Chapter 148
If it wasn’t that they had abandoned survivors from the beginning, but rather that they didn’t have the resources to send rescue supplies to distant places. If the expectation that they would reject survivors was just his own unfounded worry. If that were the case, it would certainly be fortunate. But Seokjae’s expression still showed no signs of relaxing.
‘Something feels disgusting…’
It was because his instincts kept sending signals that something was off.
Whether someone was cheering at the sight of it or being suspicious, the drone that had been flying toward its destination began to slowly lower its altitude and carry out its mission as it approached the city center.
Beep—
A sound that would drown out the propeller motor noise burst from the aircraft’s speaker, loud enough to tear one’s ears. The noise that shook the city that had been quiet as death. This drew the attention of all zombies within a radius of several kilometers.
Zombies with distorted forms like melted candle wax flocked beneath the drone.
“Kyaaaak!”
“Grrrr!”
However, zombies who could only use their hands and teeth had no way to reach the flying drone. All they could do was let out frustrated screams.
Whooom—
As if to tease such zombies, the drone that had been staying in one place began to move again little by little. Toward the city center.
After reaching deep inside, the pin fixed to the drone was released and the cargo hanging below scattered in the air. Objects fluttering down. It wasn’t rescue supplies. What the drone had transported was cloth soaked in human blood.
Though it was bait made of inanimate objects that didn’t even attempt to mimic human form, it was effective on zombies whose brains had died. With both hearing and smell stimulated, all the zombies in the area began to rampage.
“Kee-eek!”
Due to this, zombies that had flowed out to the city outskirts were drawn back into the city, making the area around the barricade even safer.
* * *
“Hyung, if they’re sending rescue supplies, won’t they accept us?”
Kyungho asked Seokjae for agreement with a face full of hope.
Though he still felt unsettled, since it was just a feeling and he couldn’t know the exact reason, Seokjae nodded slowly.
“I suppose so.”
Though it was a reluctant response, the kids were too busy looking at the barricade rather than him and rejoicing to notice.
“Hyung, is there something bothering you?”
At that moment, Muyoung, who was beside him, whispered in his ear.
Actually, Muyoung had been continuously watching Seokjae, whose expression had been poor since the drone took off. But seeing him with a troubled face while saying nothing to the kids, he sensed something was amiss and secretly asked.
“Your expression has been bad since earlier. If there’s something that’s bothering you, please tell me. I’ll tell the kids instead.”
Muyoung thought he might be hesitating because it was difficult to pour cold water on the rejoicing children. If that was the case, shouldn’t he, as a fellow adult and lover, share the burden? With that thought, Muyoung looked at him with as reliable an expression as possible.
“…”
“Why, what is it?”
But instead of an answer, an intense gaze returned. Muyoung rolled his eyes under the hot gaze that seemed like it would heat up his face, then gasped with a “hup.”
“Is it hard to tell even me? I really won’t be disappointed no matter what you say, so don’t worry.”
Muyoung clenched his small fist tightly and patted his chest as if to say trust only him. Looking at such a Muyoung, Seokjae raised one eyebrow.
‘Does this guy still see me as someone who would care about such things?’
It was because he was dumbfounded. He clearly remembered telling him how selfish and calculating he was. To worry that he was staying silent just because it was difficult to break the mood was really…
‘Cute though.’
If it were someone else, he would have mercilessly mocked them asking if they were a blockhead. But since it was Muyoung, he only found it cute.
‘Really now, do I like him that much.’
Though it was likely because Muyoung had an angel-like nature and thought everyone else was as soft as himself, Seokjae chose to think that he was being overprotective because he liked him.
“If we get rescued, I really need to just sleep all day.”
“I want to eat home-cooked food.”
And while glancing at the kids who were chattering about what they wanted to do first if rescued, looking at the barricade that had somehow moved to the front, he kissed Muyoung. Since moving quickly would make noise, he grabbed the back of his head and pressed their lips together as if crushing them.
Smooch.
Their moist lips pressed together and separated with a wet sound. However, since it was fainter than the sound of leaves rustling in the wind, the two people chatting excitedly didn’t notice.
“…!!”
