Magic on the Dead Chapter 29

After Miso’s commotion, the briefly quiet mart interior began to grow noisy again. The sound of carts being dragged, shouts directed at someone, and the incessant crying of a child begging to go home echoed one after another.

Heading to the farthest aisle, Eden searched for a compass and a domestic map. Hajin, too, systematically gathered the items listed on his memo.

Having found a domestic travel map, Eden picked up a pair of kitchen scissors and cut out a large section from the metropolitan area, where Yongunsi was located, to Sangwonsi in the Hoseo region. A sizable poster was reduced to a quarter of its original size in an instant.

The three of them, having also grabbed appropriately sized rain boots, rummaged through the next aisle and swept up raincoats.

“Ms. Yoon Miso’s combat skills were impressive. Is she a black belt?”

Hajin, switching into running shoes, responded to Eden’s question.

“Well, she’s into so many different sports… As I mentioned before, she was a professional volleyball player, and now she does judo, mixed martial arts, jiu-jitsu, and stuff like that as hobbies.”

Eden now understood why, unlike Hajin, Miso hadn’t shown any particular desperation to join their group. She seemed to have complete confidence in her grit and physical prowess.

“Miso’s something else, isn’t she? What did I tell you?”

Somewhat excited, Hajin spared no praise for Miso. He even shared a story about how, during their school days, when he was being bullied by a nasty group, it was Miso who first reached out to help. The part where she turned one particularly vile bully’s face into mashed potatoes sped up his speech dramatically.

“Honestly, calling Miso a manager doesn’t quite fit. Bodyguard suits her better.”

“Bodyguard…”

Savoring the word briefly, Eden let out a faint, dry laugh.

“True. For someone like you, Mr. Do Hajin, a bodyguard might be more necessary than a manager.”

What’s that supposed to mean? Hajin narrowed his eyes at Eden’s cryptic smile.

Having secured a few portable hatchets, the two moved to the middle aisle to search for food. As expected, long-shelf-life items like tuna cans were already looted. They reluctantly scoured for solid soups and high-calorie energy bars.

Skipping another aisle, they heard the fierce sound of people clawing at each other in a fight.

“Can’t you even let this go?! You’ve already hoarded so much, and you’re still this greedy!”

“Why should I give anything up? I’m starving here! Is there no respect for elders in this place? Huh?”

A middle-aged woman with an empty cart stood facing an elderly man whose cart was piled high with necessities. They were locked in a tug-of-war over a bag containing ten bundles of energy bars. The elderly man’s cart was already overflowing with various food items.

“I picked it up first! I grabbed it, and this old man suddenly snatched it from behind!”

“Who told you to let it get taken? Huh? The one who takes it owns it!”

Hajin, approaching, rummaged through the empty aisle. Aside from a few over-packaged snack bags, only dust rolled around on the floor.

Hajin glanced at the elderly man’s cart, then shifted his gaze to Eden. As if waiting for it, Eden twisted the corner of his mouth slyly.

“Mr. Do Hajin.”

He whispered like a devil.

“There’s no rule that the weak are inherently good.”

Hajin instantly grasped what he meant. The elderly man was clearly a villain, hoarding food unjustly in a despicable manner.

“My hands are quick, so you go talk to them, Mr. Jung Taegeon.”

Whispering back, Hajin naturally handed Byeol’s hand to Eden.

Leading Byeol, Eden approached the woman and elderly man, who were heatedly arguing.

“What’s going on?”

As Eden intervened, the elderly man erupted in anger.

“Who are you! Mind your own business and get lost!”

“Calm down, sir.”

“Seriously, old man, can’t you see there’s a kid here? Watch your language, please!”

The woman covered Byeol’s ears tightly with both hands.

“Ha! You lot, ganging up…! Aha. You’re on her side, right? That’s it, isn’t it? Teaming up to shame me?! No way I’m sharing!”

“How many times do I have to say I picked it up first? Are you going to keep this up until you’ve smeared shit on the walls? What did you do with all your years?!”

“W-What? You filthy…!”

