Hiding a House in the Apocalypse - Chapter 160



Only Krnovel

Episode 160

There is no other form of transportation more familiar to Seoul citizens than the subway, but since the war began, the subway has become even more familiar than before.

During the height of the war, it served as an air-raid shelter, and after the foundation collapsed, it served as an evacuation facility.

The subway, built underground with solid concrete reinforcement bars, is a fortress in itself and a sturdy foundation for living equipped with the necessities for survival.

I heard that before Seoul was abandoned, a significant number of citizens lived in compartments inside the subway.

Maybe that’s why.

Empty-

As the Defender turned on the lights, all the lights inside the subway simultaneously drove away the darkness.

The electricity is still running.

As I walked down the stairs into the subway, the stench and traces of a familiar life assaulted my nose and eyes.

There are boxes, empty mats, discarded blankets, and other things strewn about everywhere, along with other trash of unknown purpose.

Also eye-catching is the PVC board that appears to have been used as a partition, abandoned with footprints on it.

“I got lost here when I was in high school.”

Dajeong looked around with eyes full of emotion.

“I have to transfer, but isn’t it too far? Why on earth was the deal designed like that?”

I want to answer her, but I can’t because I can’t let my guard down in the basement. The basement has always been a den of zombies.

When they are not active, they gather in dark places, especially underground, and remain motionless like a computer in power-saving mode, but become active when humans are detected.

This subway station was once inhabited, but it has been abandoned for over a year.

The story goes that wandering zombies can make a new home here.

I’ve never worked with Awaken before, but it’s definitely handy to have someone with the ability to see through walls and sense people.

“Nothing. Nothing.”

Heo Jong-cheol did not take up a weapon.

I didn’t give you the exact information.

If I wasn’t there, I would have given him a weapon, but there had been some awkward encounters before, so the Defender left him unarmed.

“There are no zombies, no people. It’s just us.”

Before I knew it, I had reached the stairs leading to the platform.

The stairs leading down to the platform were blocked off with tape printed with the words “NO ENTRY” and, eerily, a warning sign indicating a biohazard was attached to the tape.

“What, is this bad?”

Dajeong glared at the warning sign with her arms crossed and her eyes furrowed.

“I don’t even know if they used a biochemical weapon.”

The defender answered, pulling out a knife and skillfully cutting the tape.

“Do you want to go down?”

When he asked while looking at his younger brother, Defender’s younger brother nodded with his arms crossed.

“It has to have a subway to be a painting.”

“The subway. Is there one? What if it’s not here?”

“Then let’s check it out.”

Dajeong took off the bag she was carrying on her back and took out a small drone from inside.

A small drone the size of a fist, operated with a simple controller, rose with a boom and flew down the stairs.

“It’s convenient.”

Looking at that, Da-jeong smiled faintly and answered while moving the controller around while looking at the drone’s view reflected on the glasses-shaped screen.

“Drones are essential. They are essential even in war.”

“The Chinese kids are particularly good at making drones.”

The defender joined the conversation,

“Because they don’t use Awaken.”

Heo Jong-cheol added.

“Why didn’t you use Awaken?”

The defender looked at Heo Jong-cheol and asked.

“There must be a problem.”

Heo Jong-cheol adjusted his glasses and stroked his trademark sideburns.

“According to my connections in China, they say they conducted a vivisection.”

“Against an Awakened opponent? Isn’t that something that happens everywhere?”

“That may be true, but we must have discovered something fatal. Because the Chinese also seriously tried to use Awaken at first. But then they suddenly abandoned the plan.”

“What did you find?”

“A Chinese kid I know said that they found a problem that would affect the survival of the Chinese people. He doesn’t know what it is. It’s just like that.”

It’s a matter of life and death for the Chinese people.

But isn’t it already ruined?

They say there are survivors in Haenam Island, but it’s none of my business.

What concerns me is the Chinese who were west of my territory – beyond Dragon’s bunker.

“Are you still in contact with that Chinese guy?”

I looked at Heo Jong-cheol and asked.

When I asked, Heo Jong-cheol was startled and avoided eye contact.

“Oh, no. I don’t.”

“Speak comfortably. What is it?”

I don’t really want to hear honorifics just because I’m older.

I don’t like that kind of thing, and I feel like it creates a relationship where I have to take a lot of responsibility if the other person uses formal language, so we either use formal language with each other or just speak informally to each other.

I also use informal language with the Defender siblings, but it would be weird if they were the only ones to use formal language, so it would be more comfortable to use informal language.

“They probably hate me too. Because I cheated them.”

Heo Jong-cheol continued speaking awkwardly.

He had been awkwardly staring, but then suddenly he opened his eyes wide as if he remembered something and raised his voice.

“Ah! Child!”

“kid?”

“A guy I know said that if Awaken lets go of a child, there’s a problem.”

“Would you give birth to a deformed child?”

The defender suddenly asked.

“No, that’s not it, but it looks like there’s some serious data.”

There is no way to know what the serious data that Heo Jong-cheol is talking about is, but there is no doubt that the Chinese discovered a fatal flaw in Awaken.

