Chapter 130

The battle lasted far longer than Yohan had anticipated. Instead of advancing, they were forced to struggle just to hold their position. From behind, Jung-eun’s urgent voice rang out.

“Oppa! There’s a lot of zombies coming from the back too!”

“Sweeper, switch with Jinsu in the rear.”

“Roger.”

“The front line needs to pick up the pace, even if it’s risky. At this rate, we’ll get cut off.”

As Yohan spoke, Hajin and Hyuk surged forward. It was just in time—they had been growing increasingly frustrated trying to match pace with the others.

They stabbed, slashed, and swung their weapons relentlessly. Zombie corpses piled along the roadside, and the sticky, blackened blood stained the asphalt.

“Haah… Hah…”

Labored breathing could be heard from all sides.

Hold on. zombies didn’t spawn endlessly. This would end eventually. That thought alone kept them going.

They fought on in a near-trance, waiting for the moment the swinging would finally stop.

Smack! Yohan’s machete cleaved through two zombie heads at once—and at last, the path ahead opened. The front wave of zombies had thinned.

“That’s it. Finish it!”

Relief spread across the group’s faces as they launched a final assault. Arrows they’d been saving flew toward the remaining zombies, and Hajin and Hyuk charged with explosive force.

With the last zombie slain by Seri, silence fell over the street. Before them, the subway entrance loomed open like a gaping maw.

“Huuuh…”

Someone exhaled deeply.

“Good work. Front line, stay alert and guard the perimeter. Mid-line, recover arrows.”

Yohan flicked his machete clean, shaking off the blood. The blade was worn from use. His gaze turned toward the other squad leaders doing the same.

“Sweeper, Hajin—you two still good?”

“Of course.”

“Duh, hyung. What do you take us for?”

“Then the three of us will go into the subway for phase two. Everyone else is wiped.”

Sure enough, both men looked as fresh as ever, not a drop of sweat in sight. Yohan rolled his shoulders and started for the subway, but Hyuk cut in.

“Hyung, I’ll go too.”

“You? You should rest.”

Yohan glanced at him, surprised. Hyuk had taken down plenty of zombies in the frontline. He’d done more than enough.

But Hyuk returned a firm stare. Sweat glistened across his body, but his breathing was steady. His intense training was clearly paying off. Yohan allowed himself a subtle smile.

“Alright, let’s go… Jae-ho, what are you doing?”

He looked over, puzzled by Jae-ho scurrying around busily.

“Setting traps. Fishing line at ankle and neck height. It should slow any zombies that rush from behind.”

In his hand was a small spool of fluorescent fishing line.

“When did you grab that?”

“I always carry it. Habit from surviving on my own.”

“Hmm. Good habit.”

Yohan gave him a quick compliment, then turned on his flashlight and stepped into the subway. The four of them descended into darkness to begin the next phase of the mission.

While the squad leaders cleared out subway zombies, the mid-line gathered arrows and Jae-ho carefully set wire traps at the entrance.

Zombies already struggled to descend stairs. The fishing line posed no threat—but tripping and tumbling down the stairs could shatter limbs or crush skulls.

“Let’s rest for about thirty minutes.”

Yohan pressed the manual control panel and lowered the shutter.

Clang…

Like a subway after service hours, the dark hall sealed behind a steel grate.

As soon as safety was secured, the team collapsed wherever they stood.

Yohan checked the battery levels on their flashlights. With the underground route longer than expected, they needed to ensure their light supply would hold.

“Jae-ho, how many spare batteries do we have?”

“About fifty. We’re good.”

“You packed well.”

Sure enough, Seo-jun had been meticulous. Without being asked, he’d packed plenty of lithium-ion batteries once he heard the words “long-range sortie.”

“What about the night vision goggles?”

“Four each.”

They had enough lithium-cadmium batteries, too. Their logistics man was truly thorough.

“Alright, listen up while you rest.”

Everyone turned their heads toward Yohan, still seated.

“There’s something you must remember. This area belongs to Yeouido Camp. Their leader is someone named Shin Noah.”

They had to avoid unnecessary conflict at all costs. If Noah was still the man Yohan remembered, they’d be able to talk things out.

Yohan couldn’t imagine fighting him—but the dream still haunted him.

‘I saw you fighting with people. A lot of them died… and you looked really sad the whole time.’

A battle with others—and himself, filled with sorrow. Yohan couldn’t shake the feeling that the dream pointed to Yeouido Camp.

The timing, the situation—everything lined up.

The only question was whether that future had changed… or if it was still unfolding.

The future could change—like with the mutant Shark.

If a fight was coming, it would have a reason. As long as they didn’t provide that reason, it could be avoided.

After all, they weren’t here for supplies or to kidnap anyone.

Yohan knew Noah’s personality better than anyone. He never attacked unless provoked.

But I can’t assume too much.

The Noah of now might not be the Shin Noah he remembered. Unpredictability always had to be considered.

Yohan continued speaking.

“He was my comrade.”

“…….”

