Chapter 23

EP 5 - The Hunters (7)

"Ah, hello......"

Behind the bulky figure of Kang Seok-ho, a small child was hiding. Unfortunately, I know the child's name.

"......Hello? Shiho. Do you remember me?"

This child was Kang Seok-ho's fourth younger sibling. And Seok-ho was a young head of the household, raising four younger siblings.

Why is only this one here?

* * *

"They're all dead, hyung."

"......"

"When I got there, only one child was hiding......"

Kang Seok-ho emptied six bottles of soju in an instant. Then, he bowed his head repeatedly and mumbled.

He didn't shed any tears. They seemed to have already dried up.

"At that time, I killed the monster. I had been hiding in a men's bathroom stall for a few days, and when I came out, I......"

Then, Hong Seon-ah joined, and they went to the apartment complex to stage a sit-in. From there, they gathered isolated people from the surrounding area, and finally, the organization was formed.

Throughout this process, David Kim demonstrated overwhelming military power and leadership. He sometimes saved people to the point of being foolish, and after numerous adventures, he became a hero who saved everyone.

The reason I know this is that Kang Seok-ho was repeating the same story for the eighth time.

"Hey, hey..."

"If I had been just half as strong as that person, I wouldn't have lost Woojin, Soyoung, and Sojeong."

"......The kid is listening, man."

I looked at Kang Seok-ho with a worried expression, but this kid was just sitting in his brother's arms with a blank face.

Kang Seok-ho hugged Kang Shi-ho and mumbled for a long time.

"Now, only this kid is left... only this kid..."

"......Yeah. Yeah."

"Hyung......"

I knew what he was going to say next.

If I die, please take care of this kid.

Kang Seok-ho had already wiped out all his emotions to make this request.

Why didn't you come to save me? We lived together for years, and you all just ran away. There were no such words.

The former congressional staff member who graduated from college on a scholarship and supported his four younger siblings while working part-time as a loader, was now sitting in front of me, bowing his head in despair.

I answered before he could even ask.

"......Yeah. I understand."

It was the eighth time I had answered.

*

In the end, I didn't ask anything.

I had intended to investigate the organization through Kang Seok-ho, but I ended up sending him back after swearing twelve times to protect Kang Shi-ho.

The night fell over the cloudy Seoul, and the dark clouds that had covered the world all day turned into raindrops falling to the ground.

The sound of rain could be heard through the curtains. I had turned off all the lights to prevent any light from leaking out.

Gang Ji-ja and Yeo Do-yeon were asleep in their respective rooms, but I couldn't fall asleep and was staring into the air at 2:18 AM.

I don't know what kind of person I am.

Am I a good person? Or a bad person?

No, should I be good or bad?

I came to Seoul, confident that it was a sure bet, but I plummeted instantly when the gate suddenly opened.

In the face of sudden threats, I only took care of my own people and spent the whole day fiddling with the dog tags of the dead soldiers.

Despite all the pretense of being cool and collected, I crawled to my death in front of the wolves.

I couldn't even properly talk to Kang Seok-ho. I'm a half-assed, useless bastard who can't do anything right.

I feel ashamed.

I can't live like Yang Pan-seok.

I thought hard about when I was at my best, when I was the most useful as a part of society.

It wasn't during my college days when I was famous on a full scholarship. It wasn't when I was a secretary favored by Yang Pan-seok, despite being a driver. It wasn't even when I was a congressman; that was also inadequate.

When the monster fell on the National Assembly.

When I took care of my people and escaped from Seoul.

At that time, I was the most shining person.

Now, I'm just a half-assed politician blinded by power, but at that time, I was the best leader. I didn't even know I was that outstanding.

What is the difference between me then and now?

Now, I am weighing everything.

Power, family, conscience, morality, loyalty.

At that time, I didn't.

While thinking about trivial things, I found a way out, saved more people, and provided a clear direction to the group.

I did what I had to do.

I had nothing else on my mind.

I wasn't a half-assed good person or a bad person. I was someone who did what needed to be done.

I found my初心 (initial heart).

I will do what needs to be done.

At 2:41 AM, as the rain poured down over the cloudy Seoul, I found a way out after eight hours of deep thought.

*

"I have found a way to escape from Seoul."

I found David Kim with dark circles under my eyes, which were now shining.

"Gather the people."

Despite having no time for such things, I ordered him, and he chuckled and summoned all the camp officers.

"We will escape through the subway."

I took out a large map of Seoul from the apartment security room and laid it out in front of the officers.

Then, with a red marker, I drew a straight line from Gangnam Apgujeong in the 5 o'clock direction.

"All 1,200 people from the Apgujeong camp will walk to Seongnam via the Sinbundang Line. Any questions?"

I closed the red marker and rolled it on the table, but no one started asking questions.

"No questions?"

Then, the uncle who had doubted my words yesterday started to get angry.

"Are you crazy?"

"What?"

"Do you think we haven't thought of that!?"

Using the subway for escape was a method everyone would think of.

The problem was that everyone had thought of it.

"As soon as the situation broke out, all kinds of people went down to the subway! And so did the monsters! Didn't you know because you were in the rear?"

"I know."

I had been right next to the military commander; there was no way I wouldn't know. My calm response made him doubt my qualifications.

"......Are you really a congressman? Are you trying to kill us all!?"

"I am a congressman. Before that, I was a secretary to Congressman Yang Pan-seok."

I picked up the pen again and continued with a more detailed explanation.

