Chapter 134
Yohan retraced his steps back toward Noryangjin. His search team followed behind, while the injured Jung-eun, Eddy, and the weakened Jin-su stayed behind at Yongsan Station.
Upon reaching the transfer corridor at Noryangjin Station, Yohan had his team fall back and waited at the far end of the corridor for Noah.
Not long after, Noah arrived. Whether he had comrades hidden nearby or had truly come alone, Yohan couldn’t sense any other presence.
Even from a distance, he looked just as vivid as if they had met only yesterday.
As Noah began walking, Yohan mirrored him.
Finally, they faced each other, their gazes colliding silently in the air. Without a word, both stepped into the open coffee shop and made their way deep into what appeared to be an office area—a perfectly enclosed space.
No need to worry about snipers or traps here.
Seated across from Yohan, Noah looked cleaner and better groomed than Yohan remembered. His once scruffy beard was gone, his rough skin from hardship now appeared smoother.
Noah spoke first.
“You really came alone. Gutsy.”
Yohan replied with a calm voice.
“Looks good on you. Shin Noah.”
At the mention of his name, Noah widened his eyes in a mock-surprised expression.
“So you know me.”
“Yeah. Though you probably don’t know me.”
Yohan’s tone remained composed—an effort to erase any hint of familiarity or sadness.
“How do you know me?”
“Sorry, I’d tell you, but you wouldn’t believe it anyway.”
“Yeah, not important, I guess.”
Noah shrugged it off with a casual nod, his gaze scanning around. His relaxed demeanor, as if meeting an old friend, was betrayed only by the precision in his movements—showing no openings. His solid frame and the sheer force he radiated made it clear this wasn’t someone to take lightly.
“Would’ve been nice if there were coffee. No staff, though.”
“Still cracking lame jokes, I see.”
It felt strangely like a meeting between old friends. Yohan didn’t hide the fact that he recognized him. He wanted it out in the open, whether Noah believed it or not.
“Why treat me like an old friend?”
“Same reason. Even if I told you, you’d just think it’s another lame joke.”
“Hmm.”
Noah folded his arms and stared intently at Yohan, clearly trying to figure him out—probably wondering if there was a traitor inside the camp. Yohan cut off his train of thought with a question.
He had too many things he wanted to ask.
“Why did you attack first?”
“…We attacked first?”
Noah’s face twisted slightly, as if he genuinely didn’t realize.
“You didn’t know?”
“More like…”
“You haven’t fully secured your camp.”
“…”
“Internal division, huh. Some faction inside insists on killing all intruders.”
“Wow. You’re sharp. Most people couldn’t pinpoint that from a few words.”
Yohan said nothing. Noah leaned forward, his sharply defined features almost cutting through the space between them. His sharp gaze burned intensely.
“Did you plant a spy?”
“Believe what you want. But no.”
“Yeah, if you had, you would’ve used better timing.”
Noah abruptly stood and rummaged through the office, eventually finding a canned drink.
“It’s unfortunate we attacked first… but you invaded our territory ignoring the warnings.”
“Warnings?”
“There was a warning sign near Singil Station. Didn’t you see it?”
Yohan remembered the zombified corpse displayed near Singil Station and the odd sense of discomfort he’d felt.
“I have a question.”
“Ask away.”
“How did you know we were coming?”
“Hmm.”
Noah hesitated at Yohan’s direct question.
Whenever Noah hesitated like this, it meant he wouldn’t answer. It was his habit not to lie but simply to remain silent when conflicted.
Instead of pressing, Yohan spoke with near certainty, voicing his suspicion.
“Camp Chunhyang.”
As expected, Noah’s honest reaction confirmed it.
There was a connection with Camp Chunhyang.
There was no other way Noah could have reacted so quickly unless someone tipped him off about their movements.
It couldn’t have been the mercenary corps who betrayed them—especially before a major deal. The only survivors who knew the route and destination were from Camp Chunhyang.
No kindness came without strings attached. Yohan muttered to himself.
“I was too careless.”
“You were.”
“What’s your relationship with Camp Chunhyang?”
“It’s not as bad as you think. We simply made a deal: we don’t harm them, and in return, they inform us about anyone crossing through.”
“They could have ignored it or fled.”
“If they hadn’t warned us about intruders, we would have slaughtered them all. I always repay my debts. If you knew how Gae Baekjong’s remaining men died, you wouldn’t doubt that.”
Yohan nodded. From Camp Chunhyang’s perspective, it was simply a choice for survival—even if that choice had become a dagger pointed at his own group.
“My turn to ask now. Why are you here?”
“I told you. To find something.”
“What is it?”
“…”
“Still so secretive. Hard to negotiate if you’re not honest.”
Noah gulped down the lukewarm drink, grimacing.
“I’m looking for blueprints.”
“Blueprints, huh…”
“I need to build something.”
Yohan kept it vague.
“I see. Not exactly the kind of word you hear often in times like these.”
