Apocalypse’s Teacher

Chapter 26

Improvisation is a Talent (3)

T h is wa s c op i e d f rom k i n g mtl . o r g
***

A few days had passed since that day.

Kang Ki-hyun and Jinwoo had returned to their usual selves as if nothing had happened, and the other kids were also maintaining their bright demeanor.

On such a day, Kang Ki-hyun, Jinwoo, and I ventured outside once more.

In a world where telling them to stay inside because it was dangerous wasn’t possible, we had no choice but to go out.

If we couldn’t immediately resupply, what awaited us was nothing short of horrendous starvation.

Starvation more agonizing than being shot or bitten by a zombie.

Do you know what happens when a person misses a meal?

First, after about 12 hours, which many might have experienced, your stomach growls.

Then, as your stomach tightens, you start feeling nauseous.

After another 12 hours, dry heaving begins.

It feels like stomach acid is refluxing up your throat.

After another 12 hours, it’s pure hell.

You can’t muster any strength.

Your mind becomes hazy.

Yet, your stomach roars for anything, tightening around your throat.

After another 12 hours, reaching 48 hours, you feel like you’d choke yourself if you don’t eat something.

I don’t know what happens after that.

T h i s wa s co p i e d f rom ki n g m t l . o rg
I haven’t experienced it myself.

But I’m certain the pain is more excruciating than being shot or having your flesh torn.

Starvation is that dreadful.

I don’t want the kids to experience that.

Having gone through it, I want to spare them such agony.

Call it my selfish desire, if you will.

But that’s what I felt.

That’s why we went out to find supplies.

Fortunately, we managed to find some decent preserved foods.

“…This should last two weeks.”

In the storage warehouse of a large supermarket, not just a convenience store.

Among the chaos, we found some canned goods left behind by someone who had already rummaged through the place.

Probably items they couldn’t carry due to limited space.

“If we ration, it could last three weeks.”

“Don’t starve the kids. We can just come out again.”

I replied to Kang Ki-hyun’s comment.

Kang Ki-hyun frowned at me briefly, then sighed and turned away.

She often showed that behavior.

Trying to ration and prepare for the future.

It was admirable and well-learned, but I didn’t think it was a good habit for living.

“When a person’s body is too exhausted, their mind shrinks. They can’t look around and start finding each other’s flaws, leading to fights and turning away from each other.”

I said this while reminiscing about the early days of the apocalypse.

“Some say it’s a world where grouping up means death, but humans are social animals. We support each other through understanding and consideration. So, don’t become too harsh.”

Having lived among such people, I could say this.

What I said wasn’t absolute truth, and there might come a time when such an approach is necessary, but now wasn’t that time.

As I stuffed the cans into my backpack, I finished my speech, and Kang Ki-hyun mumbled in response.

“…What an old geezer.”

When I glanced at her, she was pouting.

‘She looks like a kid when she’s like that.’

I couldn’t help but laugh.

Despite her words, she would remember what I said.

She was thoughtful and considerate far beyond me.

“Alright, I’m all set. How about you guys?”

“I’m ready,” Jinwoo replied with a smile.

Kang Ki-hyun nodded curtly.

I felt satisfied.

“Good, we’ve got everything… Let’s take a different route back. There were too many zombies on the way here.”

We had managed to avoid them by sneaking around, but it was foolish to return the same way with our supplies.

“I know a few routes in this area. Let’s go.”

One truth in this world: zombies aren’t an endless resource.

If their numbers increase in one place, they decrease elsewhere.

I had explained this countless times to the kids, and now they understood, nodding in agreement.

‘I taught them well.’

I felt a sense of pride.

***

As we headed back to the hideout, the unfamiliar route seemed to intrigue Kang Ki-hyun and Jinwoo, who kept looking around.

“It’s a shopping district.”

“Yeah, it used to be packed with people.”

“Before the virus, right?”

Jinwoo chuckled.

It seemed like he was talking about someone else’s story.

I understood.

‘He was just a kid back then, probably doesn’t remember much.’

T h i s w as c op i e d f ro m k i n g m t l. o r g
Jinwoo would have been around Dabin and Dayoon’s age when the apocalypse hit.

It’s understandable he wouldn’t have known much about the world at that age.

Feeling somewhat melancholic, I brightened my voice and continued.

“That game center over there. I used to go there often.”

I pointed with my chin to a game center with a tilted sign and a wrecked interior.

“Whenever I had an appointment nearby, I’d come an hour early to play fighting games.”

“Oh! I remember playing those before!”

“Really? Were you good?”

“Hmm, I wasn’t bad.”

Jinwoo shrugged.

I laughed, matching his energy.

“Maybe we should find one and ask Mr. Park to fix it.”

“What about the electricity?”

“We can ask him for a generator. He probably has one in his container.”

Jinwoo’s face lit up with expectation.

It was a joke, but now I was considering trying it.

Lost in such thoughts, we walked further.

As we passed the game center, Kang Ki-hyun, who had been silent, stopped.

“…”

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

I turned to see Kang Ki-hyun staring blankly at something.

“What are you looking at…”

I followed her gaze.

“…A music store.”

A music store was there.

The front glass was shattered, and a piano lay toppled inside.

“Oh, Jinwoo, look at that electric guitar. Someone must have used it as a weapon.”
T h i s wa s c o p ie d fr om k i ng mtl . o r g

“Yeah, it’s covered in blood and flesh.”

Despite our trivial conversation, Kang Ki-hyun remained dazed.

Curious, I looked closely at what she was staring at.

“What, an acoustic guitar? Is that what you’re looking at?”

Kang Ki-hyun flinched.

T h i s wa s c o pi ed f ro m ki n g mt l . o r g
“…No.”

Th i s w a s c o pi e d f ro m k i n g m tl . o rg
She tried to walk away, averting her gaze from the music store.

‘Really?’

Her shoulders were practically shouting that she had been looking at it.

I chuckled at her attempted lie and said,

T his w a s cop i ed f r o m k i n gm t l. o r g
“Should we take it?”

“…What?”

“The guitar. We can play it when we’re bored. We live on the top floor of the hotel, so noise isn’t an issue.”

Kang Ki-hyun’s eyes widened, then returned to normal.

No, they narrowed slightly.

“Do you know how to play?”

Her doubtful look poked at my pride.

She clearly didn’t trust me, but I wasn’t bad with a guitar.

“Of course, I was in a band in college.”
T h i s w a s c op i e d f ro m k in g m t l . or g

“Really?”

Jinwoo reacted.

I nodded affirmatively.

“Yeah, it was an electric guitar, but I can play acoustic too.”

I had learned guitar because my mentor said being in a band made you popular with girls.

Did it work?
T h i s w a s c o p ied f r om k i ng m tl .org

…If it did, I wouldn’t be here now.

“Wow…”
T h i s was c o p i e d f ro m k in g m t l . o r g

Jinwoo clapped.

I felt a surge of pride.

Looking at Kang Ki-hyun, I said,

“How about I play you a song?”

Kang Ki-hyun flinched again.

Then she frowned and blushed.

In a harsh tone, she cursed.

“…What bullshit.”

She turned away abruptly.

“Huh…”

I felt a mix of disbelief and amusement.

‘Bullshit, huh…’

Did Kang Ki-hyun realize?

She had just nudged my masculinity.

A forbidden word to say to a man.

“Jinwoo, let’s grab a guitar.”

“Huh? Oh, okay!”

Shock spread across Kang Ki-hyun’s face.

I snorted and entered the music store.

‘Let’s see…’

As I remembered some vivid songs and chords, I rummaged through the store.

End of Chapter