The Only Woman in a Zombie Apocalypse Vol. 2 Chapter 68 - Battle with Humans (2)

Kim Dayoung’s group and Team B’s scouting team walked while having a long conversation. 

 

The disorganized Team B members were very curious about Ian and Jiseok. 

 

Ian and Jiseok told Hoyoung everything they knew.

 

“Ian, you’re really amazing. You’re so young, how do you lead your group? I wouldn’t dare. Besides, I’m the youngest in our group.”

 

“Being young doesn’t mean you can’t do it. Take us, for example; while I’m the one leading the group, I get a lot of help from the others. And as you can see, Dayoung noona is practically the one leading us.”

 

“Dayoung noona seems really cool.”

 

“I agree with that. Ah, and thanks for the shovels. Since we don’t have many weapons, we need to have things like this at least.”

 

“Don’t mention it. I wanted to give you more, but we don’t have any either. The younger ones… please bury them properly.”

 

Dayoung’s group needed the shovels to bury the two younger members again. 

 

Although there were shovels in the group’s backpacks, they hadn’t brought many since shovels weren’t really needed for the shopping mall either, so they only had three.

 

Fortunately, Team B’s hideout had two, so they borrowed them.

 

Dayoung walked ahead, taking down every zombie she saw nearby so that Team B’s scouting team wouldn’t have a hard time returning to their hideout. 

 

Until Dayoung’s group entered a different alley and parted ways, Hoyoung absorbed everything he could learn. 

 

And the two groups bid each other a reluctant farewell.

 

Ian and Jiseok retraced their memories to find the way. 

 

They thought they wouldn’t remember because they had been in a hurry, but it seemed the location where their younger friends were buried remained vividly in their memories.

 

When they had climbed about halfway up the low mountain, a fairly wide flat area appeared. 

 

And in the middle of it, the sight of sparsely scattered blankets here and there drew low groans from Ian and Jiseok.

 

“Ah…”

 

The soil, which they hadn’t been able to pile deeply or thickly over the shallow pit, had been washed away by the rain, revealing the white blankets sporadically in patches. 

 

Seeing Ian and Jiseok just staring silently at the spot, Dayoung’s heart ached.

 

“Let’s dig over in that corner first. This is too much in the center.”

 

Dayoung pointed to a corner of the flat area. 

 

It got good sun, so it seemed better than the center. Ian and Jiseok, without answering, were blankly staring at the place where their younger siblings were buried. 

 

The rest of the group set their bags down to the side and quickly grabbed shovels.

 

“If we’re digging, we’re soldiers again.”

 

Dodam and Hayun quickly started digging, and Minshik and Seojun joined in.

 

Since they had to dig two spots, Dayoung also helped them, digging hard. 

 

Before long, Ian and Jiseok snapped out of their daze and approached. Since it was a place for their younger siblings to rest, they wanted to prepare it with their own hands.

 

Ian took the shovel from Dayoung, and Jiseok received a shovel from Seojun, and they began digging the two spots. 

 

Dayoung and Seojun took small trowels out of the backpack. 

 

They had brought the trowels because they were short on shovels, though they wondered if the tiny trowels would be of any help. 

 

But Dayoung and Seojun moved their arms diligently, digging beside them.

 

By the time the holes were about knee-deep, the trowels were no longer useful, so Dayoung and Seojun started walking around nearby, picking up thick tree branches.

 

Since we couldn’t make a proper tombstone, we wanted to make something similar. 

 

The two made a cross out of tree branches, and Dayoung picked some flowers from nearby and made two small bouquets.

 

They took turns digging the ground with the others, and after two hours, they had dug holes about the depth of a man’s thigh.

 

Ian and Jiseok went to where the younger siblings were originally buried and began brushing off the soil. 

 

In the hot weather, a bad smell emanated, but the two paid no attention. O

 

nce all the soil was brushed off, the group held the ends of the blanket and moved the bodies. They placed the two bodies in the two holes, and Ian and Jiseok each shoveled a spadeful of soil onto them.

 

The group also took turns, praying for the peace of the deceased as they sprinkled soil. 

 

Although they were siblings she had never met in life, Dayoung felt an inexplicable sting in her nose and had to sniff back tears.

 

The group covered the soil, creating two small graves. 

 

As the two stared blankly at the graves, Dayoung firmly planted the cross in front of the graves, and Seojun used his strength to push it in deeper. 

