The Jang Brothers
It’s important not to be afraid when dealing with zombies.
Only when you aren't afraid can you see clearly.
Only when you see clearly does your accuracy improve, and only then can you reduce the waste of ammunition.
Teaching the work detail wasn't just about persuasion; it was also intended to increase the success rate of the university operation.
In other words, it was an action strictly for my own benefit.
But they, in fact, took it a little differently.
Day 2 of training.
They started calling me "Teacher" or "Instructor," speaking to me with high respect.
"You seem like a man who's easy to talk to."
"I know, right? I guess not everyone in the search team is selfish."
Jang Young-min said this with a somewhat bashful tone.
"I sharpened the combat knife just like you told me to. I checked it myself, you know? Want to see?"
"Sure."
I checked their combat knives one by one.
They were as nervous as students waiting for their homework to be graded, and once they heard me say they passed, they were relieved and overjoyed.
'They're more innocent than I thought.'
The work detail was always the group that got ignored.
Perhaps that’s why being recognized felt so unfamiliar to them.
I exploited that fact thoroughly.
To the point where even I felt like a hypocrite.
"You all did well. Excellent work."
"Haha! It was worth sharpening them all night."
"Always maintain this state. Preparation is half the battle."
"Yes, sir!"
They were full of spirit.
It seemed their confidence had risen significantly thanks to yesterday's training.
Well, it’s not a bad flow.
"Today, we're going to learn about building searches. A search always starts from the first floor, and internal searches start from the side closest to the door."
"Oh!"
"Keep this in mind. Check for threats first, and gather supplies later."
"I'll keep that in mind!"
"Good. Let's head out."
Day 2 of the expedition.
Today, Hwang Gyunam followed us instead of Han Jiyoung.
He said he had something he absolutely had to tell me.
"The work detail guys seem to like you?"
"It's because I'm such a good teacher."
"You're trying to persuade them naturally, aren't you?"
Sometimes, Hwang Gyunam hits the nail on the head.
Every time he does, I feel a sting, as if he can see right through me.
Just now was one of those times.
"I thought this was the fastest way."
"At first, I wondered why you made such a suggestion. Now I understand."
"But you said you had something to tell me."
"Ah. Right."
Hwang Gyunam intentionally slowed his pace.
We walked at the very back of the formation, putting some distance between us and the others.
"You know the older Jang brother's younger sibling?"
"You mean Mr. Jang Young-soo?"
"Actually, that kid is... a bit slow."
"Slow?"
"I heard it by chance, but he has a developmental disability or something like that."
"Ah."
Hearing that, Jang Young-min's behavior looked different.
Jang Young-min used to take care of his brother to an extreme degree, even for the smallest things.
Sticking to him like glue, periodically handing him water or wiping his sweat.
Thinking about it, his gaze was always directed at his brother.
I had simply thought they were close, but I never imagined there was a story like that.
"He seems to intentionally not let him speak so others won't find out. Because it's obvious he'd be ignored if people knew."
"So it wasn't that he was just a man of few words."
"So, please don't scold him even if he can't keep up. If your goal is to persuade the older brother, there's no benefit in pushing his buttons. That's what I wanted to say."
"I understand what you mean."
I'm glad Hwang Gyunam gave me the heads-up.
Even yesterday, Jang Young-soo had been a bit frustrating.
Since it was the first day, I didn't point it out, but if he kept doing it, I would have said something.
"Oh, right. The items you requested will be brought by the leader. He knows full well it's your request, but he didn't say anything."
"Thank you."
"What's with the thanks between us?"
Hwang Gyunam patted my back.
For some reason, I didn't feel any resistance.
I just let out a light laugh.
"The instructor should take the lead, right?"
"Yes."
I returned to the front of the formation.
The destination was an area familiar to me.
A seven-story villa with all its windows open.
It was an area I had already finished searching.
"I'll show you a demonstration first. You just need to follow along."
Unless a zombie had crawled back in, this villa was safe.
But I didn't tell them that.
Training wouldn't work if they weren't nervous.
"You never know what might jump out from behind a door. When opening a door, it's important to be as cautious as possible and use all your senses to detect signs."
I explained the basic theory of searching and demonstrated it with my actions.
Bright, eager eyes from students are the best way to fuel an instructor's motivation.
Thanks to that, I taught them as kindly and thoroughly as possible without feeling bored.
"Good. Now, let's do some practical training."
"Excuse me."
Jang Young-min raised his hand.
When I nodded, he glanced at his brother once and opened his mouth.
"Do we do this one by one, too?"
"No. We'll proceed in pairs."
"Ah! Then, could... could we go first?"
"Go ahead."
The Jang brothers quickly stepped forward.
I moved to the villa across the street and had them take charge of the first-floor search.
"Do as you've learned. I'll be watching from the side, so don't be afraid."
"O-okay. Yes."
I had the rest of the teams wait outside, and only the Jang brothers and I entered the interior.
Faint traces of my footprints and signs of where I had found supplies still remained.
"Start."
