The Survivor and the Vaccine
The middle-aged man introduced himself as Hwang Gyunam.
He explained the situation, but to be honest, it was hard to make sense of it all. It was information I was hearing for the very first time.
“So, to summarize, you’re saying there isn’t just one shelter?”
“That’s right…? How could anyone live alone in a world like this? Everyone who is still alive belongs to some organization.”
“How many are there?”
“In the western district alone, there are four. At least, that’s as far as I know. In reality, there are likely more.”
A red light went off in my head. Multiple survivor organizations? I hadn’t realized there were so many people left alive.
The only reason I hadn’t encountered them until now must be because my patrol radius and destinations were different.
I had only been scavenging from villas and apartments. That was only possible because I had a master key; without one, the number of places to farm was severely limited.
I suppose I’d have to head to large supermarkets or shopping malls eventually. And to deal with large swarms of zombies, cooperation is essential.
It wasn’t a pleasant thought. The idea that there were many humans like me didn’t bring relief; it brought a sense of crisis.
“Where is your shelter located?”
When I asked, Hwang Gyunam stared at me, then tilted his head in confusion.
“Sir, are you really not from Gusan?”
“What is Gusan?”
“Uh… you don’t know Gusan? That’s strange. That shouldn’t be possible…”
“Why should I know it?”
“It’s the largest organization in this vicinity; it’s impossible not to know them. Smaller shelters like ours are sometimes even under Gusan’s control…”
Perhaps because our common knowledge was so different, I felt like I was talking to a brick wall. Well, it didn’t matter. That wasn’t what was important to me.
“The conversation is drifting. Just tell me where you got this equipment.”
“We obtained it through trade with Gusan.”
“Trade?”
“It’s a form of barter. But they don’t trade heavy weapons. They strictly control any weapons that could threaten them.”
I felt like I was sinking deeper into a labyrinth. It was shocking that heavy weapons still existed, and even more unbelievable that an organization was large enough to control them.
“How many people are in this Gusan place?”
“At a rough estimate, over 700.”
“What?”
“What was its old name again? Ah! You know the New Seoul Prison, right? The one that was completed just before the zombie outbreak. It was quite a noisy affair back then.”
I vaguely remembered it because there had been a lot of talk about it since the construction phase. It was a place that caused an even bigger stir after completion because the prison cells were reminiscent of hotel rooms.
“That place is the current Gusan. It’s named after the shelter leader, Baek Gusan.”
“Using a prison as a shelter…”
Come to think of it, it was the most perfect location. Sturdy walls to block zombies, high guard posts to watch the surroundings, easily controllable entrances, a large site, and facilities capable of mass-scale cooking.
“You must truly be a yain, sir.”
“A yain?”
“It’s a slang term for someone without an affiliation. It’s quite fascinating. The last time I saw a yain was over three years ago.”
Hwang Gyunam’s expression began to brighten, as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Then, when the man who had collapsed groaned, he hurriedly changed the subject.
“I will answer everything you’re curious about, so could I please stop the bleeding for this friend first? I beg of you.”
“……”
There was still much to hear. When I nodded, Hwang Gyunam bowed repeatedly and approached the man.
“This friend is Kim Inbeom. He’s a former Special Forces soldier, and he says the zombie outbreak happened while he was on leave. I’ll apologize for his earlier rudeness on his behalf. He’s young, so he’s quite hot-blooded.”
Hwang Gyunam rambled on while starting the first aid. He disinfected the wound with the medicine he’d brought and wrapped it in bandages; even to my eyes, it was a high-level job.
“By the way, I didn’t expect you to subdue him so easily. He’s the second-best fighter in our shelter.”
“If you’re done with the treatment, get back.”
“Yes, yes, please don’t worry.”
He was a slippery character. Perhaps because he was now certain I was a yain, he didn’t seem to be wary or afraid anymore.
Kim Inbeom stood up with a wince, and when Hwang Gyunam gave him a look, he gave a semi-forced nod.
“Whatever the situation, thank you for this…”
“What are you thanking me for? For putting a hole in your shoulder?”
“For… sparing my life.”
“That remains to be seen.”
Kim Inbeom glared at me for a split second before quickly turning his head away. Unlike Hwang Gyunam, he was an open book.
“Haha, he’s like that because he hasn’t experienced much of society. Please be generous and forgive him, sir.”
“Enough. Where is your shelter?”
Hwang Gyunam glanced outside. The sun had almost vanished, and it was time for darkness to fall.
Hwang Gyunam smiled gently and replied.
“Since it’s late today, how about you visit our shelter tomorrow?”
“No, mister! You can’t do that!”
“Shh. You, stay still.”
“You can’t just do this on your own without the shelter leader’s permission!”
“I said be quiet, I’ll take responsibility.”
When Hwang Gyunam spoke firmly, Kim Inbeom didn’t argue further. But asking me to visit a shelter? A passing dog would laugh at that.
“You want me to walk right into your jaws?”
“I understand what you mean. We will never attack you. I promise.”
