Humanity (1)
I scanned my surroundings. I looked to both sides. But there was no one. Not even zombies.
An ambush?
But that didn't make sense either—there were no places for a human to hide. The sides were blocked by concrete, and the upper area was commercial shops, most of which had glass on the first floor. That meant they'd either broken into a locked store and were using it as a base, or they'd dragged the cart all the way here...
I have no idea.
In the end, I couldn't hold back my curiosity and slowly moved toward the cart. Depending on what was inside, one theory or the other would weigh heavier. Besides, relying on Ashes Veil to handle any ambush didn't seem like a bad idea.
—Crunch.
I stepped on a stone. What the hell had they been transporting in that cart? Food? Nah, food was iffy. That was something you could just produce inside. Daily necessities, then? But those would be piled up in marts everywhere.
Which leaves people.
A bad feeling crept over me for some reason. And then—
—Clank.
As I peered inside, I let out a sigh, confirming my guess was right. From afar, it had just looked like a cart covered in dust, but up close, there was something that looked like a corpse inside.
It was a woman. And not just any woman—a naked one with her eyes, hands, and feet all bound.
Her entire naked body was caked in gray dust, which must've made it hard to spot from a distance.
"Hoo..."
From the looks of her, she seemed to have stopped breathing. Kidnapping. Or human trafficking. Come to think of it, they wouldn't have had many ways to bring women along.
What a shame.
The Liberation Army. I didn't particularly want to know how they captured women. Especially since this one had died indirectly by my hand.
And with that, I gave up entirely on any connection to the Yuseong University camp.
They're tied to the Liberation Army too.
Sure, it could be a kidnapping. But I couldn't buy that the survivors at Yuseong University hadn't even set up barricades all this time. If they'd fought, one side or the other would've been wiped out. Yet the Yuseong University camp was intact. That meant they'd maintained it somehow, implying some deal or conflict with the Liberation Army.
If it was conflict, it would've ended like Northdong Station—total annihilation. And if they needed to cut a deal, they could've done it at Northdong Station too.
The Liberation Army setting up bases like A-Point and B-Point. The cart with a woman on the road to Yuseong University. Plus, their abilities let them dodge zombies to some extent.
Put it together, and it pointed to some kind of deal between the Liberation Army and Yuseong University. Or Yuseong University itself was a Liberation Army outpost.
The latter seems more likely.
My thoughts leaned that way. Which meant they'd need the same treatment as Benefit Mart—total wipeout.
But not now. My mana was scraping bottom, and my stamina was so shot I was on the verge of collapse.
I had to get back to Our Love Church before sunset.
Group intelligence should turn up something.
Jeong Suhyun and Kim Jungshik might even think sharper than me. Plus, now that we'd secured this safe road, we could hit Yuseong University anytime if we planned it right.
That was when I turned to retreat toward Shinsegae Apartment.
—Twitch.
The woman's hand moved. I saw it clear as day. Her bound hand was wriggling.
And then—
"Cough."
The woman who woke up started hacking her lungs out the moment she stirred, like her throat was clogged.
—Cough, cough.
The concrete debris, blood, and water on her body were probably the culprits. Ghostly timing. And a seriously fucked situation.
I summoned an Ice Spear as I watched her.
This changed everything. She probably had the info I wanted—on the Liberation Army, Yuseong University, or even ability users on this road.
But now there were new problems. Who was she? How to extract info? Where to take her? And should I even keep her alive?
I cautiously reached out toward her.
===
But the woman hacked for a while longer before going quiet again. I pulled the Ice Spear away from her.
—Thud.
I checked her pulse and breathing, then hoisted her up. She'd passed out for real.
—Squelch.
Her body was ice-cold. She'd been left out for quite a while; she didn't look good.
But...
Lucky or unlucky?
Surviving was useful. Looking closer, the cart she'd been in seemed to have tumbled down a slope. Hilariously, that turned out to be a blessing.
It had crashed into a road barricade that was hard to spot unless you got close—practically invisible from afar.
Did the concrete and barricades block debris from above?
That's why she avoided the shrapnel from Benefit Mart's explosion and didn't draw aggro from noise-attracted zombies. The cart rolled down, got buried in ash, flipped and slammed into the wall—but that's what saved her.
If it'd stayed on the road or gotten closer to the urban area, zombies would've torn her apart for sure.
