Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 033
Chapter Title: Yohan's Bizarre Vacation (1)
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Church camp. Ellie's a nun and Catholic, so I figured it should be a cathedral camp, but apparently not.
The word "church" itself refers to any gathering place for believers in God, and it's used pretty broadly.
Anyway, inside the shuttle bus carrying folks to the camp site.
I looked up the camp we're heading to this time.
"........."
Whenever I need magic energy, I always pray with incantations like, "O great Lord up above, please make this go nice and smooth."
Not that I should be the one saying this.
The name feels slapped together.
It's like they're saying Catholics or Protestants who don't believe shouldn't even show up.
...Or maybe not? If they're bold enough to name it like that, it's probably for the faithful. Maybe it's well-named after all?
As these thoughts crossed my mind.
The pretty black-haired nun sitting next to me on the bus—this job's employer.
Ellie gazed at me and spoke in a gentle voice.
Up close, her eyes had a blue tint.
"Haha... The camp name's a bit on the nose, huh? Still, it's a nice place."
I gave a suitable reply.
"No, I like the name. Gives off a real healing vibe."
And sure enough, the online photos showed a reservoir nearby—looked decent enough.
Of course, it's winter now, so the reservoir's not much of a draw this season.
On the flip side, prices are low in winter, which might be why they're bringing the orphanage kids.
I leaned up a bit from my seat and glanced at the orphans chattering away with the kid next to them.
Kindergarten age or early elementary school, give or take.
Probably giving these parentless little ones a camp experience.
Not a bad orphanage if they're running events like this.
Extra kids to keep an eye on since they're orphans.
But as a camp helper—basically an odd-job guy—no parent calls to deal with. All good.
As I looked around.
My eyes met those of a black-haired girl sitting alone on the bus, looking about high school age.
Cute face, but her eyes had a fierce edge.
"........."
Just a chance glance, so the girl and I indifferently looked away.
The bus had other passengers besides the church camp group, so maybe that's why.
Ellie explained.
"That's Sua. Namgung Sua. She drops by our church now and then. Volunteered for this trip."
"I see."
Namgung Sua? Namgung clan? Cool surname.
I knew there were Namgung families in Korea, but first time seeing one in person.
Not like I had any real interest, though.
Anyway, church camp crew: six kids, plus me, Ellie, and Namgung Sua. Three adults total?
Fewer kids than expected. Lucky break.
That's when one of the orphans across the aisle pointed at me and said to Ellie.
"Ellie sis~ Nun sis~ Who's that uncle?"
Ellie glanced at me hesitantly before speaking.
"Ah, that person's not an unc—"
"Nah, it's fine."
I flashed the smile I used all the time at part-time gigs.
"Uncle's the camp uncle here to help out with camp."
"If you need any help, just say the word."
The orphans giggled, "He's the camp uncle~" and went back to their chatter.
Ellie smiled like she found it amusing.
"Today you're not the Ghostbuster—you're the friendly camp uncle."
"Haha... yeah, pretty much."
Her words nearly made me crack up for real.
Friendly camp uncle—concealing crimes, serial killings, illegal firearms possession.
I could feel the weight of the pistol tucked inside my coat.
'...Well, shit.'
Uncle wasn't even an insult. I didn't sweat the title.
For kids that age, stuff like "bro," "oppa," "unnie," or "sis" was for teens their age or close folks.
Back in my orphanage days, I was always confused whether to call visiting charity volunteers "bro" or "sis," or stick with "uncle" or "auntie."
After calling one "auntie" and missing out on snacks, I just defaulted to "sis" for everyone.
I gazed out the bus window with a wistful look.
'...Wonder what that red bean bun I missed out on tasted like?'
Obviously like red bean bun.
I chuckled lightly to myself.
With my fourteen years of orphanage experience, I scanned the kids.
No major troublemakers or return-policy types.
I could work till they crashed, then treat it like a night off at camp.
Rattle-rattle.
With that, the shuttle bus pressed on toward the camp, shrouded in thickening fog.
Camp site. In rom-coms, it's where youth events pop off.
A chill spot away from the city for some laid-back healing, sure—but it doubles as prime horror movie fodder.
You know, hockey-mask serial killers popping up outta nowhere, mystery monsters, or it turns out the camp's run by psycho cultists worshipping demons.
And right now, the [God's Healing Camp] name felt like a total joke.
The thick fog blanketing the place killed any "healing" vibes dead.
Worse, it was unnaturally quiet all around.
Cars parked in the lot, but no people in sight. Super creepy.
Foggy weather like this, they could be holed up in the buildings... but still.
