Be Careful on the Night Road
"Taxi company...?"
Yang Min-cheol, who had gotten his confiscated stuff back, widened his eyes as he listened to the destination while walking alongside.
"Isn't that pretty far from here?"
He was right. Still, it was walkable.
"It'll be a tough hike, but right now, it's worth checking out."
"Hmm..."
Yang Min-cheol let out a groan at Go Cheon-su's words.
"Mind if I ask why we're heading there?"
"They've got solid walls."
The taxi company around here had a big fence and gates separating the inside from the outside. The main building inside was known for its good facilities too—if the luck held, it could serve as a temporary shelter. Plus, it was appealing that they might snag a usable car using keys stored in the main building.
"You just guide me there."
The taxi company was along the route Yang Min-cheol had taken so far. They needed his guidance since he knew the lay of the land.
"...It's gonna be rougher than you think. And I won't be much help."
Yang Min-cheol had survived this far thanks to his friends' help, so he probably wouldn't be much use in a fight.
"Don't worry. I've got a knack for making people useful. You included."
"That sounds kinda scary for some reason."
Yang Min-cheol sighed.
"Anyway, I appreciate it. I don't have anywhere else to go."
"Yeah."
It bugged him that he couldn't head to Myeongseo Elementary, but as long as survival was on the line, it was fine.
Go Cheon-su checked the map, adjusting their direction as they walked.
"First off, one question."
It was still dark around them. Before hitting the taxi company, they needed a spot to crash till dawn.
"Any place you passed that seemed decent for a quick rest? You must've checked for safety along the way."
"A shelter?"
"Just somewhere to sleep."
Anything more was a luxury right now.
"Then... there's a farm tools shed up ahead. It was empty inside, so I crashed there briefly. Sealed all the entrances too."
"Perfect. Let's head there."
Go Cheon-su stretched his arm forward.
"Alright, navigation! Commence guiding!"
Yang Min-cheol started walking ahead with a reluctant expression. Go Cheon-su followed slowly behind.
Go Cheon-su grinned.
"So what if it's a zombie hell? That's why we're going, folks."
Safety? There was no such thing as truly safe for Go Cheon-su. What he needed were clues. He'd chase those clues to clear the game.
"If there are tons of zombies, I can get stronger on the way."
Zombies were Go Cheon-su's biggest power source. They were perfect for his Aggro skill.
"Clues would be nice too."
The taxi company had a radio station. They could try contacting taxi drivers and others. If they snagged a lead there, it'd be perfect.
"Bro, hold up."
Yang Min-cheol, leading the way, turned and raised a hand.
"Something's up ahead."
Go Cheon-su paused.
"You're calling me 'bro' real naturally now."
It was a bit shocking, but not calling him bro wouldn't change things. Go Cheon-su shook his head and scanned ahead for whatever Yang Min-cheol mentioned.
Groooaaar.
"Ah, damn it."
A familiar monster loomed ahead.
"Bro, that's... mph!"
Go Cheon-su rushed over and clamped a hand over Yang Min-cheol's mouth.
"Mmph?!"
"Quiet."
He whispered low in Yang Min-cheol's ear and swallowed hard.
This guy's here too?
A 6-meter giant with a massive head. He'd tangled with one before.
Groooaaar.
Big Head.
The thing shook its head, staring off somewhere.
Staying put for now?
Its heavy breathing suggested it might be asleep.
Go Cheon-su pulled Yang Min-cheol back slowly. He was tensed, ready if the Big Head charged suddenly.
Go Cheon-su kept moving with Yang Min-cheol, scanning around.
Shit, duck into somewhere?
He'd asked Yang Min-cheol for a spot because buildings could have monsters too. Now it was a gamble.
But if they ran into one inside and made noise, they'd draw the Big Head—trapped front and back.
Groooaaar.
"Bro."
Yang Min-cheol lowered Go Cheon-su's hand. As Go Cheon-su moved to cover his mouth again, Yang Min-cheol spoke fast.
"W-wait. Hear me out."
"Dude, please be quiet...!"
"It's fine."
Yang Min-cheol covered Go Cheon-su's mouth instead.
"I've run into one before."
He pointed at the distant Big Head.
"When it's sleeping like that, it's not as dangerous."
"Not... as dangerous?"
"Yeah. Watch."
The Big Head just kept groaning and nodding its head.
"Talking like this won't wake it. Though if you poke it, it'll charge."
Go Cheon-su stopped.
He sighed, eyeing the Big Head.
"Yeah, doesn't seem like it'll wake."
Not safe, but he could relax a bit.
"You got me good."
Yang Min-cheol looked puzzled as Go Cheon-su stared.
"Huh? What?"
"Nothing."
Go Cheon-su chuckled dryly at Yang Min-cheol stepping up.
He's braved real danger to get here.