An exclamation point and question mark appeared in everyone’s minds. Those who knew Yohan’s past could tell—it was a comrade from before the regression.

“He’s strong—and aggressive. That’s exactly why I want to avoid fighting them if possible. Our goal is to retrieve the documents.”

“But… what if we run into them?”

“Then we negotiate. So from this point on, don’t kill or attack anyone you encounter. Avoid them if you can—and if not, attempt to talk first. If we absolutely have to fight, then capture. Do not fire first, even by accident. That guy’s someone you can reason with.”

As Yohan laid out the plan, Hajin spoke up.

“What if a hostile survivor attacks first and capture isn’t an option? Also, how do we even know if they’re from Yeouido Camp? Is there a symbol or anything that clearly identifies them?”

“Hmm…”

Yohan hesitated. There were too many variables. His rare moment of uncertainty visibly unsettled the others. Hajin pressed further, his tone resolute.

“Then make it clear. We’re in a dangerous situation. We need certainty.”

He was absolutely right. Yohan nodded.

“If attacked—we fight back. We’re not just going to sit here and die.”

“Good.”

Hajin looked pleased, as if he had been chosen over a former friend.

‘Should I go find Noah directly once we reach Singil or Yongsan?’

But that was too risky. Even with all his experience, Yohan wasn’t reckless enough to wander through central Seoul alone.

He needed to find a way to minimize danger and still make contact. A way to propose an alliance.

As Yohan fell silent in thought, the others instinctively left him alone. They knew better than to interrupt him when he was thinking deeply.

‘Shin Noah…’

He was certain that fighting him was the result of a choice—one of many branching outcomes. He had to avoid making the same decisions as his past self.

‘If it were me before, I’d say: “If attacked first, retaliate.”’

Yohan ran simulations in his head.

He retaliates after being attacked—only to find out they were Noah’s people. A predictable tragedy.

So what if he didn’t retaliate?

They could take heavy losses if they held back. That’d be foolish too.

Then, there was the option of going to meet Noah personally.

Also foolish.

If Noah wasn’t the same man Yohan remembered—if they couldn’t talk—it would be like walking into a lion’s den.

If he got captured or killed, the search team would likely fight to the death to get him back. He had repeatedly told them to abandon him if that happened, but he knew they never would.

That left one final choice—avoid it altogether.

If they gave up on Yongsan HQ, they’d never have to risk contact with Yeouido Camp.

It was the closest objective—and also the most dangerous. Walking away would be easy. Yohan’s thoughts churned.

And finally, he reached a conclusion.

“Retreat isn’t an option.”

Too much time had already been spent.

Seocho or Hwaseong were uncertain. Jinhae and Gyeryong were too far. None of the alternatives promised a better outcome.

Turning back now would be a disgrace.

Even now, the pressure was building in his chest.

Wasn’t he the one who told Jae-ho not to look back?

Telling them they were backing off now because an old ally might become an enemy—and that maybe a reactor explosion would happen but oh well—no one would accept that.

He couldn’t accept that.

‘I like you… but if you stand in my way, I’ll crush you.’

Anything that interferes with survival must be eliminated. That’s how he’s lived since the moment he returned.

Gae Baekjeong or Shin Noah—it didn’t matter. He’d take them down. Gae Baekjeong couldn’t stop them. He doubted Noah could either.

All he had to do was overcome that reluctance.

“Until we end this mission, do not kill or threaten any survivor unless they strike first. Stay hidden as much as possible. If unavoidable contact occurs—”

Yohan paused briefly, then issued his command with steely resolve.

“—eliminate them. No survivors.”

If there were no witnesses, there’d be no repercussions. Dead men tell no tales.

“We allowed to use guns?”

“Only if they fire first.”

“This is next-level difficulty, man.”

Yohan couldn’t agree more. Fighting zombies or even Gae Baekjeong would’ve been better. But Shin Noah—possibly turning into an enemy—this felt like some sick cosmic joke.

The pressure of potentially fighting the one person he most wanted to avoid stabbed at Yohan’s mind like a needle.

“If you’ve rested enough, let’s move.”

Yohan pulled everyone to their feet.

The pitch-black subway consumed their energy just by forcing them to walk. The only thing piercing the darkness was the cone of their flashlights, like spotlights on a shadowed stage.

“Yohan-nim… this…”

Just before they entered the subway tracks, at the center of the platform, a lone zombie was skewered on a steel pipe—screeching mindlessly like it was guarding this ghost-city underground.

* * * * * *

Translator’s Note:

Hey everyone, just a quick heads-up — starting next week, chapter releases might be a bit inconsistent for a while. My wife and I just had our baby, and I’ll be prioritizing taking care of them during this time. Depending on how things go, I might still be able to post chapters here and there, but I can’t promise a regular schedule just yet.

I really appreciate your patience and support. I’ll do my best to keep updates coming when I can, and I’ll let you all know once things start settling down and we’re closer to getting back to a steady rhythm.

Thanks again for sticking with me and this story. It means a lot.