The Only Woman in a Zombie Apocalypse Vol. 2 Chapter 44 - The Meaning of Yet Another Memory (1)

Since barricades had been set up about an hour’s distance to the east and south, the group could move comfortably for at least an hour. 

 

Once the barricades ended, Dayoung pointed toward a narrow alleyway.

 

“It’s better not to create a path here. We probably don’t need a route that connects all the way to the military base.”

 

“But what if we can’t bring everything back today? Wouldn’t it be easier to prepare it in advance?”

 

“Then let’s just build it up to the edge of the village. Past the village, it’s a less populated area, so there shouldn’t be many zombies. Also, since we don’t have silencers, it’s best not to use guns unless it’s an emergency. The sound might attract more zombies.”

 

“Got it.”

 

“Jiseok oppa, take the front perimeter. Minshik oppa, watch the rear. The rest of you, work on the barricades. Seojun, after working for a while, switch with the others and help guard.”

 

“Okay.”

 

The group naturally responded to Dayoung’s instructions. Though there was a brief moment of curiosity, they quickly got to work, moving efficiently. 

 

Dayoung, who was setting up barricades for the first time, fumbled a little but soon adapted.

 

The group swiftly built the barricades as they advanced. Since they were constructing them anyway, they made sure to build sturdy ones on the wider roads, just in case they needed to use them later. 

 

After three hours, they finally reached the edge of the village. 

 

Beyond the village, the narrow unpaved road had few zombies, just as Dayoung had said, so the group picked up their pace. 

 

By the time the sun was setting, they arrived in front of the military base.

 

“Ian, how long do you think it’ll take from the base to the shopping mall?”

 

“Since we’re not taking a straight path, about four hours?”

 

“Really? Then, let’s go to the armory and ammunition depot to grab weapons and spend the night there before moving early tomorrow morning. The zombies inside the base are mostly armed soldiers, so we can probably get more weapons while taking them down. What do you think?”

 

“Rather than moving weapons while fighting zombies at night, that seems more manageable stamina-wise.”

 

“Alright, then let’s head to the armory and ammunition depot, radio the mall, and move tomorrow. The sun’s setting, so it’ll get dark soon. The base is pretty big, but if you go inside and follow the right path, the armory and ammo depot are at the very back. If we get separated from the group, just head that way.”

“Okay.”

 

The group walked cautiously, gripping their weapons just in case. 

 

With Jiwoo pulling the cart at the center, the others formed a protective circle around her. Since they didn’t have suppressors and couldn’t risk firing their guns yet, Dayoung also helped Jiwoo push the cart. 

 

By the time they were halfway there, the sun had completely disappeared, and darkness settled around them. 

 

The group turned on their headlamps and proceeded carefully, staying alert.

 

Just as the building came into view, the fast-moving cart hit a deep pothole, causing the wheel to collapse and Jiwoo to fall over along with it. 

 

The carts tied on top came loose with a loud clatter, echoing through the quiet base. The group quickly turned their heads, scanning their surroundings. 

 

A low, guttural growling sound was gradually growing louder.

 

“We have to hurry!”

 

Dayoung helped Jiwoo up and righted the cart. While stacking the smaller carts back onto the larger one, she whispered to Jiwoo,

 

“Jiwoo, that building up ahead is our destination. We’re almost there. We need to push the cart as fast as possible. Got it?”

 

“Yeah!”

 

“Joohan and Ian, help Jiwoo push the cart. The guys and Seojun—absolutely no firing your guns. The sound carries way too much here.”

 

At Dayoung’s words, Joohan and Ian quickly steadied the stacked carts to prevent them from toppling over and swiftly moved their feet. 

 

The three men holding guns also adjusted their weapons. 

 

The group moved quickly. Perhaps their efforts to build stamina as the reconnaissance team paid off, as they soon reached the building and hurried inside, closing the door behind them.

 

The dark warehouse was filled with the distinct metallic smell of iron. 

 

As Ian checked on the group with his headlamp, a rustling sound came from deeper inside. The group raised their weapons and shone the light toward the noise.

 

“Please save me! I’m human!!”

 

A man in black military uniform emerged with his hands raised. The group kept their guard up, and Ian scanned them with his headlamp.

 

“Where’s Noona Dayoung???”

 

“Noona Dayoung? Wait… Are you talking about Captain Kim Dayoung?”

 

The first to react to Ian’s words wasn’t the group but the man in black. He stepped closer to them, hands still raised. 

 

Ian and Jiseok went outside to look for Dayoung, while the rest of the group exchanged confused glances at the man’s question.

 

“Well, she is Kim Dayoung, but… Captain?”

 

“Ha! I knew the Captain was still alive! Was it her idea to come here?? I knew it! Waiting here was the right call!!!”

 

The man, now so excited he was even dancing a little, left the group bewildered. 

