Implementing Justice (2)
Puuk! Puuk! I stabbed the knife into Lee Chang-seop's thigh dozens of times until there wasn't a single intact spot left. Finally, the "truth" burst from his mouth.
"So, you're admitting you tried to rape Catherine, failed, and then lied about being framed by the other residents, right?"
"Ugh... y-yes... yes..."
Lee Chang-seop, thick drool dripping from the corner of his mouth, admitted to the attempted rape. His face was a twisted mix of despair and relief, as if everything was finally over.
But what to do now? There was still one more thing left.
"Alright, Uncle, your crimes are confirmed. Now it's time to figure out what your relationship is with this lady here."
As I wiped the splatter of his blood from my face during the interrogation and turned to her, the woman went deathly pale, looking like she might faint any second. Her trembling eyes darted frantically between me and Lee Chang-seop, like a dog that had caused trouble and was awaiting its master's judgment.
"Let's see... First, just one question for you, ma'am. What's your name?"
"Y-Yoo Soo-kyung..."
"Okay, Yoo Soo-kyung-ssi, hang in there a bit longer. I'll finish with Uncle quick and get right to you."
"Guhk... hic!"
At my words that she and I would soon have the same "question and answer" session as she did with Lee Chang-seop, Yoo Soo-kyung's eyes reddened as she started hiccupping through sobs. But at least she wasn't spouting any nonsense anymore—it seemed Lee Chang-seop's example had educated her somewhat.
Leaving Yoo Soo-kyung crying her eyes out behind me, I turned back to Lee Chang-seop.
"Uncle, what's your relationship with Yoo Soo-kyung here? Oh, and from now on, answer comfortably. No lies, of course."
"L-Lovers."
"Lovers? You two are both single?"
"No."
"Then an affair?"
"Yes."
Thanks to the prior "education," Lee Chang-seop spilled the "truth" I wanted without holding back. After a few more detailed questions, Catherine and I learned every sordid detail of their filthy relationship.
Lee Chang-seop and Yoo Soo-kyung's families— their husbands had been high school classmates. Because of that, the two families often hung out. During those times, Lee Chang-seop and Yoo Soo-kyung's eyes met, and they started an affair. Even on the first day of the zombie apocalypse, they snuck away from their spouses and were enjoying their tryst in Room 403.
One question popped into my head here.
Then why bother with Catherine when he had his mistress to cling to?
I furrowed my brow and asked Lee Chang-seop about his motive, and a shocking answer came out of his mouth.
"I just don't get it... Uncle, if you were horny in the middle of the night, why not just come to this lady's place? Why sneak into Catherine's room? You've got a wife and a mistress..."
"I... I was curious what a white horse—no, a Western woman would taste like... And I heard Westerners are open about sex, so they'd give it up easy..."
At Lee Chang-seop's utterly depraved excuse, which crossed every line imaginable, everyone's faces hardened—except his. Even his mistress, Yoo Soo-kyung.
The next moment, as my common sense failed to comprehend his outdated, idiotic mindset and left me speechless, Catherine—who had been quietly watching the interrogation from behind—stepped forward.
She then stomped down hard on Lee Chang-seop's thigh, already torn open in multiple places from the knife stabs, with the solid sole of her boot.
Kwajik!
"Gaaahhh!! Stop!!"
His mangled thigh was crushed underfoot, blood gushing out, filling the living room with agonized screams.
Whoosh...
And on top of that, watching her lover get "justice" served. More precisely, as Catherine glared at her while stepping on Lee Chang-seop, Yoo Soo-kyung wet herself and fainted.
Stepping back a bit to take in the scene, it was utter chaos. Blood and piss splattered across the living room floor. The two naked, bound people. And Catherine radiating murderous intent.
It was time to wrap things up in Room 403.
"Catherine, hold on a sec..."
"Ah, yes."
I grabbed Catherine's arm as she was happily alternating between crushing his left and right thighs, pulling her away for a moment. Then, as I'd mentioned before, I asked her how she wanted to deal with Lee Chang-seop.
She took a deep breath and gave the answer I'd expected.
"Huuu... I want to do it by old law. In ancient times, if thief caught stealing, they cut off hand. That man tried to steal my breast, so must cut off his hand."
