Chapter 39
As the long day ended, morning arrived with Yohan’s commanding voice echoing through the building.
“Search team! Let’s get to work!”
“What time even is it…?”
Yohan’s booming voice in the lobby woke people one by one. Hajin was the first to stumble out, hastily washing his face and grabbing his gear.
Yohan had already loaded the supplies for the hospital camp into the truck, parked just outside the building. He then gathered the search team, which now included Shin Dong-seok and his group, along with the original four members.
“Today, we’ll drop off supplies at the hospital. While we’re at it, we’ll escort these folks and begin a systematic search of the surrounding buildings. Our main tasks are checking for survivors, securing supplies, and eliminating zombies. Dong-seok.”
“Yes.”
“For the search team, I’ll be speaking informally due to the nature of the missions. Hope you’re okay with that.”
“That’s fine.”
“If you want, you can do the same with me.”
“No, that won’t be necessary.”
Although older than Yohan, Dong-seok accepted the informal tone without complaint. As the leader of the search team, Yohan needed strict control, and anyone joining the team had to adjust to the hierarchy.
“Dong-seok, you’re untested in real action, so don’t overdo it. Stay in the rear at all times. You’ve been briefed on the rules and signals, right?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
The team loaded the supplies and headed to the hospital camp, which had been tidied up overnight. Despite their efforts to clean and clear bodies, the survivors looked weary and worn.
The hospital camp welcomed the new survivors warmly, though their primary focus was on the supplies. The sight of food, clothing, and daily necessities moved them to tears.
“We were worried you wouldn’t come back… It’s hard to trust anyone these days.”
“I understand. We’re counting on you as well.”
Yohan handed Gap-soo a revolver and a rifle taken from the soldiers. Although ammunition was limited, they could be lifesaving in a worst-case scenario.
Gap-soo was astonished at receiving such valuable items, even shedding tears at Yohan’s explanation that it symbolized their alliance. With this, the second camp connection was solidified.
—
Once the supplies were delivered, Yohan gathered the search team around a map. The mart and hospital were marked in red, and Yohan pointed to the mart.
“We’ll start expanding outward in a circular pattern from here. Take anything usable, except for spoiled goods. Once we’ve searched a location, break the front door and destroy the locks.”
“Why bother with all that? Wouldn’t it be faster to just search and leave?” Hajin asked, puzzled by the seemingly unnecessary and risky task. Breaking doors could attract zombies.
“Take your time. What matters is methodically expanding our territory.”
“…”
“If the doors can’t be locked, the place can’t function as a shelter. It’s about security.”
The search team still looked confused, prompting Yohan to smile mischievously.
“It’s a message. We don’t tolerate anyone trespassing in our territory without permission.”
As Yohan grinned, a chill ran down the spines of the team. This man was truly diabolical, a demon risen straight from hell. The team could only sigh in resignation.
—
Before leaving the hospital, Yohan reinforced its defenses.
The hospital was spacious, but wandering aimlessly within its confines posed risks. Yohan armed the guards with rifles, similar to the mart, and implemented triple locks at key points: the main entrance, the emergency stairwell, and the third-floor living quarters.
Mealtimes were set twice daily, with all residents required to gather in the dining area during those times. The rest of the time, survivors were to remain on the third floor, and only the two guards were permitted to carry keys to the emergency stairwell.
The triple lock system would buy precious time in case of an attack, allowing the search team to intervene if needed.
Gap-soo shook hands with each newcomer, assuring them of their safety and filling them with hope. Satisfied, Yohan nodded and turned away.
—
The search team began their work. Starting from the mart, they systematically cleared nearby houses, shops, and lodging facilities, killing zombies and gathering supplies.
“Oppa, over there!”
A lookout on the mart rooftop waved toward the team resting atop a nearby building. Seri smiled brightly and waved back.
The search progressed smoothly.
“This floor’s clear.”
“Let’s move up.”
Though repetitive and grueling, the team worked diligently. Without Sweeper’s usual chatter, the silence felt stifling, prompting Seri to complain.
“Wait, I’ll go in first.”
*Crash!* Yohan kicked down a locked door to a storefront office. Holding a silenced Glock in one hand and a knife in the other, he carefully swept the interior.
Suddenly, a woman rushed at him. Ducking quickly, Yohan avoided a heavy object swung toward his head—a fire extinguisher. The woman stumbled under its weight, and Yohan swiftly tripped her.
With a scream, the woman fell, and Yohan’s boot pinned her down. She began sobbing as she stared down the barrel of his gun.
“Drop your weapon and step outside in three seconds, or I’ll shoot her. Three.”
The voice Yohan spoke toward wasn’t directed at the fallen woman but at the air around him. A faint, trembling reply came from within the room.
