Yuseong Station (3)
"Hah... Ugh..."
"...Get up. Seol Minyoung. You'll die like this."
"L-leave me... and go."
Thud.
"Don't talk shit like that."
"Ugh. S-sob. I c-can't walk. My l-legs."
Seol Minyoung, who had tripped and seemed to have injured herself somehow, let out a death rattle. Looking closely, blood was flowing from her leg—she'd clearly been hit by something.
"I'll support you."
"...O-oppa..."
"Cut the creepy shit."
"Okay..."
Seol Juyeong supported his sister like that, grunting as they moved forward. But whether because of their bags, Seol Minyoung, or just their stamina, their pace wasn't all that fast.
'Not yet.'
I stayed hidden in the shadows, watching them.
Scrape.
Scrape.
That's why I let them head toward Northdong Station. At that snail's pace, I could catch up in an instant with Frost Blink anyway.
Thud thud thud.
A little later, I spotted the Liberation Army group from Kim Yuna's side following them.
They moved fast. Except for Kim Yuna and Hyeok, who wore civilian clothes, the other ten in military uniforms tracked Seol Minyoung's group silently, leaving only the sound of their footsteps.
'No talking...'
Unlike at Yuseong Station, Kim Yuna, Hyeok, and the men signaled each other with hand gestures. They must have judged this area too dangerous for chatter.
Click.
Click.
And as I'd expected, they moved quickly but methodically around Kim Yuna—pointing up and around, scanning the surroundings.
Thud thud thud.
Kim Yuna and Hyeok nodded. The Liberation Army headed off toward where Seol Minyoung's group was going.
'That.'
That's when I noticed something dangling from the belt of the Liberation Army soldier at the rear. Or maybe "something" wasn't quite right.
'Yep.'
He had a human head hanging there. Specifically, a severed human head.
Drip.
Blood was still dripping from the fresh cut surface, and I immediately recognized the man.
Jeon Haechan, the guy who could summon blunt weapons. The one who'd been with Seol Minyoung and Seol Juyeong earlier. I remembered him cursing about heading south.
...At this point, it was safe to admit they had no connection to the Liberation Army. No one sacrifices their own by decapitating them like that.
No, honestly, I'd already accepted it. I'd only considered the slim chance because of what happened at Northdong Station.
'Haa...'
That left only one thing to do.
Total annihilation.
I gripped my pickaxe tightly in both hands and swung it down lightly.
Thud.
"Frost Blink."
I blinked right in front of the casually walking Kim Yuna.
Her eyes widened as she saw me. She opened her mouth to say something.
Whoosh.
But my hand didn't hesitate.
The pickaxe swung. Air whistled, and—
Crack!
A dull thud echoed.
Thump.
Kim Yuna's head caved in, and she collapsed.
Splurt!
Blood and brains sprayed up.
Thud.
Clatter clatter.
The gun she'd been holding skittered across the subway floor.
Instant death.
"What the—?!"
The Liberation Army behind her gaped, eyes wide. They hadn't grasped the situation yet.
Yeah, anyone would freak if someone popped out of nowhere.
But that's exactly what I was aiming for.
"Ice Spear."
I immediately summoned one above the head of the guy called Hyeok as he opened his mouth.
Boom!
Splatter!
His upper body vanished. Like he'd taken a shell to the head, he crumpled in a U-shape.
Splat.
Splatter.
Click.
Flesh chunks flew, and the stunned Liberation Army got splattered in blood.
The leaders were down first.
"Ice Shield."
I summoned two ice shields right away.
Crackle crackle.
One at the Liberation Army's rear. One right in front of me.
Only then did they snap to attention.
"Fuck! Shoot!"
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
Gunfire rang out. And something explosive went off inside the subway with a boom.
Boom!
But the ice shields held firm.
As I'd said before, even Jeong Dojin—enhanced strength and all, lifting a massive fridge alone—would need an hour of hammering to break through. Or expose it to flames for tens of minutes straight.
No variables here. I'd taken out Kim Yuna and Hyeok, their apparent leaders, first.
Crackle.
I moved the shields, bringing the front and rear ones together.
"Fuuuuck! What the hell is that bastard?!"
"It's him! That crazy fucker who collapsed the mart!"
"Aaaahhh!"
Desperate screams echoed.
Crackle crackle.
But the shields advanced indifferently.
Crunch.
The two shields closed in, grinding with a grating sound.
And when they met—
"Gaaahhh!"
"S-save me! Fuuuuck!"
Horrific screams filled the air. But they didn't last.
Squelch.
Splorch.
It took only seconds for the shields to fully overlap.
The Liberation Army were crushed to death.
A massacre.
Crack.
Thud thud thud.
The shields dropped, spilling blood and what used to be humans onto the floor. The once-transparent shields were long since stained red.
Bang.
I shoved the shields aside and stepped through the blood-soaked subway tracks, scanning the area.
No more enemies. The pursuing Liberation Army were all cleared.
The issue was how to approach those siblings.
I brushed off my clothes.
'Clothes are fine.'
Whether they'd be friendly was doubtful. As detection users, they'd likely suspect me since I didn't show up on their scans. And in this ruined world, anyone linked to the Liberation Army approaching kindly? Ridiculous.
