The Hierarchy
Ttukseom Recreation Area, Gwangjin District. Fishing rods stretched leisurely out over the Han River as if nothing in the world were wrong.
Under ordinary circumstances, a question would have come to mind.
Was fishing even allowed at Ttukseom, a place people passed through constantly?
But in a zombie world, it was allowed. No one was left to stop anyone, after all.
More than twenty rods were cast into the river now, and a man in military fatigues let out a sigh.
"Fish aren't biting anymore. Did we catch too many?"
The man, his unkempt hair tied back with a string, sighed again.
"So we're hitting the stockpiles again today?"
"With forty of us, what did you expect? The military rations are gone too. One way or another, we're in trouble."
Behind him, a man built like a bear approached with a K2 rifle slung across his back.
"So we really have to do it? Dragged into the reserves only to get stuck fighting zombies — what a goddamn life."
"Hey, Kim Myeong-jin. We're still better off than most. Other people are fighting zombies bare-handed."
"True. We've got these."
The long-haired man pulled out a submachine gun as he spoke.
"Yongsan got overrun — no contact from them. So we fight with whatever ammo we've got left."
"Wiping out the zombies was fine. Problem is, there's no resupply."
Kim Myeong-jin checked his casings and sighed.
In a world where cold weapons were the best most people could hope for, these men carried something far more powerful. That was how they had managed to hold out — up to a point.
The problem was simple. In a game, ammunition might litter the ground wherever you looked. This was reality, and the supply was finite. Even the food they had been issued for combat operations was running dry.
"Myeong-jin. Isn't there a unit over in Gangnam and Seocho?"
"I heard there are celebrities over there too. Probably living easy. Man, I'm jealous. I want a bunch of women to play with myself."
"If law and order are still holding, you idiot, you wouldn't get to do whatever you want. You think an environment like this — where you can just take women as you please — comes easy?"
They looked out across the bridge. Cars lay tangled in a chaotic maze, and the entrance was completely sealed off with barricades.
"The zombies never end either. No idea where they keep coming from. Seong-ho. I think we need to make a decision. The men are getting restless. A handful of women isn't enough."
"We could go take more — this place is already split up anyway — but it's not that simple. We can't afford to waste the bullets."
The man called Seong-ho scratched at his rough beard, lost in thought.
Then a scream tore through the air near the old police station grounds at Ttukseom.
"Aaaah! Help me!"
"What the hell?"
They spun toward the sound with guns raised on pure reflex — then lowered them just as quickly. A comrade in a tattered uniform was dragging a woman toward them.
"Jong-woo. Who's that woman?"
"She was just hanging around the sentry zone."
"Is she from the university side? She looks young."
"Yes, sir."
"Then why bring her here?"
At that, the lanky private called Jong-woo's face twisted ugly.
"I'm losing my mind! Our side's got nothing but old women! Over there they've got plenty of young ones!"
"Look at this bastard. Completely out of his mind with lust."
Seong-ho didn't get angry, though. The shortage of women and the men's discontent ran deep enough that he understood.
"Min-jong's squad has been getting out of hand lately. We need to redirect that frustration outward."
Then the big man, Myeong-jin, clamped a heavy hand on Seong-ho's shoulder.
"Honestly, we've done enough. We cleared the zombies around here. Dozens of our men died holding this place. We cooperated with the other settlements. And yet we're the only ones stuck living by that boat and the police station."
"That was the order."
"Other units got apartments, universities, the Children's Grand Park — safe places to live. We're the only ones stuck out here. It's our turn to get comfortable. The government isn't answering, and they got pushed back by the zombies anyway."
They pressed Seong-ho not to keep grinding it out in this place any longer.
"Let me be clear. They have guns too."
"We've got more firepower and you know it. They've got maybe ten people, and they burn ammo clearing zombies just like we do. We win, no question. I can't take this anymore."
"Haa. Looks like I need to call the men together."
Having made a critical decision, Seong-ho went looking for the ranking officer, Oh Min-wook.
"Lieutenant Oh. Honestly, the men's complaints are about to blow."
"Why all of a sudden?"
"Ever since they saw the guys at the university rolling around with girls, they've been boiling. The women we have are just whatever we managed to grab, and even those aren't enough."
It was a thoroughly primitive reason. Sexual hunger and a sense of being left out were tearing through the unit.
"Government support is cut off. The whole world's gone to hell with zombies. How long are we supposed to keep living like this? We need to make a call."
"Why the hell are we the ones always fighting on the front line? They do whatever they want among themselves. Lieutenant — those bastards freeload off us and throw their weight around! They don't even rotate shifts!"
The grievances of the rank and file swept through the entire unit with startling speed.
Lieutenant Oh stared at the bloodstained uniform of their dead battalion commander.
"I suppose there's nothing left to hold us back. We're effectively cut off."
"That's what I wanted to hear! Hey! Combat prep! We hit the apartments first, then push through to the university!"
At last, the soldiers stationed at Ttukseom began to move as one.
Well, accidents involving gunfire were inevitable. All I could do was flee on the electric bike. Not being able to gather more information was a shame, but there was no time for that on this end.
With the iron door taking the final frantic bodies of the zombies hurling themselves against it, I mounted the electric bike and tore away at speed.
One gunshot, and the whole city was off to the races.
They tracked me by the sound of the drone?
Proof that people were still alive near Junggok-dong. Whether they were scouts or just lucky strays, I couldn't say. What was certain was that remnants of a military unit still existed — and that sending the drone out on recon carried a real risk of pursuit. I would have to factor that into every plan going forward.
