Free Riders Are Not Welcome (1)
“Phew.”
On the upper deck's first floor of the cruise ship, Go Cheon-su's group climbed safely over the railing and let out a collective sigh of relief.
“Can't believe we made it out of there alive.”
Park Chang-sik shook his head, leaning against the railing.
“We almost got fucked over by those goddamn soldiers.”
Joo Young-hoon flinched at his words.
“No, no, not you,” Park Chang-sik waved his hands hurriedly. “Those other soldiers. They used every last civilian as bait.”
“Bait?”
Cha Dong-jin frowned at Park Chang-sik's explanation, prompting a heavy sigh from the bus driver.
“Count yourself lucky you didn't see it. Nothing good comes from witnessing that shit.”
“Driver, does that mean you're the only survivor besides yourself?”
Park Chang-sik nodded slightly at Go Cheon-su's question.
“Yeah. They used 'em all as bait.”
“I wouldn't think they'd use everyone like that.”
“Sure, they seemed to try saving a few at first. But when shit hit the fan, they tossed 'em all overboard.” Park Chang-sik pointed at himself. “I got lucky commandeering a supply truck. If I hadn't been driving solo, who knows—I'd probably be done for too. Fucking military bastards.”
“Uh, driver.”
Go Cheon-su glanced at Joo Young-hoon, making Park Chang-sik flinch with a sheepish expression.
“Oh, s-sorry. Not lumping you in. Obviously, you're different. I saw it with my own eyes.” As he spoke, Park Chang-sik recalled the man he'd seen climbing the crane. “There was a soldier up on that crane. Air Force, right? Thanks to him, we made it here.”
“Lieutenant Colonel Jin. He was a good man.”
Joo Young-hoon clenched his fist, his face hardening.
Cha Dong-jin, watching the exchange, let out a soft sigh before speaking.
“He probably felt fulfilled saving us. Hoped we'd keep surviving too.”
Then Cha Dong-jin looked up at the cruise ship.
“But we can't call ourselves fully safe yet, can we? This ship's a mystery.”
He was right. Go Cheon-su tilted his head back to examine the vessel closely.
It's dangerous, they said.
This cruise ship was clearly far from normal.
Go Cheon-su agreed they needed to find that person.
But first, there was something else to do.
“To check the ship's status, there's a place we should go.”
All eyes turned to him as he spoke. He pointed ahead.
“There.”
It was toward the bow.
“What's that?”
When Park Chang-sik asked, Cha Dong-jin answered.
“Probably the bridge.”
“The bridge?”
“That's where it's usually located.”
Go Cheon-su chimed in.
“If the ship's moving, someone's in the bridge and engine room. If the captain's alive, he'd know the situation here.”
But the bridge appeared to be on the upper deck's tenth floor—meaning a long climb ahead.
“...Kinda unsettling.”
Park Chang-sik gulped, muttering.
Go Cheon-su felt the same. For a ship carrying thousands, it was eerily quiet. Moving through a place like this naturally bred anxiety.
“Let's go, everyone.”
They couldn't stay put. At Go Cheon-su's gesture, the group started moving.
First floor of the upper deck...
The lowest deck on the open area. Reaching the bridge would be a slog.
“Whoa.”
But separate from that ordeal, Go Cheon-su couldn't help sighing as he entered the first-floor interior.
“What the hell is this?”
It was like a hotel lobby. Completely unlike any ship interior he'd seen before.
The surroundings were so bright, drowning out the viewers' excitement. Go Cheon-su spun around like a rom-com lead before drawing his axe from his belt.
“Whew. Fun's over.”
He chose tension over thrill.
“Anything that pops out gets smashed.”
“Bro, axe is love.”
It worked even on foes immune to guns. Couldn't ditch it easily.
“Hold up.”
As Go Cheon-su headed toward the bow, Cha Dong-jin stepped forward.
“Wait a sec.”
“What?”
Pointing behind him, Cha Dong-jin replied to Go Cheon-su's puzzled look.
“Someone was there.”
“Pardon?”
Go Cheon-su scanned the spot quickly—nothing.
“I don't see anyone.”
“Definitely was.”
Go Cheon-su sighed at Cha Dong-jin's certainty.
“Whoever it was, doesn't matter now.”
He'd assumed people were aboard since boarding. But couldn't chase every shadow.
“Just a passenger. If not, they'd have charged us already.”
As he moved to walk, Cha Dong-jin grabbed his shoulder.
“Looked like a kid. I'll check it out here, just in case.”