 

No matter how they looked at it, the Dayoung he was talking about didn’t seem to be the same one they knew.

 

“Um… I think there’s been a misunderstanding. Our Dayoung is a 24-year-old girl who’s about this tall, incredibly pretty, and cute.”

 

“24 years old?? Not 28? She is pretty, but… not incredibly pretty, right? Unless the Captain lied about her age? But she doesn’t look like she could pull that off… And her height is really that short?? Our Captain is pretty tall…”

 

“Ah. So it’s not the same person after all. Our Dayoung is super tiny, cute, and sexy.”

 

“Is that not the case?? Our captain… Are you saying it’s not him? Then how did you know to come here?”

 

“Noona… Dayoung told us to come. Our Dayoung noona is a combative athlete, so she needs bullets.”

 

The way Jiwoo emphasized ‘our Dayoung’ made the man feel unfairly slighted. He had simply been happy, thinking the captain had come to rescue him—the lone survivor trapped here.

 

“Is that so? …But did you come from the village? How is the situation there? Are the zombies still roaming the streets?”

 

“You’re a soldier, yet you don’t know what’s happening outside your unit?”

 

“I am a soldier, but… the last time I went was a month ago. And it’s not like I know much either.”

 

“You can assume there aren’t many survivors left in the village. Just like you, stranded here. Doesn’t seem like anyone is coming to rescue us. It’s the same as outside this building.”

 

While explaining the village’s situation to the man, Ian and Jiseok came back inside. Then, they turned on the walkie-talkie.

 

“Noona Dayoung?”

 

―Bzzzt

 

“Noona, where are you now?”

 

―I’m fine. Wait there. I’ll be there soon.

 

At the sound of Dayoung’s voice, the group let out a sigh of relief. 

 

Since she said she’d come soon, she must be safely on her way to the armory. 

 

Ian switched the walkie-talkie channel and contacted the shopping mall. Though the distance made the signal crackle, communication wasn’t a major issue.

 

“We’ve arrived at the military base. It’s too late, so we’ll stay here tonight and leave at dawn.”

 

―Got it. Come back safely. Is Noona Dayoung okay?

 

“Yeah. She’s fine.”

 

―Okay.

 

Once the call ended, the group unloaded the cart and began organizing the weapons, moving them one by one onto the cart. Not only the three who hadn’t served in the military but even Jiseok, Minshik, and Seojun—who had—saw many unfamiliar weapons. 

 

Since they couldn’t just take everything blindly, they decided to wait for Dayoung to check and sort them out when she arrived.

 

“Are you taking this? You probably don’t even know how to use it… And this is military property, you know.”

“That military doesn’t exist anymore. Or are you saying it’s yours?”

“No!! Absolutely not!”

“But you’ve been here all this time?”

“No. I was on a mission in Gyeonggi-do. I couldn’t reach my unit, so I was heading this way when I found survivors in the village. The captain said he’d go back to rescue them, but… he never came, you see…”

 

The group recalled the tall soldier he had mentioned waiting for. 

 

Maybe because he shared the same name as Dayoung, they couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

 

“By any chance, are you talking about Kim Dayoung?”

“Yes. So I’ve been waiting for the captain to return. But judging by what’s happened to the village… it seems something bad befell her.”

“How long have you been waiting here?”

“A little over a month.”

“Damn…”

 

The group silently calculated how long it had been since they met Dayoung. 

 

Dayoung herself realized it had been just over a month since she joined them, and a fleeting thought crossed her mind—but no matter how she looked at it, the man’s description didn’t match her at all.

 

“Well, why don’t you come with us to the hideout tomorrow? We have food, and you can wash up.”

 

The man looked down at his own disheveled state, then at their clean clothes and well-kept appearances. He bowed his head in gratitude.

 

“Thank you! If you’ll take me with you, I’ll do anything! I might not know much else, but I can handle a gun!”

“We… also have a noona who’s really good with guns. So we’re fine on that front.”

“Ah. You mentioned she was a shooting athlete, right? That woman.”

“Yes. The most important rule if you stay with us is that you have to treat Dayoung noona well. Anything she dislikes is strictly forbidden.”

 

“Understood! Since her name is the same as our captain’s… I don’t think I’ll get too close to her. No need to worry, sir!”

 

“And. That way of speaking…”

 

“My apologies. I’m still active duty. It’ll go away soon once I’m around regular people.”

 

“Ah… What’s your name and age?”

 

“Park Dodam. 22 years old.”

 

“Wow. You’re 22 and in special forces? Is that even possible?”

 

“No. I’m a special case, sir. They were short on personnel, so I was scouted from the regular infantry, sir. I’m a perfect marksman, sir. That’s why I was assigned to the special unit until discharge.”

 

“It’ll be fun to see you compete with Noona Dayoung later. I’m 21, Joohan, and this is 22, Song Jiwoo…”