Lee Gaeun
Kang Dohun and Lee Gaeun spent their days roaming Gwangju together.
In that time she came to understand just how extraordinary a man he was.
It's not just that he's good at killing zombies.
While they were out, they were ambushed by other outlaws. Kang Dohun cut down more than ten of them with almost casual ease. Watching him fight, she finally grasped it—he was truly strong.
Once she knew how powerful he was, she grew even more forward at night.
"Mister… make me hotter tonight."
She put everything she had into showing him her charms as a woman, hoping to win his favor. But the one who ended up conquered by his cock was Lee Gaeun herself.
"Hah… hah… hah… Haaaaaah!!"
Night after night she had no choice but to cry out in pleasure.
Their happy days together lasted exactly one week.
Dohun, I took care of the trash. Let's meet tomorrow.
A note arrived from his older brother. Kang Dohun wrote back that they should meet at Gwangju Health College.
After finishing the exchange, he turned to Lee Gaeun.
"We should head back to the Health College now."
"Already?"
She looked reluctant. Kang Dohun answered calmly.
"We can't keep wandering around like this forever."
"…I don't mind, though…"
Even as her disappointment deepened, she followed him back toward the college.
On the way she finally gathered her courage and spoke honestly.
"Can't you take me with you? We had a good time, didn't we?"
"I'm good at odd jobs. My family used to run a shop, so I'm good with people too."
"I might not be great at hunting, but I won't be dead weight."
"And… I can do even better at night."
"I like you, mister! So please… take me with you."
Her pleading made Kang Dohun waver for a moment. But—
Her value is just too low.
As a woman she was decent enough. Her looks weren't outstanding, but they suited his tastes well enough, and her body was excellent. In bed she was more than enjoyable.
The problem was her combat value. She had a trait that strengthened her mental fortitude and a skill that boosted her speed—useful for survival, but almost worthless in a real fight.
She's nice as a woman, but everything else is lacking.
He deliberately thought it through with the same cold calculation his brother would use. She wasn't worth keeping around.
They reached Gwangju Health College. Kang Dohun faced her.
"I had a good time."
"Oppa… are we really breaking up?"
Her voice trembled on the edge of tears. He wavered again, but forced himself to stay firm.
"I'm sorry. This is as far as we go."
"…"
Tears finally spilled down her cheeks. Kang Dohun pulled her into a light embrace.
"The clothes you're wearing and the weapon you have—keep them as gifts. I hope you make it through this hard world, Gaeun."
He left her the leather gear and the axe. She nodded in quiet thanks.
And so Kang Dohun and Lee Gaeun parted ways.
He stayed behind at the college to wait for his brother. She said she would go out and hunt zombies again, and left.
The thought of her hunting alone worried him, but she insisted she would be fine now that she had her own weapon and armor. She walked out alone.
Once she was gone, an empty feeling settled in Kang Dohun's chest.
Ah, why am I like this? I'm old enough to know better.
He waited at the college entrance in that strange mood until—
"Dohun!"
Kang Dohyun appeared. The brothers reunited after a long stretch apart.
Kang Dohun started by sharing everything he had learned.
"This whole area is completely messed up. Everyone's just doing their own thing."
Dozens of separate groups were operating, ignoring the old laws and systems, each following their own rules.
Kang Dohyun nodded as if he had expected exactly that.
"Nothing more worth taking from Gwangju, then?"
"Unless we clean out the zombies in the southern districts, not really."
"Alright. Then let's go claim something else first."
The two brothers decided to leave Gwangju.
There was still one thing to do before they left. Kang Dohyun walked the grounds of the Health College, checking for anything useful and buying what he needed. Kang Dohun trailed after him.
Why does this feel so off?
Something important felt like it was slipping through his fingers.
Is it because of Lee Gaeun?
The only thing that had changed was parting with her. And yet—
Why do I feel like I'm going to regret this?
The sense of impending regret grew stronger by the second.
Fortunately, Kang Dohyun quickly noticed his younger brother wasn't his usual self.
"Dohun, what's wrong with you?"
