Hiding a House in the Apocalypse - Chapter 358



Only Krnovel

Episode 364 148. Painkiller (4)

They react to three main factors.

One is the realm, another is sound, and the last is the death of a brother.

When humans invade their territory, they only send a few scouts.

In the darkness, a line of gray-white, multi-legged monsters approaches.

He slowly backed away and spoke into the communicator.

“Hold fire. Hold fire. All controls to safety. Hyungdo checks.”

“Yes, sir!”

“You told me to take it out.”

“Yes, Captain!”

I adjusted the speed.

To decide where I will clash with those who lurk in the darkness, wherever I want.

This is the moment.

The lead spiderling leapt at me.

A leap so slow it almost looks like slow motion compared to the dancer type servants.

Of course, for those who have numbers as their greatest weapon, the low performance of the individual will not be a big problem.

He aimed the pistol and pulled the trigger.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

In an instant, the men who rushed in each fell to the ground with holes in their bodies and began to transform into particles of light.

I can feel the gaze of the new hunters.

“and······.”

“This isn’t a joke?”

“cowboy?”

I opened my mouth as I watched the spiderling disappear as if it was vaporizing itself.

“······We are not cowboys from the Western. We don’t have to worry about the other person shooting faster than us. Just prioritize hitting carefully. As your accuracy increases, speed will naturally follow.”

I took the rookie hunters and went into the gap in the power plant together.

This time, Kim Hanna is also joining us.

I asked, watching her body tremble slightly.

“Is this your first time in a battlefield like this?”

“······Yes. There’s no such thing as a nest inside the crack······. There’s no infiltration there.”

“They are far inferior to the ones you were dealing with inside the rift.”

Again, spiderlings swarm from the darkness.

There are more ships than before, perhaps because they sensed the death of their comrades.

A few hundred, just by guesswork.

It is a burdensome number for one human being.

But we have the tools.

“Brother too.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Shim Hyeong-do stepped forward.

The thing carried on the back is a detachable combustible material.

Each time he presses the ignition button, different substances fuse through two different pipes, releasing a death-dealing fire that burns almost everything.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh—

As the name suggests, a hellish flame unfolded before my eyes, and within it, hundreds of spiderlings disappeared, turning into something that could be either a pile of ash or particles of light.

“Retreat again. Re-enter in 10 minutes.”

Stripping is a tedious task.

However, the more effort we put in, the higher the success rate and survival rate.

There’s no reason not to do something just because it’s not fun, plain, or boring.

We are not gladiators in the arena, we are hunters who fight for our lives.

Moreover, these simple, repetitive tasks can instill some courage and confidence in friends who are afraid of combat and find it difficult.

“Can’t I just go in and grab it all at once?”

Here comes a guy whose pride is already on fire.

“Go and drag it out yourself.”

“Oh, that’s a bit difficult.”

A friend who is this witty brings laughter to other colleagues.

Kim Hanna, who is giggling behind me, is no exception.

I’m getting more and more used to the battlefield.

“Kim Hanna.”

Let’s try a test.

“Yes, Captain.”

“Can you show me some of your abilities?”

Kim Han-na looked around at people with a bewildered face at the sudden request.

“······.”

I hope she grows up.

“Uh. So······.”

As was her habit, she always ran away and found an excuse, but eventually she met my eyes and nodded with her lips slightly pursed.

“I’ll try······!”

thud!

A powerful wave struck the darkness like a drumstick.

In it we see.

The visible lines spread out like spider webs.

thud!

As another shockwave erupted, the thread transformed into a solid white flame, incinerating everything within it.

Kim Hanna looked back at me as hundreds of particles of light competitively ascended.

“Captain!”

That smile was more beautiful than any smile I’ve seen in a while.

*

“Is that so······?”

I think change creates a chain reaction.

When he heard that Kim Han-na, who had refused to fight, would attack the power plant, a key objective for a new Seoul, tomorrow, Awaken’s cynical face turned into shock.

“No, that guy?”

“That guy?”

“There’s no way that person would do that.”

“Did you take the wrong medicine?”

Just take one more step.

“Excuse me, sir. Is this true?”

As soon as I left the building with the sign that said “Main,” Iharu followed me.

Even though he’s bandaged, the bruises that remain here and there on his face look like they’ll last a long time.

It had to be that way because the wound was caused by an adult male brutally striking her with the handle of a pistol.

But I think it’s a great strength to not be discouraged even after being assaulted to this extent.

He answered with a big smile, washing away the prejudice he had for a moment.

“If you want, you can come and observe in person.”

“Really?”

I had a feeling that Kim Hanna would not welcome it, but I thought that having a witness would be an opportunity for Kim Hanna to establish herself again among the regular Awakens in the future.

In fact, when Iharu showed up, Kim Han-na asked me as if protesting.

“Why is he here?”

“To watch your performance.”

“Do you really have to do that? There will be consequences anyway.”