 

Dayoung took out a small wooden plank from her bag. Then, she hung a small nameplate on each cross. She carefully tied them to the crosses so they wouldn’t blow away in the wind.

 

Ian and Jiseok came closer and read the words written on the nameplates.

 

《Park Iseo, Born May 12, 2005

Resting here, December 20, 2024.》

 

《Kang Jisu, Born September 5, 2005

Resting here, December 20, 2024.》

 

As they read the letter, tears began to well up in their eyes. 

 

The thought that their younger siblings had died because of their own incompetence made Ian and Jiseok’s faces quickly streaked with falling tears.

 

“Sob… Iseo… I’m sorry… Your brother… Ugh… I’m so sorry, your brother is sorry.”

 

Kneeling and sobbing before the grave, Ian’s appearance, and Jiseok’s form, gritting his teeth and suppressing his cries, brought tears to the eyes of the entire group. 

 

They thought of their own families, whose well-being was unknown, and of the comrades who had steadfastly protected their sides.

 

Dayoung, her eyes red, placed a small bouquet of flowers in front of each of the two graves.

 

“Miss Iseo and Miss Jisu, your brothers are doing okay. They struggled, thinking of you, their younger sisters, but they cherish and care for the group, giving them the care they couldn’t give to you. You both had truly wonderful brothers. So please, don’t worry about them, and be at peace there.”

 

The group gazed at the small graves for a long time. 

 

They waited quietly until Ian and Jiseok had composed themselves.

 

“Let’s head back now.”

 

“Let’s come visit often to say hello. We have Team B as well. Since we’ve set up the barricade, we can come see your younger siblings anytime we want.”

 

“Thank you, Noona. Brother Hayun, Minshik, Seojun, and Dodam, thank you so much for coming with us.”

 

“Yeah. Thank you so much. And for putting up the names too.”

 

“Not at all. Next time, let’s bring the other members too. Everyone wanted to come, you know.”

 

“Hanyeol made that. He’s quite skilled with his hands. I heard he worked on it all night.”

 

The group was touched by their companions’ thoughtfulness, and Ian and Jiseok’s eyes welled up with tears again. 

 

Seeing this, Dayoung forced a smile and comforted them.

 

“Come on, no more crying. Let’s go home. So many of your brothers must be waiting anxiously for you.”

 

“Okay.”

 

On their way to the shopping mall, the group cleared out all the zombies wandering nearby and only arrived at the mall as evening fell. 

 

The members who had been waiting for them impatiently rushed over like excited puppies.

 

“You’ve worked hard.”

 

“You’ve been through a lot.”

 

“It must have been tough.”

 

The companions who hugged Ian and Jiseok tightly tried their best to act as if nothing was wrong.

 

“Come on, let’s wash up quickly and have dinner.”

 

“Go get washed up.”

 

The members who had been on the scouting mission showered and headed to the dining area. 

 

It was clear more care had been put into this meal than usual, so Ian and Jiseok couldn’t help but smile at them.

 

“Theo is such a good cook. He managed to make such a variety of dishes even with limited ingredients.”

 

“We’ll eat well, Theo.”

 

“Please enjoy the meal~”

 

The group ate while talking about Team B. When the meal was mostly finished, Ian stood up, drawing everyone’s attention.

 

“I have something to say.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“First, we properly buried Iseo and Jisu. We also hung the name tags Hanyeol made beautifully. Thank you so much for your care.”

 

“Between us, what’s with the formality!”

 

“And, I’ve been thinking. I think I’m really not cut out to lead a group. I felt that clearly this time.”

 

“…??”

 

The group was taken aback by Ian’s sudden statement. 

 

Ian had really led them well without any major problems. They wondered if the position had been a burden for him and looked at him with pity.

 

“Don’t look at me with those eyes, it’s not that it’s difficult or anything. I think having Dayoung noona lead us is a good thing. Regardless of gender, when it comes to decisiveness or ability to take action, I don’t think there’s anyone as good as noona. And basically, everyone follows her well too.”

 

“I think so too.”

 

Dohun raised his hand and sided with Ian, and Dayoung looked at the two with flustered eyes.

 

“If a newcomer arrives, or we have to deal with someone from the outside as the leader, then I or Jiseok hyung can do it instead of noona. Actually, seeing what you did yesterday… it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call you a leader even outside. There were even people who thought you were the leader. It’s absolutely not that I’m jealous or anything like that. Noona.”

Ian explained while watching Dayoung’s reaction.