34. Daily Life (1)
I slashed down with my sword to shake off the blood. Splash! The long red line I'd carved across the road scattered in spots, reflecting the afternoon summer sun. I glanced back. Hundreds of corpses lay sprawled across the mid-sized mart's floor. I'd cleared it out over nearly two full days. My current level was 23. Strength, 68. I sheathed my sword and trudged down the road. Was the sunlight nice, or was it stabbing? It was hot. I pulled out my phone and called Special Forces Captain Seong Gyu-hyuk.
"Yes, Sung-hoon."
"How's the rescue operation going?"
A faint sigh came through the line.
"Too many starved to death. But we're saving whoever's still breathing. How about your side?"
I nodded and replied, "You'll need a decent number of hands to clear the bodies."
"All done already?"
Seong Gyu-hyuk sounded genuinely pleased. As more survivors filled the motel, food consumption ramped up. Raiding a single convenience store wouldn't last a week. Meals were probably vanishing in chunks every day by now.
I smiled. "Yeah. It's empty now. Just go in and take what you need."
"Good work. Really. Last night, the president said he'd head out himself if it meant securing supplies. Pretty much everyone who can move will be going."
"Sounds good."
If even the president was rolling up his sleeves, no one else had an excuse.
I asked, "Special Forces focusing purely on rescues?"
"Yes. Every delayed hour means more people we could save end up dead. Better to have trained weapon handlers out there in emergencies, right?"
I nodded. "Got it."
"What's your plan now, Sung-hoon?"
Hmm. Any longer, and Su-hyeon would get pissy. I chuckled. "Gotta head back. Leave the house empty too long, and my people get antsy."
"I see... Shame. We'd love you sticking around to do more."
Yeah. Truth be told, I wanted that too. When the zombie wave hit the city, others panicked, but I felt at ease. No more hunting around for levels. Experience came right to me. Why wouldn't that be convenient? This place was practically a perfect hunting ground for me. Small-scale zombie waves triggered by countless light aircraft and helicopters overhead—who knew how many times. Stores packed tight with them were just a feast laid out. My city had seen one wave too, so my experience shuttles there had recovered somewhat, but nothing compared to this. Shops crammed full—no gaps at all. A shame to pass up. Ideally, sleep at home, hunt here. But no car, and even if there was, roads blocked everywhere. Plus, the noise. Commuting would be a pain. Why Banpo of all places? Far enough to be a hassle, damn it.
Then something caught my eye. Sidewalk. Fresh post-apocalypse bloodstains, blackened and hardened. A bicycle lay atop the tracks.
"...Hmm."
...A bike?
"Yes, Sung-hoon? Did you say something?"
"Oh, yeah."
I smiled. "I want to help with the rescues too."
Truth was, I didn't care much. If saving people was my thing, I'd have done it back home. No need to come all this way. They were handling their own stuff; I just pitched in. My real interests? Weapons and levels, from the start.
I said, "I'll commute from now on."
"Commute? Isn't it too far?"
Smiling, I walked toward the bike. It lay awkwardly between sidewalk and road, opposite a real estate office plastered with A4 papers on its door. Anything inside couldn't see me. I carefully lifted the bike. Sleek design. Big wheels. Must've belonged to someone built or tall. A kick scooter across the street too.
...Hmm. Kick scooter?
I shrugged and wheeled the bike onto the road. Scooter's fine, but bike for stamina training. Stamina matters. Skills help, but sword swings and archery still drain it. Levels mean more kills—gotta train endurance.
Mounting up, I said, "I'll bike it for exercise. Don't worry about that. Focus on rescues, Gyu-hyuk."
Ooh. Fits perfect. Leaning forward. Been a while since I rode.
Special Forces Captain Seong Gyu-hyuk replied, "Understood. We'll proceed that way. I'll call Ga-yeon now and have her set aside your share."
My share. Weapons. Obviously.
I smiled. "Thanks."
"Heading out right now?"
"Yeah. Pick 'em up and go. See you tomorrow."
"Good work. See you then."
Hmm. Ended up with a job, unexpectedly. I chuckled, pocketed my phone, and pedaled off.
Summer afternoon. Warm wind tousled my hair.
Back at the motel, the lobby buzzed with people. President, chief of staff, Seong Ga-yeon, colonels, sergeants, other civilians. They greeted me with bright faces. President Min Jeong-woo approached and took my hand.
"Heard from our Special Forces captain. Commuting from home? It'll be tough—sure you're okay?"
I smiled. "Fine. Can't leave my people worrying too long. Gotta go back."
President Min Jeong-woo looked regretful. "I see... Your group doing well there? Anything they need?"
Hmm. Beating around the bush about moving here. But our large mart building—fortified into a fortress over time. Can't abandon it for a single motel.
I smiled. "Yeah, they're good."
Stuff the relocation pitch.
"Speaking of, don't you need a new base soon?"
I said that, peering past the president's shoulder. A young man and woman, somewhat recovered. Faces still pale, but mobile. Others must still be bedridden. Rooms short.
Chief of Staff An Jun-gyu stepped up. "Exactly. Was about to discuss with you, Sung-hoon."
I shook my head. "I'm just helping out. Pick sites, and I'll clear 'em."
Stonewalling. We're not the same group. Handle your business. I'm here for levels. Help mutually if it fits, that's all.
The president and chief's faces shifted slightly. Politicians—they caught my intent quick.
Sergeant Song Gyu-tae approached. "We have candidates, but how about barricading the whole Seo Rae block? Seal the entire area."
Hmm. Whole area? Not bad. Also learned: Song Gyu-tae wasn't political at all. Asking someone who'd drawn lines like that? No sense for it. Just a dutiful soldier and mechanic.
I smiled, no answer.
President Min Jeong-woo smiled kindly. "Sergeant Song. We'll discuss later."
Hmm. Quick on the uptake, Mr. President.
He turned to me. "We'll keep a room open for tough commute days. You've done so much these past few days."
"No big deal."
Seong Ga-yeon limped over, Park Dae-wi and Kim Dae-wi each holding duffels. She said, "Good work. See you again?"
"Yeah. Probably daily."
"Hope so."
She offered her hand. I shook it.
Park Dae-wi and Kim Dae-wi handed over two duffels.
"Plenty of weapons this time. Can't carry 'em all alone? Take these; more next time."
Politer than at drinks.
I nodded, slung them over my shoulders.
President Min Jeong-woo said, "Without you, even we'd struggle to get these. Use together anytime."
Chief of Staff An Jun-gyu added, "Pyeongtaek too, right?"
Hmm. Can't miss Pyeongtaek.
I nodded. "Of course. When?"
"We'll consult Special Forces, but stabilize our area first, yeah?"
President Min Jeong-woo nodded. "Right. Rescuing here comes first. Sung-hoon, I can't save the whole country, but I'll save who I can reach."
Hmm. Consistent guy, wanting to save people.
Chief of Staff An Jun-gyu said, "So no more planes or helos for now. Full rescues."
I nodded. "Got it. Let me know when you pick a base."
President Min Jeong-woo finally released my hand. "Thanks again, Sung-hoon. Come tomorrow."
I bowed to them and left the motel.
Hmm. Seong Ga-yeon's wave lingered in my mind. Model figure, tall beauty...
I shook my head and mounted the bike.
Me, huh.
Time to go back. To my women, my people.
I chuckled and pedaled.