Though for her, it was probably a curse.
That was just my guess, though. I had no idea what her story really was.
She could be an enemy.
After seeing those black guys react to Choi Yuri, I'd guessed the Liberation Army had women living normally among them. So she could've been internal trash they tried to dispose of during infighting, only for shit to hit the fan and leave her abandoned.
No issue there, though. It wasn't a trap—just a fainted woman—so I could take her back and ask directly.
The problem was the situation. Where to go?
Most of my movement relied on Frost Blink. Sure, with a total mana pool of only 108, I didn't spam it, but in a place like this, it was essential.
But carrying her—a full-grown adult's weight—made Frost Blink impossible.
So I'd have to hike with her on my back... from a tricky spot. Even if I followed this road up to my previous position, it was still far to Shinsegae Apartment—about three or four blinks, or 200 meters. Rooftop to rooftop, straight-line distance; it'd take way longer on foot.
And even getting there isn't safe.
Without entering the old downtown, Shinsegae Apartment complex and Northdong Station area weren't secure. With Benefit Mart still burning and zombies swarming south, walking into the urban streets was suicide.
In the end, I had to hole up in a nearby building as a temp measure.
I scanned around. Outside the safe road, zombies shuffled in the commercial area.
No more collapse noises from Benefit Mart—just flames roaring—so aggro hadn't pulled that way. But sporadic explosions still popped off, so clearing zombies with Ice Spear was no problem.
"Ice Spear."
"Kieeeek!"
"Keueeek!"
—Splat!
Zombie torsos exploded. I fired another Ice Spear way off on the opposite side.
—Boom!
—Shatter!
Shop windows broke as zombies poured that way. I moved carefully. Even with aggro pulled, it was urban streets—prime ambush territory. Plus, with a load on my back, caution was key.
—Creeeak.
After smashing the shop zombies, I picked a three-story café tucked in a nearby corner. I set the woman down to check it out.
She grimaced.
—Thud.
The door was locked. But oddly, the second floor had an exposed terrace—common in trendy cafés for "interior vibes." This one matched.
And those places had one feature.
"Frost Blink."
Terrace doors were rarely locked tight. Spot on.
—Slide.
—Click click.
I blinked back to the first floor, grabbed the woman, and headed up. Today, recharge mana here, then hop to Shinsegae side.
I circled the café interior just in case. Apocalypse hit at night, so high chance it'd been closed, but time had passed—zombies could've wandered in.
—Crunch.
I even made noise with the pickaxe, but no zombies. Probably abandoned locked since the fall.
—Click.
I took her to the second floor. First floor was tables; second had sofas and terrace seating—comfier for crashing.
I shut the terrace door, unbound only her mouth and eyes, laid her on the sofa, covered her with a tablecloth, and dumped my gear.
—Thud.
And...
"Hoo..."
I slumped on a sofa too. Stairs to first floor made noise if anyone came, and terrace entry was unlikely. No blink, no entry—and even if they did, my Ice Spear would shred them.
I left the first-floor glass uncovered on purpose. Lights off everywhere—looked like an empty building.
Unless someone like that stealth user was tailing me. Even if they tossed a bomb from outside, Ashes Veil would save me.
The woman might die, but oh well.
Her fate then.
—Grind.
"Hoo..."
I rested on the café's second floor. Quiet evening in an empty café. The forest-themed interior felt eerie somehow.
......
How much time passed?
"...Ah..."
The woman opened her eyes. Blank face. Pretty enough, but her wrecked state made her look haggard.
She sat up slowly, looking around. Probably couldn't grasp the situation. Still bound, dim room, no people. Terrace lights off—no dreamy forest vibe, just pure darkness.
—Blink.
But surprisingly, no scream. She just confirmed her mouth and eyes were free, tried to stand—
—Thud!
"Kyaaak!"
She flopped off the sofa. Writhing to get up but failing.
I spoke.
"Keep it quiet."
—Flinch.
That was her reaction. But no choice. Even if she was a Liberation Army victim, screaming wasn't smart.
Her dazed reply came.
"Eh... Yes?"
"Shut your mouth."
"Ugh... Got it."
She tried to say something. I cut her off, pressing an Ice Spear to her head gently.
"Answer only what I ask. Name first."
She alternated glances between me and the spear.
I asked her name. Her trembling body froze, then she spoke.
