Chapter 32: A Trade Partner
Chapter 32: A Trade Partner
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"So there really is nothing out there—not even a shelter. We'd only been thinking about escaping this building and fleeing somewhere else. This puts us in a difficult position..."
"Of course, I can't be certain. We haven't covered a very large area. It's only my personal guess."
"I understand. Still, after hearing what you've said, I think your guess is probably correct."
We returned to the first-floor store and spoke with the three Hana Trading employees.
They knew very little, so I mainly relayed what I'd experienced and offered several conclusions of my own.
I told them that survivors were almost nonexistent on the streets while zombies were everywhere, that those still alive seemed to be isolated and holding out somewhere, and that the functions of the state appeared almost completely paralyzed.
Their expressions grew steadily darker as I spoke.
The faint hope that escaping the building would let them evacuate somewhere safe was disappearing as they accepted the bleak reality.
Perhaps the help they'd intended to request was for us to take them to other survivors or somewhere safer.
"What will you do now? You should also tell us what you were going to ask of us."
"Ah, we should have thanked you sooner. At first, we wanted to ask whether you could spare some food, but you gave us some before we even asked. Thank you very much."
"Thank you. I ate well too."
The assistant manager, who had remained silent until then, thanked us as well, and the director bowed her head.
"What you described is the very worst situation we had vaguely imagined: nowhere to flee and zombies roaming the streets. With that in mind... would it be possible for us to join you at your base?"
"I'm sorry, but no."
I refused without hesitation.
Manager Lee appeared to have expected that answer.
Confusion and despair spread across all three faces, making them look like lost children.
Director Kim, who had introduced herself as Kim Seung-hee, opened her mouth as though she wanted to speak. After glancing at the manager and assistant manager, though, she closed it again.
What had she wanted to say?
Did she have something to offer?
"Feel free to say whatever is on your mind."
"Mr. Kim, would you reconsider? If we joined you, you'd have more people to help, and our abilities would certainly be useful. I'm not a woman who forgets a debt. Once society recovers, I can reward you generously."
Had she listened to anything I had said?
Had she still not abandoned hope?
It wasn't impossible that the country might recover, but I'd already explained that I personally found it unlikely.
Was she simply saying whatever came to mind because she feared Seon-yeong and I would leave?
Whatever her reason, offering future compensation to someone who believed the country was already finished was worse than simply asking for help.
"As I said, you can't join us. Nor do I expect any future reward."
When I refused again, Director Kim bit her lip and her expression hardened.
She even looked a little angry.
My own face was beginning to stiffen as I watched her when Manager Lee intervened again.
"Director, there's nothing we can offer them. We've already received an enormous amount of help. Frankly, even if Mr. Kim had simply left earlier, we would have had no right to resent him."
Manager Lee seemed intent on silencing Director Kim, and his words bordered on a reprimand.
Even so, his tone and manner remained perfectly respectful.
Then again, I'd sensed it during their introductions: these three were still bound by their company hierarchy.
"We have nothing to offer, and honestly, we don't even know what help to request. All I can do is ask you to help us as much as you are able, even though we can offer nothing in return. Please."
Manager Lee sprang to his feet and bowed deeply as he pleaded for our help.
Assistant Manager Jeon Hyeon-seung, who had remained silent, stood and bowed beside him.
This seemed like the right time to make the proposal Seon-yeong and I'd discussed.
Though it was hardly a proposal when I was still the one providing all the help.
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Click, click.
Seon-yeong and I took only Manager Lee outside and shared a cigarette with him at the entrance to the building.
He was so moved by his first cigarette in three days that I tossed him the entire pack, which still held fifteen.
"Manager Lee, how many zombies have you killed?"
"I killed two, and Assistant Manager Jeon killed three. The director killed one as well."
"Then, if I give you some help, can you kill a few more? Once you can fight zombies, surviving under your own power becomes much easier."
"Yes. If we want to live, we have to. Fortunately, my ability is useful in combat."
"Could you tell me roughly what kind of ability it is?"
"Yes. We haven't shared every detail even among ourselves, but I can explain the general nature of our abilities."
