The Strategic Value of Survival

Where there are survivors, there are resources. — Major Kang Doyun

Seosomun Shrine History Museum. These were the people who fled from City Hall Station. And here, 300 survivors had managed to stay alive. I quietly killed the motorcycle engine and pulled off my helmet.

"Major!"

My subordinates on guard duty spotted me and immediately snapped to attention. I waved a hand dismissively to acknowledge the salute, then ran a hand through my sweat-drenched hair. My mind was a mess. We were currently using the brick buildings of the Seosomun Shrine History Museum as our base. Our numbers had dwindled to 300, but… we still maintained our combat effectiveness. The vast majority of those 300 were soldiers. Soldiers who had been pushed back and forced to flee by the infected, and those who had survived the City Hall civil war. City Hall was a nightmarish memory, but in the end, we had survived, even if it was like this.

The Seosomun Shrine History Museum was a strategically excellent location. There was an electric vehicle charging station next to the museum, which allowed us to maintain some of our equipment. The brick walls were sturdy, a structure that the infected couldn't easily scale. The parking lot had limited access points, making it easy to defend, and if we secured the perimeter, we could block the infected entirely. The Gyeongui-Jungang ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Line ran right next to us, so moving along the railway was an option, and the surrounding area was dense with shops and buildings, allowing us to secure necessary supplies through 'looting' if push came to shove.

The civil war at City Hall Station. Back then, we had no choices. Fight or die. Those were the only two options. The civil war was fierce. We tried to hold City Hall Station until the very end, but the cornered enemy chose the ultimate final resort. They blew up the barricades that had been keeping the external infected at bay. In that instant, City Hall Station turned into hell. A massive number of infected surged over the destroyed barricades all at once.

City Hall Station became a scene of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠total chaos in a heartbeat. We could no longer fight. It had become a battlefield where you couldn't even distinguish who was an enemy and who was infected. We had to choose a thorough retreat. Fortunately, we had 'room to escape.' Specifically, the open space in front of Exit 5 of City Hall Station. Military vehicles were waiting there in preparation for emergencies. At the time, most of the infected were swarming toward Exit 4. That meant we had a chance to slip out through Exit 5.

"Everyone, move to the military vehicles! Board quickly!"

We escaped, literally trampling over the infected as we went. Behind us, those who couldn't escape were screaming as they were swarmed by the infected, but we didn't have the luxury of looking back. We drove the military vehicles, pushing through the infected to move forward. We lost many of our unit members during the battle near Seoul Station, but even so, we eventually managed to reach this place. And the place we reached at the end of it all was the 'Seosomun Shrine History Museum.' Here, we reorganized our remaining military strength and established a new base. That was how we secured a base separate from the infected.

And—today. While passing Aeogae Station, I definitely saw 'survivors.' Their armament… looking at the cold steel weapons, were they civilian survivors? Should I make contact with them, or should I be wary? I organized my thoughts as I entered the parking lot, which was blocked off by barricades.

"We need to hold a meeting."

— Lee Sieun

We pondered over the map for a long time. Lee Junhyeok had military knowledge, and I had knowledge of the geography of 'Seoul' that I had gained while writing my novel and exploring the city myself. However, Jang Yeeun was a layman in these matters, so she was just listening quietly while sipping water. I rested my chin on one hand and placed my finger on the map.

"The Gyeongui-Jungang Line connected upward from Seoul Station… here."

I moved my hand along the Gyeongui-Jungang Line that led from Seoul Station to City Hall Station. "If the people who escaped from City Hall Station fled… there are only two places they would have run to."

Lee Junhyeok crossed his arms and nodded. "Where?"

I pointed to Deoksugung Palace, located right behind City Hall Station on the map. "The first is Deoksugung."

"Deoksugung? It's spacious, but it's not a structure that's advantageous for defense."

I nodded. "That's true. But if it's a place to 'immediately' hide when fleeing from City Hall Station, Deoksugung is the most suitable."

"…"

"Besides, Deoksugung is a historical site, so there are more 'low buildings' and 'walls' than modern facilities. It's highly likely that people chased by the infected desperately climbed the walls to escape."

"Certainly…"

I moved my finger on the map again. "And the second place is here."

I pointed to 'Seosomun History Park,' which required a bit of travel from City Hall Station but was located along the main road. "Seosomun History Park."

"This place… it's quite a distance away, isn't it?"

