The Scent of Burning Betrayal
I smelled something burning. A sticky, ominous stench clung to the air.
"...What the hell is this smell?"
I stopped dead in my tracks on the road, wagon in tow as usual, and sniffed the air.
"W-What smell do you mean?" Haena tilted her head.
But I wasn't the only one who noticed.
"Smell? Hmm... Huh? Yeah, I think I catch something..."
An Sua closed her eyes and sniffed the air, zeroing in on the scent I'd picked up.
"Something burning... No, something that was burned. No wonder the air feels off today."
"What could it be? Doesn't smell like zombies."
"You know your stuff. Yeah, regular zombies don't give off a smell like this when they burn. It's way more rancid. Only scavengers would pick up on it."
"I'm used to sniffing things out. Zombie stench isn't familiar, but..."
The smell of burning corpses could be useful intel for me. Burning orcs smelled different from goblins, dogs from humans. Analyzing how cleanly the fire burned or what fuel was used was key to survival.
And I knew this one: wood. A lot of wood.
"Bad feeling about this. Let's head back to the base, quick."
Sure, it could be some random forest fire. Mishandling explosives or firearms, or a zombie pyre gone wrong.
But this was different.
The smell... it's too clean...
There was a faint trace of plastic or vinyl mixed in, but barely. Mostly, it was pure wood smoke. Clean, precise—like wood alone burning.
Fires in the woods don't burn just wood. Leaves ignite. Bugs hidden in the soil burn up, and the moisture in living trees evaporates, releasing a unique aroma.
A place with that much wood...
I didn't want to think it. I knew there weren't many wooden structures around here. Still, I clung to hope.
But as we drew closer to the base, that hope dwindled.
Finally, we arrived.
"What... the fuck?"
An Sua's jaw hung open.
"It... it burned? All of it? Oh god, what do we do..."
The palisade, the warehouse, everything inside—reduced to black ash. Only the main HQ building, set as a safe zone, stood intact.
"Ha."
Weeks of work, all for nothing.
Of course, rebuilding would go faster now. No repeating mistakes, better at prepping timber and foundations.
Still, I was pissed.
"...Not zombies, right?"
Seohee sighed heavily. "Whoof... There are elite zombies that use fire, but they don't sneak into empty spots and trash the place."
"Yeah."
I thought of the people I'd met yesterday.
'Is this worth getting this mad over? Torching the whole damn thing?'
I couldn't understand it. Sneaking in to shit everywhere? Petty prank territory. Looting food and supplies? Annoying, but understandable hunger.
Maybe I'd think they should've just poked around for supply points.
But they burned it all. Clean, ruthless—no traces left.
How could I not be furious?
"Didn't that orphanage director say someone was wandering nearby? Her crew?"
Seohee pondered. "...Possible. We met once, parted on bad terms."
"You fight? How'd they even survive?"
"Nah. They offered some contract to guard the place. I turned 'em down."
No guarantee it was them. New folks in Anseongu, or even zombies—unlikely, but possible.
Still, they were top suspects.
"Can't catch 'em, right? Probably hit last night and bolted..."
"Nah. I can track 'em."
I gripped my sword tight.
After liberating this district once, street zombies were thinned out. No hordes now—human scent and footprints would linger.
"...Who knows what'll happen. Everyone stay inside the base."
Luckily, I had food on the wagon. Some stocked in HQ too.
"I'll come! I won't slow you down—"
"Sorry, you're too slow."
"...For real?"
An Sua stared in disbelief.
She wasn't slow. But compared to me at full sprint? Laughable.
"Won't take long."
I was angry. Personal rage like this? Rare since dropping here. Few things worth it.
But seeing days of labor turn to ash? No calming down easy.
"I'll punish 'em and be back."
I clenched my fist.
/////
"...Time to move out."
The mercenaries' mood was a funeral procession.
Plenty of supplies nearby, but they couldn't stay. Unless fighting that group to the death—and they weren't—they had to bail.
Kim Soi sighed. No words, even with ten mouths.
"Let's go."
Who knew when they'd scavenge more food?
The mercs packed heavy, trudged onto the road with listless steps.
"Fuck, think positive. No one's hurt, supplies are solid. This could last us far."
Just the shattered dreams hitting hard. Bad choice turned months' survival into days'.
But people focus on losses first.
Morale tanked.
"C'mon, move. Forget it clean—done."
"W-Wait, boss!"
Not their palisade burning, warehouse empty of takeables—
She fought sleep, urging her crew.
"Not that...!"
They'd pulled night watch while she rested. Eyes heavy despite sunrise sleep.
Not enough to recharge.
So Kim Soi missed the man striding up bold as day.
"...Didn't expect a confession this easy."
"Huh?"
For a split second, she wondered if it was a nightmare—slapped her cheek, blinked.
"Wha... what?"
There he was. The base leader. Owner of the palisade she'd torched last night.
"No idea what you're talking about."
"You burned it. Snuck into our base last night. Right?"
Intimidation rolled off him. The ordinary, weak-looking guy from yesterday? Now radiating murderous intent.
"Must be a misunderstanding. We're leaving now. No hard feelings?"
He flashed a predatory grin. "I hate bloodshed too, but this pisses me off bad."
"...Even if we did, what're you gonna do?"
Whatever trick he pulled, he was convinced. Arguing was pointless.
"Came alone, huh? Not planning to drag us off with that toy sword."
Soi felt guilty. Hadn't meant to raze the whole thing.
But admitting it? No way to compensate. Owing him meant getting squeezed dry like ruthless debt collectors.
"You talked shit, so I will too. Don't wanna die? Scram."
Faint flames flickered in Kim Soi's eyes.
The man shook his head slowly.
"That's not how the guilty act."
Soi felt unease creep in. She knew showing fear here was stupid.
"Don't come closer. I will kill you."
"..."
He stared calmly.
"Given the situation... maybe no one taught you. I'll show you."
"You crazy fuck, what the hell are you—"
"But just once. I'm not your parent."
Kim Soi felt terror.
Unfathomable. Logically, they should win. Even if he leveled fast, a truly strong guy would've had a bigger crew.
Her mercs were solid. She was strong. One guy? Easy.
But victory felt impossible.
"First: own up sincerely to why you fucked up. Got it?"
His body vanished in an instant.