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Returning home.

The power outage brought darkness to the room, and I sat in a chair, staring blankly into space. The newly appeared military was making my head spin.

Tap tap tap tap, the sound of my fingers drumming on the desk came quickly.

‘Let’s start with suspicion.’

A suspicious feeling that I could sense without even speaking.

They said they didn’t want to take risks and approached as neighbors. On the other hand, it also sounded like they would absorb survivors and evolve into warlords if there was no fierce resistance.

The military’s reputation work of sharing scarce food, their promise and advertisement of exterminating zombies, the long-term benefits and vision of farming.

Isn’t this also a kind of preliminary work?

“There was a similar case among role models.”

There are cases where vigilante groups organized to fight drug cartels evolve into new drug cartels.

This military could change in the same way. Even if they start with the slogan of citizen safety and safe neighborhoods, they can always fall. Just look at the police, who have already turned into gangs.

The face of a soldier came to mind.

‘Even if his mind was unstable, he seemed to be living well and eating well.’

A group that barely survived by consuming the remaining supplies, not experiencing hunger thanks to the naturally reduced number of people, a group that didn’t truly feel the apocalypse where I had to kill people to survive.

What would they do if food ran out? Would they harbor malice like the survivors on the streets?

With the glasses of suspicion on, everything looked suspicious. I slowly recalled the company commander’s words.

‘The roads are blocked… What about the sky? Helicopters or transport planes? There must be at least one pilot, right?’

The company commander didn’t tell the whole truth. He hid himself with lies.

I thought of a Chinese proverb.

The good do not come, and those who come are not good. The military that came all the way to the city is definitely not good. My mind felt clear.

‘Right, the military that moved now has a purpose.’

The purpose is simple. Gradually decreasing food. Resources from the commercial district and manpower for farming. A struggle to survive.

Peeling off the wrapping of the military, the structure became simple. Survivor groups fighting over the city’s resources. A dangerous group with strong military power and potential for expansion.

Such a group…

“It’s better not to have them.”

Click, my fingers stopped. I slowly clenched my fist.

It’s the military, not just any group. I can’t join the military. Re-enlist? Wear the uniform again? Nonsense. I’d rather go to prison.

Living under the military, working, receiving rations, and being controlled is worse than living as I do now. Living freely, simply, and pillaging.

I smiled and slowly wrote the scenario. Ways to harass the military. Attacking infrastructure, wasting resources by throwing zombies and survivors at them, causing conflicts between soldiers and survivors, worsening perceptions.

Just as the military did preliminary work, I also need preliminary work.

The first step is eschatology.

‘The moment the military makes a mistake, eschatology will become reality.’

I randomly interpreted the apocalypse and created an eschatology to frame the military.

The pale rider of pestilence spread the I-virus, and now the red rider of war has come with firearms.

When summer comes, the black rider of famine will come, causing water to flow back from the broken sewers, ruining all farming and resources, creating starvation. That military is not only killing people with guns but also came to plunder the city’s resources to help the famine.

This is just eschatology in disguise, a metaphorical warning not to trust the military.

I continued writing against the backdrop of darkness.

‘Even if the military works hard to exterminate zombies, how would people react when they see them taking all the remaining resources from the mart? What if an accident happens? If a soldier kills a survivor? If photos of infected soldiers who starved to death spread?’

The military is a powerful group. I decided to play tricks from behind.

***

– The eschatology of the new era! The I-virus, the military, and famine!

– Recruitment notice.

A plausible eschatology and an advertisement recruiting people pretending to be the military. The fake information I sent to the city people’s messengers.

People who went to the advertised safe residence with ample food would be rejected by the military, and even if accepted, they would harbor malice due to the exaggerated advertisement and insufficient food.

It would be even better if there was a misfire.

“…”

I smiled and focused on my daily life. Secretly doing bad deeds made even simple labor enjoyable.

Thud!

“What kind of trash.”

The drainage ditch with the wire mesh torn off. Filled with leaves, dirt, cigarette butts, bugs, and all kinds of trash. I silently picked up the trash with gloved hands and tongs.

