Magic on the Dead Chapter 75

“Heok, heok…!”

Hajin clutched the revolver Eden had given him and the grenade in his pocket, hiding behind an old tree as he surveyed the surroundings. His entire body was drenched in blood and sweat, making the shower he had taken earlier feel pointless. Nausea rose every time he breathed.

They were on their way down to the midway point of Mount Jeongmang after a zombie horde had passed through. The off-road vehicle’s wheels were clogged with the flesh and bones of zombies and would no longer turn, and with the roof missing, it was inadequate for fending off the zombies that charged from all sides.

In the end, they had abandoned the hard-won vehicle and taken refuge in the rugged mountains with nothing but their own bodies. Hajin looked at the car left behind on the mountain road far away and touched his feverish forehead.

“Fuu… I guess we just don’t have any luck with cars.”

He whispered to Eden, who was hiding behind a tree on the opposite side. At that, Eden raised his index finger to his lips, shhh. After silencing their presence for a moment, he carefully scanned the area below. There were still zombies nearby.

Just as Sergeant Shin had said they regularly exterminated the residents who had turned into zombies, there were a large number of the monsters positioned near the ranch. He had no idea how many there were. Even when he tried to distract them by throwing a grenade far away, they would pop out from all directions, forcing them to narrowly escape death several times.

The dagger’s blade had chipped on a hard skull and could no longer function as a knife, and the only weapons they had were loud guns and grenades. The only way to get off the mountain safely was to quietly escape, avoiding the zombies’ eyes, just as they were doing now.

“Let’s stay here like we’re dead for just an hour.”

Following Eden’s lead, Hajin, Corporal Kim, and the cult leader’s son all anxiously killed time behind the trees. They were on edge, worried that the soldiers might be chasing them as well, and the muscles all over their bodies began to ache.

As time passed, the zombies that had been moving in a pack began to gradually disperse. Hajin followed Eden’s hand signal and scrambled down the rough mountain terrain. Stinging scratches decorated his calves and arms.

After finding a hiking trail, they were able to get off the mountain quickly. The four of them came out to a parking lot and took a short break next to a large SUV. It seemed the fire at the power plant had caught properly, as they could see black smoke rising from the mountainside.

“You’ve worked hard. And thank you again for giving us a ride from the ranch.”

Corporal Kim, who had been sitting, stood up and offered Eden a handshake.

“You also went through a lot providing cover, Corporal.”

Eden, who readily accepted the handshake, gestured with his eyes toward Hajin, who was sprawled on the ground. It was a signal that it was time to get up and leave.

Hajin let out a groan and straightened his bent knees. Corporal Kim, who happened to be next to him, reached out and helped him as he tried to get up.

“You went through a lot too, Mr. Hajin. Thank you.”

“Thank you, as well.”

“By the way, if you don’t mind my asking, what is your destination?”

The topic of traveling together again. Hajin’s pride was hurt by his own behavior, instinctively checking Eden’s expression like one of Pavlov’s dogs whenever this happened.

‘It’s obvious he’ll refuse this time, too.’

It was the moment he fondly patted the head of the boy standing next to him, anticipating the all-too-obvious outcome.

“We plan on going to Yongun City.”

An unexpected answer came from Eden. Hajin looked at him with confused eyes for so easily revealing their final destination.

Corporal Kim’s face lit up as if things were working out well.

“Ah, you’re going to Yongun City? We’re thinking of going to Incheon. As it happens, the boy’s hometown is Incheon, and my family home is also in Incheon, so we were going to head that way.”

Incheon was a city to the left of Yongun City, and the route passed through the entrance to Hwajeong City.

“Since it’s come to this, I was thinking, how about we travel together?”

As expected, Corporal Kim suggested they travel together. Hajin felt somehow anxious and followed Eden with his eyes. Surely not…

“We plan on going up along the Insan-Nogwang Expressway. Is that the right route for you?”

This time, he was completely bewildered. An answer that could clearly be taken as an affirmation had come from Eden.

Meanwhile, the boy was sniffling and hugging his waist tightly. Although it was just a brief encounter at the rest area, having a familiar face seemed to put him quite at ease. Even when they were tumbling through the mountains to escape the zombies, the boy never left his side.

“Hyung… it would be nice if we went together, right?”

Hajin’s face gradually darkened as he stroked the top of the boy’s head.

In the meantime, Eden and Corporal Kim were having a conversation about their destination. He, who had been waiting quietly, stealthily took hold of Eden.

“I need to talk to you for a moment.”

Then he pulled Eden’s arm to the other side and whispered lowly.

“Are you going with Corporal Kim?”

