Red Dot - 149

Chapter 149

Nam Ki-hyuk saw the man in black clothes not only in the video he is watching now and in Junseong’s dream. He also saw him in a past video where Junseong’s group arrived at a motel shining brilliantly as if pushing away the darkness, entering one by one.

‘He stood out so much for some reason.’

The man moved closely with Junseong, as if he were his shadow.

In fact, besides him, Junseong’s younger sister Kang Chaeyi and his close friend Jang Daewook also moved closely with Junseong at that time. Yet, Nam Ki-hyuk felt more concerned about the unfamiliar man he saw for the first time than about them.

Unfortunately, the previous video was filmed from quite a distance, so he couldn’t clearly make out the face of the man moving like Junseong’s shadow.

But now, it is clear. The man is kissing the lens, as if provoking him to confirm his face.

Crunch.

Nam Ki-hyuk’s teeth ground mercilessly. The sound resembled the noise of his nails scratching the surface of the controller.

“Why….”

He muttered as if spitting out the words.

“Why is Junseong with a guy like that….”

Except for a brief glimpse in a recent dream Junseong had, he never saw this man before. Although he didn’t review every ‘simulation’ Junseong dreamed of, he thought he thoroughly saw all the important parts, and he is confident that such a man never appeared.

‘Did he appear in a dream I didn’t check? But the dreams I didn’t see all collapsed within five days. I remember every dream where Junseong achieved results without fail.’

Because of that, his eyesight deteriorated sharply, but he secured enough memories to have no regrets.

Yet, no matter how much he searched through those many dreams in his mind, he couldn’t find the episode with the man in the video.

While rummaging through his confused mind, Nam Ki-hyuk raised his right thumb and bit his not-so-long nail with a crunch. The teeth biting the nail soon tore into the flesh, and bl00d seeped out.

“There’s no way Junseong would go around alone with a guy he doesn’t even trust…….”

Junseong is subtly picky and cold when it comes to trusting someone.

Besides his basic disposition, he weighs ‘necessity’ as well.

Thus, except for Kang Chaeyi and Jang Daewook, with whom he has deep bonds and trust from reality, Junseong truly considers fewer than ten people as allies he trusts. Nam Ki-hyuk, who once was on that trusted ally list, knows this best.

So how could that man be with Kang Junseong?

Even if we exclude the recent dream Junseong had, which was a ‘real dream’ rather than a simulation, the man in the video met him in reality.

At most, eight days as of today.

Considering they escaped together from Inhan Hospital, it’s seven days.

In just that short time, he built that much trust?

He could boldly and easily claim lips that Junseong never even allowed him.

‘It took me six episodes just to be accepted as a companion……. Why!’

Since the ‘master’ changed, Nam Ki-hyuk could no longer interfere with the simulation itself, and he felt extremely anxious whenever Junseong noticed him in a dream.

What if he discovered his true nature? What if he never appeared in his presence again? What if the ‘Nam Ki-hyuk’ in the simulation carelessly killed Junseong…….

Every time he fell asleep to peek into Junseong’s dreams, he closed his eyes in such immeasurable anxiety, and only when the dream’s ‘Nam Ki-hyuk,’ moving on its own, ended without taking off its mask could he finally feel relieved.

Only after sharing six dreams could he walk with Junseong from the first day.

A total of 46 days and 13 hours.

It took a whopping 46 days and 13 hours to be recognized as an ally, but the man in the video took only a week.

Insane jealousy and anger boiled up. A feeling of his insides turning upside down came with nausea. His heart pounded fiercely, the intense beat drumming up to his head, making his brain throb.

The bl00d from the chewed flesh rolled bitterly in his mouth.

“…I’ll kill him….”

Along with it, a more bitter curse lingered.

I’ll kill him.

I’ll kill him.

I’ll kill him.

He could think of nothing else.

Nothing but the thought of killing that man.

Nam Ki-hyuk threw the controller and stood up abruptly. Fortunately, the controller hit the mat and rolled on the floor without breaking or getting damaged.

Woo Seok-jin, who silently watched Ki-hyuk’s actions, spoke first.

“Are you going?”

“Yeah.”

Nam Ki-hyuk licked the tip of his chewed thumb with his long tongue and raised the corner of his mouth.

“He provoked me after so long. I have to go get him.”