"Sounds good. Hang on a minute? Gotta prepare something."
"Ughhhh..."
A smile crept across my face at Catherine's verdict to sever his wrists, while Lee Chang-seop spasmed in horror, blood pouring from his thigh.
What, why so surprised? Did you think we'd bust in here, get your confession, and just leave?
About three minutes after Catherine decided Lee Chang-seop's punishment. His two hands, bound with cable ties, were fixed to the dining table. I placed a frying pan on the gas stove.
Catherine and even Lee Chang-seop watched my random action with puzzled eyes for a moment. Then, upon hearing my next words, shock and despair washed over their faces.
"If Catherine chops off his hands with an axe, there might not be a way to stop the bleeding properly, so I'm heating up this frying pan to cauterize it. I've seen them do that to meat in movies."
"Oh... good idea."
"Mmph! Mmph-mmph!!"
Catherine nodded in admiration at my imitation complete with a sizzle sound, while Lee Chang-seop wildly shook his head, eyes bulging. With the gag in his mouth to prevent suicide, only muffled "mmphs" echoed through the kitchen.
Soon, the frying pan, properly heated over the blue gas flame, began to give off its metallic scent.
"Catherine, ready now."
"Yes, got it. Can you hold him steady?"
"Of course."
The moment she heard my signal that the hand-severing execution could begin, Catherine grabbed the axe leaning against the table. She looked at the writhing Lee Chang-seop and asked me to hold him down.
Right after. I nodded and firmly pinned down Lee Chang-seop, who was kneeling with his arms on the table.
Just like when she'd cut the safety chain on the front door earlier, Catherine raised the axe high above her head. Then, without hesitation, she brought it straight down.
Whoosh!
Pukgaaak!!
Pssshhh!
"Urk!"
The heavy yet sharp axe blade sliced through his wrist and buried deep into the wooden table, accompanied by Lee Chang-seop's guttural groan.
At the same time, bright red blood spurted from the cleanly severed wrist stump.
I immediately grabbed the frying pan from the stove and pressed its hot bottom against his wrist.
Siiiiizzle!
The superheated metal met flesh, and the smell of grilling meat and burning flesh filled the living room.
Well, damn... it works?
Looks kinda gross, but the bleeding stopped.
"No pulse..."
Unfortunately, Lee Chang-seop had died from shock (presumed) after losing his wrists. Catherine and I began pondering what to do with the remaining Yoo Soo-kyung.
That's when the front door—which we'd closed—opened, and Park Sang-hyuk, who should have been guarding outside, appeared.
"Uh... ahem... are you almost done?"
"Is something urgent outside?"
"No, not that."
Seeing Lee Chang-seop's corpse and the fainted Yoo Soo-kyung, plus the blood- and piss-stained interior, Park Sang-hyuk looked flustered and asked when we'd finish.
I'd worried other residents might have gathered, so I asked about outside. Fortunately, he said no one had come to Room 403.
The screams must have carried to some extent... but no one came?
As Catherine had put it, "no mom"—these low-floor survivors prioritized their own safety over others' desperate crises.
I felt they didn't deserve the same treatment as Park Sang-hyuk's group.
And in that moment, an idea struck: I could use this to play them against each other.
A short while later, I ordered Park Sang-hyuk to carry Yoo Soo-kyung, and dragging Lee Chang-seop's cooling corpse, we exited Room 403.
"Gasp..."
"Eek..."
Ignoring the dumbfounded stares of the two middle-aged men guarding the hallway, I bellowed toward the stairs.
"Everyone come out! If you don't, we'll come in!"
"..."
No replies, no doors opening—just our breathing echoing quietly in the hallway.
Time for house calls on these rude bastards.
About five minutes after the gruesome screams from inside Room 403 stopped. While Park Sang-hyuk and the others wondered what was happening inside.
"Everyone stay put. I'll check inside."
Park Sang-hyuk scanned the eerily quiet hallway as if nothing had happened, then cautiously stepped into Room 403.
What met his eyes was a gruesome, chaotic mess straight out of a dismemberment murder scene. Park Sang-hyuk reaffirmed his resolve once more.
Unless it's a life-or-death matter, I won't cross these lunatics.
Crazy bastards... Is this justice?