ZFS Chapter 9

Won Hyuk turned around and began striding forward. Amid the silence, his large frame moved steadily toward the table laden with food, naturally drawing the bald man’s gaze.

 

“And who are you? Want to join the group? You look useful enough.”

 

“Not interested in that nonsense.”

 

“What?”

 

Thwack. Won Hyuk struck the bald man’s nose dead center. Blood flowed freely from both of the man’s nostrils.

 

Tae Yujun was stunned. So, that’s what he meant by changing their way of thinking? He was flustered, but before he could intervene, the situation had already shifted in Won Hyuk’s favor.

 

“Y-You little punk…!”

 

The bald man swung his thick fist wildly, but Won Hyuk blocked it effortlessly, as if it were nothing more than a feather.

 

“U-Urgh…!”

 

The man growled and exerted his strength against Won Hyuk, but the latter remained completely unshaken, his calm expression unwavering. Veins bulged on the bald man’s scalp, and his lackeys, intimidated, stepped back cautiously.

 

“Hey! What’s your problem?! Got an issue with the rules we established ourselves?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“And what are you gonna do about it if you do?! If we keep sharing the food equally, it’ll just get us all killed at the same time! They say they’re coming, that damn rescue teams keep postponing their arrival, 911 doesn’t even answer! And the news tells us to just shut up and stay locked in the bunker! Survival of the fittest is the only way!”

 

The bald man shouted furiously. Tae Yujun understood the meaning behind his words—survival of the fittest. A selfish belief that the strong and powerful deserve to live while the weak perish. It was a revolting mindset that made Tae Yujun sick to his stomach.

 

“And who are you to decide who survives?”

 

“I’m the boss here, that’s who!”

 

“Fucking ridiculous.”

 

Won Hyuk let out a scoff and twisted the bald man’s wrist.

 

“Aaagh!”

 

Taken aback, the bald man screamed, clutching his wrist and hopping up and down in pain. Despite his pained expression, as if he were about to die from it, he yelled furiously.

 

“Hey! Can you take responsibility for this? Our supplies are limited!”

 

Tae Yujun bit his lip. The elderly and vulnerable members of Group 3 were trembling in fear, letting out weak cries. These cruel, beast-like men—they were worse than the monsters outside. Tae Yujun couldn’t stand by and watch.

 

“Then we just need to make them unlimited.”

 

Tae Yujun spoke clearly. His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried weight. Instantly, everyone’s gaze turned toward him.

 

“What… What did you say? How? You’re not seriously suggesting we redistribute the supplies, are you?!”

 

The bald man and his lackeys asked, flustered. Tae Yujun responded firmly.

 

“Anyway, Group 1, you all already monopolized the supplies. Taking them by force would make me no better than you. So, I’ll go out and bring back enough food for everyone. Let’s distribute it fairly.”

 

The members of Groups 2 and 3 covered their mouths in shock.

 

“Wh-What? You’re going outside?”

 

“Yes, I will. I’ll go and secure food. Please trust me.”

 

“Oh, please…”

 

Kim Eun-jin clasped her hands as if in prayer, burying her face in them. As a member of Group 3, she hadn’t had a proper meal since the ordeal began. Her hands trembled weakly.

 

“Ha, you think you’re so great. Fine, go ahead! Try doing it yourself!”

 

The bald man and his lackeys feigned bravado and started distributing food. While people from Groups 1 and 2 lined up for rations, Won Hyuk approached Tae Yujun.

 

“Father. How’d I do?”

 

“You were incredibly brave.”

 

“But, Father, you mentioned something about the food. Do you have a plan?”

 

“Yes, I do.”

 

“You’re not planning to share our sweet potatoes, right? Those are for us to roast and enjoy together, just me and you, Father.”

 

“…I’m well aware that those won’t feed dozens of people.”

 

“Then what’s your plan?”

 

“There’s a Bangsan Market in Euljiro not far from here. It’s full of wholesale food marts. If we go there, we’re bound to find supplies.”

 

“Hold on. And how do you plan on getting there?”

 

At Won Hyuk’s question, Tae Yujun hesitated briefly, then awkwardly held out his hand.

 

“…could I borrow your truck keys, brother?”

 

Won Hyuk folded his arms and shook his head.

 

“You want to borrow my truck? No way. Father, what would I do if you run off? We’re supposed to stick together, remember?”

 

“It’s not a distance we can cover on foot. Please, I’m begging you.”

 

Tae Yujun put on a pleading expression. From Won Hyuk’s towering vantage point, the shadows of his long eyelashes stood out starkly, as did his slightly trembling lips and the way his throat bobbed when he swallowed.

 

“Ahem. When Father pleads in such a divine way, I almost feel like softening up. But there are way too many zombies outside—it’s insanely dangerous.”

 

“Can’t you help me, just a little, brother?”

