EP 8. D+1
After one of the most thrilling nights of my life passed, Aunt Hyeyeon and I returned to the harsh reality of the "zombie apocalypse" and had a breakfast of salad and bread.
Every time I looked at Aunt's face, my heart pounded because of what happened last night, and she too, more stiff than usual, picked up her salad and brought it to her mouth.
Whether it was because of the zombie apocalypse or the incident in the morning, I didn't know, but I couldn't just sit and endure the uncomfortable atmosphere that had settled over the table.
"Aunt, you said yesterday we should use up the perishable food before the power goes out, right?"
"Yes, I did."
"Then how about we have some meat for dinner? The electricity's still on, so if we use the air fryer there won't be much smell or noise."
"That sounds good. Hmm… I'll prepare some meat for dinner then."
Even in dire situations, food-especially meat, which is always a top favorite-is a topic that grabs anyone's attention.
As I brought it up, Aunt's face relaxed a bit and the mood seemed to improve.
But only for a moment.
When our eyes met, she cleared her throat and lowered her head a little.
Then, as her pale face and neck gradually turned red, it felt like a signal not to talk to her any further.
So the table was once again shrouded in uncomfortable silence.
My chest felt tight, but strangely, I also felt a kind of satisfaction? Excitement? Something like that.
This situation was uncomfortable, but I figured it was probably because Aunt had seen my morning wood so obviously.
'Well… it'll get better with time. Besides, it seems like Aunt is thinking about me too…'
After we finished a simple breakfast,
Aunt Hyeyeon and I started gathering all the new information that had come up overnight.
We wanted to collect as much information as possible while electricity and the internet were still working.
That would be much more advantageous for survival.
So we spent about an hour combing through the internet, overflowing with rumors and attention-seeking posts.
Cross-checking what we each found, we learned a few new facts.
Summing them up:
With the declaration of martial law, the president and government leadership moved to Jeju Island. They are currently trying to restore national functions. (Proven by a government briefing streamed live on NewTube.)
All operational military units have moved to the Nakdong River defense line, abandoning Seoul and other fallen cities.
Zombies attack all uninfected "animals" except themselves.
In bright daylight, zombies' ability to visually identify targets is reduced. (e.g., a video of a cat carefully passing through zombies.)
Based on #4, it's assumed that even at night, a bright light like a flare can temporarily blind zombies.
'Reduced vision in strong light… So do they react more to sound and movement than to objects themselves?'
By the time we finished gathering new information about the government, military, and zombie characteristics, Aunt, who was researching on her tablet, suddenly showed me a video.
"Minwoo, look at this."
"Huh? What is it? Oh?"
Despite the awkwardness all morning, Aunt handed me the tablet in her usual manner.
Immediately, I saw a community site logo and a provocative title.
[Right now, National Assembly members are getting justice in real time.]
[Video 01:32]
We were trapped during a zombie outbreak in the main chamber, but some idiot tried to escape alone and moved the barricade, so it got breached, fuck.
I'm on the second floor and scared shitless.
→ Isn't the guy who gets his neck bitten at 25 seconds Kim Moosik? Dude never worked, just played golf, serves him right lol.
→ (Author) Yeah, that's him.
→ What's your job that you're in the National Assembly?
→ (Author) I'm an aide. For reference, my assemblyman is getting eaten there too.
…→ Everyone, this is God's punishment and your last chance! Repent, all of you…
→ Why are you bringing your god into this shitshow?
The main chamber of the National Assembly, so familiar from the news.
The video showed several lawmakers being torn apart by zombies in the very place where brawls were a regular occurrence.
'Hmm… legislature OUT.'
Honestly, in a zombie apocalypse, they were useless anyway, so I felt no sympathy watching them get devoured.
If anything, I felt a bit of satisfaction seeing the pigs who only ever looked out for themselves getting slaughtered.
Most of the comments were similarly gleeful.
'Serves them right.'
After watching the video of the National Assembly descending into chaos,
We had lunch with bread that was just about to expire and took a short break.
I used the time to start thinking about our survival strategy.
Naturally, my thoughts turned to "resources."
'I don't know how many survivors are left, but what's certain is that securing supplies will be most important from now on. With outside supply cut off, resources in Seoul are limited…'
Seoul had essentially become an "island."
That meant fierce competition among survivors for the remaining resources in the city.
And whoever secured the most resources would clearly have the upper hand in both survival and power.
'There's a reason Immortan Joe in Mad Max was the boss-he controlled the water and food… Oh!'
As I was thinking about other post-apocalypse movies,
MILF Collector.
I came up with an idea using the "shelter" function.
A business item using the virtually endless supply of water and electricity.
'If I upgrade the shelter and use the water and electricity to run a kind of exchange center… I might not have to risk scavenging at all?'
Right now, water and electricity are still running, and there are probably batteries and bottled water left in supermarkets.
But as time passes, the value of clean water and electricity will skyrocket.
'Looks like you can upgrade multiple bases. Maybe I could even rent out rooms…'
As I considered selling gas and heating too, I realized this was basically the hospitality industry.
A safe house in the middle of a zombie-infested city, with guaranteed water, electricity, gas, and heating.
Even with no business experience, it sounded pretty plausible.
I could already picture the exchange center bustling with people and multiple rooms being used, but then I realized I'd need "force."
A facility offering this level of service would definitely attract not just troublemakers but countless robbers.
And in this ruined world, "law" was useless; "violence" that could smash someone's head in would become "justice."
'Yeah… To run an exchange center or a hotel, I'd need overwhelming force, and it's a bit much for just Aunt and me.'
As I was wondering how to secure the "force" needed to keep the business going,
Aunt Hyeyeon, who had been half-lying on the sofa, sat up.
Then, in a serious tone, she asked me a question.
"Minwoo, I'm going to take a shower… Is that okay?"
"Huh?"
"I mean… water makes noise, so I was worried zombies might be attracted by the sound."
"That shouldn't be a problem. The master bathroom is pretty far from the entrance, and our place is well soundproofed."
"Really? Then I'd better shower while the water's still running. Who knows when it'll get cut off."
Relieved by my answer, Aunt got up with a bright face and headed to the master bedroom.
Then, as she was swaying her always-mouthwatering 40-inch butt, she suddenly stopped.
"Minwoo, you're going to shower too, right?"
"M-me?"
"Yeah. You should wash up before the water's cut off."
"Yeah, I should."
"Okay, then. I'll shower quickly and let you take your turn."
"Oh… You can take your time."
For a moment, I misunderstood Aunt's question as an invitation to shower together.
Soon after, I realized I'd been fantasizing for nothing, and my face grew hot with embarrassment.
Then Aunt, watching me, gave me a playful smile and said,
"What, what? Does our Minwoo want to shower with Aunt?"
"No, I'm not a kid…"
"Aww… I thought I'd scrub my cute nephew's back for the first time in a while."
A little later,
She went into the master bedroom with a mischievous grin.
As I watched her go, I muttered regretfully,
"Ugh… I should've just said yes… No, Aunt was joking, so if I'd agreed, it would've been weird."
It was a moment where the thought that I'd missed an important opportunity clashed with reason.
Why does it feel like I'm sweating from my eyes?
Click.
Leaving her dazed nephew behind, Lee Hyeyeon went into the master bedroom.
Then, pressing her forehead, she scolded herself.
"What? Shower together? Lee Hyeyeon, you're really crazy…"
She was flustered by the joke that had slipped out without her realizing it.