ZFS Chapter 3

The seminary students, burdened by neurosis, began to relax and prepare for sleep as the night wore on. With the night watch rotation in place, Tae Yujun was not permitted to sleep tonight.

 

“Tonight’s watch is John’s, right?”

 

“Yes, Brother Antonio. I’ll keep guard, so please rest comfortably.”

 

One by one, the seminarians climbed into their bunk beds. There were ten people in the room, including Tae Yujun, but with him on watch, only nine were left to sleep. Once he confirmed everyone was settled, Tae Yujun turned off the lights. It was eerily quiet, with not even the sound of passing cars outside the window.

 

Sitting in the stillness and darkness, Tae Yujun was overcome by a deep sense of emptiness and solitude. He was also a little hungry. The gradual reduction in food rations over time had taken its toll. With both his body and mind drained, his thoughts began to wander.

 

If I ever have to go outside, it should be at night, Tae Yujun thought to himself.

 

In truth, he was consumed with worry for Dr. Jang. The doctor usually resided in a private research lab near Yeouido, a considerable distance from Myeong-dong. Even by car, one would have to traverse Gangbuk entirely and then cross the Mapo Bridge. The difficulty of such a journey was plain to see. Despite this, Tae Yujun could not shake his concern for Dr. Jang’s safety.

 

---

 

Morning had dawned. Perhaps because he had been conscious of the monsters outside the window all night, Tae Yujun felt utterly drained. After handing over his watch duty to Peter, he managed to get some rest. When he woke again, it was late afternoon.

 

In his dreams, savage zombies had overwhelmed him. It was an exhausting and horrifying nightmare. Because of it, he recited the Lord’s Prayer in Latin three times. Somehow, the prayer felt more sacred when spoken in Latin, as if it enveloped him in a mysterious protective force.

 

After finishing his prayers, Tae Yujun washed himself. Although the water was ice-cold, he felt grateful just to be able to wash. He considered himself fortunate to be isolated in a place where water was still available.

 

Before long, it was time for the evening meal distribution. Tae Yujun made his way to the dining hall to receive his ration. However, the atmosphere was strange. His face felt unusually prickly today.

 

That was because everyone was glaring at him, their stares like daggers.

 

“…brothers, did something happen?”

 

“Hmph. You’d know better than anyone.”

 

What is this? Tae Yujun stared, perplexed, at the people encircling him. Then, the pair who had previously caused trouble over bread stepped forward, arms crossed.

 

“John. You stole something last night, didn’t you?”

 

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

 

“The bread count doesn’t add up. After checking, it seems the bread went missing during your watch.”

 

The accusation was utterly ridiculous. He had stayed up all night guarding against ghostly monsters breaking in—how could he possibly have stolen anything? Tae Yujun was so taken aback that he almost let out a bitter laugh.

 

“Don’t laugh. Do you think it’s funny to steal?”

 

“Steal? I swear before the Lord, I can say with absolute confidence that I stole nothing.”

 

“Then prove it.”

 

The taller, bulkier one of the two spoke with a challenging tone.

 

“I didn’t steal it. How do you expect me to prove it?”

 

“Bring proof of your innocence! If you can’t, you’ll be excluded from future rations.”

 

“So, you’re accusing me without evidence and threatening to cut off my food ration? Are you intentionally trying to frame me?”

 

Tae Yujun found the situation highly suspicious. From the very first day, they had been obsessing over bread. Could it be that they held a grudge against him because of the conflict that had occurred?

 

“What false accusation? You’re out from now on. No one is to give John any bread!”

 

“Alright.”

 

Everyone bowed their heads in unison, as though it had been rehearsed. Only Antonio wore a regretful expression, though even he seemed fearful of the two. In just a few days, a hierarchy had already been established here.

 

This was supposed to be a place for cultivating priests, yet it wasn’t the righteous, but the strong, who held the power. Tae Yujun found their behavior so repulsive he could no longer stand it.

 

“Make sure John isn’t included in our meals at the table. Got it?”

 

“Yes!”

