Preparations for the Move (2)
I looked toward where the sound was coming from. The second-floor hallway. There, before I knew it, stood Jeong Suhyun, the women, and two men. They were deep in conversation, but from the way they were gesturing wildly at each other, it was clear trouble had brewed.
Clashing opinions, maybe.
I narrowed my eyes, watching silently. With a group this size, conflicts were bound to happen eventually.
No.
But a decision was a decision. If they wouldn't follow our lead—no matter what abilities they had—we'd have no choice but to expel them from the base. That was my stance as I quietly slipped behind them.
The younger man, Hwang Jinseok, spoke up first.
"No way. What if we run into something at night and die? What if we're ambushed? In the dark, we'd be sitting ducks. We can't even farm XP from zombies."
"That's why I'm covering the rear," Jeong Suhyun shot back, eyes narrowing.
"And this was already decided. We don't have time for second-guessing."
"Decided? You just notified us. Dojin and I would've opposed moving at night, same as everyone else."
Hwang Jinseok raked a hand through his hair in frustration. But Jeong Suhyun was unwavering.
"Kim Jungshik and Lee Yoon agreed."
"No! Even if the section chief and deputy say it's fine, this is insane. It's gambling with everyone's lives!"
"You didn't say a word to Kim Jungshik just now, so why complain to me?" Jeong Suhyun's face twisted.
"You're higher up than him, aren't you? Right-hand man to the boss."
The voices grew louder.
"Higher up? In this world? Don't make this difficult."
Jeong Suhyun's hand drifted toward his rifle.
Hiss...
I moved in fast, before he could draw. That would've been the worst possible move. I wedged myself between Jeong Suhyun and Hwang Jinseok.
Clack.
"What's going on?"
"Ah, Junyoung."
Jeong Suhyun's hand froze. The men shot me resentful glares.
"Kim Junyoung."
"Yeah."
Hwang Jinseok and Lee Jeongsu—the two shouting matches from Our Love Church, the ones who'd spouted nonsense before. Hwang Jinseok, the hothead, lowered his tone.
"We appreciate your efforts, Junyoung. But not this time. It's too dangerous. Moving at night?"
Lee Jeongsu chimed in from where he'd been standing quietly.
"Yeah, I agree. Night movement leaves us wide open to ambushes. One slip, and people die. Especially those without attack skills. Zombies bite once, and it's over. The women must feel the same." He gestured toward them.
I glanced at Kim Yunjin and the others. Kim Yunjin opened her mouth with a what-are-you-talking-about look.
"...I'm fine with it? I hate it here."
Silence hung heavy.
"Me too."
"...M-Me too."
Choi Yuri and Lee Seoyul piled on.
Of course. Choi Yuri and Kim Yunjin were dragged here, after all.
Lee Seoyul seemed to just be following their lead. I turned to Lee Jeongsu and Hwang Jinseok.
"No, come on..."
"......"
The men looked exasperated. I addressed them directly.
"I get where you're coming from."
They weren't bad people. Arguing against Jeong Suhyun, defying Kim Jungshik, Lee Yoon, and me—it was all for safety.
"But safety alone won't get us everything we need."
This might be rushed thinking on my part. Too aggressive, maybe. But sometimes you had to move fast. And right now felt like one of those times.
"But at night..."
"I know. We factored that in."
We'd notified them but hadn't given much time before acting—Kim Jungshik hadn't had a chance to wrangle the men properly.
Still.
"It's crazy, sure. But we have a plan."
All part of the calculation. We had contingencies for everything.
"No, even so..."
"Your points are valid. But."
I laid out what Jeong Suhyun, Kim Jungshik, and I had discussed: pros and cons of day versus night, Liberation Army, zombies. Hwang Jinseok looked unconvinced.
"Even at night, it's not safe from those Liberation Army bastards. Zombies too."
Sigh...
Frustrating.
No.
They didn't know what happened at Southdong Station or Gaeseong High School. Just telling them to leave would spark this reaction.
I calmed myself and chose my words carefully.
"...We don't know when the enemy might return to Gaeseong High."
"......"
This was a big reason we'd opted for night. We'd cleared the inside, but they might've seen me leave and gone back in. Or other raiders or survivors could've moved in.
"Liberation Army had a base there. What if we all head there tomorrow morning and get shot from inside? Or arrive late and run into hostile survivors?"
Daytime travel from Gaeseong High would've multiplied casualties. Visibility favored normals—and Liberation Army. Base members on foot, unlike my blinks, would be easy targets.
Hwang Jinseok spoke up, aggrieved.
"...If you scouted it again, Junyoung... Ah."
He clamped his mouth shut mid-sentence.
"......"
I scowled. Silence fell. All eyes turned to him.
"Sorry."
Hwang Jinseok apologized quickly. I shook my head.
"It's fine."
"......"
Lee Jeongsu bowed his head too. He knew how bad that sounded.
Tap tap.
"Hmm. What's all this?"
Kim Jungshik ambled up the stairs, done with his tasks. I smiled.
"Nothing much. All set?"
"Yeah, Dojin and the deputy finished sorting the carts. Just personal gear left..."
He eyed the mood, piecing it together.
"We're good."
Jeong Suhyun cut in. The women nodded.
"We're done too."
I looked toward Lee Jeongsu and Hwang Jinseok.
"You guys packed?"
"...Yeah."
Light outfits. They'd packed, even if they griped. Kim Jungshik had briefed them first, after all.
I sighed.
"Then let's go."
Hwang Jinseok might be right about risks. But preventing them was my job.
And they don't deserve to complain. Not in my book.
No second chances. I etched their names in my mind and headed downstairs.
====
Our Love Church back door.
"Lee Yoon and I take point. Jeong Suhyun, you have rear."