“It wont take long. Just keep watch until then. If you don’t touch us, we won’t bite. But if you do… not a single one of you will survive. You must’ve heard — we’re the camp that took down Gae Baekjong.”
Yohan’s warning was sincere. Whether it came to open battle or tactical warfare, he had confidence. Perhaps overwhelmed by that conviction, Noah wore a conflicted expression.
“Sorry, but I can’t let you go.”
“You’ll regret it. Why?”
“Because you killed my comrades. Ones I cherished.”
“They were the ones who attacked first. My comrades died too.”
“Regrettable.”
“It is.”
“But still, no. You ignored our warnings and crossed into our territory. I can’t just let the ones who killed my friends walk away.”
He had changed a lot. Colder, more savage than before.
“If you weren’t planning to let us go anyway, why call me here?”
“Because I wanted to see you. To thank you.”
“Thank me?”
“You killed Gae Baekjong. Thanks to you, we survived. I had to at least say thanks.”
“You risked all this danger… just for that?”
“It’s a debt.”
“Foolish.”
“You’re brutally honest.”
Noah gave a sheepish laugh, and Yohan returned it. He had thought Noah had changed, but in this, he hadn’t changed at all — the Shin Noah Yohan remembered.
“If you feel it’s a debt, then repay it. Let us go. Let’s not fight.”
“You talk like you know me well.”
“I do.”
Better than anyone here.
Yohan continued calmly, pulling out his next card. It was time to drive the wedge in and end the negotiation.
“Sung-hi, So-hyun, Sunjae-hyung, and Sunhwa… how are they doing?”
“…Who the hell are you?”
At the familiar names spilling from Yohan’s mouth, Noah’s expression shifted violently.
The atmosphere froze solid in an instant, like the sudden arrival of a polar winter.
His gaze looked ready to tear Yohan to shreds, and his voice sank coldly.
“You didn’t tell your current team you served in UDT, right? Not that it’s even a secret worth hiding.”
Bang!
Noah slammed the table.
Yohan didn’t even flinch.
“Who the hell are you?”
“Listen carefully, Shin Noah. Whether you believe me is your choice, but what I’m about to say is the truth.”
“Spit it out before I rip your mouth apart.”
“I’ve regressed.”
Noah frowned, as if hearing complete nonsense.
“In short — I died and returned to the past. I lived through the same zombie apocalypse and survived for three years.”
“….”
“Until I died, I fought alongside you. As comrades. For nearly a year and a half.”
Yohan confessed the truth without resistance. If there was anyone he could reveal it to, it was this man. Though Noah looked at him like he was insane, Yohan calmly continued.
“During that time, we met the same comrades, fought together against mutants, battled Gae Baekjong… and lost.”
“What a crazy story.”
“That’s why I know you. I know you well. Almost as well as your little sister. And right now, I feel like I’m sinking into hell. Shin Noah. I’m watching my past and current comrades die at the same time. Please, stop this fight.”
As Yohan’s long breath finished, an endless silence fell between them.
Would he believe him?
Maybe. Because the situation spoke louder than words.
Or maybe not. Noah was a naturally suspicious person.
If he believed, they could move forward. If not, they would fight. That was all.
“I see.”
When Noah finally spoke, something welled up sharply inside Yohan.
“Yeah. Long time no see, friend.”
Noah reached out his hand with a warm smile, as if greeting an old friend.
It was Yohan’s turn to be stunned.
“…What?”
“You said you watched me for years. It’s been a long time for you. And looking at your face, it’s obvious how happy you are to see me. It’s only right I respond properly. Out of respect for an old comrade.”
“Ha.”
His eyes stung embarrassingly.
He didn’t shed tears, but his nose tingled.
If he died again in this life and met Sweeper or Hajin who no longer remembered him, would it feel like this? Probably.
“Going through this hell twice. You’ve had it rough.”
Seeing Yohan’s complicated expression, Noah joked with a mischievous grin.
“You must’ve really liked me. I guess my bisexual charm is just that strong. Were we dating?”
“What are you babbling about? Are you insane?”
“Hmm, guess not.”
“How are the others?”
Yohan shifted the topic. A shadow quickly darkened Noah’s face.
“Sung-hi’s dead. So is Sunhwa. Please don’t ask how they died.”
“….”
Just three months’ difference in the zombie outbreak timing — yet so much had changed. People who should’ve survived nearly three years had already perished within ten months.
Most likely killed by Gae Baekjong. It must have been a gruesome death — one he didn’t even want to imagine.
“Sunhwa was… my ex-girlfriend.”
“Fucking hell. This is messed up. …I have no words.”
Noah’s curses were heavy with emotion.
“I’m sorry.”
He couldn’t protect them. He felt guilty. Yohan shook his head.
“It’s alright. I got revenge myself.”
“Tearing that bastard limb from limb wouldn’t be enough. The only regret is that I couldn’t kill him with my own hands. Tell me — did Gae Baekjong suffer the punishment he deserved?”
