Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: If You Can't Win, Join Them
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Of course, it wasn't just because there was a woman there that I was heading over.
That was a reason, sure, but not the only one.
Either way, neither we nor they could stray far from here. We couldn't head to the surface for the time being, so we'd run into each other eventually.
Could we fight and win when that happened? No way. They had guns and over a hundred people.
If you can't win?
Join them.
This group was centered around the injured and kids. I was the only able-bodied adult man with all my limbs intact. It wasn't a lineup that would make them feel threatened.
Wi Nara grinding her teeth at them was a slight concern, but since her dad wasn't dead, I could keep her in check to some extent.
More importantly, I hadn't fully stocked up on supplies yet.
To really gear up, I'd need to scour the mart, pharmacy, and other spots outside, which was impossible alone.
For now, it was better to stick with them, gather supplies, and bide my time. I had to play it smart until the moment came.
"Sniff... Hic..."
Nara suddenly started trembling.
Her head was bowed, so I couldn't see her face clearly, but water was dripping down steadily.
"Uncle... Sis too. Thank you. Thank you so much. Hic... You saved my dad... Our dad..."
"Nara..."
Gong Ga-eun hugged her tight and soothed her.
"Thank you... Thank you..."
Even as she sobbed, Nara kept thanking us.
Helping someone is always a good feeling, no matter the reason.
Of course, I planned to bill Nara for the 'bandages' soon enough.
But would a girl like her, who flipped off Yoon Cheol-woo while he held a gun to her, pay up easily? Probably not.
Which made me want her even more.
I eyed her sobbing figure up and down, licking my lips.
Ga-eun gave me a slightly pouty look, but I pretended not to notice.
After changing Wi Moo-jin's bandages once, Nara stayed by his side, staunching the bleeding from his leg.
I pulled Do A-yoon and Gong Ga-eun aside.
"Ga-eun, you already know. There's a survivor group of about a hundred nearby. We're joining them."
"P-people? That's a relief..."
Do A-yoon let out a deep sigh of relief.
She already seemed overwhelmed just watching and managing the kids alone.
With another group, she could hand them off and it'd be easier to protect everyone, easing her burden.
Gong Ga-eun was more cautious.
"But those people ditched the injured like that... Will they accept us and the kids?"
"No guarantees. We'll see when we get there."
If that Yoon Cheol-woo guy ran the show, they might kick us out, but from what Nara said, he didn't fully control the group. If we played up the kids, we could probably join.
"Just don't tell them—or that father-daughter pair—that I can make bread."
These two knew I made bread by shaving off my lifespan.
They both nodded.
"Ah... That?"
"O-of course. If they're bad people, they might hold you and make you bake bread till you drop."
"Right... Yeah, that makes sense. We absolutely can't tell them. Right, Teacher A-yoon?"
Gong Ga-eun mimed zipping her lips. I could trust these two.
Nara came back over. Tear tracks still stained her face.
"Uncle, you're really going? Over there?"
"We have to. Can't stay here forever."
"Watch out for that Yoon Cheol-woo bastard if you do. I'll tell you who he is. People fear him more than the soldiers—he's a total psycho."
Nara chewed her lip, muttering curses.
"Fucking dog bastard... Shithead..."
"Is he pissed because he wanted to ditch your dad?"
"Well... There's more to it."
"What?"
"That guy said... if I wanted him to save Dad, I'd have to... give him some."
"Ah."
Same kind of bastard as me.
"What a piece of shit."
"That fucker creeped me out from the start with how he looked at me. Ugh... Uncle, do we really have to go? Can't we go somewhere else?"
"We have to. There's a nurse there, right? Your dad's leg is stable for now, but who knows."
"...Yeah. But we don't have medicine..."
"I'll get some."
"...For real?"
Nara stared at me with wide eyes.
I nodded silently.
I'd have to hit a pharmacy eventually anyway. Stockpiling meds would be useful anywhere.
"For real... Thank you so much, Uncle. You look kinda rough on the outside... but you're not like Yoon Cheol-woo."
"..."
Different?
Who knows.
Because soon I'd make the exact same demand as him.
To Nara, and the women soldiers there too.
Not by threatening with force like that idiot, though. It doesn't work all that well.
You could tell from how it failed with a proud girl like Nara. The soldiers wouldn't bend to brute strength either.
I'd make them submit another way.
Women have always been vulnerable to group and social pressure.
Once I seized control of the group, the rest would be mine to command.
And I had the means to do it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We geared up and headed down to basement level 2.
Wi Moo-jin was supported by me and Nara.
"Put me down~. I can walk on my own~."
"What are you talking about, Dad? You can't even walk properly with help."
