1979, Manager Kim is Inheriting Dictatorship! - Chapter 16



Only Krnovel

Episode 16

The snowfall, which seemed to have died down for a while, began to fall heavily as if it had been waiting for this very moment.

The already slippery road had become an extreme environment where I couldn’t see even an inch ahead, and the bicycle, which had been going well at first, gradually began to creak.

It’s a disaster.

We were gradually losing our sense of direction as it was difficult to even tell where the road was.

Boom!

But every time that happened, Coco, who had been running ahead, came back and circled the bike like crazy.

The boy waved his red scarf around and barked for me to follow him.

Thanks to that, we were able to safely get through the traffic jam and reach Messenapolis.

Phew, whoosh!

I pedaled so fast that I was out of breath and almost fell over.

I wiped my face, which was covered in sweat and snow, and looked up at the Messenapolis building.

The snow is falling heavily.

It was only like this because it was above ground, but I couldn’t even imagine how much it would shake above the 10th floor.

“Isn’t it going to fall down?”

“I hope it’s okay.”

No matter how many times the infected took the bait, it was only a matter of time before they returned here.

If we really, really feel there’s no hope, we should get out of here.

There are only 20 minutes left.

We quietly hid behind the vehicle and waited silently for the woman to come down.

“Brother, this… … .”

“Let’s wait just one more minute.”

But no matter how much time passed, she showed no sign of coming down, and didn’t even send a radio message.

At this point, there’s a good chance something really went wrong or they weren’t able to start at all.

We decided to wait one more minute and just stared up at the building.

Cheek!

[Hey! Where the hell are you!]

But at that moment, the radio rang and the woman’s voice that he had been waiting for was heard.

“It’s right in front of the main gate!”

[Are you crazy!? If you go in there, it’s a shopping district! Turn right and come to Hongik District!]

Damn, I thought it wasn’t visible, but it was coming down from a completely different direction.

When we heard that our paths were different, we quickly pushed our bikes and rode along the right-hand road.

Chi-chik!

[Brother! Serpent! Don’t let them go back!]

But some of the infected who took the bait are returning here.

Corporal Oh Chan-il and I, who were getting impatient, pedaled and pedaled until our thighs literally burst.

“Over there!”

Two bicycles quickly cross the four-lane road and soon enter the narrowing right lane.

Then, a building with the words Hongik Police Station written on it appeared along with an alley full of cars.

“Hey! Where are you!”

Corporal Oh Chan-il and I quickly stepped on the brakes and entered the police station, raising our voices.

Now was the time to run away from the hordes of infected people who were coming back, whether they were Tongseongmyeong or Nabal.

“- – – – – – !!”

But the moment I passed through the door, my nerves suddenly became tense and a danger signal was sent.

Phew!

I instinctively protected Private Ohchan and blocked the kick flying to his head.

Someone was hiding in a blind spot where no light could reach and was attacking us as we tried to get inside.

puck!

Startled by the powerful kick, I quickly regained my balance and glared at my opponent.

Knock, knock!

However, the opponent quickly closed the distance and attacked again as if he was not going to give me any openings.

‘Kickboxing?’

I’m not just a beginner.

The opponent, who was weaving at a speed almost like that of a player, quickly threw a jab and a right hook.

widely!

But I responded the same way this time, blocking all the attacks with a few guards.

“… … !”

The opponent, who barely avoids the flying left hook, is startled and steps back.

He looked visibly flustered, as if this was the first time his attack had failed.

“What, what is this crazy guy!”

Private Oh Chan-il, who had just gotten up from his seat, raised his gun and illuminated the other person’s face with the flash.

Crunch!

He wore a black motorcycle helmet, tight leather suit, and even gloves.

The opponent, who had hesitated for a moment in front of the muzzle, soon took off his helmet and slowly revealed his bare face.

Contrary to expectations, there was a woman with a delicate appearance inside the motorcycle helmet.

Wait, this guy.

“wireless set?”

“……that’s right.”

Only when the word ‘radio’ comes out of my mouth does the woman breathe a sigh of relief.

But Private Oh Chan-il, whose head was almost blown off, shouted in disbelief.

“No! What are you doing all of a sudden!”

“I didn’t know it was you guys.”

“Do you attack people for no reason?!”

“You didn’t say you had guns. Do you think we’re the only ones with radios?”

Did a soldier with a gun suddenly appear and attack reflexively?

Her eyes trembled as if she had seen a ghost when she discovered the military uniform and gun.

“Let’s go and talk about it.”

“Brother! But… … .”

“Hurry up!”

I know you’re both sensitive, but we don’t have time for that right now.

I hurriedly stopped the two people who were trying to fight and ran out of the police station.

“There are only two bikes, so we have to split the ride. You ride behind me, and Chan-il, hold Coco. I’m too tired to ride anymore.”

The two of them glared at each other for a moment, then followed my words and got on their respective bikes.

“Let’s go!”

Taking a deep breath, I pedaled hard again and started racing down the snow-covered road.

Squeak… … .

On lunch day, Coco, held in the arms of her husband, cried sadly as she looked at the city that was gradually getting further away.

The gray city that had been beautiful until just a moment ago was slowly turning black.

To the puppy’s eyes, who saw the world in gray, the sight only seemed pitiful.

* * *

The bike I was riding along went out of gear, so I had to run halfway through.

But thanks to our diligent efforts, we were able to arrive at the meeting point before the sun set.

“Snake! Brother! Here you go!”

At that moment, Private Lee Hyeon-su was waiting to join us, his boat anchored at Mangwon Hangang Park.

Perhaps because our situation was so messy, Lee Hyun-soo, who was about to hug me happily, turned pale for a moment.

“Eww! Is this all sweat?”

