Even Zombies Have Fandoms

Chapter 27

“To find a safe and clean place where we can lay down a patient, it might be best to go somewhere other people are staying.”

“But where can we find such a place right now? And…”

What if those people are bad?

Kyungho swallowed the rest of his words. He realized he was just complaining, saying he didn’t like this or that, without being able to solve anything.

Seokjae raised the corners of his mouth gently, as if he understood Kyungho completely, and pointed to a building with his index finger.

“The parking lot in front of that hotel was blocked by large vehicles. They probably blocked it to keep zombies out. A hotel should have many rooms. If not, we can ask to stay in the lobby at least.”

“Hyung… will it be okay?”

“If we hand over all the food we have, they might let us stay for one night. Ah, we should give Junwoo his medicine before we go in, so they don’t take it away.”

“Hyung…”

Kyungho was deeply moved by Seokjae’s magnanimous attitude, willing to give up everything even when every can of food was precious for Junwoo’s sake.

“Hyung, I’ll definitely repay this kindness.”

“What? What kindness? I’m doing this for myself.”

When Kyungho spoke as if making a pledge, Seokjae laughed softly with an expression that suggested he had heard something quite amusing.

“Hyung, you’re really an angel.”

“You don’t seem to believe me. I’m telling you, I’m doing this for myself.”

It was only natural that Kyungho was moved once again by this sincere response.

After making sure Junwoo swallowed the medicine, Seokjae handed the water and medicine he was holding to Kyungho.

“Here. You keep these.”

“M-me?”

“Yes. I think it’s better if you hold onto them instead of me. Hide them well inside.”

“Y-yes.”

Although he wasn’t sure if there was really a better person to hold mere medicine and water, Kyungho nodded solemnly without asking for a reason, feeling that Seokjae was entrusting him with something important.

“Shall we go now?”

“Yes, hyung.”

They decided that Seokjae would carry Junwoo on his back since he couldn’t properly support himself.

The three headed towards the hotel with its brightly lit sign. There were zombies wandering here and there along the way, but they were few enough to count on one hand, so they easily avoided their eyes and reached the front of the building.

However, the main entrance of the hotel was blocked from the inside with various pieces of furniture. The mountain of furniture conveyed the survivors’ firm resolve not to let anyone in.

“W-what should we do? It looks like we can’t get in.”

As Kyungho said, there seemed to be no way for the three of them to enter through the main entrance. Kyungho, still reluctant to give up, knocked on the locked entrance once and then made a sad face.

“There must be a separate passage they use. After all, they’ll have to come out to look for food eventually. Let’s go that way.”

Seokjae quickly scanned the surroundings of the building, nodded towards the back, and started walking. After circling around the outskirts for a while, they found a revolving door in a corner at the back of the building.

“Hyung, there’s another door!”

Kyungho ran over with a brightened face but stopped his feet as he approached the revolving door. Although less fortified than the main entrance, this side was also blocked with chairs and tables.

“Hyung, here too…”

Ignoring the disappointed Kyungho, Seokjae approached the revolving door. He extended one arm and gently pushed the door as if measuring something. Since it was probably the passage used by the survivors, it seemed the furniture was simply piled up, not fixed anywhere, so it could be quickly cleared when needed.

“Kyungho.”

“Y-yes?”

When he pushed a little harder, the furniture shook. Seeing this, Seokjae called Kyungho. Kyungho, who had been looking dejected, snapped to attention at Seokjae’s call and quickly stood behind him.

“Try carrying Junwoo on your back.”

“What?”

Seokjae passed Junwoo, whom he had been carrying, to Kyungho. Although confused, Kyungho diligently received Junwoo and put him on his own back.

After confirming that Kyungho had properly taken Junwoo, Seokjae positioned himself in front of the revolving door and placed both hands on it.

“Stand back a bit. It could be dangerous if the glass breaks.”

“Hyung, you’re not going to push that, are you?”

“Yes.”

