Chapter 581
Why is a vital spot called a vital spot? Because if you hit it wrong, you die on the spot.
And On Jihwa possessed the ability to subdue opponents while keeping her distance.
-TT___TT
-I LOVE THIS SO MUCH
-Right, you can't bring in an archer character and only show them shooting once, that should be illegal lololol
-My baby Eulji Mundeok...
-Why Eulji Mundeok? Isn't she Jumong? LMAO
-I'm going insane, my heart's pounding T_T
-Jihwa!!!!!!!
On Jihwa had remained quiet, lacking much presence aside from the beginning. Yet the moment everyone became the most helpless, her character finally came alive.
Because Seomun Ihwa was a writer who knew exactly how to control the rhythm between weakness and strength.
“Right. This is how you balance things perfectly.”
Even though it was January 1st, Manager Ma, who had not gone home since yesterday, leaned against his neck pillow and smiled.
Seomun Ihwa used the setting itself to present On Jihwa like a center who burst forward during the highlight portion.
She raised the audience's concentration to an unprecedented level through suffocating, cramped spaces. Then she scattered everyone apart, only to gather them again in an open area and focus the spotlight on a single person.
The ability everyone had been anticipating from On Jihwa even before watching 〈Seoul Metropolitan City〉.
By revealing it at the perfect moment, she delivered the catharsis people had been waiting for and pushed the exhilaration to its maximum.
And just as intended, everyone went wild.
[DramaMovieActor TALK / I knew I could trust On Jihwa. A scene like this had to happen LMAO]
[DramaMovieActor TALK / They nailed On Jihwa's character so perfectly T_T]
[DramaMovieActor TALK / I just screamed. Why is her archery stance so beautiful?]
[DramaMovieActor TALK / Ah... Jihwa... I freaking love you]
[DramaMovieActor TALK / What are we supposed to do with baby Gang Gamchan being so reliable]
More than ten posts were appearing every second. Everyone was too excited to contain themselves.
“Director O is incredible at staging scenes.”
Thunder, as a natural phenomenon, can be used in many situations. Tension, fear, realization, horror, despair, sadness.
Their common trait was that no matter what kind of scene they were used for, they left a powerful image in the minds of viewers.
The distant rumbling created tension, the sudden flash in the darkness delivered shock, and finally the deafening crash provided impact.
And in 〈Seoul Metropolitan City〉, only Kim Kangil and On Jihwa had received such powerful thunder-centered direction.
The absence of Kim Kangil, who had been the most reliable combat-type character and who died hopelessly right before escape, became even more palpable with the appearance of the gangsters.
In apocalypse stories, the most important goal is survival.
Everyone had finally reached the rooftop, yet that goal threatened to crumble instantly.
And in that situation, On Jihwa succeeded in protecting everyone.
If Yoo Yeonji benefited from Lee Jeongmin's death and gained the image of a holy sacrifice-type character, then conversely, On Jihwa benefited from Kim Kangil's death and inherited the image of a true combat-type character.
Like a force of nature, it became inevitable that the hearts of viewers who missed Kim Kangil would gravitate toward On Jihwa.
-Holy—
-Ahhhh thank goodness TT_TT
-I trusted Two-Star
-Yeah, just kill them all
Though injured, Two-Star barely rose to his feet and approached another gangster confronting On Jihwa from behind. He stabbed his carotid artery with a utility knife, and the brief noise caused another gangster to turn around, only to be eliminated by On Jihwa as well.
Without wasting a single shot, On Jihwa subdued the entire group of gangsters with just a few arrows.
The fingertips of the young archer trembled as she lowered her bow. Though she wore the same expressionless face, subtle cracks had formed.
It seemed she had only now realized she had committed her first killing.
-TT_TT Our Jihwa's still just a baby
-I'm going crazy, when is Chief Gi getting here TT_TT
-Hurry up, we're leaving you behind
-How are they supposed to leave? They don't have the key
-😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 Jihwa's mom isn't coming up first... as a zombie, right..?
-No more mental trauma, please
At this point, Seomun Ihwa used another method that showcased the cruelty unique to her writing.
“Whew... Is everyone here?”
“Chief!”
That method was simple.
Skipping over it.
“What about my mom? Where's my mom?”
Chief Gi looked once at the helicopter parked half a floor above on the stairs, then at On Jihwa, who clutched his arm and questioned him urgently. Her voice trembled more than ever before. Her face was full of desperation.
“Who knows?”
“...What?”
“We ran down different paths... Didn't she come here?”
Chief Gi lied.
-Holy shit
-Ah... he could've at least told her the truth T_T
-Weren't there still people upstairs? Maybe he was trying to stop On Jihwa from staying behind. If there weren't enough seats, they'd waste more time fighting over them
-You fucking psychopath TT__TT She's just a kid
-What are we supposed to do with our Jihwa
As he climbed the rooftop stairs, he saw On Jihwa standing alone in the rain.
The people inside the helicopter above the stairs.
And On Jihwa standing alone by the rooftop door.
Since the shot was filmed from above, dividing them left and right, On Jihwa looked even smaller.
“Mm....”
