Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Preparing for Insurrection
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"You're joining the search team?"
When I gathered the women and explained the plan, Gong Ga-eun was the first to react with surprise.
"Why...? You just saw how awful those people are."
"That's exactly why. They stick together and scheme among themselves, so they must have some solidarity. A group like that won't listen to requests from outsiders like us."
"I guess... you're right."
"………."
Wi Nara kept her mouth firmly shut. She knew exactly who I was doing this for.
"Besides, you saw the situation yourself. Soldiers fighting with the search team. Right now, we need to get our foot in the door with one side or the other if our group wants any chance of survival."
I thought Gong Ga-eun might accept my reasoning, but she said something unexpected.
"So, we're a group after all."
"...? Of course we are."
"Yeah... right! We are!"
What was that about?
Do A-yoon's expression turned a bit strange at the word "group" too.
"Anyway, if I join the search team, I'll probably have to go out on searches with them. When that happens, fill me in later on everything that goes down here. Got it?"
"Yes!"
"We're your intel sources then. Understood."
Good. That settles things here.
Next, I headed over to the search team. They were using a few cars like partitions to screen off their area.
"Hello. I'm Park Daebu, the new addition to the search team."
"Oh, welcome."
"We were wondering when you'd show up."
Unexpectedly, the search team guys welcomed me. Yoon Cheol-woo in the middle didn't say a word. Only the other members spoke to me.
"Come on, sit here."
"Heard about you. New survivor, right? Those damn women soldiers tried to conscript you?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
The team members sighed and chimed in one by one at my response.
"Man, they drag everyone away. Total kidnappers."
"Conscription orders or whatever, the country's gone to hell, and that captain bitch drags people off like this? Is that even legal?"
"We seriously need to flip this soon. Right? Uh, how old are you, sir?"
"Thirty-three."
"You've lived a full life. I checked out that captain—she's twenty-nine. Just a kid."
"Twenty-nine? A baby. Fuck... this green kid bossing us around. Right?"
No sooner had he said it than the team members all looked at me.
They were gauging my reaction, no doubt.
"Didn't feel great. Especially after they took what we brought."
"Ah, yeah."
"Heard you brought stuff from the convenience store? They snatched it all and handed it out to those rice waste freeloaders. Ugh..."
"Rice waste?"
When I asked, one member subtly got up and glanced over the car at the people beyond.
"You know, the old folks and aunties over there. They do nothing but eat what we bring back."
"Fuck, look—they're playing cards. Damn it. Three of us died out there today, and they're living it up."
The other members muttered their own gripes.
From their perspective, everyone else was just mooching off the food they risked their lives to fetch.
No wonder they were pissed.
"And those soldier bastards don't even go out on searches. Say they have to guard this place."
"Those fuckers are scared we'll rob them if they split up their tiny numbers."
Yoon Cheol-woo, who'd been listening silently, finally spoke up.
"Park Daebu, right?"
"Yes."
He hid his sleazy expression and deepened his voice to sound serious.
"You might've seen something earlier and think poorly of us. But we're civilians originally, under the soldiers' protection. Some here finished civil defense duty, but those soldier pricks don't care—they shoved us into the search team anyway. Company President Wi Moo-jin is one of them."
Wi Moo-jin was fifty-five.
Way past civil defense age.
"That's why the accident happened... tsk tsk. And the soldiers take zero responsibility. All under the excuse of protecting everyone here. While making the search team do all the foraging. Ridiculous."
The other search team members nodded along.
As if urging me to agree.
"You might've come thinking we'd give you something extra, but if so, wrong place. We risk our necks scavenging and barely scrape up a few items, and they bitch it's not enough. Our 'bonus' is just this."
Yoon Cheol-woo held out his palm. A few cigarettes lay there.
Furious, the surrounding members grumbled again.
"Not even a full pack—just six per person. They counted them out one by one!"
"Fuck... that's the reward for risking our lives scavenging? Six smokes?"
This was pretty harsh.
I hadn't smoked in a while myself, and it was starting to itch. Should've had one earlier.
"People who risk their lives scavenging deserve proper rewards... That's all I want. I'm not saying don't share food with them. Share it, but give us other compensation. Is that unreasonable, Daebu?"
"Right on!"
The search team erupted in agreement with Yoon Cheol-woo.
"See? Plenty of women among the ones who don't go out—minus the aunties."
"The soldiers are special forces types—killer bodies. Pretty faces too, so they get a pass."
"Bet those women would spread 'em if we demanded it as payment for keeping them alive. What can they do? If they're pissed, go scavenge their own damn food."
Suggestive chuckles and whispers rippled through.
I got it. That's what they meant.
The puzzle pieces clicked into place about why they'd pressured Wi Nara like that.
Me and the search team weren't thinking all that differently.
Par for the course in an apocalypse.
"So, Park Daebu. Will you stand with us?"
With Yoon Cheol-woo's question, all eyes turned to me.
I pondered.
What was the difference between me and these guys?
Nothing really.
Except one thing.
I had zero intention of sharing the women with them.
They were all mine.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "How's your body holding up?"
Before the afternoon search, I took a moment to visit Wi Moo-jin.
He greeted me from his seat in the van in the parking lot.
"Oh, healer master. You're here."
"I'm not a doctor."
"Doesn't matter. You change my bandages and all. Feels like I heal up better when you're around."
Probably thanks to my ability.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Red Ointment Heals All [Healing effect applied]
I unwound the bandages and applied some ability.
It looked much improved from before. Bleeding had lessened a lot.
Still, his condition was gruesome enough that stitching might be impossible now.
"Let me change the bandages. Looks like you're out."
"...Thanks."
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ 1+1 [Bandages duplicated]
I secretly duplicated bandages and swapped them out.
"How's Nara doing?"
"Playing with the kids over there. Seems like she has a knack for it."
"Doesn't look that way at all..."
This guy gave his own daughter no mercy. True to his word, Wi Nara was getting totally worn out by the kids right now.
As I changed the bandages, Wi Moo-jin endured the pain and spoke softly. Gone was the joking tone.
"Nara's the baby of the family. Tough kid to raise."
"……."
Figured as much. Big age gap too.
"Never got what 'I'd put her in my eye and not blink' meant... until today. My leg falling off hurts less than worrying what'll happen to Nara. No room for pain."
Without protector Wi Moo-jin, what'd happen to Nara—he probably knew better than anyone.
He'd been with the search team. Heard their talk.
And knew their hands would reach for her too.
"Ugh..."
"Ah, sorry."
"No, it's fine."
Must've touched near the bone. I wrapped carefully again.
"I act tough in front of Nara... but I can't sleep worrying about her future. Scared my leg will keep me from helping if something happens. That's my fear."
"……."
"I know it's a lot to ask you, but please look after my daughter. Please..."
Wi Moo-jin gripped my hand tight.
No—he bowed his head to me, hand in hand.
"I beg you... I'll do anything you say. All I can offer is this plea. Please..."
I looked down at Wi Moo-jin's back.
Pathetic.
Acting strong and carefree, but just another guy weak before what he cherished.
Feeling his grip, I murmured low.
"You'll really do anything I say?"
"...?"
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ 1+1 ⚔ STATUS ⚔ ❄️ Survivor Ability: Ice! Rank: A Effect: Temporarily halts movement of 1 designated target. (8 minutes) Using abilities together should double the effect, right?
"Search team, afternoon search departing!"
The call echoed through the parking lot.
"Alright. I'll head out."
"………."
Wi Moo-jin said nothing. He might've guessed what I'd ask.
But as long as it didn't harm his daughter, this guy would do anything.
Preparations for the next rebellion were complete.