Chapter 10 Start (1)

The situation has drastically changed since last night.

As I suspected, the incubation period of the infected has drastically shortened.

Moreover, being bitten by an infected person also leads to infection, causing the number of infected to increase exponentially.

‘In a way, it’s lucky that we could prepare in advance! Or... is it just bad luck to face such a situation in my life...?’

Perhaps due to the rapidly changing situation, I couldn’t sleep all night, and my eyes are heavy with sleep.

Until last night, the police and neighborhood watch teams in each region had managed to suppress and isolate the infected, maintaining public order.

However, at some point, the number of infected began to increase explosively, making it impossible for the police and neighborhood watch teams to maintain order.

It’s a situation where the forces are overwhelmingly outnumbered.

The number of police officers who were attacked by the infected and could no longer perform their duties increased, and the neighborhood watch teams had to cease operations due to attacks from the infected, leading to a continuous increase in the number of infected on the streets.

The government, recognizing the severity of the current situation, belatedly mobilized the military.

They then established a national disaster response headquarters and announced plans to address the rapidly changing situation.

Despite being deployed late, the military’s capabilities were remarkable.

Public order, which seemed impossible to restore, began to return to normal.

Using local defense forces as the mainstay, they created isolation zones in nearby public facilities to quarantine the infected.

Additionally, the Ministry of National Defense announced that, except for the necessary personnel to guard the military demarcation line, the remaining troops would be distributed to various regions across the country to assist local defense forces in maintaining public order.

News and radio continuously explained the characteristics of the infected and advised people to avoid going outside.

Of course, the internet was also active with discussions about the infected.

Through internet news and newspapers, the situations in various countries around the world are being live-streamed, providing real-time updates on content and information I hadn’t even considered.

I couldn’t sleep all night, watching the neighborhood change while keeping an eye on the news and the internet.

Snore... Snore...

Sitting in front of the computer, I began to doze off without realizing it.

After securely locking the security door on the fifth floor of the building last night, the feeling of being in a separate, safe space isolated from the outside world made me slightly less tense.

The sky began to brighten as dawn approached, and now the world is brightly lit.

In the alleys, small groups of fully equipped soldiers are patrolling.

Barricades have been set up in government offices and playgrounds to serve as intermediate bases for maintaining public order and operating isolation zones for the infected.

The government has issued a school closure order to all schools across the country through broadcasts, and large corporations have temporarily prohibited employees from coming to work, except for those handling essential business operations.

On the streets, apart from the periodic appearance of infected individuals and soldiers maintaining public order, there is a general atmosphere of people avoiding going out.

I had organized the information about the rapidly changing situation last night and sufficiently informed Uncle Baekhoon in my hometown, so I could temporarily set aside my worries about my mother.

‘I can’t go on like this anymore. I need to take a nap and see what happens... zzz...’

Lying down on the soft mattress, I felt my mind drift away due to the accumulated fatigue from the night.

* * *

How long did I sleep? I woke up with a start, startled by the sound of snoring.

‘Ahem... What time is it? How long did I sleep?’

My throat is dry from sleeping for so long.

After chugging the water from the bottle on my bedside table, my thirst subsided, and the dryness in my throat disappeared.

While stretching my stiff body, I looked out the window and saw the red glow of the sunset coming through.

Curious about any changes that occurred while I was sleeping, I opened my phone and saw numerous disaster alert messages and missed calls.

It has been confirmed that people attacked by the infected can also be infected through blood or saliva.

If there are people in your vicinity who have been attacked by the infected and have injuries, please isolate them in a secure space and lock the doors for safety.

The government is working to ensure the safety of the public by bringing in experts from various departments to the disaster response headquarters to address the current situation. (12:32 PM)]

[Missed Call – Uncle Baekhoon (3)]

[Missed Call – Mom (7)]

[Missed Call – Joon (2)]

‘What happened while I was sleeping?’

I tried calling my mom repeatedly, but she didn’t answer.

‘Huh? Why isn’t the call going through?’

The signal on my phone is fine, but it seems that the reception in the mountainous area of Gangwon Province where my mom lives is poor.

My mom’s village is in a mountainous area where phone signals have often been poor, but today, it just doesn’t feel right.

I feel anxious about not being able to reach my mom.

