RE: Survival - Chapter 66

“Jinsu trained relentlessly for weeks to join the search team. It doesn’t make sense for him to cause trouble just days after joining, does it? He’s a smart guy. If it were me and I had ulterior motives, I’d establish a stronger foothold in the team before making a move. Have you heard anything?”

“Not yet…”

“You can’t jump to conclusions based on one side of the story. I told you, the weaker party isn’t always the victim.”

Jinsu was in the search team, while Suhee was an ordinary camp member.

Given their respective positions in the camp, it was easy to perceive Jinsu as the perpetrator. However, without catching him in the act, it was always important to proceed cautiously with such matters.

Seri’s expression reflected a moment of realization at Yohan’s words, but her doubt lingered as she asked, “Then should we arrange a confrontation?”

“That’s one way to go about it, but if what you’re saying is true, it’s probably not ideal for the victim. I’ll interrogate the youngest myself. I’ll take him with me. Leave Jaeho here. Jinsu and Suhee are from the same camp, right? While Dong-seok is still here, look into their relationship. Ask the people around them, not the individuals directly involved. Keep it subtle.”

“Understood.”

“And if anything happens at the camp while I’m gone, don’t try to mediate. Just record everything and report back when I return.”

“Got it.”

Yohan nodded. “Alright, get ready. We leave immediately.”

At Yohan’s command, the team dispersed like a receding tide. Watching them leave, Yohan leaned back in his chair. Just when he thought things had been peaceful for a while, this incident had terrible timing.

With many of the camp’s minor issues still unresolved, a significant portion of personnel would now be away.

A vague unease settled over him.

‘But there are still trustworthy people left in the camp.’

Yohan pushed aside his worries. There weren’t many people in the camp bold enough to cause major trouble, and people like Seo-jun and Old Man Park, who managed the supplies, weren’t the type to be easily manipulated.

Just in case, he had left Dong-seok, one of their best assets, behind, so there shouldn’t be any major problems.

Concluding his thoughts, Yohan tapped a spot near Gulpocheon on the map.

‘Messiah…’

It was childish and arrogant.

Yohan muttered to himself.

—

“The search team is departing.”

Most of the team members were equipped with combat D-type gear—large-scale combat gear containing simple rations and plenty of ammunition. With their preparations complete, Yohan’s group crossed the boundary.

The distance to Gulpocheon Station wasn’t far. They had simply been delayed because they had been focusing on clearing the northwest streams. It was practically within reach and was the next area they planned to open up.

“Ji-won, Jung-su, lead the way.”

At Yohan’s command, the two survivors from the second team stepped forward. They began to move toward a narrow alley, but Yohan stopped them.

“Why aren’t you taking the main road and instead using the alley?”

“Well, the road ahead is blocked…”

“Blocked?”

“Yes, the overpass and elevated road above it collapsed…”

“Let’s check it out.”

“Y-yes, sir.”

If the road was blocked, it would be a problem. That route was essential for reaching the secondary shelter.

Even if they could take a detour, it was necessary to assess the situation.

The team stopped in front of the underpass. Just as they had said, at the intersection of Sangdong Underpass, the outer ring expressway had collapsed.

It looked as though it had been hit by a massive bombing. The area was sunken, with numerous military vehicles tangled beneath the wreckage. It bore the scars of an old battle.

“I didn’t know this route was blocked.”

“We’ve never come this way before. It’s not a route you can see from a distance.”

“I’ll climb up for a better look. Sweeper, cover me.”

Calling out to Sweeper, Yohan stepped onto the broken asphalt pieces and climbed onto the overpass.

The cries of zombies echoed faintly as they reached his ears from across the collapsed road.

As he climbed up the final piece of asphalt, a previously unexplored city unfolded before them.

Beyond the collapsed road stretched an endless sea of zombies. They moved like waves or swarms of insects, writhing endlessly.

“Oh, shit…”

Thousands—no, tens of thousands—of zombies were trapped beyond the collapsed road, unable to advance but continuously writhing and twisting.

It was a chilling and grotesque sight, enough to send shivers down one’s spine.

—

It was a gray room.

His thighs throbbed heavily as if a rock were pressing down on them.

Drip, drip…

Cold water dripped onto his face. The space was dark, dreary, and grim. Was it once used as a warehouse? Or perhaps a laundry room? Its size was only large enough to barely fit four people sitting side by side. Dim light barely illuminated the area.

“Mmph…”

His voice was muffled by a gag in his mouth. Slowly regaining consciousness, Hyuk surveyed his surroundings.

The others hadn’t yet shaken off the effects of the drugs. Including himself, there were only four people in the gray room.

Two were missing. Hyuk struggled, but the bindings held fast.

Creaaak, snap, clink…

Before him, four zombies, bound by chains, snapped their teeth hungrily at him.

Where had it all gone wrong?

Hyuk thought back to when they had arrived here.

‘Captain, I think we should head back. It seems like the radio is out of range now. And this is our first time in this area.’

Ji-won had tried to stop him, unease written all over his face. Searching always came with its fair share of tension and fear, but this particular expedition was filled with dread.

The image of the writhing horde of zombies at the collapsed overpass earlier still lingered in his mind like a haunting afterimage.

Shaking his head, Hyuk pressed on. It was the third day of the search. Despite their recent rescue missions, they had yet to find a single survivor. This time, he was determined to bring someone back alive.

Screeech!

