Hiding a House in the Apocalypse - Chapter 253



Only Krnovel

104. Beyond the Fog (3)

It’s been a long time since I’ve visited our bulletin board.

I had come here occasionally before, but I never looked at the bulletin board or looked for popular posts.

I just wrote it for “business” reasons, like finding Valentine’s Day or a unicorn.

The bulletin board I returned to after a long time didn’t look much different from before.

The friends I always see are writing the same things they always write.

At one time I was tired of this familiarity, but coming back from another world, it feels like coming home.

I would love to lie in bed, connect the screen to my tablet, leisurely scroll through the pages, savoring each page as I read, but I don’t have much time left.

I need to send a message to the unicorn.

It would be a bit irritating to keep asking for her help, but with solid evidence like this now, she would be able to move without too much burden.

Of course, thinking that way doesn’t erase the debt I have in my heart.

If there was another way, I would have done it another way.

Knock knock

SKELTON: I’m really sorry, but I have evidence on Seungsu Park. I’ll attach the data, so can you move with this?

The message has already been completed.

Once all the data is organized, we will send you Park Seung-soo’s voice recording along with the message.

“Phew.”

I was checking the transmission status on my phone while letting out a shallow sigh.

There are certain words that stand out on the bulletin board that are repeated unusually frequently.

Anonymous1392: Today, right? What did Dongtan Mom show you?

roka_GG: They said to expect something big from the live.

Rkkara: Isn’t that cam action again? Now it’s biting

Anonymous 424: Let’s believe it, isn’t that our Dongtan Mom?

Dies_irae69: Dongtan Mom is a great fighter. I rate him highly.

Anonymous458: Who the hell would have thought Dongtan Mom would outlive the PaleNet babies.

…

…

The keywords are “live” and “Dongtan Mom.”

Two seemingly unrelated words brought back to me a message board festival I had long forgotten.

“······.”

No, that’s not all I really forgot.

A gathering of survivors who discuss the topic of survival beyond national borders and races in this dying world.

That’s the essence of our bulletin board.

I looked at the small Live! Apocalypse! window that appeared at the top of the screen.

[ 1 hour left until live! ]

The moment I saw it, I was reminded of our bulletin board, which I had briefly left behind, welcoming the return of the prodigal son with open arms.

VIVA_BOT014: Yes? You want to participate in Live! Apocalypse!?

VIVA_BOT014: Did you read the rules? You have to apply and be reviewed at least 12 hours before the live starts, right?

Still, our Vivabot is prickly.

But he is the one who will spread my voice to the world.

I tapped on the keyboard, feeling longing even in that roughness.

Knock knock

Anonymous144: Hi, I’m Skeleton.

VIVA_BOT014 : Skeleton? Could it be that weird skeleton?

Anonymous144: He’s not a weirdo. He’s a real skeleton.

VIVA_BOT014: The account information is different and the GPS location is completely different?

Anonymous144: (Skeleton) I don’t have time to explain the situation, but I’m in Jeju Island right now and about to fight.

VIVA_BOT014 : Battle?

Anonymous144: Yes.

I held up my phone, which was as hot as charcoal from transmitting data, and showed myself to the camera.

VIVA_BOT014 : Huh?

There is silence on the other side.

After a while, Vivabot continued speaking.

VIVA_BOT014: Are you really Mr. Skeleton? It’s a bit dark, maybe because the camera’s lifespan is over or the model is not good, but are you really Mr. Skeleton?

Anonymous144: Yes. And.

Boom! Kukookung!

The sound of thunder echoed across the mountain.

Immediately after, as if waiting, raindrops began to pour down, hitting the rooftop and windows of the outpost like bullets.

In the pouring rain, the fog hanging like a dark cloud beneath one’s feet is growing stronger.

He felt the time had come and stared into the camera, speaking clearly.

“This may be my last fight.”

Vivabot is a prickly woman, but she is smart and knows what is truly important.

VIVA_BOT014: What’s going on? Please explain briefly.

I gave her a brief and accurate report of what had happened in Jeju Island.

The sentences that I trained myself to report only the facts briefly, even though my sensitivity is at rock bottom, were useful in this situation.

VIVA_BOT014: Something like that was happening in Jeju Island?

Vivabot’s reaction is shock.

