Chapter 138
Yohan fell silent for a moment.
There was definitely a hint of dissonance in the way Noah used the word “subordinates.” It wasn’t the kind of word someone like him would usually use.
He had apparently drawn a line between comrades and the subordinates he used to protect those comrades.
Even in the midst of all this, he’d made sure to look after his people separately. That was so very like Shin Noah.
It was something even Yohan hadn’t considered.
And at the same time, it was frustrating.
“You’re impressive—and an idiot.”
“Can’t you say anything without sounding like a jerk?”
“What if I decide to track down all your comrades and kill them? Why are you spilling all this info so easily?”
Noah replied with complete indifference.
“What, you think Mapo’s a neighborhood playground? Good luck finding them if they go into hiding.”
“And what if I do find them, no matter what it takes?”
“Let’s not waste time on hypotheticals. If you hadn’t told me I could join your camp alone, I would’ve just died here. But if I’d gone silent, my friends would’ve come to avenge me anyway. They wouldn’t have had a choice.”
“I see.”
Yohan nodded. His logic was sound. If it were Yohan, he’d have sent his comrades away and died alone too. But then, those comrades would have surely come to get revenge—or at least retrieve his body.
“That’s unexpected. I take back what I said about you being incompetent. I apologize.”
“No, I admit it. Expanding the camp was my way of protecting my people if another Seoul Survival Union rose again. But it was greed. And arrogance.”
“No one could’ve handled it better than you.”
At Yohan’s sincere words, Noah broke into a bright smile—as if he’d been absolved. It was the expression of someone carrying the weight of others’ lives, finding solidarity in someone who understood.
“If I’m with you… I think I might actually be able to protect my people this time.”
It felt like gaining a thousand reinforcements. He hadn’t expected this outcome. He’d half resigned himself to the worst—that he’d have to kill Noah with his own hands. But now, this result far exceeded anything he’d hoped for from the expedition.
Yohan was eager to lock it in.
“When we were together before, who was the leader?”
“You were.”
Noah nodded.
“Right. Maybe that’s why you lost to the Gae Baekjong last time. And why you won this time.”
“Could be. But if I hadn’t known what he was or how he operated, I might’ve been wiped out completely.”
“Objective. I like it. Then it’s your turn now.”
“You mean…”
“I’m counting on you to protect our people, Captain.”
Still seated, Noah bowed his head. When he looked up, he was smiling cheerfully.
“I’ll do my best. For the sake of my new comrades.”
“Wow, that sounded real cheesy.”
“Drop the formal talk. That’s even cheesier.”
Yohan frowned and untied his hands. Noah winced and rubbed his sore wrists.
They stepped out of the café together as if nothing had happened. The others who’d been waiting quickly gathered near Yohan.
Their eyes shifted to Noah—then to his now-free hands.
Unfazed, Yohan turned to Sweeper.
“Did the old man leave?”
“Yeah, he bolted out of here. And that guy…”
“He’s with us now. Our newest comrade.”
Despite the clarification, everyone looked uneasy. Their grips tightened around their weapons, like they were ready to pounce at the slightest hint of trouble.
“Relax.”
“But he was just fighting us moments ago. Can we really trust him?”
Yohan nodded, but the wariness didn’t vanish. Noah, standing idly by, walked over to a corpse nearby and slung a bloodstained weapon over his shoulder.
Click. A few survivors chambered their rounds.
“Seri, Sergeant Ong. You can lower your weapons.”
Yohan addressed the two who had their sights aimed. Though they didn’t look pleased, they obeyed.
“Being cautious is good. It’s the right mindset.”
“……”
“But this guy came out unarmed to negotiate. Trust me. In my past life, he was my most dependable comrade.”
Eyes darted around, uncertain. The first to lower his guard was Sweeper.
“Come on, guys. We outnumber him anyway. Chill.”
He clicked his weapon to safety and slung it over his shoulder. That finally signaled the others to start relaxing as well. Some still didn’t fully lower their weapons, but Yohan understood. He was the one who trained them that way. Even he was always on guard for sudden changes—how could he fault them?
“Hey, I’ve got a question.”
From the back, Noah spoke up, a flat gaze on the others, weapon slung behind him.
“Is your commander always this corny, or is he trying to outdo himself today? Gonna take a while to get used to this.”
That one line—undeniably—won him more favor than anything else.
—
“So that’s how it happened. Pretty slick, pretty boy.”