In the dim night sky—streetlights flickering faintly—the quiet back lot, I spoke up.
"Jeong Dojin."
"Yes sir."
Jeong Dojin, hefting the cart—not a wagon anymore—responded.
"You bring up the very rear, right in front of Jeong Suhyun."
"Got it!"
"I'll signal when we arrive. Move fast then. Any issues during travel, tell Jeong Suhyun."
"Yes sir!"
Jeong Dojin replied confidently. I turned.
"Ladies."
"Yes."
Kim Yunjin answered.
"Yunjin, Yuri, Seoyul—right behind me."
Kim Yunjin's healing, Choi Yuri and Lee Seoyul's summons were crucial. Way more than tool summons. And with the women less sturdy, keeping them close made sense.
"Follow right behind me and Lee Yoon."
"Got it, boss." Kim Yunjin grinned brightly.
I called after her as she moved into position.
"Kim Yunjin."
"Yeah?"
She turned. I pointed to Yoon Mina on my back.
"Can you heal her? She's..."
I started explaining Yoon Mina when—
"Heal."
Kim Yunjin cast first. White energy seeped into her stumps.
"Ugh."
Yoon Mina groaned, writhing.
This is...
I checked her limbs. Not fully regenerated. But stubs protruded from the stumps. Flesh, maybe?
"Heal."
Five more casts, and flesh and bone reached mid-forearm.
"Ah..."
Yoon Mina's eyes widened. No wonder—Liberation Army said healing failed.
They might've held back on purpose.
Three more heals, but no further growth. I stopped sweating Kim Yunjin.
"Enough, Yunjin. Two left, right?"
"Hoo, yeah. No dice. Shame."
She pouted slightly. But hope glimmered.
"...Ah."
Yoon Mina sighed wistfully. I waved off the awkward silence.
"Probably needs a higher rank to fully heal."
Liberation Army healers aside, Yunjin's upgrade might do it. Stubs meant C or B rank could finish the job.
"Still, glad you came, right?"
I gave a wry smile. Yoon Mina smiled through misty eyes.
"Yeah. Yeah. Thanks, Junyoung."
"No need to th—"
"Hey."
Kim Yunjin interrupted our warming moment, hand raised.
"Boss, we should carry Yoon Mina. Looks like it."
"Huh?"
"Right. You need to lead. We're unburdened."
"I think so too."
Choi Yuri and Lee Seoyul agreed. Fair point. Piggybacking blocked my blinks—slowing crisis response.
"But."
Could they handle her? As I pondered, Kim Yunjin said:
"I'm fine."
I eyed her dubiously.
"Even if you say that..."
"Gah, boss, hand her over."
Choi Yuri dashed up, snatching Yoon Mina off my back. She greeted her.
"Hi. I'm Choi Yuri."
"Uh... h-hi?"
"Yoon Mina, right?"
"Y-Yeah, but..."
Awkward introductions.
"Up you go. Super light."
"Uh, w-wait."
"Stay still."
"...Okay?"
Yoon Mina panicked. Makes sense. Choi Yuri had backbone.
The one who snapped at Kim Yunjin.
"Yuri, we can share..."
"Yeah."
Kim Yunjin and Lee Seoyul joined in. But Choi Yuri shook her head.
"Just support her, sis. You too, Seoyul."
"Oh, sure."
Choi Yuri had clocked Yoon Mina's trauma.
No—all the women had.
No limbs screamed Liberation Army.
"Yoon Mina. You okay?"
I checked politely.
"Y-Yeah."
She seemed unbothered. Hope for limbs, plus friendly women—fair enough.
That settles it...
I watched them chat, then turned.
"Choi, section chief."
"Yessir."
He thumped his chest.
"You follow right behind the ladies. Other men too."
"Us too?"
He sweated. I nodded.
"Yeah. Help Jeong Dojin with carts at the station. Even if he can lift 'em, stuff might spill."
Tied with cloth, not rope—shaky. Men could steady.
"Jeong Suhyun."
"Yes."
"Once I scout the station ahead and confirm safe, you swap with me right after."
"Got it."
No questions. That's why I liked him. Then to Lee Yoon.
"Lee Yoon."
"Yes, Junyoung."
"You're key tonight."
He was the main event, not me. His Animal Tamer skill decided lives.
I recalled Jeong Suhyun's file.
"100m detection, right?"
"Yes. D-rank waves reach that far. Vision's about there too."
"Tell me the second you spot anything. Zombie or human."
"Will do. Eyes peeled."
"I trust you."
From travel to station sweep—he was essential. I nodded, heading to Kim Jungshik, herding the men.
He grinned at me. "Ah, Junyoung. Heard there was drama."
"Nothing."
Truly nothing. Predictable, minor. Weak if it escalated.
"Tch, my fault for dropping the ball."
"No."
He'd done well. Just short on time. No blame.
Blame the men, maybe.
I knew why Jeong Suhyun reached for his gun. I shook my head.
"It's fine. Not your fault. So... where you stand? Anywhere works."
He looked unsure. "Anywhere?"
"Yeah. Front, back—wherever you can manage the men. Not point."
True. No need to slot him specific. Anywhere but my front.
"Haha, got it."
"Right?"
"Yessir."
He nodded. He'd handle it. I sidled close, murmuring:
"...Fridge done?"
He nodded subtly. No mistakes from him.
"Ahem."
He slid next to Choi, flashing an OK toward the church.
"Both set. Inside and out."
I smiled faintly. Blacks—or others—would come.
"Good. Everyone, let's move."
Missing a shot at the blacks for minor intruders? Absurd. For my goals, innocents were expendable.
Creeeak.
With that, the back door of Our Love Church swung open.