"Congressman Yang Pan-seok, as a member of the Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Committee, participated in the national audit related to the construction of the Sinbundang Line. I was there with him."

The Sinbundang Line.

A subway line connecting Gangnam, Seoul, and

Seongnam, located at the 4 o'clock direction from Seoul.

"You said the subway is swarming with monsters, right?"

If we were to escape to Seongnam via the subway normally,

we would have to take Line 3 and go around for a long time in the direction of 'Apgujeong-Sinsa-Jamyun-Kyodae'.

This is because the Sinbundang Line, which heads to Seongnam, has Gangnam Station as its terminus.

We would have to fight through the monsters for a long time to transfer.

However,

"If the subway is swarming with monsters because of the crowd, we can go to a subway that isn't crowded."

- Squeak!

I drew a straight line from Sinsa Station, which is right next to Apgujeong, and then to Nonhyeon, Shin-Nonhyeon, and Gangnam.

On the map, there was no subway here.

Of course not. It's still under construction.

"This is the Sinbundang Line extension that started construction in 2016."

I held the red pen in front of the people and continued firmly. My heart was beating more strongly than ever.

"Although it's still under construction, the tunnels are all completed. I've been there myself."

People started to listen to me more seriously.

"Apgujeong Station is right in front of this apartment complex.

If we can reach Sinsa Station from there, we don't need to go around via Line 3.

We only need to break through one station."

A straight line heading in the 5 o'clock direction from Seoul.

Apgujeong-Sinsa Station-Gangnam Station-Seongnam.

The shortest route I proposed.

People started to murmur. Then, Hong Seon-ah raised her hand.

"Um, you said the Sinbundang Line ends at Gangnam Station, right?"

"Yes."

"Then, you mean we can pass freely from Sinsa Station to Gangnam Station? Because it's under construction."

"Yes."

"Then, how will you get from Gangnam Station to Seongnam? That section has been there from the beginning, so it must be crowded......"

It would be a haven for monsters.

I drew a circle on the large mountain range diagonally between Gangnam and Seongnam.

"Cheonggye Mountain, Guryong Mountain, Inreung Mountain. Large mountains spanning the Sinbundang Line."

"......"

"The 7th Mobile Division of the Republic of Korea is stationed there."

I spoke with bloodshot eyes, tapping the red marker on the table with each word.

"It's the largest scale in the Korean military,

possessing more than half of the national army's tanks,

all infantry are mechanized,

and they are incredibly fast.

If a war breaks out, this is the only unit that can immediately advance into North Korea."

Living next to Cha Jae-kyun, I had learned to mimic a military expert.

The effect wasn't bad; people seemed to nod in agreement.

"There's no need to walk the long distance from Gangnam Station to Seongnam. The 7th Mobile Division will come to meet us."

"Have you made contact with the military!?"

An unknown middle-aged man asked me, but I shook my head and pointed to Hong Seon-ah with the red marker.

"Hong Seon-ah will lead the way at the front."

"Um? Me? Me!?"

"She will burn the monsters that fill the subway."

After the Daegu subway disaster, all subways are equipped with smoke exhaust facilities. Even without them, smoke will find a way to escape.

"Now, think from the military's perspective. The Apgujeong rescue operation, which the whole nation is watching, has failed.

Wouldn't they be monitoring this area with military satellites? Wouldn't they?"

Cha Jae-kyun wouldn't be watching to save us. He would be monitoring to see if the flying monsters are leaving Seoul.

There's no need to mention that.

"However, would they miss 1,200 people entering the subway station from Apgujeong?

And if black smoke rises in a straight line, visible to the naked eye,

wouldn't they send the military? Wouldn't they?"

"......"

"We only need to break through Sinsa Station and reach Gangnam Station. Black smoke will rise into the sky, and the military will come to rescue us at Gangnam Station on the Sinbundang Line. I trust our national army."

"Hold on."

David Kim stopped me, pressing his temples.

"Isn't this putting too much burden on Hong Seon-ah?"

I walked over to her silently, limping. David Kim added,

"Does this mean she has to face all the monsters alone at the front? Superpowers aren't unlimited."

I grabbed Hong Seon-ah's hand.

"Ah, suddenly doing this...!"

And I lit a fire with my other hand.

"......Ha!"

"I can use the superpowers of the person I touch."

"Damn!"

David Kim cursed, as if he had been hit.

"Two of us will break through. The other superpowered individuals will cover the rear. The 1,200 people can move slowly, in sync with the smoke exhaust."

I smiled confidently and started explaining the detailed plan, while Gang Ji-ja recorded the scene with a camcorder, smiling with interest.

*

Ten days later.

July 29.

I emerged from the dark tunnel, shoulder to shoulder with Hong Seon-ah. When I wiped my face, soot came off.

The smell of smoke had permeated my nose, and the ash in my eyes was painfully irritating.

I coughed as if I couldn't breathe.

It felt like I was spitting out ash with each breath. The coughing wouldn't stop. Hong Seon-ah was half-leaning on me.

As we emerged from the tunnel, the loud sound of rain greeted us. The rain from the sky washed over our bodies.

Phew. Hong Seon-ah looked ahead and smiled faintly, then dropped her head and collapsed on the ground. I also fell over.

The soldiers shouted and helped us up.

The Apgujeong escape operation.

Total number of people: 1,231

Injured: 754

Severely injured: 95

Deceased: 0

In the July rainy season.

This was a moment that would go down in modern history after the Gate incident.