Infected - Chapter 70



Only Noblemtl

Episode 69

Rattling! Rattling!

On the rocking six-wheeled truck, the group was lost in their own thoughts.

It was the first time I had seen the outside scenery since entering the safe zone, but it was not much different from before.

The still-strewn fragments of people, the bloodstains, and the stench added to the ruined cityscape, creating a grotesque atmosphere.

Yeong-man thought of Min-yeong as he watched the outer wall of the safe zone receding through the thick fog.

Rescuing someone was never an easy task.

His own experience was screaming out that it would not be strange at all if anyone died in the process, and it would not be strange if everyone died.

Anna felt depressed like she had never felt before.

The sight of the messy streets covered in thick fog did not look promising at all.

For the first few days, I was so busy that I didn’t care about anything to survive.

But as I had more time to think and the time since the world changed hands became longer, I found myself thinking more.

How long can this system last?

Even if the entire Yeouido area was made into a safe zone, there would come a time when both medicine and weapons would run out.

Then, at that time, you could have died from a cold, or you could have died from a single wound.

Are we finally the last generation?

If I die, I just hope that I don’t turn into a zombie.

On the other hand, Beomsik had no thoughts.

He was born with a nature to enjoy fighting and winning.

In particular, he was the type of person who enjoyed things like this where the outcome was unknown.

Aside from that, it was strange that he would take Anna and himself with him, leaving so many soldiers behind.

But I thought there must be a reason for that too.

What matters is not the reason but the circumstances.

I have never been afraid of death.

Jae-jae just fiddled with the radio, and Jeong-i-jin looked outside in silence.

Soon the truck would stop within the communication radius and initiate communication.

Needless to say, the tension that Jeong Jin felt was not fear.

I didn’t think about what would happen if I failed.

The only thought is that the operation will be successful.

I felt even more secure knowing that I was supported by finances.

Because the Jaejae that Lee Jin remembers was an exceptional person.

Squeak!

As the six-wheeled truck stopped, the window rolled down and a hand gesture was seen coming from the driver’s seat.

It had entered the communication radius.

Finance took the radio.

Chi-chik!

“Is there anyone available to receive it?”

The answer came back immediately.

[who is this?]

It was a voice that was incredibly arrogant.

From the way he spoke, I could sense that he was looking down on the other person.

“This is the rescue team. Please identify yourself.”

[Who are you to reveal your identity? I’m hearing this voice for the first time. Is there no signalman?]

“Phew.”

Finance took a deep breath and then resumed transmission.

“Please state your affiliation and name. If you do not follow the procedure, the rescue team will not move.”

Chi-chik!

[Look at this kid. Stop being a jerk and come here quickly.]

The facial muscles of the finances are twisted in a pleasing manner.

“Hey, listen carefully. I won’t tell you twice. If you don’t want to starve to death in a small room with no running water, smelling like dust, then just shut your mouth and do as I say. I’m not a soldier, and if you don’t like me, I’ll pretend to save you and then throw you as food for the zombies, so I have nothing to lose.”

This is the first time you go out.

“Hey, start the engine. We’re going back. You survive on your own. Good luck.”

Finance ended the radio call, pointing the driver to a safe zone.

Chi-chik!

He answers hastily.

[Wait a minute! Okay, okay. I’m not alone here. I might be, but what are the kids with me doing?]

It’s on the level of threats.

“How many people are alive?”

[That’s… I’m alone in the supplies room, and I don’t know where the rest are. But I’m sure I saw them disperse to other rooms. Come quickly. I’m running out of time.]

Judging from the way he spoke with pride until the end, this person was no ordinary person.

How can you say something like that knowing who holds the key to life and death?

Are you stupid or have high self-esteem?

But the finances weren’t something that could be taken lightly.

“Let’s start from the beginning. State your affiliation and name.”

The answer came back immediately.

“What is the current situation?”

[I don’t know the details, but more than half of them were killed by zombies. I don’t know if you heard, but you’d better bring plenty of ammo. Huh, how should I explain this? There’s a monster bigger than a real bear. I can’t believe it even as I say it, but the kid who got hit by that bastard got his head smashed in with one blow. It’s a real monster. I’m not lying.]

The platoon leader added several more explanations, hoping that Finance would not believe him.

“I know it well because I’ve dealt with it before. I don’t think it’s a lie. First, explain the internal structure. I need to figure out the route.”

[Before that, let me ask you one thing.]

Chi-chik!

“Speak.”

[Did you bring Jeong I-jin?]

“Yeah, I brought it.”

[Phew, shit, I’m alive.]

Jae-ga continued the radio call while holding back Jeong-jin, who was losing her temper, with his hand.

It seemed that he was angry that a lower-ranking junior was openly calling his senior by his name.

“Tell us everything we need to know.”

[The automatic doors will be open. Once you pass the checkout counter and go inside, there will be an escalator. And in front of it, there will be a sign for the second floor. If you go up, you will see the entrance to the office next to the clothing store. But I don’t know where the zombies will come from. Believe it or not, they came rushing in from the front and back as if they were surrounding us after we entered completely.]

“Understood. For your own safety, I will turn off the radio from this point on. Wait.”

Beep-

Finance turned the bar around and turned off the radio before a reply could come back.

Then, Young-man, who had been listening to the conversation carefully, asked Jeong-in Jeong.

Because Jeong I-jin’s name came up during the conversation, I thought there might be some kind of conflict of interest.

“Is this the original human form?”

“Yes, sir. It’s worse than this. I think he grew up not knowing how to bow because his father was a division commander.”

Jeong Ijin answered politely.

“Raising children is not an easy task.”

