Hiding a House in the Apocalypse - Chapter 245



Only Krnovel

103. Struggle (1)

The 328th outpost is built on a ridge overlooking the northeast at 1,200m above sea level on Mt. Halla, and appears to be located on a gently sloping hill.

The outpost was octagonal in shape and looked more like an observation tower than a military outpost. The large glass windows on all sides were also spacious like an observation tower.

The main equipment inside the outpost is a searchlight installed on the rooftop and a night-time infrared surveillance device placed inside the outpost. However, the searchlight has been sealed long ago due to insufficient power supply, and the night-time surveillance device has not been able to turn on properly due to battery problems.

The outpost was originally built to accommodate four people.

So there is one spacious office that can accommodate four people, a kitchen that uses an inverter, and sanitary facilities.

Because the water supply depended entirely on rainwater, instead of shower facilities, there were bathtubs to collect water and cleaning capsules to clean the rainwater.

Fortunately, there was a device to heat the bathtub at night, so it was possible to wash in somewhat lukewarm water even in the middle of winter.

The most important power sector, although connected to power lines, was unstable and most had no choice but to rely on solar panels installed on rooftops.

Communication equipment included a cumbersome rotary dial telephone and a computer, and as an auxiliary device there was a cell phone.

The main means of communication was, for some reason, a computer with a pre-war PC room sticker on it, and the main work reports and requests were made through the installed work program.

Although the signal is weak, it is possible because the radio waves can reach. As auxiliary means of communication, there were cell phones and landlines, and according to the manual, landlines are more reliable.

Because the overall condition of the outpost was poor, it was impossible to find any annoying equipment like surveillance cameras.

Outside the outpost there were several graves.

Most of them did not have gravestones, and were simply basalt stones that could be found in the surrounding area.

A dried flower bud was rustling and shaking on a stone placed in front of the grave.

This is a rough outline of Outpost 328, where I will be living for the time being.

Although it is not a place fit for human habitation, the reason why this outpost is more attractive than any other place in Jeju Island is because it houses Melon Mask’s satellite equipment.

But I have to use it carefully.

Because there may be a backdoor or eavesdropping program installed on the computer itself that I don’t know about.

That’s why I hesitate even after discovering the escape route called Viva! Apocalypse!

“······.”

And the air around here.

I can’t say it’s good.

Even within the outpost, a faint smell of blood lingers.

A roughly erased bloodstain can be seen on the window across from me.

Judging by the shape of the bloodstains, it appears that one of his predecessors sat down on the spot, put the gun in his mouth, and pulled the trigger.

Beep-

I looked through my work log on the reporting computer.

There were four predecessors, and they were still alive and staying here just a month ago.

They served here for exactly two weeks.

There is no record after that.

Considering that there is no record of a handover of duties, moving up or down the outpost, or even of being attacked, could it be that they were swept away in a surprise attack?

Judging from the absence of recently built tombs, it is presumed that they were all killed in action.

So three people died and the remaining one committed suicide here.

“······.”

It is definitely an extremely dangerous place.

The only weapons I currently have are a K2 rifle, 120 rounds of ammunition, and two axes that are like my clones.

The identity of the unknown enemy that attacked the outpost is unknown, but judging by the fact that they were able to easily wipe out four armed soldiers, they are not an ordinary enemy.

Viva! Apocalypse! is important, but the point is that securing immediate safety is more important.

Of course, I don’t miss out on anything important.

Knock knock

Anonymous144: ???

I wrote an article pretending to be ignorant for the purpose of a wiretapping test.

We plan to gradually increase the intensity in this way and test the level of eavesdropping.

This is the best I can do.

It’s better than doing nothing.

At least I won’t use any deadly words that could provoke wiretapping agencies like Kang Han-min or Na Hye-in.

Clank-

After throwing out the bait, he patrolled the area with a gun.

It’s foggy.

The vegetation zone itself was tall enough for plants and trees to survive, but all that was visible around it were low-growing grasses and shrubs.

Although it is called a lookout post, the visibility is poor and the area below the mountain is not clearly visible.

The patrol range has been expanded.

What I mainly look at is the floor.

The shape of the footprint can be used to infer the size and type of mutation.

I walked quite a distance, but there was no particular achievement.

It is a smooth and peaceful round-trip journey.

But I had an eerie feeling that something was watching me.

“······.”

There is no need to be shaken.

The beings in my nightmares were always human.

