episode_0289

He had to move.

There was no time to hesitate over bloodlust.

His mind thought, and his trained body reacted.

Whoosh! Whiz! Whoosh! Whiz-whiz-whiz-!

Park Moojin, who had instantly taken down six zombies, felt cold sweat drip down his cheek.

‘…Damn it…’

His hands reacted, but his legs didn’t.

He quickly knocked the zombies down, but his legs couldn’t step forward.

His long-trained body and senses rang a fierce alarm in Park Moojin’s mind.

The alarm became a warning, binding his legs.

He would die.

If he went any further, he would surely die.

Death wasn’t fearsome, but the body that had been with him his whole life betrayed his will.

Park Moojin gritted his teeth.

He agilely intercepted the rushing zombies while his eyes darted around.

‘Where is it?! Which one is it?!’

The zombies he was taking down were the usual kind he’d seen.

The one suspected of making that chilling sound he’d never heard before was nowhere in sight.

Click-clack! Click-clack-!

He repeatedly reloaded and fired with acrobatic dexterity.

As a result, he quickly eliminated the zombies blocking the alley, but Park Moojin and Choi Kang-doo couldn’t bring themselves to step forward.

They didn’t know when the zombies far behind them would rush in.

‘Damn it!’

He swallowed a rough curse to himself, just as he blew the head off the last zombie.

Creak-creak-

Swish-!

Park Moojin, pinpointing the location of the strange sound, instinctively responded by swinging his gun.

“…!”

“…Huh?”

Park Moojin and Choi Kang-doo didn’t realize it, but their eyes widened and their mouths fell open.

It was a foolish expression unsuited for such a tense moment, but their reaction was natural.

‘What in the world is that…? ’

The alley wall.

Specifically, it was the exterior wall of the building forming the alley.

Park Moojin caught sight of something clinging to the underside of a third-story terrace.

‘A spider?’

No.

There was no spider that big in the world.

At first glance, even the number of legs was different.

Four legs, or perhaps arms.

The grotesque limbs resembled human arms.

Its severely hunched back brought an insect to mind.

And the slightly revealed face was like…

“…A Hahoe mask?”

As the bewildered Choi Kang-doo had said, its appearance resembled a local specialty.

Park Moojin realized that the thing hiding in the shadows cast on the wall was a type of ‘monster’.

There were no human-sized insects in the world yet.

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

Thud-! Thump-thump-thump! Crackle!

He who strikes first wins.

Park Moojin, having assessed the enemy in a mere instant, pulled the trigger first.

“Kiiiii!!”

When the bullets struck its body, a clear reaction came.

The bullets that missed due to its writhing and hit the wall shattered the impacted area.

Shatter-crumble-whir-swish-

“!!!”

As the part it was clinging to broke, the creature, freed from the shadows, scurried down the wall to the second-story height.

Gulp-

The two men, seeing the monster’s full form, which kept a certain distance and didn’t approach too closely, swallowed dryly.

‘…A zombie?’

Park Moojin was momentarily confused when he saw the monster reveal itself.

He had seen and observed countless zombies until now, but he could assert that this was the first time he had seen one like that.

The only remaining human feature was its head, shaped like a grotesque mask; otherwise, it wouldn’t have been strange to call it an insect.

Seeing the familiar skin of the dead, the withered and tattered flesh, he knew it was the same kind as a zombie.

And Park Moojin, easily deducing that this creature was the source of the murderous intent, narrowed his eyes.

The previous gunfire had clearly hit its mark.

But it hadn’t acted as an effective blow.

Park Moojin, focusing on the dark, viscous blood oozing from the hit area, subtly moved his gun muzzle.

“Gurgle-”

He was startled to see the creature flinch, following his gun muzzle, but he didn’t show it.

‘I can do it.’

It might not be a vital hit, but the bullets still penetrate.

Furthermore, its body was scorched black.

Its entire body, especially its severely damaged right arm and leg, was almost like charcoal.

