Hiding a House in the Apocalypse - Chapter 252



Only Krnovel

104. Beyond the Fog (2)

Unicorn: If that’s the case.

Unicorn: You had a knife.

Unicorn: It’s a magic sword that cuts anything. People praised me for having that sword, looked up to me, and made me a hero. I did anything. I made anything. I could enjoy anything I wanted.

Unicorn: By the way.

Unicorn: What if that sword breaks?

Unicorn: No, what should I do if it looks like it’s going to break at any moment?

The possibility that Awaken could lose its powers has never been reported before.

At least this didn’t happen while I was in office.

However, the unicorn stated that it seemed like its powers would disappear.

I had nothing to say about that.

It’s an area I don’t know and there’s nothing I can do about it.

One thing is certain.

Unicorn: If that sword breaks, I could lose everything. In fact, I’m still anxious. There are people who are suspicious. It was the same when I appeared before the National Assembly. To be honest, I think it’s a little dangerous.

It’s not just the luxury of living that she’s losing.

A being that falls from a high place tends to suffer greater damage than one that falls from a low place.

Those without wings enjoy poking and taunting winged people with sticks when they fall.

It is a feeling that comes from envy of those who have what they do not have.

She has wings and is afraid of falling to the ground.

He no longer wants to show that his wings can no longer fly in the sky.

That’s why the savior Na Hye-in is locked up in the house.

I can understand her feelings of not being able to imagine, or even imagine, any other life than that of a savior.

I was also at the top and got pointed at the most.

The reason I am still in this execution ground called Outpost is probably because of the fame my past brought me.

Na Hye-in probably knows better than I do about the physiology of this gray island ruled by wild dogs.

So maybe that’s why I was worried about the fall further.

“······.”

I had to take a moment to think about what to say in response to her sudden confession.

The scene of taking “notes” still remains in one corner of my monitor.

– I feel resentful because you don’t leave comments

– Repeatedly calling me a gamer (14 times)

– I find it disgusting that the black guy is doing cute things.

So, even if the gap between the situations is severe, it is too severe.

I quietly closed the note window and reminisced about the past.

There was no special answer in the past.

The contact between me and her was really only a moment.

Ultimately, the answer comes down to a boring reality.

SKELTON: Keep that sword safe.

If it’s that difficult for her, she won’t ask for help.

Unicorn: Skeleton. Then you said you could die? That Seungsu Park would kill you.

SKELTON: Don’t worry.

I decided to get out alive.

and.

SKELTON: I have an axe too.

Unicorn: Skeleton······.

SKELTON: If that doesn’t work out, I’ll have to go down the mountain alone. So don’t worry. I’m a survivor even in hell.

He survived alone for a month with broken limbs beyond the cracks, without any help from anyone.

Compared to then, now I have all my limbs intact and I have a weapon.

Unicorn: My acquaintance will come out of the crack soon. Just hold on until then. Once that person comes out, someone like Seungsoo Park will be crushed in a corner.

SKELTON: I hope he comes out soon.

That would be best.

But I won’t bet everything on the possibility that it will happen regardless of me.

Unicorn: But skeleton.

SKELTON: What’s going on?

Unicorn: It’s okay to relieve stress online, but shouldn’t you do it in moderation?

SKELTON: ?

Unicorn: What should I say? I think my stress level is reaching its peak. It was a bit strange to begin with, but now it’s a bit······

SKELTON: ??

Unicorn: I think it might have been better back in the days when I was uploading beatboxing.

SKELTON: I’m busy right now. Let’s talk next time.

I didn’t want to see the internet training of unicorns, but I heard a sound outside.

The sound of something like a truck moving in the distance.

He came out of the outpost with his gun in hand and surveyed the entire observable area.

The sound of the truck’s engine was heard from afar and disappeared in the distance.

The sound didn’t seem to come any closer.

Still, a thick fog like the entrance to hell hangs thickly down the slope.

As I walked through the fog, I thought about unicorns for a moment.

“······.”

Does it mean that Awaken can lose its powers?

As someone who wasn’t Awakened, I’ll probably never understand what that means.

While patrolling the perimeter, laying wire and diligently digging traps, we also identified descent routes for escape in case of an emergency.

Nothing happened around the outpost that day.

*

-Notification! Game installation is complete!

It’s been quite a while since I installed a game called Red Archive.

However, I was more interested in the bulletin boards where people play the game than in the game itself, so even though I became the Red Archive bulletin board name, I never ran Red Archive even once.

