Chapter 11: The First Chase

Han-jun couldn’t take his eyes off his phone as he followed behind me.

I strode ahead toward the repair shop.

Was it because rumors about monsters were spreading.

There were no cars on the road.

Almost no pedestrians on the sidewalks either.

Even for a late morning, it was too empty.

With no cars around, catching a taxi was impossible.

At least I had left my car at a neighborhood garage.

Worried Han-jun might trip while staring at his phone, I grabbed his hand.

“Get it together.”

Pulling him along, we reached the shop.

It was well past opening time, but there wasn’t a single employee.

The doors were wide open.

Tools that looked recently used were scattered across the floor.

As if everyone had seen something terrifying and fled without looking back.

I didn’t bother searching for staff.

I walked straight inside and found my car.

My sturdy black van.

I climbed in and gestured at Han-jun.

“Hey, get in.”

He slipped into the passenger seat and fastened his seatbelt.

We had to drive home, load the emergency food and supplies into the trunk, and leave the neighborhood.

Monsters could be anywhere, but staying near crowded areas would only bring trouble.

Soon the military would be deployed across the city under the excuse of protection.

They’d gather civilians into camps for “safety.”

Then when the government fled to Jeju, the military would seize control.

Later stronger factions would rise, but the early chaos always followed that pattern.

Better to face monsters freely than be confined and controlled.

And that way, our Jun could awaken his powers and grow stronger.

In the book, Han-jun had suddenly appeared on the world stage.

Not as someone who survived in a crowd.

He must have trained alone.

I gripped the steering wheel and slicked back my hair.

Then glanced at him.

“Hyung looks cool, right?”

Seeing him sitting obediently in the passenger seat made my shoulders lift with pride.

Even in a moment like this, I felt moved by my own preparation.

But his expression wasn’t good.

“In front.”

“Huh? I’m not cool?”

“No, look ahead.”

“What’s in front. Ah!!”

Inside the parking area of the building ahead, a massive black beast stood glaring at us.

It snorted fiercely.

“Grrrrrr—”

Too big to be a dog.

Muscles bulged like it had overdosed on protein.

Its eyes were bloodshot.

Sharp teeth jutted out in all directions.

Strangest of all, where a nose should be, there was a horn.

Judging by its size and that horn.

It looked like… a rhinoceros-shaped dog.

Screeeeech!!

Without further thought, I slammed into reverse.

As the van lurched backward, the horned beast charged toward us.

“Crazy. Crazy. Crazy.”

It lowered its head as if to ram us.

If that horn pierced the bumper, this car would be finished.

No!

This is a sixty-month installment car!

I didn’t fight dealers just to lose it now.

I yanked the wheel and shot out of the repair shop.

Then floored the accelerator.

“It’s chasing us. Strong too. It just flipped a motorcycle.”

Han-jun clutched the handle and reported calmly while looking back.

In the side mirror, the furious horned monster barreled after us, smashing through obstacles.

“Why is it chasing us!”

I swerved frantically between lanes.

The beast plowed through everything in its path.

Crash! Bang!!

At least the roads were empty of people.

Anyone outside right now would be insane.

“Hyung, take the alley.”

“Why?!”

What if we get trapped.

“Just turn.”

I spun the wheel left into a narrow alley.

The monster skidded around the corner like a reckless skater, rolled three times.

But it wasn’t the type to cry after falling.

It sprang back up and charged into the alley.

The space was too narrow to speed properly.

“W-what now!”

While I panicked, Han-jun placed his hand over mine on the wheel.

Calmly he said.

“Go straight. When you see the wall, turn.”

His steady voice and firm grip grounded me.

The tears threatening to spill vanished.

A multi-family house wall came into view.

I turned sharply.

Crash!!

A loud collapse echoed behind us.

In the mirror, half the wall had crumbled.

The monster’s horn was embedded deep inside.

“Gweeeek!!”

It twisted and shrieked, unable to free itself.

“Haah….”

I’d lost ten years of my life just now.

Han-jun leaned back, letting out a shaky laugh.

“Almost wrecked your new car.”

“Used car. But looks new, right? Sixty-month installments. Precious.”

“Sixty months? Wow. Good thing we saved it.”

We both sighed in relief.

We hadn’t even worried about ourselves—just the car.

It was my first one.

Of course it felt precious.

After shaking off the monster, we headed home.

The entire way, I was terrified we’d encounter another.

Fortunately, there didn’t seem to be many yet.

The streets were empty.

Some shop windows shattered.

Abandoned cars left from collisions.

But what about tomorrow morning.

There would be more monsters wandering.

Until armed soldiers were deployed, civilians wouldn’t dare step outside.

With alien creatures occupying roads and railways, accidents would multiply.

Chaos would spread instantly.

In just one day, the city had become like this.

I parked halfway up the hill near our place and ran home breathlessly.

As I hastily packed, Han-jun helped.

We loaded my backpack and the stockpiled food into the van.

Even with all that, the trunk was still half empty.

Seeing the space made my heart feel hollow too.

My bag had medical supplies and small camping gear, but it wasn’t enough.

I hadn’t prepared thoroughly because part of me doubted the apocalypse would truly come.

No sleeping bags.

No tent.

There were so many good camping products these days.

Folding chairs.

Tables.

Atmospheric lighting.

This wouldn’t do.

We’d have to raid a supermarket on the way.

I scanned the trunk carefully, listing needed items in my head, then shut it.

“By the way, where are we going? Wouldn’t staying home be safer?”

“No. We need to leave the capital first. Crowded places are more dangerous.”

“Why?”

“Why do you think? Just get in.”

Once everything was loaded, I got behind the wheel.

Han-jun obediently took the passenger seat.

We began leaving the city—empty, yet clogged with abandoned vehicles.

It seemed people were hiding inside buildings, not yet adapted to the chaos.

“Look, monsters appeared. That means society won’t function properly for a while. If we stay in crowded areas, food will run out. Then fights break out. It’ll get loud and violent. Better to go somewhere with fewer people and wait until things calm down.”

I explained my reasoning gently.

Han-jun listened with arms crossed, expression unreadable.

Like he was facing an opponent in the ring.

“Did you get that?”

“More or less. I prefer quiet too.”

He was too calm.

Not panicking was good, I guess.

If I hadn’t known this was coming, I’d probably be sobbing in my room right now.

I couldn’t understand his mind at all.

But calm wasn’t a bad thing.

As we headed toward a supermarket on the outskirts.

Both our phones beeped simultaneously.

The emergency alert finally arrived.

“Took them long enough.”

We almost got our bumper pierced earlier.

“What does it say?”

Since I was driving, Han-jun read it aloud.

[ Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters — 1. Stay indoors until further notice. 2. Do not approach unknown lifeforms. 3. Maintain public order. 4. Close all windows. 5. Place dangerous objects on the floor due to risk of aftershocks. Emergency numbers 440, 4001. ]

[ Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters — Due to heavy emergency call traffic, connections may be delayed. ]

No real countermeasures.

Just stay home.