Strangely, the outside is unusually quiet. The neighborhood feels eerily calm.

Worried, I went out of the attic and looked over the railing at the outside scenery.

Chaos.

The neighborhood is in disarray, with accident vehicles parked in the middle of the road and debris scattered on the streets.

Moreover, buildings are burning in various parts of the neighborhood, but no firefighters or soldiers are responding.

The soldiers who were patrolling the neighborhood before I went to sleep are nowhere to be seen. Instead, infected individuals are wandering around the alleys.

‘What’s going on here?’

It seemed that the situation was improving with the mobilization of the military, but in less than a day, the public order in this area has plummeted.

While watching the news on TV and searching the internet, I found that the current rate of increase in the number of infected is so rapid that the isolation zones in various regions across the country are at full capacity.

In other words, the government no longer has the ability to detain and manage newly infected individuals.

Moreover, it is said that infections have occurred within the police and military, causing internal issues that prevent immediate relief efforts for civilians.

The government is repeatedly broadcasting that they are working with medical teams from various countries to find a way to alleviate the secondary symptoms of the infected, such as cognitive impairment and aggressive behavior.

This is a situation that humanity has never faced before.

With the rate of increase in infected individuals due to an unknown virus, and the lack of a manual or experts for this type of disaster, proper measures are not being implemented.

I feel that it will be a long time before public order is restored.

‘What should I do from now on...?’

In the current situation, it’s impossible to go to Gangwon Province to see my mom and Uncle Baekhoon.

However, I need to be prepared to go when the time comes.

For now, with my current physical condition, I wouldn’t be able to seize an opportunity if it came.

My plan is to start a survival game by managing my diet and exercising while collecting and recording information about the current situation.

I have enough food and essential supplies to last for years if I live alone, so I can focus entirely on what I need to prepare right now.

‘I was lucky.’

First, I need to continue gathering information and understanding the situation until communication and broadcasting are cut off.

Second, I need to do aerobic exercise and stretching every morning and evening, excluding water, protein, and vitamins from my diet.

The situation is uncertain—whether it will last for days, months, or years. Survival is for those who can endure and prepare for the long term.

While preparing for personal survival, it’s also important to stay in touch with my mom, Uncle Baekhoon, and Ria to understand their situations.

The communication network operated by private companies will likely be cut off soon.

Therefore, I need to install a wireless communication system to maintain regular contact with my mom in my hometown.

I remember a box of amateur radio equipment that I played with for a few years after learning it as a hobby from Uncle Baekhoon during my middle and high school days.

Now is the time to take out that equipment.

Although the box was not small, I had to search the entire attic to find it.

‘Huh? It seems a few wires are missing.’

Due to long-term disuse and careless storage, a few necessary components are missing.

‘Ah. I threw away the antenna last time, thinking I wouldn’t use it anymore.’

In addition to the antenna, the cables connecting the radio receiver and amplifier, and the power cable are missing. I need to find the missing cables or suitable replacements for amateur radio communication.

‘I don’t have them in my room... Does the manager’s house have any suitable replacements?’

As I was about to go to the manager’s house to look for an antenna replacement and cable replacement, I heard a growling sound, like that of a beast.

Lowering my footsteps, I went to the security door and saw an infected person pacing in front of the fourth-floor stairs.

The infected person seemed to be looking for someone, scanning the surroundings.

I was watching the infected person’s movements through the bars, trying to be as quiet as possible, when I accidentally knocked over a box next to me.

Thud... Bang...

The heavy box made a loud noise when it hit the ground. Startled, I quickly picked it up and put it back in its original place, then looked down again to watch the infected person.

At that moment, I made eye contact with the infected person.

Reacting to the noise, the infected person looked up and, sensing my presence, started running up the stairs and fiercely pounding on the security door behind which I was hiding.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sight of the infected person, completely consumed by madness, was no longer human.

Despite their hands and head being injured and bleeding, they continued to pound on the door like a monster.

Shake... Shake... Shake...

My body was trembling with tension, but my mind was filled with thoughts on how to handle this situation.

‘Should I hide in the manager’s house and try to avoid being noticed? Or should I stop the infected person’s commotion?’

Even though the infected person seems like a monster, I can’t easily harm them since they are still human.

While I was indecisive, a low growling sound and movement were heard again from the fourth-floor stairs.