Even Zombies Have Fandoms

Chapter 94

Contrary to his brazen attitude and relaxed posture, Seokjae’s gaze remained fixed on Muyoung. As if closely monitoring his reaction. The smile gradually disappeared from his face as Muyoung, with shock still evident on his face, looked at the other two rather than at him.

‘Whatever reaction comes, that would be the most docile one. It’s clear that this is the situation where I can minimize losses.’

It was the perfect situation to frame as acting extremely due to the shock of almost losing a friend. That would reduce the aversion to his abnormal behavior of threatening with his own life.

Plus, wasn’t he currently in a state of “diminished capacity” with his trauma triggered by Muyoung’s words? Though it was a forced argument, since Muyoung had acknowledged and apologized, he would think he was in the wrong.

‘Thinking about it again, now is indeed the right time.’

After reconsidering various probabilities and possibilities, it was clearly the right decision to achieve the desired outcome. Therefore, Seokjae suppressed the inefficient impulse to salvage the situation by claiming it was just a joke despite Muyoung’s stiff expression.

‘Things are working out on their own; trying to disrupt that would be stupid.’

In reality, Seokjae had no intention of dying even if Kyungho and Junwoo hadn’t stopped him. He had merely planned to use the hose to go down and retrieve Muyoung after he had loosened his lifeline on his own. That was the quickest way.

However, the process seemed to leave a lot of room for misinterpretation by others. Seokjae had already appeared panicked from the moment Muyoung did something dangerous, and then he climbed onto the windowsill without hesitation the moment Muyoung fell.

Furthermore, since they thought Seokjae and Muyoung had a deep relationship, it wasn’t strange for the two to misunderstand. Of course, when they restrained him and he gave up jumping and pulled on the hose instead, they tried to think it was just confusion clouding his judgment. But now Seokjae’s words had turned that misunderstanding into truth.

And there was one more person who had completely fallen for his bluff.

‘Not a joke… Hyung really thought I was dead and tried to follow me?’

Muyoung found it hard to believe this unbelievable situation—that he had such an influence on Seokjae—but judging by the two people’s reactions, the probability of misunderstanding seemed low.

‘Is friendship such a heavy responsibility?!’

He might have been happy to learn he was important to Seokjae through a different situation. But with lives at stake, fear came before joy.

Seokjae coming to harm because of his choices was something he had always wanted to avoid. That’s why he had tried to act in ways that would direct all damage toward himself. Well, his clumsy actions hadn’t been very effective, as he’d been preempted every time since joining the group, perhaps because they didn’t trust his ability.

‘I was already not being helpful…’

If he also had to avoid actions that seemed “humanly” dangerous, he wondered if there was anything he could do at all.

‘Wait. So does that mean my last secret technique has been sealed without ever being used?’

Muyoung’s secret technique—sacrificing himself and letting them think he died, but then following them later and luckily surviving, passing it off somehow.

A flimsy excuse and method, but one with great effect. However, now he couldn’t create a situation where Seokjae would think he was “dead.” In other words, it became a technique he absolutely couldn’t, or rather, shouldn’t use. Because Seokjae might follow him in death!

‘This isn’t Romeo and Juliet!’

Muyoung, tearing at his hair in his imagination, turned to look at Seokjae, hoping he would still say it was a joke.

Meanwhile, Seokjae, who had been staring only at Muyoung, immediately composed his rigid expression as soon as he noticed Muyoung turning toward him. Then he smiled as sadly as he could within his capabilities. As if making it appear that even he had no choice but to make this forced threat or blackmail.

‘He’s definitely become more distant.’

Seokjae noticed that Muyoung’s tense gaze, after meeting his own, stiffened even more and eventually mixed with evident disgust.

And that wasn’t the end.

“Huh.”

“…”

As if about to say something, Muyoung’s lips moved slightly, but then he covered his mouth and turned his head away. By any standard, it was a gesture of aversion.

It was expected. But facing a reaction so clearly different from his usual response to Seokjae’s smile, an irritated feeling rose.

‘Does he dislike it that much? I would think he’d be pleased to hear I’d follow him in death, meaning he’d be mine until the end.’

Dying first meant leaving him, which shouldn’t happen, but following in death seemed quite satisfying.

