Northdong Station Survivors (3)
"Uh, come on in."
"Yeah, nice to meet you."
"It's been ages since we exchanged proper greetings. Or is this our first time?"
The policewoman who wasn't even wearing her uniform—Lee Euna in her tracksuit—along with the crutch-wielding Kim Gapsu in his rags, and Choi Youngchul with one sleeve hanging loose.
"For now, I haven't told the others, so come this way quickly. Barrier setup."
Just as I was about to say more, Lee Euna activated her skill. It seemed her ability was creating barricades.
Thud.
Sure enough, a barricade rose up behind me. They watched with curious eyes as we kept moving inward.
The men had good reason to bring Lee Euna along.
With an ability like that, of course. I made a mental note of her.
If we're building a base, this could be a key power.
I wondered if fully upgrading my ice shield for defense would turn it into something like this. I wasn't sure about the durability, but the practicality looked solid.
"Let's go."
Click.
And so we pressed on inside. What we saw was the same wreckage from before: crumbling concrete and rebar that looked ready to collapse at any moment.
Can people really live in a place like this?
I clicked my tongue. We navigated the escalator and the collapsed paths until we reached the subway turnstile entrance.
It looks like the ability users are barely holding things together.
I didn't expect much from the interior, and sure enough, it was in bad shape. Dust fell from the ceiling, lights flickered, and ownerless blankets rolled around haphazardly.
"Something happen?"
As I glanced around and at Lee Euna now and then, Kim Gapsu, walking beside me, spoke up.
I pointed at her with my finger.
"Oh, just that her ability's kinda interesting."
"Heh, good thing you're not crazy."
"Yeah, tell me about it."
"What the hell's that supposed to mean?"
But they dodged talk of Lee Euna and her power, rambling on about nonsense instead. When I reacted like that, they burst out laughing.
"Honestly, it was a gamble, right? Letting an outsider in like this."
"Yeah, even from the north, some psycho ability user could show up."
"Huh? They could blast us with a skill right away."
"Like those southern bastards."
Clearly, they had some reason for letting me in. Curiosity piqued, I asked them.
"So why'd you let me in, then?"
Why take the gamble if they were so on guard?
"Well..."
The answer came from Lee Euna, walking beside us.
"They're desperate to grab onto anything. That's why they used me as an excuse to let an outsider in."
"Hey, Euna."
"You can't just say it like that."
Kim Gapsu and Choi Youngchul grumbled, but they didn't seem genuinely upset.
Guess I shouldn't pry too much.
There were obviously problems inside. Still, since it was our first meeting, I decided to hold off on more questions.
Now that I'm in, I'll figure it out gradually...
As if sensing my thoughts, Lee Euna, walking ahead, spoke up.
"Weird that there aren't any people, right? This area's abandoned. Turn that corner up ahead, and you'll see some. Oh, but we're not heading straight to the living quarters. Park Donghyuk's the one leading everyone, so it might be best to meet him first."
I nodded and followed. It made sense—they wouldn't want an outsider mingling freely with the others right away.
Even in the real world, someone from the isolated side would seem suspicious.
If anything, Lee Euna and the old men welcoming me while staying cautious was the odd part.
Click.
Murmurs.
As we moved, signs of human life appeared. Along the tracks stretched countless tents and blankets. Nearby, people sat on stacked plastic chairs or crates, chatting idly.
"Yeah, this is the living area."
Roughly twenty to thirty people, I'd say.
"I wouldn't recommend going over there. Lots of touchy folks. This way."
But we didn't head that way. Lee Euna led us up some stairs to a room marked No Entry Except Authorized Personnel.
Knock knock.
Lee Euna knocked.
"I brought him. Park Donghyuk."
"Oh, Euna."
A fat man's voice came from inside—not a pleasant one, sly and oily.
"Huff... come in."
When Park Donghyuk opened the door, a stale stench hit us. Carbon dioxide and the smell of a lonely bachelor filled the converted living space.
Lee Euna and I just grimaced, but the two men couldn't stay quiet.
"Hey, Park Donghyuk, didn't we tell you to wash up?"
"Urk."
"Th-that's too much, elders."
"Too much? Your smell's too much."
"Let's go. We're done here. Gonna suffocate if we stay."
"Wait..."
Kim Gapsu and Choi Youngchul bolted under the pretense of the smell. That left me, Lee Euna, and Park Donghyuk—a guy who looked like he weighed at least 100kg.
