episode_0027

Ian had already sensed that something was off. From the unstable communication and the news about the helicopter, Yoon Siwoo’s expression was far from normal.

When he saw Lieutenant Colonel Park Yunsik, it seemed as if his soul had left his body. Even though it was their first meeting, he had waited until he woke up, promising to stay by his side.

He could tell that something out of the ordinary was happening.

On the day of the showdown with Kim Munhyuk, Siwoo had given Ian advice and a recorder as if he could see the future. Since that day, Ian had pondered over the contents a few times.

Each time, Siwoo had either stammered in surprise or avoided the topic altogether.

But that wasn’t all. Despite lacking any apparent knowledge of biotechnology or related fields, he had managed to develop a suppressant that could delay infection.

And most importantly, the fact that he was an immune individual who nullified recognition from zombies.

Looking back, most things had worked out well as Siwoo had predicted from the moment they first met.

What did this all mean?

With a vague sense of foreboding, Ian was certain that there must be a reason for this once again.

“Let’s leave this place as soon as possible.”

“Okay.”

“Yeah, I knew you would say that… Wait, what?”

***

It was actually Ian who seemed flustered. He had expected a higher chance of rejection and had prepared various ways to persuade him, but Ian had agreed so easily.

“Um, you haven’t even heard the reason yet…”

“Then shall we start now?”

Ian smiled casually as if to say speak freely, and I nodded solemnly.

I explained the reasons we should go based on the information I had gained from my conversation with the lieutenant colonel. The research infrastructure, the existence of another immune individual besides me, and even the letter of recommendation the colonel had written.

When I finished explaining, Ian, who had been listening calmly, spoke up.

“If that’s the case, there’s someone named Lieutenant Baek Jaeha. He seems like quite a violent person. Is it possible to enter the research base with a letter of recommendation from someone who fled to avoid a coup?”

Violent? He’s not violent. He’s just a crazy guy who doesn’t hesitate to use any means necessary to achieve his goals.

“It’ll be possible. If it means developing a cure, I’d sell my soul to the devil.”

“You speak as if you know him well. Are you sure?”

“I had a deep conversation with the colonel earlier, haha.”

I awkwardly laughed at his sharp observation. Even I could see that my conviction was lacking, based on the character profile the colonel had explained after just one conversation.

Despite this, Ian remained deep in thought with a serious expression.

“I’ll ask you one thing. What exactly are you trying to do, Siwoo?”

An unexpected question. Each tone carried a weight that made me feel uneasy.

What am I trying to do…? Surviving in this place that I ended up in by chance is the main goal.

But that’s not enough. In the original work, Ian managed to survive in the end. Alone in a world where everyone turned into zombies.

If I were in that situation… I would be better off than the original Ian. I have Jiyu and Yeoreum. If I wanted, I could recruit more people to the extent of extracting the suppressant.

And live out my life with those left behind, fighting against evolving mutants. How long would that last? Would the people left by my side accept such an ending?

I shook my head.

“To survive. Together. To do that, we need to develop a vaccine before the world collapses.”

Ian seemed to ponder the meaning of my words for a while before nodding.

“Okay. Give me some time. I’ll wrap up things here as quickly as possible.”

Locking eyes, I nodded in agreement.

***

Was Ian trusting me more than I thought? It must have been a difficult decision for him to follow my opinion so easily. Unlike me, who was trapped in the underground laboratory, Ian ran around, turning this place into a base for survival from scratch.

He went out to fight zombies, rescue survivors, and gather supplies. He became the leader here, earning the trust and friendship of new comrades.

Leaving everything behind when everything seemed to be improving was not an easy decision.

I briefly considered whether taking Ian with me was the right thing to do, but he would surely be helpful. There were things only Ian could do.

However, my concern…

-Bang!

“Eek!”

On the rooftop where shooting practice was in full swing with newly supplied rifles, Doa flinched at the sound of her own shot.

…

What should I do about this?

There is no progress. In the original, Jiyu dies, and there are not many people who can fight properly. If anyone who can move joins forces to go out and procure supplies, people die in the process.

Every time Doa goes through this process, she grows a little bit as a character…

Here, there was Jiyu and me. The two of us initially cleared out nearby zombies. The newly joined survivors all came back after Ian and Jiyu rushed out to rescue them. Of course, supplies too.

As a result, after driving out Kim Munhyuk, an astonishing record of zero deaths was achieved, but Doa remained unchanged from when she first met Ian.

Logically, leaving her here and going alone would be the right thing to do…

“Hug. Am I going with you?”

“Yeah, don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

With such cheesy exchanges going on…

I casually suggested leaving for safety, but Ian seemed adamant about not giving in to that idea.

“Ugh….”

As I sighed, there was a commotion next to me.

-Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat!

“Haha! Master, this is so much fun!”

“Single shot! Shoot in single shots!”

The lieutenant who had taken on the role of instructor panicked and stopped Summer.

Will they be able to make it to Daejeon with them?

“Ugh….”

Sighing again, I aimed at the target. HK416 rifle. A gun widely used by special forces on land, sea, and air for its excellent performance and reliability…

-Bang!

Once again, I missed the target. 100m distance. If aiming for the brain, it’s about 50% accuracy… similar to Summer’s.

In a real situation, the hit rate would be much lower when facing moving targets.

No matter how good the weapon is, if the person using it is not talented…

“Ugh….”

