The Reluctant Seventh and Eighth
“Over there……”
The voice belonged to Kim Chaemin.
Behind him appeared Lee Hyun-soo as well.
Han Jaejeong asked the two approaching cautiously.
“What’s up? Something wrong?”
“Well……”
“We’ll come with you too!”
Hyun-soo cut in over Chaemin’s hesitation, shouting it out.
In just two days, the pair had grown incredibly close—close enough to pass for blood brothers.
Jaejeong shook his head.
“No can do.”
“Huh? Why not?”
Surprise flooded Hyun-soo’s eyes.
He clearly hadn’t expected rejection.
Then again, after surviving life-and-death together, it made sense.
“Too many people.”
“More’s better, right? I can handle myself.”
Chaemin emphasized firmly.
But Jaejeong’s gaze didn’t waver.
“It’s not about whether you can handle yourself. If you two tag along, even if we snag a car, it’ll have to be a big one—and that’s two more mouths to feed. Sounds cold, but from our side, there’s no need to take on extra risk.”
“But……”
Jaejeong brushed past them.
Kang Youngman, following behind, wondered if Jaejeong was being too harsh.
But he soon understood.
Watching the two plead like that, Jaejeong’s heart must have wavered plenty.
Still, if rejection was necessary, better to do it clean and cold.
That way, they’d give up quicker.
A half-hearted no would just drag out the talk.
But was there really need to shut them down so hard?
“Hey.”
Youngman called after Jaejeong.
“Yeah.”
“Is it necessary to go that far?”
“Look at their faces. Show any hesitation, and we’re stuck hauling dead weight.”
“Hm, I don’t see them as dead weight.”
Their conversation continued even as they pushed open the door to the third floor.
“I’m not the one calling shots, but seven’s too many. Right now, we can all pile into one vehicle. Seven? No way. Food’s the same issue.”
“Why not poll the others? I know we can’t ignore the pros and cons, but when it comes to human bonds, it’s not all calculation. You know that as well as I.”
“Alright, then.”
Jaejeong answered readily.
The group gathered back in the exam room.
Everyone had a backpack slung over one shoulder.
Only half-filled, by design.
In this mess, you had to run a lot, hide a lot.
“I said no for now.”
Jaejeong raised his hand and stepped back.
The group fell silent for a stretch.
Time ticked away, but no one spoke up—for or against.
Then Youngman broke the ice.
“I’m for it. They won’t be a hindrance, at least.”
“I’m against.”
Lee Beom-sik stated his opposition.
No reasons given.
That left Minyoung and Anna.
If even one opposed, Chaemin and Hyun-soo were out.
Anna, who’d been gauging the room, spoke quick.
“For. Reason? I don’t wanna decide this. Sis calls it.”
Now it was two for, two against.
Anna had tossed the final say to Kang Minyoung.
Problem was, Minyoung knew next to nothing about Chaemin or Hyun-soo.
No shared brushes with death, barely any real talk beyond treating wounds.
“Minyoung, no pressure. Even if we say no, those two can make it to the safe zone fine on their own. Fate’s unpredictable, right?”
Youngman soothed, but Minyoung still didn’t answer.
She didn’t look torn, exactly.
More like pondering something deep.
A moment later.
Unexpected words slipped from Minyoung’s lips.
“Let’s go together. Sounds harsh, but more people means more chances to survive the worst. I’m a doctor, not a firefighter—I can’t save everyone. They’re not begging us; they want it themselves. No issue there.”
The group froze briefly.
Not wrong, but no one saw that coming from her.
Anyway, Minyoung had made it clear.
Three for, two against.
They were coming.
“I’ll tell ’em.”
Jaejeong headed out.
Honestly, he didn’t care much what drove Minyoung’s call.
Overly frank, sure—but it made sense too.
Can’t save everyone.
And taking them on as meat shields? Wrong.
But what world was this?
Weighing right and wrong got you killed before day one.
Who’d blame Minyoung?
Jaejeong figured.
Less than two full days with them.
Too short for real bonds.
As Jaejeong approached, hope lit Chaemin and Hyun-soo’s faces.
Couldn’t fathom why they wanted in so bad.
“Talked it over… we’re taking you.”
“For real?”
Hyun-soo’s face beamed.
They lit up like they’d landed dream jobs.
Turning away, Jaejeong’s head spun more.
Seeing their faces made it worse.
