Abandoned by the World
Youngman opened his eyes, which he had kept closed.
"I get what you're saying. But I've got one question—honestly, I just can't wrap my head around it. Why the hell is there no foreign aid? While our military's getting wiped out and we're racking up casualties like this?"
[…Listen carefully to what I'm about to tell you from now on.]
There was a grim weight in Major Kang's voice over the radio.
"Speak."
[The countries hit by this virus so far are only Japan and South Korea. And the Japanese government has officially ceased to exist.]
"How the fuck is that even possible? Did all the infected in Japan swarm over to Korea or something? Why are these things crawling all over us?"
[No, nothing like that. But nearly every country in the world, led by the major powers, has cut off all transportation from Japan and Korea. Right after the Japanese prime minister's speech. Of course, there were outbreaks centered on airports and ports in various countries, but they've contained them by deploying troops in advance. And…]
Major Kang took a breath before continuing.
[Right now, no one can leave Japan or Korea. China is holding the 38th parallel by pouring astronomical amounts of war materiel into North Korea, and they're sinking any ship that tries to leave territorial waters immediately. Almost every country agrees with the current situation and has promised additional support. It seems they've decided it's a virus that could wipe out humanity entirely.]
"So they chose abandonment over help. It's a shitty call, but I can't say it's wrong. From their perspective, it might even be the best option. Anyway… it's a goddamn hopeless situation, that's for sure."
The group fell silent, at a loss for words.
The entire world had abandoned South Korea.
Japan, ground zero, had vanished completely into history, and Korea—the hardest hit—was teetering on the brink of annihilation.
Jaejeong snatched the microphone.
"I don't give a shit about that. What the hell are we supposed to do right now? Walk to Yeouido?"
[If you can manage that, it'd be the best option. Otherwise…]
"Otherwise?"
Jaejeong raised his voice in frustration.
Crackle—
[Move to the coordinates we're sending you. If it's a spot in Yeouido not under threat, we can dispatch a rescue team.]
"That doesn't make sense. Can't the chopper just fly around Yeouido? Why do we have to risk our necks trekking somewhere for that? We're not exactly an army here."
[They won't approve it because of fuel shortages. If they could, they would've done it from the start. Don't forget—we're short on manpower just to scrounge fuel.]
"…Fine. Just send the coordinates."
Jaejeong stepped away from the transceiver and paced the rooftop for a while.
It was impossible.
Even with coordinates, there was no way to get there.
Even a big tour bus would get swarmed and blocked in no time.
And they sure as hell didn't have anything that could fly.
On foot? They'd be torn apart before an hour was up.
And the people downstairs were a problem too.
Some would want to tag along, no doubt.
But how the hell were they supposed to bring them? Taking care of themselves was hard enough—extra people would be a disaster.
"Hey."
Youngman, who had jotted down the coordinates, called out to Jaejeong.
"Got the location. It's the broadcasting station."
Jaejeong nodded silently.
There wasn't much to say.
Beom-sik and Minyoung, sensing the heavy mood, had come over too.
"What's wrong? You not going?"
"How? We can't walk there. And even if we did, how the hell do we get to the rooftop? It'll be crawling with them everywhere."
"True enough."
A heavy silence settled over the group.
No one had a clever solution.
It wasn't negativity—it was reality.
Minyoung spoke up.
"They won't send a chopper because we're a threat to the safe zone? With this many survivors? Does that even make sense?"
"Forget it. Don't count on them. Even if they rescue us, they won't land in the safe zone. They won't even fly a chopper over because of the zombies—think they'll drop us off? Nah, they'd take us to some ship floating out at sea."
Beom-sik tried to calm the group, but it wasn't easy.
Everyone was spiraling into despair.
They needed time.
It wasn't a snap decision, and hashing it out right now wouldn't magically solve anything.
As Jaejeong stepped onto the stairs, he turned back.
"For now… let's think it over. We can't just die here."
Jaejeong headed downstairs alone.
He wanted a break.
Opening the warehouse door revealed the meager supplies neatly arranged.
People had contributed ropes, umbrellas—anything that could double as a weapon—even razors from the bathroom.
Jaejeong lay down on a sack of rice.
His limbs throbbed like they'd been beaten with clubs.
He didn't want to sleep.
Just lie there and sort out his thoughts.
His head was a mess.
But bitching wouldn't do shit—just waste time.
In times like this, focus on what you can do right now, and the most pressing problems.
He'd learned that studying investigation techniques.
The messier the scene, with less evidence, the more you stick to procedure and principles.
So, what could he do right now? What had to be done?
Escape wasn't the top priority.
Right now, starving to death was the bigger threat.
So, securing food came first.
Once Anna woke up, lure the infected to the underground parking garage like he'd planned with Beom-sik, then hit the cafeteria district.
Everyone eats.
Then divide the people.
To the broadcasting station or safe zone—probably not many would join.
Yeah, most likely.
Instinct would drive them to find family or head somewhere familiar.
One way or another, as long as they herded the infected underground, escaping the hospital wouldn't be hard.
After that? No guarantees.
Not heading back to the auto shop, so routes were unknown.
No intel on infected hotspots or clear paths.
'Fucking bastards.'
