The Mutant Threat
The next day.
In the clinic room where all five had gathered.
"So... you're saying we're walking there?"
Minyoung asked cautiously.
Kang Youngman, looking troubled, scratched his forehead.
"No, Minyoung. It's not that we have to walk. If there's a key in a car on the street, we'll take it. But if not, don't we need to find another way?"
"I don't think there's anything safer than a car."
"You're right, but the problem is the noise. Those things will swarm us for sure. And if we hit an obstacle on top of that..."
"Yeah, I guess so."
Han Jaejeong summed it up.
"Then let's think if there's something better than a car. That's all we need to do."
Suddenly, everyone fell silent.
No matter how hard they racked their brains, there was no way to reach Yeouido without a vehicle.
It was a plain fact that walking would draw more attention due to the noise—and be even more dangerous.
Han Jaejeong broke the silence.
"...Let's find a car. That'll be quickest."
"Who's driving?"
Lee Beom-sik asked.
"Anyone who can't drive?"
"I have a license... but it's a closet license."
When Han Jaejeong asked, Minyoung glanced around nervously before speaking, and Anna raised her hand too.
"You can't either?"
"Nope. I don't even have a license."
Anna nodded confidently.
That left three: Han Jaejeong, Lee Beom-sik, and Kang Youngman.
The three stared at each other wordlessly.
Then Lee Beom-sik and Kang Youngman's gazes settled on one person.
Han Jaejeong grimaced.
"Whoever's up for it at the time can do it. I can't handle buses."
"I'll drive the bus."
Kang Youngman knew how to handle large vehicles.
It was from long ago, but in these times, that didn't matter.
Even if clumsy driving caused an accident, it wouldn't be an issue.
Just then, Kang Youngman's face turned serious.
"But listen..."
Everyone waited for his next words.
"What the hell was that thing? I didn't think about it yesterday because everything was chaos, but that monstrous freak we saw in the basement. How can we be sure there's only one?"
The clinic room went quiet in an instant.
Just hearing about how Anna had been sent flying by it made Jaejeong's side and back ache.
It was an unimaginable force, far beyond human capability.
"I heard about it too. If more than one shows up at once like Dad says, what do we do then?"
Minyoung said worriedly.
Han Jaejeong shook his head.
"No one knows for sure yet. Remember, it killed all the other infected. So they might fight among themselves too. No need to worry ahead of time. And if it shows up... we deal with it."
"It's not that simple."
Lee Beom-sik crossed his arms and continued.
"We need a plan at least. In the basement, we had a sacrificial lamb, so it worked. But if we run into one on our own? Who's the next sacrifice? Anyone volunteering? One hit and you're done. Anna got lucky and survived. The two it hit died on the spot."
"But infected are everywhere you go. If that pig shows up again in that state, our only option is to use the infected well. Got anything better?"
Lee Beom-sik nodded at Han Jaejeong's words.
The thing destroyed everything in sight.
So they had to use that to their advantage.
Like Jaejeong said, infected swarmed everywhere, so maybe they should even hope it appeared.
For now...
They lacked information.
Making a plan was impossible without it, and no obvious method came to mind.
They'd have to face it head-on.
To survive this wrecked world, they'd clash with those things countless times and come out on top.
This time, Anna spoke up.
"What worries me is something else."
"Spit it out."
"Something's off. Remember the one my arrow killed yesterday? It didn't chase the firecracker noise—it turned and looked right at us. And that pig yesterday too. Ugh, I hate to say it, but no matter how I spin it, only one thing comes to mind."
"So what is it?"
Lee Beom-sik pressed impatiently.
"Maybe variants are appearing? You know, right, unnie? Viruses evolve. They mutate with each infection too."
"True. It's not impossible. But we can't jump to conclusions without proper research. Mutations happen occasionally, sure. But they're just mutations. Cases that cause major changes are extremely rare."
Minyoung showed her doctor side.
A heavy silence settled over the clinic again.
Everyone was replaying the previous day's events.
Meanwhile, Han Jaejeong checked his wristwatch and spoke with a sigh.
"Our goal is the safe zone for now. Once there, I figure Minyoung can learn more about the virus. Let's eat lunch and head out. I'll radio the soldiers and old man to confirm, so everyone grab what you need."
As they moved to leave, Lee Beom-sik blocked the door.
