Apocalypse’s Teacher

Chapter 12

Survival is a serious matter (3)

***

Just as I expected, the northern outskirts were incredibly quiet, given how the zombies had concentrated around Jongno’s central area.

Of course, we occasionally encountered a few zombies here and there, but it wasn’t a big problem.

Crunch-!

Th i s was c o p i e d f r o m k ingm t l . o r g
With two people, we could just crush their skulls as we came across them.

It took more time, but it was better to handle them now while we were unhindered by baggage.

About thirty minutes later, we arrived at my hideout in the outskirts of Jongno. Ki-hyun looked puzzled.

“…A studio apartment?”

Her face showed doubt as she narrowed her eyes and looked at me.

“Is this place safe?”

“Of course, where else could be safer?”

I led Ki-hyun into an alley and lifted a pile of scattered boards, revealing a window—the only entrance to my hideout in the basement of the studio apartment.

“Studio apartments have complicated pathways, making it easy to run and hide in one-on-one situations. Of course, dealing with unexpected zombies can be daunting… but that’s manageable if you memorize the paths and check as you go.”

Creak.

The window opened with a metallic sound.

“Moreover, studio apartments have poor soundproofing. Sound and vibrations travel through the walls, confusing zombies. Ah, and people too.”

Ki-hyun’s face grew serious at my words, likely contemplating how to apply this to the hotel. However, the structure was different, so it was a pointless worry.

Still, the habit of thinking was good, so I let her be for a bit longer.

I laughed, watching her, then motioned for her to follow.

“Stop daydreaming and come in like I did.”

It wasn’t just a matter of climbing in. I had installed a slide-like ramp, so you had to slide in.

I demonstrated by sliding through the open window, then beckoned Ki-hyun to follow.

She swallowed nervously but followed suit.

“Welcome. You’re my hideout’s first guest.”

Ki-hyun looked around in amazement.

T h is w a s c o p i ed f ro m k i n g m tl . o r g
‘Well, I did a good job setting it up.’

I felt a swell of pride.

While Ki-hyun explored, I closed the window, drew the curtains, and quickly went over the essential items to take.

‘First…’

First aid supplies.

Disinfectants, antibiotics, ointments, bandages, and plasters.

Ah, and cold medicine too.
T h i s w a s c o pi e d fr o m ki n g mt l.or g

T h i s was c o pi e d fr o m k i ng m t l. or g
I had managed to get these from a pharmacist I knew among the vagrants.

‘I worked so hard to get these; I can’t leave them behind.’

The pharmacist had demanded ten cartons of cigarettes and twenty bottles of wine in exchange for the first aid supplies.

I nearly died multiple times collecting those, and the thought still made me shudder.

I smiled wryly at the memory, packed the medicines into a crossbody bag, and then checked what else to take.

‘Leave the heavy weapons.’

They were heavy and not very effective against zombies.

It was better to pack grenades and traps.

‘This, and this, and…’

As I gathered the weapons, Ki-hyun approached and began picking up grenades, mimicking my actions.

I asked just in case,

“You know how to use these, right?”

Flinch.

Ki-hyun’s eyes widened as if she’d seen a ghost, then she nodded.

So she didn’t know how to use them.

“If you can’t use them, give them to me.”

“I can…”

“You want to blow up with the bomb?”

The grenade was back in my hand immediately.

‘Look at this kid.’

She clearly didn’t want to die.

I chuckled, and Ki-hyun’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“…What.”
Th i s w a s c o p ied f r om k i n gm t l .o r g

“Nothing, let’s pack the next items.”

I stored the grenades in my coat and bulletproof vest, and organized the traps into a briefcase, pointing at the batteries and radio in the corner.

“These are must-haves.”

They were the most important items, more valuable than the first aid supplies.

“Why do we need to carry such heavy things?”

Ki-hyun frowned, and I realized she might not know what they were.

‘Oh, right, Ki-hyun might not know.’

She was a child when the world ended, so she might not know about radios and large batteries.

Back then, everything could be done with a smartphone, and TVs and computers were advanced enough that radios might be unfamiliar to her.

I tapped the radio and smiled as I explained,

“Radio and batteries. Essential for survival.”

“…Radio? This?”

“Yes, it’s your first time seeing one, right?”

A look of familiarity crossed Ki-hyun’s face, and she nodded.

“…I know what it is.”

She probably wanted to maintain some pride.