"It's just… well…"
Kang Dohun laid it all out—how he had broken things off with Lee Gaeun after an objective judgment, and how he still felt like he was going to regret it. He held nothing back.
After listening, Kang Dohyun gave him a clear answer.
"Hey, why are you even thinking about it? If you want her, just take her."
"It's not that I don't like Gaeun, but as a fighter her value is…"
"Value is whether she's a good woman for you, whether she's someone you need. That's what matters more."
"!"
His brother had cut straight to the heart of it. Realization hit Kang Dohun like a slap.
"You've got power. If she's lacking, you help her. If it's still too hard, she can stay safe on the island."
"Yeah…?"
"Exactly, you idiot. Don't regret it—go get her right now!"
The words were barely out before Kang Dohyun broke into a run. His younger brother sprinted after him.
Kang Dohun burst out of the Health College and headed south first.
She probably went back to the areas we used to cover.
The places they had mostly moved through were the districts around the Yeongsan River and the boundary zones between zombies and humans.
He was racing toward the last boundary area they had been in when—
"Hey, hop on."
His brother summoned a drone and caught up. Once Kang Dohun climbed aboard—
"Where to?"
"South. Follow the Yeongsan River down."
The brothers sped along on the drone.
While they were moving, crisis had already found Lee Gaeun.
"It's a woman."
"A woman wandering alone? Perfect prey."
"Let's throw a party with a new girl tonight. Heh heh heh."
She had gone out hunting alone. Near Deokheung Bridge—right on the zombie boundary—she had been clearing zombies when she ran into a bandit group.
Twelve men and two women. She shot the women desperate looks for help, but it was useless.
I can't just let them take me.
She raised her axe and settled into a fighting stance. The men only laughed.
"Come on, miss, why not just surrender nicely?"
"Oh-ho, look at that spirit. Feisty ones are the best. Heh heh."
"Bet she'd thrash around just as nicely in bed. Hahaha."
They closed in, surrounding her. She swung the axe and fought back.
The drone carrying the brothers was following the Yeongsan River when—
"Huh? Dohun. Looks like trouble up on that bridge."
"What kind of trouble?"
Before Kang Dohyun could answer, the drone shot forward and reached the bridge. What filled Kang Dohun's eyes was—
"Hahaha! Got her!"
"This bitch is still so fresh."
"The way she's struggling looks delicious."
—Lee Gaeun, already seized by the bandits. He didn't hesitate.
"Stop right there!"
He roared and leapt from the drone, fists already flying at the outlaws holding her.
"What the—?"
"Enemy?"
Thud!
The bandits who couldn't even process the situation died instantly under Kang Dohun's fists.
"Kill him!"
"It's an enemy!"
Two were already down. The rest tried to counter, but Kang Dohun simply dodged and struck, dodged and struck, over and over.
Whoosh, thud! Crack, smash!
In moments eight more bandits crumpled under his fists. The survivors panicked.
"Run!"
They scattered in every direction—only to drop one after another.
Twang! Thud!
The fleeing bandits were picked off by Kang Dohyun's crossbow from the drone.
When it was over, Kang Dohun walked over to the sobbing Lee Gaeun.
"Gaeun, are you alright?"
Seeing the man who had saved her at the last second, the tears she had been holding back poured out.
"Hic… hic… I was so scared… hic…"
Kang Dohun pulled her into his arms.
"I'm sorry."
He held her tighter as she cried.
"Come with us. I can't just leave you behind."
At those words she buried herself deeper against his chest.
The two of them stayed like that for a long while, sharing warmth.
Once she had calmed down, Kang Dohun finally introduced his brother.
"Gaeun, this is my older brother. Kang Dohyun."
Kang Dohyun looked at her swollen, tear-reddened eyes and held out his hand.
"Kang Dohyun. So you're my sister-in-law?"
The word startled her at first, but then she brightened and answered.
"I'm Lee Gaeun. Please take good care of me."
They shook hands and exchanged greetings.
"Alright then. Let's get moving."
At Kang Dohyun's suggestion, Kang Dohun and Lee Gaeun both nodded. The three of them left Gwangju behind and set out together.