 

The man spoke with the authority of a general commanding his troops. Tae Yujun let out a faint chuckle and dropped the wet towel onto the floor.

 

“How pathetic.”

 

“What did you just say?”

 

He was growing tired of those who fought like animals over the meager food supply. It was clear to him that the time had come to act on the thoughts that had been plaguing him all night.

 

“Forget it. Rather than living like this, I’ll leave.”

 

“Are you out of your mind?!”

 

The man exclaimed in disbelief. He had tried to intimidate Tae Yujun, expecting him to back down in fear. But now, hearing him declare he would leave the dormitory, he was stunned. What kind of madness was this? Who openly claimed they’d venture into the outside world?

 

“Y-You’re going outside?”

 

“Yes. I wasn’t planning to stay here for long anyway. I have somewhere I need to go.”

 

“Are you insane? The outside is crawling with zombies!”

 

“I know. But instead of staying in this miserable place, unable to get even a piece of bread, I’d rather go my own way. I’ll leave tonight.”

 

He had already intended to leave the dormitory to find Dr. Jang at some point. Now, pushed to this point, he felt no regret. He had no desire to remain any longer in a place so steeped in corruption.

 

Though he wasn’t fully prepared, he resolved to act swiftly now that his decision was made.

 

Tae Yujun walked to his cabinet without hesitation. After shedding his casual clothes, he slipped on a white sweatshirt over his jeans. Then, he retrieved a black cassock from the hanger. One might question the purpose of sacred priestly attire in a moment like this, but Tae Yujun was determined to take it with him.

 

Dear God, I will not forget that I am Your son.

 

He prayed silently, carefully folding the cassock before placing it into his bag.

 

“Really? Is this for real or just for show?” Quiet murmurs broke out around him, but he ignored them, continuing to pack his things.

 

Once he had gathered all his belongings, he left behind his stunned fellow seminarians and headed for the kitchen. Instead of going to the refrigerator, he walked to the counter and picked up a kitchen knife.

 

For a moment, he hesitated. He had never harmed anything in his life. During his military service, he had been skilled with firearms, but that had only been against fake wooden targets. Now, however, the things he would face outside were living, moving zombies—creatures that, until recently, had been human.

 

Even so, I should take it. I’ll regret it later if I don’t.

 

Tae Yujun unrolled a dishcloth, wrapped the knife tightly, and buried it deep in his backpack. Then, he walked down the hallway toward the dormitory’s front door, where Antonio and the two were already waiting.

 

“If you’re going, I won’t stop you. But don’t even think about coming back.”

 

“John…”

 

“Brother Antonio. Peace be with you.”

 

Tae Yujun only greeted Antonio. With reddened eyes, Antonio hugged him tightly. After giving him a final wave, Tae Yujun stepped out the door. The moment he exited, the door slammed shut behind him with a loud thud, followed by the clinking of chains locking into place.

 

A suffocating silence fell. Tae Yujun swallowed hard and gripped his backpack straps tightly.

 

From now on, it’s the real battle. I might have to fight zombies face-to-face.

 

Though he had left confidently, fear gnawed at him. The thought of being completely alone outside, separated from everyone else, was terrifying. And, really, embarking on such a solitary journey from now on felt deeply unsettling and frightening to him.

 

But there was no choice. Staying behind was no longer an option. Even if he had stayed, he would have been isolated by those two for several days. There’s no way that would have ended well.

 

After collecting his thoughts, Tae Yujun began walking from the dormitory building toward the main gate. Swoosh—the leaves rustled and cried out, brushing against each other with every gust of wind. He knew full well that a zombie was hanging upside down from a tree, yet he couldn’t bring himself to look in that direction out of fear.

 

Even the sound of his breathing had to be suppressed, so Tae Yujun took slow, deliberate breaths. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he walked carefully. The silence around him was unsettling—the zombies must have been in their deep slumber.

 

With extreme caution, he slipped through the main gate. The main road lay just ahead, meaning he would need to tread even more carefully from this point on.

 

Now then, it’s time to head to Dr. Jang’s research lab in Yeouido.

