Preparing for Migration (1)
Southdong Station entrance. I looked at him and sighed. Of course, unlike the previous Benefit Mart intersection, this side wasn't swarming with zombies. I could push them back with an Ice Shield and make it from Gaeseong High School to the front of Dongseong Market—right in front of Southdong Station. But zombies kept popping up from somewhere. The staggering ones appeared everywhere and charged at me in droves. What's notable here isn't the staggering—it's that they were running.
Even after I'd roughly cleared them with magic, I never knew when or where more would emerge.
Troublesome.
Sigh. It was a real dilemma.
Will the migration even work?
If I could just get inside the high school itself, things might be fine—but getting there was the problem.
I'll think about it once we're there.
But first, it seemed smarter to get Jeong Suhyun and Kim Jungshik's input. Moving at night or during the day—each had its pros and cons.
That's when I was about to head down the stairs.
Why the constant twitching?
The movements from Yoon Mina on my back had intensified. Was something uncomfortable? I asked in a quiet voice.
"...Yoon Mina-ssi, everything okay?"
"......"
Yoon Mina didn't open her mouth. Well, as long as she didn't scream or go crazy, that was enough. If she wasn't talking, she probably had some issue she couldn't voice.
I entered the dim interior of Southdong Station.
Thud. Thud.
Smell.
A stench wafted through the air. The blood and guts from the zombies I'd taken down today were still there, untouched.
Whine—even bugs had shown up. No, why don't zombie corpses vanish like they do in games with status windows? At least, since I'd cleared the station interior, the stairs and uphill paths weren't slippery. That was a relief.
Click. Thud.
I kept descending underground to the subway platform. The subway car interior was still quiet. If we'd made it this far, getting back to Our Love Church would be no problem.
Drip. Dripping water. And thud—my footsteps. The quiet rail line remained empty.
How long had we walked?
Shiver. Suddenly, my back grew hot. Heat.
...Ah.
I froze in place. Water sounds came from behind.
Drip. Drip.
But these weren't the natural drips of a subway tunnel. The familiar ammonia stench gave it away.
"...Hic... s-sorry. I tried to hold it."
A tear-choked voice.
Was all that twitching earlier because she had to pee?
Swish. Without a word, I untied the cloth, easing the woman from my back down to the floor.
"......"
She lay there like an infant. Her eyes averted in shame. The real issue, though, was that without limbs, she couldn't resist anything I did.
"Hic..."
Soon, she turned her head aside and shut her eyes.
Splash. I wrung out the binding cloth and her soaked top as tightly as I could.
Drip drip. It was so saturated the floor grew damp. My pants were pretty wet too. But better than her top—so I roughly squeezed them by hand, rewrapped her, and hoisted her back up.
"...Th..."
"It's fine."
"Yes..."
I silenced Yoon Mina. She was in rough shape too.
I kept walking.
Our Love Church's uphill path, after passing through Northdong Station, the old town, and the affluent neighborhood.
"......"
Glancing back, Yoon Mina was asleep. My clothes and cloths had all dried.
20:04—around 8 p.m. With the luggage, we'd gone slow, and it had taken quite a while. Especially entering the old town from Northdong Station; night meant short visibility, and my reaction to zombies lagged once. But once inside the old town, it was smooth sailing.
I climbed the uphill path, thinking of him.
Thus, with two Ice Spears floating, we reached Our Love Church. A sturdy man's silhouette appeared ahead.
"Oh, Junyoung-ssi."
Kim Jungshik. And Lee Yoon, obscured by his bulk.
Kim Jungshik spoke.
"You've arrived?"
"Yeah. Why's Lee Yoon-ssi out here?"
"Haha, spotted you coming—just in case. You're on surveillance, after all..."
Seemed he'd rushed down upon seeing me; sweat beaded on Lee Yoon's face.
I nodded. That cautiousness was a good sign.
Then Kim Jungshik eyed Yoon Mina on my back.
"...And that one behind?"
