Chapter 157
Flames flickered in her wide, almost bursting eyes—a gaze strong enough to say there was no room for negotiation.
Her body was tense, muscles ready to leap at any moment, prepared to attack if needed.
Hajin spoke slowly and clearly, trying to reason with her.
<He’s already dead.>
<I’ll say it again, it’s none of your business.>
‘She means it’s not my right…’
Hajin nodded as he carefully interpreted her words. She had a point. Still, his body resisted his logic, itching to subdue her and remove the threat.
‘I need to create a situation where we can talk.’
Right now, she needed to calm down. Hajin could understand why she was so sensitive, but she didn’t seem capable of rational thought at this moment.
Hajin slowly reached for the storage door handle. At that instant, Olivia lunged at him. Her long arms flew toward him with lightning speed.
But to him, it was obvious, even slow. He’d trained daily with Sweeper, who was famous for speed, and had faced Mutants with even faster movements.
She was simply outmatched.
Hajin twisted his body, knocked her arms aside, and struck her nape. Not too hard, not too soft—a perfect balance to subdue her without harm.
Her body went limp. Olivia staggered, and before she hit the floor, Hajin caught her.
He slung Olivia over his shoulder and carried her into the wooden house. Inside, a senile old woman blinked up at him.
He slowly walked over and took hold of the wheelchair. The old woman, seated in it, looked at him and asked cheerfully,
<Where are you going? Is Olivia sleeping?>
Hajin nodded and pulled the wheelchair. Thankfully, she didn’t try to stop or interfere. She only poked at Olivia’s collar, curious.
“Oh, Captain!”
The team members who saw Hajin returning to the ranch approached him.
Some had already returned—Noah and several others, except for those who’d gone out logging.
“Uh…”
Hajin lowered Olivia from his shoulder as the others stared at him.
“Captain, who’s this?”
“I told you, a survivor.”
“That’s not what I meant…”
They looked almost shocked. Seeing Hajin carrying her like luggage, they seemed uneasy.
Noah lifted the woman’s eyelid to check for signs of infection.
“Hajin, what’s wrong with her? She wasn’t bitten, right?”
“She wasn’t bitten. She wouldn’t listen, so I knocked her out and brought her here.”
‘That’s not a rescue, you monster!’
Noah wanted to shout.
“Why those faces? She was protecting a zombie at her door. I guess it’s her father. She tried to stop me even though I said he had to be killed, so I brought her here.”
Noah and the squad leaders looked awkward. They understood, but the method was all wrong. Their policy was always ‘rescue,’ never forcing survivors. She’d surely make a scene when she woke up.
“So what now?”
“I’ll persuade her. If I spoke English well, I would’ve done it right there.”
“Honestly, I think even if your English was perfect, you two would’ve still fought.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.”
Hajin frowned at Noah’s comment, then waved it off.
“Anyway, call Jason. He can talk to her when she wakes up.”
“Okay. But about her…”
There was a problem. She was barely moving, as if dead. Just how hard had he hit her?
“She’s not dead, right?”
“Of course not. I controlled my strength.”
“I wonder what your ‘controlled strength’ really means. Maybe we should offer her condolences just in case.”
Hajin thought Noah’s joke was dull.
—
Olivia woke, clutching her throbbing head. Her blurry memory gradually returned, finally reaching the last scene—being attacked by a gorilla-like Asian man.
That damn, nosy Asian…
<Urgh, what did he do to me…>
Fortunately, aside from her headache, she felt fine. Olivia slowly sat up, noting the musty bedding beneath her. The room felt both unfamiliar and oddly familiar.
<Where am I…?>
She got up and looked around. The place gradually became familiar. It was the ranch of a relative she’d visited before the apocalypse.
“Hey, you’re up.”
Hajin’s voice reached her ears. Olivia crept to the bedroom door, watching through a crack as Hajin took care of her mother. Veins bulged in her forehead.
I have to save Mom from that monster.
She instinctively wanted to rush out, but held back, searching for a weapon. She spotted a metal rod.
Just as she gripped it and was about to burst out, her mother’s voice stopped her.
<It’s tasty.>
She froze, looking again. Hajin was helping her mother eat, even wiping her mouth and carefully cleaning her arms and neck with wet wipes. It was a bizarre sight—hardly someone doing harm. Her grip loosened.