What meaning did a verbal promise have? I scoffed, and Hwang Gyunam hesitated for a moment before pulling something out from inside his coat.
“Would this be enough to earn your trust?”
“?!”
My eyes widened at the unbelievable object. What Hwang Gyunam handed me was a vaccine.
The very vaccine I had been desperate to find for the last five years but never could.
“How did you get this…?”
“It’s the only way to prove that my words aren’t a lie.”
The greenish liquid inside the syringe. The packaging labeled VS120 and the national certification mark. It was definitely the vaccine I had only ever seen as a sample at school.
“If you wish, I will give you Inbeom’s as well.”
“Mister!”
In this zombie world, a vaccine was worth as much as a life. This meant that even if I didn’t visit the shelter and just took the vaccine, I would still come out ahead.
Hwang Gyunam offered it readily, but in reality, he was making the deal of a lifetime.
“What will you do if I don’t come?”
“Well… then my luck ends there. Haha.”
“You’re betting a vaccine on your own luck?”
“In a world like this, isn’t luck everything? The fact that I’m alive until now, and that I met you, sir—it’s all luck.”
It could be a ploy to escape a crisis. But Hwang Gyunam knew I was interested in firearms. He could have offered to give me his equipment, or lied in response to my questions. There were plenty of other options.
If I were in Hwang Gyunam’s shoes, I would have used the vaccine as a last resort.
“What will you do if I raid your shelter?”
“That is a possibility. Given your skills, sir, you would certainly be capable of it.”
“Knowing that, why go this far?”
At my question, Hwang Gyunam smiled bitterly. In that brief moment, many emotions flickered across his face and vanished. Then, he gave an answer that completely defied my expectations.
“Because people are a rare commodity in this era.”
“What?”
“If you’ve lived as a yain until now, you must have been incredibly lonely. It’s a miracle you haven’t gone mad. How hard it must have been to be all alone.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“Osori Shelter isn’t large. Honestly, with your skills, sir, you could even enter Gusan.”
Hwang Gyunam paused for a moment, his expression turning serious. At that moment, I realized the look in his eyes as he gazed at me had changed significantly.
“I believe in luck, and I believe in coincidence. I only hope that today’s event will lead to a connection with you, sir.”
“……”
“You can come to Gwang-Gwang Elementary School. However, you must arrive between 9:00 and 9:15 AM. If you miss that time, come the next day.”
“Why?”
“Because outside of those 15 minutes, all the doors are electrified. It’s a kind of security system.”
Hwang Gyunam gave me a benevolent smile and bowed slightly. Then, supporting Kim Inbeom, he headed down the apartment building. I didn’t stop them, nor did I press them further.
Even after returning home, the thoughts lingered in my mind. The survivor organization, the vaccine, and Hwang Gyunam. Today’s events were a significant disturbance to my routine, repetitive daily life.
“Daddy?”
“Oh, oh. My daughter.”
“Why aren’t you answering when I call? Are you worried about something?”
“Nothing’s wrong.”
“No? It looks like something is bothering you.”
Cheonsa, the eraser, entered my complex mind. I broke into a wide smile at my daughter’s lovely affection. I felt like I could finally breathe again.
“If you have worries, tell me. I’ll solve them for you.”
“Wow, can Cheonsa really do that?”
“Of course!”
“You’ve grown up so much, my daughter.”
Cheonsa threw herself into my arms. This moment, holding my child tightly, felt so happy that it was like dreaming.
“Would it be nice if Cheonsa had friends?”
“Hmm… of course it would, right?”
If it was a survivor organization, would there be other children? Cheonsa had never mingled with her peers. If she could make friends, it would be wonderful for her.
Perhaps because the child’s body heat was so warm, or perhaps because my tension had finally unraveled, I muttered incoherently, like someone possessed. Things I would never say under normal circumstances.
“Daddy doesn’t trust people. But I met some survivors today. They didn’t seem like bad people, but I’m still not sure.”
“Did Daddy make a friend?”
“Well… I don’t know if they’ll become enemies or friends.”
“Wouldn’t it be okay if they aren’t bad people?”
“What Daddy fears most is not being able to stay by Cheonsa’s side. That’s why I’m worried.”
The child looked at me. I couldn’t help but notice how lovely her bright, clear eyes were, even in this situation.
“Daddy brings me clothes and finds me food, right? Is that what a guardian is?”
“Hmm?”
“Then who is Daddy’s guardian?”
“Daddy’s guardian…?”
“I thought it would be nice if someone found clothes and food for Daddy, too.”
Friend and guardian were different words, but was the child misunderstanding? Well, she wouldn’t have the concept of a friend, so that might be it…
“Daddy could find it one day, and your friends could find it the next day.”
“Ah.”
“If you help each other like that, you become each other’s guardians. I want Daddy to have a guardian, too.”
Cheonsa had solved my dilemma simply. Perhaps I had been needing the child’s consent and support all along.
It had been a complicated night, but for the first time in a while, I fell into a deep, restful sleep.