The Preparation of a Survivor
Yoon Seol-hee, standing 170 cm tall, lunged forward with a rubber knife. As the blade whipped toward his waist, Jun-ho parried her wrist with his left hand and pushed against the back of her hand to redirect the strike. Simultaneously, he wrapped his arm around her elbow, cutting off the path of her follow-up strike toward his neck. It was a move that combined defense and counterattack so seamlessly that if he had applied any real force, her elbow might have snapped. Yoon Seol-hee shifted her feet, adjusted her center of gravity, and feinted a drop of the knife, only to strike like lightning with her left hand, aiming for the back of Jun-ho’s neck. In an instant, Jun-ho tucked his chin and raised his shoulder to protect his throat, while wrapping his hands around hers and spinning out of the hold.
“Whoa…!”
The exchange drew gasps of admiration not only from Jun-hyeok, who was watching from right beside them, but also from the other students who had been glancing over from a distance.
“...You are incredible.”
Yoon Seol-hee, who rarely showed any change in expression, straightened her disheveled uniform with a look of undisguised awe. “You were just going easy on me. Would you like to go again?”
It wasn't just empty talk; Jun-ho knew she had been holding back her strength. Of course, the same went for him. If they had both gone all out, something would have ended up broken or fractured.
“No, that’s enough. But are you really from a search team? Even when I went through special forces training, I never saw a conscript with skills like yours, Mr. Lee Jun-ho.”
“She’s right. I was in the special forces too, and even the officers couldn't handle my brother. He’s my brother, but he’s a bit insane, right?” Jun-hyeok chimed in.
Yoon Seol-hee cast a new, curious look at Jun-hyeok. “Is that so? Your whole family must have served in intense units.”
“Oh, I’m nothing compared to you, Noona. I truly respect you.”
Having already known she was a former Special Forces NCO and having been ‘schooled’ by her just ten minutes prior, Jun-hyeok’s eyes sparkled with admiration. However, Yoon Seol-hee’s expression turned instantly cold.
“Please call me Manager Yoon Seol-hee. And I am twenty-eight years old.”
“Ah…”
It was clear to anyone that she had been stung by the word ‘Noona’.
“Anyway, Mr. Lee Jun-ho. I was a bit pushy with my request today, but thank you again for accepting.”
“Not at all. I’m the one who should thank you for the great opportunity. But Manager, may I ask you one thing?”
“Yes.”
“Do you go anywhere else besides here? I mean, do you practice any other sports… besides Krav Maga?”
At Jun-ho’s question, Yoon Seol-hee’s expression shifted slightly. “I do, but why do you ask?”
“Oh, I have a lot of interest in athletics. I’m also interested in the military side of things, which is why I’m learning Krav Maga. Anyway, I’ve been curious about PMCs lately, and I was wondering if you knew of any academies.”
“You mean a tactical school. You aren't actually planning to enter that industry, are you? Is it just a hobby?”
“Rather than a hobby, I just want to learn various things. I even volunteered for the search team during my training camp on purpose.”
That was a lie. He had known nothing, and when the search team officer asked who had martial arts certifications, he had raised his hand in confusion and been drafted. But Yoon Seol-hee, having no way of knowing that, nodded.
“I see. If you want to learn properly, I can introduce you to one. There’s a school run by someone who went through UDT and SEAL training multiple times.”
“I see. I would really appreciate an introduction.”
“Yes. I’ll make the call.”
“Thank you so much.”
Jun-ho bowed politely. In truth, this was the very reason he had accepted her sparring request. As someone who had been discharged from the Special Forces for just over two years, she would still have her connections to the special operations community. Among Kang Baek-ho’s bodyguards and attendants, Park Cheol-woo and Yoon Seol-hee were the only ones he had any familiarity with, and it was easier to ask Yoon Seol-hee, who was closer to his age, than the intimidating Park Cheol-woo.
“Are you not interested in anything else?”
“Anything else, you mean…?”
“Have you heard of Parkour?”