Seeing its somewhat unnatural movement when it scurried down the wall just now, Park Moojin confirmed the possibility.

He didn’t know how, but the creature, having been beaten up somewhere, was not in perfect condition.

Even now, it was frantically rubbing its half-scorched face. Yet, it was staring fixedly at Park Moojin.

Not a mask with a wide smile, but a distorted, defective-looking expression.

It was then that he felt moisture accumulating on his fingers inside his gloves.

“It’s unbearable to look at.”

He unknowingly spoke his honest thoughts.

“Screech-!!”

Did it understand him?

The monster, letting out a rough shriek, began to move its repulsive legs.

Swish-swish-swish! Swish-swish-swish-!!

In response, Park Moojin reflexively pulled the trigger, smoothly moving his gun muzzle to follow the monster’s movements.

Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!

“Kyaaaaaak!!”

‘I can do it!’

Seeing its unnatural movements and somewhat sluggish actions, Park Moojin boosted his fighting spirit even further.

At that moment.

Scuttling-scuttling-scuttling-scuttling-scuttling-scuttling-!!

The creature, scuttling up the wall with a sound like a cockroach crawling across a wooden floor, suddenly accelerated.

The creature, which seemed like it was going to hide beneath the terrace again…

Thwip-!

“?!”

The creature, after a moment’s pause, hurled itself downwards like a cannonball.

Rip!

Startled, he twisted his body, which allowed him to only be grazed, but Park Moojin lost sight of the creature’s movement for a moment.

And that was very painful.

Slam-!

“Cough-!”

The creature, which had landed slightly past him, crashed directly into Park Moojin’s body without giving him time to react.

His body, airborne, slammed into the wall and then tumbled onto a pile of garbage.

“Ughh?!”

Park Moojin, choking for breath from the impact that squeezed his lungs, crawled on the ground.

Because it was an unexpected attack, the blow was even greater.

That thing truly was a monster.

Even after taking so many bullets, it showed no damage.

Its actions, as if it had been hiding its true strength, sickened Park Moojin.

He understood it from just one permitted strike and movement.

Even in that state, he couldn’t predict victory.

Tremble-

He tried to raise his gun, not giving up, but his body wouldn’t obey.

Scuttling-scuttling-scuttling-

The disgusting sound of footsteps started again, stirring Park Moojin’s sense of crisis, but…

‘Move!’

His body, already utterly exhausted, could not respond to his will.

At that moment.

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

Thud! Splat! Whiz! Gush! Thump-thump!

“You bastard—!!”

‘That idiot…!’

At some point, Choi Kang-doo, who had set the child aside, aimed for the monster’s flank and unleashed a full burst of fire.

Thanks to the monster’s attention being drawn away, they overcame the crisis, but Park Moojin was furious.

“R-run…! Cough!”

When its attention was drawn to him, he should have escaped. The child should have been the top priority.

Choi Kang-doo’s good nature, his refusal to abandon people, wasn’t bad, but at this moment, it was regrettable.

Choi Kang-doo, whose shooting skills were poor, emptied an entire magazine in an instant but failed to land an effective hit.

“Ugh!”

Just as he forced his trembling body to get up.

Scuttling! Swish!

The monster’s back, as it charged directly at Choi Kang-doo, came into view.

‘Ah, no—’

“Whoaaaaaah-!!”

Slam-!

Crunch!

Clang-thud-clatter-

A terrifying blow.

The gun, swung with Choi Kang-doo’s brutish strength, shattered into pieces.

But the monster, having taken a tremendous hit, bounced off the wall and rolled across the floor, falling past Park Moojin.

Park Moojin didn’t miss the opening.

Whiz-swish! Whiz-swish!

He quickly threw the grenades he had stuffed into his pocket.

“Get down!”

The moment he curled his body, shouting with a voice that wouldn’t come out properly.

Boom-!! Bang-!!

Screech-!!