Creeeak.
The chair screamed as he stood.
Park Donghyuk rubbed his forehead and addressed Lee Euna.
"S-so, this is the guy who came? From Northdong Station?"
"Yes, Donghyuk. He came alone from Northdong Station. Kim Junyoung."
Lee Euna nodded, introducing me. Park Donghyuk wiped his hands with some wet wipes and extended one to me.
"Uh, hello. I'm Park Donghyuk, temporary leader and surveillance head here at Northdong Station."
"Yeah, Kim Junyoung."
I shook his hand. Early thirties, maybe. He had a sturdy build, but his beady eyes and fat frame made him look like a sleazy young boss—or in fantasy terms, a corrupt lord. His laugh after the handshake felt weak; no grip strength. He didn't seem in great shape.
Dark circles too.
Looks like he'd been through hell, despite appearances.
"Hahaha, have a seat. It's been a while since we had a normal outsider."
As I eyed him, he led Lee Euna and me to the sofa opposite.
I sat and asked, "What do you mean by 'normal' outsider?"
"Ahaha, I heard Euna gave you the rundown, but how much exactly?"
"Well..."
Lee Euna summarized what she'd told me: surrounded by north and south threats, where people came from, the blood clump zombies, and how Kim Gapsu and Choi Youngchul let me in.
"Ooh, so the elders vouched for you."
"Yeah, I whispered it was dangerous a bunch of times, but they insisted."
"Hahaha, can't be helped. No problems arose, right? And they were spot on."
"Is there a problem?"
Curiosity got the better of me, so I asked Park Donghyuk. As temporary leader who'd let an outsider like me in, there had to be issues with this survivor group.
"Well, sniff. Kinda. Sorta. Before we get into it, what's your purpose here?"
But he sniffed and changed the subject. Fair enough—we'd only introduced ourselves.
So I stated my goal.
"Escaping Seoul."
"Seoul? Really?"
"......"
Park Donghyuk's eyes widened in surprise. Lee Euna looked much the same.
"Yes. Specifically."
I met their gazes and summoned ice spears.
"Ice Spear."
Two 50cm ice spears popped up over my shoulders. Their faces stiffened instantly.
But I hadn't summoned them to attack.
"That's..."
"I'm gathering ability users to build a base, then use their powers to escape Seoul. That's why I'm scouting survivors alone."
Click.
I handed one ice spear to each, right in front of them. They stared at the spears in fascination.
As they examined them, I pulled out the map I'd brought.
"My survivors are here."
I pointed to Our Love Church.
"Took out the raider boss and some of his crew, set up camp at Our Love Church."
I traced southward with my finger—exactly the path I'd taken.
"We're using the old downtown, Northdong Station, and Yuseong University as temporary bases to cross the Han River via Cheonggyecheon. Everyone's on board."
Everyone being just five including me, but still.
I continued.
"That's why I approached Northdong Station. If there are survivors, I bring them into my group, house or rescue them to bolster numbers."
More ability users make travel safer.
But.
"On the way, the old downtown was completely overrun by those monstrosities. No attacks, but it was unnerving. The bleached bones and dark red flesh masses screamed that something was there. Plus, Northdong Station seemed functional from what I saw with Euna and the elders. So I shifted my goal to intel gathering."
That was my question, I said to Lee Euna.
She nodded in agreement.
To Park Donghyuk, who listened quietly, I said,
"That's everything. My purpose and goal. So I'd appreciate it if you told me why you let me in."
I'd laid it all out—a sign of trust in Park Donghyuk for accepting me, and gratitude to Lee Euna and the elders' hospitality. They'd hinted multiple times at problems here, so they clearly wanted something from me too.
With that, Park Donghyuk let out a hollow laugh.
And then.
"Snrk, damn, you win. Didn't expect you'd spill everything. All my plans are shot now."
He laughed, leaning back on the sofa.
A brief silence hung.
But soon.
"Though you do seem to have skills like that."
Park Donghyuk held the ice spears in both hands and spoke to me. His sly tone deepened, turning grave. A low, angry man's voice.
"No lies there, so I'll drop the bullshit and be straight. This place is fucked. Or about to be. Inevitably. Problems we can't fix internally are piling up. That's why the elders pushed to let you in—no background check, no ability test, just blindly."
Park Donghyuk coughed and continued.