Outpost (3)
We decided to have our meal in an empty room on the second floor—the third room down the hall. From the rear window, we had a clear view of the back door. I'd jammed an ice shield into the entrance there, but enemies could come from anywhere at any time, so it was the most efficient spot for keeping watch.
This place works fine.
No need to bother posting a guard at the back door shack.
"We can handle night watch from here on out. If we can just figure out that light out front."
"Hah..."
Jeong Suhyun clicked his tongue as he glanced at me.
"You're thorough."
"Gotta be."
With the situation we were in, we had to account for every possibility. Especially with ability users in the mix.
"Anyway, let's eat first."
"......."
I was about to say more, but they were all just standing there, staring at me blankly with their food in hand, so I let it drop.
Come on, just eat already. They're waiting 'cause I haven't said the word.
They gave awkward smiles and finally picked up their utensils.
"I'll eat well."
"Let's eat."
As they exchanged greetings and dug in, I grabbed my wooden chopsticks and plastic spoon, eyeing today's spread.
Been a while.
Retort fried rice and instant rice noodles—probably stockpiled by the previous occupants as emergency rations. But it wasn't the food types that had me feeling nostalgic.
"Eat this, Dojin."
"Nah, fruit later..."
"Hey now..."
Choi Yuri sat passing fruit to Jeong Dojin.
"Tch. Feels underripe. Ah, damn it."
Kim Yunjin shook her scalded hand after pouring hot water over her rice noodles.
"....."
Even Jeong Suhyun, quietly eating away.
Slurp.
I watched them all and shoveled down my food like a vacuum. It hit different, sharing a meal with others after so long.
"Hoo..."
The rest finished quick, same as me. Pretty generous portions for breakfast, but no one griped. They weren't exactly long-shelf-life items anyway.
"Alright."
I pulled everyone's eyes—sipping drinks they'd scrounged up from somewhere.
Four pairs of gazes locked on me.
"Listen up while you drink."
My head throbbed, but these words couldn't wait.
"First off, we're making this our base. Temporary outpost, but we'll make it livable. Remember when I had Yuri and Yunjin handle the interior cleanup before?"
"Yes."
"Yeah."
The two women nodded.
"From what I heard, we've got two months' worth of food for all of us."
I glanced their way. Kim Yunjin and Choi Yuri nodded in agreement.
"On top of that, I can handle our water supply myself."
Ice Spear.
I floated two spears in the air.
"Water and power are still running somehow, but the five of us can hold out here in the church for two months."
I pointed at the spears.
"That said, holing up here comes with risks..."
I paused for effect.
"The criminals who were here—the tattoo crew remnants—haven't been dealt with. Which means we gotta move out eventually."
I pulled out the map I'd grabbed from the Northdong Office and spread it open.
"But not right now. We're short on power. Seoul's huge, roads are gridlocked, threats everywhere. You all agree?"
No answers. But they knew. They'd seen enough of the country and city's state.
"So here's my proposal: fortify defenses. Right here. Our Love Church in Northdong."
I jabbed a finger at the church's spot.
Our Love Church sat at the edge of Northdong's affluent district.
"Below that's Northdong Station. Further down, Yuseong University. Then the inner loop road. And below that, Cheonggyecheon."
I traced a finger straight down, toward the city outskirts.
"Our goal: cross the Han River and bail on Seoul. But first, we build the strength to make it happen."
I slid my finger back up.
"Satellite view doesn't show it well, but Seoul's packed with buildings, roads, and people."
I circled Our Love Church and Northdong Station.
One by one, I pointed out spots within a two-kilometer radius, continuing.
"From here on, I'll handle external ops. The rest of you, internal defense. I'll scout likely survivor spots nearby and pull 'em out. You all prep the church and check internals."
"Junyoung. You think that makes sense?"
"Yeah. Alone's too much. I can handle it."
"Isn't it too dangerous?"
Objections flew immediately. Jeong Suhyun and Jeong Dojin especially—they couldn't swallow me going solo outside.
"Hold up. There's good reason."
I floated the two ice spears higher.
"I've thought this through a ton."
Stuff I'd hashed out with Jeong Suhyun all night at the back door.
But no matter how I turned it over, this was the play.
"First, Yuri and Yunjin's skills aren't cut for combat or scouting. Honestly, one-on-one with a zombie? Doubtful."
The women clamped their mouths shut. The guys looked like they had nothing to say. It was just facts. Not sexism—women's physical stats lagged. Even with their strong wills, non-combat skills made dragging them out a liability. Lose them, and we're screwed.
"Dojin's not combat-fit either. He's gold for hauling gear or defense prep."
"But I can do it! Zombie skulls? I'll smash 'em!"
Jeong Dojin shouted. Passion wasn't bad.
Just...
"Threats aren't just zombies."
"....."
"Could be armed humans. Or gas users, like what hit you before."
Too many weak spots. Strength Enhancer crushed close-up, but numbers, range, ambushes wrecked him.
"I can't babysit you out there. Same goes for Suhyun."
I turned to Jeong Suhyun, who'd been listening quietly.
"I'm good. My rifle and Eyes Open skill shine more for defense and surveillance than offense."
"But..."
"Dojin's the same. Church is too big. Need two guys here, and that's me and you."
Jeong Dojin hung his head, disappointed.
I picked up Jeong Suhyun's thread.
"Right. Biggest issue with me solo is manpower. Honestly, even four for church defense feels shaky."
Ashes Veil covers the gap, mostly.
"Why not relocate? These guys were here, might be better spots out there."
Kim Yunjin piped up.
Yeah, relocating sounded ideal.
But I shook my head.
"How? Moving's the problem."
"......"
Shepherding three was risky enough. Plus...
"I've considered pulling back to Northdong. My Happiness Villa or your Northdong Office—solid spots."
Lots of food, easy to defend, better than Our Love Church in some ways.
"But basing there messes with resupply, logistics, and our core escape plan."
Happiness Villa was tucked in a corner. Northdong Office central-ish, but Rocket Mart—our supply hub—was torched.
"I'm not saying make this permanent. I'll scout safe spots and routes on outings, keep us mobile."
Hold here temporary with four, recruit numbers, secure bases, push south step by step.
"Same plan I laid out to Suhyun before. Your turn."
"Got it."
Jeong Suhyun took over, spreading the map for the trio and tracing routes down to Northdong Station and Yuseong University.
"Via Yuseong University?"
"Yeah. Junyoung's saying recruit there. Secure safety meanwhile, use this one-way path south."
"...To escape Seoul."
"Exactly. Plus, we saw those monsters, right? Who knows how many more."
"So max two months holed up..."
"Yup. Probably won't take that long."
Jeong Suhyun explained casually to the trio.
Seeing rough buy-in, I clapped twice.
All eyes back on me.
"But that's for three days from now—once the barrier I set with my skill melts."
I stood and pointed out the window at the back door barrier.
Thick ice wall blocking human intrusion dead, plus the church's already tall perimeter fence. Nothing short of a powerhouse ability user, modern weaponry, or some unknown mutant was punching through.
"What's that?"
"Holy shit..."
The women gawked, eyes wide, following my finger.
"That's..."
"Junyoung summoned it with magic, apparently."
Jeong Suhyun and Jeong Dojin filled them in.
I sighed at the group.
"So yeah. Rest up for today."
