Apocalypse: Apparently, I Can See Zombies

Jin-woo's head snapped toward the auditorium, and he stared at the indistinguishable figure on the roof, his heartstrings trembling, almost shifting out of place.

"Are you sure it's him?"

Jin-woo couldn't help but ask.

Seong looked at the figure in the distance and hesitated. After a moment, he said.

"I'm… not sure, but his figure and clothes are similar."

"Can't you teleport there?"

Seong concentrated and tried appearing on the auditorium roof, but after a few seconds, he shook his head.

"No, it's too far. Maybe if it was through a camera where the sense of distance is distorted, I could appear there, like in the security room. But if it's not through that method then I'm restricted by your perception. It also doesn't help that your sense of perception is hindered by your bad eyesight."

Jin-woo silently stared at the figure in thought before he suddenly said.

"I'm going to take a look tonight."

Seong paused but then nodded his head in agreement.

At that moment, Jeon-sok was heard calling from the door.

"Jin! We're ready!"

"Coming!"

Jin-woo gave the figure on the auditorium roof one last look before he finally turned and left.

On the way back, everyone noticed that Jin-woo's steps weren't as relaxed as before, making them nervous all the way to the cafeteria. Luckily, they didn't meet any stray zombies besides those in the rooms on the second floor.

As the door to the cafeteria opened and the twenty-five students hurried inside, they were suddenly bombarded with questions, most of which were about the loud explosion that had happened outside.

Jin-woo's mind was slightly distracted as he entered. The male teacher who had helped him put on his belt came up to him and asked with a worried expression.

"Jin-woo, what happened? Was everything okay?"

Jin-woo snapped out of it and looked at the teacher.

"Yeah, we met a few zombies on the way and were a bit startled by the explosion, but everything went fine."

The male teacher sighed in relief.

"That's good. I tried calling you after the explosion, but the service went out. I can't help but feel the explosion had something to do with it."

The male teacher's face showed a contemplating expression, but Jin-woo's expression turned serious before he said in a low voice.

"There's something I have to say, but not here."

Upon seeing Jin-woo's serious expression, the male teacher's expression changed. Nodding solemnly, he said.

"I'll gather the other teachers and meet you in the back rooms."

Jin-woo nodded, then turned and headed for the back rooms. The male teacher then approached the two other male teachers and the two female teachers before discreetly asking them to meet in the back rooms.

Jin-woo entered the back rooms and after reaching the hallway cross-section that led to the showers on the right, and the back of the school on the left, he turned left.

After a while, the teachers came. After they approached, Jin-woo got straight to the point.

"The explosion just now is likely the Samgakji Substation going up in flames, which means most of Yongsan District has no electricity including Itaewon."

The five teachers' faces all paled simultaneously, but Jin-woo didn't give them time to ask questions as he said again.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Does anyone know if the solar panels were fully installed?"

"Mr. Kim, weren't you consulted by the school board on a suitable solar panel?"

One of the female teachers suddenly asked, and everyone looked at the male teacher, with whom Jin-woo was familiar.

Mr. Kim nodded and explained.

"I'm quite an accomplished electrical engineer so to save money the school hired me as a consultant. Based on what was discussed, the solar panels were supposed to be up and running at the same time the new school term starts."

But all of a sudden, Mr. Kim's expression stiffened, and he couldn't help but cover his face with both hands. Seeing this, everyone's expressions changed, thinking something had gone wrong, but Mr. Kim quickly clarified.

"No, don't worry; they should be up and running. We've also installed the highest-quality battery, with forty-eight hours, while having three more in storage. It's just that during the consultation, I had been contemplating having the school use grid-system solar panels. Thankfully, I changed my mind and suggested a hybrid system instead."

Hearing this, all the teachers and even Jin-woo silently thanked whatever divine entity that made Mr. Kim change his mind.

With a slightly more relaxed state of mind, Jin-woo turned to Mr. Kim and asked.

"Where are the other batteries stored? We likely don't have forty-eight hours before we lose power."

"Ah, if I recall correctly, they're…"—Mr. Kim suddenly paused, and his face slowly turned ashen as he finished his sentence—"… inside the gymnasium."

