Red Dot - 57

As soon as they leaped into the entrance, the first zombie appeared. Its skull was exposed, blood clotting where part of its head had been torn off, so Junseong aimed at the spot and swung down his machete.

With a bursting sound, the zombie collapsed without letting out a single scream. The broken sharp bone that protruded from its arm scraped against the rusty mailbox on the apartment entrance wall as it passed, making a grating sound.

Kyaak-!

Keiuk, Cock!

A chilling sound similar to the noise of a chalkboard echoed, causing the zombies on the first floor to turn their heads in unison.

Chabk-chabk-chabk-chabk-chabk-chabk-chabk!

Six zombies, their enthusiasm evident as they trampled through the pool of blood on the floor, rushed towards the two.

Pak-!

Changmin’s iron pipe swung sharply. The bloodied teeth of the zombie, whose forehead had been struck by the iron pipe, fell along with its nose and mouth. The pipe, in a connected motion, swept through another zombie’s head, making a sound, and fell to the ground without a sound.

Changmin didn’t stop and continued to swing the iron pipe. Unintentionally blocking Junseong’s path, he skillfully destroyed the heads of the zombies as if performing a dazzling sword dance.

In the midst of it, one zombie was hit by the iron pipe swung vigorously by Changmin and staggered. Thinking that its brain had been damaged enough due to the impact, Changmin followed up by striking the head of another zombie. Then, as he saw another zombie about to rush towards him, Changmin quickly extended his forearm.

With a squelching sound, the expected burst of blood from Changmin’s forearm, bitten and twisted, didn’t happen. In fact, his arm was surprisingly unharmed.

In reality, black insulation tape was tightly wound around the sleeves of Changmin’s black jacket, appearing as if it were one with the fabric.

The jacket itself had some thickness suitable for winter, and with several layers of insulation tape on top of it, it was almost impossible for a zombie with human teeth, not a beast, to bite through to the flesh. Just by wrapping the tape around the arm, some level of defense was possible.

Changmin had survived life-threatening situations a few times thanks to the insulation tape he had wrapped around his jacket sleeves from the first day of the zombie outbreak.

However, this defense was only effective when attacked for a short period. If he continued to expose his arm without resisting for several seconds, the zombie’s biting force would eventually pierce through the skin. Zombies would continue to bite regardless of whether their teeth broke or became twisted.

So, with a zombie’s head attached to his forearm, Changmin immediately grabbed its hair and tore it off as if throwing it out of the window like folding a paper.

Puck!

Kehung!

About to be bitten again, Changmin was saved by Junseong’s machete, which came down from above. The machete’s blade suddenly appeared near Changmin’s face and struck the zombie’s neck, causing its head to tilt as if its neck had been broken.

The zombie, with its broken neck, collapsed as Junseong, who had gripped its shoulder, pulled the machete out and said, “You don’t have to hit them all, hyung.”

“But it’s still too dangerous.”

“It’s okay.”

Junseong lightly replied and rushed past Changmin towards the door of room 101. If one didn’t pay attention and look closely, they would think the door remained closed.

At that moment, when Junseong didn’t slow down and rushed towards room 101.

Clang-!

Kyahak-!

The unlocked door of Room 101, which wasn’t secured, suddenly burst open, forcefully pushed by the body of a zombie. Acting as if he knew everything in advance, Junseong, who had already leaped forward, swiftly slashed the zombie’s Adam’s apple as if drawing a straight line horizontally. The machete, thrusting forward, sent the lifeless head rolling to the opposite side of Room 101.

While Junseong stepped on the zombie’s body, he pulled out the machete with both hands and spoke to Changmin.

“Two of them are coming from the second floor.”

His voice was calm and confident, causing a brief moment of wonder.

Two zombies indeed rushed down from the second floor as if leaping. With faces extended forward, fully focused on biting something, the two zombies charged. Ignoring the torn mouths, they ran with screams, only to have their heads shattered by the crowbar wielded by Changmin.

As if Junseong believed Changmin could easily knock them down, he didn’t hesitate and leaped up to the second floor. Changmin hurriedly followed him.

While rushing up the stairs of the second floor, Junseong, who was alert, spoke in a low voice.

