Gwangju
When the apocalypse began, most major cities turned into hellscapes overrun by zombies.
The dense populations caused the undead to multiply at terrifying speeds, and with multiple dungeons opening simultaneously, order collapsed almost instantly. Seoul, Incheon, Daejeon, Daegu, Busan—all major urban centers fell into chaos. But Gwangju was different.
After the apocalypse struck, Gwangju was one of the few cities where residents quickly restored order across most districts, with only isolated pockets remaining dangerous.
Damyang, Jeollanam-do
The brothers descended from Jirisan Mountain on their kickboards, arriving in downtown Damyang. Before entering Gwangju, Dohyun spoke to his younger brother.
"Gwangju's unusual?"
"Yeah, really unusual."
South of Gwangju Station remained a zombie-infested death zone, but the northern districts were occupied by various factions. What made it strange, though, was the selfishness.
"Selfishness is severe?"
"Yeah, though to be precise... it's more like collective selfishness?"
Gwangju was a region plagued by extreme group selfishness.
When Dohun first heard his brother's explanation, he didn't fully grasp it.
"Collective selfishness?"
Groups prioritizing their own survival while disregarding everyone else.
"Just how bad is it?"
Even Dohyun couldn't give a precise answer.
"I've only heard about it—I don't know the details."
Though Dohyun understood Gwangju's peculiar dynamics, he'd never experienced them firsthand.
"That's why I'm coming to check it out myself. To see what Gwangju's really like."
At his brother's words, Dohun grew eager to witness the region's reality for himself.
The brothers decided to split up and explore separately.
"I've got a few people to assassinate."
Dohyun planned to eliminate certain individuals who would later become significant figures in Gwangju—people he considered garbage.
"So we'll travel apart for a while."
His brother wasn't needed for assassinations, so Dohyun suggested Dohun explore Gwangju alone.
"Just be careful about what you eat, and you won't get hurt anywhere."
"Really? Then what should I do while I'm wandering around?"
"That's up to you to figure out."
Dohyun especially wanted his brother to think and act independently.
Dohyun decided to operate east of the Yeongsan River, where his targets were located, while Dohun would work west of the river.
From Damyang, the brothers traveled along the Yeongsan River. Upon entering Gwangju's territory:
"Let's part ways here. It'll take about a week. I'll send a note when I'm done."
"Got it. I'll send a note if anything important comes up."
After exchanging farewells, Dohyun departed first on his drone. Once separated from his brother, Dohun stored his kickboard in his inventory.
Need to be careful when traveling alone.
He began walking slowly southward along the river.
Dohun's initial route led through industrial zones. And this area...
Peaceful.
Aside from occasionally encountering zombies to dispatch, there were no major threats. As he eliminated the undead one by one while heading south...
A mart.
A massive supermarket came into view alongside a large apartment complex.
When Dohun approached the apartment complex entrance:
"Get lost!"
The residents blocking the entrance immediately rejected him.
"I'm a traveler. I need a place to stay for a while."
"Get out right now!"
Though it was nearing sunset and he'd asked for shelter, the apartment residents refused.
Is this what they mean by regional selfishness?
Thinking this, Dohun passed the apartment complex and headed toward the large mart beside it. But there...
"Yikes!"
"This girl we kidnapped is really good, huh?"
"We succeeded in the hunt and came back!"
"Let's drink tonight!"
He observed men on motorcycles kidnapping a woman and entering the mart.
What is this place?
An extremely closed-off group and an extremely aggressive group existed side by side. This was Gwangju's reality.
Dohun selected a building near the mart as his temporary camp for the night.
Clean.
It had already been cleaned—corpses were present, but no moving zombies. Still, he remained vigilant as he climbed to the rooftop.
Let's set up the tent first.
After installing the tent and laying out his sleeping bag, he prepared for sleep.
Let's take a look around.
He pulled out binoculars to observe the mart.
The mart's interior wasn't fully visible, but with its large windows, parts could be seen. Through those windows, the mart's interior...
