Clue and Deficiency
Clue and Deficiency
Time flew, and before we knew it, it was 21:00—the designated assembly time.
The first-floor lobby was more chaotic than usual.
"What do you mean I crossed the line? Wasn't it your thugs who crossed it first? You bastards are monopolizing everything, so of course people are going to complain!"
"And that justifies resorting to violence? Even us 'thugs,' as you call us, try to resolve things with words when we can. So why is it your side that throws the first punch? Makes me wonder who the real thugs are here."
The middle-aged man was absolutely livid. The rough-looking guy responded with calm composure.
That only fanned the flames. The older man's voice climbed even higher.
"I-I admit I threw the first punch, okay...! But none of this would've happened if you bastards had just compromised a little!"
"What a ridiculous argument. We yield spots to whoever arrives first. Everyone agreed to that, you included. And now you're singing a different tune? At your age, don't you think that's a bit... unbecoming?"
"Why you little—! You've still got milk on your breath and you dare...!"
The atmosphere grew more and more volatile.
It was a powder keg. One spark and fists would fly.
"Alright, alright, everyone calm down. Getting worked up like this won't do any of us any good. Let's all cool our heads and talk this out. Yeah?"
Building Representative Seo Nam-woon stepped between them to mediate.
"I'd like to, but this bastard...!"
"I said that's enough, Mr. Oh Chang-ho. Everyone's watching."
The middle-aged man—Oh Chang-ho—glanced around, ground his teeth audibly, and stepped back.
Seo Nam-woon let out a deep sigh of relief.
"Haa... Mr. Ji-hyung, you cool off too. No need to go poking the bear."
"Yes. I'll be more careful."
That was unexpected.
I wouldn't have figured a guy who looked like a gangster would back down that easily just because Seo Nam-woon said a few words.
And with such deep respect, no less.
"The mood's not looking good."
"Yeah, no kidding."
They'd backed off for now, but it was obvious they were just waiting for an opening to go at each other's throats.
Some people were practically licking their chops, like they'd been waiting for exactly this. Others looked deeply uncomfortable, like they couldn't stand the oppressive atmosphere.
The first group was, naturally, the young thug-types.
The second was the elderly, the weak, or anyone with a family to support.
"Hui-ryeong. Since things have come to this, we'd better find a lead on your mom fast."
"Ah, shit. Why does everything always go sideways like this?"
We fell somewhere in the middle.
We figured if trouble broke out, we could bail anytime—so we didn't really care one way or the other.
"Hmph! Fine! Building Representative, you're no different. You stand there grinning like a friendly fool, pretending to play mediator—does anyone actually believe you're not one of their lackeys?"
Clinging to his last shred of pride, the middle-aged man spat his venom one final time and turned his back.
Seo Nam-woon let out a resigned sigh.
"Hoo... So you're determined to take that tone to the very end. I understand. I think it's best we wrap this assembly up here. Everyone, please head back to your units."
And so the tense evening gathering came to a close. Before long, everyone began dispersing to their own apartments.
We waited a bit, then got on the elevator.
Along with Ttaekttaeki Yeonggam, who lived on the same floor.
"Old Man, I know this might sound a bit out of the blue, but before Hui-ryeong's mom left—did she happen to say anything about where she was going?"
"That is out of the blue. Well, to answer your question... I don't know. The lady next door just up and vanished without a word."
That's a shame. I was hoping we might dig something up.
"I see."
"Ah, but that old bastard Chang-ho might know something. The one who ran off with the lady next door was Chang-ho's eldest son."
At that, Ha Hui-ryeong cut in.
"Chang-ho? Who's that?"
"I mean... well, the guy making all that ruckus a moment ago—that was Chang-ho. Used to be a simple, good-natured fellow, but ever since his precious firstborn ran off with some ajumma he barely knew... his temper's gotten real sharp."
The Old Man clicked his tongue like it was a real pity.
Hearing that, Ha Hui-ryeong and I exchanged glances.
'We're going to go see him, right?'
'That old man's a bit hard to deal with. Seems like he's got a short fuse.'
'So what, we just drop it? This is the only lead we have.'
'Tsk...'
After a quick negotiation via our Bluetooth communication method, we settled on digging for information from the ajusshi with the folksy name—Chang-ho.
Ha Hui-ryeong glanced at the Old Man and asked.
"Where does this Chang-ho guy live? Which floor, which unit?"
"Why—planning to go over there and grill him about where they went?"
"I have to. She's my mom."
"Huh. So you do have some attachment to her. I was a bit shocked when you were badmouthing your own mother, calling her a whore and all."
"...."
When she just stared at him with a sullen expression, waiting for an answer, the Old Man reluctantly continued, as if he had no choice.
"602."
"Okay. Thanks, Old Man."
"Don't mention it. More importantly—are you planning on going right now?"
"Might as well. It's not like it's bedtime yet. Hey. You go on ahead."