“Of course. Do you do Parkour as well?” Jun-ho’s face lit up.
Parkour—the free-running discipline of efficiently utilizing and overcoming various obstacles and environments in an urban setting. There was no need to explain how effective a discipline that prioritized pure efficiency, speed, and agility would be in an apocalypse.
“Yes. I’ve been learning it as a hobby for about half a year. If you’re interested, I can introduce you to that as well.”
“Please do.”
“It’s no trouble at all. I’ll contact you tomorrow.”
Jun-ho was genuinely grateful for Yoon Seol-hee, who looked cold on the outside but turned out to have a refreshingly straightforward personality.
“Thank you. It’s hard to just let this pass without doing anything in return, so is there anything I…”
“No. It’s fine.”
“No, that wouldn't be right.”
Yoon Seol-hee, who had been watching him with a somewhat strange look, opened her mouth.
“Actually, I have a favorable opinion of you, Mr. Lee Jun-ho.”
“...Excuse me?”
For a moment, Jun-ho blinked, wondering if he had misheard. Yoon Seol-hee tilted her head once, and then, as if she had suddenly realized something, her face turned bright red.
“Ah, no, not that kind of favorable opinion. It’s just… you’re close with our CEO, Kang Baek-ho… and the CEO likes you too, so, yes, that’s what I meant. There aren't many acquaintances the CEO personally likes. So, as an employee serving right by his side…”
“Ah, I understand what you mean.”
Jun-ho calmed down the rambling Yoon Seol-hee. “Then I just need to keep getting along well with Baek-ho Hyung-nim, right?”
“Yes, yes. That’s exactly it. If you just stay as you are with our CEO, I would be grateful.”
Jun-ho nodded, suppressing a laugh as he watched Yoon Seol-hee fan herself with her hand, something she rarely did, clearly flustered.
“Yes, I will do as you say, Manager. Then…”
Pat-pat!
Just then, a dark figure came running over in a frantic manner and stood beside them.
“Jun-ho Hyung-nim! That was truly incredible! You’re the best!”
It was Choi Hyun-woo.
“Wow, I couldn't even see your hands and feet moving. Hyung-nim, it’s not just your body that’s improved from working out. As expected of you…”
Choi Hyun-woo, who couldn't hide his excitement as he praised (?) Jun-ho, suddenly shifted his gaze to Yoon Seol-hee, who had returned to her usual cold expression.
“Hup…!”
Choi Hyun-woo’s eyes widened in an instant, and he covered his mouth with one hand, stepping back toward Jun-hyeok. Yoon Seol-hee, not even pretending to notice him, gave a slight nod to Jun-ho.
“Then, Mr. Lee Jun-ho, I will contact you tomorrow.”
“Yes, Manager. Have a safe trip.”
After exchanging a polite farewell with Jun-ho, Yoon Seol-hee walked past them with an unwavering stride. Choi Hyun-woo, still covering his mouth as he watched her sturdy back, muttered under his breath.
“Daebak… She’s a goddess…”
“Ah, this guy falls in love too easily again.”
“Hey, hey, who is that goddess Noona?”
Jun-hyeok, looking at his best friend with a pathetic expression, clicked his tongue.
“She’s the attendant to Kang Baek-ho Hyung-nim I told you about before. Former Special Forces. She’s incredibly strong. Even I got taken out in one hit.”
“You saw how you were rolling around like trash earlier. But wow, why is she so pretty? She’s a knockout. Her figure is absolute perfection.”
“Stop talking nonsense and keep taking the class, man.”
While Choi Hyun-woo and Jun-hyeok bickered, Jun-ho said goodbye to the Krav Maga instructor. Since it was a 10-session course, there were five sessions left, and the instructor promised to pass on all the techniques he knew. He also learned about the tactical school Yoon Seol-hee had mentioned. The instructor happened to be acquainted with the instructors there as well.
“Because of the law, we train with rubber knives or BB guns, but it’s the highest level in the country. You’ll be able to learn the basics of CQB, CQC, and even urban warfare. My peer used to be an instructor there, so I’ll put in a good word for you.”
