Hiding a House in the Apocalypse

As the darkness fell, I spent the night at a refugee camp.

Sleeping amidst the expelled and hungry people was no different from risking one's life, so I had to be content with huddling for warmth next to a drum barrel where a fire was burning.

While I closed my eyes for a moment, a young man approached me.

He had a face in his early twenties, maybe even late teens. It was a youthful face that you could trust.

Boldly, he reached out his hand towards my bicycle.

I opened my eyes and warned him, "Don't touch it."

The young man was startled but seemed determined, as he attempted to touch it again.

Quietly, I pulled out my gun, and only then did he raise both hands and back away from me. However, the group behind me, who were tending to another fire, sent me cold glances.

As dawn broke, another gang of thugs joined them.

They hesitated in front of me, exchanged intense glances, and slowly approached me, brandishing a variety of crude weapons – clubs, pipes, rebar twisted into makeshift weapons, bicycle chains, and more. My fatigued eyes were overwhelmed by the sight.

The middle-aged men who had been by my side, tending to the fire, lowered their heads and discreetly moved away.

There didn't seem to be any intention to seek help or prevent the approaching mob, but that was fine.

As the approaching group of thugs came closer, I subtly revealed an automatic rifle wrapped in cloth.

It was a means of communication in this era of ruin.

The young gang members surrounding me exchanged intense glances and then turned and left.

After they departed, the middle-aged men quietly returned, and I also showed them the automatic rifle.

"..."

I waited by the fire, watching as the sun began to rise.

Shortly after, as soon as the military personnel revealed themselves at the outpost, I headed to the military headquarters.

I had one purpose: to report the numerous capsules that had appeared around Kyle_Dos' anti-aircraft bunkers.

Originally, the capsules fell under the jurisdiction of the NCMC, but since all the National Assembly members had fled to Jeju Island, the military was the only place to handle this matter.

Of course, I had already taken plenty of photos and recorded the coordinates.

Honestly, I wasn't inclined to do this.

Even if I reported it, I might only suffer disadvantages. Perhaps the military already knew about it, but if they didn't, the fall of Seoul would lead to my demise as well.

Even if I anticipated unfavourable results, I had no choice.

It was a matter that had to be reported.

I was a hunter of the old era.

I was a primitive hunter who faced colossal monsters with only my courage, audacity, skills, and a meager weapon.

To a primitive hunter like me, thousands of capsules were too many.

As of now, two years and two months had passed since the war began, and the South Korean military had split into two factions: the Legion Faction and the National Assembly Faction.

The stronger of the two was the Legion Faction.

The main units that had defended the frontlines rose up in discontent against the government's unequal treatment and policies.

Since the units that had guarded the frontlines became the core, they held overwhelming superiority in terms of numbers, quality, and equipment.

In reality, they believed in their own power and initiated the civil war.

The faction I was about to visit was their adversary, the National Assembly Faction.

The National Assembly Faction was the only regular army in South Korea supported by the National Assembly itself. They were weaker in terms of equipment and troops compared to the Legion Faction but had the greatest weapon of all: legitimacy.

No matter how well they disguised it, the essence of the Legion Faction was a coup d'état force united by self-interest.

While loyalty was maintained during the initial stages of the civil war, the conflict had turned into a war of attrition, forcing frontline units to switch sides due to dissatisfaction.

Eventually, as frontline commanders who harbored grievances against the relentless attrition defected to the National Assembly Faction, the Legion Faction had to rethink their strategy from the beginning.

It might not be an overly hasty conclusion, but could the National Assembly Faction win this civil war?

Even if they did win, it would be a victory marked only by scars.

I had arrived at the heart of the National Assembly Faction.

"What's the matter?"

Unlike lower-ranking units, bribery did not work here.

Given the situation, security was tighter than anywhere else.

Tanks, including armored vehicles, were parked on the ground, and in the sky, at least ten drones patrolled various altitudes and zones, vigilant about their surroundings.

Creepy signs were scattered everywhere.

["Photography, loitering, drone flight prohibited – Violators will be executed on the spot"]

I had no choice but to wait in line, following the strict security measures.

"How did you get here?"

After waiting for two hours, I finally had a chance to talk to the customer service representative.

"Can I meet the Monster Handlers? It's an extremely urgent matter."

As soon as I uttered those words, I noticed a slight change in the representative's expression.

"What's the matter?"

"I've found capsules. Over a thousand large clusters. I have all the data and coordinates."

"Capsules?"

"The eggs of monsters."

I showed a picture.

