Chapter 156

He had never been interested in the opposite sex, nor their appearance, so it felt strange to find himself mesmerized by someone’s looks.

Her whole body was toned, likely from years of hard work, with golden brown hair and an impressive height greater than most men. For the first time, Hajin felt what it meant to find someone of the opposite sex attractive.

It was an unfamiliar feeling. Besides, she was someone he’d just met for the first time in this very moment.

After a brief daze, Hajin shook his head to regain his senses. ‘If I space out here, I’ll have no excuse if I die a ridiculous death.’

Hajin carefully checked his surroundings for other survivors, looking for any traces or signs of them.

She also seemed to be trying to figure out the meaning behind the sudden flare, quietly assessing the situation.

There weren’t any other dwellings nearby, and from the size of the wooden building, it looked like there could only be three or four survivors at most. There weren’t any men’s clothes hanging at the laundry area.

‘If there’s someone by the storage, then at most, there could be up to six.’

It wasn’t a threatening number. There were no visible weapons. He watched to see if there might be a pistol tucked into her cargo pants, but it was hard to tell.

Hajin hesitated, wondering whether to call for backup or reveal himself and try to negotiate.

‘No need to provoke unnecessary suspicion.’

The flare had already gone up, and if things got dangerous, backup would arrive quickly. If he tried to push things by showing force, it might only frighten them and ruin everything.

Especially survivors who’d managed to survive so long in such remote places—most of them tended to be reasonable in conversation. That was something he’d learned from experience.

‘I should reveal myself slowly…’

But at that moment, Hajin had no choice but to stop. The woman chopping firewood, bothered by the sweat, suddenly started to take off her top.

‘If I go out now, it’s the perfect timing to be mistaken for some creep.’

Now she was left in nothing but thin underwear, sweat glistening on her smooth skin under the sun.

Hajin was so flustered he turned his gaze away.

‘Even if no one else is around, this is way too careless.’

He scratched his nose in embarrassment. ‘What should I do about this…?’

If it were Sweeper, he’d probably just brazen it out and reveal himself without a hitch, but Hajin didn’t have that kind of shamelessness.

While he was deliberately looking away, Hajin suddenly sensed something strange and turned his gaze back.

The woman who’d been chopping firewood had disappeared.

“……”

<Who are you?>

A thin, sharp voice and the blunt feeling at the back of his head came almost simultaneously.

<Thought you were a monster. Human? Asian?>

She rattled off in fluent English. While Hajin’s brain was scrambling to think of a reply, she continued.

<What’s your purpose? What are you hiding under that suit?>

Her clear voice, oddly unfitting for such a tense situation, rang in his ears.

‘Am I really admiring her voice when my life’s in danger? Unbelievable.’ (T/N: Bro be simping at this moment lol)

He scolded himself for letting his guard down, then slowly lifted his suit just enough to show his face and raised both hands.

Of course, just because he was showing his hands didn’t mean he was unthreatening. The weapons in both hands rose up along with them. He could feel the survivor flinch at the sight.

<Wow, look at those weapons. Intense.>

“Damn English…”

He’d studied hard for ten months, but his English was barely enough for basic rescue work.

The woman frowned, realizing Hajin hadn’t replied in English.

<What’s he saying?>

<I’m not good at English.>

Hajin spoke in broken English, making it clear he meant no harm.

<We are rescue team. We want to rescue you.>

<We?>

<People are with me.>

Hajin turned around slowly. Her figure was about ten centimeters shorter than him. She was still half-naked. Hajin’s face flushed and he pointed out her attire.

<You are nude.>

<What are you talking about, you goofy monkey?>

‘That “monkey” thing again, seriously.’

Grumbling, Hajin slung his rifle over his shoulder and grabbed the clothes she was holding, draping them over her front. She flinched for a second, then tilted her head, still pointing her gun at his suit-covered head.

He’d never been shot from this close before. ‘I shouldn’t die, right?’

<You said you’re rescue team?>

<Yeah.>

<Do you have… a cure?>

<Medicine?>

<Yeah.>

<What medicine? Are you sick?>

<What are you talking about, the virus cure.>

Ah, Hajin shook his head. Of course that didn’t exist. Seeing him deny it, her eyes filled with disappointment.

<Are there zombies around?>

<No, absolutely not.>

She shook her head firmly and continued.

<Tall for an Asian. Name? I’m Olivia.>

<My name is Hajin.>

<Hajin. Alright. I respect your sexual preference, so I’ll forgive you for peeping at me. You do look like a rescue team member—though my house dog would trust you more than I do. How did you get here? What’s the city like?>

<Again, I don’t speak English well.>

<So frustrating.>

She shrugged. Nothing she could do if he didn’t speak the language. For now, Hajin needed to sort out the situation. Sweat was sticking to him everywhere.

<Let’s talk again after I wash up. Put your weapons down.>

Hajin just stared blankly, so Olivia pointed at his gun and knife.

He finally realized and handed her his gun, sheathing his knife. Her gaze landed on Hajin’s missing arm.

<Your arm… sorry.>

<It’s fine.>

<Just wait here a bit.>

Olivia shook her clothes and went inside the wooden house.

Hajin pulled out a pistol he’d tucked inside his suit.

