ZFS Chapter 4

As Tae Yujun spoke cautiously, Won Hyuk immediately put on a serious expression.

 

“No. You see… my Jack Lauren was mercilessly trampled and crushed by a horde of zombies. It was a sturdy car, but with dozens of them climbing onto the roof and stomping away, there was no saving it.”

 

Won Hyuk spoke with regret.

 

“Ah…”

 

At times like this, should I offer some sympathy? Tae Yujun considered a comforting word but stopped himself.

 

“So, I stole an abandoned truck from the roadside. There was a box of sweet potatoes in the trunk. I didn’t throw it out, just in case. Food’s scarce in a world like this, after all.”

 

“I see. In any case, please tell me about Dr. Jang.”

 

Tae Yujun wanted to get to the point immediately.

 

A man who held information about him. A man with unclear intentions. Naturally, his caution kicked in, and his face unconsciously stiffened.

 

He had been repeatedly told to love his neighbor—words drilled into him over the years. He had tried to live by them. But now, given the circumstances, Tae Yujun was on edge.

 

“There’s no need to be so hostile. I only obtained these documents to confirm where you’ve been and what you’ve been doing.”

 

“Why are you looking for me?”

 

“Because I think you know where Dr. Jang is. I’m looking for him right now.”

 

“…!”

 

Tae Yujun was inwardly surprised. The man’s goal was to find Dr. Jang. In a way, their objectives aligned.

 

“I’ve heard that Dr. Jang Junsik is your godfather. More like a real father, from what I gather.”

 

“I don’t believe I’m obligated to answer that.”

 

“I don’t think there’s any falsehood in the information I’ve gathered. It looks like you two share a very close relationship.”

 

“Let’s assume that’s the case.”

 

“You even sent me mail recently, on behalf of Dr. Jang. All the way to the U.S., no less.”

 

The mention of mail immediately brought something to his mind. About two weeks ago, Dr. Jang had sent him a package. Inside were a letter and some snacks. Hidden within the snack box was a very small container, like a matryoshka doll. Dr. Jang had included an address and instructed him not to open the container, but to send it overseas as it was.

 

It was undoubtedly an address in New York, USA. However, the recipient’s name wasn’t this man, Won Hyuk—it was the name of a foreign woman instead.

 

“Didn’t you send it to Julie Anderson? That’s my secretary’s wife’s name. It’s also an alias sometimes used when sending me secret mail.”

 

“…Yes, that is indeed the name.”

 

The man had already figured everything out. Realizing that further lies would be pointless, Tae Yujun admitted it without resistance. He had provided a fake name and phone number as the sender, and even the address was fabricated.

 

But since he had sent the package from the post office right next to the monastery, it wasn’t surprising that the man had managed to trace it back. Tae Yujun let out a small sigh.

 

“Let me reintroduce myself. I’m the owner of a pharmaceutical company. The one in the U.S. was called No More. There, our headache medicine is quite well-known.”

 

“Headache medicine?”

 

“It’s imported to Korea, too. It’s called Daantax here. It’s famous for relieving headaches in under 10 minutes.”

 

When Daantax was first released, people raved about it, claiming it must have been crafted by God. Its remarkable efficacy even sparked rumors that someone who had suffered from excruciating headaches must have personally contributed to its development. Indeed, the medicine’s effectiveness was that extraordinary. Naturally, Yujun had heard of it before.

 

“You’re saying you’re the president of the company that makes that?”

 

“I’m glad you know us.”

 

Won Hyuk retrieved a small pill container from the inner pocket of his suit. The Daantax logo was clearly visible. He poured out a pill, tossed it into his mouth, and chewed it without water.

 

“I suffer from severe headaches, so I practically live on this stuff. A headache medicine company’s president being a chronic headache sufferer—it’s a bit ironic, isn’t it? Or maybe it makes perfect sense?”

 

“By the way, why have you been speaking informally to me this whole time?”

 

“Because I’m American. I don’t know how to speak formally.”

 

“Uhm… your nationality is American?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

For a moment, Tae Yujun gave him a brief look of disdain, clearly unimpressed with the American who seemed to have no sense of propriety.

 

“And one of the developers of this medicine is Dr. Jang Junsik. That’s how we became acquainted.”

 

“Dr. Jang developed the headache medicine?”

 

Hearing something he hadn’t known before, Tae Yujun’s eyes widened in astonishment.

 

“You didn’t even know about it?”

 

“…I had no idea. He speaks so little, after all.”

 

It was hard to believe there was a side of Dr. Jang that Tae Yujun didn’t know about. Hearing someone else talk about him felt both foreign and strangely intriguing.

 

“Anyway, I came to Korea to meet Dr. Jang because of the package’s contents. But I couldn’t get in touch with him at all. Then, a few days later, this damned situation happened. So, I figured you’d know where he is and started looking for you. Luckily, I found you in one shot, right in front of the monastery.”

 

Won Hyuk, who had taken his medication not long ago, felt the pressure in his head ease slightly. The migraines, inherited from his maternal side, struck at random, bringing constant irritation. Although it was his company’s product, it did the job well. Thanks to it, his mind cleared a little. Rubbing his temples, he muttered softly,

 

“It was worth getting through those damned zombies. Didn’t think it’d take three whole days and four nights, though.”

 

Tae Yujun now had a rough understanding of what was going on. The package likely contained something extremely confidential. Given that Dr. Jang’s research focused on specialized pharmaceutical medicines, the idea of sending a package to a pharmaceutical company seemed entirely reasonable.