No malice.
They wanted in; majority ruled.
Didn’t wanna read deeper.
No energy for their worldview.
Overthink that, you don’t survive.
All those folks Jaejeong and Beom-sik saw while fleeing the building.
Truth was, they’d died so the pair could escape.
But no guilt.
Couldn’t save ’em all anyway.
* * *
Soon after.
Fully geared, the group stood at the emergency exit.
Meanwhile, Beom-sik spotting an abandoned military truck from the window set their first goal.
Brief eye contact with the others sharing the space.
Unlike at first, most in the hall looked friendly now.
They’d leave soon too.
Minyoung doled out last meds, stressing dosages for symptoms.
Some envied Chaemin and Hyun-soo outright; others thought it quietly.
Back to their own lives.
Everyone hunting family, friends, lovers.
Resignation ain’t easy.
Hard to accept your people are gone.
World screams it, but we’re wired different.
Humans trust gut over eyes.
Heading out the annex entrance, Jaejeong flashed back to day one.
Extinguisher nearby.
Every moment a cliffhanger.
Just survive.
Who knows how he’d decided back then.
Deep breath of outside air.
Felt different from heading to main building.
Entered three; now seven.
Glanced back.
How many’d make it?
Any?
“This wall that high?”
Youngman eyed the fence he’d leaped day one from the hill, shaking his head.
Group helped each other over, arm in arm.
Soon crested the ridge.
Pavilion in distance.
Where they’d aided that couple.
Where were they surviving now?
And those two guys Youngman downed?
“That’s the truck.”
Beom-sik pointed down the road.
Lower elevation than hospital, but detour needed.
Normal route close, but crawling with infected.
Jaejeong asked Anna.
“How many firework arrows?”
“Plenty. Use smart. Last one’s a beast—save it.”
Youngman stroked his chin.
“A beast, eh? Use with care, then.”
Best survival play till wheels: firework arrows.
Even post-car, unbeatable in pinch.
Downside: light and aim time.
Useless if they’re on you.
Get bit lighting up.
Chaemin, watching, piped up.
“But firework here clears road infected, right? Sound draws more—fills right back up. Same problem.”
“Nah, bro. Aim right. We’re on hill—shoot opposite side. No big clusters elsewhere.”
Hyun-soo soothed.
Regular intersection? Impossible.
Fireworks pull from everywhere.
But here: road hugs hill.
Opposite shot clears zone clean.
“Let’s move.”
Beom-sik spun his long awl and stepped off.
Group descended slope like wall-walking the ridge line.
Long hike.
Sweat beaded brows when road loomed close.
Wind from all sides.
Autumn’d dry it cool.
“Hold up.”
Anna stopped Jaejeong lighting firework arrow.
Extended arm.
Feeling wind.
For true aim.
“Good. Light it.”
“Regular queen.”
Jaejeong shook head, flicked lighter—wick caught fast.
Chaemin and Hyun-soo fretted: what if it blows mid-aim?
Unneeded worry.
Anna drew string instant flame hit, loosed to somewhere.
Like machine spitting perfect calc.
One, two, three.
Bang! Bang! Boom!
Fireworks racket filled streets.
Few blocks off, but infected ears perked sharp.
“That many?”
Minyoung covered mouth at horde surging every direction.
Way more than from above.
Glass storefronts shattered everywhere.
Straight drop? Five minutes tops.
Jaejeong scanned flanks.
No more coming.
Stragglers inside? Easy pickings.
“Go.”
Jaejeong charged sledge first.
Beom-sik, Chaemin, Hyun-soo followed; Youngman glued to Minyoung.
Anna rear, watching back.
Jaejeong ducked behind downed bus, scanned.
Others piled in same.
Hand signal: hold.
Blurred to truck in seconds.
Agile pro for his bulk.
Moment later.
All clear—group hit truck.
Snagged rifles, grenades amid clutter; Youngman nudged Jaejeong sly.
“Not bad.”
“Navy UDT. You’re senior to me too, sir.”
Jaejeong scanned surroundings.
“No shit? Why hide it?”
“Matter now? Ancient history.”
“Explains the stealth chops.”
“Did plenty active.”
“Hm.”
Youngman pursed lips, impressed.
Then Hyun-soo popped up holding something.
“Hyung, this.”
Truck keys.
Youngman and Jaejeong grinned triumph.
Things falling into place.
Infected People