Role Playing Life (1)
For a while, I practiced self-restraint. But honestly, having sex once a day doesn't really feel like much of a sacrifice. The word "restraint" feels like an overstatement. It’s almost embarrassing. Anyway, I’ve found my footing again. I’m not being swept away by pleasure; I’m reconfirming my priorities.
First is survival. That remains unchanged. Second is the maintenance of my survival tools. I can’t afford to get lazy. Maintenance is a constant requirement. Third is the acquisition of additional survival essentials. And really, the most important of those would have to be a doctor. Or at least someone with equivalent knowledge. I’m still studying medicine, but medicine isn't something you can master just from books. Eventually, you need experience and practical application. What I’m learning is just the basics—undergraduate level, at best. But even if I did find a doctor, there’s the issue of trust. It’s not easy to just hand your life over to someone else, is it?
Anyway, I’m back to my routine. I decided to drop by Elder Choi’s place. I’d been checking on them occasionally with the drone at night, but it was hard to see anything clearly. You can’t confirm who’s inside the house at night. So, I packed some supplies and headed out in the truck. It was 2:40 PM—a bit late for lunch.
When I arrived and opened the gate, I stopped in my tracks, startled. In the yard, a man was chopping firewood with an axe. He looked up, saw me entering, and slowly straightened his posture, though he kept the axe in his hand.
"Ah! It’s alright! He’s someone I know!" Elder Choi called out, and the man lowered his guard. But in that brief moment, I felt a slight chill from him. If there’s such a thing as killing intent, that’s what it felt like. The kind of gaze that makes your body instinctively shrink back.
"Come in! Come in! Ah! Why are you only just getting here?"
"Oh, don't even ask. I had to go pretty far. Ah, here, take this. I managed to scrounge some things up."
"What's with you, always bringing things like this?" As Elder Choi said that, Icheon-ddaek came out from inside and spoke in a somewhat flustered tone.
"Oh my. Every time you come, you bring all this? Huh? Oh, look at me! Have you eaten? I’ll set the table, eat something."
"No, it’s fine. I ate on the way. But…."
I glanced toward the man in the yard, and Elder Choi noticed.
"Hey! Arjun! Come here. Come and introduce yourselves."
The man called Arjun set down his axe and strode over.
"Grandpa. I am not Arjun. I am Arjun."
"Right. Arjun. This is Arjun. And… what about this young man here? You were from the Hwang family, right?"
"Yes. Hwang Jeonghyeon."
"Right, right. That’s it. Anyway, introduce yourselves."
"Nice to meet you. I am Arjun Gurung. I came from Nepal."
"I’m Hwang Jeonghyeon. Wait, Nepaal? Ah, Nepal? The Himalayas?"
"Himalayas. Correct."
He seemed like a very blunt person, but surprisingly, he wasn't. Just... normal? But what was that look earlier? He didn't look like an ordinary person.
"Our Arjun here came about a fortnight ago. He said he worked at that industrial complex over there. But he’s got great strength. He works hard, too. He’s a real blessing. A total blessing."
Elder Choi seems to really like this guy. Well, I suppose it’s natural to be happy when a sturdy, almost giant of a man shows up in a place filled only with the elderly. Even though I brought them a generator, it’s not a place where everything can be solved by that alone. They still need firewood for the ondol furnace. Plus, they’ll have to start preparing for winter soon. They’ll need a massive amount of firewood, and that’s not easy for a group of old people to handle on their own. When I visited last time, they’d hinted at that, and I’d been agonizing over how to avoid getting roped into it naturally. Now, it seems I don’t have to worry about that.
"Is that so? Oh, that’s a relief. I was worried since it was just the grandfather and grandmother here. I feel a lot better now that there’s someone reliable around. But, the industrial complex? That’s a bit far. How did you get all the way here? Weren't there zombies on the way?"
"Zombies. There were. Attacking people. Many. I killed them all."
"Oh my. He’s a real powerhouse. You should have seen it. He was like a nimble tiger!? He was swinging that axe like this and that…."
"Wait? Zombies came all the way here? Are you okay?"
"No, no. It was... what was it? We went out to the town to get some oil. That’s where we met them."
"Ah, oil. Goodness. That must have been dangerous. But… you caught the zombies by yourself?"
"Of course! He was flying around like a bird!? What was it... Arjun used to be a mercenary or something."
"A mercenary? Ah, Gurkha? A Gurkha mercenary?"
When I said that, Arjun’s expression turned incredibly serious and proud as he nodded.
"Correct. Gurkha. Strong warrior."
Only then did I understand that look from earlier. And his sturdy build, and the way he held the axe.
"Wow. You were an incredible person. Being a Gurkha mercenary is a huge deal, isn't it? How did you end up in Korea?"
"I needed money. A lot."
Ah. So that’s it. Well, I don’t know how much Gurkha mercenaries get paid, but working in Korea for a salary would definitely earn a lot. It’s not for nothing that foreign workers come to Korea.