The same pale white garden that Kyle had seen.

But unlike me, the representative seemed completely unaffected by the sight of the garden. They just glanced at the picture and repeated the same words they had said to the previous complainant.

"Is that so? That's a big problem. I'll look into it."

The representative gestured for me to leave.

"You can go now. Next!"

Perhaps this person wouldn't take any action at all. They wouldn't confirm or report anything. The reason was obvious. They were trying to ignore me and treat me like an insignificant person because my presence made them uncomfortable, and they didn't know about my past.

I considered leaving for a moment, but it wasn't a matter of emotions. It was like leaving my home when a pile of explosive materials was right in front of me and the fire hadn't ignited yet – it was a shortsighted choice.

I plan to live for at least another five years. My personality may be more unpredictable than I think, so I may not become the last hope of humanity as I hope, but I still intend to do my best to save what's left.

"Excuse me, I'd like to speak to Colonel Jung Daekyung."

There might be more aggressive ways to create a commotion, but I consider myself a somewhat sophisticated person.

"Colonel Jung Daekyung?"

"Yes. He was on assignment with the NCMC."

"Oh, you mean Jung Joonchul. Just a moment."

Networking is a sophisticated method used by people with careers, like me. I don't like it, but it's necessary at times.

"Hello."

"Yes."

"Who should I say is calling?"

"Park Gyura. Just give him those two syllables."

"Mr. Park Gyura. Okay, just a moment."

After making the call, the representative looked at me intently.

Does it look different now?

"Who is it that. I don't know?"

"..."

"Next, please."

"Summon the Monster Handler."

"Excuse me?"

"I said summon the Monster Handler! It's an emergency!"

"Sir?!"

There's no other choice. If the world has forgotten me, what can I do?

"Immediately!"

This is the best I can do as an ordinary person.

Soon, soldiers approached me with guns.

I cooperated without resistance.

If I had resisted, I would have been shot on the spot.

The soldiers waited for me to be handcuffed, and I extended my hand to the one who seemed to be in charge.

After the handcuffs were in place, I politely spoke to the person who appeared to be the highest-ranking.

"I want to talk to the Head Monster Handler."

"First, you'll need to be investigated."

It seems like I'm going to jail for a while.

It's a good thing in a way.

In South Korea, you have to stir up trouble to make them listen to you.

Even if it's uncomfortable for me, if I can gain the right to speak, save millions of lives, and preserve the safety of my territory, it's a worthwhile business.

But the world is so small.

In a dark interrogation room.

It's called an interrogation room, but it's just a small room with a desk and a chair.

They removed the handcuffs.

I may have shouted a bit, but I didn't damage any property or harm anyone.

If I had touched a soldier or a staff member, I would have been beaten with a club and then forced to sit here.

"Wait a moment. I'll summon the Handler."

The soldier who escorted me here spoke in a professional tone without making eye contact.

"Please."

It's important to be polite when dealing with them; they hold all the power here.

A moment later, I heard a grating sound, like steel scraping against iron, from beyond the corridor.

A crutch, perhaps.

Similar, but the material seemed sharper, as if the person deliberately made an unpleasant noise by scraping the floor.

I wonder who this person is.

Probably someone with a very twisted personality.

"Oh my. Isn't it Senior Park?"

As soon as I heard that voice, I immediately recognized the owner of the voice.

I didn't even need to see her face.

The deep, resonant voice was like a trademark of someone I knew very well.

"Daram told me about it, but you're really alive?"

I had to control my expression when I looked at her.

I don't know her like this.

Her perfectly extended arms and legs have been replaced by prosthetics, taking the place of the elegant limbs that used to be there.

I saw her face.

Even though she was wearing a deep hood that covered half of her face, it couldn't hide the scarred remains.

"Minhee."

This woman's name was Woo Minhee.

She used to be my subordinate.

She smiled at me like a girl when she saw me.

"Why didn't you contact me? Well, no one contacted you except for Daram, right? I didn't hear anything from Kyungmin or Changsu."

"Do you work here?"

"Yeah. I have my reasons."

"What about Jeju Island? Can't you go there?"

"I could, but I don't want to."

"Why?"

"You know why?"

Suddenly, Woo Minhee's pupils emitted a creepy pale light that could illuminate the darkness.

With eyes of otherworldly colours, Woo Minhee smiled faintly with her scarred face.

"I hate them as much as you do, senior."

"..."

I didn't look in the mirror, but she seemed to know my expression.

I was desperately trying to hide it, but it was probably a subtle expression that couldn't be avoided.