Jin-woo's mind momentarily went blank and the other teachers mirrored Mr. Kim's expression.

"Damn it, what are we going to do? Will the rescue team arrive before we lose power?"

One of the male teachers asked this question, and everyone turned to Jin-woo.

Jin-woo forcefully suppressed his anxiousness and regained his composure. After thinking for a moment, he said.

"For now, we have to prepare for the worst. First, we need to board up the entrance, and second, we need to gather any supplies we can from the school. Clothes, food, battery flashlight, anything that seems useful. In the meantime, I'll call the Marshal and find out how long it will take for the rescue team to arrive."

"But the service is out, and even the Wi-Fi is down, how are you going to contact the Marshal?"

Jin-woo smiled and said reassuringly.

"Don't worry, I have a way to contact him."

Mr. Kim hesitated for a moment but eventually voiced his doubts.

"Jin-woo, I'm not suspecting you, but is the Marshal really sending help?"

The other teachers heard this and couldn't help but look at Jin-woo with a hint of doubt in their eyes. They hoped this kid was telling the truth and he hadn't made such a claim because everyone was turning on him.

Jin-woo shook his head.

"I'll never lie about something like this... It's just that I have something the Marshal wants, so, he will definitely send help."

Hearing this, one of the female teachers asked.

"What's that?"

Jin-woo hesitated to answer that question.

He didn't want to tell them too much and implicate them even further since it had already been revealed that the company Mai-sun's mother owned was doing something illegal, which involved the Marshal.

However, it would be fine if he gave a vague response to ease their worries.

After a moment of silence, Jin-woo decided to confess the truth, but not before prefacing.

"Since you already know some things you probably shouldn't have, you understand it's better not to admit that you know, right?"

"We know, and we'll eventually have to lecture the kids as well not to say anything after they're rescued."

Mr. Kim was the first one to speak up, and the other teachers nodded in agreement.

Jin-woo let out a breath and then gathered his thoughts before slowly saying.

"Due to some circumstances, a mutation occurred in my genes that could be used to create a cure for this virus."

Immediately, the faces of the teachers shifted from shock to excitement, and then back again. No wonder the Marshal would send a rescue team for them!

Wait, no, this actually makes less sense.

If Jin-woo was the cure for this zombie virus, why would the Marshal send a whole team to rescue all forty people? They should send a helicopter or something to quickly pick up Jin-woo and make a cure!

Mr. Kim voiced these doubts, and Jin-woo paused for a moment then explained.

"He did suggest it, but a helicopter would attract the zombies from outside to surround the school, and one helicopter can't carry forty people."

After that was said, a deathly silence fell over the teachers.

They weren't idiots, they could infer what Jin-woo left out of his explanation. The Marshal had wanted to send only one helicopter to save Jin-woo, but he must have rejected it and instead forced the Marshal to send help for everyone.

As for what he did to force the Marshal's hand, they didn't know. They were also feeling conflicted due to Jin-woo choosing to save them rather than prioritizing leaving to create a cure that could save thousands of people. Unable to find the right words to express their emotions they could only give Jin-woo conflicted looks.

Clang!

Suddenly, the sound of a door closing was heard, making Jin-woo and the teachers turn to the corner leading to the cafeteria.

Seong next to Jin-woo reacted instantly and disappeared with a flicker. He appeared at the corner, but he only saw a shadow of someone hurrying away from the door.

Seong's eyes narrowed slightly. He returned to Jin-woo's side and said.

"I wasn't able to spot the person, but I faintly saw that they were a girl."

Jin-woo furrowed his brows slightly and a person appeared in his mind.

Mr. Kim sighed and said.

"It seems someone was eavesdropping on us, but this was bound to happen when all of us suddenly left."

"Should we let the kids know of the situation?"

One female teacher asked, and Mr. Kim nodded.

"It's not something we can hide from them. We'll head back, tell us the situation after you contact the Marshal."

Mr. Kim said turning to Jin-woo.

Jin-woo nodded and then watched Mr. Kim and the other teachers turn the corner and leave. Afterward, he fished out his phone from his jacket pocket and dialed 112.