“P-Please…”
“Please, spare us…”
The soft crying continued from another room. It belonged to a young boy, seemingly a year or two younger than the woman who had attacked Yohan. With a nod, Yohan gestured for Seri to interrogate them while he moved to search the other floors.
It didn’t take long to realize that the purpose of these uninvited guests wasn’t an attack but a desperate plea for rescue. After the woman tearfully apologized for her attack in fear, Yohan accepted her apology and sent them to the hospital camp.
As they left, Yohan contemplated the need to establish another camp between the mart and the hospital.
Survivors were more resilient than expected and kept appearing. The more the streets were cleared, the safer the area became, and the more hidden survivors emerged.
Humans who survived the initial chaos of the outbreak had, by now, largely figured out how to avoid zombies. Whether through exposure to media or firsthand experience, basic zombie survival knowledge was widespread. With access to food and water, many had managed to endure.
In this context, South Korea wasn’t the worst place to survive a zombie apocalypse.
Later, the search team rescued one more survivor, a middle-aged man who introduced himself as Mr. Kim, a hardware store owner. He boasted that if they helped him transport a generator, he could install lights in the camp.
“We’ll hold you to that. You’ll receive more instructions at the camp.”
Although Hajin expected the search to be slower, Yohan’s methodical approach was surprisingly swift and efficient. Despite the thoroughness of the search, their progress was exceptional.
What amazed Hajin even more was Yohan’s uncanny ability to predict where survivors might be hiding, as if he knew in advance. Without fail, Yohan led the way into locations where survivors were found, deftly avoiding injuries and subduing panicked individuals. Each was promptly sent to the camp.
Dong-seok stuck to carrying supplies. With Seri efficiently handling any zombies that appeared, there wasn’t much for him to do. Yohan consistently praised Seri’s efforts but reminded her not to get overconfident.
“Being afraid of zombies is a problem, but underestimating them is worse,” he said. Losing someone to negligence was something Yohan was determined to prevent.
The search team cautiously yet steadily expanded their territory. With the growing number of people in the camp, securing resources became an urgent priority.
Still, Yohan wasn’t overly pressed. He had two key locations in mind where large quantities of supplies could be sourced:
Sangdong Station and Sinjungdong Station.
Together, these areas contained more than six large marts and department stores. For now, there was no rush. The focus was on minimizing casualties.
“Let’s call it a day,” Yohan said outside a care hospital. The two carts they’d brought along were overflowing with supplies.
The day had been productive, albeit exhausting. They had rescued three survivors, secured a generator, and obtained large amounts of water and fuel—a significant haul.
Tomorrow, the plan was to search the opposite side of the area, starting with city hall. Yohan anticipated even greater rewards there, expecting to find vital resources.
—
“Yohan! Come here!” Hajin’s voice echoed from within the care hospital. His tone was urgent, prompting Yohan to sprint up the stairs.
“What’s going on—”
No explanation was needed. Yohan froze at the horrifying sight before him.
“I don’t know whether to call this fortunate or tragic.”
“Exactly.”
Hajin’s remark summed it up. Seri and Dong-seok, who had followed, were equally appalled. Dong-seok turned away immediately, retching, while Seri eventually joined him, unable to hold back.
In the hospital’s central lobby, four corpses hung grotesquely. Yohan and Hajin recognized them instantly. They were members of the Goldmoon Gang, including their notorious officer and three subordinates.
All four had turned into zombies.
But more horrifying than their zombification was the condition of their bodies.
The gang officer was drenched in blood, while one subordinate’s jaw was completely crushed, another’s eyes gouged out, and the last one’s arms severed. All of them had been impaled on sharply cut pipes, their torsos pinned to the wall like morbid trophies.
They weren’t killed before being pinned. Judging by their weak movements and muffled groans, they were impaled while still alive.
Dong-seok heaved again as Seri patted his back with trembling hands.
“Was this their doing?” Seri asked, her voice shaking.
“Most likely,” Yohan replied. “If not, the alternative is even worse. If there’s more than one group capable of such atrocities, it’ll be a nightmare.”
Kneeling, Yohan inspected the blood-stained floor. It had long since dried.
He then silenced the groaning officer with a precise strike to the brain. Hajin followed suit, dispatching the three subordinates.
Yohan couldn’t shake the strange feeling that their paths would cross again. Though relieved to see them gone, a heavier weight loomed over him.
—
That night, Yohan was jolted awake by the faint sound of motorcycles. It was a barely audible noise, one that might have been missed if not for his heightened awareness.
The sound had been subtle before, easily dismissed as distant background noise. But now that he recognized it for what it was, it grated on his nerves.
Quickly, he rose and headed to the rooftop.
Just as he reached for the door to the rooftop, he froze. From the other side of the metal door came a faint groaning sound.
Yohan’s hand lingered mid-air, unsure whether to proceed.