“Ugh. I’ve never done this before. It’s really dirty. I only do comfortable work, so I can’t do this.”

Sajihyeok, who was working with me, shuddered and stepped back. I glanced at him.

“We need to prepare for heavy rain in summer.”

“The rainy season is still far away. Can’t we take it slow?”

He really doesn’t want to do it. Of course, Sajihyeok’s opinion didn’t matter. Who knows when and how much it will rain. With the government collapsed, natural disasters are real calamities, and no amount of preparation is enough.

I playfully said to my criminal companion.

“Then do you want to be a scarecrow?”

“…You’re joking, right? You’re joking, right?”

“It’s a joke.”

Why would I turn valuable manpower into a scarecrow? Scarecrows are made by recycling corpses, not by turning people into corpses. I’d rather turn them into zombies and make them into virus generators.

Sajihyeok looked at me suspiciously.

“Are you serious or joking…?”

“More importantly, did you really not go to the military?”

“Yeah, what.”

Really didn’t go? Then his value decreases.

I was thinking of how to get Sajihyeok close to the military, but it seems impossible. I can’t ask Park Yang-gun to steal firearms either.

‘Let’s start with small tricks. Slowly chip away at trust, belief, and such.’

While cleaning the drainage ditch, I heard faint heavy footsteps. I also heard loud voices.

The sound of many people moving.

“What’s that?”

Sajihyeok and I cautiously left Villa Street and saw soldiers walking down the road not far away.

Soldiers in combat gear with firearms, ammo belts, gas masks, and bulletproof helmets were walking in formation.

We curiously approached.

“Wow. Cool. I didn’t go to the military, so seeing that looks strangely cool.”

Sajihyeok blurted out nonsense, and the walking soldiers looked at us with annoyed eyes. Clearly, Sajihyeok and the military don’t mix.

I quickly looked for a non-commissioned officer or an officer and also confirmed the company commander I had seen before.

Very tense eyes.

“Are they going to exterminate zombies?”

It’s not the atmosphere of rations or market creation. It’s similar to the atmosphere of the military experiencing an actual situation, like a North Korean provocation.

I subtly approached the company commander. Whether it’s because they weren’t attacked like the police or because they trust the military’s power, they didn’t heavily guard against survivors like me.

“Ah, the one I saw last time.”

What is it? I didn’t say a word then? Why do they remember me? Is it a subtle threat that they already know the personal information of city people?

I managed my expression and asked like a curious citizen.

“Yes, hello. I was wondering where you’re going.”

The company commander, who slowed his pace for a moment, gestured for me to go first and adjusted his firearm strap.

“We promised to exterminate zombies. We’re thinking of starting with the mart.”

Attacking a large mart? I quickly observed the company commander’s face. The complexion of someone who hasn’t slept well. I don’t know if it’s because they’re in a hurry due to dwindling resources or if they’re acting for publicity.

“Yes, you’re working hard. Did you march here because the roads are blocked?”

“Yes. There are also obstacles set up by citizens, so we couldn’t clear them all. We took transport vehicles as close as possible and are moving on foot.”

The company commander, sighing heavily as if exhausted, repeatedly gripped and released his firearm.

And then, as if hesitating, he cautiously asked me.

“Have you fought zombies before?”

“Zombies…”

I searched my memory. Did I fight zombies? I remember fighting people more.

Right. Hope Community. We bravely fought defensive battles against waves. I also fought a few other times.

“Of course…”

The soldiers were still passing by. I deliberately raised my voice and bowed my head.

“Zombies are people too. I killed them to survive… They were someone’s father, mother, son, daughter, friend.”

Nonsense, go away. I poured out words like a curse, and the soldiers and the company commander’s faces darkened in an instant.

“Last time, I met a mother. She was wandering around looking for her son who became a zombie. What if the zombie I killed was her son? It’s just, my heart…”

“No, it’s okay. More importantly, is there anything to be careful of when fighting zombies?”

When I told a story that would resonate with anyone, the company commander hastily changed the subject.

“We’ve also investigated and gathered information, but it still seems insufficient. Do you have any know-how?”

“Well, not fighting is the best.”