Plus, if they weren't idiots, they'd heard the deaths. That needed handling too.
'Jeon Haechan dying is a problem.'
Whatever happened, they'd lost a comrade, making contact harder.
'Should I have saved him?'
But I had to confirm they were hostile to the Liberation Army. Following them directly risked me in the tight subway with all the noise.
'Whatever.'
Dead is dead. I left the corpses and moved on.
I didn't know how far the Seol siblings had gone, but Northdong Station was a straight path to hell for them. Better save them before the blood clump zombies got them.
"Frost Blink."
I blinked upward fast.
===
'Gone.'
Even rushing to Northdong Station, no sign of the Seol siblings. But I didn't think they'd exited the station.
'Zombies around here. And above is the old downtown with the second remnant.'
Going up would have gotten them shredded by blood clump zombies. They ignore me, but attack everyone else viciously.
Clink.
And there was decisive proof: Seol Minyoung's blood trail from earlier. It led one way, unhidden—even though they'd tried sticking to corpses from Northdong Station folks. Sharp eyes would notice.
'Careless.'
Dried, crusty dark red blood versus fresh, less-than-a-day-old stuff? Textures different enough to tell by touch.
'Tch.'
I clicked my tongue. How had they survived this long? Well, Yuseong University survivors probably never thought of it. And with their situation, no time to.
I followed the blood splatters.
'This is the restricted access room.'
The trail led to the room Park Donghyuk had used as his quarters. The door was firmly shut.
'Fuck it, whatever...'
I sighed. Cornered people only rebel in petty ways. I got resisting armed Liberation Army by barricading, but...
'Her skill works, though.'
I knew Seol Minyoung's was ultrasound, but not Seol Juyeong's. Jeon Haechan—the decapitated one—was blunt weapon summon, I recalled.
...Getting annoying. I approached the door slowly. Deliberately stomping loud.
"......"
Thud.
Thud.
Heavy silence. Rough breathing from inside.
Thud.
I stopped exactly a meter from the door. Then knocked.
Knock knock.
"...Anyone there?"
"......"
No answer. Just rougher breathing.
I continued calmly. "I killed all the guys following you."
Then Seol Minyoung spoke. "...W-who are you?"
"Who? Well, my name's Kim Junyoung. Leading survivors from Gaeseong High School."
"...Gaeseong High? People there?"
"Yeah. It was occupied by those Liberation Army bastards... We cleared it and set up base."
"...So...?"
"After that, I've been gathering survivors. Saw you while out, came to help."
"......Lies."
Firm voice. Understandable.
I chose my words. "Hmm. Anyway, I'm enemies with the Liberation Army. You looked in danger, so I acted... Let's talk first. I can help."
I spoke slowly. But the reaction was unique—first time for me.
"No. Get out."
"But..."
"Fuck off. We'll handle ourselves. Say you killed those shits! But in this fucked world, who saves us for free?"
"Yes. Our base is for people like that. Fourteen there now..."
I started explaining our base. But Seol Minyoung cut me off.
"Don't spout bullshit! You fucking shit. Don't show on detection—what kinda crap is this? Tell your buddies behind you to come out. No lies. These fuckers have this shit now too? What the hell are you planning!!!"
Suspicion. I do it a lot, but being on the receiving end felt fresh.
I chose words carefully. "...That's my skill—not detected by scans. Really, no one's here."
"Bullshit. Then how'd you kill the ones behind us? Fuck. Two skills? Fuck off. Seriously."
"I do have multiple skills."
"Bullshit. Even if, they're similar. Stealth? Can't kill all those armed fucks with that. Get out. Fuck. Leave now, and I'll believe you're not with those Liberation Army shits."
"...Then how about talking? I need info."
"Fuck off!"
Suspicious woman's voice. I shut up.
Makes sense. I'd react the same if dozens chasing me vanished and some nameless guy claimed the kills. Ruined world. Especially Yuseong University students tied to Liberation Army—trust no one, especially undetectable weirdos.
I got it.
"Ice Spear."
Boom!
......Just got it.
One ice spear shattered concrete and dropped.
Thud.
I floated four more, aiming at the door.
Boom!
Park Donghyuk's door splintered.
Bang!
The door exploded into shards. And—
Whoosh!
Sharp arrows shot out— their last resistance?
'Trap?'
Too crude for a skill. Thick clothes would shrug them off. But aimed at adult male eyes and neck—could kill one or two. Against Liberation Army, a few casualties for sure.
But against someone bombing the door from outside unilaterally? Useless.
...It was.
Boom!
Follow-up spears wrecked the doorframe sides.
"Aaack!!"
"Fuck! Fuuuuck!"
Panic from the woman, shock from the man inside.
Crash.
Loud noise inside.
"You fucking bastard!"
Whoosh.
Arrows kept flying. This was...
'A skill.'
Bow-related, probably. I floated ice spears before Park Donghyuk's room door again. Aimed inside.
Ping!
An arrow hit one. But the spear held form—the arrow just bounced.
Pfft pfft.
Arrows flew for a bit, then stopped. Arrows ran out? Or realized useless?
I spoke then. "...Come out. I won't hurt you."
Silence soon fell.