 

“Well, maybe if Father offers me a little reward…”

 

Won Hyuk pretended to hesitate.

 

Tae Yujun silently cursed him. He’s clearly fed up with the bald man, yet he’s holding back for some other reason. First, he wanted to strike a deal before taking action, and now he’s outright asking for a reward. Tae Yujun couldn’t guess what was on his mind, but his next words were unexpected.

 

“If I ask you to touch me, will you do it? How about that?”

 

Won Hyuk looked Tae Yujun up and down, then placed a finger under his chin with a sly grin. Tae Yujun froze in surprise. Touch him? Where?

 

“What are you talking about now?”

 

“When Father touches me, my headaches vanish, and I feel so refreshed—way better than any painkiller, hundreds of times more effective than Daantax.”

 

“Seriously?”

 

“Yup. At first, I thought I’d ask just once, but now I’m thinking… What if you became my personal pain reliever? Of course, if you’re willing, you can touch anywhere more than just my head.”

 

Won Hyuk lightly stroked Tae Yujun’s cheek. Tae Yujun blinked up at him.

 

“So here’s the deal. I’ll lend you the truck, stick with you through thick and thin, and beat up that bald guy whenever you want. In return, you just need to pet me occasionally. Fairly generous offer, right?”

 

How could this even make sense? In this chaotic world, trading a simple touch for a vehicle and security seemed absurd. He was honestly shocked, but Tae Yujun had no reason to refuse.

 

“Fine.”

 

“Great, deal sealed.”

 

Won Hyuk stretched his neck with a loud crack from side to side.

 

“Let’s get ready to head out, Father.”

 

---

 

The two waited until the late hours of the night. Tae Yujun set aside his casual clothes and changed into a cassock. The Roman collar style elegantly wrapped around his neckline, while the flowing fabric draped below his knees, adding an air of ascetic dignity. Around his neck, he wore a rosary cross.

 

Seminarians typically weren’t allowed to wear cassocks freely until ordination. At most, they could wear them for special occasions. Yet, his decision to wear it now was a deliberate display of his resolve.

 

I must not forget that I am His son. No matter what happens, I walk with God. His actions were born from this conviction. He wore the cassock intentionally as he left, determined to stay connected to God, even for a moment. The rosary cross was carefully chosen for the same reason.

 

Members of Group 3 escorted them to the door. Kim Eun-jin greeted Tae Yujun with a worried expression.

 

“Please return safely.”

 

“Thank you for stepping up. May you return unharmed.”

 

A woman in her 30s, holding a young child, stood nearby, her eyes welling with tears. They looked as though they hadn’t had even a bowl of thin porridge. Tae Yujun, seeing them, became even more resolute.

 

“I promise to bring back food. Peace be with you.”

 

He made a small sign of the cross and prayed silently.

 

Sed libera nos a malo, Amen. (But deliver us from evil, Amen.)

 

Without saying much, Won Hyuk turned and unlocked the bunker. As before, they climbed two flights of stairs, entered the code, and stepped out into the night.

 

Clunk. The outermost door opened, and the crisp night air brushed against Tae Yujun’s cheeks. Inwang Mountain loomed in the distance, faintly illuminated by the crescent moon. Since it was midnight, the streets were dark and devoid of zombies for now.

 

Still, not taking any chances, the two scanned their surroundings carefully and slipped out of the bunker.

 

“Let’s run straight to the truck.”

 

Won Hyuk took the lead, sprinting toward his parked truck. Tae Yujun quickly followed and climbed into the passenger seat. Starting the engine cautiously, they drove off slowly.

 

After a while, Tae Yujun asked a question that had been on his mind.

 

“How are you so good at fighting? Anyone who sees your moves would think you were a professional fighter.”

 

He glanced at Won Hyuk’s shoulders, arms, and chest muscles—broad and solid like those of a fighter. Despite his own military service and consistent exercise, the difference between them was too great.

 

“I mentioned before that I used to be a car racer, right? Racing doesn’t seem like it, but it requires a ton of physical fitness. They made me train like crazy.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yeah. I did boxing and followed all the routines that MMA fighters do. The muscles I built back then haven’t faded.”

 

“Hmmm… I didn’t know car racers went to such lengths. I guess strong muscles are essential for that, huh?”

 

“Here, feel my abs.”

 

Won Hyuk grabbed Tae Yujun’s hand and placed it on his stomach, making him touch it. Tae Yujun, startled, tried to pull his hand away, but Won Hyuk’s grip was firm, leaving him no choice but to feel his abs.

 

“Uh… This isn’t just firm—it’s like stone.”

 

“You need this much to survive crashing into a wall while driving. If you crash into a wall at 340 kilometers per hour, the impact is enormous.”

 

“That makes sense.”

 

 

First, his face, and now his stomach. Feeling awkward, Tae Yujun subtly pulled his hand away. For some reason, his fingertips tingled with warmth.