There was no need to draw attention deliberately. The woman and elderly man, whether Eden intervened or not, continued snarling at each other like they’d kill one another.

“You think I didn’t see? Earlier, you snatched toilet paper from someone else without a care!”

“Got proof? I said, where’s your proof!”

“I saw it, that’s the proof! Stop being spiteful and just go, you damn old geezer!”

Eden glanced over the elderly man’s shoulder. Hajin was quietly slicing open the energy bar bundles in the man’s cart with a portable knife. His speed at stuffing food into his backpack was faster than lightning.

After swiftly securing the food, Hajin hesitated briefly, leaving a reasonable portion for the elderly man, then turned away. In sync, Eden slipped away with Jungbyeol.

Hajin, with his now-bulging backpack shifted to his chest, circled the aisle. He saw the back of the woman arguing with the elderly man. Tap, tap. Knocking on her cart to make a sound, the heated woman turned around.

“I think you dropped this earlier.”

Hajin poured ten energy bars into her cart.

“Huh?”

Before the bewildered woman could ask, Hajin turned and fled. As he moved quickly to the right, he collided hard with someone’s shoulder.

“Ugh!”

Nearly falling, Hajin’s waist was caught by a firm grip. The strength clamping around his half-bent waist was considerable.

Jung Taegeon? Hajin gritted his teeth instinctively. The memory of Eden’s smug face as he caught him stumbling at the motel stairs and hardware store flashed through his mind.

Ugh, I hate owing him…

But when he looked up, the face before him was somewhat unfamiliar. And the clothes the man was wearing…

“Don’t worry. I’m not here to catch a thief.”

The man was about Hajin’s height but notably bulkier. The police officer released Hajin’s arm with a reassuring gesture. A kind smile, like one from a magazine ad, briefly appeared and vanished on the man’s face.

Meanwhile, Eden, searching for Hajin’s whereabouts after he vanished, ran into Miso’s team. They seemed to have secured most of their needed items, as their backpacks were visibly stuffed.

“I was worried we wouldn’t find anything with everything looted, but there was still some left.”

“But we barely found any medical supplies. We’ll need to stop by a pharmacy if we see one.”

Miso and Park Chunbum reported the situation, glancing behind Eden.

“By the way, where’s Hajin?”

“I was just going to look for him. He nabbed some food.”

“Weren’t you together?”

Jungbyeol, chewing on a stick of jelly, shook her head.

“Hajin uncle’s a thief, so he has to hide for a bit!”

“Huh? A thief? What’s that about?”

Did they play hide-and-seek or something? As Miso blinked her large eyes, the commotion in the mart grew louder. With almost no items left, people’s anxiety and resentment reached a peak. Several carts, greedily filled, blocked pathways here and there.

Park Chunbum scanned the surroundings with an anxious expression. Frowning, as if his cracked lenses were bothersome, he spoke rapidly.

“We need to get out of here soon. If zombies swarm near the mart, it’ll be hard to escape.”

Jeffrey nodded.

“Quick, find Hajin. Let’s go.”

Just then, Miso raised her hand sharply toward somewhere.

“Do Hajin!”

The group, standing by the frozen section, turned to follow Miso’s gaze. In the distance, Hajin was walking and talking with someone. The stranger beside him was wearing a police uniform.

Soon, spotting the group, Hajin raised his hand high.

Eden interrogated him sharply as he approached.

“Where were you? I told you to avoid acting alone.”

“Oh, sorry. I was dodging that old man earlier and ran into this guy.”

Hajin gestured with his palm toward the police officer behind him, as if introducing him.

“This is Mr. Lee Changyeol. I think he might be helpful to us. Want to hear him out?”

“I clearly said we’re not taking any more companions. Did you think I was joking?”

Eden’s voice was as cold and sharp as a pointed icicle.

“No, it’s not about companionship…”

Hajin stepped in front of Eden, as if to clarify a misunderstanding. Then, the police officer removed his cap and defended himself.

“It’s not about joining you. I’m asking for cover.”