Seokjae gave a short answer to Kyungho’s question, which seemed to imply it was impossible. He firmly planted his feet on the ground and applied force to his arms to push the revolving door. As the veins in his forearms began to bulge one by one, the furniture inside started to move little by little.

Screech.

The sound of marble tiles being scratched echoed as the friction from pushing something about the weight of a large refrigerator was created.

Soon, a gap appeared. It was a gap wide enough for two people to pass through. Thinking this should be enough, Seokjae let out a light breath and straightened his body. Then he gestured to Kyungho, who had obediently stepped back a few paces as told.

“Let’s go in.”

“…Wow. Hyung, you were really like a bull.”

“What?”

Brushing off Kyungho’s admiration with a short chuckle, Seokjae led the way into the hotel with familiarity.

“It-it’s a compliment, hyung! I mean you looked really strong…”

“Hmm.”

Only after seeing his dry reaction did Kyungho realize that his words might have sounded strange, and he elaborated as he followed. All he got in response was a low rumble in the throat, but Kyungho mumbled while watching for his reaction.

“I-I mean it.”

“That’s not it, look over there.”

“Huh?”

Since he had been looking only at Seokjae’s back, Kyungho belatedly craned his neck to look inside the hotel.

People standing on guard. Whether they had come out after hearing the noise of the furniture being pushed, they all wore displeased expressions and held objects that could be used as blunt weapons.

“Ah…”

“I’m sorry for barging in.”

As Kyungho stepped back, overwhelmed by the sharp atmosphere, Seokjae extended one arm to hide him behind himself and spoke.

“I’m really sorry, but could we stay here for just one day? We have a sick person.”

“What? Sick, you say?”

The already wary group’s demeanor became even fiercer. Their glares were savage, as if they had discovered Junwoo on Kyungho’s back. Except for two men who kept watching them vigilantly, the rest turned their backs and whispered for a while.

After a moment, a bald man who seemed to be the leader came forward and asked.

“He’s not bitten, is he?”

“No. He just caught a cold from the rain yesterday. If you’re worried, you can lock us up somewhere else. We just ask for a place where we can lay the boy down.”

“What about that bandage on your arm?”

“This is a wound I got while fending off another group that attacked us.”

Seokjae calmly explained in an unwavering voice as he unwrapped the bandage. When a long cut wound, far from a bite mark, was revealed, the heavy atmosphere lightened a bit as if they believed him.

At that moment, a man wearing glasses standing at the back of the group spoke in a gruff voice.

“What if they say one day but then leech off us? We’ve had that happen before.”

As he said this, the man glanced at a woman and a child who looked to be about elementary school age. As soon as their eyes met, the woman sent the child behind her and hardened her gaze.

“Excuse me, why are you bringing that up here? We’re staying here legitimately after paying the price.”

“No, I’m just worried we’ll have more mouths to feed.”

“Huh, as if you’re so capable. You’re just another mouth to feed yourself.”

“What did you say?”

Watching the sudden discord that started within the group, Seokjae quietly assessed the situation.

‘They paid a price?’

He wasn’t sure what that meant, but it didn’t seem entirely wholesome. Judging from the continued sharp exchanges, he thought the group before him might be the type to harm others if it meant gaining something.

‘Well, well, thanks for not being decent folks. That saves me from losing out.’

Seokjae was quite satisfied, feeling as if his gamble had succeeded from the start. In contrast, Kyungho was already terrified, having forgotten about the malicious voices and expressions between people while the three of them had been staying together.

The leader-like man, who had been observing Seokjae standing calmly amidst the various hostile atmospheres, called out in annoyance.

“Enough!”

The interior fell silent in an instant. Although the group uniformly looked to the man for cues, he paid no attention and addressed Seokjae.

“For now, how about we talk after blocking that door again?”

“Thank you.”

“Well, we can’t ignore someone who says they have a patient.”

“I’m glad we met such a kind person.”

To the man who smiled with a pretentious face feigning kindness, Seokjae also gently curved his eyes and responded with words full of superficial courtesy.