"Rescued from Gaeseong High. Yoon Mina. Ability..."
Come to think of it, I hadn't asked her yet.
"Haven't gotten around to it."
"Ah."
Kim Jungshik and Lee Yoon paused at my words and her appearance, then nodded. They'd get the gist. Legs gone was obvious—even without arms, easy to guess where and how I'd found her.
"I see. Come on in. Night wind's biting. And you're covered head to toe in blood."
"Am I?"
I checked myself. Right—today's work had left me smeared in blood and guts.
Didn't notice.
Maybe the stench was coming from me.
I sighed and said,
"Yeah. Lee Yoon-ssi, mind handling watch?"
"Got it."
I headed quickly inside Our Love Church with Kim Jungshik.
Thud.
"Ung..."
Midway up the church stairs, Yoon Mina groaned awake.
I told her,
"Yoon Mina-ssi, we should wash up first. Probably best leave it to the women..."
Brief silence. But then,
"...No. You do it, Junyoung-ssi."
I thought I'd misheard.
"...Pardon?"
"Do it."
Firm voice.
"......"
Not half-asleep nonsense.
No reason to refuse anyway.
I took Yoon Mina straight to the shower room.
Hot water poured over us.
Splashhhh.
"......"
"......"
Neither of us spoke.
I had no idea what was going through Yoon Mina's head, but I pondered why she'd asked me to wash her.
Various reasons, probably.
Doesn't trust the base women she hasn't even talked to. Or just the reason she's here. Or a mindset thing.
Who knows.
I'm no god—I couldn't read her thoughts. Honestly, it didn't matter either way.
Splashhhh.
"Ugh..."
I squatted and scrubbed her body vigorously with soap. She flinched when I tackled the caked filth, but calmed once she realized there was no funny business.
"Yoon Mina-ssi."
"...Yes?"
I called to her while rinsing.
"What's your skill?"
"Ah, uh, the skill."
Stammering Yoon Mina. I waited patiently. Could ask Jeong Suhyun later, but I wanted to hear it from her.
"Flag Creation."
"Flag Creation?"
"Yes. Boosts... mana for people in a set area."
"Boosts mana?"
"Yeah... but not that efficient. E-rank. Only +2."
That was intriguing. Sounded like max mana.
This could be useful.
Useless now, maybe, but later it could amp up our producers' output. And perfect for someone immobile like her.
Even if it'd been strength enhancement or limb summons, I'd have taken responsibility—but this was even better.
"Ah, some water in your eyes..."
Then she spoke up.
Seemed I'd gotten distracted and slacked on the washing.
"Sorry."
I cleaned her thoroughly. Awkward around the lower abdomen, but we finished the shower somehow.
Shake shake shake.
I roughly washed her hair, dressed her, wrapped her in a blanket. Then changed my own clothes quick and headed to the second-floor meeting room.
"...Junyoung-ssi."
"You're here."
There sat haggard-faced Jeong Suhyun and yawning Kim Jungshik.
I checked their faces, then creak—pulled a chair, sat down cradling Yoon Mina.
Jeong Suhyun's eyes quietly reddened.
"...Lee Yoon's watching outside right now."
I nodded, confirming.
"Got it."
"All handled?"
"Yeah."
No more questions needed. Whether we'd secured Gaeseong High School—that was all that mattered.
I explained.
"Cleared Southdong Station interior fully. Gaeseong High main building, gym, cafeteria done. Floors 1, 2, 3 have corpses and filth, but 4th is usable."
4th floor and rooftop. Dead women on 1st and 2nd. 1st-floor bomb terror. Fleeing Liberation Army abandoning 1st and 2nd.
I pointed to Yoon Mina beside me.
"One survivor. Yoon Mina-ssi."
Nod.
"...Yoon Mina."
"......"
Jeong Suhyun and Kim Jungshik gave her light nods. No room for proper hellos in this mess.
I continued.
"Skill is Flag Creation."
"I see."
I glanced at Jeong Suhyun. He caught my eye and nodded three times.