“Hey, come on.”
Go Cheon-su frowned at him.
“We should stick together. How do you know it was a kid or just looked like one?”
Not charging at noise meant no Silent Girl, but still a potential threat.
“Cha Dong-jin, Lieutenant Colonel Jin saved your life. Think carefully.”
Despite the warning, Cha Dong-jin hesitated.
Damn it.
Go Cheon-su clocked his type.
Insanely altruistic.
Should've seen it when he waited for Jin despite the uncertainty. Guy was wired to help others unless impossible.
No choice.
Dragging this personality around wouldn't help. Better let him do his thing.
“Fine.”
Go Cheon-su gestured.
“Do what you want. But you're on your own if shit happens.”
“I know.”
Cha Dong-jin brightened.
“I'll make sure to help others. Won't forget your grace, Go Cheon-su.”
“Uh, yeah...”
“Then.”
Cha Dong-jin turned and hurried off. Joo Young-hoon and Park Chang-sik exchanged glances as he went.
“We'll see him later, right?”
As Go Cheon-su shrugged, Joo Young-hoon spoke up.
“Uh, then me too...”
“What?”
Go Cheon-su furrowed his brow.
“You wanna follow Cha Dong-jin?”
“He'll be in danger alone.”
What amazing people.
“Since he's Lieutenant Colonel Jin's friend, I should look after him.”
“Haa... fine.”
Go Cheon-su eyed Joo Young-hoon's trembling gaze. Not fearless—just guilt over Jin's death.
“Got it.”
“Ah, yes!”
“Go watch him good.”
Go Cheon-su let him go too. Joo Young-hoon bowed slightly and vanished after Cha Dong-jin.
“You okay with this?”
Park Chang-sik asked worriedly.
“Splitting up like this...”
“No reason not to.”
In new territory, synergy mattered. If not, splitting to scout paths wasn't bad—with luck.
“Didn't you sync with me and this guy already, driver?”
“Sync?”
“Yeah. With him.”
Go Cheon-su nodded at still Heukgu.
The three left had fought together—knew each other's styles. Crucial edge.
“Give us another bus ride, driver.”
Go Cheon-su joked lightly, then moved on.
Upper deck second floor.
The space beyond the stairs was like a mall.
“Whoa.”
Second floor, but open several stories up—a massive entertainment complex.
“Rich folks really cruise like this?”
Only boarding one amid apocalypse—Go Cheon-su could only sigh.
“Cheon-su, check that out.”
Park Chang-sik pointed at a nearby elevator.
“That'll shoot us up floors quick.”
“Yeah. Let's go.”
Go Cheon-su walked, scanning around.
Right. Should be passengers aplenty—yet none in sight. Only that kid Cha Dong-jin spotted.
Super uneasy.
Might be empty, but crew should've been aboard for a moving ship.
Kraaaaaah!
Then—a familiar growl near the elevator.
“H-Hey! There!”
“Yeah, I see it.”
Go Cheon-su raised his axe high as Park Chang-sik pointed in shock.
“Come on, baby.”
Kraaaaaah!
The zombie lunged at him.
Aggro 1 - 09:59
Crack!
No chance of those teeth reaching him. The axe split the zombie's head like a watermelon first.
Splatter.
It crumpled to its knees from momentum.
Thud!
Go Cheon-su yanked the axe free, staring down.
Hawaiian shirt...
Not crew uniform.
“Looks like passengers were aboard.”
Park Chang-sik gulped.
Go Cheon-su sighed softly.
“Yeah. Confirmed.”
For its size, up to two thousand capacity.
“Bros, not all boarded, right?”
Zombies suited Aggro, but not invincible. Ambushes from hidden spots ignored it—pure danger.
“Just take a lifeboat, bros?”
“Ha.”
Sea teeming with trash monsters? Lifeboats too small—risky.
Cruise ships evolved post-Titanic: tough hulls against sea threats. Better stay aboard.
Lifeboats barely faster anyway—no escape if attacked.
“Driver, grab a weapon here.”
Park Chang-sik was unarmed. Unknown fights above—needed gear.
“Me?”
“Yeah. You fight well.”
Saw his balls shooting the captain—arm him, he'd manage.
“Alright. Needed one anyway.”
He headed into a nearby clothing store.
“Why clothes...?”
Go Cheon-su tilted his head, then looked down.
Heukgu stared up.
“Yeah, fine.”
He smiled at Heukgu.
“We'll get one for you too.”