Muyoung, surprised by the sudden kiss, looked at Seokjae with a face red as if it would burst. Why suddenly, what if the kids see, and other things he wanted to say swirled around in his head, but he couldn’t actually say them and just moved his lips wordlessly.
That sight made Seokjae decide. He needed to quickly take this small and precious thing away.
‘Right, I was going to gamble anyway. If that earlier thing was rescue supplies, that’s good. If not, I’ll just run away as planned.’
Seokjae, who decided to ignore the persistent uneasiness in a corner of his heart, quietly got up from his spot. At his movement, not only Muyoung’s gaze but also the gazes of the kids who had been chattering in front were drawn to him.
“I’ll go out first, so you guys hide here.”
“What?”
“What do you mean…”
“Hyung?”
Everyone was flustered by Seokjae’s declaration, and Muyoung, who came to his senses first, hurriedly got up and grabbed his arm.
“Can’t we all just go together?”
“It’s less damage if only one person goes.”
“Damage… You mean it could be dangerous if we go out?”
At Muyoung’s question, Seokjae just shrugged his shoulders. That action alone was enough of an answer, so Muyoung stood in front of him and said,
“If only one person needs to go, it doesn’t matter who goes, right? Then I’ll go.”
“…”
If Seokjae stubbornly refused, Muyoung was determined to be equally stubborn in return, and he put strength into his round eyes.
Seokjae, who had been quietly looking at such a Muyoung, folded his arms with an expression showing no surprise, as if he had expected this.
“Who’s the fastest among us?”
“What?”
“Who runs away the best?”
“…”
It was a question with a predetermined answer. And it was also a question he had heard somewhere before.
‘Who’s the strongest among us.’
‘…You are, hyung.’
‘Who’s the fastest.’
‘That’s also you, hyung…’
‘Who runs away the best?’
‘That’s also…’
The miraculous day when the two had reunited. Before sacrificing himself for the kids, those were exactly the words he had said. At that time, the kids could no longer throw tantrums and followed his words.
“When I’m running away, if you’re next to me, I’ll be worried about you and won’t be able to move. You know that’s more dangerous.”
“…Yes.”
And Muyoung couldn’t escape that flow either. Though the purposes were opposite – then it was to run from zombies, now it was to enter a safe zone – the situation didn’t flow much differently.
But if there was one slightly different point.
“But if it seems dangerous, I’m going to come rescue you.”
“Me too!”
“Right! If we need to carry hyung, we all need to work together!”
It was that they could establish Plan B.
Seokjae looked at the three people who said they would carry him if he collapsed with half amazement and half surprise, then laughed with a deflating sound.
“Right, at least with three of you, you could carry me. I’m counting on you.”
After finishing his words, he patted Kyungho and Junwoo’s heads in turn with gentle taps. And finally, when he tried to put his hand on Muyoung’s head but discovered his face full of anxiety, he sighed softly and hugged him.
Normally, he would have been embarrassed about what he was doing in front of the kids and pushed him away, but this time was different. Without caring that Kyungho and Junwoo quietly turned their heads away, he grabbed his clothes as if he didn’t want to let go and hugged him back.
“Hyung… Be careful.”
“I’m not completely without something to rely on, so don’t worry too much.”
Something to rely on? He looked with wide eyes at the incomprehensible words, but Seokjae didn’t continue and released Muyoung from his embrace before slowly heading down the mountain.
‘…Right, he must have a plan. Because he’s hyung.’
Though it was an unkind statement, perhaps because the speaker was Seokjae, it could somewhat calm his anxiety. However, reality never flows as one thinks.
As the trees gradually decreased, Seokjae was naturally exposed to the soldiers’ view.
‘…There are quite a lot of them.’
Though they weren’t visible from afar due to camouflage, as he got closer, he could see those holding sniper rifles between the barricades.
Gun barrels aimed at him as soon as they spotted him. Nevertheless, Seokjae stopped at an appropriate distance without changing his expression. And to let them know he was human, he half-raised both arms, lifted his head so his face could be seen clearly, and only then opened his mouth.
“I’m a survivor. There’s no risk of infection—”
Bang!!
And before his words could even finish. A dull sound echoed around as a bullet was fired from a gun barrel equipped with a silencer.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
