Apocalypse’s Teacher

Chapter 24

Improvisation is a Talent

***

“What are you doing?”

Mr. Park’s words as he arrived the next day.

I replied curtly.

“Again.”

He dressed up again.

He showed up looking like a person once more.

‘Look at those shaving marks.’

It was clear as day.

It was obvious he shaved just before coming out.

My expression soured even more.

Mr. Park’s face mirrored mine.

He said,

“What the hell.”

“Nothing, but what’s that in your hand?”

“Oh, this?”

Mr. Park was holding a black plastic bag.

When I showed interest in it, he shook the bag and said,

“Cola.”

My mood instantly lifted.

“Huh? Cola? Do you have one for me too?”

“No, I don’t have one for you.”

I was down again.

Mr. Park started laughing.

Then he pulled out a bottle of cola from the bag and handed it to me.

“Just kidding, kid. Why is a grown man sulking?”

I knew it was a joke.

Of course, with all the years we’ve known each other, he wouldn’t forget my share.

I accepted the cola bottle from Mr. Park with a brightened face.

“As expected, only you take care of me, bro.”

“Bullshit… Are the kids inside?”

“Yeah, Dayoon has been waiting for you. She seems bored after finishing her homework.”

“Huh? She finished all of it? I gave it to her to think about for a week.”

When I nodded, Mr. Park’s face filled with astonishment.

T h i s w a s c o p i ed f ro m ki n g m tl . o rg
“No way… I just gave her the problems without teaching anything.”

Even though he was clearly shocked, Mr. Park’s reaction was understandable.

There were times when Dayoon’s words surprised even me.

“Stop talking and go in. Dayoon’s been waiting eagerly.”

“What about you?”

“I’m planning to go out while you’re here. We’re running low on supplies.”

“Ah.”

Mr. Park’s expression suggested he just realized, ‘So you do that too.’

It was annoying, but what could I do?

From Mr. Park’s perspective, it was none of his business.

“I should’ve learned a trade…”

Mr. Park was a high-level chemical technician.

Wherever he went, he was welcomed with open arms, and people lined up as clients.

I knew he had a truckload of supplies from dealing with those clients.

Jealousy crept into my gaze.

Mr. Park smirked and said,

“You’re too dumb to learn.”

“You old man!”

Mr. Park laughed heartily.

Just as I was about to retort in anger,

“Mister! We’re back!”

Jinwoo and Ki-hyun approached.

Both Mr. Park and I turned to the kids.

“Oh, you’re back.”

“Yes! Sorry we’re late… Oh, hello.”

Noticing Mr. Park, Jinwoo bowed, and Ki-hyun followed with a nod.

“You’re here to see Dayoon, right?”

“Yes, I brought cola. Want some?”

“Oh! Thank you. We’ll drink it later since we have to go out now.”

Jinwoo’s face lit up.

It reminded me of the previous day’s events.

Jinwoo had knelt before me, begging me to forget about the magazine incident.

‘He’s really fine now.’

He promised on both his testicles to keep it a secret, and seeing him relieved and cheerful was so like Jinwoo.

While I was lost in thought, Jinwoo and Ki-hyun finished their greetings and started opening the door.

Th is w a s c o pi ed f r o m k i n g m tl . or g
“Well then, Mr. Park. I’ll be off.”

“Okay.”
T h i s wa s cop i e d f r o m k i n g mtl. o rg

Mr. Park waved his hand as I was about to leave.
T h i s w a s c o p i e d fr o m k in g m t l. or g

“Oh, wait a minute.”

Mr. Park called out to me.

“What’s up?”

“Avoid the west side.”

“Huh?”

“Recently, the Mapo Shelter people have been searching around there. You don’t want to cause any trouble.”

Mapo Shelter.

He meant the Mapo Shelter folks.

Mr. Park’s words made me tilt my head, and then last week’s events flashed through my mind.

‘…Now that I think about it.’

Those people who had a brief conversation with me before leaving were from Mapo Shelter.

-Hey! Did you find it?

I clearly remembered.

They seemed to be looking for something.

As I pondered, Mr. Park’s face turned pale as he spoke.

“Hey, hey… No way.”

“I saw them last week.”

“Shit!”

“They didn’t do much. Just talked to me and left.”

Mr. Park’s face showed sheer exasperation.

“…You’re really something else.”

His expression was both exasperated and impressed.