If the opponent is a monster or mutation, this is actually desirable.

I walked leisurely, waiting for something to appear out of the fog and stare at me, but nothing happened.

After tidying up my surroundings, I sat down in front of the computer.

Knock knock

Anonymous144: What is this place? Are they all people?

This time, I tried to type a properly completed sentence.

After typing the sentence, I sat there blankly for a while.

What you’re waiting for is a landline phone.

If they find anything on the wiretapping side, they will call me.

I waited for about 30 minutes.

Nothing happened.

Started cleaning.

It’s called a sweep, but in reality it’s a job of wiretapping or finding hidden cameras.

No surveillance cameras were found.

That fact gave me courage I never had before.

I looked at the computer.

There is a LAN cable socket on the back.

The structure had an expansion socket plugged into the main socket, and each expansion socket could plug in three cables.

There are two LAN cables plugged in.

One is for the satellite equipment and the other is for the overhead communications antenna installed on the roof beyond the ceiling.

“······.”

The extremely drunk face of my mentor, Jang Gi-yeong, flashed before my eyes.

“I was a star when I was little.”

I think it was in front of a PC room.

On the way back from the dinner after the 13th class graduation ceremony, he suddenly told a story about his bravery that no one had asked about.

“······If it seemed like I was going to lose, I would have touched the LAN cable.”

I still don’t understand what Jang Ki-young was trying to tell us with that anecdote, but at least his drunkenness inspired me.

Phew!

I unplugged the LAN cable.

Let’s see the reaction.

Ring ring ring-

The phone call came soon.

A very loud mechanical bell sound.

I answered the phone calmly.

“Yes. This is Outpost 382. Communication Security.”

“Yes? Isn’t this Outpost 328?”

“Oh, I was a little confused. I feel dizzy, maybe because of altitude sickness.”

“This is the outpost control center. The internet connection seems to have suddenly been disconnected. Could you please check it? The communication sensitivity seems to be fine.”

“It’s really windy here right now. There’s a lot of fog too.”

“Could you please check the status of your computer’s Internet connection now?”

“I’ll check. But I’m not very good with computers. I’ve barely used the internet in my life.”

“You probably know how to plug in and unplug a LAN cable, right?”

“What is a LAN cable?”

“Oh, just a moment. I’ll talk to you later.”

The unnamed woman hung up the phone, looking annoyed.

Looks like something was installed.

But as it stands now, my records will never be transferred there.

Besides, even if the LAN cable is unplugged, I have another LAN cable.

It’s Viva! Apocalypse!

I sent a message right away.

Anonymous144: (Real Skeleton) It’s me, Skeleton! I need help right now! Please reply as soon as you see it!

I texted Valentine.

The only person who can give me computer-related advice, even though I’m not very good at computers, is Valentine.

After a while.

Message from Ballantine: Huh? Mr. Skeleton?

A reply came from Valentine.

I feel my heart pounding.

Message from Ballantine: Are you the real Skeleton?

Anonymous144: (True Skeleton) Yes! It’s a real skeleton!

Message from Ballantine: Why did you suddenly change your nickname······?

Anonymous144: Oh, I’m somewhere else right now. I’m logged in through a different machine. It’s a crisis situation, you know.

I couldn’t bring myself to say that I was in Jeju Island.

Although Jeju Island has lost its former status, it still retains a fragment of paradise in the hearts of those who remain.

Anonymous 144: (Skeleton situation explanation) There is a surveillance program installed on my computer. I have unplugged the LAN cable and it is okay now, but because of this, I cannot freely use the Internet. If I say something wrong, it will immediately put me at a disadvantage.

Message from Ballantine: There’s a place like that in the world now······. Did you go to the Legion?

Anonymous144: I’ll explain the situation later… How can I solve it? In the worst case, I might have to smash my computer.

Message from Ballantine: Well, let’s try remote control then?

Valentine sent me a file.

I received it immediately and installed the file.

Message from Ballantine: Okay, let’s take a look. Don’t touch the mouse or keyboard.

The mouse cursor on the monitor started moving on its own and started looking around here and there inside the computer.

“······.”

From here on out, it’s Valentine’s Day time.

He looked out the windows on all sides, gun in hand, hoping that he would succeed.

A landscape still shrouded in thick fog.

The sky had already turned a fairly dark color.

Night comes quickly in the mountains.

Soon all directions will be plunged into darkness.

I checked the monitor again to make sure there were no threats around.