He and Muyoung didn’t share the same type, weight, or depth of emotions. He knew this well, but being reminded of it once more was unpleasant, making him click his tongue inwardly.

But it wasn’t… as bad as expected. At least fear didn’t seem present. Given Muyoung’s gentle nature, that emotion wouldn’t last long.

‘Or maybe it would be good to divert attention elsewhere.’

As long as Muyoung didn’t disappear, Seokjae—naturally shameless as he was—had better resilience than anyone. He quickly shook off his irritation and began preparing another scheme.

Meanwhile, the person about to be schemed against was alone in self-loathing.

‘Looking at his face and being entranced in this situation is truly the worst… But isn’t it his fault for smiling with that expression first?!’

Indeed, the expression was too delicate for someone who had just made the shocking statement, “If you die, I’ll follow you.” With that perfect face, slightly furrowing his brow and giving a sorrowful smile, a strange atmosphere was added to what he had thought was a manly face.

Muyoung had to quickly turn away to cover his gaping mouth. He even tightly closed his eyes.

But the image of Seokjae—his appearance already dangerous-looking due to clothes and hair clinging from the rain, now tinged with sensuality—wouldn’t leave his mind.

‘No, no. Who am I blaming here? Stop blaming Hyung, and please stop these disrespectful thoughts!’

There was barely enough time to persuade Seokjae to change his extreme resolution. Yet here he was, sexually harassing him with thoughts of seduction and sensuality, like someone bewitched by a gumiho.

Just as Muyoung was about to administer an extreme remedy by slapping both his cheeks…

CRASH!

A sharp noise reverberated from outside. The heads of all four people—the two lost in their own thoughts and the two children watching their not-quite-fight—turned simultaneously.

“GRAAAK!”

Thud, THWACK- Crack…

Along with the sound of breaking glass, phlegmy cries and dull, splashing thuds as if heavy things were being poured out were heard in succession.

“Eek.”

“Sh-shut up.”

Muyoung, seeing Kyungho frozen in fear and Junwoo scolding him while clearly tense himself, came to his senses and moved to check outside.

“Whoa!”

If not for the hand pulling him back.

Suddenly yanked backward, Muyoung’s wet shoes slipped on the floor, making him stagger before leaning into a firm and familiar embrace.

“I’ll check.”

Seokjae whispered to Muyoung, who was staring with round, surprised eyes, then approached the window. Naturally, only after pushing Muyoung firmly inside the classroom.

‘The results of Kang Muyoung’s hard work are showing properly.’

After carefully looking out the window, Seokjae confirmed the broken window, a zombie impaled on the glass fragments and hanging from the window, and rotting bodies falling as they struggled above. Then he closed the window thoroughly. Turning around, he said:

“No need to worry about it. It’s good for us. Thanks to Muyoung’s efforts, we can move comfortably at dawn.”

While Kyungho and Junwoo exhaled deeply in relief, Muyoung couldn’t meet the eyes passing over him and slightly avoided their gaze. It was because his conscience pricked him, though for a different reason than before.

“…”

Seokjae, glancing at such a Muyoung, walked toward his bag to change the mood before Muyoung noticed his gaze, saying:

“Since we probably won’t need to go out until then, shall we change clothes first? It would be troublesome if we got sick here.”

* * *

Rustle-

As Muyoung hesitated to undress, the curtain loosely surrounding him made a sound as it touched his body. Though as members of the same sex, they could change clothes openly without concern, Muyoung had no choice but to say he would change behind the curtain. It was because he needed to protect Seokjae from a lewd human being.

‘I wouldn’t be able to resist stealing glances at Hyung’s body…’

He had been prepared to be scolded for being shy among men, but contrary to his expectations, no one teased him.

‘Yes, go ahead!’

‘That’s right.’

No, rather, Kyungho and Junwoo responded as if it were natural, and Seokjae even suggested everyone go behind the curtains to change clothes to block the cold wind.

So the four each went behind their own curtains to change clothes.

‘Phew…’

Fortunately, as he’d hoped, he could isolate his ill-thinking self from Seokjae.

“Ugh, it’s stiff from being soaked.”

Swish-

It was just as he was lifting his upper garment with a comfortable mind. Someone approached behind Muyoung’s curtain.