Magic on the Dead Chapter 44

The rest, which was long if you considered it long and short if you considered it short, came to an end. A handful of hot sunlight that heated the asphalt had left their backs completely drenched in sweat. If it was like this at the beginning of June, then July would be…. Hajin shuddered as if he did not even want to imagine it.

When the hills ended, a plain continued on. The path was awkwardly rough, so they were back on the highway. Jeffrey stuck close to Park Chunbeom, who had opened an umbrella, trying not to be separated, and Byeol was clinging to Eden’s back.

Zombies did pop out in the middle of their journey, but it was a manageable level of threat. Thanks to having some leeway, they even rummaged through the vehicles abandoned on the road. However, except for things like tissues or wet wipes, it was not easy to find any useful items. That night, the group spent their time inside an empty express bus.

The next day, just like yesterday, they moved their bodies early in the morning and walked without rest until before lunch. Due to the strenuous march, a blister formed on Hajin’s little toe, and Jeffrey had to lie down out of the sun for 30 minutes due to symptoms of dehydration.

On another day, a horde of zombies on the road attacked them. They emerged from a gray Starex vehicle, all wearing the same soccer uniforms. While hastily escaping into the mountains, Park Chunbeom twisted his ankle, so they ended up unable to descend and had to stay put and spend the night right there.

And the day after that. The group climbed to a higher place to avoid a wild boar they encountered on the mountainside.

After going through all sorts of hardships and traveling on foot for four days, they finally descended the mountain after two days.

They had run out of clothes and socks to change into, and not having been able to wash for several days, people’s nerves were on edge. To make matters worse, a light rain began to fall. They wore raincoats, but the humidity built up, doubling their discomfort.

Eden had intended to pass by the rest stop, which was sure to be crawling with zombies, but seeing the group looking much more exhausted than expected, his worries deepened. If they walked just one more kilometer, there was the ‘Jeongsan Albam Rest Stop’.

“We are almost out of water, too.”

A concerned voice called out to Eden, stopping him. When he turned around, the thoroughly exhausted faces of the group members came into view.

“Should we maybe stop by the rest stop? We do not know when the next rest stop will appear… I think we should go while we can.”

Miso carefully suggested. Park Chunbeom, who was listening, also added a word.

“We can go nearby, and if we think there are too many zombies, we can just come back.”

Park Chunbeom limped noticeably on his almost-healed ankle. It was an indirect expression of his hope to at least get a hiking stick from the rest stop.

【Jeffrey, what do you think?】

【Do we have to? If we go, it will just be crawling with zombies. It is obvious without even looking.】

Jeffrey’s reaction was skeptical, as if he was quite reluctant. Having flown planes and been stranded on rough mountainsides, Jeffrey acted as if this level of hardship was nothing. Of course, contrary to his sound mental state, his physical stamina was rapidly hitting rock bottom.

“What about you, Mr. Do Hajin?”

Hajin, who was asked last, nodded his head.

“If possible, I would like to at least go to the bathroom for a moment. My body is so itchy….”

Although he looked cleaner than anyone else for someone who had not washed in days, Hajin twisted his body as if he was uncomfortable. Moreover, the light drizzle that had started to fall again was gradually gaining strength. 5 o’clock in the evening. The sky, filled with dark clouds, was already gloomy.

“Everyone, fasten your raincoats tightly so you do not get wet.”

Following Eden’s signal, they now walked in a familiar formation. As they got closer to the large navy-blue sign that said ‘Rest Stop’, the group moved more diligently.

Except for the sound of the pouring rain, no other noise could be heard. They entered the rest stop, hiding their bodies as much as possible in the wooded forest path on the right.

Fortunately, there were very few vehicles parked in the lot. At most, there was one express bus and five passenger cars, and the rest stop itself was not very large. It seemed that after the incident broke out, everyone had hastily left to find their own way to survive.

“If we are careful, I think we might be able to spend a night here.”

Miso held her hand axe vertically against her chest in preparation for a zombie attack. Her voice was somewhat excited.

“It is too early to judge rashly. For now, let’s make the accessible restroom our destination.”

Eden pointed to the restroom at the end of the building, closest to the group, and resumed walking.

🃏

【Aah, I feel alive!】

Jeffrey, who had finished a back-washing shower at the sink with Park Chunbeom, plopped down and sat on the floor. Right next to them, Miso and Byeol, who had finished showering in the two-stall women’s accessible restroom, joined the men.