Ha Hui-ryeong nudged Kim Ha-yoon with her foot.
Kim Ha-yoon frowned at the insensitive gesture.
"Was it really necessary to... kick me?"
"Yeah, whatever. Just get off."
"Ugh...."
Kim Ha-yoon pursed her lips like she was about to argue, but in the end, she let out a sigh of resignation.
Yeah, what can you do. That's just how she is. You'll have to deal with it.
"Fine. I'll go ahead and wait."
After that, Kim Ha-yoon, Jeong Ji-min, and the Old Man got off the elevator one after another, and I went back down with Ha Hui-ryeong.
*
"So that's why you came here."
His attitude was clearly reluctant.
The middle-aged man who greeted us through the crack in the door—Oh Chang-ho—made it abundantly clear we weren't welcome.
"Yeah. I heard your son and my mom got it on. That's why I'm here."
"'Got it on.' That's a rather unpleasant way to put it."
Ha Hui-ryeong's choice of words made his already crumpled expression sour even further.
"Speak properly, young lady. Your mother seduced my son."
"Isn't that the same thing?"
"It's not. There's a world of difference."
At his sharp tone, Ha Hui-ryeong cocked her hip out defiantly.
She clearly didn't appreciate him constantly deflecting.
'Man, this ajusshi really has a nasty look about him.'
Was it the aging from all the recent misfortune, or did he always look like that? If not, maybe his face was just swollen from getting beaten in that brawl today.
I stood there like a folding screen next to Ha Hui-ryeong, calmly offering my internal critique.
Strictly to myself, of course.
That's when Ha Hui-ryeong jabbed me sharply in the ribs.
"Hey, you say something too. This ajusshi isn't listening to reason."
"Me?"
I was taken aback.
Honestly, since I didn't know the exact circumstances, it wasn't really my place to weigh in on this.
For all I knew, my future mother-in-law really had seduced a younger man.
Especially with all that business involving my biological father... it wasn't entirely outside the realm of possibility.
"Look, couldn't we just go inside and talk things over calmly first?"
"Isn't it rather rude to show up unannounced at this hour and make such a request? And what reason do I have to trust you enough to let you in?"
His guard was extremely high.
His response was so dismissive it almost made me regret broaching the subject.
Hmm. If it keeps going like this, even my generous nature is going to turn sour.
"What's rude is some bald ajusshi making his guests stand outside for over ten minutes, don't you think? How about you?"
"I kind of agree. It's irritating. Does losing your hair make your personality ugly too?"
At Ha Hui-ryeong's grumbling, I nodded in agreement.
When the two of us started badmouthing him right to his face, Chang-ho let out a sigh of disbelief.
"Hah. You two certainly don't hold back, even with the person in question standing right here."
"Then just tell us. Tell me where your son and my mom went, and we'll leave."
"....."
Chang-ho glanced back and forth between us, then closed his eyes gently and fell silent.
But only for a moment. Something seemed to shift in him. He unlatched the door.
"Come in. I'll trust that you'll keep your word."
What was that about, all of a sudden?
Ha Hui-ryeong seemed just as thrown by the sudden shift. She met my eyes with a bewildered look, then shrugged lightly.
I followed behind her as she stepped inside first.
"Ah—just so you know, don't go in the bathroom. My daughter's in there right now."
That wasn't really information I needed.
We gave a vague acknowledgment and sat down on the sofa in the living room.
The interior of what looked like any ordinary family home came into view.
Contrary to his rigid personality, the inside was surprisingly tidy.
As I was taking it in, Chang-ho had already fetched some canned coffee from the kitchen and offered it to us.
"This sofa's nice. I really like how cushy it is."
Ha Hui-ryeong sipped her coffee, sinking back into the cushions and propping her crossed legs up like she owned the place.
I stared at her in disbelief for a moment before turning my gaze away.
By chance, I locked eyes with Chang-ho, who was wearing a similarly bitter expression.
"Am I supposed to take that as a compliment...?"
"Erm... I'd rather you just answered our questions."
At my words, he moistened his throat with the canned coffee and parted his lips.
"Right. Of course. First off, the two of them most likely went to Gangnam. I can't be certain, but that's what it said in the letter he left behind—so I suspect that's where they headed."
"Gangnam?"
Wasn't that pretty far?
Ha Hui-ryeong must have thought so too. Her eyebrow twitched.
"Why Gangnam, of all places?"
"Well, that's... don't either of you listen to the radio?"
"We'd need a radio to listen to one. Who even uses those things these days?"
"Right now the airwaves haven't cut out yet, so you might not feel the need, but who knows what'll happen later? Everyone else is snatching them up as soon as they find one. Preparing."
He had a point.
Maybe it wouldn't hurt for us to snag one ourselves, to prepare for the future.