“What are you doing back there? If you’re up, come out.”
Hajin’s deep voice cut in. Olivia jumped back from the door.
<You’re up, Olivia. Come here.>
It was like he had a sixth sense. Olivia put the rod down and slowly opened the door. Hajin glanced at her and called out,
“Hey! Get Jason in here!”
A young Asian man hurried in.
<Hello, I’m Jason.>
<Olivia.>
Olivia responded flatly to Jason’s greeting. He was fluent in both English and Korean, and started interpreting.
“We moved you here because it looked dangerous.”
<Who said you could?>
“What do you mean, who said? It’s like rescuing someone from drowning only for them to demand your bag.”
<I wasn’t drowning, and I’m not asking for your bag.>
Her reply was firm. Hajin was at a loss, but continued.
“You were exposed to danger.”
<…>
“I didn’t kill your father, the zombie. In fact, I never planned to. In our camp, if a family member becomes a zombie, the remaining family gives them peace themselves. But you didn’t seem willing to kill him. And it’s dangerous to leave a survivor near a zombie you don’t intend to kill. So I moved you to a safe place.”
Olivia’s expression softened a little. Learning he hadn’t killed her father, and that he’d gone to this trouble for her, began to melt her hostility. Still, she couldn’t abandon her family. She intended to stay by her mother and father, hoping for a cure.
<I’ll go back. I’ve been rescued. We weren’t starving anyway.>
“There’s no cure, Olivia.”
Hajin’s tone was firm and clear. Jason, relaying the conversation, darted his eyes between the two.
“We have a lab. American specialists said zombies aren’t sick—they’re already dead. You need to let go. Give your father peace, then come with us to start a new life. That’s what your father would want too.”
Olivia suppressed the urge to shout, ‘What do you know?’ It felt forceful, but she sensed genuine care behind it.
It was baffling to receive such kindness from a stranger, but it made her waver.
“Think about your mother.”
That was it. He kept mentioning her mom, making it impossible to refuse coldly.
“I won’t force you. We’ll start heading back in two hours, so don’t take too long to decide. Jason, let’s go.”
Jason left first, and Hajin turned to leave when Olivia called out.
<Wait.>
“…?”
Hajin turned back.
<Why… are you helping me this much?>
He considered calling Jason back, but decided he could handle this much English. Hajin thought for a moment, then answered briefly and honestly.
<You are strong and beautiful.> (T/N: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA)
<Wh-what, idiot…>
<You’d be a good influence at camp.>
With that, Hajin gave a thumbs up and left.
Olivia stared in disbelief as he left. What kind of guy was he?
It wasn’t even hot, but she was breaking out in a cold sweat.
Hajin stepped outside to prepare for their return. Sergeant Ong was lining up the off-road trucks, and Noah was busy moving supplies and livestock.
“Hey, Hajin. Olivia’s awake?”
“Yeah.”
“She coming with us?”
“Don’t know.”
“Did you give a good pitch? I can’t believe she’d say no.”
I did my best, Hajin muttered. Noah patted him on the back and continued briefing the team.
“Once we reach the city, Cuisine will send a big vehicle. Let’s just shuttle back and forth till then.”
“Okay. Good job, Ong.”
“No problem, sir. Nothing happened.”
With Hajin joining, the work sped up. As they worked, Olivia came out from the house.
Hajin raised a hand and approached. The smell of livestock was strong, but she didn’t react.
<Made your decision?>
<Yeah. I’ll get my things.>
It was a positive answer. She seemed bright, already prepared for the move. Hajin grinned.
<Let’s go together. It’s safer.>
<Sure, thanks.>
She accepted his offer of help without complaint. It was surprising. He was reminded of the fierce women who’d argue over being treated like a child.
“Teams 2 and 3, returning.”
-Copy that.
Noah shouted loudly.
“Let’s move out!”
The first long-range search was ending. There were still tough trips ahead, but their faces were filled with relief.
Their bodies and minds felt as refreshed as the vehicles were full.
At the edge of the off-road, where the city began, Yohan could already be seen sitting on a folding chair atop a dump truck, watching as the area was organized.