“Thank you, Instructor.”
“Haha. Don't mention it. By the way, I didn't know you were acquainted with Seol-hee.”
“I have a connection with the person Manager Yoon Seol-hee guards.”
“Ah, that person from the Kangho Group? I heard he’s good-natured and friendly, unlike a typical chaebol. Anyway, it’s fascinating.”
“Yes, I was a bit surprised earlier too. I had no idea Manager Yoon Seol-hee attended this place.”
“No, that’s not what I find fascinating…”
The instructor continued with a mischievous look. “It’s the first time I’ve seen Seol-hee talk so much and be so friendly to a man her age.”
“Excuse me…?”
“Her nickname back in active duty was ‘Yoon Seol-nyeo’ (The Ice Queen). A junior once called her a ‘fairy’ (Seon-nyeo) and got absolutely crushed for it. Anyway, it’s the first time I’ve seen this. It’s quite fascinating. The Ice Queen even turned red. Hehe.”
* * *
The next day, as promised, Jun-ho received the contact information and details for the tactical school and the parkour academy from Yoon Seol-hee. Jun-ho visited them immediately, and perhaps thanks to her introduction, both places were extremely kind and, above all, highly systematic and professional. Especially the tactical school; they didn't use real firearms, but the level of training far exceeded what Jun-ho had vaguely imagined.
The instructor at the tactical school was so impressed by Jun-ho’s desire to go to the United States for a short-term intensive course at a private academy if the opportunity arose that he offered to connect him to an academy in Nevada where he knew an instructor. Connections beget connections; in such a small industry, the network even crossed national borders.
Jun-ho was greatly satisfied that he had been able to easily execute his somewhat vague plans by forming a connection with Kang Baek-ho, getting to know Yoon Seol-hee, and using her as a bridge. Furthermore, he thought he should be more cautious in dealing with people he had known or met before his regression. There was a high probability they would follow the same fate after the apocalypse broke out, but he didn't want them to deviate because of any influence he might have had.
Anyway, Jun-ho and Jun-hyeok registered for the tactical school and parkour, allowing them to learn a higher level of survival and combat techniques. In the meantime, time flowed by. The shelter finished its design and entered full-scale construction, and the brothers were able to obtain their hunting licenses and firearm possession permits without much difficulty.
Thus, on a day in May when the weather was starting to get warm, Jun-ho walked into a gun shop to purchase firearms with confidence. And the models he would buy were already decided.
“I’d like to see the ones with the largest air tanks and the simplest structures.”
In an apocalypse, an air rifle that was easy to replicate and could fire multiple rounds when its power was increased was the best. Of course, submachine guns or semi-automatic rifles that used silencers and subsonic ammunition were also essential, but for ambushes where one had to take out zombies within 100 meters while concealed, a modified high-power air rifle was far more efficient. In the current situation where it was uncertain whether he could actually acquire submachine guns or semi-automatic rifles, choosing an air rifle first was the obvious choice.
Above all, air rifles were much quieter, and he didn't have to worry about ‘ammunition supply’. If he fired a tungsten bullet produced in the shelter’s workshop, rather than a standard lead pellet, from an air rifle with its power boosted to over 100J (Joule), he could reliably take down zombies within 100 meters. If he prepared a large quantity of tungsten, ammunition would effectively be a non-issue.
However, the problem with air rifles was that models with small air tanks would run out of air after firing just over 10 rounds, causing the power to drop sharply. Therefore, he had to buy models with large air tanks from the start and then modify them after replication so they could fire more than 20 rounds.
“Air rifles? People usually look for shotguns these days…”
“No. I want air rifles. Please show me the models with the largest calibers and the largest air tanks. If I like them, I’ll buy them all. I’m thinking of buying about three today.”
“Oh my, you should have said so sooner.”
The gun shop owner, whose face instantly lit up, opened the display case with a key and began to take out the air rifles.