Supporting just one middle-aged guy made movement awkward enough that walking straight was tough. No wonder they wanted to leave him.
If monsters or raiders hit us like this, we'd be sitting ducks.
Screeech.
Opening the poorly shut iron door revealed a connecting passage.
A narrow space barely wide enough for two adults. Pipes and telecom gear lined the walls—useless now.
"Watch your heads, and follow slowly."
"Got it. Kids! Hear that?"
"Yeees~!"
Hearing the kids respond even in this mess lightened the mood. Wi Moo-jin and Nara both smiled warmly at them.
The surroundings were pure ruin, but we picnicked our way slowly to the next building.
We hadn't gone far when voices echoed from the opposite side.
Click.
"Wh-what? A monster?"
"Halt! Don't move!"
A wary voice bounced through the dim passage. Super edgy reaction.
The heavy sound of a gun racking. That sounded real.
As I debated stepping up, Gong Ga-eun shouted ahead.
"W-we're people!"
"...!?"
Hearing her voice, murmurs erupted from the other side.
"...A woman? Was that a woman's voice?"
"People? Ma'am? You alone?"
"Not alone! Kids are here too!"
"Kids?"
The commotion grew at the mention of children.
"St-stay there! We're coming!"
"Lots of people here, so don't worry—just follow calmly!"
The rough voices turned friendly in an instant.
If I'd spoken up, they'd probably have fired warning shots.
No way they'd be this welcoming.
Footsteps approached, and armed men appeared from the front.
"Waaah~!"
"Scary~!"
The kids burst into tears immediately. The men relaxed at the sight but also looked flustered.
Some eyed me too.
"These folks with you?"
"Yes."
I answered while glancing at Nara.
She silently supported her dad.
No Yoon Cheol-woo here.
The men scanned us slowly with flashlights, then spotlighted Wi Moo-jin and gasped.
"Injured here... Whoa, President Wi?"
"Weren't you with the search team earlier? Oof... What happened to your leg?"
"Heh heh... It just happened."
Wi Moo-jin chuckled casually, despite the blood-soaked bandages.
It drew all the attention away from me.
"No threats here!"
"Clear on this side! Just kids!"
"Take all the kids to the parking lot!"
Confirming our group—kids, women, injured—the men relaxed and led us to the parking garage.
If I'd come alone, no way it'd be this smooth.
Playing the weakling always works, in any world.
Entering the underground parking with the men, people murmured and stared.
"Oh my, who's that? ...Kids? Aww, so cute."
"Poor things... How'd they make it here."
"Make some space for those kids. Hurry!"
The aunties moved first.
Probably locals from nearby restaurants or cleaning crews.
They jumped in to soothe the kids and set up spots for them.
I scanned the parking garage while watching.
Four or five uniformed women soldiers. About thirty men otherwise. Half armed. Checkpoints at the entrances.
Elderly folks, plenty of women, even security guard grandpas.
Not a selective group. Just survivors gathered from everywhere.
Scattered around, passing time. Most hunkered in open cars.
As the aunties led the kids off, an armed man ran to report to someone.
"Forty-seven in total. Two men, three women, forty-two kids around five or six. One man and one woman seem to be from our search team—lagging behind."
"Mm. Good work."
The response was a low woman's voice.
"Designate all kids as civilian protectees. Injured from our side go to medical. I'll check the rest of the adults myself."
"Ah... Yes."
"What?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Good."
Young-sounding voice, but super authoritarian for her age.
Treated the reporting uncle like a raw recruit, even though he looked way older.
Once only Gong Ga-eun, Do A-yoon, and I remained, the soldier woman approached.
Up close, she was an ice beauty. Cold and sharp.
Her uniform couldn't hide her chest; her ID swung with "Ministry of National Defense" emblazoned.
"Welcome to the underground shelter. I'm Captain Choi Si-yu of the Capital Defense Command's 22nd Special Mission Company. Any military vets among the new arrivals?"
Every eye snapped to me. Choi Si-yu scanned me up and down.
"You there. Name?"
"Park Daebu."
"Army?"
"Yes."
"Officer?"
"Enlisted."
"...Really?"
Choi Si-yu nodded at another man, who handed me a rifle.
A gun.
M16. Reserve forces model.
One reason to give it to me.
"Listen up, vet. The government has declared a national emergency. Martial law and draft are in effect, so by law, as of now... you're drafted. Follow my orders. Dismissed."
I froze, speechless.
The man tossed the rifle to me; I caught it.
So basically, they were telling me...
Re-enlist?
"Welcome to the unit, Sergeant Park Daebu."
Fuck. I wanna go full mutiny.