I took a quick look around in the morning when I had some time to spare.

“······.”

It’s not a game.

It feels more like a chunk of code than a game.

It’s not my style at all, but I forced myself to complete the tutorial.

It was a painful experience, but it achieved the desired results.

Just take a screenshot.

This is to show that this Park Gyu, or rather Skeleton, is a user who plays the game properly and not a “game nerd.”

Knock knock

SKELTON: I finished the newbie tutorial ٩( °ꇴ °)۶

I put a lot of effort into assembling the text emoticons, attached screenshots that I took myself, and also promoted the next content, “New User Gacha.”

There were several comments.

You have to “reply” to each comment with a cute emoticon.

It’s a comment exchange.

To a third party, this may seem like a bizarre act, but at least those who share comments can feel a certain level of mental connection.

Recently, my follower “Quantum Bomb” also started commenting.

Quantum Bomb: Kelton finally gave me an emoticon!!!!!!

“······.”

Click

SKELTON: (cute girl blushing emoticon)

Quantum Bomb: Kiaaaaaaaahh …

The reason I’ve accepted strange things like quantum bombs is because there are more and more users who have negative feelings towards me.

-Fight antis as fandom.

This phrase was coined by Philkrum, who is still actively working on the intranet.

This is what a rival writer, who is probably modeled after Pilkrum himself, said to the unpopular protagonist, who is probably modeled after Mr. Dragon, in a webtoon series he is currently serializing on the intranet called “Only the Road to Serialization.”

If the criticism gets stronger, I can also respond with a Red Guard weapon like the Yangjahambok.

In addition to the quantum bomb, I also have many comment-sharing friends like “Saro-chan”, “Coolball”, and “Monta”.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to grow your fandom this way, build up your Skeleton Family, and establish a solid territory on this board.

Yeah, that wouldn’t be bad.

Bang! Ta-tang!

In a situation where everything is unstable like now, it is human nature to want to leave something behind.

He came out with a gun.

It’s not clear because the distance is far, but it’s the sound of gunfire from a rifle used by the military.

The distance seems to be 5km, but the problem is the direction.

It comes from the south.

The reason this is a problem is because the base I need to return to is in the south.

The gunfire stopped a moment later and was never heard again.

I thought it was a serious problem, but the real problem was bursting out somewhere else.

*

The supply vehicle didn’t come.

I informed him of this fact over the phone.

But the moment I picked up the phone, I realized the whole situation.

The phone line is disconnected.

To make matters worse, even communication via the antenna was cut off.

It’s intentional.

Someone had cut all the wires connecting the outpost with a single stroke of a sword.

The only means of communication I have right now is Viva! Apocalypse!

But I won’t contact the unicorn.

I know the worries and pain she is carrying.

You can’t control your anxiety, but since there’s no solution, you turn to the Internet.

Of course, I have already thought about it.

It is about abandoning the outpost and returning on your own.

After living in Jeju Island for about a month, I realized that although Jeju Island is a controlled society, it is not in such a bad state that one or two people can wield power at will.

Park Seung-soo’s power will probably only extend to the area surrounding my outpost, not the world surrounded by walls.

Clank-

I took my gun, some bullets, some food and water and left the outpost.

Since I had already planned it out in my head several times, preparations were made quickly and my steps were smooth.

The distance from the outpost to the nearest wall is about 28 km.

Although it is a mountainous area, it is not a difficult path.

Most of the route is a circuitous route with a slight incline, and even that can be resolved by walking downhill.

Steep slopes that leave you breathless or rock climbing that requires you to worry about your personal safety are not part of my itinerary.

It was evening.

I followed the dirt road as the night fog slowly rose.

A red light flashed ahead.

The moment when you instinctively lie down.

Bang! Bang! Tata ta tata tang!

A gunshot rings out.

“Don’t shoot. They’re friendly!”

He screamed as he lay down and looked for cover.

There is no answer.

“······.”

I felt like he wasn’t human.

There is no movement or breathing.

My guess was soon confirmed by the mechanical sound that echoed through the fog.

Wheeing— bang!

I observed the front with a multipurpose night vision goggle.

Sentry gun.

It is a fully automatic fixed turret.

Looking through the fog, I saw red sensors blinking, indicating that there were at least five sentry guns positioned along the path.

Ironically, the sentry gun is located on the road.

To avoid it, you have to take a detour, but the terrain isn’t very good for detours.

Below is a rare rocky area with a steep slope.