For the umpteenth time, as I sighed, the lieutenant added a word from the side.

“Don’t they do shooting training at the NIS?”

Judging by my shooting skills, he seemed to just consider me an NIS agent.

In contrast, Ian hit the targets one by one. Whether lying down, sitting, standing, or even moving lightly. He hit them in any position.

It wasn’t surprising. He was the one who shot slugs in rapid succession to hit Beta’s eyes when using a shotgun.

Seeing Ian’s shooting skills for the first time, the lieutenant shook his head in amazement.

“Amazing. I don’t know who would win if he fought against Baek Jaeha. And that lady with the sword. There was a reason why Seoul Base was able to keep the zombies at bay.”

That lady. Jiyu, who had no interest in guns, didn’t even come to practice.

After finishing the shooting training, we gathered in one place. The lieutenant, who had his throat slit, took out something from his pocket.

A metal object with a circular O-shaped ring that can be precisely attached to the eye. At the end of it, there is a device where a small ampule can be inserted.

The lieutenant gestured as if asking me to explain, but I shook my head.

Eventually, he reluctantly took out a small ampule from the opposite pocket with a look of reluctance. The liquid inside had a light red hue.

“Red Eye. A stimulant made by mixing the blood of immune individuals and mutant Betas, along with various drugs. Although it’s called a stimulant, not only does it enhance concentration, but all bodily functions such as visual acuity, muscle strength, and agility increase dramatically for about 5 minutes.”

Ian’s expression momentarily stiffened. Summer and Doa just grinned, not fully understanding.

“Thanks to this, the research base has been able to fend off invasions by mutants. It’s faster to see it for yourself rather than explain it in words. Pay close attention. This is just a demonstration, so make sure to watch. From now on, you all will try it yourselves.”

While I grumbled about having to do this at this hour, he combined the ampule. Placing the O-shaped ring on his right eye and pressing the button, the liquid sprayed into his pupil.

In an instant, the lieutenant’s right pupil was dyed red. He picked up a rifle and entered the mock training ground.

Close-quarters combat against zombies using firearms. A place with various obstacles and targets arranged intricately for CQC training.

With movements and speed that didn’t seem like those of a middle-aged person, he broke through the obstacles. Intense movements accompanied by accurate shooting. Surprisingly, every bullet pierced the target’s head precisely.

Ian couldn’t reach that level of skill, but the movements of the middle-aged officer in real combat were definitely extraordinary.

Ian watched in amazement, while Summer and Doa, who knew nothing, just watched nonchalantly.

After completing all the courses, the lieutenant held his right eye and sat down hesitantly.

“Ugh… this is why I didn’t want to do this. Remember this. After using it once, you’ll experience excruciating pain similar to having needles in your eyeballs for about 10 minutes. Don’t let everyone use it at once, take turns using it.”

Groaning in pain while holding his eye to the ground, 10 minutes later, the lieutenant’s eye returned to its original color.

After adjusting his attire, he continued his explanation.

“Remember this well. After using it once, you should wait 24 hours before using it again. Never use it more than 3 times a week.”

“Sir!”

Feeling like he was a teacher, Summer raised her hand and shouted.

“What is it?”

The lieutenant seemed to treat her like a bratty girl and brushed it off.

“What happens if you break the rules?”

“You turn into a zombie.”

“A zombie?”

The lieutenant shook his head firmly.

“They’re not complete zombies. They just become like the undead, except their red eyes don’t return. We call them ‘half-zombies,’ but they’re treated as immediate execution targets just like regular zombies. They have no infectious ability, but when they see a human, they do nothing but try to bite. They don’t eat, they just glow and quickly consume all their energy, starving to death. There are plenty of them who have lost their minds for public good. Don’t become one of them.”

Pausing for a moment, the lieutenant looked at Summer with a slightly awkward expression.

“But you… your eyes are still red, so you probably don’t understand.”

Summer looked at me as if asking for an explanation, but I could only shrug.

What happens if you use Red Eye while the virus is suppressed? I don’t know. It’s something that doesn’t exist in the original work.

As if naturally assuming Ian was the first, the lieutenant handed him the Red Eye.

“Use it on Ju Si-an. It’s more effective that way. Make a triangle with both hands, trap an object, then alternate between your right and left eyes. You’ll figure it out.”

Ju-sian checked the device on his right eye and used the Red Eye. The result was as expected.

Physical movements that surpassed human limits. Ju-yu’s movements, inherited from Beta’s abilities, were not inferior when compared. Moving so quickly and precisely, every shot hit its mark accurately.

Everyone was mesmerized by his appearance. Even I, who knew him well, couldn’t help but be surprised by the vividness of his actual combat.

Unconsciously, the Lieutenant muttered, “To think that this is his first time using it… it’s unbelievable….”

Even after 5 minutes had passed, Ju-sian didn’t collapse to the ground like the Lieutenant. He just furrowed his brow slightly, as if in pain.

“Are you okay?”

“It hurts a bit, but I can endure it.”

“If you say so, what does that make me?”

The Lieutenant clicked his tongue and shook his head again.

“Even in that state, you’re still as sharp as ever, Ju-sian.”

Ju-sian’s pupils returned to their black color, and it was the Lieutenant who handed him the next Red Eye.

I wonder what will happen if an immune person like me uses this?

With a nervous heart, I accepted the Red Eye.