“Hm…”

Did they have little contact with outsiders from the start? Judging by the state of the house, it didn’t look like a place refugees rushed into. They must have just settled near the ranch and barely survived, accidentally avoiding the apocalypse.

That would’ve been very lucky in Korea, but in New Zealand, it wasn’t uncommon.

After a while, Olivia came out, shaking her head, holding a cup of plain water.

Hajin took the glass and gave her a nod.

<Sorry, there’s no food. We’ve been starving for quite a while.>

<You’re hungry?>

<Yeah. Very.>

Hajin nodded, then pulled food out of his backpack. Two days’ worth of emergency rations spilled onto the table. Olivia’s eyes grew wide at the sight of canned food, biscuits, and jerky.

<You’re giving this to me?>

<Yeah. Go ahead, eat.>

<You really are rescue team. Should I give you a thank-you kiss?>

<No.>

Hajin firmly refused. He believed in saving himself for marriage.

Olivia grinned, grabbed some biscuits, and chewed thoughtfully. Every move she made had a captivating quality.

<Your eyes are burning. I should repay your kindness. Thank you. You’re allowed inside.>

“What is she saying…”

<What? What did you say?>

Both of them were frustrated.

—

His English was terrible, but his body language was great. Hajin mixed short English phrases with gestures, finally managing to finish all the explanations.

Olivia stared at him, half frustrated, half curious, then let out a sigh, chin on the table.

<No cure… Unbelievable…>

She was a survivor living with her sick mother. They had been neighbors with the nearby ranch, but ever since her mother’s illness, they almost never left the house.

After checking, Hajin thought her mother probably had dementia. Olivia said they knew about the zombie outbreak through radio and smartphone, but that only made her more anxious, so they hadn’t gone out.

“It’s amazing you survived this long.”

Yohan always said that anyone who survived had what it took. Hajin agreed. Olivia was gentle, strong, and dignified enough to care for her mother.

<It’s your food, but I’ll enjoy it.>

She simply cooked the canned food and brought it out on a plate. Hajin slowly scooped some up. Somehow, it tasted different than the usual canned food he’d eaten.

“It’s good.”

<Is it?>

Hajin was startled. Could she speak Korean?

<No need to be surprised. Your face is saying everything. Are you Korean? Chinese? What happened to your arm? What’s that monster shell?>

Olivia pointed at his arm.

Hajin chuckled and replied.

<I’m Korean. And this, it shoots lasers.>

He made a “pew” sound with his mouth. The only response was a cold stare. Clearing his throat, Hajin quietly cursed Noah and Sergeant Ong, then started eating again.

<Don’t eat it all. Aren’t you here to rescue me?>

With his mouth full, Hajin just mumbled. He didn’t know what she was saying, but seeing her laugh, it seemed like she was telling a funny story. He wasn’t really curious. He just liked that the food was warm.

<Haven’t seen a young man in a while. Feels kind of nice.>

<Let’s go, to the camp.>

<So bold and direct. Sorry, I can’t.>

<You can’t?>

<My mother’s sick.>

Hmm. Hajin nodded.

Taking care of an elderly parent with dementia would make anyone wary of going with a stranger.

At that moment, his radio buzzed.

-Captain, you haven’t checked in. Are you okay?

“Yeah, no problems. Just talking with survivors.”

-Okay, understood.

The call ended quickly. Olivia tilted her head.

<Friends?>

<Yeah. Colleagues. You, come with us.>

<Tough and stubborn, aren’t you? But no, I can’t.>

<I have a doctor.>

<Don’t talk like a weirdo—say ‘there is a doctor.’>

She teased him, but Olivia was actually wavering inside.

A doctor? Could she trust them? Life was tough, but they weren’t starving to death. Was it worth risking more danger?

<I’ll think about it. I want to talk it over with my mom.>

Hajin glanced at her mother. She didn’t seem able to discuss much.

But he nodded. He still had searching to do and needed to share the report. He’d report the survivors to Yohan, too. There was no need to force a rescue. Any regret was just his personal feeling.

<Then I’ll come back later. Take this. Use it if things get dangerous.>

<Oh, thanks.>

Stretching his stiff shoulders, Hajin walked out. Just as he was about to head back to camp, a strange sensation washed over him.

A foul, unpleasant smell.

Corpse stench.

‘What is this?’

No way.

Hajin glanced back at Olivia, who was waving at him, her hair blowing in the wind.

‘No, it can’t be.’

He deliberately walked closer to the storage shed. In his head and heart, he kept telling himself it wasn’t true, but his heightened senses wouldn’t be fooled.

There was a zombie in the storage. He was sure.

Hajin’s expression hardened as he turned around.

<…Why?>

<Did you lock a zombie in here?>

Olivia’s face turned pale at his words.

Hajin knocked on the storage door. It was faint, but there was definitely a sound.

Olivia rushed over to stop him.

<Are you crazy?>

<You sound disabled most of the time, but you pronounce ‘crazy’ perfectly! Watch your language!>

<Zombie, why?>

<It’s my father. Just leave and mind your own business.>

Father. Hajin understood immediately.

Maybe it was meddling, but he couldn’t just leave a rotting corpse here. Especially with a sick person inside. They could be exposed to disease.

<Move. I’m going to kill him.>

Hajin spoke clearly. Sparks flashed in Olivia’s eyes.

<If you touch him, you’ll be the one to die, you damn Asian.>