I nodded and explained. "Right. So you could say the possibility is low. But what if they didn't move just for 'survival,' but 'to establish a base and stay'?"

"Establish a base and stay, huh…"

"Seosomun History Park is wide, and there are dense buildings nearby, so it's possible ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to build a defensive line." I pointed to the structures near Seosomun History Park. "The museum, the parking lot, the electric vehicle charging station, and the Gyeongui-Jungang Line connected to it. Every element makes it a good place for survivors to engage in 'long-term survival.'"

Lee Junhyeok looked at the map once more. "…If what you say is true, it means there's a high possibility that the people who fled from City Hall Station hid in Deoksugung, and then moved to Seosomun History Park for survival?"

"That's the most natural flow."

Lee Junhyeok uncrossed his arms and tapped Seosomun History Park with his finger. "If that's the case… there's a high possibility that there are people remaining at Seosomun History Park."

I took a breath. "And there's a high probability that they are related to the motorcycle we encountered."

Jang Yeeun, who had been listening quietly, put down her cup and said, "So… you're saying another group similar to us might be over there at 'Seosomun History Park'?"

I sighed and slowly looked at the map. Clearly, the flow we expected was correct. It was highly likely that the people who escaped from City Hall Station had settled in Seosomun History Park. But… something was strange. I pointed back and forth between Seoul Station and Seosomun History Park.

"…There's one strange thing."

"What ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is it?"

"Seosomun History Park is located right above Seoul Station. But Seoul Station was the worst infected zone, occupied by the infected."

"So?"

"But…" I cleared my head for a moment. "Listening to the stories of the people who fled from City Hall Station last time, they actually said there weren't many infected at Seoul Station."

Lee Junhyeok frowned. "…Even thinking about it now, that doesn't make sense."

"Right."

Tap, tap. I tapped the desk lightly. "Seoul Station was the worst infected zone, but the infected just disappeared somewhere?"

"…"

"Then, couldn't it be that the infected were lured away on purpose?"

At that moment—

"…Wait a minute."

Suddenly, Jang Yeeun spoke up. We looked at her simultaneously. Jang Yeeun seemed to have realized something and put down her cup.

"The motorcycle."

"The motorcycle?"

"The infected, didn't it seem like they were extremely sensitive to sound?"

I remembered it in an instant. The roar of the motorcycle. And the infected chasing after it like crazy. "…If so."

A realization struck my head like lightning.

"There were originally many infected near Seoul Station, but after settling in Seosomun History Park, the infected at Seoul Station must have been too threatening."

Lee Junhyeok also listened to me and rested his chin on his hand. "So…"

Then, Jang Yeeun beat me to it. "What if they used a motorcycle or something to lure the infected?"

"…"

If so, the puzzle fits together.

"So it's possible that there aren't many infected at Seoul Station."

"Because they would have lured the infected 'somewhere else.'"

Lee Junhyeok nodded slowly. "…If so, the guy who rode the motorcycle and led the infected away must have encountered us while leading the infected outside, as usual."

— Major Kang Doyun

We belonged to the National Reconstruction Committee. The 'military government' leading the southern part of South Korea. The remnants of the nation that survived while maintaining military power centered in Sejong City. However, communicating with them was not a simple task. To contact the southern region, we needed satellite communication equipment capable of vehicle-mounted operation. Even then, communication was only possible for about ten minutes a day. And now, I was waiting for a reply during that limited time. Tapping my chair, shaking my knee.

Finally, a signal was caught.

A command arrived from Lieutenant General Lee Cheolyong, Chairman of the National Reconstruction Committee.

"…What is this?"

That was expected. But—as soon as I read the next sentence, my brow furrowed.

"…What?"

Gongdeok Station? It was strange. Gongdeok Station was an area that had absolutely no connection to us. A place that wasn't even important to us.

"…Did he hide his children there or something? Why is he like this?"

What on earth is at Gongdeok Station that he would command so strongly 'not to touch it'? This was the first time Lieutenant General Lee Cheolyong had given a direct order. But for that first order to be not to touch Gongdeok Station. What the hell is at Gongdeok Station?

"…Then, can I at least touch Aeogae Station for now?"

I scratched my head and sighed. The other stations, excluding Gongdeok Station, 'can be disposed of however you see fit.' Then, what about Aeogae Station? Chungjeongno Station? Seodaemun Station and City Hall Station too? It must mean we can do whatever we want.

"This might not be bad."

I saw survivors at Aeogae Station today. Where there are survivors, there are resources.