I hopped off the bus, scoped the surroundings, and made a snap call.
I turned right to Ellie, standing nearby.
"Let's pile back on the bus and head out."
"Huh? What?"
Ellie looked flustered, but she seemed to sense the off vibe too and spoke cautiously.
"Weather was supposed to be clear today... this is weird. Hold on."
"The camp manager was gonna greet us. Let me call."
But Ellie stared at her phone screen in confusion.
"Huh? No signal?"
I checked my phone at her words. Mine had no bars either.
No calls? Cut off from the outside? Perfect.
My eyes did a half-roll. I said again.
"Bus. Let's go."
But it wasn't our car, obviously.
Camp shuttle—couldn't just U-turn on a whim.
The driver looked annoyed.
"Signal? Probably the weather messing with it. Was fine on the way in."
"Fog's too thick now anyway. Can't drive in this."
The driver said that, signaled for the kids to hurry off, then wandered off for a smoke.
"........."
Yeah, knowing anomalies exist makes me extra twitchy.
The booted-off orphans clustered around Ellie.
"Ellie sis... no camp?"
"Hmm~ We can still do camp. Just thinking of switching spots. Sunny places are better, right?"
Ellie soothed them gently while sizing up the situation.
"...Yohan, what should we do?"
Not an ideal camp setup, anomaly or no.
"Find the manager first. As for the kids..."
I eyed the orphans. Not confirmed anomaly-linked yet, but...
Kids would just slow an escape. Short legs.
I pointed toward the camp hall for Namgung Sua, the volunteer high schooler.
"Sua, mind taking the kids to the camp hall and waiting there?"
"Huh? Why me?"
Her brazen reply made me blink.
'What? Did this kid skip home training?'
Sua scowled.
"I came 'cause they give volunteer points for just showing up. Don't try bossing me around."
"Su, Sua!?"
Ellie panicked, but Sua tsked like it couldn't be helped and herded the orphans.
"Tch. Orphans, move it."
One kid pouted and muttered.
"I... don't like that sis."
"Feeling's mutual."
Sua gave zero ground to the kids and headed for the hall.
Ellie watched, then mumbled awkwardly.
"...She's not a bad kid."
"Nah, didn't think she was. Let's find the manager."
And right away, Sua came back.
"Sis, the kids are crying for you."
"...We'll find him quick and head over together."
In the end, me, Ellie, and Sua ended up checking things out.
Normally an open clearing, but fog cut visibility to just a few meters.
Tents pitched around the camp, but no sign of people.
The other folks were starting to feel it too.
"...Something's off."
"No one else around?"
They huddled, whispering among themselves.
Then the bus driver, smoking a ways off, spotted something and yelled as he ran over.
A silhouette in the fog.
"Hey—you!"
The problem? It obviously wasn't human.
"Aaaah..."
"Wha? Huh— Aaaaagh!"
A long-dead corpse shuffled out of the fog and sank its teeth into the defenseless bus driver's neck, dropping him.
Crunch! Crack!
"Aaaaaagh!"
Just like the opening of a horror flick.
That scream flipped the switch on the camp's vibe.
This place was no longer safe.
A horde of zombies burst from the fog.
"Aaaaah...!"
To be precise, it had always been that way—we just hadn't noticed.
"Kyaaaaah!"
"W-what the hell!?"
No time to scream or hesitate like the others.
Bus driver was toast.
'Who's gonna drive the bus now...'
I didn't have a bus license—or even a Class 1 large vehicle one.
Shuttle escape: impossible.
So for now—
I told Ellie and Sua.
"Run for the camp hall."
Get inside a building, find the safest spot, hunker down. Zombie survival 101.
The moment we bolted for the hall.
"Huh?"
Sua tripped over her own feet.
Thud!
"Ow!? Help! Sis! Camp uncle!"
"Sua fell!"
Quick assessment.
"Too late! Ditch her!"
"No way! She's right there! We can't just leave her!"
Ellie whipped around and helped Sua to her feet.
"Sua, you okay?"
'Damn... knew this'd happen.'
I sighed inwardly, spun back, picked up speed, and booted a zombie lunging at Ellie and Sua right in the gut, sending it tumbling.
"Aaaah...!"
Thud!
No clue if "camp helper" covered scrapping with a zombie swarm.
But Ellie hired me. I do the job for the pay.
Freelancer life.
I snapped at Sua.
"Up. Now. Run."
"...Think I sprained my ankle."
I couldn't hold back and grumbled. Ellie chided from the side.
"Always so much trouble."
"...Yohan."