After hearing everything—how Yeouido Camp expanded, how Noah lost control and attacked Camp Yohan, and how his real comrades were elsewhere—Yohan finally understood Noah’s decisions. More than understood, he was genuinely impressed.
“Don’t flatter me. I was a lousy leader who let his people die.”
Noah waved off the compliment. After that, the questions came pouring in—ranging from serious to silly—standard protocol for welcoming a new member.
“Do you have a girlfriend?”
“…What?”
“A girlfriend.”
“No. I’m accepting applications.”
“What’s your type?”
“Pretty women.”
“Pick one of the three ladies here.”
At that, all three women scowled simultaneously as Jae-ho chuckled mischievously.
“Uh… pretty women.”
Ptooey, ptooey. Someone made a spitting sound. As the mood became more animated, Yohan stepped in to cut it off.
“That’s enough of a welcome party. Are you bringing your comrades here, or are we going to them?”
“They mentioned they were heading to Yongsan, so I’ll tell them to grab their stuff and meet us there.”
“Alright then.”
With Yohan’s approval, Noah immediately called his comrades over the radio.
“It’s me.”
—Oh, Noah! What happened? Are you okay?
“It’s a long story. Just head to Yongsan Station. I’ll meet you there.”
—All of us?
“Yeah. Every single one.”
—…Got it.
It was a voice Yohan had never heard before.
“Shall we move, then?”
“Wait, Yohan.”
Just as he turned to leave, Noah stopped him. Yohan looked back.
“Could you give me a moment? I want to collect the bodies.”
“I’ll help.”
“No. I need to do it myself.”
At his firm tone, Yohan studied him for a moment before nodding.
“Alright. Everyone else, head inside and clean up. Take a break.”
At his command, the tension melted, and the group sank into café chairs or onto the floor. Noah had already disappeared from view. From afar, quiet murmurs of “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…” echoed softly, mingled with the shuffling sounds of him gathering the dead.
* * *
By the time Noah finished collecting the corpses and they arrived at Yongsan Station, Jung-un and Eddy looked much better. Luca and Seri were replacing their bandages, and the other survivors stood watch in turns.
Though the sun still hung high in the sky, Yohan ordered rest. No one knew what the Joint Command might throw at them next, and conserving energy was vital. Fighting two battles a day was an enormous physical and psychological burden.
Among Noah’s comrades, Yohan recognized only one name—Choi Soo-hyun.
And Soo-hyun’s appearance led to yet another miraculous moment.
“…Oppa?”
“So-hee? Is that really you?!”
It was like a scene from a family reunion at a North-South summit. Everyone was stunned.
The moment Soo-hyun was spotted, So-hee rushed over, bawling her eyes out.
“That’s So-hee’s brother?”
Even seeing it with their own eyes, it was hard to believe.
They were two people who had been convinced the other was dead.
“…I waited.”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Their reunion was steeped in emotions words couldn’t express—family, friendship… names dulled by grief and time. Surely, some here were thinking of those they’d never get to see again.
Yohan, arms crossed, gave Noah a light nudge as he smiled fondly.
“How’d this happen?”
“I don’t know. Soo-hyun used to mention his sister, but honestly, I’d already given up.”
It had started when his unit had been deployed on a military operation that reached into the heart of Seoul.
Following orders, they bounced from shelter to shelter until they were scattered by a mutant ambush. Many deserted, and some of the remaining soldiers eventually followed a sergeant to Noah’s camp.
They had attempted contact with their families in Yeongjong-do afterward. Soo-hyun had desperately searched for news about his family, but in those circumstances, it was nearly impossible. He wasn’t alone—most survivors were in the same boat.
After the miraculous reunion, the mood relaxed. The surreal, storybook-like event left everyone speechless, and a hard-to-describe bond had formed between the two camps.
“How does something like that even happen?”
Standing beside Yohan, Hyuk murmured.
“It’s not coincidence—it’s fate, Hyuk.”
“…Yeah, got it.”
“Stay close to Noah. You can learn a lot from him.”
If Hyuk grew into his best self, that’s what he might become—righteous, but able to compromise for the sake of his people; aggressive, yet peaceful; and discerning, even in chaos.
He was Yohan’s role model too—but more importantly, the person Hyuk needed to become. Had Gun survived, he probably would have turned out just like that.
“Okay. I will.”
“Good. Everyone, you’ve done well. Rest here tonight. We’ll head to the Joint Command early tomorrow.”
“Wait, Yohan. We’re going to the Joint Command?”
“Yeah, that’s the plan. Why?”
“Not a problem, just…”
Now, only one final gate remained.