 

And what if it held incredibly valuable information? If that were the case, it made sense that the company owner would travel all the way from overseas to handle things personally.

 

“I see.”

 

“Where is Dr. Jang now?”

 

Leaning against the steering wheel, Won Hyuk asked. His gaze, fixed firmly on Tae Yujun, was void of expression but carried the unmistakable pressure and silent intimidation of an alpha male. It felt as though he were silently saying, If you don’t tell me, there will be consequences, making Tae Yujun tense.

 

“I don’t know.”

 

“You don’t know? Someone as close to him as you?”

 

“I was also taken aback too because I lost contact with him.”

 

Tae Yujun replied honestly. There was no reason to lie and claim he knew someone’s whereabouts when, in reality, he didn’t.

 

“Are you telling the truth?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Then let me ask you one more thing. Why did you leave the monastery? Even a 3-year-old child would know that staying indoors is relatively safer.”

 

“That’s…”

 

Tae Yujun hesitated briefly before answering.

 

“I’m going to find the doctor.”

 

“Even though you don’t know where he is?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Won Hyuk stared sharply at Tae Yujun for a moment before letting go of the steering wheel.

 

“Fine. Go your way.”

 

“…go my way?”

 

“I’m searching for Dr. Jang, and since you, Tae Yujun, don’t know his location, there’s no point in continuing this conversation.”

 

His words weren’t wrong. Though his tone was cold, his logic was sound. Tae Yujun nodded, stepping out of the car without a word of farewell. Thud—the passenger door closed behind him, leaving him standing alone on the quiet road. The chilly November wind brushed against his ears.

 

Tae Yujun turned away from the truck and started walking. He checked a signpost and headed toward Yeouido, taking deliberate steps. The main road stretched straight ahead, making his path easy, but the dense alleys on either side felt unnerving. He couldn’t shake the feeling that a monster might leap out from one of them at any moment.

 

With heightened vigilance, his progress was slow. The more he replayed his conversation with Won Hyuk, the greater the discomfort within him grew. His thoughts weighed heavy.

 

A man coming all the way from abroad to find the doctor. This doesn’t sound like a good sign. What did Dr. Jang send him? Could it be related to the new drug he was reportedly researching? Not long before losing contact, Dr. Jang had said something cryptic. Could it be connected to this man’s visit?

 

Lost in thought, he suddenly heard a noise from the alley to his right. More precisely, the unmistakable sound of a zombie—a low, guttural kuwehh.

 

“…!”

 

A shiver ran down his spine, cold sweat forming on his forehead. Could it really be a zombie? He hadn’t seen a single one on his way here.

 

Tae Yujun quickly ducked into a nearby alley, hoping to avoid detection. Moments later, the monster staggered into view. Tae Yujun’s mouth dropped open in disbelief. The sight before him was unfathomable.

 

The zombie, creaking with each distorted step, was Antonio.

 

Even with his eyes missing and his face grotesquely altered, he was still recognizable.

 

The long black cassock reaching his knees, his unusually tall and gaunt frame, his pale, closely cropped hair. And the rosary necklace—Tae Yujun’s gift to him last Christmas—still hung around his neck.

 

I hadn’t even been out for an hour. What on earth happened in there? Tae Yujun wanted to grab Antonio and ask him, but Antonio had already lost his senses, emitting only strange noises. A chill crawled up his spine.

 

Tae Yujun felt like crying. But Antonio—or rather, the zombie that had once been Antonio—didn’t seem like him anymore. Sniffing the air as if searching for a human scent, it walked directly toward Tae Yujun. With every step, Tae Yujun felt his chest tighten, as though he had forgotten how to breathe. He stood there trembling.

 

“Kraaah, guaah…!”

 

“…Brother Antonio.”

 

“Kaagh! Guaa!”

 

Hearing the sound, the monster swung its arms toward Tae Yujun.

 

It wasn’t as fast or agile as the monsters Tae Yujun had encountered on the first day, but Antonio’s movements were slow and grotesque, his limbs twisting unnaturally. As he drew closer, his mouth gaped wide, revealing an interior as dark as the entrance to hell.

 

There was a kitchen knife in Tae Yujun’s bag. And Antonio was slow enough to confront. Having recently left the military, Tae Yujun had been training his body every day, tired of the teasing about his delicate features. Despite his slender frame, he prided himself on his endurance and quick reflexes. In other words, he knew he could take Antonio down if he really wanted to.

 

But it was too difficult. He couldn’t do it. Antonio may have turned into a zombie, but not long ago, he had been a cherished brother, with whom Tae Yujun had shared bread. How could he kill someone like that?

 

“Brother, I don’t want to kill you.”

 

Tae Yujun murmured, as if in prayer. Even as the monster drooled, eyeing him like a delicious meal, Tae Yujun only shook his head, his tear-streaked face flushed red. He couldn’t even bring himself to reach for the knife in his bag anymore.

 

What good would come of killing someone he knew? Hell was probably all that awaited him.

 

A tear formed at the corner of his eye. Tae Yujun closed his eyes. Whatever was to come, he resolved to accept it. A prayer began spilling from his lips as he clutched the rosary cross around his neck tightly. What was the point of it all? The thought lingered, but he couldn’t stop praying. He whispered the last verse of his prayer, feeling Antonio’s eerie noises grow louder and closer.

 

Then it happened.

 

Bang.

 

With that sound, warm, sticky blood splattered across Tae Yujun’s face and shirt.