When I whispered quietly, Jang Young-min nodded.
They began to expand their search area, opening doors starting from the closest one.
'This is why prejudices are so scary.'
I observed Jang Young-soo more carefully than Jang Young-min.
Although his movements were a bit clumsy, I felt proud to see him trying to follow what he had learned.
"That's it. You did well."
"I feel like I was fumbling around a lot, did I really do well?"
"For your first time, it was excellent. Your younger brother actually did better than you, Mr. Jang."
"R-really? Hahaha! That's my brother! Did you all hear that? My brother did better than me. Hahaha!"
After that, the rest of the teams began their practical training.
By the time all seven teams finished, I had managed to acquire two packs of cigarettes and a can of beer.
It seemed they were left behind because I hadn't bothered to take them when I searched the place.
"Oh! Jackpot!"
"The taste of looting is quite rewarding."
"It's more fun than I thought? And time flies by, too."
Everyone was intrigued by the modest results.
I never expected that not taking the luxury items would help in this way.
"We'll end the practical training here, and now we'll take on one building each."
"An entire building?"
"Yes. One building per team."
It was a suggestion only possible because the probability of zombies being there was high.
Still, I added a warning just in case they lost their vigilance.
"Be careful of noise, and if you encounter a zombie, remember what you learned yesterday. You must never fire your guns. If a gunshot goes off, everyone here will be in danger."
"B-but what if we encounter several of them? You didn't teach us that..."
"Avoid them or hide. If you radio me, I'll come to support you immediately."
"Oh, understood."
I assigned appropriate buildings to each team.
The people entering the buildings looked like young students excited for a field trip.
***
Jang Young-min couldn't stop smiling.
If he could, he would have hummed a tune, but because of the warning to be careful of noise, he only hummed it in his heart.
"Young-soo, you heard what that gentleman said earlier, right? He said you did better than me. My brother, I guess you have a talent for searching."
"Brother. I like the instructor."
"Really? Why do you like him?"
"He's cool. And kind."
Jang Young-min stroked his brother's hair, feeling a lump in his throat.
Since they were young, his brother had never said he liked anyone.
To the brothers who lost their parents at a young age, the adults around them didn't look at them with kind eyes.
Teasing from peers was the default, and contempt and neglect were the options.
Thinking that I shouldn't be looked down upon.
Thinking that only then could I protect my brother.
For the only blood relative left in the world, Jang Young-min was as sharp as a well-honed combat knife.
Though, for today, he felt a little dulled.
"That's right. He seemed like a good person."
"Brother, be nice to the instructor, too. Don't speak informally to him."
"Alright. I'll be sure to do that."
Before the first front door, Jang Young-min hugged his brother tightly.
Even before the world collapsed, days that felt this good could be counted on one hand.
"We're going in now. Aren't you scared?"
"I just have to do what the instructor taught me."
"Wow. My brother, you're so cool."
"I, I want to do better than the other teams."
"Yeah, let's hurry, too."
"No. The instructor said we shouldn't hurry."
"Ah, right. He did, didn't he?"
He opened the front door.
Since it had been opened once with a master key, the lock wasn't engaged.
Jang Young-min took the lead, and Jang Young-soo followed closely behind.
'I will protect you. Don't worry.'
They said you never know what might be behind a door.
Jang Young-min vowed to himself countless times every time the darkness widened through the gap in the door.
If a zombie were to jump out from that darkness, he would gladly offer his own arm.
That was when only the last floor remained.
"Is it four packs of cigarettes we got?"
"Five packs."
"I wonder how much the other teams got. It's already the last floor."
"Brother. I want to do this one."
"Uh...?"
"You've been doing it the whole time. I want to do it, too."
Jang Young-min was just flustered.
What he wanted from his brother was for him to follow along well, not to take the lead.
The brothers had always been like that.
There hadn't been a single time his brother had been in front of him.
"No. I'll do it."
"I don't want to. I can do it, too, so why do you only do it?"
"But still..."
"The instructor said I did better. Do you ignore me, too, brother?"
"Ah, no, what are you talking about? Why would I ignore you?"
"You don't tell me to do it. You've never done that once."
"......"
This was the first time he had seen such a firm attitude.
He was a kid who had always followed his words well...
Jang Young-min hesitated for a moment before forcing a smile.
"Alright. You try this one. You're better than me, after all."
"Yes!"
His brother went up the stairs to the next floor with a big grin.
Room 601, visible right away.
Unfortunately, the front door there was wide open.
"Watch me do it well. I'm better."
"Haha. Yeah. My brother is better."
He thought it was okay.
Because they said the second floor was safer than the first.
And the third floor safer than the second.
If his brother could smile brightly.
If he could have a little more confidence, he thought it was okay.
Kaaak-!
He was complacent.
It was a mistake.
He felt regret.
By the time such thoughts crossed his mind, it was already too late.
"Y-Young-soo!"
"Aaaah!"
A zombie jumped out from the darkness.
The monster called misfortune swallowed the brothers before they could even react.