“There are plenty of people who don’t believe it even after seeing a notarized record with a witness. And······.”

I looked back at Iharu, who was standing far away.

When Kim Han-na shook her head slightly, showing her discomfort, Lee Haru, who was standing among the soldiers, waved his hand.

“Big sister, fighting!”

Kim Hanna’s face turned bright red.

He lowered his head and turned away, but it seemed he was so embarrassed that even the roots of his ears turned red.

“This is a face I will always see from now on.”

“I don’t really want to become close······.”

“There’s no need to become close.”

Kim Hanna looked up at me.

He continued, recalling an old scene that was now only a memory.

“But it is your territory. To live in it, you must receive at least a minimum of recognition.”

Clank-

He walked forward, checking his gun.

“Remember, we are people who prove with results.”

The operation has begun.

I cleared a lot of spiderlings yesterday.

After extensive reconnaissance, we have determined that there are no other monsters inside the spider-type nest.

The other monsters that controlled the north and east of the development area also did not respond.

All circumstances are in our favor.

If nothing unusual happens, it will be easy to resolve.

Even if something unexpected happens, we just have to retreat.

The boards are all laid out.

Thud!

When I pressed the button, the small lights for the Christmas tree across the darkness lit up all at once, creating a single gold in the darkness.

“I said it yesterday, but don’t cross that line. And if you do, put your gun down and go. You all know why.”

This is what I left behind after cleaning up yesterday.

To avoid being affected by one of the monster’s powers, Detonation.

Some hunters complain that it’s childish, but it’s not easy to measure distance in a fight.

It is an ability that even veterans can’t gauge the distance in a fierce battle and are easily defeated.

If you are caught in the detonation with a gun still in the magazine, you should be prepared for at least serious injury.

Most of them end in instant death, though.

Instructions and explanations should be simple and clear enough for even a seven-year-old to understand.

Gray-white servants swarm from the darkness.

The number is roughly in the hundreds.

“Brother too.”

Sim Hyeong-do, holding Inferno, stepped forward.

He stood behind him, holding an axe.

“Get started.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Inferno spewed fire.

The state-of-the-art motor on the back spins furiously.

Wheeeeeeeeing–

As the flames of death spread, they simultaneously danced left and right, and all the servants within the dance of flames struggled in the fire.

Of course, some survive and approach this side.

I am prepared for that time.

Bam!

Defend your territory while defending the flamethrower gunner with two axes.

Squeak!

No mistakes are allowed.

“Confirmation of the annihilation of the first wave.”

After listening to the assistant hunter’s report, he gave the following orders.

“Prepare to breach.”

The soldiers raised weapons in the form of rocket launchers.

The target is a gray-white structure called a spider-type web, which was marked with a red paint grenade yesterday.

If we can get a hole in there, there’s no more barrier between us and the lurking spiderlings.

This is a classic way to get rid of spider types that have built a solid nest.

“Breaching!”

Shoooooooo—

The rocket struck a bizarre structure that was spewing fire and rising in a bizarre curve.

Kookookookook!

A series of earth-shaking explosions occurred, dust clouding our vision, and soon a black hole appeared before us.

Let’s light a fire.

“Monster check!”

The prey has revealed itself.

thud!

As expected, when exposed to the beam, the creature wakes up from its long slumber, causing a shock wave.

“Kim Hanna.”

“······yes.”

I saw Kim Hanna.

Even though there was a day or two of teaching, it is difficult to shake off the long-term fear.

I looked into her eyes.

“······.”

I’m shaking dangerously.

Kim Han-na was gripped by an unbearable fear to the point where she felt like the time she had spent up until now had been in vain.

Was it like this from the beginning?

no.

If you don’t have courage, it’s absurd to enter the crack.

She had courage.

I had the mental strength to see the scenery of things that are not of this world for a year without going crazy.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m sorry, sir······.”

She was breathing so heavily that I had to give her a tranquilizer.

I can feel the gaze of the hunters around me.

Also, we feel the gaze of a more important person to Kim Han-na, Lee Haru, who is watching us from behind.

“I am by your side. No matter what happens, I will protect you.”

“Captain······.”

“Can you neutralize the stationmaster?”

“Over there. Captain. No, Captain.”

Kim Hanna grabbed my arm, desperately trying to control her breathing.

“There’s something I didn’t tell you.”

“Speak.”

“I······.”

Kim Hanna lowered her head and shook her body violently.

“I hear a voice······.”

“······.”

“You know what? People who hear voices will soon disappear.”

“okay?”

“That voice is said to be the voice of the leader of the monsters. Hearing that voice means that the leader of the monsters is whispering to me······. I have become a monster······.”

“That’s nonsense. That’s nonsense.”

“Oh, no. Hee-young, Yeong-bang, and Jong-chun, who were close to me······when they heard the voices······.”

A sparkle falls from Kim Han-na’s shadowy face, her head bowed.

“It disappeared······.”

Another noise is heard in the darkness.

