Magic on the Dead Chapter 46

In terms of magic techniques, Jung Taegeon was like a human’Clip Shift’.

The Clip Shift is a technique where a card changes in an instant, right before the audience’s very eyes. A card showing its back would flip to its front, and an Ace of Clovers would become an Ace of Hearts. The audience, who had been blankly watching the card, would doubt their own eyes and brains as they witnessed the card that had changed in the blink of an eye.

In the sense that the audience would watch the card, which could change again at any moment, with tense expressions, Hajin found himself feeling that his own situation of scrutinizing Eden from head to toe was similar.

“If the world really ends, you know? And if only one person survives, that would be Jung Taegeon.”

“What kind of nonsense is this now.”

Miso glanced at Hajin, who was saying something out of the blue, as if he were strange, and entered the restaurant.

As the number of people increased, the number of candles also increased to six. Even in the bizarre atmosphere that seemed like they were filming a horror movie, smiles hung on people’s lips.

They, who were gathered around the table, devoured the curry rice with great care, as if possessed by a hungry ghost.

Perhaps because it was the first proper home-cooked meal he had eaten in days, Park Chunbeom was so moved that he was even sniffling as he picked up the spicy kimchi.

Jeffrey, who had enjoyed Korean food as his staple even in the United States, savored the power of the curry that could be heated in three minutes and burst out with exclamations like”Korean food is really something else. Comparison with the world is forbidden,”making everyone burst into laughter.

In the midst of devouring the meal, the middle-aged man’s religious sermon was added like an unappetizing seasoning, leaving no room for boredom.

“Now that you have all finished eating, how about we all offer a prayer together for our Great Spirit who has provided us with our daily bread.”

The cult leader quietly closed his eyes and made a small circle by touching his thumb and index finger together. It was not a prayer of simply putting the palms together. The sight of him, as if he were meditating, made Hajin’s face contort subtly. It was so strange that he could not tell the origin, whether it was a cult derived from Christianity, a cult derived from Buddhism, or Allah or something else.

“Who is Wonsin? Did that person die too? Did that person make this curry?”

At Byeol’s innocent question, the people bowed their heads deeply. They were desperately trying to hold back their laughter.

“The Great Spirit is the one and only god left in this world, my dear. He is watching over and embracing the path we all walk.”

The man, undeterred, explained in detail about the god he served. It was a religion he had never heard of, and the man who claimed to have founded it himself was clearly a cult leader, but the people did not bother to point that out.

In any case, it was a fact that they had been able to get a meal thanks to his religious belief of’helping the unsaved’, so they had no intention of picking a fight. Even more so if believing in Wonsin or whatever was the method this man had chosen to keep from going insane.

Eden tried his best to swallow the sigh that threatened to burst out every time the words heaven and reincarnation were mixed in the man’s speech and turned his gaze outside. The pitch-black outside, where not a single point of light could be seen, was as vast and distant as the black maw of a predator.

Clatter, clunk. The people, who had been on edge even at the sound of the door shaking in the wind, were at some point holding their full bellies and leaning back lazily in their chairs. Conversation naturally followed.

Various topics were discussed, such as stories of their hometowns, worries about pets left at home, and inquiries about a paternal grandmother living at the end of the land, but the topic went around in circles and came back to the starting point.

“Is Sangwon in a very serious state?”

“It is beyond serious. At least the neighborhood we were in was completely wiped out.”

“I had a feeling, but I guess it is true. The provinces down south must be in chaos too, right?”

“Most likely.”

“The electricity was cut off for us in just two days, so we could not even watch the news. We were just sitting around with a radio all day, so we did not know the situation well.”

“There was not much on TV either. It was all just about staying in a safe place.”

At Miso’s bitter reply, the short-haired woman nodded her head, looking dejected. Then, her round eyes suddenly sparkled.

“Oh, by the way, if you are heading up, are you going to Misan Ranch?”

“Misan Ranch?”

“If you are going there, I thought it would be nice to go together. We were also planning to move there when the time comes.”

“Ah, well, I do not think we will be going that way… Our destination is not clear yet.”

