The Training
"How about we swap roles?"
People were gathered inside the auditorium. I looked at Jang Young-min, who was attending as the representative for the work shift team, and continued.
"That way, we'll be able to understand each other better. Whether it's the work shift team or the search team, there's no benefit in being at each other's throats."
"So you're saying we should experience how much you guys are struggling?"
"Isn't that the same for the work shift team?"
Jang Young-min’s mouth twitched. If you looked at it coldly, the search team took on far more risks than the work shift team. It was an open fact, even if they didn't want to admit it out of pride. That didn't mean the work shift team were just loafers milking the system, though. They had their own hardships, too. The search team would realize that soon enough.
"Why? Scared because I told you to go outside? Hands and feet shaking?"
When the bald man sneered, Jang Young-min, clearly provoked, snapped back.
"Ha! You think I can't do it if I'm told to? Fine. Don't come crying later."
"Heh! But have you ever actually done a search? Anyone can do the work shift, even a cripple, since it's just standing still, right?"
"You, have you said your piece?"
"Go out there and bust your ass. Then you'll know how much we've been sacrificing."
"Look at that ego. Tsk!"
Jang Young-min kicked the auditorium door open in a fit of nerves and stormed out. The remaining search team members giggled as if the situation was a well-deserved comeuppance. Only Oh Jung-hwan and Hwang Gyunam were worried about the realistic problems.
"They won't be able to bring back many supplies. Everyone here was like that at first."
"Captain, do we have any stockpiled food?"
"We should be fine for about a week."
"This is a disaster. I don't know if we're just going to get more people killed for nothing."
Their gazes turned toward me. The looks were mixed with a bit of resentment—as if they were silently protesting why I had made such a suggestion. I shrugged my shoulders.
"Don't worry. I'm going with them."
"You are?"
"I can't stand guard anyway. I just need to teach them well so there are no casualties. It’ll be settled within a week."
It was obvious that within a week, both the search team, who had to stand all day, and the work shift team, who had to face zombies directly, would be begging to switch back. Just as the grass always looks greener on the other side, there was nothing more comfortable than the work you were already used to.
"Then I'm going too!"
Han Jiyoung raised her hand high. Her eyes, sparkling like jewels, were extremely burdensome.
"I'm enough on my own."
"I wanted to go on a search with you, Senior. Please take me too."
"No. The work shift people don't like you."
"Ah, please. I won't fight with those people, so just take me. Okay?"
"Since she's asking like that, take Jiyoung too. It might be too much for you to control them all by yourself."
Hwang Gyunam chimed in. Come to think of it... it might be impossible to cover over ten people by myself.
When I nodded, Han Jiyoung rejoiced like a child.
"Wow, I'm on a team with McGray! I have to brag to the other trainees."
"Don't overdo it..."
"Senior! What should I do first?"
"Set up the backpacks for the work shift team. Pack them the way you usually do, but keep them as light as possible."
"Yes! Senior, come out in 30 minutes!"
When I went out a while later, the work shift team was gathered at the entrance. Even if Han Jiyoung was a troublemaker, there were aspects where things were easier because of her. ...That was what I had been thinking.
"Why are you packing blankets? Are you mocking us because you think we don't know anything?"
"Damn it! I'm telling you to pack them because we need them, you people!"
"The backpack is this heavy? You're doing this on purpose to screw with us, aren't you?"
"Augh! If you don't know, can you at least listen to what I'm saying?!"
"Wh-what?! Listen?!"
That’s right. That’s the Jiyoung I know.
As I approached, Han Jiyoung ran over to me as if to tattle.
"Senior, please say something. They won't even pretend to listen to me."
"Didn't you promise not to fight with the people?"
"I, I did, but they keep acting so frustrating..."
"If you do this one more time, I'm not taking you. Keep that in mind."
"...I'm sorry."
Perhaps because Han Jiyoung was being so respectful, the work shift people also started glancing at me nervously. I approached Jang Young-min.
"The blankets are for maintaining body temperature overnight in case we get isolated."
"Th-then what about the field shovel? This is something we always left behind even back in the army."
"There are quite a few buildings that have collapsed or are about to collapse due to the bombing. We're preparing for a 'what if' scenario. But don't pack everything today."
"You said we needed them, so why tell us not to pack them?"
"Because I won't let a situation like that happen."
Jang Young-min’s eyes widened.
"You're a search team member. Are you saying you're going out with us?"
"Yes. Today, we'll be doing basic training. There won't be any dangerous situations."
"Ah..."
The expressions and gazes of the work shift team had changed. I couldn't tell if they were moved or just feeling reassured.
"First, could you give me your bayonet?"
Jang Young-min hesitantly handed over his bayonet. As I expected, the blade wasn't sharpened at all.
"You can't kill a zombie with something like this. Sharpen it well when you get back today. That's your homework."
"O-okay."