They must have discussed this in advance, because Manager Lee readily explained what their abilities did.
Seon-yeong listened intently beside me.
"From fighting zombies, I think my weapon strikes deal more damage. At first, I assumed I had become stronger, but Assistant Manager Jeon and I tested it, and my physical strength hadn't changed."
Apparently everyone shared the same problem: the Status Window didn't provide detailed explanations of their abilities.
They too were unsure of their abilities' exact nature and could only infer it from experience.
Manager Lee's ability increased the damage of his attacks, while Assistant Manager Jeon could restrain a zombie's movement.
Unexpectedly, Director Kim understood her own ability comparatively well. She could sense the emotions of others.
She could spread it over a fairly wide area, which was how they'd gained a rough sense of conditions throughout the building.
"Then is Director Kim's ability something like mind reading?"
"She says she reads emotions, not thoughts. She never explained exactly how. All I know is that the wider the range, the weaker the effect becomes."
"I see. Do zombies have emotions too?"
"Yes. She says zombies give off intense emotions, but they feel distinctly different from a person's, so she can distinguish between them. This next part is only my guess, but I think she may have more than one way to sense emotions. The first time she used the ability, she immediately fainted and suffered a nosebleed. As she kept using it, though, she began by identifying empty floors, and today she could tell that no one else was left in the entire building."
It was an interesting ability, but would it help against zombies?
Manager Lee and Assistant Manager Jeon hadn't identified their abilities precisely, but like Seon-yeong's, they were already practical and useful.
Director Kim's ability was more abstract. Like mine, it might require a realization of some kind before she could use it properly.
I'd noticed the same thing in the MeTube comments: abilities varied tremendously and were often difficult to understand.
Because Seon-yeong and Ga-yeong had similar abilities, I'd assumed there were several broad categories with minor individual differences. The more I learned, though, the less likely any such categories seemed.
It was probably mere coincidence that Seon-yeong and Ga-yeong had similar abilities.
"Let's go back inside and discuss this with everyone."
We finished smoking and returned to the building.
The distance between us had narrowed considerably since our first meeting.
We still remained beyond each other's striking range, though.
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We gathered in one corner of the first-floor store.
the three Hana Trading employees sat together. Seon-yeong and I stood across the counter from them as we talked.
"Since all three of you have experience fighting zombies, how about this? You can't join us, but we'll help you establish a place of your own."
"Thank you sincerely for agreeing to help us. What should we do?"
"First, we'll provide supplies. We'll deliver enough food and water to last for a while. As for clothes and anything else you think you need, gather them from this store now."
"Then of food, clothing, and shelter, only shelter remains."
"Right. There are too many zombies in this building for you to handle comfortably, so change your clothes and then we'll move somewhere else."
The plan was simple.
While Seon-yeong and I obtained food, the three of them would collect what they needed from the store.
Then we'd move together to somewhere they could face small groups of zombies.
I was considering one of the officetel buildings we'd passed without entering.
Its interior was divided into many sections, reducing the chance of confronting a large group at once. Director Kim's ability could also reveal roughly how many zombies were inside and how they were distributed.
I proposed that they establish a residence there and gradually expand their range of activity.
Manager Lee and Assistant Manager Jeon now seemed willing to fight zombies.
Their despair had eased earlier when I explained that killing zombies could make them stronger.
At first, we'd need to help secure their residence and deliver food. If the three adapted well, though, I believed they'd eventually survive on their own.
After outlining the plan, I explained the precautions and techniques needed when fighting zombies, moving through the streets, and checking buildings.
"This has been an incredibly valuable lesson. I was devastated when you refused to let us join you, and I never imagined you'd help us this much. I'll always regard you as the person who saved my life, and I will do everything I can to survive. If you ever need my help, please tell me."
"You don't need to think of it that way. Your gratitude is more than enough."
Assistant Manager Jeon's face had brightened as well, and he repeatedly thanked Seon-yeong and me.
I couldn't tell what Director Kim was thinking, but for the moment, she appeared willing to follow our plan with the two men.
If they established themselves successfully, we could exchange information whenever we passed through. In an unexpected crisis, they might also serve as a form of insurance.