The so-called safe zone leaders suddenly came to mind.
'Talking like the goddamn Korean government. With most of the population dead, government my ass.'
Who the hell were they to approve or deny?
If they were worried about a zombie swarm, how was it a safe zone?
"Fucking bureaucrats, always the same shit. Aigoo, goddamn it. My taxes."
Jaejeong muttered to himself, unable to hold back the frustration.
Yeouido was surrounded by the Han River—should be relatively safe. What were they so scared of?
'Just block the bridges and entrances. Or blow the damn bridges.'
Shielding his face from the sunlight streaming through the window, Jaejeong suddenly sat up.
'Wait—no. Hold on. Yeouido? It's more than half-surrounded by the Han.'
Jaejeong bolted upright and raced to the rooftop.
The group stared in surprise at his sudden reappearance.
"What?"
Beom-sik asked, puzzled.
"Where's the Han River? Which way?"
"Over there."
Beom-sik pointed to the distant glimmer between buildings outside the hospital.
Not too far.
Not close, but closer than he'd thought.
This time, Youngman asked impatiently.
"What's going on? Spit it out."
"We can make it."
"To where?"
"To Yeouido."
All eyes turned to Jaejeong.
"How?"
"There's a boat dock by the riverbank."
"Oh, right! Near the plaza!"
Minyoung clapped, catching on.
Now the group grasped Jaejeong's idea, heads buzzing with possibilities.
But…
Problems remained.
Beom-sik asked.
"How do we get there?"
"We'll figure it out. We've got brains for that. Something'll come up. But the broadcasting station? No way. We'll die before we arrive. No guarantee contact even works when we get there—and if they reject us again…"
"When do we go?"
"After we do what we can first."
"What we can do?"
Jaejeong gazed at the main building across the way.
"Eat first. Once Anna's recovered, lure those things to the underground lot and move. Like we talked about. And… Minyoung?"
Jaejeong's eyes shifted to her.
But Minyoung stood there blankly, lost in thought.
"The cafeteria and convenience store—are they in the main building basement? Hey, Minyoung?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Basement of the main building. Right."
Minyoung startled out of her daze and answered.
Jaejeong and Beom-sik glanced at Youngman awkwardly.
Minyoung seemed a bit off.
"Then let's wake Anna first. How was she earlier?"
"She should be fine by now. I'll check."
"I'll come too. Got questions for her."
Jaejeong followed Minyoung downstairs.
As they reached the landing, Jaejeong noticed Minyoung's hand trembling on the door.
He pretended not to see.
Whatever the reason, she'd speak when ready.
Even before entering the exam room, Anna's snoring echoed.
At this point, it was hard to tell if it was a man or woman snoring.
'Reminds me of undercover stakeouts—seniors snoring like that sometimes…'
Anyway, it meant she was sleeping soundly. Reassuring.
Anna's friendly vibe matched his, and after surviving near-death together, Jaejeong felt an unexpected closeness to her.
All in one day.
"Anna, how you feeling?"
Minyoung gently nudged her arm to wake her.
The snoring stopped, but she didn't stir.
Minyoung gave an embarrassed smile, and Jaejeong stepped in.
Shake! Shake!
"Kyaa! What—what the hell!"
Jaejeong rocked the cot back and forth.
Anna leaped out like there was an earthquake.
"Fuck! You scared the shit outta me! What the hell are you doing?"
Panting wildly, she realized nothing was wrong and smacked Jaejeong's forearm hard.
Minyoung used the moment to remove the needle and apply pressure.
Jaejeong said flatly.
"Get up. Lots to do."
"Wait, hold on. You won't even ask if I'm okay?"
Anna's lips pouted.
She deserved a gentle inquiry, but Jaejeong didn't bother.
Too many pressing matters.
"You look fine."
"Ugh, maybe I should've broken something."
"Cut the whining and come on. Shit doesn't get done with you lying around."
Jaejeong stepped into the hall, holding the door open.
"Wait, lemme tie my hair. So, where we going?"
Anna, hemostasis done, gathered her long loose hair and asked.
Jaejeong figured it'd take time, closed the door, and leaned against the window with arms crossed, briefing her fully.
Stuff the infected underground with fireworks, then raid the main building basement cafeteria.
Anna asked.
"What if the main basement's like the second floor—no big windows, zombies packed in?"
"That's what we'll discuss. Everyone needs to be there."
"What about those people?"
Anna nodded at the scattered survivors.
"We'll tell 'em after. Don't really wanna deal with them. Not saying leave 'em to die."
"Ah."
Jaejeong continued matter-of-factly.
"Everything else aside, food first. That's priority."
"Fine, whatever. Haven't eaten much—now I'm starving."
As Jaejeong and Anna finished talking and headed out, Minyoung's voice grabbed their ankles.
"Um…"
They turned in unison.
Anna, hand on the knob, said indifferently.
"Speak."
"When we go to the cafeteria… I mean, after Anna lures the zombies, do all five of us have to go…?"
Jaejeong's gaze dropped to Minyoung's hand.
It trembled noticeably more than before.
Her face was pale, swallowing dryly nonstop—visibly anxious.
Minyoung was genuinely terrified.