ZFS Chapter 7
by horum“The destination we need to reach is just ahead, but it’s blocked. There’s nothing we can do about it. It seems we’ll have to find another way around.”
Tae Yujun spoke, and Won Hyuk nodded in agreement. However, another problem loomed—dawn was fast approaching.
“Alright. Let’s try to find an alternate route. That said, finding a place to rest for the day is the more pressing issue right now. If we sleep in the truck, we might as well be serving ourselves up as zombie breakfast.”
They couldn’t afford to stay stranded on the roadside. The signpost suggested a nearby bunker as a refuge, which, under the circumstances, seemed like the safest option. Tae Yujun, recalling a news broadcast about a shelter in Seoul’s Jung-gu district, spoke up.
“I know of a nearby shelter.”
“A shelter? Are you talking about a bunker?”
“Yes. Under the King Sejong statue at Gwanghwamun. There’s an underground bunker there.”
“Alright. Let’s head there first.”
The two drove the truck again, eventually arriving at the King Sejong statue. They parked intentionally in a chaotic spot, surrounded by scattered cars, to hide their vehicle. Won Hyuk retrieved two pistols—one for himself and one for Tae Yujun.
“You know how to shoot, right? You must’ve already served in the military.”
“I’ve done my fair share of shooting. But I’ve never shot a person.”
“They’re not people. They’re monsters. Just think of them as moving targets and pull the trigger. The problem, though…”
“What’s the problem?”
“We’re running low on bullets. I used up a lot getting here. So unless it’s absolutely necessary, try not to waste them.”
Tae Yujun bit his lip and nodded. The two carefully exited the truck, scanning their surroundings. Tae Yujun was so tense that even taking a single step felt deliberate, holding his breath as he moved carefully, trying not to step on anything.
Hoo, hoo. His breathing was shallow as he scanned the area. It seemed deserted, so he crept toward the base of the statue. There, he found a piece of paper stuck to it, stained with blood and an unknown greasy substance.
[S-03 King Sejong Statue Underground Bunker (Jung-gu, Seoul)]
—Walk back 50 meters, then open the bunker door.
—The bunker code is the date of Liberation Day.
They carefully read the instructions and found the bunker. Behind a worn cement wall, they discovered the entrance to a cave-like structure. As they ventured further inside, they came upon a steel door, the height of an adult. It was tightly shut.
“There it is. The door lock.”
Won Hyuk found the lock mounted at waist height. After entering ‘0815*,’ a thud echoed as the iron door swung open. The two quickly stepped inside and shut the door behind them. They were greeted by pitch-black darkness.
They walked about 10 meters down the dark corridor before the automatic sensor lights flickered on. The sudden exposure to light made Tae Yujun squint, his eyes momentarily blinded.
[S-03 King Sejong Statue Bunker (Jung-gu, Seoul)]
—Emergency Shelter. Priority access for the elderly and disabled.
—The password for this door is the year Seoul hosted the Olympics.
—The bunker is located on Basement Level 2.
Upon entering ‘1988*,’ the door slid open on both sides. Tae Yujun and Won Hyuk exchanged a brief glance before stepping through one after the other.
As they descended the stairs to Basement Level 2, a cool, damp atmosphere enveloped them. The space was dimly lit, with only emergency lights casting a faint glow, making everything feel dark and murky. Whoever was last had no choice but to follow the person ahead. Eventually, they reached a metal door.
[Gwanghwamun Underground Museum: Closed every Monday]
The inscription on the wall revealed that this had once been an underground museum in the heart of the city. Tae Yujun knew that places like this or school gymnasiums were often designated as emergency shelters, but he never thought he’d actually have to use one for real—especially not while being chased by “zombies.” It was utterly unbelievable.
“Hey, are you the ones who just got here?”
As they stepped onto Basement Level 2, they heard a voice accompanied by a faint presence. It was a middle-aged man’s voice, rough and weary.
“Ah, yes. There are two of us.”
Soon, a man in a tight-fitting T-shirt appeared. Bald with sunglasses perched atop his head, he looked like a thug or gangster at first glance.
“You’re late as hell. Get in!”
The man gestured toward the door. Tae Yujun felt irritated by his attitude, which made them seem like unwelcome guests, but now wasn’t the time to argue. He and Won Hyuk stepped into the dimly lit interior.
After passing through an area displaying cultural relics and several small exhibition rooms, they entered a spacious indoor exhibition hall. There, about a hundred people had already gathered.
Tae Yujun was taken aback. He had expected some people to have taken refuge here, especially since this place had been mentioned in the news, but the number was far greater than he had anticipated.