“Let’s go.”

As Finance knocked on the truck and spoke to the driver, the truck started toward the store again, belching smoke.

Finance relayed the plan to the four men while the car was running.

“Once the search on the first floor is over, Beomsik, you and Anna will wait on the first floor. You, sir, stay outside and figure out any variables that may arise.”

“Okay.”

“Then you?”

Beomsik asked with a puzzled face.

You brought me all the way here and told me to wait on the first floor.

“I’ll call you if I need help. The structure is a small space, so if possible, Jeong-i-jin and I will handle it together. That’s better.”

“Okay.”

It wasn’t a matter of pride.

Beomsik had previously investigated the finances that were chasing him.

So I knew that Jae-jae had been in the military and had done a lot of special operations.

In addition, I had a rough idea of ​​the family relationships and people around me.

It was natural to accept it.

At least in this situation, it’s clear that finance is the expert.

If there was something I could do as an auxiliary, that would be sufficient.

The goal was not to show something, but to save people.

I was able to discern right from wrong to that extent.

Anna watched the three people talking intently.

In particular, I looked closely at Jeong I-jin.

Anna also knew this well because she had been exercising for a long time.

A body without an ounce of fat, thin ankles and wrists, a slender neckline, and thick arms.

He was clearly a very agile person.

If you are someone who uses strong financial power to move quickly, Jeong I-jin was someone with natural agility.

Just by looking at the several daggers attached to his belt and the scythe he carried on his back, it was easy to see how skilled this man was at handling a variety of weapons.

Swish—

As we approached the mart, the driver put the car in neutral and turned off the engine.

And then I didn’t even press the brake pedal.

The idea was to wait for the speed to naturally decrease.

Even to such a small sound, the guys reacted sensitively.

The car came to a complete stop, and the group got out onto the road and entered the mart straight away, with Jaegyeong in the lead.

Jae-jae, who had passed the wide open automatic door, took out a dagger instead of the hammer he had been carrying on his back.

Because the space between the shelves is narrow, I decided that stabbing would be much more efficient than swinging.

Jeong Ijin, who had taken a typical knife fighting stance, came in from a distance, pulling out a scythe that was cold.

Anna, who had taken out her arrows, was ready to attack at any time, and Beomsik also held an awl in his hand and prepared for an attack that could come at any time.

Young-man, who came in last, stuck to the automatic door and watched the situation outside.

Everyone held their breath with each step they took.

According to the information, there were infected people as well as mutants.

That was the part about finances that I didn’t understand.

Apparently, when I first encountered the mutant in the hospital, it was aggressive towards both humans and zombies.

But the story I heard this time was different.

He said that they attacked together as if they were attacking together.

Has something changed in the meantime, or has something else been created?

After a while.

Only after passing the escalator and searching the fish and meat corners was I able to take a moment to catch my breath.

Jae-jae winked at Beom-sik and Anna.

Then the two nodded not far from the escalator.

I familiarized myself with the second floor map posted on the wall and slowly went up.

Jae-jae looked at Jeong-i-jin once.

Then, Jeong Ijin, who had bent his neck from side to side, grabbed a dagger in his empty left hand.

He was the one who dealt with countless infected people while escorting VIPs to safety.

But this time, things were different.

So I held a weapon in both hands.

It might be dangerous to be together, but the two of them were not so foolish as to make such a mistake.

I went up the escalator like I was climbing stairs.

The two people who were halfway up the stairs looked up at the second floor as if they had made a promise.

The fog had cleared and sunlight was streaming through the windows, illuminating the interior.

Three things appeared in the eyes of finance.

There are two things in Jeong Ijin’s sight.

There were five in total.

I couldn’t see far beyond the counter, but the number of infected people I could see right in front of me was five.

The two nodded at each other and then climbed all the way up to the second floor.

When one infected person turned around upon hearing the footsteps, five others reacted simultaneously.

Fortunately, no more of them were seen after that.

This time, Jae-jae moved first, putting away his dagger and taking out his hammer.

Kwaaak―

Jae-jae calculated the distance of the guy running towards him while screaming and drew a parabola with his hammer.

Kwajik!

The sound of skulls breaking and shattering filled the surroundings.

Next to him, Jeong Ijin threw a dagger at the guy who reacted late.

As soon as the dagger was accurately inserted between the infected’s eyebrows, Jeong Ijin stepped on the clothing stand and flew forward, cleanly slicing off the neck of the guy behind him.

Chomp!

Black liquid splashed onto the white tiles on the floor.

In an instant, both of them were finished.

Looking to the side, Jae-jae kicked the infected man who was rushing towards him, knocking him down, and then hit his head with a hammer so hard that the floor shook.

Boom! Crunch!

Something that was either flesh or bone was spraying everywhere along with the black liquid, but I paid it no mind and turned around.

Because the last one was running right in front of my nose.

The distance was too short to swing.

He put down the hammer he was holding, took out the dagger he had on his waist, and thrust it in from below.

Because I didn’t have time to raise my arms.

The attack was successful.

The tip of the dagger that had pierced the jaw pierced the brain, and the thing that had been opening its mouth while spitting out saliva slid down like a lump of flesh.

He was the last one.

However, the two did not take their time and looked around diligently.

Because there were fewer of them than expected.

Jaejae and Jeongjin were thinking the same thing.

‘So that means it’s all in there… … .’

Their gazes turned to the office.

Perhaps, contrary to what was reported, this could have been the end.

When a person is terrified, memories can become distorted and exaggerated, as if they were suffering from delusions.

‘let’s go.’

Jae-jae nodded to Jeong-jin and took the lead.

Infected people