Even Zombies Have Fandoms

Chapter 105

It was a possibility that had vaguely occurred to me from the moment I confirmed there were sounds zombies didn’t react to. I had deliberately buried the thought, hoping I was wrong, but why do ominous premonitions always turn out to be true?

These creatures were already overwhelmingly threatening just with their vast numbers and aggression. But what if they started using their brains? Survivors’ chances of staying alive would become even more remote. And of course, Seokjae and the kids would be in greater danger.

‘Could it just be survival instinct making them move?’

I tried to think positively, but soon the rational part of my mind shook its head, scolding me: ‘Would creatures that throw themselves out windows at the sound of an alarm have anything like that? Get a grip.’

‘Come to think of it, that strange zombie yesterday too…’

Another memory suddenly came to mind, strengthening the hypothesis that zombies were beginning to use their brains.

Last night, the zombie in the classroom had shown bizarre behavior before rushing at me. I realized that the way it had stared at me while violently twisting its neck resembled a certain human action.

‘That… could it have been tilting its head in contemplation?’

I didn’t want to use the expression “tilting its head” for such a grotesque sight, but there was no other way to describe it.

If that zombie had truly been deliberating whether to attack someone who was “one of their kind, but acting like a human,” the situation was quite serious. It meant they had already progressed beyond learning from observation and reached a level of independent thought.

‘When did they get that far… no, more importantly, just how smart are they becoming?!’

Even with decaying brains, it wouldn’t be strange if they reached a level similar to humans since they had human brains to begin with. I wasn’t sure whether their cognitive abilities would catch up to humans before their decomposing bodies collapsed, but one thing was certain.

‘The longer this goes on, the more dangerous it becomes for hyung and the kids.’

Muyoung looked at Seokjae, who was gripping his wrist, and took a sharp breath. It was because an image suddenly flashed before his eyes, like someone had turned on a screen, showing Seokjae standing in a corridor swarming with zombies.

In some unknown place. Him kicking a closed steel door with an expression of anger Muyoung had never seen before. But the door wouldn’t open in this desperate situation.

Was his imagination running wild while trying to consider real possibilities? Or was he seeing a vision of the future? He wasn’t sure what was happening, but the scene was so realistic that for a moment his throat closed up and his heart constricted, causing his face to contort.

*Swoosh-*

At that moment, long, large fingers slid down his wrist and worked their way between Muyoung’s cool fingers. Despite the rough feeling of calluses, the hand moved gently and firmly grasped Muyoung’s hand. Then came a low whisper.

“It’s okay.”

It was reassurance as if he knew what Muyoung had been thinking. As if hypnotized, Muyoung raised his slightly lowered head and met steady, calm eyes.

Seokjae gave Muyoung a nod in one direction when their eyes met.

“We need to go out through the window, climb over the wall right in front, and escape. If that doesn’t work, we can use the second-floor windows. It’ll make some noise, though.”

As soon as he heard those words, Muyoung’s vision cleared as if the strange images had never appeared, and all his senses returned. The surroundings, Seokjae standing awkwardly on the middle of the stairs, and even the chilling cries coming from around the corner—everything flowed normally into his mind.

“I saw yesterday that it’s connected to the mountain. So once we get over the wall, we should be relatively safe.”

Thanks to this, Muyoung was able to quickly process all the information, perfectly understand Seokjae’s meaning, and nod.

“Ah, there’s a mountain behind… That’s fortunate.”

His voice came out thin, almost like gasping from surprise, but Seokjae must have thought he was deliberately speaking quietly. Without questioning, he went back to surveying the situation beyond the stairs.

‘Huh, when did we reach the first floor? I don’t think I was lost in thought for that long.’

In reality, Muyoung had only been absorbed in his thoughts for a short time.

So how did they already reach the first floor? All the remaining zombies in the school had gathered on the fourth floor, making the rest of the stairwells safe. Except for checking for zombies, there was no need to slow down or be cautious.

Thus, Muyoung was able to reach the first floor instantly, like a child walking absentmindedly while holding their parents’ hands.

However, unlike the other floors, the first floor already had several zombies stumbling around. Zombies that had been wandering around the main building had naturally pushed their way inside, like those gathering in the shade of the playground. Unlike the upper floors, they had to stop and wait for the right timing to move.

*Huh!*

And at the same time that Seokjae stopped upon witnessing this sight, Muyoung made a startled breathing sound. Though coincidental, it was a reaction that fit the situation perfectly. Because of this, Seokjae immediately turned his attention to reassuring Muyoung.