No selfish bullshit either. Go Cheon-su trusted him more now.
"Let's skirt around slowly then."
Yang Min-cheol nodded and moved. The Big Head ignored their tiptoeing.
It was dead asleep, oblivious.
Groooaaar.
But its mere presence was threatening. Go Cheon-su stayed alert.
"Bro."
Still not far enough, Yang Min-cheol spoke again.
"Farm tools shed's over there."
"What?"
Go Cheon-su's face hardened looking that way.
Exactly.
The shed was too close to the Big Head.
"Ha..."
Go Cheon-su rubbed his face.
"Min-cheol. You called me bro, so I'll call you that too."
"Ah, sure."
"No other spots?"
Not suitable for crashing at all.
"Uh... that's the only place nearby I slept. Wanna look together?"
"Hm."
Tough call, but no choice. Tired or not, they needed to scout.
"Alright. Let's check elsewhere. Bound to be something decent."
As he turned to go—
Raaargh!
A few zombies appeared from somewhere.
"What the—"
A few weren't a big threat. The problem was their direction.
"Wha...?"
Go Cheon-su jolted seeing where they headed.
"Oh hell no!"
Straight for the Big Head.
He raised a hand and yelled.
"Hey! Not there! Over here!"
"B-bro! What're you doing?!"
Yang Min-cheol grabbed him.
"Zombies see us now!"
"That's the point!"
Zombies touching the Big Head would wake it—disaster. Big Head was leagues above zombies in threat.
"Bro! Let's just go!"
"Damn it! I've never seen one wake up!"
He'd only confirmed it sleeping.
"If it wakes, we're screwed! Gotta stop 'em..."
Groooaaar.
Go Cheon-su shut up at the Big Head's groan.
2 - 09:58
Raaargh!
Two zombies even got aggroed on Go Cheon-su amid it all.
"Hah, this is insane."
Situation went to hell.
"Min-cheol, get ready to run."
Grooo?
The Big Head opened its eyes and turned.
"Run."
Go Cheon-su bolted for the shed first.
Yang Min-cheol followed the oddly encouraging shouts.
"B-bro! Wait up!"
Groooaaar.
The Big Head spotted them following the zombies and started lumbering slowly.
Gurk! Gak?
Just woken, it wasn't sharp yet—smashed the nearby zombies flat.
"Bro!"
Yang Min-cheol paled at the gruesome sight and yelled.
More zombies swarmed from the noise.
"Damn...!"
Go Cheon-su tried the shed's side door—locked. Wrong entrance.
Bang! Bang!
He shot the padlock with his remaining bullets. Useless against Big Head anyway.
"Huff."
Inside at last, he didn't lock assuming Yang Min-cheol followed. Instead, he scanned fast.
"No damn tractors?"
Just cultivators. Ride those? Big Head fodder.
"Screw it...!"
Can't ride? Draw aggro and buy time.
He rushed to the cultivators, hunting keys.
Han Do-choe sponsors 1 Zen!
"No key? Use a starter rod then!"
Go Cheon-su sighed at the alert, grabbed a starter rod from a nearby table, and returned.
"How the hell do you do this...!"
Sweat poured. He'd seen it in the countryside but didn't know details.
Luckily, a manual on the body. He followed it.
"This here... and..."
Pulled the compression lever and cranked the rod.
Vroom-vroom, vroom-vroom-vroom!
One cultivator roared to life. Go Cheon-su shifted gear, pointed it forward.
Started a second and advanced it too—then Yang Min-cheol burst through the side door, wrestling a zombie.
"Bro!"
"H-help! Bro!"
Go Cheon-su grabbed the rod and bashed the zombie's head.
"Get up!"
He hauled Yang Min-cheol up and they bolted for the back door.
BOOM!
Out—then a massive crash as Big Head smashed the wall.
Roooaaar!
Big Head's roar mixed with the cultivators' racket.
Go Cheon-su didn't look back, just ran. Yang Min-cheol followed frantically.
"Huff... huff."
Only when breathing hurt did Go Cheon-su stop and check around.
Roars distant—no pursuit vibe.
"Ha, haa."
He slumped behind a truck bed on the roadside, relieved, panting.
"Wait, where's Yang Min-cheol?"
No sign.
Go Cheon-su peeked out.
Might be dead...
Plan's messed up.
Happy with a guide, now replan.
Flick.
Flashlight Morse nearby.
"Real obvious."
He flashed back. Pale-faced Yang Min-cheol emerged.
"Th-thought you ditched me..."
"Almost cried, huh."
Go Cheon-su sighed at his wrecked-mentality look.
"Glad you're alive."
"You too, bro."
Go Cheon-su chuckled dryly. Surviving together bred weird familiarity.
"We're alive. Let's move."
"Huh? Now?"
"You sleep in the street often?"
Go Cheon-su eyed a spot that caught his notice.