“Is this what you mean by fluffy?”

Even though we were joking with each other, the two of us, excluding me, have already reached our physical limits.

We had no choice but to find a convenience store near Hangang Park and decide to stay there for just one day.

Fortunately, the inside of the convenience store, which had not yet been looted, was a perfect place to take a break.

After lightly washing my body with the overflowing water, the sky had already become dark.

Late in the evening, my companions and I gathered in front of an electric heater and warmed our frozen bodies with boiled ramen noodles.

Looking at the socks with steam rising from them, today’s events felt like a dream.

“I really thought I was going to die.”

“Sangbaem, weren’t you a special warrior before? You suddenly lost stamina.”

“It’s different now than it was then.”

“If someone saw me, they would think I was in my final years.”

“Are you bored these days?”

Only then did Private Oh Chan-il relax and continue a light conversation with Private Lee Hyeon-su.

I was quietly laughing next to him, and I unconsciously turned my head to look at the counter.

There, a woman who had washed up without telling us was sitting alone with her back to us.

“Aren’t you cold?”

“……are you okay.”

“Come and warm up your body.”

It’s a job where we all have to eat and live, so they’re not so vulgar as to not be able to give us even one seat.

Private Lee Hyeon-su, who had been watching the situation, quickly made space for me to sit down with my butt pressed against it.

The woman hesitated for a moment, then carefully got up and approached the electric heater.

“Would you like a pair of chopsticks?”

“thank you.”

Private Lee Hyeon-su, a friendly man, approached me and handed me a bowl of ramen and wooden chopsticks.

The woman, who was initially wary of us, soon buried her nose in the bowl and started inhaling the ramen.

Slurp!

The atmosphere becomes solemn for a moment.

Everyone in the group seemed to notice that the corners of her eyes were gradually turning red as she ate the ramen.

Ahem! Hmm! Finally, Private Oh Chan-il, who couldn’t stand it any longer, asked her to make up with him first.

“I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t need to do that, but I guess I was too sensitive.”

Then, she, who had been hesitating, put down the bowl of ramen she was holding and answered.

“You don’t have to apologize. I didn’t do well either… … I’m really sorry about that time.”

I was worried that they would fight until the end, but luckily they were both adults who knew how to have a conversation.

Thanks to that, the slightly awkward atmosphere was quickly resolved and we were able to exchange names.

“My name is Jang Dae-su. This is Private First Class Oh Chan-il, and this is Private First Class Lee Hyeon-su.”

“I’m Kim Jin-kyung. Just call me whatever you want. Then, are you all soldiers?”

“It’s not me. These two are moving together for a while due to some circumstances.”

“… … You’re not a soldier?”

When I told her I wasn’t a soldier, Jin-kyung Kim looked at me from top to bottom with a suspicious look.

Perhaps because he has a keen sense, he seemed to have sensed that I had combat experience after just a few contacts.

“What about you? Is it kickboxing?”

“It’s not something to brag about.”

“For something like that, your posture is good.”

The wrist where I put up the guard still feels numb.

At least in this industry, there is a high probability that he has made a name for himself or has become a national sensation.

However, Kim Jin-kyung avoided eye contact with a dark expression and was reluctant to say anything further.

“Sangbaem, are you really angry at Seon-sun?”

“Be quiet, you’ll get in trouble.”

No matter how big the difference in physique may be, there is a world of difference between a current elected official and an ordinary person.

As Lee Hyun-soo snickered and teased him, Private Oh Chan-il finally couldn’t stand it anymore and rushed at him.

Meanwhile, I sat across from Kim Jin-kyung and talked about future plans.

“We are planning to leave for Mokdong tomorrow morning. What are your plans for the future?”

“Is there a safe place?”

“Seoul is under lockdown. If you are looking for shelter, you will have to go down to Chungju.”

Kim Jin-kyung sighed and covered her forehead when she heard that she had to go all the way to Chungju.

“Don’t you have any family?”

“I’m an only child. My parents passed away two years ago and I’ve lost contact with my relatives for a long time.”

No matter how much help is given, it is difficult for a woman to go all the way to Chungju alone.

She was deeply troubled, rubbing her forehead as if she was aware of this reality.

“Then let’s do it like this.”

“yes?”

“We’ll be together for the time being.”

“You want me to join your group?”

“We will also leave Seoul someday, and our goal is to find shelter, right? At least until then, let’s help each other.”

If Private Lee Hyeon-su and Corporal Oh Chan-il hadn’t been there, it would have been difficult to enter Seoul.

In a time when cooperation between survivors is becoming increasingly important, Kim Jin-kyung is a pretty good resource.

No, I still feel better when I think about my cold arms. He was someone I really needed.

“Is this a deal again?”

“No, I’m just asking.”

Kim Jin-kyung, who had been wary at first, twitched a corner of her mouth at the word “request” this time.

What are you thinking?

After thinking about it for a while, she approached me hesitantly and carefully took hold of the hand I held out to her.

“I have no choice.”

I also welcomed the new group with a light wave of the hand.

It wasn’t my intention, but this is how we ended up adding another person.

“But why were you like that at the police station? You were particularly wary of military uniforms and guns.”

“… … Something happened a while ago.”

Is there a past you still don’t want to talk about?

It just passed naturally without me having to ask any questions.

Meanwhile, Private Lee Hyeon-su, who had been muttering for a while behind him, asked Corporal Oh Chan-il.

“Sangbaem, so what was the important part?”

“Important content?”

“It’s a letter written by your mother.”

“Oh, that.”

Kim Jin-kyung clearly told us to take the letter personally because it contained important information.

Then, Private Oh Chan-il quietly read the letter from his mother that he had risked his life to protect.

“… … He said he loved me.”

We laughed in silence.