"There are too many of you in the work shift team, so you don't all need to go. Let's exclude the five oldest."
I had the elderly members sit out and distributed portable maps and radios. They were all ones the original search team had been using.
"Normally, we split into pairs for search directions, but today we'll move as one team. If you find a zombie, don't fight it—press this button on the radio twice."
"And if we press it...?"
"I'll take care of it."
"You're going to take care of all of them?"
"It's training for now. Later on, you'll have to do it yourselves."
A few of them let out sighs of relief. Even if people pretend to be tough, they’re still afraid. Jang Young-min, who had seemed so stubborn, asked in a much gentler tone.
"Can I really trust what you say?"
"If you don't trust the Senior, what else are you going to do? And besides, this person isn't just any Hunter, you know? Do you have any idea what a stroke of luck it is to learn from him?"
Han Jiyoung jumped in at the perfect moment. This time, Jang Young-min didn't say anything and let it slide.
Showing them once is better than a hundred words. As I walked out the front gate and took the lead, the work shift people followed behind, with Han Jiyoung in the lead.
I walked in silence for a long time before breaking it when I spotted a zombie in a state of light sleep.
"Focus from now on. The way you deal with a zombie depends on whether I found it first or not."
The creature was standing blankly next to a broken-down car. While everyone watched, I approached it at a moderate pace.
Thwack!
As soon as I was in range, I thrust the rifle with the bayonet attached into the creature's glabella. As the zombie slumped down helplessly, the people let out a faint gasp.
"Wow. You really end it that simply?"
"When I find them first, you can just deliver a single strike like this. The things to watch out for are not making footstep sounds and attacking the instant-kill zone in one go."
"Ohhh."
After walking a bit further, another one appeared. I tapped the rifle cover to make a light noise.
Guaaaargh!
The zombie, broken out of its light sleep, reached out with both hands toward the meat it had encountered for the first time in a while. Its speed was slightly slower than a person's brisk walk.
Thud! Thwack!
I blocked the creature's arm with the rifle held horizontally and tripped it. In a motion that followed simultaneously, I drove the bayonet into the center of its head.
"When you’re discovered first, you can fight like this. Tripping them is the best. It makes it easy to target the instant-kill zone."
"Ohhh! Did you see that just now? Amazing!"
"Why does it look so easy when he does it?"
The training continued afterward. I taught them based on what I had learned at the school, adding a bit of my own experience. Even though she already knew the content, Han Jiyoung clapped her hands.
"If you face them a few times, you'll get the hang of it. The important thing is never to let your guard down. Every individual has different strength and speed."
Actually, I should have told them about the runners and the Alphas, but I decided to skip it for today. There was no need to scare people who were just starting to gain confidence.
"Now, let's take turns trying it one by one. I'll be right next to you to help, so don't be too nervous. If your body stiffens up, you'll make mistakes even with simple movements."
"I, I'll go first."
Starting with Jang Young-min, individual practice began. As time passed, I could see their confidence rising just from their expressions. By the time the cycle had gone around three or four times, the sun was setting. It was time to return.
"Isn't it more doable than you thought?"
"Yeah. You taught us so well that it was easy to learn."
"Right. I heard that guy was an amazing person, and I guess it wasn't just a rumor."
Their footsteps on the way back seemed quite light. Han Jiyoung, who had been following along, spoke up casually.
"I think you would have been good as an instructor, Senior."
An instructor...
Suddenly, the faces of my fellow trainees and the head instructor came to mind. It had only been five years, but the memories were as faded as an old photograph.
"Have you heard any news about the school?"
"I haven't heard anything other than that they moved to Jeju Island."
"What about the last class?"
"About two years ago? I saw someone who had just graduated, but I don't know much after that."
"Two years ago is quite recent."
"I wanted to ask about the school too, but they died right away. Well, that's how it is for the cut-line trainees."
I thought back to when I was first offered admission. I had learned about what a Hunter was for the first time, and I remembered how absurd I thought it was when I heard the government was preparing for a zombie outbreak.
"How did you end up enrolling?"
"It was a special admission for Kendo, but at first, I thought it was some kind of new scam. But they paid a huge amount of money, you know? So I went, thinking I’d just get scammed."
I guess we’re all the same. It was the same for me. Ten million won a month. 300 million won upon graduation. Rapid-fire pistol was an unpopular sport, so even as a gold medalist, there were no proper jobs for me. At first, there was some interest, but as news of other medals came in, it quickly faded. In the midst of that, the conditions the scout offered were quite exceptional.
"Don't you miss those days, Senior? If I could turn back time, I’d want to go back to exactly that period."
"To make up for the three points you were short?"
"Ah, seriously. You're doing it again."
The sun, half-draped over the horizon, was illuminating our path ahead. Light and darkness. Watching the shadows stretching out at that boundary, I muttered to myself.
That I missed those days, too. That I wanted to go back.