"...L-Lee Seoyul."
Polite speech. Trying for calm. But the stutter and shakes gave her away.
No need to correct her thoughts, though.
I continued.
"Good. Lee Seoyul-ssi. Got skills? Tell me."
She hesitated, then answered.
"Meat Summon..."
Meat Summon. Food ability user.
They left a food ability user like that?
How the fuck should I know what crazy Liberation Army bastards think? I sighed.
"Show me. Anything."
"Here?"
"Yeah. What, no cooldown?"
"No... Chicken, chicken summon."
A whole raw chicken appeared before her. Small one by size.
Real deal.
Chicken for meat summon? Kinda underwhelming. But proof was proof. No need to suspect a naked meat-summoning woman anymore. I sighed.
"...Alright. No dangerous skills, looks like."
"Yes?"
I withdrew the Ice Spear without answering and asked again.
"Good. Last question. Why were you in that cart?"
No need to guess—ask her directly.
"Th..."
But Lee Seoyul shut her mouth.
Some issue?
"Problem?"
She bit her lip, then spoke carefully.
"...S-Sorry, but could you untie me first? It hurts so much where it's bound..."
Not answering—begging instead. Pitiful sight. Playing on sympathy for what she wanted. Smartest move in her spot.
If they were psychos, she'd be dead.
But it only works on rational folks. If I were a kidnapper or killer, she'd get smacked.
...Or not.
"Fine. But no funny business, got it?"
With the spear, she couldn't anyway.
Lee Seoyul nodded.
"...Yes."
—Rip.
I unbound her in one go. Tape-wrapped, a pain, but easy enough. Sloppily done on a naked body, and dust/water had loosened it.
"......"
Problem: she was naked now. But she just shivered lightly, sat demurely on the sofa, and spoke.
"Th..."
Ignoring her mess and nudity, she looked at me sitting calmly and bowed her head.
"Thank you for saving me."
Gratitude. I felt odd and said,
"Why."
"...Yes?"
"Why think I saved you?"
"......"
Didn't expect that? But she answered.
"...No one else around."
That logic?
"I could be a piece of shit. Kidnapper, criminal. Common these days."
Normal victims think that way.
"Your voice was different."
"......"
"And..."
"And?"
Lee Seoyul whispered.
"...Kidnappers don't use polite speech. Or listen to 'untie me.'"
"Ah."
True enough. Done. Headache now. Tired too.
"Fine. I saved you. Picked you from that alley cart. You were half-dead."
"Th-Thank—"
"Save the thanks."
"...Yes."
Already heard it. Head throbbed. Busy day, irritation rising. No venting on her, though.
I gripped my aching head and asked.
"Alright, Lee Seoyul-ssi. One more time. Why were you there?"
Hear this, then sleep.
"...Well."
"Speak freely. Won't hurt you."
"A-Ah, yes..."
Bit looser vibe. She started explaining.
"I was at the Yuseong University camp."
Yuseong University camp. Internal conflicts. Kidnappings and Liberation Army ties. Hwang Jutae with codename Haoraegi. Kwon Yunhwan the lightning user. Kim Yuna the woman. The kidnapping, fleeing with Park Sojang and guys. Explosions and blackout.
"...That's how it happened. Woke up here. Y-Your clothes aren't military, so..."
"Not Liberation Army?"
"Yes..."
She clutched her chest, head down. Shy now? Whatever.
I couldn't care more.
...Haa.
Her story complicated my head more. Yuseong University—Liberation Army reach confirmed. One more job added.
No reason for her to lie after being dumped like that.
Even if, we had to handle Yuseong either way. Over 100 survivors? Trouble waiting.
Fucking hell.
I closed my eyes, head back. Irritation surged. Better if the blasts wiped them all. But Liberation Army kept spawning shit the deeper we dug. And linked survivor groups.
Haoraegi.
>
Using a retard bird name as codename? Obvious.
Southward move? They'd be obstacles.
Need to head back fast.
New base, Liberation remnants, Yuseong University. Needed others' input.
But.
"......"
Lee Seoyul staring anxiously.
Meat summoner, sharp instincts, decent personality—good addition.
Ditch her?
Taking her to church was the issue. Huge difference with/without blinks. Café to Shinsegae was short, easy past Northdong Station—but still.
What to do.
Hard not to agonize. Efficiency-wise, ditching was better.