But if you go up, you will have to go around too much and you might miss the road.

It’s not easy to judge direction in this foggy situation, and I don’t know much about this mountainous area.

The reason I want to return to the main camp is because I believe that if I follow the road, I will reach the main camp.

You have to be on the road to catch the faint clue that it’s a dirt road that’s not even clearly marked.

If I trust only my own feelings and stray from the path and get lost, the results will be fatal.

Our hunters are not soldiers.

We were always at the base and always returned to the base after the battle was over.

Also, Hallasan Mountain is not an easy terrain to overcome even with a little bit of knowledge.

Knock knock-

Raindrops fall to make matters worse.

I quickly put on my poncho and thought for a moment.

“······.”

Unfortunately, I think I have to go back today.

Even if you escape, you must do it while the sun is up.

I returned to the outpost, leaving the sentry gun emitting red light behind.

Ring ring ring ring–

As we approach the outpost, we hear a loud noise mixed with the raindrops.

It’s a phone call.

Is the connection reestablished?

I approached cautiously and checked for safety before entering the outpost, as the enemy might have taken over while I was away.

“Yes. This is Outpost 328.”

I got a phone call.

But the moment I picked up the phone, the call was disconnected.

I tried calling again but there was no ringtone.

It was five minutes later that the crude mechanical phone rang again.

“Yes. This is Outpost 328.”

“Mr. Park Gyu.”

A voice in memory.

No, it’s probably the most important voice right now.

This is Park Seung-soo.

“······What’s going on?”

“Oh, I’m so sorry. The whole area was cordoned off because of the last eruption. It was a huge eruption, so a lot of water came out. I think a few of them will go there too.”

“I’m not receiving food.”

He said coldly.

“Food? Oh, there’s nothing we can do about it. The surrounding area is completely under control.”

“Is that sentry gun your work too?”

“Sentry gun? What does that mean? I’ve never heard of it before.”

“······Did you want to kill me like that?”

Ruining a conversation isn’t a very good conversation skill.

But there’s no need to be polite to a guy who’s so blatant about colluding.

Fortunately, Seungsu Park was also ready to talk to me.

Laughter came over the phone.

“You should have died when people killed you with their own hands.”

I took out my phone and turned on the recording function.

“What did you just say?”

“Why are you pretending not to know after hearing all this? Did you kill my disciples and expect them to be safe?”

“Disciple? Are you talking about the low-level Awaken who tried to kill me?”

“They were valuable personnel who laid the foundation after landing on the mainland.”

Park Seung-su spoke in a voice that was gradually becoming more agitated.

Of course, that voice was also clearly recorded on the recorder.

“Those murderers? Did those guys kill Kim Byeong-gwon, Cho Geun-hyu, Choi Jeong-min, and one other person who were assigned to the 328th Outpost? Mr. Park Seung-su, a member of the National Assembly?”

“what.”

Park Seung-su chuckled.

“Should I turn on the recorder?”

“······.”

“What’s the point of turning back? You won’t be able to come down. Let’s ask the truth. Do we need old guys in this world? In fact, old people have ruined this country too.”

“Your parents counted that too, right?”

“A few special, real adults are the exception.”

“A special adult?”

I held back a laugh.

“Are you saying that you are one of those special adults?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

Park Seung-su answered with a big laugh.

After laughing for a while, he soon lowered his voice and spoke in a gloomy tone.

“······Professor.”

Sure enough, these guys know me exactly.

Still with strong hostility.

“I thought it was so funny. I thought it was a toothless tiger, but even though it was rotten, it was still a good tooth and it wiped out the Alpha Team.”

“How dare you remember my call sign? I don’t even remember giving it to you.”

“You are a relic of a failed old era.”

“It’s a relic of an old era······.”

“This world must be led by the Awaken, the evolved human race. You have no sense of shame, but your very existence is a kind of negation of us, the Awaken.”

“Why do you think so?”

“The problem is that you, a mere human, are hunting monsters lightly. You haven’t received even a single bit of grace from God. Don’t you think that in itself is an insult to order?”

“Recording complete.”

I turned off the recording function.

I think this will be enough.

“The intranet there is blocked anyway. You can’t even make phone calls. So what are you going to do? You don’t believe you can get down alive, do you? That’s impossible.”

To this I answered lightly.

“Our hunters are those who challenge the impossible.”

I am looking at a single sentence that appears on the monitor, reciting the exact phrase that Jang Gi-yeong told us.