“Hyeonmok-ah, it's okay. Mm. It's okay...”
Rain hammered loudly against the helicopter window. Yoo Yeonji, tending to Hyeonmok, gazed through the blurry stream of water at On Jihwa. Her silhouette flickered beyond the rain.
“Are you alright?”
“...Yes.”
Chief Gi lifted Two-Star off the floor and brought him into the helicopter. The funeral home employee brought by the gangsters hurriedly crawled after them.
“Me too! Take me too! Please!”
Nearby, one of the gangsters, still half-conscious, muttered painful groans. Chief Gi stepped on the man's hand with his dress shoe and walked past.
Those aboard the helicopter.
The firefighter pilot, Chief Gi, Two-Star, the funeral home employee, the child, the nurse.
And two empty seats remained.
“....”
Far away, On Jihwa simply stared at the helicopter.
-Jihwa, hurry and get on TT_TT
-My heart is breaking
-What? They're just leaving the kid??
-For fuck's sake, somebody bring Jihwa on board
-At least tell her to come! Why is everyone collectively avoidant?
“Um, what about Athlete On Jihwa?”
Yoo Yeonji, sitting in the back seat, finally spoke. Either they had to persuade her to come or shout for her to hurry. They had to do one or the other.
But everyone here was exhausted by fear and terror.
The firefighter in the cockpit remained silent. Two-Star was writhing in pain while clutching his wound. The funeral home employee, who had only just squeezed in, merely read the atmosphere. Hyeonmok still lay with his eyes closed, groaning weakly.
So that left Chief Gi.
Or herself.
With anxious eyes, Yoo Yeonji looked outside again.
“We don't have time. Let's go.”
At Chief Gi's cold words, Yoo Yeonji stood up.
“I'll go get her!”
She stepped out of the helicopter.
On Jihwa was still standing alone in the rain.
The camera zoomed in on her profile. Transparent raindrops dripped from the tip of her chin. Her hand still stubbornly gripped the bow.
If she boarded the helicopter now, she would probably escape this hell.
But.
If she did that...
“....”
On Jihwa bit her lip.
Rumble....
Once again, the warning sign before thunder arrived.
Blue light illuminated her profile.
Lightning struck the green rooftop floor, dark and soaked with rain.
At the same moment, Yoo Yeonji left the comfortable helicopter, stepped back into the rain, grabbed the stair railing and shouted,
“Athlete—! Come inside—!”
CRASH—!
Her voice, mixed with the thunder, never reached On Jihwa.
On Jihwa's face showed that she had made up her mind.
After staring at the helicopter, she turned away without hesitation.
She flung open the rooftop door and left.
On Jihwa chose to go save her mother.
Alone.
-😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
-Noooo
-Please, Jihwa!!!
-Your mom's already infected...T_T
-You bastard, you could've just told her the truth, fuck...
“Ah...!”
Yoo Yeonji hurriedly tried to follow her, but someone grabbed her wrist. The helicopter's rotors had already begun turning. It was fully prepared for takeoff.
“Get on.”
“Chief, but...”
“We don't have time.”
“Athlete On Jihwa is still a minor, and there are still seats left—”
“Miss...”
Hyeonmok, who had regained consciousness in the back seat, called out to Yoo Yeonji through tears.
“Can't we go now? Let's go already.... Sob... Teacher... I'm scared....”
The child who had lost his father had no one to rely on except Yoo Yeonji.
Lee Jeongmin's last words settled upon Yoo Yeonji once more.
After taking in the empty rooftop one last time, Yoo Yeonji reluctantly returned to her seat.
The helicopter's rotors spun violently, tearing apart the rain as they whirled.
Flash.
Thunder struck once again.
The gang boss lying on the floor opened his eyes.
Without properly moving, he rolled his eyes with obsessive focus and watched the helicopter departing.
-Ah fuck, that's terrifying
-What???? He's not dead?
-Did he come back to life? T_T
-That arrow hit a zombie before, right? Ah... don't follow Jihwa
-Please, at least let the people who are left survive TT___TT
Under the dark night sky.
As the rain poured mercilessly.
The helicopter finally took off.
Carrying the survivors escaping from hell.
The camera shifted inside the hospital.
The first-floor lobby was filled entirely with infected.
The second floor wasn't much different.
On the third floor, a survivor who had still been alive moments ago forgot about the alarm set on their phone and was bitten.
On the fourth floor, a survivor made an extreme choice through the open window.
-TT_TT
-Stop showing this
-So Jihwa's all alone in a place like this now...
-Jihwa T_T
Every time the current situation on another floor was shown, viewers felt as though their hearts were being torn apart.
One of the security team members who had once escaped alongside them appeared.
His eyes were cloudy from infection.
Several soldiers wandered aimlessly.
And Jihwa's mother too.
O Seonyul and Seomun Ihwa deliberately refrained from showing what everyone already expected, but by showing everything else, they drove people mad.
Everyone knew there would come a moment when On Jihwa would inevitably see them.
A moment when she would realize that the mother she wanted to save...
Was already beyond saving.
People cried.