The grenades, which landed precisely near the monster’s body, were a direct hit.

“What the…!”

Park Moojin couldn’t believe it.

He doubted his eyes, seeing the monster, which had taken two grenades, writhing on the floor, flipped over.

The monster, which had been thrashing, flipped over and couldn’t properly steady itself.

Dark, viscous blood gushed from its right hip joint, where a leg had been torn off.

A new, deeply gouged, fatal wound also appeared on its right flank.

Despite this, the monster stabilized its posture.

“Graaaaah-!!”

Hearing the monster’s roar, Park Moojin barely managed to get up.

His legs were trembling, but he narrowed his brow and didn’t take his eyes off the monster.

‘As expected…’

Its head, slightly tilted and swaying like a drunken human, clearly showed the marks of Choi Kang-doo’s powerful blow.

Seeing its caved-in right forehead and the abnormal reactions from its head, he instinctively knew.

That damned thing’s weakness was also its head.

Its peculiar movements made it difficult to aim for the head, but from now on, he absolutely had to do it.

“Hyung!”

“……”

The situation was not in Park Moojin’s favor.

He didn’t know if it was Choi Kang-doo’s loud shout or the roar of the grenades.

Zombies began to slowly approach from behind.

“…Take care of Seonyeong.”

“Yes!”

He quietly spoke to Choi Kang-doo, who was holding the child again and guarding their rear.

“I’ll create an opening.”

“Huh?”

“We can’t catch that thing right now.”

“Th-that kind of… ”

“Once I create an opening, run towards the car without looking back. And escape.”

Easier said than done.

It sounded like a casually thrown-out plan, but Choi Kang-doo dared not argue.

With zombies approaching from behind now.

There was no choice.

The two men’s goal was not to fight zombies.

“I’ll follow, so just run no matter what.”

“…Yes!”

“Don’t get lost. Run all the way.”

Click-clack-

Park Moojin, loading his shotgun and taking aim, focused his inner strength.

From the front, a blazing murderous intent, and from behind, the wails of the dead, approached moment by moment.

Hoo-hooo…

Park Moojin steadied his breathing.

Choi Kang-doo slightly bent his knees, lowering his stance.

Park Moojin somehow felt the illusion of his pain lessening.

His strangely calming chest cleared his mind.

The moment he firmed his resolve with a clear mind.

“Screech!”

The monster, profusely bleeding black blood, began to charge awkwardly.

Leap-!!

“Run!”

Surprisingly, Park Moojin’s choice was to face it head-on.

Choi Kang-doo, surprised, reacted to the command to run without a moment to speak.

The moment the distance closed and the monster’s joints showed signs of bending.

Bang-! Splat-!

Thick liquid spurted out in a small stream.

Choi Kang-doo, not missing the monster’s stumble and accelerating, darted past the monster like an arrow.

Park Moojin’s gaze remained fixed on the monster.

The bullet fired at the monster’s head produced a visible result.

“Kiii—”

Bang-!

“Kkng—”

Bang-!

Bang-!

The 12-gauge slug rounds, making dull thudding sounds as they hit flesh, etched clear wounds into the monster’s body.

Part of its right forehead blown away.

Its neck, half-torn and revealing gruesome contents.

Even its deeply gouged and tattered left shoulder.

Bang-!

“Guh!”

His arm trembled, causing the muzzle to waver, but the monster, having taken a hit to its body, rolled backward and fell.

As Park Moojin immediately turned to run, he saw Choi Kang-doo already running far ahead.

Get out of here quickly—

Grab-

“?!”

No sooner did he feel something seize his ankle than he was violently yanked.

Crash-

Park Moojin, who had fallen face-first just as he was about to run, immediately flipped his body over as soon as he hit the ground and raised his head.

The monster had indeed fallen.

But being a monster, it had grabbed Park Moojin’s ankle with its one remaining leg and was dragging him.

At the end of the limb, which he had confused for either an arm or a leg, was something shaped similarly to a human hand.