I chuckled at her consistent demeanor and added,
T hi s w a s c o p ie d f ro m k i n g mtl. or g

“From time to time, large shelters broadcast important events from transmission towers. The frequency is 107.9, so remember that.”

Ki-hyun’s brow furrowed slightly.

Understandable, given that the kids had escaped from a shelter.

“Even if you hate it, you need this information to avoid them.”

“…Got it.”

Though she didn’t look like she fully understood.

I hummed and then remembered another feature of the radio that Ki-hyun might like.

“Ah, and it has another function.”

I had stored it under the desk.

T h i s w as c o p i ed f r o m k in gmt l . o r g
“A function?”

Ah, found it.

I took out a CD and earphones and waved them in front of Ki-hyun.

“Music. You can listen to music with this.”

One of the few precious things left in this world.

A lifesaver for those contemplating suicide.

I plugged the earphones into the radio, placed them in Ki-hyun’s ears, and played a ballad CD.

[—]

The room was so quiet that the sound leaked slightly.

I hummed along, watching Ki-hyun’s reaction.

It was immediate.

…Much stronger than I expected.

“Huh, huh?”

She seemed flustered.

Ki-hyun’s face contorted in ways I had never seen before.

Her mouth slightly opened.

Her eyes widened as if they might tear, then lowered.

Her trembling fingertips gave me the odd feeling that I had touched something I shouldn’t have.

“Oh, sorry! I’ll turn it off…”

“Wait.”

T hi s w a s c o p i e d f r o m k i n g m tl . o rg
Ki-hyun grabbed my collar and stopped me.

“Just a moment… Just a moment.”

Her face looked like she was about to cry, making me feel awkward. I withdrew my hand.

Ki-hyun’s gaze lowered further.

I scratched the back of my neck and looked away.

‘Sigh…’

Ki-hyun was surprisingly sensitive.

I’ll have to make a note of that.

***

Despite the small incident, we successfully gathered the necessary items.

Of course, we couldn’t take everything; we only took what we could carry immediately.

‘We’ll move everything in two or three trips as needed.’

A satisfying outing.

The biggest win was getting the hidden alcohol and snacks.

“Ugh…!”

With a backpack on my back and the batteries and radio on my shoulders, I turned to Ki-hyun.

“You remember how to keep watch, right?”

Ki-hyun nodded.

Her face was still flushed, likely from the lingering effects of earlier, and she couldn’t look straight at me.

She must have been very embarrassed about crying in front of me.

This wasn’t the time to tease her.

A teenage girl’s sensitivity was very delicate and fragile.

I determinedly avoided looking at Ki-hyun’s red face and said,

“Let’s go. Tell me right away if you sense any danger.”

“…Okay.”

I am blind.

I am blind.

I am blind.

I repeated it three times in my mind, then started walking with Ki-hyun leading the way.

***

‘An hour, my foot.’

We arrived back in two and a half hours.

I placed the things we had brought back in the hotel lobby, exhausted.

“Ugh…”

I should have considered the weight of the baggage, and the fact that Ki-hyun was worse at directions than I was!

When I glared at Ki-hyun, she avoided my gaze.

It wasn’t because of the crying earlier.
T h is w a s co p i e d f r o m k i ngm t l .or g

It was because she had led us in the completely wrong direction.

‘It’s my fault…!’

I was to blame for not paying attention due to the weight of the baggage.

Sighing deeply in exhaustion, I noticed Ki-hyun’s shoulders trembling.

“…Good job.”

So that was the last bit of conscience.

I sighed briefly and said,

“Forget it. We’ll do better next time.”

The streets of Jongno were complicated.

Still, the important thing was we returned safely.

As I lay sprawled on the floor, catching my breath,

“Mister!!”

A lively, cheerful voice reached me.

I peeked up to see a little one with snow goggles on her head running toward me.

“Hyesung?”

It was Hyesung.

‘Is she welcoming me?’

Her open arms made me emotional.

I sprang to my feet.

I opened my arms wide for Hyesung.

“Hyesung!!!”

“Mister!!!”

Hyesung jumped into my arms.

A touching reunion.

“Snacks!”

Hyesung grinned widely.

“…Huh?”

“Give me snacks!”

The moment of emotion vanished like a mirage.

The sorrow of being the breadwinner swept over me.

I…

“…So, our Hyesung wants snacks?”

“Yes!”

…It’s okay.
T h i s w a s c op ie d fro m k i ng m t l . or g

I’m okay.

I’m okay.

I repeated it three times.

And I made a note in my mind.

Hyesung, one demerit point.

End of Chapter