Chapter 3 Part 6

“…I need to go outside for a minute.”

I informed Do Ji-hyuk and the real estate agent, who were sitting in front of the CCTV, staring blankly at the screen. They both turned around in surprise. They seemed unable to understand why I would go out at this timing. But I didn’t have time to explain everything one by one and persuade them. Moreover, it was something that hadn’t happened yet. To them, who were living in the present, it would seem very strange that I knew what was going to happen.

“Why, are you going to take a sh*t in this situation? Are you going to the bathroom?”

The first to react was Yoo Min-ho. He was also looking at me with a questioning look. But after hearing Hyeon-ho’s story, it was hard to look Yoo Min-ho in the eye. The thought that I used him as inspiration for a character and that he was suffering in this world because of it made me unable to get angry at his rude tone. To him, I might be a great sinner, an archenemy, or even a devil-like figure. Although he didn’t even remember that he was Yoo Min-ho.

“What’s with your tone? I think Ki-hyeon has a plan, that’s why he’s risking going out.”

“You ignored me when I said I was going out, what? And who is Ki-hyeon? His name is Lee Chae-eun. Get it right.”

“Are you two really acquainted? From what I see, Ki-hyeon doesn’t seem interested in you at all… A stalker, really. Even for an actor, isn’t that a bit of a stretch?”

“Wow, f*ck. I’m really going crazy. He’s really my stalker, I’m telling you! He said he likes me!”

The age difference between the two men who bickered whenever they opened their mouths was fifteen years. The more they fought, the more Do Ji-hyuk lost. I cut off their conversation and quickly said what I had to say.

“Maybe… rescue workers will come soon. Even if communication is impossible, there are hundreds of people trapped in this building. It’s only right to think that someone among their acquaintances has reported it.”

“Then shouldn’t we stay here and wait for rescue? How can you go outside in this situation? Look at the CCTV. You’ll die as soon as you go out.”

The real estate agent questioned me with a look that showed she didn’t understand at all. She was right. There was a very high probability that I would die as soon as I went out. But I had the cheat key of infinite time. No matter how many times I failed, I had to reach the unmanned convenience store.

In the movie, the firefighters cutting the shutters that Do Ji-hyuk lowered provided the opportunity for the zombies to spread outside. But thankfully, unlike the original, not a single zombie had escaped outside thanks to Hyeon-ho. I had to somehow prevent the rescue workers from cutting the shutters… in order to not destroy this world.

“Even if rescue workers come… they won’t be able to save anyone in this building. They’ll come without any preparation, not knowing the current situation inside. The rescue workers will probably try to cut the shutters first… and the sound will attract all the zombies on the first floor to the entrance. As you know, if the shutters are breached… even if we get out of here safely… it will be meaningless. The entire country will be overrun with zombies.”

People’s thinking narrows when they’re in a corner. That’s probably why they can’t grasp a situation that they could easily understand if they just thought about it a little. Of course, I understood their desire to think positively. But to be clear, the possibility of being rescued was zero. At least until the situation was assessed and the government prepared a response.

The temperature in the management office suddenly dropped. I checked the time again. It was 20:42. I didn’t remember the exact time, but it seemed like there were only about 30 minutes left before the fire truck arrived. I had to hurry. I continued quickly.

“Of course, not everyone needs to go out. I’m enough to explain the situation inside-“

“Oh, a great hero has arrived, huh? Okay, let’s say you make it to the unmanned convenience store and tell the firefighters not to cut the shutter. So what’s next? How are you going to get back here?”

“…..”

Yoo Min-ho, who had been quietly listening to me, got up from the sofa, approached me, and vehemently criticized me. Of course… I hadn’t thought that far ahead. Honestly, I didn’t even think I could make it to the unmanned convenience store. But I couldn’t just do nothing and be reset again. I had to do something.

“Wouldn’t the fire truck come with its sirens on? If the sirens go off, all the zombies will be drawn to it. The unmanned convenience store is right next to the entrance, and two of its walls are made of glass. Will that hold up if zombies swarm it? You’re basically going to your death now. Just holding this lousy ax.”

I was at a loss for words. It wasn’t a situation where I needed to make excuses, but I felt anxious as if I had to. Moreover, Yoo Min-ho seemed very angry. The relationship between Lee Chae-eun and Cha Min-jae seemed to have been completely broken the moment I entered in this world. He wasn’t treating me like Lee Chae-eun at all.

“…I’ll go with you.”

To make matters worse, Do Ji-hyuk chimed in. Ah, this wasn’t right. My head started to ache.

“No. I’ll go alone. The more people there are, the higher the risk of being detected by zombies.”

“But wouldn’t it be better to have two people instead of one…”

“If I don’t come back, we have to think about the others who remain. Do Ji-hyuk-ssi, you stay here.”