"Oh, did I forget that mentioning their names in front of the senior is prohibited?"

Nonsense.

I knew it all along.

It had always been like this since school days.

A self-destructive life where she constantly hurt others and also hurt herself.

If her tolerance had been a little lower, she might have ended it with suicide. But this woman was not to be underestimated.

"I'm sorry. I didn't think it would make you feel bad, senior. I didn't do it on purpose."

But I must have grown too.

"It's okay. Don't worry about it."

I had a vague feeling when I heard those two names from Kim Daram before, but now, hearing their names didn't pierce my heart like it used to.

It was a bit painful, but just to that extent.

It felt completely different from when I heard their names from Professor Pung Ho in the past.

I looked at Woo Minhee with a genuine smile.

"I overcame it in the past."

I'm not sure if I overcame it or if my emotions just dulled, but at least it was a fact that the Viva! Apocalypse! forum members gave me a strong mental support.

Why, from an unpopular user to a Defender's friend, and now even a troll spammer.

I couldn't fall any further.

"Since we're on the subject, how are Han Min and Hyein doing? There's almost no way for a regular person like me to know about their activities."

"Oh my."

A look of pure astonishment appeared on Woo Minhee's face.

"Is it really Park senior?"

"Is there a problem?"

"No."

She stared at me with interest for a while.

A rather unwilling time.

After the boring gaze was over, Woo Minhee sighed lightly and spoke.

"Both seniors are in Jeju Island."

"As expected. Are they doing well?"

"They must be living well. After all, they are the saviors."

"Saviors... Do you have any news about Daram?"

"No."

"I see."

"Anyway, it's nice to see that Park senior is in good health."

Woo Minhee stared at her two steel fingers like hooks, raising them as if to examine them.

"I ended up like this..."

"..."

Did she think she should have died then?

Anyway, the reunion with Woo Minhee should be classified as a positive development.

"A capsule, and a cluster at that."

For now, we could communicate.

"It's the first time since China. To see a cluster like this. During the ceasefire, we'll need to coordinate with the artillery battalion. By the way, when you were in active duty, what was the maximum range for capsules in this condition?"

"3,250 meters. To be safe, 3,500 meters."

"Now it's 5,500."

"Has it gotten longer again?"

"They must be learning about us little by little."

Click-

Woo Minhee adjusted her prosthetic hand.

The sharp, claw-like fingers of her prosthetic hand were probably custom-made to her specifications.

"It's a lot~. But we have to clear it, right?"

Woo Minhee stood up from her seat.

With this, one worry was lifted off his shoulders.

She may have a dirty personality, but she is someone who handles her work with certainty.

"We've met like this, it's fate. Since I'll be around here for a while, should we exchange contact information?"

Woo Minhee shared her identification number with me.

Her identification was "Redmask."

I didn't really want to exchange, but I couldn't refuse, so I shared my identification number with her.

"Skeleton?"

Woo Minhee suddenly laughed and looked at me intently.

"What's with that reaction?"

"Oh, it just reminded me of a foolish human."

"..."

Could it be him?!

No, it couldn't.

It couldn't be someone like Kim Daram or Lee Sanghoon. It couldn't be the new Hunter who was known as the Red Woman to the fanatics, doing something like running a community for fugitives out of dissatisfaction.

With a strange smile on her face for a while, she handed me a gum-sized piece of paper that was divided into two colors like a rete-maru.

"No kids, right?"

"Yeah."

"I didn't think there would be, but I asked out of courtesy."

"What's this?"

"It's a simple power sensitivity test sheet."

"Something like that exists?"

"Because humans are desperate too. If there are kids around you, try chewing on it occasionally, and if there's a change in color, contact me."

"Kids?"

"They say scientists do it. Awakening like mine is most likely to occur in the cerebral cortex of adolescents around the second sexual characteristics development."

"If I contact you?"

"They'll probably send him and his family to Jeju Island."

Woo Minhee turned away.

The sound of her prosthetic scratching the ground like tearing the eardrums resounded.

"Then I'll see you again."

She stopped with her back turned.

She whispered in a low voice, her back facing me.

"I still hold you in high regard, senior."

With the sound of scratching the eardrums, she disappeared to the other side.

The flower garden of Kyle will burn down.

Another flower garden will bloom around, but at least my demise will be postponed.

With mixed feelings of half satisfaction and half bitterness, I left the headquarters.

White things were falling on the desolate ruins.

It's the first snow.

Christmas is coming soon.

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