Wild... no, a savage world.
Women—though he couldn't count exactly how many—were naked inside the mart. And they were being gang-raped by men.
Survival of the fittest. After the apocalypse, as men grew stronger hunting zombies, kidnapping and raping women became commonplace.
Not particularly pleasing, but...
Dohun decided to let it go.
If he killed all such people, he'd have to eliminate half the survivors in South Korea.
Actually, my brother's similar, isn't he?
Moreover, his brother Dohyun had done similar things many times. Of course, he'd given proper compensation, but Dohyun was also a rapist.
The next morning, Dohun continued southward along the Yeongsan River.
Gwangju's northern districts had relatively fewer zombies, so many people remained there. But they were all...
Each apartment complex operates independently.
Large apartment complexes—each complex blocking their gates and maintaining their own defenses.
And yet, there are many bandit groups.
Still, the streets were filled with groups robbing people.
Gwangju's northern region had zombies largely cleared, but security wasn't established—it was a unique area where people moved in groups.
After walking diligently, Dohun arrived at Gwangju Health College.
"Who's there?"
A student guard at the university entrance asked.
"I'm a traveler. I'd like to trade and stay for a day."
The male student on guard duty looked at him and warned:
"If you cause trouble, you'll be dealt with immediately. Have your temperature checked before entering."
To prevent zombie infection, Dohun had his temperature measured before entering the university.
This was Gwangju Health College—a university where health college students and nearby high schoolers had united to occupy the campus and surrounding areas.
The university's interior had a unique atmosphere.
It's like a flea market.
Various people were trading goods.
Members of apartment complexes brought items to exchange for food, while those with food acquired goods in return.
Ah, so this is why groups can survive by splitting up.
The Health College area was functioning as a market.
Dohun wandered through this special market, observing.
As the sun set, he needed a place to sleep. Dohun climbed to the rooftop of the university's main building.
There are already tents here.
Several tents were already set up on the rooftop. Members of the organization occupying the university had established temporary shelters throughout the campus.
Dohun set up his tent in a corner of the rooftop.
What should I eat for dinner?
He opened his backpack to consider dinner options.
His expandable backpack contained various foods—from combat rations to dried meats and canned goods.
The brothers had frequently farmed food while traveling, storing it in their inventories and expandable backpacks, so they never lacked provisions.
While pondering dinner amidst such abundance...
"Excuse me."
Someone stood at the tent entrance.
"Who is it?"
When Dohun opened the tent door, a woman stood there.
"Are you in need of a woman?"
The woman wore heavy makeup, and behind her stood four other women.
"Would you like to choose a woman you want?"
She had come to sell her body. Dohun examined her and the women behind her.
The woman in front has the heaviest makeup.
Though she offered a choice, it was clear she'd brought the others to make herself stand out.
So he examined the women behind her more closely. Then, the woman at the very back wearing jeans caught his eye.
What? She's not wearing makeup. And she's holding a weapon? But...
She seemed to be in a different position than the women in front. Though not stunningly beautiful, she had a plain face and a decent figure.
"I'll choose the woman at the back."
When he selected the woman in jeans holding a steel pipe, everyone looked surprised.
"Huh? Gaeun?"
"Eh??"
"Not Gaeun."
The flustered women—Dohun's chosen, Gaeun, wasn't there to sell her body but served as their bodyguard.
Though everyone was flustered, she spoke calmly:
"I'm here to protect my friends."
"Really? You're even more appealing. How much?"
"I'm a bit expensive. Is that okay?"
At her words, Dohun found it amusing and replied:
"Ten MREs should be enough, right?"
He pulled out ten combat rations. This was definitely an overflowing offer, as women usually sold themselves for one or two cans of food.
The women hesitated at the combat rations Dohun offered. But after Gaeun sighed once:
"I can't refuse this much."
She took the combat rations, handed them to the other women, and said:
"I'll be in your care tonight."
She greeted Dohun politely.