It held Park Moojin’s ankle and wouldn’t let go.

Whoosh-

Thwack-!

The monster, immediately rising and lunging onto Park Moojin from above, thrust its hideous teeth forward first.

Crunch-!

The monster’s jaw, having bitten the shotgun’s body that he reflexively extended, violently gnashed.

Clack-crunch-crunch-

“Guh… Ughhh…!”

Park Moojin pushed with all his might with both hands, but it wasn’t enough. No strength surged from his trembling arms.

“Kaaah! Kyaah!”

“Ughh…!”

The shotgun was slowly being pushed closer to Park Moojin.

Dark blue bodily fluid dripped from the monster’s gnashing mouth, falling onto his face.

Without time to be tormented by the horrible stench, the monster’s teeth moved closer and closer to Park Moojin’s neck.

Slowly. Very slowly.

“Ugh… Ah!”

The moment his screaming arm muscles hit their limit.

Woof-woof-woof-!!

Crunch-!

“Gurgle-gurgle-gurgle-!!”

A large retriever, boasting its size, viciously bit and shook the monster’s neck.

“Grrr! Grrr-!”

“Gurgle…! Gurgle!”

A fountain of blood burst from its neck as if gushing from a spring.

The monster, foaming dark blue at the mouth, couldn’t withstand the retriever’s strength and rolled on the ground.

Was it feeling pain?

Even while thrashing violently, its gaze remained fixed on Park Moojin.

“Ugh! Cough!”

He gritted his teeth, forcing his slightly convulsing arm to rise.

Thud-!

Whine-whimper! Whine!

Caught by a flailing arm during the struggle, the retriever was slammed into the wall and let out a pained whimper.

“Gurgle-gurgle!”

Click-!

Park Moojin’s gun muzzle touched the monster’s forehead as it foamed at the mouth, trying to let out a grotesque scream that wouldn’t come.

“Now, die.”

Bang-! Bang-!

Crackle-splat!

Thud-

The monster, falling backward as if recoiling, ceased all movement, leaving a large hole in its head.

It was dead.

The damn monster was definitely dead.

Park Moojin, certain of victory, tried to turn his body.

Thump-

“…?”

Park Moojin, whose legs gave out, causing him to slump to the ground, didn’t understand.

Why in the world…

“…It was a disgustingly persistent bastard.”

Suddenly, feeling a stinging sensation, he looked down to see his right flank slowly turning red.

It seemed to have left one last desperate attack when he delivered the final blow.

“…Hmph.”

A wry laugh escaped him.

Soon, all strength drained from his body, and his vision spun.

Thump-

“……”

His side was hot, but his back was cold.

Park Moojin, who somehow found that sensation pleasant, even saw the dark, hazy sky as good.

He had done well enough.

Couldn’t he praise himself just this once?

“Mister~”

Through the grotesque sounds of approaching zombies, Seonyeong’s whining flickered into his mind.

He hadn’t even been able to say he was sorry…

‘…I’m sorry to Kang-doo too.’

He felt sorry for having pushed his responsibility onto him.

Still, if it was him, he’d take good care of Seonyeong…

Grab-

“Ugh…? Urghh… Ughhh…”

Something grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and slowly dragged him.

Because of it, intense pain from his side choked his breath.

Surely the monster wasn’t still alive?

“Whine~ Whimper- Snort! Snort!”

“……”

A black retriever, which had approached at some point, was biting his clothes and dragging him.

Even though it seemed to be struggling, snorting, it didn’t let go of Park Moojin.

Slowly.

Was it trying to get away from the zombies, even if just a little?

The retriever dragged Park Moojin to one side of the alley.

Eventually, as if it was too tired, the retriever released its jaw and nudged Park Moojin’s face with its paw.

Its slightly droopy eyes gave the impression that it was about to cry.

“…Right… You were here too. …Thank you.”

Park Moojin, who murmured softly, tasted a metallic tang in his mouth.