“Hyung, there’s a house with an open door about halfway on the third floor.”

It seemed as if Junseong perfectly understood the interior, as if he were observing an apartment. He suggested to Changmin,

“There are a lot of zombies on the second and third floors, making it difficult to deal with them one by one. It might be hard to confront them individually; we might end up cornered.”

“If we can avoid it, that would be great. But if it’s impossible, it’s better to lure them somewhere.”

“True.”

Junseong intended to take on the role of luring, just as he did in his dream.

“I’ll lead the zombies and enter that open house. Since I know the interior structure, I’ll lure them deep into the house and quickly come out, closing the door.”

“What? That’s ridiculous. Even if the house is spacious, how can you pull them out and escape from inside? Moreover, how do you know the interior structure?”

Even in a large space with around five rooms, it was impossible to neatly separate the swarming zombies. Especially in an old-fashioned apartment where the houses were close, the interior would naturally be narrower.

However, Junseong had already managed to lead zombies in his dream using the same method, trapping a significant number of them before the worn-out door eventually gave in. Thanks to that, Gyeong-oh could rescue easily.

Although this time, he had to be prepared to die if touched, he had to do it. It seemed daunting to be able to do it well, but it was the best way to quickly clear the second and third floors.

“When I jump into the second-floor corridor, please wait between the stairs of the first and second floors. When I signal that I’ve lured all the zombies to the third floor, you can come up.”

“No, I won’t allow it.”

Changmin firmly shook his head. Then, with a furrowed brow, he pleaded.

“Could I take on that role instead? Let me do it.”

“No, you can’t. It’s too risky.”

“And you’re not at risk?”

Changmin held onto Junseong’s arm tightly, as if he wouldn’t let go.

“Luring all the zombies from the second and third floors into one open house… That’s what I understood, right?”

“Well, yes, but…”

As Junseong, he couldn’t ask Changmin to take over just because he understood. Despite looking stronger and more agile than himself, it was still a dangerous task that could result in being bitten. If someone had to do it, Junseong thought it should be someone who had experienced it at least once.

“I’m the one specialized in physical activities. So, let me do it.”

“I know that you’re stronger and faster than me. But the biggest problem is escaping from inside after luring. I’ve already ‘experienced’ it, so I have confidence in getting out, but honestly, you don’t know.”

Feeling something strange in Junseong’s words, Changmin pursed his lips as if he were about to ask a question. However, he thought it would be a waste of time to delve into it in detail in the current situation. Junseong was not someone who wouldn’t have reacted to the word ‘experience.’ Rather, he intentionally uttered it.

To gradually add weight to one of Changmin’s absurd hypotheses.

Changmin shared his thoughts with Junseong, offering a more reliable way to handle the situation in one of the third-floor houses, not just luring them in and escaping.

Junseong, who listened to Changmin’s explanation, fell into thought for a moment.

“Do you really have confidence in it?”

“Yeah. It’s my specialty.”

Watching Changmin confidently smile, Junseong nodded his head after some contemplation.

“Alright. Let’s give it a try.”

“Thanks.”

Changmin, who ruffled Junseong’s hair as if cheering him on, walked ahead. Junseong followed, hoping that he would come out unharmed.

Even in the midst of this, Junseong was still contemplating.

If he followed as he had succeeded in his dream, there might be no variables, and the problem could be solved perfectly.

‘No. Changmin, hyung, is a variable himself.’

The fact that Seo Changmin, who had never succeeded in his dream, was here was one of the variables. Just like how Do Hanseo, whom he had never seen in his dream, stayed by his side.

‘It must be because of Do Hanseo.’

Now, variables didn’t seem bad at all.

The future he had clearly seen being distorted here and there due to variables meant that the rarely perfect information couldn’t be used.

But not everything that happened with variables was distorted. Thanks to the variable mess, he was able to save Seo Changmin and Lee Jian.

The information he possessed was just the basic base. Depending on how he brought about changes based on it, a better strategy could emerge, or the worst situation could be created. If both were scary, it was better to just follow as it was.

The choice ultimately belonged to Kang Junseong, and this time, he decided to experience a small change using Seo Changmin as a variable.