Following Eden’s advice not to disclose information about their destination, Miso trailed off vaguely. The short-haired woman, who had been excited, let her shoulders droop as if it was a shame.

“That is a shame. I think it would be really great to go together… Maybe we could go together as far as we can?”

Miso smiled awkwardly instead of answering, and Hajin reflexively glanced at Eden. Eden’s gaze was fixed outside. He did not seem to be paying much attention to the woman’s words. No, in the first place, he seemed uninterested in the conversation itself.

Just then, the long-haired woman slapped the short-haired woman’s shoulder and snapped.

“Hey, are you going to keep talking nonsense? Where do you think you are going. We should just stick right here and wait for rescue. If you act rashly, you will get eaten by zombies. You saw people die, and you are still like this?”

“Haaah… did you not hear the radio? It said to come, no matter what, to Misan Ranch! And if they were going to send a rescue team, they would have sent one already. It has been two weeks already, you know?”

“Honestly, there is no guarantee that the ranch is safe, either.”

“Why not? Don’t you see our manager made it there alive? We heard the manager’s voice clearly on the radio. If we just wait here and run out of food, we will really starve to death then, I am telling you.”

It was when the short-haired and long-haired women were bickering, each asserting their own arguments. Park Chunbeom, who was watching, carefully asked.

“Misan Ranch… they said to come? Who did?”

The short-haired woman, who had been puffing her cheeks with an angry face, answered bluntly.

“I do not know. I heard it on the radio. They said there is an army there, and police officers are gathered there too. Misan Ranch is at the entrance to Nogwang City, and they said they check outsiders there for infection before letting them in. I also heard there is a shelter that gives out food. I know the zombie situation in Nogwang City has calmed down to some extent.”

It was a story he was hearing for the first time. A surprised Hajin once again turned his gaze to Eden. Eden, too, was looking at the woman with a puzzled expression at some point.

“The zombies have been caught in Nogwang City? Wh, when did you find out?”

Park Chunbeom asked, his body trembling in surprise.

“They broadcast it all day long, so we knew for a while. Do you all not have radios?”

“We have one, but we have never caught a signal.”

“Oh dear.”

The woman, who clicked her tongue as if it was a pity, stood up from her seat. The short-haired woman, who had headed to a dark corner somewhere, soon appeared holding a small radio.

“That is the most important news, and you did not hear it. They have been broadcasting it every day for about a week now. That is our final destination, too. Although, as you can see, it is not agreed upon yet. Let’s see, are they not broadcasting now? Ah… it seems they are not broadcasting now.”

The woman, who was fiddling with the channels, smacked her lips as if it was a shame.

Misan Ranch in Nogwang City…. Nogwang City was a special self-governing city that the shortest route to Yongun City passed through. Eden rubbed his chin, mulling over the woman’s words. He had thought they seemed rather composed for people who had been trapped for two weeks, but to think they had something to rely on.

“Do you think that is true?”

Eden ignored Hajin, who was whispering at the back of his head, and asked the short-haired woman.

“You said someone you know went over there.”

“What? Ah, yes. Our manager escaped early and went over there. I even heard his voice on the radio the day before yesterday. It was such a relief….”

“What did he say.”

The short-haired woman, who had been consistently blunt with Park Chunbeom, lowered her voice and answered Eden’s question gently.

“What did he say. Hmm… he said he arrived there two days ago, and he was promoting that if there are any people listening to the broadcast now, they should not hesitate and come over. He had a very excited voice, saying that there was plenty of food and drinking water.”

“Is that so.”

Eden, who answered simply, turned his head back. Hajin was still leaning back in his chair, looking at the back of his head. As their eyes met, Hajin whispered something as if he had been waiting.

‘Mr. Jung Taegeon. Where was our radio?’

However, far from answering, Eden just looked at Hajin’s lips as if he were observing them. The plump, apricot-colored lips without a single wrinkle were quite luscious.

Whether there was a zombie right in front of him, or he heard a rumor that there was a shelter that gave out food, he could not stop his eyes from naturally going there. Was it simply because his appearance was his type?

‘Why are you not answering?’

When Hajin frowned, Eden just gave a shrug of his shoulders.