‘Making such a deflated dumpling face over something like this.’

He thought Muyoung was feeling dejected because they had misjudged the timing to move.

‘Phew… I guess he didn’t catch me this time.’

The actual recipient of this overprotection was relieved for a different reason.

Muyoung, though confused, released the tension from his stiffened shoulders. Earlier, he had attacked the back of Seokjae’s head with his distracted thoughts and received a reproachful glance. Without reflecting on this, he had already relaxed and let his mind wander again. If Seokjae had detected this fact, it might not have ended with just a sigh this time.

“I’m going to let go of your hand now, so stay close behind me. You guys stick close behind Muyoung too.”

After whispering quietly, Seokjae confirmed that the three heads were nodding vigorously before heading toward the window in the corridor.

“Gruuhh… kruk…”

Perhaps because it hadn’t been long since sunrise, the zombies were only wandering near the central staircase where the main entrance was located. Thanks to this, none of them noticed the furtive movement taking place in the most secluded, shaded corner.

However, problems always occurred at the last moment.

*Creeak-*

The grating sound of a rusty latch turning reverberated through the corridor.

In the quiet dawn, with even the rain having subsided now. There was no way the zombies would miss that sound.

“Kuh, ugh… kuk, kya- aack!”

“Hurry and get over!”

“Yes, yes! Ughk!”

The creatures began running from beyond the corridor, making spine-chilling cries. Seokjae threw open the window and helped the three people standing behind him get outside.

“Run!”

Since they were practically thrown out, the three who stumbled out of the school had no time to rest before Seokjae, who had jumped over the windowsill, shouted at them to run toward the wall visible ahead.

The wall was quite high, but there was a recycling area structure below that made it easy to climb up. Thanks to this, while the persistent zombies that had crawled out the window were flailing about, hanging from the pillars and trash bins of the recycling area, the four of them were able to completely escape the place.

“Kek! Kruruk!”

“Kya- ak.”

Before completely crossing over the wall, Muyoung thought, looking at the zombies hanging from the recycling area and flailing about in frustration, that someday zombies might not just helplessly watch but climb up the pillars and walls to come after them.

‘Before that happens, I need to get hyung and the kids out of the city as quickly as possible.’

* * *

*Splash, splash.*

*Rustle-*

In the quiet mountains. The sound of climbing up a mountain path full of soil and grass, rather than a well-maintained hiking trail, spread softly.

Since they couldn’t be certain there were no zombies roaming the mountains, it would be better to make as little noise as possible. But this was a rain-soaked mountain path that would be dangerous even with hiking boots. Asking them to maintain silence while climbing in ordinary sneakers was too difficult.

*Slip-*

“Waaah.”

Sure enough, Muyoung, who had the poorest sense of balance, was the first to slip. As he flailed, trying to grab a nearby tree, a thick arm caught him around the waist before he could.

“Are you okay?”

“Y-yes.”

“Be careful, it’s slippery. Actually, just hold onto me as we go.”

“N-no! That would put you in danger too, hyung.”

It was Seokjae who had supported Muyoung’s weight with one arm despite the steep mountain path. He held him steady without even flinching, as if it wasn’t difficult at all, and only released his waist after Muyoung was standing properly.

“Not really?”

“S-still, let me try to walk carefully once more.”

Seokjae couldn’t understand Muyoung’s stubbornness and raised one eyebrow as he looked down at him.

But only for a moment.

“…If you fall again, then you’re holding onto me.”

“Yes, I will.”

He immediately surrendered to those round eyes that seemed to be pleading “please.” Inwardly clicking his tongue at those adorable eyes being the problem, Seokjae turned his gaze forward. Needless to say, all his attention remained focused on Muyoung’s wobbling movements.

‘Th-that startled me.’

Whether it was because he almost tumbled down the mountain, or because of Seokjae’s impressive rescue, Muyoung was rubbing his chest where his heart had sunk. Junwoo, who was following behind, asked him:

“Hyung, are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. But which way should we go? Right now we’re heading upward… Ah, maybe it would be better to go all the way to the peak and check our direction from there?”

It was just as Muyoung was trying to change the subject with an awkward smile, feeling embarrassed that he was the only one stumbling while the other three were walking just fine.

“Um…”

Kyungho, who had been quietly following until now, softly opened his mouth.