Red Dot - 79

“Yeah.”

It was such a simple yet light answer. However, the meaning contained within it was so weighty that it felt suffocating.

Junseong couldn’t speak hastily and could only stumble over his words. As someone who knew what the test subjects here had been through, it was surreal to realize that one of those subjects was Do Hanseo right in front of him.

Inhumane clinical trials conducted daily.

People treated like insignificant animals just because they were expendable test subjects.

Researchers obsessed with developing new drugs to fulfill their ambitions, even after discovering a deadly virus, using it as research material instead of discarding it immediately.

Although he hadn’t seen everything with his own eyes, his imagination unfolded freely, like dreaming a new dream.

Within it, there was Do Hanseo, dressed in a white hospital gown, covering his pale skin, in a sealed white space resembling a solitary confinement room in a mental institution. It was a stark contrast to the Do Hanseo now, shrouded in black clothes resembling shadows in the darkness.

Even though it was just imagination, anger surged strangely within him.

Whether it was from Junseong’s expression or not, he remembered the relaxed smile on Hanseo’s face instead of his usual self-pity.

“But don’t worry. I was different from the other test subjects.”

Hanseo turned back and walked down the corridor again.

“What was needed wasn’t my body to be experimented on, but my ‘blood.'”

“Blood…?”

Junseong, as if something had just occurred to him, widened his eyes and followed closely behind him. Sensing Junseong following, Hanseo spoke.

“What do you think is the rarest and most special blood type among them?”

“If it’s rare and special, then maybe RH-negative?”

Junseong was somewhat familiar with the RH-negative blood type, known for its rarity. He knew that even within it, there were divisions like A or B types, so it seemed even more special to him.

Come to think of it, there was someone in a game shouting for RH-B blood type in the global chat window for over 10 minutes, saying their sibling had been in an accident and needed surgery but couldn’t because there was no matching blood type available. At that time, people in the game, who didn’t even know each other’s faces, actively promoted it together. Thanks to many people coming forward, they were able to quickly find someone with the same blood type and resolve the situation. He remembered that if those people hadn’t been there, the person with the rare blood type might have died.

While reminiscing about that incident, Hanseo stood in front of a door.

“RH-negative blood type is indeed rare. But compared to common blood types, the numbers are not extremely low when viewed globally.”

As Junseong listened to Hanseo’s words, he vaguely guessed why he suddenly brought up the topic of blood types.

The zombies turning away from Hanseo as if afraid of him.

The zombies recoiling and avoiding him, unable to bring themselves to bite him even with his blood entering their bodies.

He knew that Do Hanseo’s blood was the vaccine blocking them.

But why exactly was his ‘blood’ the vaccine?

Junseong looked at Hanseo’s back as he opened the door, recalling a part of their conversation from when they were alone in the hospital.

Back then, Hanseo had suddenly gone down to the second floor of the zombie-filled hospital and brought back his own blood samples, even injecting them into Junseong’s body with a syringe without asking for his blood type.

“What’s my blood type?”

“I don’t know. But I can accept blood transfusions from anyone.”

“What if I’m RH-negative?”

“RH-negative?”

“No.”

“Alright, then.”

Hanseo’s statement about being able to accept blood transfusions from anyone.

Back then, Junseong had simply thought it was because Hanseo was type O, but now, upon reflection, it felt somewhat different.

In Junseong’s engrossed gaze, the sight inside the door Hanseo had opened came into view.

At first glance, it seemed to be a blood bank storage facility. The place was filled with ‘blood.’

Silver trays resembling refrigerators stretched along the walls, stacked with blood packs. Unknown markings like RBC A(+) or F-RBC (B+) were attached to the shelves in units. Some shelves also had numerous yellow plasma packs.

Hanseo ventured further inside. Following him, Junseong noticed that as they went deeper, the markings on the contents gradually changed.

A-1 Subject (RH+B)

H-3 Subject (RH+O)

K-11 Subject (RH-A)

Instead of people’s names, symbols and numbers were used, followed by the term ‘subject.’ Attached behind was what looked like blood types, recognizable to anyone. Probably belonging to the owners of the small blood packs on those trays.

Amidst the strong smell of medications, there seemed to be a faint scent of blood. Even though the blood packs were sealed, preventing any smell from emanating.

“It’s here.”

Hanseo’s voice, tinged with amusement, drew Junseong’s attention.

As Junseong looked at the spot illuminated by Hanseo’s flashlight, he bit his lower lip firmly.

Base-Do Hanseo (RH NULL)

Among all the subjects surrounded by symbols and numbers, the only name tag bearing a person’s name.

But what followed wasn’t a typical blood type.

RH NULL.

It was an unheard-of, strange blood type. Was such a blood type even possible in this world?

Hanseo took out the last remaining blood pack from the tray bearing his name and said, matter-of-factly,

“1 in 18 million. That’s how rare this blood type is, numbering only about a hundred people worldwide.”

With his calm declaration, Hanseo turned to look at Junseong. Though his eyes still showed nothing, Junseong sensed an array of indescribable emotions behind them.

“It’s a spontaneous mutation, allowing transfusions to anyone due to the lack of antigens. It’s even compatible with what you mentioned, RH-negative.”

Junseong recalled hearing something like this before.

Whether RH-positive or RH-negative, there’s blood that’s transfusable to everyone.

It’s so rare and valuable that it’s called ‘Golden Blood’ overseas. Conversely, those with such blood types never receive transfusions from anyone other than those with the same blood type, always living in extreme caution to avoid accidents.

Junseong also recalled that the name of this rare blood type, just like Do Hanseo’s written on that tray, was RH NULL.

‘If that’s true, then why did Do Hanseo…’

Why did he engage in risky behavior?

Junseong was honestly confused.

Caution? The word ‘caution’ didn’t seem to fit Do Hanseo at all. ‘Risk’ seemed to be more closely associated with him and abnormality. His reckless actions so far, coupled with his nonchalant attitude towards potentially dangerous situations, supported this notion.

As if defying something, enjoying danger, his demeanor of recklessness invoked an uncomfortable feeling of dissonance.

Approaching Junseong, who was deep in thought, Hanseo handed him his blood pack. The blood pack, well-preserved and as cold as an ice pack, felt strangely warm to Junseong. As if it had just been extracted.

“I don’t know if you’re aware, but the drugs developed here are quite juvenile and laughable.”

Hanseo’s face, with a smile, seemed to mock someone with his words.