Magic on the Dead Chapter 118

An awkward silence flowed between the two men facing each other. After consciously letting a period of quiet pass, Hajin, swallowing a sigh, opened his mouth.

“I’m sorry, Jeffrey. I was thoughtless.”

He squeezed Jeffrey’s shoulder tightly then let go, letting out a short groan.

“No matter what was discussed, I shouldn’t have left it all up to Mr. Jung Taegeon. I should have talked with you sooner, Jeffrey.”

As Hajin made a crestfallen face, Jeffrey let out a short “hmph” through his nose.

【Don’t speak so fast in Korean. I can’t understand it.】

At the prim retort, Hajin gave a sheepish smile and nodded. He paused, gazing at the crucifix where Jesus was nailed in the distance, then finally, as if having made a decision, began to speak.

【To be honest, if I were to make a bit of an excuse, I’m still confused by this whole situation myself. That’s why I couldn’t even think of talking to Jeffrey first. Um, so, it’s, how should I put it. It absolutely does not mean I didn’t think of Jeffrey as important.】

As he continued, fumbling and carefully choosing his words as if he were a believer quietly confessing his sins to a priest, the corners of Jeffrey’s eyes, which had been raised sharply, gradually began to soften.

【I also think about Jeffrey more than anyone. We’re friends, and we’re a team, aren’t we? What I mean is… I’m truly sorry.】

【Ah, that’s enough. It’s not like you committed a mortal sin, one apology is enough.】

【Will you forgive me?】

At the word “forgive,” Jeffrey flinched and blinked his long, camel-like eyelashes. He could not speak for a while, then let out a pained breath and shook his head.

【It’s not even something that needs forgiving. When you think about it, it’s not like I did so well either. When I first heard from Eden that he would stay in Korea, we shouldn’t have just fought between the two of us; it would have been right to try and talk with you too, Hajin. Just dropping hints because my feelings were childishly hurt…. I’m sorry about that too.】

【Thank you, for saying that.】

【Damn it, this is making me cringe to death.】

Jeffrey shivered as if he could not bear it and wrinkled his brow. He needlessly scratched the area around a scrape on his left cheek and glanced at Hajin.

【That bastard Eden was born with a good eye for people.】

【Suddenly?】

【I’m saying you’re too good for him.】

Hajin gave a mischievous smile for a moment and answered playfully.

【I know that too.】

【…Now that I see it, I guess you two are birds of a feather.】

The two stared intently at each other, then burst out laughing at the same time. At the sudden sound of laughter, Eden and Byeol, who were sitting far away, turned their heads with puzzled faces. Feeling their gazes, Hajin quickly composed his expression and straightened his slumped shoulders.

【No, not this… actually, there was something I wanted to ask you, Jeffrey.】

【What is it?】

Hajin waved his hand at Eden, who was still watching him, as if to say it was nothing, and whispered like a ventriloquist.

【From what you said, it sounds like Eden said he would unconditionally stay in Korea to follow me, is that right?】

【Yes. He said he would stay here and follow you no matter what. He said if I just wait a little, he’ll return to the United States later.】

【Did he not say anything separately about a transport plane?】

【A transport plane? What transport plane.】

…This is driving me crazy. Hajin placed a palm on his sweat-dried forehead as if disaster had struck.

It was just as he had expected. It seemed Eden planned to follow him recklessly even if there was no spare transport plane. It was clear he had no intention of keeping the condition they had agreed upon.

Furthermore, even last night, which could have been their last night together, Eden had not held him. The man who had constantly poked at his lower hole with his fingers and boasted that he would pound him deeply had, in the end, done nothing at the crucial moment. As if there would be plenty of opportunities to be together in the future.

【What is it, Do Hajin. Was it not something you two had agreed on?】

Sensing Hajin’s unusual demeanor, Jeffrey met his eyes with a puzzled face. Hajin, swallowing down heavy sighs, wet his dry lips with his tongue.

【If there were two or more transport planes left, Mr. Jung Taegeon’s plan was to send one with you and Byeol, and the remaining one would take me to Neverland. I refused, saying it was dangerous, but he wouldn’t listen.】

Hajin lowered his voice once more.

【So I added one condition. I told him not to think about following me with nothing if there wasn’t a spare transport plane. Mr. Jung Taegeon agreed to that as well. The bottom line is… if there’s only one operational transport plane, Mr. Jung Taegeon won’t stay in Korea but will go to the United States.】

Jeffrey, who had been listening silently, raised his thick eyebrows as if dumbfounded.

【What, so that bastard Eden left out such an important detail and just insisted to me that he would stay in Korea no matter what?】

Hajin tilted his head back towards the ceiling. He rolled his eyes along the high, gentle arch, then with difficulty, began to speak.