VIVA_BOT014: Jeju Island is known as a paradise in the US. They sent us a lot of information. They showed us how well we live and how well we deal with crises. Some of the upper class even tried to go to Jeju Island. But who in the world would have thought that something like this was happening behind the scenes.

Anonymous144: I will send you the data now.

VIVA_BOT014: You mean the recording file sent by that person who is said to be a high-ranking official in Jeju Island?

Anonymous144: Yes.

VIVA_BOT014: I don’t think it’s right to broadcast that during a live broadcast. I feel bad for Skeleton, but it doesn’t fit with the purpose of the live broadcast. Even if it’s released, I think it would be better to release it in a different format later.

VIVA_BOT014 : But······.

VIVA_BOT014: Do you think this accusation will interest people? I know Skeleton’s past, so I know how important this is, but other people are honestly more excited about Dongtan Mom or Fox Game, right?

Anonymous144: Is that so?

VIVA_BOT014: Put your hand on your heart and think about it.

“Hmm.”

To be honest, this is a statement that I don’t understand.

This Park Gyu is falling behind Dongtan Mom and Fox Game in terms of topicality.

VIVA_BOT014: Even mmmmmmmmm is losing.

“······.”

That tidy guy.

My evaluation.

If so, that’s good.

Knock knock

I hit the keyboard with a little more force than usual.

Anonymous144: Then let me create a topic for you.

VIVA_BOT014 : ?

Anonymous144: I’ll show you how this skeleton fights at the end.

VIVA_BOT014: I guess it’s right to say that I wish you good luck, but since I’m also a live person, I have one question. When does it start?

Anonymous144: I’ll give you an autograph.

The conversation was left as is.

Anyway, it’s a Live! Apocalypse! application-only chat room, so closing it won’t make any sense.

The important thing is preparation.

I put on my poncho and went up to the rooftop.

There is nothing particularly visible.

The darkness of the night, the thick fog, and the pouring rain turned the already dizzying sight into a total darkness.

I never stayed in one place for too long because there might be snipers, and I always used cover.

I went down to the outpost, shook off the rain, and checked the loot I had acquired earlier.

We got a lot of loot from the last raid.

Reinforced riot shield, machete, four pistols, three domestically produced rifles, one shotgun, etc.

Squeak squeak–

I used the loot to build a simple booby trap.

A wire was hung on a door whose latch had been broken and lost its locking function, and it was connected to the trigger of a shotgun.

It’s a hastily made thing, so pulling the wire is unlikely to kill an intruder with a shotgun, but it’s there to let them know that the door is open.

If you were to have a fierce battle on the rooftop and someone were to come up from inside through the rain, you would be in quite a difficult situation.

In addition to the shotgun, a few gimmicks were added to the searchlight.

It’s a simple object made of wire and a spring, but it can be your own magic when the time comes.

Kukukukung!!

Thunder rumbles overhead.

It was such a loud noise that it felt like the entire outpost was shaking.

Although the climate is quite harsh, it does have its advantages.

A flash of lightning accompanied by thunder illuminates the dark clock for a moment.

Still no sign of it.

I had my last meal.

Two chocolate bars and some water.

It’s not very wise to eat a big meal before a battle.

If you are shot in the abdomen when your stomach is full of food, you will die instantly.

I swallowed the caffeine capsules I always carry with me without water.

Kukookung!

Time passes slowly.

I don’t know what Park Seung-su is up to.

Are you planning to mobilize a large number of troops?

I don’t know if he has that authority.

People called members of the National Assembly are different from the people who stick their feet out here and there and raise their voices like members of the National Assembly.

The word “committee” is an abbreviation, and the name of the part that the committee member is in charge of is always placed in front of the name.

Even Kim Da-ram’s official title is “Old Hunter Director”.

Her role was to manage and supervise the old school hunters.

Although the role and status of the National Assembly member may have changed a lot since then, the overall framework has not changed.

Considering the situation and the story so far, isn’t Park Seung-soo’s role similar to Kim Da-ram’s, a “low-level away director”?

Although the abilities of low-level Awakens are very tricky, their combat power is not that strong, as shown in the last battle.

After killing a few of the best, the rest were little more than sheep for the slaughter.

Well, we’ll have to wait and see if they show up to find out more.

After making final preparations and waiting for the coming battle, I sat down in front of my computer.

The screen on the monitor showed a gray city.

It’s a disaster.