The second wave of spiderlings is coming.

At the same time, a number of spiderlings attach themselves to the hole we made and try to repair it by spitting out a grayish-white substance.

“colon.”

The hunters’ gazes became more intense.

I sighed silently and pulled myself together.

At the same time, the faces of Kim Da-ram, Woo Min-hee, and countless other colleagues, juniors, and superiors I knew flashed before my eyes.

“······You can overcome it.”

I said something I didn’t mean.

I said the thing I hate the most.

I forced onto others hopes I didn’t believe in.

“colon.”

“That story next time. For now, let’s overcome this situation together.”

Kim Hanna raised her head.

She nodded, wiping away the tears that had not yet fallen with her fingers.

and.

thud!

Another shockwave echoed across the darkness.

“Everyone get down!”

bang!

Intimidating.

At the same time, the monster emits a shockwave and hits the force field.

I screamed as soon as I felt the bullet graze the side of my face along with the cool wind.

“China!”

thud!

Our Awaken sent shockwaves.

I feel two shock waves pushing each other through the air.

The station master is being neutralized.

Taking advantage of that momentary gap, he fired again.

bang!

Bullets that have deflected will no longer be reflected.

He released the joystick automatically and shouted at everyone.

“attack!”

Tata tata tata tang!

All weapons were firing.

A monster without a force field is nothing.

Under the barrage of fire filled with each person’s rage, the monster collapsed and soon began to transform into fleeting, beautiful particles of light.

“colon!”

Kim Hanna looked at me and shouted.

No, it’s not time to be happy yet.

Spiderling, who had come close before she knew it, was aiming for her back.

The bastard jumped.

“······.”

This might be dangerous.

*

Since it was a rare day with nice weather, the windows in the hospital were open to allow for ventilation.

“······.”

Got injured.

Nothing major, just a few bruises and a slight sprain to my leg.

This is the result of flying to protect Kim Hanna.

To be exact, he threw the axe while flying, and in the process, he struck down two rushing spiderlings with one axe.

As a result, I landed imperfectly and sprained my leg a bit.

As expected, Kim Hanna returned to her group safely, without a single hair on her head, with Lee Haru supporting her.

Well, if it’s a happy ending, then it’s a happy ending.

On the table next to the hospital bed is a gift from Kim Hanna along with a handwritten note.

– Get well soon, Captain! Hannah.

What she gave me as a gift was painkillers.

It may be an absurd gift, but in today’s world, a white anti-inflammatory pain reliever is a valuable item worth more than its weight in gold.

It’s said to be something he received after frequently going to the hospital due to malingering.

A smile naturally spread across my face at the gift from Kim Hanna, but I can no longer fully smile.

“······.”

I’m not Awaken, but I know.

The meaning of that voice.

Chalang-

The door to the private room opened with a refreshing bell sound.

The person on the other side of the door is none other than my junior, Woo Min-hee.

“Senior. How are you feeling?”

“It’s nothing. It’ll get better after a couple of days.”

“I see.”

Woo Min-hee bent down and sat on the caregiver’s chair.

“Thanks to you, senior, the problem was solved surprisingly neatly and quickly. The regular kids are now stopping their stubbornness and are volunteering to go to the battlefield one by one.”

She smiled.

“I guess he is a professor?”

“······.”

I have nothing to say.

Regardless of the good results, my heart is heavy.

In the silence, Woo Min-hee discovered a bottle of medicine and a note on the table.

“Oh, is this the gift that kid gave me? Is this a painkiller?”

“huh.”

“No matter what, you gave me this precious thing, Senior. Did you by any chance steal that child’s heart?”

He spoke seriously to Woo Min-hee, who was whining.

“That guy shouldn’t be on the battlefield.”

Woo Min-hee stared at me with a questioning expression.

“······They said they heard voices.”

“okay?”

“It could suddenly disappear. Like the child at the lighthouse.”

I know that too.

That someone like me is saying things that shouldn’t be done.

“I can’t give you any special favors.”

Woo Min-hee said something that exactly matches my reasoning.

“You know? Why can’t we give special favors?”

He turned his head and stared at the open window.

“······It’s cold. Could you close the window?”

As she moved her hand, the window closed by itself, as if it had a will of its own.

“I’ve said this before, but the first time is the hardest. Just that one time. Once you get past that, the next time······.”

“i get it.”

Woo Min-hee showed a slightly surprised expression and then stood up from her seat.

She said with a shallow sigh.

“Let’s have a drink sometime.”

“······.”

“It’s been about 6 years and 3 months since we last drank together, right?”

“Is that so?”

Woo Min-hee smiled brightly.

“No matter how drunk you are, I hope you don’t do things like beatboxing as your personal skill.”

She stood at the doorway and waved her hooked hand.

“If you’re sick, take some painkillers. They work pretty well.”

I stared at the painkiller with indifferent eyes.

Is there such a thing as a painkiller for the soul?

If there is, please let me know.