This is the truth. Fighting zombies wasn’t good. If you fight, you have to annihilate them. Don’t let them use learning experiences.

I looked around for no reason. A few soldiers sweating and carrying a machine gun together, but nothing else.

“Do you have artillery or tanks?”

“Can’t use them. No, the equipment is fine. But if we destroy buildings, the resources inside will be buried too. We’re forced to fight without artillery support.”

Right. Pouring artillery fire to collapse the mart would be pointless. The food would be buried too.

I suddenly thought of rock-paper-scissors. Soldiers who can wipe out civilians with overwhelming firepower, zombies who force unfavorable environments on soldiers, civilians who live by defeating zombies.

At that point, the company commander turned around.

“Then we’ll go. Thanks for the talk.”

“Yes…”

He quickly walked away and joined the distant military column. I slowly followed him.

“Sajihyeok, let’s go watch.”

“Sure. It’s my first time seeing military combat.”

It’s my first time too. Actual combat. That soldier, that officer, must be their first time too.

***

There are many people watching. People gathered at a distance where the mart is visible.

The police officer leader also showed a tense expression seeing properly armed soldiers, and other people’s eyes sparkled with different lights as they watched the soldiers.

I approached the police officer leader. The police officer leader, who was watching the military with binoculars pressed to his eyes, glanced at me and casually waved his hand.

“Villa Street. Came to watch?”

“Yes. Isn’t it close? Why the binoculars?”

“Need to see even the small things. They seem to have set up a command post over there. I see civilian collaborators too. They might use drones.”

Then a voice was heard.

“We provided that. We lent the drone in exchange for charging.”

It’s the electric nomad I saw before. He seemed to have moved again in search of electricity and found an opportunity to get electricity here too.

“We have another drone here. Want to use it? Just charge it for us later.”

“Can we see the screen right away?”

“Yes. You can see it on a laptop.”

I was planning to just observe the atmosphere from a distance, but unexpectedly, an opportunity to observe the scene came. Everyone nodded out of curiosity, and the electric nomad quickly operated various devices like phones and laptops.

“If the drone gets damaged by gunfire, you’ll have to compensate.”

“How much food are you thinking?”

“No. I have enough food, just let me charge electricity.”

Is he a robot? Does he live on electricity? It’s the first time I’ve seen someone so obsessed with electricity.

Anyway, thanks to him, we could peek at the battlefield. The soldiers took their time setting up machine guns towards the mart entrance, scouted with drones, and finally took action.

The company wearing gas masks entering the mart.

“I’ll fly it.”

The drone flew.

And then, a clear image appeared on the laptop. Following the electric nomad’s slow hand gestures, the drone approached the mart, crossing the broken glass window.

“…It’s a shredder.”

No sound is heard. But the camera provided clear images.

The swarming zombies were shredded. The firepower is different from pistols. No need for machine guns.

Even if the infantry ran out of ammo, they retreated to the entrance, and the zombies pouring out of the entrance were shredded by the waiting machine guns.

The police officer leader laughed merrily.

“That’s right. Waste it all. You don’t even have proper supplies. If you use all your bullets on zombies, you’ll become scarecrows too.”

The joyful voice was barely heard over the loud gunfire reaching here.

And then, the battlefield slowly changed.

Zombies started avoiding the entrance, running away or fleeing upstairs. No more zombies approaching the entrance.

Eventually, the infantry chased the zombies upstairs, and casualties began to occur.

The expressions of the people watching the screen hardened.

A zombie pretending to be dead among the corpses suddenly stood up behind a soldier and stabbed an axe into his neck. They chased a squad that had run out of ammo and attacked. Sometimes, a lively walking child zombie approached, and the soldier couldn’t bring himself to shoot.

There were also misfires. A soldier shooting his squadmate.

‘…The military isn’t as strong as I thought.’

There aren’t many soldiers left. There must be a limit to ammo too. No matter how I think about it, they can’t retake the city. No, they can’t handle all the zombies.

I looked into the distance. The command post.

If the situation is like this, wouldn’t they target survivors who are easier to deal with than zombies? They can be threatened or persuaded.

‘They are indeed the enemy.’

 

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