The citizens were scattered about, sitting motionless with blank expressions. Some buried their heads in their knees, while others stared vacantly into the air.
Yet, the moment Tae Yujun and Won Hyuk’s footsteps echoed, everyone turned to look at them. Their gazes scrutinized the two men, observing them intently.
“No matter how good-looking I am, this is a bit much. Having about 200 eyes on me feels overwhelming.”
“…I feel the same way.”
Under the weight of the citizens’ stares, Won Hyuk and Tae Yujun slowly walked toward a wall. The citizens never stopped watching them, their eyes filled with unmistakable hostility.
Tae Yujun calmly took a seat. The silence around them was so profound that even swallowing felt like it required caution. He leaned in and whispered quietly to Won Hyuk.
“Why are they acting like this?”
“It must be because we’re new faces. Our arrival has disrupted the power of the established groups and upset their balance.”
“…but do they really have to observe us so much?”
“This is a closed-off place where no fresh supplies come in. They’re likely barely surviving on the government’s periodically stocked food and water. Now imagine how they must feel about two new men suddenly showing up, Father.”
“…”
It reminded him of something that had happened at the monastery. People turned on each other, accusing and ostracizing one another over a single piece of bread. Even those who had endured hardships together had broken apart. With strangers, it was undoubtedly worse.
“That does make sense.”
“Exactly. So even if they only offer us crumbs, there’s no point in taking offense.”
“…that’s true.”
“Let’s just step outside and eat some sweet potatoes.”
“What?”
“There are sweet potatoes in the truck, aren’t there? I’ll even roast some for you, Father.”
Won Hyuk chuckled lightly. Tae Yujun felt his tension ease. Sweet potatoes? Mentioning that out of nowhere? It left him wondering whether he should laugh or shake his head. As he mulled this over, a woman’s voice came from beside him.
“Excuse me. Did you just arrive?”
Tae Yujun turned to see a woman with dark circles under her eyes and a pale complexion. Her long hair was tied back in a simple ponytail. She appeared to be in her late twenties, wearing a T-shirt and jeans. Her attire was too casual for an office worker but made her seem too old to be a student.
“Ah, I suppose I should start by introducing myself. I’m Kim Eun-jin, a graduate student. I was surveying the area for my major when I got caught up in the situation… I ended up being the first to arrive at this bunker.”
“I see. I’m Tae Yujun. I’m twenty-three and a seminary student.”
“We came together.”
Won Hyuk didn’t offer any particularly noteworthy details about himself. For Tae Yujun, this was an opportunity to see a different side of Won Hyuk. He had been friendly and clingy toward him, yet now he kept a neutral expression and withheld personal details in front of a woman. It was a bit unexpected.
“People here will probably treat you pretty coldly. They might even start fights. This place is prone to conflict when things get boring. Their territorial attitude is especially intense toward latecomers.”
“Is it because of the food situation?”
“Yes. I studied urban engineering and have always been interested in bunkers, so I know a bit about these places. Supplies are usually very limited in places like this. Even if they say they have stockpiles, it would only last about two weeks, and they’re just basic things to satisfy hunger, like dry bread or jerky—barely enough to keep you going.”
“So, survival rations.”
“Exactly. That’s why meals are only distributed once a day. The bigger issue is that the group over there has taken control of all the supplies.”
Kim Eun-jin gestured toward a group of bald men with a tilt of her chin. The men, dressed in brightly colored shirts ranging from floral patterns to flashy leopard prints, were holding small bags under their arms and discussing something among themselves.
“That bald guy leads a group of four. They stick together and act like they run the place just because they’re strong. It’s terrifying.”
Kim Eun-jin brushed her skinny arm, emphasizing her unease.
“Thanks for letting us know.”
“Sure. Stay safe. I’ll head over to the women’s quarters now.”
According to her, the men slept separately in the auditorium, while the women stayed in the exhibition hall across the path. After Kim Eun-jin left, the space felt a bit more open. Tae Yujun stretched out his legs and lightly slapped his thighs. The tension that had gripped his body all day began to fade, replaced by a wave of exhaustion.
“Brother, you should sleep now.”
“Aren’t you going to sleep, Father?”
“I’ll pray for a bit and then go to sleep too.”
“Is that so? Then stay like that for a moment.”
Suddenly, Won Hyuk sprawled across Tae Yujun’s lap. Startled by the abrupt closeness, Tae Yujun frowned.
“What are you doing?”
“Stay like this until I fall asleep.”
“Why should I?”
“I killed a zombie today and saved you, Father. You can at least do this much for me.”
“Well, I suppose that’s true, but…”
“Just be my pillow for a little while, please?”