Message from Ballantine: Skeleton, I have eliminated the cause of the problem.

Anonymous144: Really?

Message from Ballantine: It turns out there was a basic keyboard hack installed. It’s a program that sends the contents you type on the keyboard without permission. It was easy to hack because the encryption wasn’t done properly and the security was terrible. I did a quick fix and added an ON/OFF function to the desktop. If there’s no record in the log window, it’s suspicious, so you should only press ON when you’re doing something stupid.

As I read the Valentine’s message, I felt my heart fill up without me knowing it.

“······.”

Is this the love between people?

It’s true that I helped him, but I didn’t think it would help him this much.

Message from Ballantine: By the way, how are you doing these days? It’s starting to get hellish here. It’s worse than before Seoul was destroyed. If you have time, could you help me out?

Anonymous 144: Of course. But it seems a bit difficult right now. As you know, I’m in a semi-detention state······.

Message from Ballantine: It’s okay. I’m also a bit of a nerd when it comes to surviving. I just want to move. I have no shame, but Skeleton is strong and trustworthy, so I’m going to try to be around him.

Anonymous144: If you’re Valentine, you’re always welcome.

I was a little surprised myself as I pressed the Enter key.

It’s so easy for this Park Gyu to say he’ll share my territory.

Have I changed?

Or maybe the world changed me.

Either way is fine.

I have work to do now.

Knock knock

Anonymous144: I am Skeleton.

Sent a message to the unicorn.

Message from unicorn18: Skeleton? No, more importantly, what’s that nickname?!

Anonymous144: Do you know that nickname?

Message from unicorn18: These are the nicknames of the satellite equipment that was introduced for demonstration purposes. 144, 244, 344, 444, etc. A total of 9 units were introduced, and all nicknames were anonymous followed by the number 44.

Message from unicorn18: Wait, that’s what you’re talking about······ Skeleton. Are you in Jeju?

Anonymous144: Yeah.

Message from unicorn18: Where are you? Where are you? Did you go to Zone 1? Oh, even there, satellite equipment is probably banned now. How did you get here? Did you make a deal?

I quietly typed on my keyboard as I read the unicorn’s message.

Anonymous 144: I heard a story from a woman who said she didn’t go out of the house.

There was silence for a while after those words were said.

The unicorn said nothing.

After three long minutes, she broke the silence.

Message from unicorn18:

Message from unicorn18:

Message from unicorn18:

Is this going to cause some trouble?

I looked at the blank space with a complicated feeling and said to her.

Anonymous144: Anyway, I’m not in a good situation right now.

Message from unicorn18: How can it be bad?!

Anonymous 144: I am alone at the forward base at the foot of Mt. Halla.

Message from unicorn18: Forward base?!

Message from unicorn18: Why? Why did you go to such a place? You did a great job. You found the data that China was looking for. But why······?

Anonymous144: I don’t want to know that. I don’t need to know that. What matters is that I’m alone in the most dangerous place among the forward bases.

Message from unicorn18: The most dangerous forward base?

Message from unicorn18: 328?

“······.”

My guess was correct.

It seems like the place I am at is a famous place in Jeju.

So, it is a place of death.

Message from unicorn18: That’s where the Manhunter is…

Anonymous144: Is it a monster? A mutation?

Message from unicorn18: Still the same. You······.

Anonymous144: (Skeleton bewildered) ?

Message from unicorn18: Nothing has been revealed yet. Whether it’s a mutation or a monster. But a lot of people have disappeared there in the past two years.

Message from unicorn18: Anyway, get out of there. You’ll die if you stay there! The average survival time is less than a month!

Anonymous144: I thought so, so I contacted you.

I smiled without realizing it.

Anonymous144: Help me out.

Message from unicorn18: That, that······. I’ll ask someone I know for help. But it might take some time. I’m sorry I couldn’t live up to your expectations······. ㅠ

Anonymous144: Is it hard to go outside?

Message from unicorn18: ?!

Anonymous144: I’ll hold on as long as I can.

Outside the window was plunged into complete darkness.

I stared into the darkness and typed on the keyboard.

Anonymous144: So you do your best too.

He quietly stroked the axe.

It’s a cliche, but life is a series of struggles.

I knew there was no escape from that fate.

okay.

All of this is the punishment that those who escape from fate must endure.

The stain of nightmare was completely wiped away by a reality more terrifying than the nightmare.

“······.”

So for now, let’s just focus on surviving.