Instead of using Awaken, they chose destruction.

Awakens of level 5 or higher have the ability to temporarily nullify the reflective field.

The story is that with just that one “curtain-neutralizing” ability, it is possible to crush monsters with firepower in local battles.

It is said that even just one level 10 Awaken can easily block low-strength cracks.

Needless to say, anything above level 15 is out of the question.

They will be closer to gods than to humans.

What could be such a fatal flaw that would make one give up such a powerful being?

I still don’t know Chinese and there are no Chinese people who do, but if there are any Chinese people who know the truth, I would like to ask them.

Why didn’t you insist on Awaken?

“There’s nothing wrong! The subway is clean too! I think it was just a bluff?”

While we were talking, Da-jeong’s drone came back.

For some reason, I just discovered that there are a lot of cute stickers on the drone.

“······There was a rumor going around that the subway was prepared to move at any time in case of an emergency. So that high-ranking officials could ride it and escape in case of an emergency.”

Listening to Heo Jong-cheol’s words, we walked towards the platform.

Unlike the waiting room, which was dirty, stinky, and full of unpleasant life, the platform side retained the original appearance of the subway station we saw before the war.

Dust has settled and trash is strewn everywhere, but the hallways are clean enough, with screen doors and signs on the floor to help people line up.

A faded notice on the wall, and a subway waiting for us with its doors open beyond the screen doors.

“Hey! Let’s hit!”

Dajeong ran excitedly.

She was the first to board the subway and lay down on the seat for the elderly.

As I stared blankly, she suddenly got up and spoke with an embarrassed face.

“I really wanted to try it.”

Defender stood in front of the seat, holding the handle, and Heo Jong-cheol lay down in the aisle for some reason and suddenly pretended to crawl.

“What are you doing, Jongcheol?”

When the defender asked, Heo Jong-cheol answered while making a strange musical sound with his mouth.

“The Little Mermaid.”

As expected, this guy is not in his right mind.

By the way, I never imagined that.

For some, the tiresome public transportation they had to take could become a playground filled with more fun than a theme park.

“What are you doing, Skeleton? It’s been a while since you’ve taken the subway, so cheer up.”

Dajeong suggested that I try something.

What should I do?

I have never taken the subway to work, so I don’t have any special memories of it.

I only used it occasionally when I had something to do, like going to a government office or visiting a family grave, but most of the time I used other people’s vehicles or lived in a facility that didn’t require me to commute.

Still, I see one thing that looks okay.

I sat comfortably in the eye-catching pink seat.

Everyone looked at me at once.

“What, Skeleton, isn’t that a maternity seat?”

He looked at them and spoke calmly.

“Is it the pregnant woman who gives birth or the elderly who gives birth?”

It was a funny joke, but everyone turned their heads away.

Da-jeong completely changed the subject.

“Okay, let’s take a picture!”

Each of them sat on the subway seats and posed.

Heo Jong-cheol spoke while holding up the camera.

“Okay, cheetah-”

“?”

“It means cheese.”

I took my stance again and waited for the signal.

“Okay, cheetah-”

Click-

A photo was taken.

Me, Defender, and Defender’s younger brother.

Defender and I had bored expressions, excluding Dajeong, but our eyes were filled with satisfaction.

I looked into the empty subway with a smile on my face.

The subway, once filled with people, is now empty and only shakes slightly as we move.

The loose shaking and rattling noise it gave us will never be heard again.

I see a man with a beard hunched over in the corner.

Heo Jong-cheol is still watching me and Da-jeong.

“Jongcheol, are you taking a picture too?”

I also encouraged him to take pictures.

“Is that okay?”

“I should take a picture while I’m here. When will I come back again?”

So, in our past daily lives, we took a lot of pictures.

Above our heads was an abandoned amusement park, but well.

Can anything give you as much pleasure as this?

The experience of everyday life becoming a fantasy can only be experienced in this subway that preserves the past.

After the feverish excitement had passed, we looked at the pictures we had taken.

There are many pictures.

There are group photos, photos taken with each person’s own concept, and even one photo that feels like a socially critical message, taken by Skeleton at a pregnant woman’s seat.

But there is a major problem with these photos.

“hmm······.”

“What’s wrong? Skeleton, you suddenly look displeased.”

“Everything is good, you know.”

“huh.”

“Isn’t it impactful?”

“That’s true. But does it matter?”

Dajeong smiled brightly.

“As long as we’re having fun, that’s fine.”

As I watched her smile, I felt her smile was contagious.

right.

As long as we’re having fun, that’s fine.

Photo! Apocalypse! Let’s submit photos from the past.

“If that’s the case.”

On the way back, Da-jeong said.

“If the Legionnaire neighborhood doesn’t suit me, can I go to your Skeleton house?”

“what?”

“Since our blood relative is going, I will follow him, but what if it doesn’t work out? What if only people like our Heo Jong-cheol are hanging around?”

“Are you friends of ABC?”

Heo Jong-cheol says something that cannot be understood.