As expected, a small window appears in the corner of the screen where you can see Melon Mask’s real-time reactions.

Melon Mask said.

“Dongtan Mom! What on earth are you preparing now? Surely it’s not the parkour action you always show us? If it’s the same content as before, it’s cut right away! Do you know what I mean?”

Below the sentences being translated by the real-time translation function, numerous users’ chats are being uploaded in real time.

The screen showed the vast deck of a very large ship as seen from the bridge, with numbers floating in the center of the screen that seemed to indicate a countdown.

The number was decreasing by 1 second in real time, converging to 0 at 04:21.

What are you trying to do?

A low growl of a stomach could be heard coming from the speakers, which had been turned down.

I looked at the chat window.

gordonfreiman: What’s this time? Do you have more to show there? Dongtan Mom.

mmmmmmmmm: The next live is m9’s The Hope maintenance operation!

X’Ds_Grrrrr: What are you trying to do? You’re not going to do the same thing again, are you?

Anonymous666: Dongtan Mom is a great showman. I trust him.

mmmmmmmmm: The next live is m9’s The Hope maintenance operation!

Zebusika: No, Dongtan Mom has fallen into mannerism.

Rupert_Gauser: I don’t feel good.

Al_nasru_Alipasha: When I see that gray, it reminds me of my hometown. Just looking at it makes me feel sick.

mmmmmmmmm: The next live is m9’s The Hope maintenance operation!

…

…

…

…

There is no particular reaction that I am expecting.

By the way, that M9 is really tough.

Even the painting that he never did before is being done in a chat room that everyone in the world can see.

With hundreds of posts being uploaded per minute, are you using a macro to send the same message at that frequency?

No, it feels like a handcuff.

As expected, Melon Mask warned.

“M9. I know you’re excited to show us a new show, but this is Dongtan Mom’s show. So keep quiet!”

Melon Mask turned the camera around to show the Murder Mutation munching on grass next to him.

I think it’s meant as a warning.

That’s because at the end he showed off those hideous sloth claws.

“It starts now.”

A familiar voice was heard through the screen that showed nothing but the deck.

People are confused.

It can’t be helped.

Until now, Dongtan Mom has not revealed her face or even her voice.

But I know the owner of that voice.

This is Baek Seung-hyun.

Baek Seung-hyun is speaking.

Booooooooooooo–

Amidst the loud roar of the ship, Baek Seung-hyun’s hand forcefully swung forward in front of the camera as if shouting an order.

Then,

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

The lights come on on deck.

At the same time, a powerful, condensed engine sound can be heard beyond the speakers.

Dongtan Mom said amidst the light and engine noise.

“The time has come for the Hope Ship to set sail.”

The ship moves slowly.

That’s right.

Little by little, the gray harbor is moving away.

The Hope Ship, which carried the hopes of hundreds of thousands of people but brought only despair, has finally begun to escape despair and enter the blue sea once again.

Unfortunately, I cannot see this moment in history.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A gunshot rang out,

Pok! Pok! Pok!

I saw the bullet embed itself in the bulletproof glass, creating cracks around the point of impact.

The battle is about to begin.

I immediately told Vivabot about this.

Anonymous144: I think it’s going to start now.

VIVA_BOT014: Check if your phone is connected to Wi-Fi. Is the battery sufficient?

Anonymous144: Yes.

VIVA_BOT014: I’m really sorry, but Dongtan Mom brought something huge today. I think we can start after she’s done. Is that okay?

Anonymous144: Yes, that’s good.

Baek Seung-hyun is also continuing his own fight.

I used to see him as my subordinate, but now I see him differently.

He is also a person living in the same era of destruction as me.

I also recognize that the stories he creates are as great content as mine.

Now is his time.

But my time has not yet begun.

Anonymous144: Then please.

VIVA_BOT014: Hey. Mr. Skeleton.

There is no time to answer.

He left the place with the gun still in his hand.

The location is next to the searchlight, behind a 100cm high pile of cover.

Kugu palace!

There is thunder and lightning.

In that fleeting flash, I saw.

Several armored vehicles standing like devils on that ridge.

I checked my phone.

I looked at the screen and muttered to myself in a way that was not typical of me.

“Senior Baek. Please finish quickly······.”

Kugu palace!

It’s thundering.

Figures are seen approaching from below the armored vehicle, leaving gaps between them.