His head still throbbed, but it didn’t make him so stupid that he couldn’t think rationally.

He knew why Junseong provoked him like this.

And why he deliberately split into two teams.

“He’s so sacrificial sometimes. It’s cute.”

Junseong occasionally showed sacrifice and devotion, the complete opposite of his selfish coldness. It was always for the allies he cared about, and this time would be no different.

“Leave a few guys with guns on the hostage side and tell everyone else to follow.”

“What about the bus guys?”

Nam Ki-hyuk’s face quickly turned indifferent.

“Let them go into the shelter. Blow them all up at once.”

Whenever Junseong planned to escape Inhan City or send his companions out in a dream, he always headed to the outer shelter. Since he made the same plan in the last episode, he must intend to communicate with the outside through that shelter to let his companions escape. Provoking him to come directly must be for that reason.

But Nam Ki-hyuk had no intention of letting things go as Junseong wanted.

He would kill them all, without leaving a single one.

Anyone Kang Junseong opened his heart to.

“Don’t forget to blow it up as soon as they step in.”

He spat coldly, then, as if remembering something, added with an “ah” sound.

“Tell them to bring the head of the short-haired girl. I need to give it to Junseong as a gift.”

Giggling like a child, Nam Ki-hyuk looked at one side of the factory. Though only a solid wall was visible, he spoke as if staring directly at an old warehouse beyond it.

“The hostages are the same.”

Nam Ki-hyuk’s indifferent eyes narrowed.

“Once I catch Junseong, they’re just useless trash. Throw them all to the zombie horde then.”

“Yes, understood.”

Woo Seok-jin bowed his head immediately without a single objection, but something seemed to bother him. Watching Nam Ki-hyuk walk toward the outside of the factory, he finally spoke.

“Hyungnim, what if all this is what the target intended?”

“Hm? What’s the problem?”

Tilting his head as if asking what the issue was, Woo Seok-jin hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“No matter how I think about it, it doesn’t seem like a simple provocation. Aren’t they planning something with the bus guys?”

“Well, maybe.”

Nam Ki-hyuk smiled innocently, as if hoping for that.

“So what.”

Whatever the provocation meant, it didn’t matter.

Even if the plan got completely twisted and he lost everything, it was fine.

The important thing was just.

-If I want him that badly, don’t wait and come get him.

That Kang Junseong, who only found ways to avoid him, was calling for him.

Stopping his steps, Nam Ki-hyuk looked back. His gaze landed on the mat he had been lying on, the chains and shackles sprawled over it like a snake.

* * *

As soon as they left the director’s apartment, an unexpected wind blew, sweeping through the coat as if digging into it. Because of that, Junseong flinched for a moment, and a sturdy arm naturally wrapped around his shoulders.

“Cold?”

“Then you’re not cold?”

“Yeah, you’re warm.”

Junseong glared once at Hanseo, who smiled brightly as if stealing his warmth. Then he glanced up at the sky.

It wouldn’t rain today, but the dark clouds filling the sky remained. Because of that, the sunlight didn’t shine properly, and the air was cold.

‘It’s not going to snow, is it?’

Even though it was early November, the chill felt like winter. From his experience surviving until mid-month in dreams, he knew it wouldn’t snow until mid-November, but he couldn’t help doubting for a moment with such cold wind blowing.

The only good thing was that when Do Hanseo held his shoulders and pressed close like now, it felt a bit warm.

‘I’m getting used to this too.’

Looking at Do Hanseo, who clung to him, Junseong chuckled inwardly.

If Nam Ki-hyuk saw this scene, perfect for being mistaken as close lovers, what expression would he make?

‘Still, I showed him something even worse, so he must be pretty pissed.’

He filmed a kissing scene and sent it. By now, Nam Ki-hyuk must have seen that video and twisted his face spectacularly.

‘Kiss… huh.’

Junseong unconsciously rubbed his lower lip with his fingertip. The soft texture and slight warmth traveled through his fingertip.

‘It feels kind of familiar too…….’

He felt it earlier, but kissing Do Hanseo didn’t feel strangely repulsive. Maybe because he was so shocked the first time he kissed him.

While thinking such silly thoughts, he felt a sharp gaze and turned his head. Do Hanseo, with a scary look in his eyes, stared at his lips. As if he’d tear them apart if he let his guard down even a bit.