt like an unbearable betrayal.
A change in leadership always brought bloodshed. Shin Noah was the type who believed deeply in loyalty, camaraderie, and repaying both kindness and betrayal in kind.
If Camp Chunhyang had accepted his hand back then, they might be living far better lives now. Protected by power, enjoying what Seoul Survivor Union once had.
Regardless, the fact that they were at odds with Noah was bad news for Yohan.
He wasn’t afraid of anyone else—but a fight with them was the one thing he couldn’t bring himself to face.
Not because he thought he would lose. But because the enemy was wrong. His longest relationship with his current allies was five months. He had fought alongside Shin Noah for nearly a year. He still remembered his voice, expressions, even tone of speech vividly.
“I want to avoid a fight with Yeouido Camp at all costs.”
“You should. Kid, I know how strong you are, but you should steer clear of them if you can. They’re real fighters—zombies don’t even scare them.”
Yohan hadn’t even considered fighting them. In fact, he was more worried for them. Inside Yeouido Camp was a spy Gae Baekjong had planted.
The same spy who had ultimately led to their loss in the last fight.
‘Now that Gae Baekjong’s dead, they might just be trying to settle there.’
Originally, he and Kim Seol-hwa had been sent as dual spies, but without Seol-hwa, it was likely the man had gone in alone. If they didn’t weed him out, the camp would eventually collapse.
‘Maybe I should make contact with Yeouido Camp.’
As enemies, they were terrifying. But as allies, they would be the most dependable.
If he were to form an alliance, he would have to go alone. That’s how Noah operated—kind to individuals, hostile to groups.
Cautious and calculating, he had shaped most of Yohan’s survival habits. In a way, he was Yohan’s mentor.
“Chunhyang, Grandpa needs to talk to your mom now. Go play.”
“Okay!”
After playing with her for a while, the old man set Hyo-jeong down. She bowed her head and quickly trotted out of the room.
“By the way, why does he call Hyo-jeong ‘Chunhyang’?”
“No idea. That old man just started calling her that.”
Yeon-hee laughed. Apparently, the moment he saw her, he’d said, “She’s as lovely as Chunhyang!” and the name stuck.
“Is it hard living here?”
“Oh my, having the young captain worry about us feels nice. We’re fine. A little short on food, but we’re managing. There’s water from the lake and the 119 emergency center.”
“So you plan to settle here?”
“For now, we’re laying low, then thinking of heading further out. Maybe to Bupyeong, where the old man’s based. But even there, getting supplies is tough now, so I don’t want to be a burden.”
She rested her chin on her hand and looked at Yohan with a gaze that wasn’t entirely innocent. It was the kind of look you’d give to something curious—or someone you were sweet on.
“The old man kept praising you, so I was curious what kind of guy you were. I have to say, you’re impressive. Love the first impression.”
Just then, the old man grimaced and cut in.
“Hey, what is this, a dating show?”
“Well, if I were twenty years younger, I’d have dragged him into bed already.”
“You’re hopeless, you hag.”
“Says the pot to the kettle.”
Even more wrinkles formed on the old man’s already crinkled forehead. He turned to Yohan sharply.
“Hey, kid.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Quit flirting everywhere. I already marked you.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Oh my.”
Yohan reflexively responded, and Yeon-hee covered her cheeks with her hands, clearly flustered. The old man burst out laughing.
“Kidding, kid. Don’t get all worked up. You said you were short on time. Should you really be wasting it on small talk?”
“I was just about to get to it.”
“What, leaving already? Take a break.”
“Yes. We plan to leave right away.”
“In a hurry, huh? That’s not good.”
“Our little punk here’s got an impatient streak. Speaking of which—can we borrow some scooters?”
Yeon-hee tried to dissuade them, her voice filled with both worry and regret.
“Lending you the Go-Pads isn’t a problem. But… I really think you shouldn’t go into Seoul. Do you have to?”
“I do.”
Yohan’s firm answer made Yeon-hee glance at the old man. The two exchanged a silent look, loaded with unspoken meaning. A moment later, Yeon-hee gave a small nod.
“Just like I heard—stubborn as hell.”
“Told you, didn’t I? Keeps saying some kind of disaster is coming. As if this world isn’t already a disaster—what other kind could possibly be on its way?”
“Fine. But before you hit Nodeul-gil, we’ll draw the zombies’ attention once. Consider it payback for taking out Gae Baekjong.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“There’s a charging station downstairs. Handsome young captain—make sure you come back alive, okay?”
Yohan answered her with a smile.