Dajeong continued speaking with a bitter smile.

“Look at me. If there’s someone like that, they should go. But my brother won’t go, right? He has a classmate he likes there.”

“……It’s not that I like you rationally. It’s just that my heart is in sync.”

“Oh my. I saw you fidgeting as soon as that woman contacted you.”

Da-jeong looked at me, leaving the defender behind, who was unusually flustered.

“What do you think about Skeleton?”

“hmm······.”

I looked at the defender.

When our eyes met, he said:

“It’s my brother who decides.”

“Well, if that’s true, then there’s a house left.”

“okay?”

“There is a cabin. It has a sauna.”

“That looks good. Should I just stay here?”

As she whined, Defender turned his head to the back seat and spoke softly.

“You should get a checkup.”

Checkup?

The Defender noticed my question and explained it for me.

“Oh, there’s a good hospital there, so I’m going to get my little brother some tests done.”

“Do you have any bad illness?”

“That’s not it, but if you have the opportunity, wouldn’t it be better to take it? You could also take it if you come to the Legion Faction.”

“Just accept my heart.”

I saw Da-jeong through the rearview mirror.

Our eyes met.

He spoke clearly to her, who was smiling.

“If you think I’ll come, call me.”

“huh!”

I don’t know when she will come back.

There is no promise.

We may never see each other again.

But just leaving the door open that I might come back gives me a sense of peace.

It seems like that’s how they accepted the breakup.

I looked out at the endless snowy field, feeling as if my long, long sleep was finally waking me up.

There’s still a long way to go.

*

MELON_MASK : Alright, then! The last event of the year! Photo! Let’s start the apocalypse! Is everyone ready? Then let’s begin! Send us what you think is the best scene!

A defender is a defender and a skeleton is a skeleton.

Now is the time to focus on the photo exhibition.

To be honest, I am confident about this photo exhibition.

Why?

Because there’s a picture of the spleen.

Mother and daughter Rebecca stare blankly at the giant species scattering and scattering against the dark wilderness.

What is this? There’s nothing to see.

It’s a win.

It’s a free pass.

I submitted the photo confidently, already feeling like a winner.

VIVA_BOT014: No, what is this?!

As expected. Vivabot knows it too.

He answered her with a triumphant smile.

SKELTON: (Skeleton) What’s going on? Haha

VIVA_BOT014: No, the photo is really, really good. It feels like a win.

SKELTON: Heh

VIVA_BOT014: But the exact same photo was submitted.

SKELTON: Yes? What kind of guy is he?

VIVA_BOT014 : mmmmmmmmm.

“Emgoo, this kid?!”

I yelled in a voice that was not like mine.

But like a professor, he quickly calmed down and filled the chat window calmly.

SKELTON: I took this. It’s in a post I made two years ago. Check it out.

VIVA_BOT014: Then why did you do something so resentful?

SKELTON: (Skeleton’s right to remain silent)······.

VIVA_BOT014: Are you two dating?

SKELTON: Yes?

VIVA_BOT014: From the armband to the manipulation, the crimes were so heinous that I tried to block Skeleton from updating.

SKELTON: (Skeleton notice)

VIVA_BOT014: But I thought it would be better to hear the opinion of the person who was blocked rather than me, so I asked the person for his opinion.

Dongtan Mom wanted to block the update, but mmmmmmmmm wanted to unblock it.

“······.”

m9.

What the hell is this kid?

What on earth are your intentions? m9.

Before my surprise could even subside, Melon Mask’s loud voice suddenly burst out loud from the speakers.

MELON_MASK : Wait, I just got a huge photo. It’s better to show you this than to try to describe it in words!

“?”

It’s not often that this conman gets so excited with real tension.

MELON_MASK: The title of the photo is ······Family!

After Melon Mask’s diary rang out, the screen changed.

It was dark outside.

Two men are crouching down, looking at the screen.

One was wearing a suit that was in rags but still had a sophisticated feel.

But that face, that gray-white, twisted visage, is not human.

zombi.

It’s a product.

I looked at the man sitting next to the product in shock.

A skinny man with long, flowing hair, just like Jesus Christ.

He had a brilliant light shining from both his eyes.

That’s right.

My internet friend who disappeared into the city of the dead, I am Jesus

Behind the two, countless zombies were crouching in the same posture, watching the screen against the backdrop of a ruined city.

“······this.”

The unexpected happened.

The savior of zombies, no, the king of zombies, I.M.Jesus, has made a splendid comeback on the bulletin board, fully demonstrating his abilities.

This is a grand festival called Photo Apocalypse, watched by users all over the world.

MELON_MASK : I can’t believe it even though I saw it with my own eyes! How did you do it? I am Jesus!

At Melon Mask’s question, the screen changed to a video call with I.M.Jesus.

IamJesus looked at the screen with glowing eyes and said a word while leading hundreds of zombies.

“Member, member!”

Those were I AM JESUS’ first and last words.

MELON_MASK : I am Jesus wins!

“······.”

admit.

End

ⓒ Road Warrior #dp8g