After saying that, I quickly moved towards the management office entrance as if I didn’t want to talk any further. Just before opening the door to the hallway, I turned my head towards the CCTV to check the situation outside the door. Do Ji-hyuk and the real estate agent were looking at me with looks that showed they had a lot to say. Next to them, Hyeon-ho was staring at my face with an unreadable expression. But Yoo Min-ho, who had been standing in front of the CCTV until just a moment ago, was nowhere to be seen.

“I’m going out, too.”

As I was looking around for Yoo Min-ho, I heard his voice right next to me and was startled. When I turned my head, he was standing next to me with a nonchalant look on his face. In one hand, Yoo Min-ho, who was standing there casually, held a heavy pipe wrench.

“…Where did you get that?”

“It was in the toolbox under the sofa. This one seemed the most useful. Ah, there was this too?”

He leaned languidly against the fire door and took out a pair of work goggles from his pocket, showing them off. The cheap, Chinese-made goggles, when placed on his small face, seemed to exude the aura of an expensive luxury item. Yoo Min-ho, holding the only remaining pair of goggles on his index finger, twirled them in front of my eyes and said, “…Do you want to use it too? Want one?”

I unconsciously reached out my hand, and Yoo Min-ho took a step back with an annoying smile. I frowned, wondering what he was doing in this situation. But he continued to speak as if he were playing a joke, unfazed.

“You’re not trying to take it for free, are you?”

“What?”

“Take me with you. I’ll give it to you if you say you’ll go with me.”

I didn’t know what to say. I checked the time in my anxiety. It was 20:51. I really had to go now. My heart was pounding, and my words kept coming out sharply.

“Why are you so… hell-bent on dying? Look at the CCTV. Do you want to go out in this situation?”

“That’s what I should be saying. What are you going to do if you go out alone?”

“You said you were scared? Just stay here. I can’t get anything done because I’m worried you’ll die.”

“…..”

As I spoke roughly and snatched the goggles from his hand, Yoo Min-ho, who had come to his senses belatedly, grumbled.

“…What, anyone would think you’re really worried about me. You are a stalker. My stalker.”

“Haa…”

Without responding, I put on the goggles, but the loose strap couldn’t be secured and kept sliding down. Yoo Min-ho, who chuckled, came closer and tightened the buckle on the back of my head to secure the goggles. The touch was too careful and gentle, not fitting the situation and his tone, which made me feel strange.

“Your head is so damn small, too.”

“…..”

“Okay. I won’t beg you any further, either. If you’re not going to take me… let’s each go out and meet at the unmanned convenience store.”

“You are really… a stubborn bastard, aren’t you?”

“You just realized that? Even my fans know I’m stubborn. It feels really strange that you, my stalker, just realized that.”

A brief silence followed. I felt reluctant to take Yoo Min-ho with me because I might see him die in my place again. It felt much more comfortable to go out alone and die. While I was hesitating, precious time kept ticking away. 

Noticing my hesitation, Yoo Min-ho said nonchalantly, “Or just stay here, whether the world ends or not. If it ends, it ends. What’s the use of saving the world if you die in the process? Right?”

“…Let’s just hear the reason why you want to come along.”

“…I don’t know. I feel like you’ll die if you go out now… Crazy, have I been gaslighted by you all this time? I’m so damn worried that you’ll die.”

“…..”

I was speechless. The guy who tried to kill Lee Chae-eun several times in the original was talking about gaslighting. I felt an uncomfortable and stuffy feeling, like indigestion. I kept suspecting that we might have had a special relationship in my real life that was erased from my memory. Were we family? But no matter how much I looked, his small face had no resemblance to mine.

Lost in complicated thoughts, Yoo Min-ho, who couldn’t know my inner turmoil, took out duct tape from his pocket and started wrapping it around my arm. Seeing him seriously wrapping duct tape over my thick knit sweater, I felt disheartened. He was not going to listen to me.

“I was in a zombie movie before, and there was a setting where if you wrap it like this, the teeth won’t sink in even if you get bitten.”

“…..”

…Embarrassingly, it was a pretty good idea, so I had to shut up and let him do as he pleased. Yoo Min-ho spent a long time taping my arms, making them look like a mummy’s. But he didn’t seem satisfied, and his expression was very displeased. Then, what he said was quite a spectacle.

“Come here. Let’s wrap your neck too.”

“…Are you kidding? There’s not much tape left. If we’re going together, you should wrap some too. What’s with the tattered clothes, is that… fashion? The zombies will be ecstatic to put their mouths on that ripped denim jacket.”

“What, you worry so creatively, too?”

“…We don’t have time, hurry up.”

“Alright, don’t rush me. If you’re in such a hurry, you can wrap it yourself.”

“…..”

I felt like I was being dragged along. Well… anyway, if I failed, Yoo Min-ho would also be reset, so whether I took him or left him here, it didn’t really matter. With that thought, I added tape to his worn-out denim jacket.

***