A scream broke through the air, followed by a dull thud. The six of them turned toward the sound and ran in its direction without hesitation.

‘Stop!’

Hyuk, having entered a narrow alley, halted the group. A narrow street lay ahead, where dozens of zombies were feasting ravenously on a freshly killed corpse.

The team members drew their weapons from their belts, preparing for the battle ahead.

Hyuk was the first to charge, swinging his greatsword directly at a zombie’s head. With a loud piercing sound, the sword embedded itself squarely in the zombie’s forehead.

As Hyuk pulled out the sword, he kicked the zombie away. The rest of the team followed suit, rushing in to attack.

Search Team 2 formed a line and systematically dealt with the incoming zombies. Drawn by the sight of fresh prey, the zombies lunged excitedly, only to collapse one after another.

Though they were outnumbered, the team was well-trained and brave. After about thirty minutes, the street was littered with black blood and zombie corpses.

‘It seems like they fell from this building,’ Jung-eun said, looking at the adjacent structure—a six-story church. Like most buildings of this era, its exterior walls were marked with bloodstains, dust, and scorch marks.

‘There might be survivors inside.’

Hyuk’s words made the team nod in agreement. They cautiously circled the building and approached the front door. It was firmly shut.

As the others stood guard with their weapons, Hyuk knocked on the door. There was no response, even after several attempts. Just as Hyuk was about to break the handle, the door creaked open.

Behind it stood a man in a black priest’s robe, staring at them with an expressionless face.

Even at the sight of survivors, the man showed no signs of surprise or panic. Instead, it was the search team that found his reaction unsettling.

‘Excuse us,’ Hyuk said.

The man silently stepped back, gesturing for them to enter.

Hyuk and the team entered the building with cautious expressions. Before they could open the inner glass door, the man stopped them.

‘You must disarm inside the sanctuary.’

His tone was stiff, almost like that of a drill instructor. The team glanced at Hyuk, awaiting his decision. After a moment, Hyuk nodded and pointed at Jung-su.

‘Jung-su, come with me. The rest of you stay here and be ready to come in immediately if needed.’

‘Hyuk, are you sure it’s safe?’

‘It’ll be fine. If anything happens, I’ll shout, and you can come in right away.’

Hyuk and Jung-su handed their guns to Jung-eun and dropped their greatswords to the ground before approaching the priest.

‘Where are the others?’

‘We came as representatives. Too many people at once might overwhelm you.’

The priest gave them a brief pat-down before gesturing for them to follow.

‘Come this way.’

Hyuk followed the man, observing the interior. Unlike the exterior, the inside was immaculately clean.

The floor appeared regularly maintained, and there were no bloodstains or signs of damage on the walls or pillars.

The priest led them to the sanctuary, where more than twenty people sat with their hands clasped in prayer, as though waiting for something.

When Hyuk and Jung-su entered, all eyes turned to them. The gazes were filled with a mix of confusion and wariness.

Hyuk quickly tried to reassure them. ‘It’s okay. We’re a rescue team.’

At the word “rescue,” a flicker of hope appeared on their faces. Some of the people quickly broke from their prayer positions and approached Hyuk.

‘Are you with the government?’

‘Are you soldiers?’

‘We’re neither government nor military. But we are rescuing survivors.’

At this, some people looked disappointed and returned to their seats. Hyuk addressed those who remained.

‘Is it possible to speak with the camp leader?’

‘The Messiah is currently in fasting prayer.’

‘The Messiah?’ Hyuk asked, the title striking him as strange.

The reverence in their tone reminded him of how North Koreans might refer to their leader. It gave Hyuk an odd sense of unease, but he didn’t show it.

‘Is this camp’s leader called the Messiah?’

One of the survivors smiled and replied, ‘Yes, that’s correct.’

‘That’s an interesting nickname,’ Hyuk commented. ‘It’s a unique title.’

The survivor immediately corrected him, speaking with conviction. ‘It’s not a nickname. He is the true Messiah, the last hope to save this world. Brother, you may not understand, but we are living in the final days foretold in the Bible. We are sinners who were not called to ascend when the trumpet sounded, and now we endure trials in the end times. If we remain steadfast and pray diligently, the Messiah will open the path to the heavens for us.’

‘Ah… I see,’ Hyuk said, unsure how to respond.

‘What nonsense is this?’ Jung-su muttered unconsciously, the words slipping out before he could stop himself.

The atmosphere instantly turned cold. Hyuk quickly covered Jung-su’s mouth and offered an explanation. ‘He’s an atheist. Please understand. By the way, where is this Messiah? We’d like to speak with him.’

‘The Messiah has entered a special prayer because the Lord has yet to answer his call for ascension. You’ll need to wait until he finishes.’

Perhaps due to Jung-su’s earlier remark, the woman’s tone had grown colder.

Hyuk and Jung-su exchanged a bewildered glance. Ascension? Responses from God? They couldn’t make sense of this camp’s peculiar practices.

Looking around, the expressions of the people in the sanctuary were unlike any survivors they had encountered before. There was a strange mix of distance and disconnection. Yet, thankfully, there was no hostility.

It seemed necessary to meet this so-called Messiah and get a clearer picture.

‘We’ll wait. Would it be alright to bring in the rest of our team from outside?’

‘That’s fine, but weapons are not allowed inside the sanctuary.’

‘Hmm… Understood. We’ll wait for now. Jung-su, go tell the others to rest and stay on standby.’

‘Got it.’