【To be honest, I can’t just stand by and watch Mr. Jung Taegeon make a dangerous choice either. If he insists on staying in Korea even without a transport plane, I plan to run away secretly. If a situation like that ever arises, please help me, Jeffrey. So that Mr. Jung Taegeon can get to the United States safely. If possible, please take Pie with you too.】

Jeffrey’s expression became peculiar at Hajin’s unexpected statement.

【Are you serious?】

【I’m serious.】

Hajin took a small, deep breath and continued speaking.

【Instead, if a situation arises where I can get on a transport plane and go to Neverland… then please understand just this once, Jeffrey. I’m also in a position where I have to save my younger brother.】

I’m sorry for being selfish. At his added words, Jeffrey shook his head and rubbed his face with his dry hands. Burying his face in his large palms, he let out a pained groan, keueung—.

【What’s so selfish about that?】

An annoyed rebuke followed like a mumble to himself. It almost sounded like he was chewing on a small curse word.

🃏

The group, even after seeing the blue sign that read ‘Yongun,’ could not believe it and rubbed their eyes for a long time.

Starting from Sangwon City, passing through Nogwang City to Hwajeong City, and finally, it was Yongun City. At the end of a long journey, they had arrived at the Yongun Tollgate, their common destination. It was a splendid achievement accomplished in just three hours of moving their feet diligently after leaving the church.

“Yongun….”

Hajin panted and mouthed the word Yongun as if reciting it. It was a moment when he keenly missed Chunbeom and Miso, who were not by his side now.

The group first hid their bodies in the bushes by the roadside and observed the road below. Even at a glance, countless vehicles were packed tightly on the road.

Several cars were tangled and wrecked in the high-pass lane, and the central pillar supporting the tollgate roof had collapsed, crushing a cargo truck. It was as if the urgent scene from that time was being painted right in his mind.

Only a few zombies loitered among the web-like tangle of vehicles; there was no sign of any survivors anywhere. A hot haze shimmered like a mirage.

Jeffrey muttered.

【Hmm… looks like a lot of people had business in Yongun City…?】

“I know, right.”

Hajin fiddled with the bandage on his ankle bone and looked down at the road with an anxious gaze. Pie circled the area, sniffing sniff sniff, as if looking for a place to relieve himself.

【How long do you think it will take to get to the maintenance depot from here?】

“It’s not far in terms of distance. If we walk diligently, it’s about two hours… but if we have to detour a bit to avoid zombies, maybe four hours? In any case, we can definitely arrive before the sun sets.”

The group opened an umbrella to create a sunshade and took a rest. They planned to have a simple lunch with the chocolate and hot mango juice they had brought from the independent bookstore’s kitchen. However, the chocolate they had taken the trouble to bring had all melted and was mushy, and the mango juice tasted strange.

“Ugh, this is gross.”

Byeol complained briefly, then pouted his lips as if envious of Pie, who was happily munching on the pet food brought from the animal hospital.

Hajin, who had been staring blankly at the scene, took out the two remaining cans of vegetable tuna from his bag. It might be their last meal together as four, and for some reason, it bothered him to fill their stomachs with just a piece of half-liquid chocolate and spoiled mango juice.

“Should we just eat this all now too? We might not have time to eat once we get to the maintenance depot.”

It was the moment he was rummaging through the pocket on the front of his bag to find the plastic forks he had packed separately. Byeol’s eyes went wide, and he waved his hands in the air.

“Uncle. You should save that and eat it with Uncle Eden later!”

“…Huh?”

“Eat it for dinner later! Uncle Jeffrey and I are leaving anyway.”

“……”

“I heard everything earlier. You said Uncle Eden is coming later with Uncle Hajini.”

As the flustered Hajin blinked, unable to form a response, Jeffrey let out a whoosh—an exasperated sigh.

Jeffrey glared fiercely at Eden, as if asking if he had really gone and told the child too. Hajin, belatedly coming to his senses, waved his hands at Byeol.

“Uh, uh, that is, Byeol. It’s not for certain that Uncle Eden is staying here….”

It was then. Pie, who had been burying his nose and devouring his food, suddenly barked woof! at the empty air. At the same time, everyone’s movements stopped.

One, two…. Before even three seconds had passed, the group grabbed their weapons and straightened their crumpled bodies.

Eden held Byeol in his other arm, while Hajin and Jeffrey held their weapons forward and surveyed their surroundings. However, no presence of zombies could be felt from anywhere. They, who had been in an attack stance, belatedly raised their heads to where Pie’s gaze was directed.

“……”

“……”

Soon, along with Jeffrey’s gasp, Hajin’s mouth slowly fell open.

“Is that, by any chance…”

High in the blue sky, an airplane revealing its massive belly was flying leisurely towards Yongun City.