Thugs (8)
Bwoooong.
The roar of a powerful engine pierced the air. Yoo Gu-hyeon, who had lost consciousness, slowly opened his eyes.
"Ugh……."
Pain lingered at the nape of his neck. He reached back to touch it and let out a small sigh.
"Huh?"
The truck was moving forward. Scenery whipped past the window. Turning his head, he spotted a masked driver. No one else was in sight. Just the two of them in the vehicle, himself included.
"No way."
He'd survived. He'd thought getting clocked on the neck was the end, but this masked subordinate had rescued him.
"You saved me?"
Yoo Gu-hyeon turned toward the driver's seat, his face lighting up with gratitude.
"For real?"
The masked guy and the shorty—partners who'd been chewed out hard by Yoo Gu-hyeon right before the Black Tattoos got hit. The reason? Nothing major. They'd just brought useless parts for fixing the refrigerated truck. No surprise if they harbored some resentment. But saving their boss like this? Their loyalty was the real deal, no doubt.
"Haha! I've got the best damn underlings! But what about that shorty bastard? No way he got……."
Yoo Gu-hyeon burst into boisterous laughter, then froze.
"……Huh?"
He couldn't move a muscle. Thinking it was the seatbelt, he looked down—and faced something a bit different from expected.
"What the hell."
His body was bound with rope like clothesline. Over that, the seatbelt was fastened, but the buckle jammed in reverse to keep it locked.
"What the hell!"
Yoo Gu-hyeon twisted wildly, yelling.
"What is this shit! Hey! What the fuck is this!"
Krrrooo.
He clamped his mouth shut at the sudden guttural sound. Bwoooong. The engine droned on. Maybe he'd misheard amid the noise—but soon, Yoo Gu-hyeon knew for sure.
Krrrooo.
A monstrous groan. The masked driver was making weird, moaning noises.
Only then did Yoo Gu-hyeon really look at him. Shirt sleeves. Not the usual gear the masked guy wore.
"Wh-what……?"
And crucially—one arm.
"Wh-wh-what?!"
Seeing the mask steering with just his right hand, Yoo Gu-hyeon screamed in shock.
"Aaaah! You fucking shit!"
It was the one-armed freak who'd bitten his subordinate's throat. Yoo Gu-hyeon thrashed like a madman.
"Fuck! What is this! What the fuck!"
Krrgrrr.
Even with Yoo Gu-hyeon freaking out beside him, the mask didn't turn. Like he was laser-focused on driving.
Yoo Gu-hyeon kept screaming, staring ahead.
"Aaaah……!"
The truck headed east—the direction some military unit had recommended on the radio.
"Where! Where the hell are we going!"
But the driver was infected. If any wits remained, no reason to head somewhere he'd get shot on sight.
Krrroooo.
Yet the driver neither stopped nor turned. He seemed dead set on going all the way.
"Let me loose! I won't fight wherever you're headed! Untie me!"
No telling when or how the driver might snap. The refrigerated truck was precious, but not worth his life. Yoo Gu-hyeon flailed to loosen the ropes binding him.
Screeeeech.
Suddenly, a weird noise. "Hey, wait……!" He swallowed dryly.
"Something's there. Hey! What the fuck is that!"
The truck slowed abruptly. Yoo Gu-hyeon paled.
"Why slow down! N-not now! Later, untie me later!"
Krrroooo.
Like annoyed by the pest, the driver sped up again. Absurd, but Yoo Gu-hyeon sighed in relief.
"Y-yeah, first get outta here……."
Thud.
Then it happened. The truck veered sideways, tilting sharply.
"Wha……!"
The driver had yanked the wheel. Yoo Gu-hyeon sensed what came next and could only scream.
"You crazy son of a……."
But the shout didn't finish. The truck flipped instantly, skidding on its side. As Yoo Gu-hyeon's body shook violently, speed dropped fast: 30 kph, 20…… 10.
Screeeeech.
The weird noise was right there now.
"Ah."
Thorned vines glinted outside the window. A second after Yoo Gu-hyeon whimpered in terror, they punched through the door beside the truck.
"Aaaaaah! Aaaah!"
Crunch! Rip! Vines swarmed from all sides, shredding the vehicle. In the chaos, they tore into Yoo Gu-hyeon too.
"Guh, ack."
Through fading vision, he barely glimpsed the driver's seat. Vines surged there too.
Krrrooo.
The last thing Yoo Gu-hyeon saw was the driver flipping him off.
Kaboom!
Go Cheon-su watched the distant explosion with genuine admiration.
"Impressive."
He'd driven the truck straight to the end, right into the Detector's lair for his final stand.
"What a shame."
That resolve was something else. Without the infection, he might've made a solid ally. But it proved infection progression varied by situation—not a total waste.