I scratched the back of my head, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“Anyway, I’ll be careful. Keep an eye on the kids until I get back.”

“…Yeah, you’re not a kid. Do what you have to. Take care.”

T h i s w a s co p i e d fr o m k i n g m t l .o r g
Mr. Park trudged into the hotel.

I shook my head.

‘How can someone be so faint-hearted?’

I wondered how he managed to live in that container graveyard.

I watched Mr. Park walk in like a model, then shook my head and turned to the kids.

“Let’s go.”
T hi s w as c o p i ed f r o m k in g m t l. o r g

“Yes!”

“…”
T h i s wa s c o p ie d f r o m k in g m t l . o r g

Jinwoo and Ki-hyun naturally flanked me on either side.

It had been a while since we had group activity.

For some reason, I felt a sense of reassurance as we left the hotel.

***

Although I called it an exploration, in this world, gathering supplies was nothing grand.
T h i s w as co p i e d fr om k i n g mt l . or g

It was just wandering around looking for remnants of civilization, scavenging convenience stores like starving hyenas.

People familiar with it would understand.

Indeed.

Finding food in the middle of the city was almost like plucking stars from the sky.

T h i s w as c o p ie d from k i n gm tl .o rg
The place where Ki-hyun and I wrestled during our first encounter was an exceptionally rare case.

“This place is a bust too.”

I clicked my tongue, and Ki-hyun frowned.

“…Damn it.”

“Hey, watch your mouth.”

Ki-hyun flipped me off.

Honestly, her temper was worryingly foul.

“You have no manners with adults.”

“So what?”

“Wow?”

Ki-hyun pursed her lips.

Unlike our first meeting, I didn’t coddle her, so she was at a loss for words.

Kicking an empty can lying around, she seemed awfully frustrated.

I wanted to tease her out of mischief, but I held back.

‘Ki-hyun sulks for a long time.’

Was it last week?

I had jokingly said, ‘We have a future rock star here!’ to Ki-hyun, who spent the whole day lying down listening to music, and she didn’t talk to me for three days.

What am I trying to say?

Don’t mess with the delicate sensibilities of a teenage girl.

“Well, shall we head to the next location?”

Trying to lighten the awkward atmosphere, I said so, and Jinwoo smiled awkwardly while Ki-hyun clicked her tongue.

‘She could be a bit more cooperative…’

I was starting to feel a bit resentful.

As we finished sweeping the corner convenience store and prepared to leave,

Rumble—

A chilling noise reached my ears.

I wasn’t the only one who heard it.

Ki-hyun froze.

Jinwoo held his breath.

Our gazes met.

Just as Jinwoo was about to say something, I quickly placed a finger over my lips.

“Shh.”

Jinwoo fell silent.

I listened closely to the sound.

Rumble—

Outside the convenience store.

Not far away.

It could easily be dismissed as a passing zombie, but the three of us immediately silenced our presence.

It was a survival instinct honed from living in this world for five years.

‘…The sound is different.’

It wasn’t just a zombie’s groan.

It was a deeper, boiling sound.

Thump.

Thump.

My heart started pounding.

I carefully motioned for the kids to move toward the convenience store warehouse.

They cautiously approached me.

They passed by me and entered the warehouse.

Still holding their breaths.

I pushed the kids further inside the warehouse and slowly backed in, locking the door behind me.

Click.

A very small sound.

But it seemed to be a problem.

Bang!

Something charged at the door with a deafening crash.

The kids flinched.

They covered their mouths, desperately trying to hold their breaths.

I did the same.
T h i s was c op ie d f rom k ing m tl.org

Goosebumps rose all over my body.

A chilling fear gripped me.

The noise subsided.

Swallowing nervously, I slowly peeked through the window in the door.

I gripped my monkey wrench tighter.

I tried to calm my racing heart as I looked outside.

“Rumble—”

‘It’ met my eyes.

‘Gasp…!’

It wasn’t a metaphor.

There were eyes.

Eyes that focused in one direction.

Rolling eyes that seemed to respond to visual stimuli.

It looked at me, then slightly to the side.

Then below the door.

I realized something strange.

Despite making eye contact, it didn’t seem to see me.

After a moment of contemplation, the answer came.

‘…A two-way mirror.’

The window in the convenience store door was a two-way mirror.

Realizing that, I slowly exhaled.

End of Chapter