The power seemed to be out, so it was dark all around, but fortunately, there was more than enough water. The group, who secured their view with a flashlight, also stood at the sinks and took care of their overdue hand-washing of laundry.

Hajin, who finished his laundry first, scanned the area beyond the restroom entrance. Not only was there no sign of people, but there was not even a trace of a zombie.

“It feels like there should be at least one zombie, is it not too strange?”

He muttered to himself as he shook out his wet bangs. He felt a strange sense of déjà vu. The situation was unfolding similarly to when they had just escaped from the atrium warehouse at dawn.

“Whether it is zombies or people, it is a good thing if there is no one, right. Do not worry too much.”

Park Chunbeom replied in a cheerful voice, saying that there had to be days like this too. Perhaps the memory of being chased by the young zombie soccer team members had been quite sorrowful, as he even lay down on the bare restroom floor, saying that this was heaven.

Miso wrung the water out of her laundry so hard it seemed like it would tear. After hanging the laundry over the stall door, she asked Jeffrey, who was sitting there blankly.

“Jeffrey, why are you just sitting there? Did you wash your socks?”

“Wear them. Twice.”

“You are going to wear them two more times?”

“Yes.”

“That is gross! How many days have you been wearing these! No back talk, just wash them quickly!”

Affectionate nagging was exchanged between them. A strange sense of stability, from having safely completed another day’s march, was making the atmosphere soft and relaxed.

“I saw a convenience store right next door earlier, should we go loot some things?”

Hajin, who had been contemplating, offered his opinion. As if he had been thinking the same thing, Eden, who was leaning against the wall, quickly got up.

“I do not think we all need to go. For now, let’s just have about two people go.”

“I will go.”

Miso raised her hand high as if she had been waiting.

“Last time, Hajin and Mr. Jung Taegeon went through a lot of trouble to get the car. I will go this time.”

“Huh? Unnie, if you go, I want to follow you!”

Byeol, who had been spinning her damp hair like a propeller, chimed in, thinking this was her chance.

“No. Unnie can go with a peaceful mind only if you stay here safely, Byeol.”

“But I want to be helpful too…?”

“I told you, you are already helpful enough.”

“No. I am not doing anything!”

While Miso was trying her best to soothe Byeol, who insisted on following, Hajin scanned the restroom scene. Jeffrey, having been nagged, was in the middle of washing his socks, and Park Chunbeom was diligently massaging his ankle bone, as if his sprained leg was bothering him.

“Let’s just go by ourselves this time, too.”

Hajin whispered to Jung Taegeon, as if there was no other choice.

“Will you be alright?”

“We can just go and come back quickly while there are no zombies.”

“We cannot be sure where they might pop out from.”

“Haaah. If they appear, well, we will just have to… kill them somehow.”

Having done this for over two weeks, his fear was inevitably becoming dull. Now, even when Hajin came face to face with a zombie, he no longer got scared or froze up like before. His heart still pounded like it would explode, but if he just followed his instinct to survive, he could somehow end the day safely.

Eden laughed out loud, as if he was quite pleased with Hajin’s bold answer.

“Lead the way, then.”

The two, who had left the restroom, arrived in front of the building’s glass door, skillfully surveying their surroundings. To get to the convenience store, they had to pass through the restaurant area entrance, but the door, which they had expected to be open, for some reason, would not budge.

“What the.”

Hajin placed the blades of his hands above his eyebrows and pressed his face right up against the glass door. Inside the dark building, he could see long tables and chairs lined up in rows.

“It will not open?”

“No. It seems to be locked from the inside…?”

Which meant that there were people staying inside.

The raindrops gradually grew stronger. Standing under the short eaves of the building, his shoulder automatically pressed against Eden’s. Hajin reflexively moved his body away.

When he glanced up, Eden’s firm lips were, for some reason, curved upwards. For a sneer, it was quite a refreshing smile.

The Eden of that day when he had callously rejected their company and the Eden of now had subtly changed. Perhaps because he had been pushed into an extreme situation back then, he might not have been able to judge the person named Jung Taegeon objectively, Hajin thought.

“If we break the door, the noise might attract zombies. How do we get in?”

“Let’s see if there are any other entrances.”

However, before they could even move, the inside of the glass door shook violently with a thump!

“Wagh!”

Hajin, who had let out a loud shout without realizing it, hurriedly covered his mouth with both hands. Eden, leaving the fussing Hajin behind, took out a flashlight he had in his back pocket and click, shone it inside.