Confirmed—no lies.
I shifted gears.
"But we've only secured it—interior cleanup's not done."
"That's on us."
"Right."
Obvious stuff. But plenty of people in this world can't handle the obvious.
I looked at Jeong Suhyun and Kim Jungshik.
"Another problem, though."
Eyes turned to me.
"It's around 9 p.m. now—do we migrate tonight or wait for day?"
I explained the issue.
"Night keeps us safe from Liberation Army ambushes. You've got night vision, Jeong Suhyun-ssi, and Lee Yoon-ssi with his detection waves. But we're vulnerable to zombie attacks."
Precisely, my magic had limits. Fine for small groups where I could react instantly—but we were fourteen strong now. One a limbless invalid.
"Day makes zombies easier, but ambushes risky. I'm bulletproof, but anyone else takes a hit? Game over. And the longer we drag, higher chance others squat our secured spot."
Everyone knew a headshot killed. Jeong Suhyun's skill daytime was just status views. Lee Yoon helped, but couldn't catch everything. Plus, longer we left it empty, more likely squatters.
"We decide here."
Silence flowed. Then Jeong Suhyun spoke.
"Let's go now."
"...Right now?"
Kim Jungshik questioned.
Jeong Suhyun explained why.
"They retreated, right? Me, Junyoung-ssi, Lee Yoon-ssi up front—slow and secure."
"What about the rear?"
Kim Jungshik pressed. Clearing front was one thing—rear zombie swarm would suck.
"I'll take rear."
"You?"
"Yeah. Rifle handles zombies. Wide night vision too. Front: Lee Yoon-ssi and Junyoung-ssi. Mid: weapon summon guys. Rear: Jeong Dojin's strength-enhanced cart with me."
"...Women?"
"They can carry luggage, no?"
Made sense. Good.
I turned to quietly listening Kim Jungshik.
"Kim Jungshik-ssi, any other thoughts?"
"Hmm, going's fine. But gotta decide what to take."
Supplies. I'd told Jeong Suhyun roughly already.
Jeong Suhyun spoke.
"Ditch food. Essentials, blankets, bedding priority."
"...Yeah."
Kim Jungshik nodded.
"Sounds right. Food's summonable anyway. School's got fridges?"
"Yes."
Cafeteria wouldn't lack.
"Perfect."
Jeong Suhyun and Kim Jungshik looked to me.
"Jeong Suhyun-ssi, grab guns, maps, radio. Scout from back door guard room."
"Got it."
Creak. Jeong Suhyun packed his minimal gear quick and headed out.
"Kim Jungshik-ssi."
"Yes."
"Wake the men. Load those items on the cart—the one from hauling Bae Sungkwan."
Nod. He nodded.
I continued.
"Then report to me. I'll wake the women, grab max clothes with today's rescuee, meet at back door."
"Yep."
Kim Jungshik agreed and turned to go. Or tried.
"Kim Jungshik-ssi."
"Yes?"
I approached and whispered in his ear.
"...Leftover fridge food? This."
Handed him a thick cloth.
"Drench every fentanyl-level drug. Cyanide too if you can summon it."
His face hardened.
"Don't feed people. Secretly spike fridge food. Eaters drop dead."
"......"
No reply. But he took the cloth and left.
Creak. Watching him go, I thought,
Zero risk? Nah.
Subway wasn't far, but definite risk.
Still, quicker the better.
Much post-move work: proper base cleanup, perimeter sweep. Yuseong University, Liberation Army, future apartment fog.
Our Love Church base cramped my range too much.
Right call.
Or I'd make it right.
Creak. I stood.
Tasks awaited. How to move Yoon Mina. Test Kim Yunjin's ability too.
"Let's go. To the healer now."
"Yes."
Nod. I headed out toward Kim Yunjin's room, piggybacking Yoon Mina.
Keeping my promise.
Creak. But the moment I opened the door,
"Moving somewhere in the dead of night?! That's insane!"
A man's shouting voice echoed from afar.