 

But, as someone who owned nothing, it was natural he didn’t have a car or a motorcycle.

 

How long would it take to get there on foot? More importantly, what would he do if he encountered zombies along the way? Tae Yujun mulled over these concerns as he prepared to move forward.

 

“Ah!”

 

At that moment, a dark shadow fell over him. He was utterly surprised, his heart nearly stopping. A tall, pole-like monster, draped in a long trench coat, stood right in front of him.

 

“S-Someone save m–! Ugh…”

 

Immediately, he regretted not keeping the knife in his hand, instead burying it deep in his bag. Regrets over his life, guilt, and memories with Dr. Jang flashed before his eyes.

 

Am I going to die like this? If that’s the case, God… please send me to heaven.

 

Just as Tae Yujun squeezed his eyes shut, the monster spoke.

 

“Shh.”

 

It raised a finger to his lips.

 

The flickering streetlight illuminated the monster—or rather, the man. He had a diagonal scar running across his forehead and a sharp, cold expression. In that brief moment, Tae Yujun sized him up. The man’s solid physique resembled that of a seasoned fighter, like something out of an action movie.

 

“Your name is Tae Yujun, right?”

 

The man spoke with a grin, like someone who had just hit the jackpot in a casino.

 

“Nope. I don’t know anyone by that name.”

 

Feeling deeply suspicious, Tae Yujun immediately denied it. The man chuckled quietly, then reached into his pocket, pulling out a crumpled piece of paper. He held it out for Tae Yujun to see.

Korean Catholic Registry – Baptismal Name: John (Tae Yujun).

The document displayed all of his personal information, including his date of birth, and even a passport-style photo was prominently affixed to it.

 

“Tae Yujun-ssi, right? A face as beautiful as yours isn’t something you see every day. Father.”

 

“…and who might you be?”

 

“Ah, I’m sorry for the late introduction. I’m Won Hyuk.”

 

“Yes, Won Hyuk-ssi. I am indeed Tae Yujun. That’s correct. But I’m not sure why you’re seeking me out. You see, I’m rather busy right now, so I’ll be on my way.”

 

Who the hell is this man, and why is he looking for me? With zombies roaming everywhere, how can he walk around so casually? Tae Yujun couldn’t make sense of it. It felt disturbing and unsettling. He decided that avoiding the man was the safest option.

 

He attempted to walk past Won Hyuk, heading straight for the main road. Won Hyuk didn’t make any effort to physically stop him. But the single sentence he spoke was enough to freeze Tae Yujun in his tracks.

 

“Dr. Jang Junsik.”

 

His voice was calm, low, and precise—no emotion, no urgency. Tae Yujun’s heart sank.

 

Who the hell is this man to bring up Dr. Jang’s name?

 

“I wanted to talk to you about something related to Dr. Jang. But if you’re too busy, I suppose it can’t be helped.”

 

After a brief silence, Tae Yujun responded.

 

“…I don’t know what this is about, but I’ll listen.”

 

“It’s dangerous out here. Let’s talk in my car. Things might slow down at night, but you can never be too careful.”

 

“Alright. I’ll listen in your car.”

 

“Well, this way then.”

 

Won Hyuk spoke smoothly, his words slipping out like a snake slithering over a wall. Despite the deep unease gnawing at him, Tae Yujun found himself with no choice but to follow.

 

“All right. But… where’s the car?”

 

Won Hyuk led him to the side of the road, where a truck with a large banner reading “Delicious Sweet Potatoes” was parked.

 

It couldn’t possibly be that truck. Judging by the man’s expensive attire and imposing demeanor, he seemed like someone who would drive a foreign luxury car.

 

Tae Yujun looked around, scanning for a more fitting vehicle. But Won Hyuk simply shrugged and opened the passenger door of the truck.

 

“Get in.”

 

Then, he climbed into the driver’s seat. Feeling that the man and the vehicle were an odd mismatch, Tae Yujun reluctantly climbed into the passenger seat.

 

“…are you a sweet potato vendor?”