"I see. Anyway, nice to meet you. Arjun, is there anything you need? If there’s something you want, just tell me. I’ll try to find it for you while I’m out and about."
"What I want. None. Ah!"
"There’s no way you have nothing. Tell me."
"Kukri."
"Kukri? Ah! That knife? The curved one?"
"Correct. Kukri. Gurkha soul."
Oh, this is kind of cool. A Gurkha mercenary in a foreign land, and the first thing he asks for is his knife.
"But unfortunately, there are almost no kukris in Korea. We have machetes or jungle knives, but..."
"Not machete. Kukri. Gurkha soul. If none, too bad. Cannot help."
"I understand. I’ll look for one. But don’t get your hopes up too high."
"Understood. Thank you."
With that, Arjun went back to chopping wood. The sight of him picking up the axe and swinging it with power. The wood splitting easily. Wow. This is fascinating. How did a Gurkha mercenary end up in a rural village like this?
"By any chance, were there no other colleagues? Like, coworkers from your job?"
Arjun placed the next log down and shook his head with a bitter expression.
"None. All dead. Zombies. Changed."
"Then, do you have any abnormalities in your body? Any wounds?"
"Abnormalities. None. Wounds. None. Body. Strong."
I’d love to measure their spore concentration. But that would be difficult. It would look suspicious. Where would I get something like that out of the blue? Besides, I could have fooled the old people, but not Arjun. If he passed the selection for the Gurkha mercenaries, he must be quite intelligent. I know it’s incredibly hard to get into that in Nepal.
"I understand. Still, it’s better to wear a mask."
"It is fine. Gurkha. Strong soul. Does not get sick."
Ugh. What is with that talk? It’s driving me crazy. That stubbornness is a set with Elder Choi. Birds of a feather. Well, it doesn't matter if they turn into zombies. Even if everyone here turns, I can just bring the lymph nodes. Still, it’s a waste. He’s a Gurkha mercenary. His combat ability alone would be a huge asset. Even if those two gangsters who turned into zombies came back with sashimi knives, they wouldn't be able to beat him. Just in case, it’s better to build a rapport with him. It would be better if I’m going to be staying around here anyway.
"Arjun. How old are you?"
"I. 29 years old."
"Is that so? I’m 30. Can I call you comfortably?"
"Good. I know Korea a little. Jang-yu-yu-seo (the order of seniority). I know that word."
"Who taught you that?"
"The boss."
"Not the 'President'?"
"President. Correct. But he is a bastard. In front, 'President'. Among ourselves, 'bastard'."
I think I have a rough idea of what kind of company it was. It must have been a shitty family-run business. They probably treated him harshly because he was a foreign laborer.
"I see. Anyway, nice to meet you. I’ll try my best to find that kukri. You’re going to keep staying here, right?"
"Yes! We decided that, so don't you worry!" Elder Choi chimed in, and I nodded. Right. Staying here would be mutually beneficial. Those old people might work him like a servant, but not having to worry about food is a great thing. At the very least, I won't have to worry about starving here. There’s a whole pile of harvested rice, plus the greenhouses and vegetable patches.
"Elder, is there anything you need? Besides alcohol and cigarettes."
"Something I need? There’s a hell of a lot!"
"Tell me. I’ll get it next time I come."
"What was it... I need some netting. Chicken coop netting. It’s green and comes in rolls..."
"Ah... I think I know what you mean. Are you planning to raise chickens?"
"Right! Shouldn't people eat meat, too? It’s hard to raise cows or pigs, so we should at least raise chickens. We’ve got beans overflowing, anyway."
Not bad. Chickens. Chickens are precious. You get meat, and you get eggs. They’ll need feed, but I’m sure I’ll find plenty of that if I look around. Even without feed, in a rural area like this, they can raise them easily.
"I understand. I’ll try to find some wire mesh."
"I feel like I’m only asking for things without giving anything in return. I’m sorry."
"What is there to be sorry about? Just share some meat with me when you raise the chickens."
"Of course! Naturally! Ah! And take some rice when you leave! Don't go back empty-handed every time!"
"Yes. I understand."
I answered that way and lingered a bit longer, poking around here and there. It’s strange. When I’m alone, I become timid and endlessly cynical. But when I come here, I feel a bit more human. Is it because I’m acting? I thought that maybe this isn't acting. I don’t know myself that well, after all. Could this be the life I’d been hoping for? Being helpful to someone and living in harmony? But there are too many things in the way for that. Playing this role for a little while isn't hard, but if someone told me to settle down and live here, I wouldn't be able to because of the anxiety. Besides, I’ve prepared so much, there’s no reason to live here. So, this is just for fun. Right. Entertainment. That kind of feeling? Entertainment where I hide my sinister intentions in a superior position and enjoy it with a light heart. That’s exactly it. That’s probably why I can reveal it so openly.