A trap came to mind almost at once. Something that could screw over pursuers and, with any luck, stop a raid cold.
I rode hard all the way to Lee Soyeon's house.
I was laying the traps from the cart around the perimeter as a precaution when I heard footsteps upstairs. Naturally I assumed it was Lee Soyeon — which meant she was heading for the bathroom.
A moment later, the diesel generator's noise kicked up. Good. She was using it properly.
The bathroom… a beauty like Lee Soyeon relieving herself right in front of me…
She would be mortified. A man younger than her watching her in such a shameful, private act.
…I want that.
Yes. Doing whatever I pleased was the whole advantage of this world. I wanted to watch Lee Soyeon look embarrassed and ashamed, and enjoy every second of it.
It was a sadistic urge, a rotten thing that gave no thought to her feelings — but I had already decided to live as a villain. That made it meaningless.
What to do? Was the door locked? Should I go up and open it? I wanted to see her startled, flustered face.
Just imagining it got me hard again.
This isn't the time. Right now I need to—
But maybe I had poured too much into the fantasy. Lee Soyeon's footsteps faded back inside.
"Ah…"
Wasted on daydreams for nothing. Frustrated, I went straight upstairs and opened the door.
There she was — Lee Soyeon, just about to cross into the living room.
A sleeveless top over pure white pants. That pure, beautiful face turned toward me.
"You're… back?"
Lee Soyeon looked flustered at the sight of me. As if it were somehow surprising — though of course it wasn't.
Like Seol-hwa, her body was probably already reacting. I had built up so much expectation in her, and she was fulfilling it so faithfully.
"Nice outfit. You look clean."
"…Th-thanks?"
"Show me what underwear you're wearing."
Naturally, I gave the order to what was mine. There was a world of difference between stripping someone yourself and making them strip for you.
Lee Soyeon stood there awkwardly for a moment, then moved her hands.
The sleeveless top slid up over the curve of her full chest, and a passionate red bra came into view.
"You had underwear like that? Well — I did see it the last time I dressed you."
"The pants too?"
"…Obviously. Take them off."
Like an idol shooting a lingerie commercial, she had her pants halfway down her thighs, putting the underwear on full display.
The shame on her face was unmistakable. Good. That expression was exactly what I wanted.
I may have missed the bathroom, but there was no way I was giving up a flavor like this.
I photographed her and rolled video.
"Nice. Very nice. Tell me who your master is. Tell me that the actress Lee Soyeon is submitting to a kid young enough to be half her age."
"…"
"Soyeon. Not answering?"
Suddenly she had nothing to say? Well now…
I go easy on her and she starts resisting? Looks like she needed another thorough lesson today.
Lee Soyeon spoke in a small voice.
"You're going to do whatever you want anyway… and I listen to you, don't I? Just… don't talk down to me so much."
So being ordered around by someone younger made her uncomfortable… Look at her. Still not getting it.
With the full intention of punishing her, I stripped off my own clothes.
Then I aimed what stood rigid and ready straight at Lee Soyeon.
"Don't talk down to you. You're listening so well? While defying me? Looks like you need a proper education. Soyeon, you're mine. My property."
"I know. I know, but… still…"
Moody from her cycle, maybe. Either way, she needed a clear lesson.
Since I needed a shower anyway, I went straight to the bathroom, picked up the camping showerhead, and gave the order.
"On your knees."
"…"
Lee Soyeon flinched, then carefully knelt on the bathroom floor.
I hadn't made her undress. Visually, this was better.
All of it needed to be on the phone.
The water streamed down over my body and fell onto her.
"Lick it. And swallow everything."
I gave the command. She reached for me without a word — and I caught her hand and ordered her again.
"Answer your master."
"Please don't be angry. That wasn't what I meant. I just wanted you to be a little gentler. I also…"
I stopped listening and shoved myself into Lee Soyeon's mouth.
"Mmmpf!"
Feeling the warm breath filling her mouth, I rolled my hips.
"I understand what you're saying, noona. But here's the thing… I'm a greedy, bad man. Mutual affection is fine. But let's make one thing crystal clear — I'm the master here!"
"Mmph! Hnngh!"
I knew. I knew exactly what Lee Soyeon was trying to say, and that I didn't need to be this forceful.
But then it wouldn't be any fun. She would obey me unconditionally, do everything I wanted, and only then would affection grow in her eyes.
She had the direction wrong. Noona.
She does everything I want first — then it becomes affection, then it becomes sex between lovers. Respect? Her own thoughts? All of that can go to hell. I come first.
"This is the kind of man I am. You've already experienced it. You change. You adapt to me, submit to me completely, and fit yourself around me! And what? Don't talk down to you? Is that something you're allowed to say? How dare you?"
The speed of my hips in that moment was something even I couldn't control.
The look on Soyeon's face as I berated her, as she suffered through it — it drove me out of my mind.
"Listen carefully. I treat you with affection too. You were the first woman in this place, and you followed me. I'll give you love. But our positions stay clear. You look only at me. You serve only me! That's not talking down to you — that is affection. You're going to understand that for certain this time!"
"Ghk! Hah—! Nngh… mmph! Haa… nngh!"
My cock roughly violated the depths of Lee Soyeon's mouth as I looked her in the face.
"Did you understand?"
"Mm… mmph! Mmph!"
Soyeon nodded frantically.
With the cool stream of water still running, I set my foot against her lower belly — already soaked through — and felt something that had nothing to do with the water. Something anyone could see was pure arousal.
"You've been waiting so eagerly. Time to make sure you're satisfied."
And then I drove myself all the way into Lee Soyeon's throat.