"Before that, everyone hear this clear. I'll try to make sure it doesn't happen, but someone might die on the way. We all might. It's that dangerous. But it's worth the risk. Plans don't mean shit anyway. You gotta see what's out there to know. Right? And you."
He stared at Minyoung, who blinked wide-eyed.
"Me? Why?"
"Can you kill those monsters?"
"W-Well, I've never..."
"You will from now on. If we find guns or weapons on the way, learn from the old man no matter what. I know you save lives. But even a medic needs to know how to kill enemies at minimum."
"I'll handle Minyoung."
As Minyoung opened her mouth to reply, Kang Youngman cut in.
He glared at Lee Beom-sik with uncharacteristic killing intent.
The two locked eyes for a while.
Eventually, Lee Beom-sik nodded first.
He hadn't meant to pick a fight, but Kang Youngman's sensitivity threw him off.
If they bickered over small things like this, it was trouble.
"Do what you want. Just don't be dead weight."
"We won't."
Han Jaejeong wrapped it up.
"Talk's over. Move."
Minyoung stayed in the clinic to pack medicine, while Lee Beom-sik and Anna gathered supplies and food from the hall.
Meanwhile, Han Jaejeong and Kang Youngman headed to the rooftop.
"Not taking sides, but aren't you being too sharp?"
Han Jaejeong asked carefully as he opened the rooftop door.
Kang Youngman snorted.
"You might think so. But if you had a kid, you'd get it. Parents know their children best. My parents did, and yours too. Minyoung's not the type to be ordered around like that."
"You've been raising her teaching survival, right?"
"What I taught was how to survive—not how to kill. What parent teaches their kid to take lives? And you saw it. Her expressions, her words—they're all awkward. She's terrified right now. A scared cat drops its fish. Hand her a gun and who knows what accident happens. I'll handle her, so don't worry."
"Just concerned. At the safe zone, she'll be more useful than guys like us. How many medics can they have?"
Han Jaejeong said as he turned on the transceiver.
Kang Youngman, seated, placed his hand on the mic button and looked up.
"If anyone dies, it'll be me—not Minyoung."
"You can't die either."
Kang Youngman gripped the mic and replied.
"I survived decades in bullet storms. Don't worry. Huff! Huff! This is September Blue. Do you read? This is September Blue. Captain Kang, respond."
"Good to hear your voice. How's it going? Holding up?"
"That's the spirit. Anyway, we're heading straight to Yeouido ourselves. Not sure if we can link up at the point you gave or find another way."
"No. Decision's made. Everyone's itching to leave. So, is the Yeouido safe zone still holding?"
"Got it. If I'm right, this might be our last contact. Thanks. Means a lot from a stranger."
"Ah, right. See you there then. Take care."
"Thanks."
The transmission ended.
Han Jaejeong, who had listened quietly, was deep in thought.
He stayed that way even as Kang Youngman turned off the mic and power.
"What kind of guy is he anyway?"
"Who?"
Kang Youngman asked as he pushed in his chair.
"You. What'd you do to make Captain Kang this loyal?"
"Loyal? Sounds creepy. Nothing special. Just what anyone does. But most of my comrades died, so I get this treatment. Embarrassing, really. I always came back alive."
"Dying isn't honorable."
"Surviving isn't either. Someone always died in my place. That's survival. Brutal."
A flicker of loneliness crossed Kang Youngman's eyes.
No one ever wants to die, but he'd never feared it either.
He'd taken out massive insurance through a private firm—enough to feed Minyoung's kids too.
In dollars, not won.
But one event changed Kang Youngman's life in an instant.
His wife's death.
Her illness shattered his worldview.
If he died, his daughter would be an orphan.
From then on, he had to live.
He learned to slack off, to cleverly dodge danger.
His dead comrades probably knew.
Didn't it show in their eyes?
Then Han Jaejeong spoke.
"Just get to the safe zone. No more dying in your place—or you for someone else."
"Future's uncertain."
"I'll make sure."
"Don't boast. Life's unpredictable. That's why it's precious."
Han Jaejeong's gaze lingered somewhere as he listened.
Even beliefs rarely came true in reality.
Whatever it took, positivity was all they had.
He'd boast as needed.
That was when it happened.
Someone opened the rooftop door.
Infected People