“Cough-!”

Instead of saliva, a hot liquid slightly welled up in his mouth.

It seemed the monster’s blow had been immense, as his internal organs appeared damaged.

‘No wonder I couldn’t put any strength into it… well, does it matter?’

The zombies were now very close.

Their grotesque sounds had closed the distance considerably.

It was when a deep sense of powerlessness filled his body, replacing the strength that was draining away.

Vrooom-!

Thump-thump-thump-!! Crash-clatter-!

A Starex suddenly plowed through, crudely pushing the zombies aside.

Soon after, the sound of someone roughly opening the car door was heard.

Click-clack-

Bang! Bang! Bang!

As the shotgun roared, the nearby zombies were sent flying.

“Hyung!”

“Ugh…!”

“This old man, seriously! I knew this would happen!”

Choi Kang-doo, thoroughly agitated, opened the back door and lifted the slumped Park Moojin with a heave.

“Cough…”

“Hang in there!”

Choi Kang-doo, practically throwing Park Moojin inside, shouted.

“Woof-woof!”

“Woof!”

As if understanding Choi Kang-doo’s meaning, the retriever struggled to run and followed Park Moojin.

Whether in haste or by habit, the retriever’s thick paw gently pressed against Park Moojin’s abdomen.

“Cough… D-don’t press…”

Sliding-thud!

Choi Kang-doo, who had roughly closed the door in his hurry, quickly made his way to the driver’s seat.

“Get lost-!”

Bang-! Bang-!

He knocked down the zombies that had clung to them up close, then quickly got into the car and gripped the steering wheel.

Whine-whine-whine-

Screech-!

The Starex, making a violent reverse with the sound of grinding tires, shook severely.

“Ugh…”

“Hold on tight!”

He wondered what he was supposed to hold onto, given that he was slumped over and didn’t even have the strength to twitch a finger.

“Hyung! Try to stay conscious!”

“Se-Seonyeong…”

“Seonyeong is right next to you!”

Park Moojin, through his blurring vision, spotted the child neatly lying on the seat.

“Heh… Heh heh…”

“Hyung! Where are we going?! Hyung!!”

“…Ko, Konkuk University…”

“Where? The place you mentioned earlier?!”

“…Uh.”

“Hyung!! This goddamn—!”

Choi Kang-doo chose to step on the accelerator instead of looking back.

There were no medical supplies to treat Park Moojin right now.

Seeing the blood soaking his body, he decided it was better to quickly seek help rather than hesitate here.

Choi Kang-doo didn’t care if the car got scratched or damaged.

He retraced the path they had come, recalling the guided route.

Vrooooom-!

There were no zombies or traffic lights on the road.

Although there were many abandoned cars that were annoying, driving became noticeably easier once they entered a certain area.

Choi Kang-doo didn’t hesitate and pressed the pedal with all his might.

He stepped on it so hard that the car rattled from the scraping.

But thanks to that, the time it took to reach the Konkuk University entrance was significantly reduced.

“Is that it?!”

Screech-!!

Following what clearly looked like a temporary wall, he turned in and saw a large iron gate.

“Stop there! Stop-! State your identity!!”

The sound of a loudspeaker, heard after a long time.

Choi Kang-doo pulled the car right up to the iron gate, got out, and shouted loudly.

“Help me!!!!!!”

“Wait! First, identify yourself—”

“Damn it!! I’m asking you to save someone!”

“Calm down first—”

“Oh, right! Shin Seonghan! Seonghan-ssi sent me! If you say Park Moojin, they’ll know! Hurry! Hurry! Someone’s dying!”

“Se-Seonghan-ssi?”

“Hey, you damn—!! If the kid dies, will you take responsibility?! Please, help me!! Damn it!!!”

Choi Kang-doo, his face beet red, his voice choked with tears, invoked Seonghan-ssi.

This happened the moment Seonghan was contemplating whether or not to break Chairman Kim’s pinky finger.