Gazing at the rising smoke, Yang Min-cheol approached.
"Hyung, we didn't need that truck?"
Straightforward question. Go Cheon-su smirked faintly.
"Would've been useless anyway."
The refrigerated truck was bigger than their 4.5-ton cargo hauler—a 5-ton beast that guzzled fuel. Waste for their group. Fuel was scarce as hell.
"More importantly, how you holding up?"
Go Cheon-su probed Yang Min-cheol's feelings.
"Not bummed your bully's gone?"
"You joking?"
Yang Min-cheol sighed deeply.
"Thrilled he's gone."
"Yeah?"
No need to pry further. Go Cheon-su headed to Jang Seo-yeon by the cargo truck.
"Like the ride?"
"Obviously. You already checked it's top-notch."
She grinned wide.
"Plus, small rides don't suit me."
"Fuel's a bitch to find, so drive safe."
"Prep to roll."
Grabbing her twirling steel pipe, Go Cheon-su bowed slightly, sincere.
"Thanks to you, we took out Min-cheol's tormentor. Great work, Jang Seo-yeon."
"Your doing."
She clapped his shoulder.
"Skills like that don't fade. What'd you do before apocalypse to fight that good?"
Laughter nearly escaped at the viewers' jab, but Go Cheon-su played it cool with another smile.
"I'll take that as high praise."
"Cheon-su!"
Kim Ha-ryeong rushed up, showing off watches strapped to her arm.
"Spoils of war! Whaddya think?"
"From the corpses?"
"Yup!"
She beamed for praise, but it felt off. Go Cheon-su hummed awkwardly; she yanked them off and tossed them.
"I-I know they're useless! Just a quick vibe check……!"
"It's fine. Looked badass for a sec."
One watch wouldn't hurt. Useful, even.
"Pick me one."
He offered his wrist; she plopped down, grabbed one, and fitted it.
Sparkle. Gaudy gold, way too flashy for this world. Go Cheon-su removed it and handed it back.
"Not this. Something practical."
She swapped it for a rugged electronic one—altimeter, compass, temp, barometer.
"Perfect."
Who knew such a gem was here? Kim Ha-ryeong came through.
"Thanks, Ha-ryeong."
"Ah, sure!"
Her bashful grin lifted his mood. Party meshed like clockwork, quirks and all.
"Cheon-su, done? Let's roll."
Jang Seo-yeon climbed into the driver's seat—handling it herself, naturally. Go Cheon-su boarded with Yang Min-cheol and Kim Ha-ryeong. Short on seats, she hopped to the rear cargo area—like a comfy makeshift bed.
"Hyung-nims, I prefer upfront for the view."
Ignoring protagonist-bias chatter, Go Cheon-su eyed Jang Seo-yeon.
"So, where to?"
"Leader's call, right?"
"Knew you'd say that."
He rubbed his temple, pondering.
Now what…….
Per Oh Young-jun's intel, everywhere screamed danger. South might work, but with the truck, no need east.
Big destination? Jeju Island.
Taxi company hints mentioned it. Set that as goal: plane or ship? Exit route from Daejeon hinged on it.
"Folks, plane or ship to Jeju—which?"
Random question flooded chat with ?s, ;;, lolz.
Spoiler they can't spill.
Something up.
He'd seen KTX heading north inbound. 7.5 Division ditching it for a Mugunghwa loco seemed off. If not bait…….
"Go Cheon-su?"
Jang Seo-yeon cocked her head, key inserted. He sighed lightly.
"East."
"Huh?"
"Head east."
Military radio beacon—and Oh Young-jun's suicide run.
"East? For real?"
"Hyung."
Yang Min-cheol cut in calmly as she flustered.
"Safest is south right now. Still going there?"
"Yeah."
Go Cheon-su murmured low.
"Got a reason now."
Info gaps everywhere. No new intel window. Ship to Jeju: Incheon/west coast, Jeollanam-do, Gyeongsangnam-do south. Broader with cargo ships—any coast. Planes multiplied options.
"Need safe zones. East draws crowds—more ears, more intel."
The group sighed in unison.
"Fair…… South's vague too."
"Hyung's right."
"Cheon-su-ssi, crowds mean danger, no?"
Risk, sure—but military-bound meant refugees. Blend in, no issue.
"Nothing else. Blind on south."
He firmed up. Games taught blind spots hid traps. Control risks first for safety. No zero-risk till clear—fact of this game world.
"Locked in?"
Jang Seo-yeon fired the engine.
"Rolling out."
Vroom. Engine purred strong. As wheels turned east, Go Cheon-su swallowed.
This the way?
Doubt flickered—but soon he saw it. The green line marking their path.