"Anyway, that's what the radio said. Specifically, that there's a massive shelter taking in people near Gangnam Segok-dong. Supposedly with no conditions at all—you just show up. Honestly, I dismissed it as a baseless rumor, but it seems my son felt otherwise."
That story smelled fishy.
Wasn't it suspicious as hell?
Propaganda full of sweet-sounding, empty promises like that is usually bait to ensnare the gullible.
I even questioned whether a shelter capable of housing that many people existed in Gangnam in the first place.
The zombie outbreak had likely slashed the population, but still—this was a city of ten million. There had to be countless survivors left in Seoul.
And they were saying you could just walk in, no conditions attached?
What a load of crap.
"He actually believed that bullshit and went? I don't even know whether to believe this or not."
"If you don't want to believe it, don't. Truth is, I'm not so sure myself."
Ha Hui-ryeong shot him a suspicious glare, but Chang-ho just shrugged lightly—as if it was up to her whether she believed him or not.
Maybe sensing that pressing him further would only yield the same answers, she let out a short sigh.
"Haa... Fine. Thanks for telling me. Not that it was much help."
"Was there really any need to tack on that last part?"
"You're one to talk, mister. Why don't you pick one—formal or informal—and stick with it? It's kind of annoying, honestly."
"Then let's just drop the formalities and be done with it."
So refreshingly blunt.
"Now let me ask something. Have you two noticed the zombies outside acting a bit strange?"
"Of course we have. They were weirdly docile, especially toward the guys you were brawling with earlier. When we go out, they're all over us like crazy."
"Then this will be quick. This is just my speculation, mind you... but hear me out."
When I nodded, Chang-ho continued.
To sum up his story, it went something like this:
In his opinion, one of the Building Representative's goons—the one who's always grinning that creepy, greasy smile—is an ability user who can control zombies.
He gravely expounded that they were using that ability to skillfully corner the residents.
"Hmm. Do you have proof?"
"Is proof really necessary? In a world where corpses walk, isn't strong suspicion alone enough?"
For a bald ajusshi, he had surprisingly sharp insight.
Yeah. In an abnormal world, tangible evidence isn't what matters. The key is whether the pieces roughly fit together.
With the old order collapsed, fabrications and instigations could very well be closer to the truth.
"Ahh~ I get what you're saying. Let's say, for argument's sake, that those guys have that kind of ability. So what exactly are you trying to say?"
Ha Hui-ryeong's response was indifferent.
To that, Chang-ho calmly laid out his plan.
"A mass breakout. The way I see it, Hansarang Apartment has no future. Pretty soon, either we all go down together, or we all end up under that smug bastard's thumb. One or the other. So I've decided. Seeing how things are, let's gather people up and make a run for it."
"Well... I'm all for that. But what's the plan after?"
"That's the whole plan. If we succeed, it's every man for himself after that, right? I think that's better than playing lapdog to that guy here."
Wow. He was even more seat-of-his-pants than I imagined. The type who just goes for it and sees what happens.
Then again, that's probably why fists were thrown from the get-go.
I responded a beat later.
"I'll have to think about it. It's a bit much to decide right this second."
"Do that. But it'd be best for everyone if you decide quickly. The atmosphere around here hasn't exactly been great lately."
And that's mostly your fault.
I stared at him with a dumbfounded look before finally averting my gaze.
Our business here was done. It was about time we headed back.
Just as I was quietly getting up from my seat.
Bang!
"Dad, the toilet's messed up! It won't flush!"
The bathroom door flew open, and a clear, ringing voice echoed out.
A moment later, the woman—presumably Chang-ho's daughter—tilted her head when her eyes met ours.
"Who... are you?"
"They're guests. You know the new people who moved into the apartment recently? These two are them."
"Ah-ha."
She let out a small sound of understanding but still wore a face that seemed to ask, So why are they here?
But only for a moment. She flailed her arms and made a fuss at her father.
"More importantly, Dad! I said the toilet won't flush! Wh-what do we do? Is it clogged?"
"It's probably clogged. Did you try the plunger?"
"I did, and it didn't do anything!"
"Aigoo, what a pain."
Chang-ho trudged off to the bathroom in response to his clueless daughter's plea.
The fact that he was actually going to check on it meant he had a pretty strong stomach.
A moment later, he trudged back with a complicated expression and tried the faucet in the kitchen.
But.
"...This is really not good."
The water that had been gushing out suddenly cut off with a sputter.
That could only mean one thing.
The water supply. The system providing our water had broken down.
Goddammit. What we'd predicted was now coming to pass.
'Looks like things are about to get ugly again.'
A shortage of water—one of the absolute essentials for survival.
The survivors were already backed into a corner, and this would push them even closer to the edge. All the resentment they'd been bottling up was highly likely to explode all at once.
When people are pushed to the brink, they become incredibly selfish.
"Hui-ryeong, I think it's really about to hit the fan."
"Yeah. Let's keep an eye on things and bail when the time's right."