“I was just about to ask you. What do you think, Mr. Do Hajin? I don’t think I have anything to lose by going with them just to Hwajeong City.”

“…Mr. Jung Taegeon, isn’t it your ironclad rule not to take companions?”

“As you saw with Corporal Kim earlier, his shooting skills weren’t bad. He’s also quick to assess situations. The child could be a burden, but since it only takes a few days to get to Hwajeong City from here, the option of going together is worth considering.”

“So you’re taking him because Corporal Kim is useful?”

“The wording is a bit strange, but if you have to put it that way, yes.”

Hajin fell silent for a moment. He was confused by Eden’s sudden change in attitude, but his words about Corporal Kim being useful also had a point, which deepened his dilemma.

Eden’s eyes narrowed as he looked down at Hajin quietly.

“Is there a problem? I thought you’d be happy about it, Mr. Do Hajin.”

It wasn’t just Eden whose attitude had changed. Hajin himself was also different somehow. He felt like a stranger to himself for hesitating over a companion, something he would not have thought twice about in the past, so he couldn’t easily open his mouth.

A few minutes passed. Hajin, avoiding the boy’s yearning gaze from afar, finally shook his head slowly.

“I need time to think.”

“I don’t think this is the time for such leisure. We don’t have any more time to delay here. Are you not going with them? There’s no need to overthink it.”

“Then… I’m against traveling together. Even for just a few days.”

Eden tilted his head to the side as if puzzled and asked.

“The reason?”

“It’s just… I’m a bit hesitant to get attached.”

Was it the aftermath of losing Chunbeom? Hajin had become particularly afraid of carelessly sharing affection with someone. He didn’t have the confidence to lose someone again and handle those emotions. The boy’s eyes as he clung to him and Corporal Kim’s bright smile as he said he’d worked hard were already weakening his resolve.

Hajin kicked at the innocent parking lot floor with the toe of his shoe. Eden’s subtle gaze immediately followed.

Feeling awkward, Hajin added a remark he didn’t mean.

“…If you want to go with them, you can. That’s just my opinion.”

“Is it because of Mr. Park Chunbeom?”

The sharp, probing question made his mouth clamp shut again. Eden, who had been watching Hajin for a moment, nodded as if in understanding.

“I understand. I’ll take your opinion into consideration.”

“…”

“Then let’s just the two of us be together. Just as you want, Mr. Do Hajin.”

Hajin’s eyes trembled 불안하게. What, I think the point was slightly missed… He mumbled for a while with an uneasy feeling, but in the end, he said, “Okay.” He also didn’t forget to thank Eden for readily accepting his opinion.

When they finished talking and went back, the boy ran up to them as if he had been waiting. His eyes were brimming with tears, as if he had been crying again.

“Hyung!”

However, before he could even be embraced by Hajin, the boy’s body was flung away by a strong force.

“Why does a grown-up brat keep trying to hug people?”

Eden, who had grabbed the boy by the scruff of his neck, shook him lightly and warned him.

“Ugh? Wh-why are you suddenly doing this?”

“Don’t interrupt the adults while they’re talking and wait quietly.”

“B-but you just called me a grown-up brat. I’m an adult too…?”

Hajin cast a puzzled look at Eden, who was suddenly bickering with the boy for no reason. Just then, haha, Corporal Kim let out a small laugh and whispered quietly.

“You two look good together.”

“Pardon?”

When he didn’t understand right away, the corporal tilted his head and whispered again.

“To be honest, I was a little surprised when you were holding hands at the ranch, but seeing you like this, I think you really suit each other.”

“…Excuuuse me?!”

A heavy arm from Eden was placed on Hajin’s shoulder just as he was about to wave his hands in a panic and say it was a misunderstanding. Eden stopped him from trying to explain and shook his head at Corporal Kim as if to say it was a shame.

“It seems it will be difficult for us to go to Hwajeong City together. We’re very tired right now, and for the time being, I’d like to spend some quiet time alone with my lover. I hope you understand that it’s a bit overwhelming for us to even take care of ourselves.”

…Ah.

Hajin, who had frozen at the words that had finally slipped out, slowly turned his head. Eden’s chin and Adam’s apple, as he practically hugged him, were far too close.

‘…Is he really crazy?’

He felt like he wanted to block Eden’s lips with his fist right this instant.

However, the absurd excuse of wanting to be alone with his lover had an unexpected effect.

“Ah, I was only thinking of myself. I’m sorry, of course you might want to spend time alone. Especially with the world as it is now… I completely understand.”

Corporal Kim immediately offered an apology as if he had made a mistake.

The boy, who had been pushed far away by Eden, had his small eyes wide open, as if shocked by the sudden turn of events.