-TT__TT
-I'm going crazy, I'm crying
-TT_TT Out of Kangil, Jihwa, and Yeonji, only Yeonji survived... ah...
-I enrolled in Seoul Metropolitan City University and my mental illness era has begun
-What is our baby supposed to do all alone...
The helicopter flew high above.
The hospital gradually grew more distant beneath it.
The camera rose high once again.
This time, not the hospital.
It swept across various parts of Seoul Metropolitan City.
An overturned bus, people writhing inside after being infected.
A subway station.
At some point, not just one car but an entire train had become filled with infected.
A bus stop.
As the doors of a red bus opened, infected people rushed out like mad.
The skin color of the driver slumped over the steering wheel was changing as well.
High school students who had disabled emergency alerts covered their mouths and cried inside a study café.
It was too late to escape.
The remaining special forces and police gathered for emergency meetings.
“What are our superiors saying?!”
“We can't reach them!”
Their faces were full of despair.
People inside their homes shut their windows and locked their doors, desperately trying to learn about the outside world through TV and their phones.
Some found their carriers down.
Others endlessly refreshed Intube.
A young married couple cried inside their closed restaurant.
A woman hugged the disaster bag she had bought after seeing an advertisement and hesitated.
A man holding a kitchen knife pressed his ear against the apartment door to listen to the sounds outside.
An elderly couple clasped their hands and prayed.
A little girl left alone in a daycare center cried while hugging a stuffed toy.
The image of 'Seoul Metropolitan City' unfolded.
And through the skies above Seoul, the helicopter flew.
* * *
“From this moment...”
The President finally spoke.
“I hereby declare martial law throughout Seoul Metropolitan City.”
Beep-. Beep-. Beep-.
People throughout Seoul Metropolitan City checked their phones.
[Ministry of the Interior and Safety]
As of 20:00 today, martial law has been declared across Seoul Metropolitan City by resolution of the State Council. The Capital Defense Commander has assumed the role of Martial Law Commander and now controls public order, administration, and judicial authority. Citizens are advised not to panic and must absolutely obey the instructions of the martial law forces. Martial Law Proclamation No. 1 will be issued shortly.
[Ministry of the Interior and Safety]
[Martial Law Command Proclamation No. 1]
All movement and travel within Seoul are completely prohibited. (Night curfew enforced at all times)
Anyone concealing signs of infection (bite wounds, seizures, etc.) or refusing military searches shall be immediately arrested and detained on site.
Anyone attempting to breach military operations or quarantine lines shall be met with immediate physical force without prior warning.
[Martial Law ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) Command Outer Defense Headquarters]
All areas north of the Han River in Seoul (including Jongno District, Jung District, and twelve others) and Seoul Metropolitan City itself are designated as complete containment and isolation zones.
All Han River bridges and access routes to northern Seoul are physically blocked.
Survivors remaining inside the designated area are strictly prohibited from leaving.
Additional military reinforcements will be delayed for the time being.
Any movement that disobeys these orders shall be regarded as infected.
Messages rang one after another.
The camera rapidly captured people's faces as they read their phones.
“What... is this...?”
Some still couldn't understand.
“Huuk...!”
Some finally burst into tears.
“You sons of bitches!”
Some exploded with rage.
“What are we going to do?”
Others were consumed by fear.
This was Seoul Metropolitan City.
As its name implied, Seoul had become special.
And that special Seoul had become hell.
“Wait! Wait!”
“Please!”
The Republic of Korea Armed Forces sealed off Seoul.
The Gyeongbu Expressway at Bundang in Seongnam.
The Jungbu Expressway in Hanam.
The Yongin-Seoul Expressway in West Bundang.
The Seohaean Expressway in western Seoul.
Survivors came running frantically.
But the order to lock down Seoul had already been issued.
“Fire.”
Bang-! Bang-!
Warning shots rang out.
Citizens unable to escape Seoul collapsed and wailed in despair.
Inside the underground bunker, the President watched the live feed.
Songpa IC.
Seohanam IC.
Guri IC.
Gupabal-Ilsan IC.
Gyeyang-Jungdong IC.
Siheung-Anhyeon JC.
The military had blocked every possible route of escape.
The Shinbundang Line and Suin-Bundang Line were shut down.
Railways leading toward Bucheon and Suwon were blocked.
Military units erected barbed wire over Namtaeryeong Pass.
The President closed his eyes.
The night of Seoul Metropolitan City.
Then dawn.
Then morning.
Then evening.
Days passed rapidly.
And at last, the screen returned to the university hospital.
Creak-.
The sound of a door opening—
Or perhaps closing—
Echoed eerily.
Was it ending where everything had begun?
Or was it telling viewers that On Jihwa was still alive?
The scene revealed nothing clearly.
Dark and hopeless music played.
〈Seoul Metropolitan City〉
Letters appeared as though smeared with blood.
The first original production that announced the beginning of NetHolics Korea.
The end of Season 1 of 〈Seoul Metropolitan City〉.
Manager Ma suddenly realized the sky outside had grown bright.
Today really was January 1st.
“The New Year is going to be noisy.”
It was the day the world changed.