Hiding a House in the Apocalypse - Chapter 394



Only Noblemtl

Hiding a House in the Apocalypse Episode 394

160. Tomorrow (1)

A group of monsters is different in nature from a group of humans or beasts.

While a group of humans or beasts is dense enough to stand shoulder to shoulder, a group of monsters has special conditions.

The conditions are as follows:

1. In an area at least 10 km away from the crack.

2. When 4 or more are observed within 1,250 square meters.

The conventional wisdom has been that the monster hordes were a coincidence.

According to that theory, monsters are more like machines with a purpose than living beings, wandering in random directions without any purpose.

Now that popular belief has been refuted.

The nature of the monsters they had discovered was somewhat true, but a completely new type had emerged.

This is the general type.

According to information known so far, it thinks like a human and has the ability to move and guide other monsters.

It’s a shocking discovery, but those who have been in the field, especially those who have watched the evolution of monsters since the cracks opened, could have predicted this fact.

Because from the beginning, the rift was maliciously creating things that mimicked Earth’s creatures.

It is empirically quite predictable that humans, who are the most active among the creatures on Earth in blocking them, would be included in that list.

Intelligence obtained from within the remnants of the Chinese army tells an even darker story.

The cracks didn’t just create human-imitating leaders.

They are hiding a secret weapon that will wipe out humanity itself.

One such type is called a “screamer.”

Crack, which sees the world in a different way than humans, also took an interest in the radio waves that humans constantly used and created a means to destroy them.

Although none of the countless hunters and soldiers in China have ever seen it, the destruction of communication means, repeated as if by magic in every battlefield, sufficiently suggests the presence of monsters that attack communication means.

Some fanatics claim to have seen such monsters, but the testimony of fanatics can only be used as reference, not as evidence.

Sadly, we humans, driven into a corner, are forgetting the value of cooperation that led us to prosperity.

“Screamer.”

Woo Min-hee also reacted saying it was her first time hearing it.

“This is the first time I’ve heard of it. I’ve never found anything like it in the records of battles within the rift. But judging from the way it’s named, I think it’s known to the West······.”

Contact with North America and Europe was naturally cut off when the war began.

There have been a few ceremonial exchanges since then, but there has been no active exchange of information like before.

“They only report their survival. You know? Foreigners. They pretend to be beautiful, kind, and polite, but when they’re no longer needed, they turn their backs and hide their faces.”

Woo Min-hee has not liked the North American association since long ago.

“They think it’s passive and natural. If they act like that and an Asian person acts shy when they first meet them, they’ll look at them strangely.”

I used to be in charge of contacts, and there was a rumor going around that I made a big deal out of it.

“Actually, we haven’t even reported the results of the crack’s internal exploration······.”

Woo Min-hee looked out the window.

“This group will just disappear, right?”

He nodded.

The group that appeared this time is a small group of less than 8 people.

Two small breeds were included, but the rest were medium-sized.

It will probably disappear within 24 hours, except for the small species.

In conclusion, the possibility that this group of monsters will cause damage to New Seoul is significantly low.

But the appearance of these groups in our area is not an ordinary happening.

Every monster’s actions have a purpose.

When a rift sends a small group to a specific point, it can be seen as an advance warning of a large-scale offensive.

Just as ants spread pheromones to attract their mates, monsters send out advance parties to spread disgusting particles in all directions and pave the way for the monsters that follow.

The large-scale offensive experienced in Beijing also showed these preliminary signs.

We were ignorant back then, but things are different now.

We know them as they know us.

You have to prepare.

We have been preparing steadily for a long time already, but we need to be more thorough.

Fortunately, South Korea has achieved considerable prosperity in the past.

“A monster that destroys radios… Well, I guess you can’t say it’s unreasonable. It’s a monster that deflects bullets like a given, so how could it not destroy a single radio?”

“Should I even lay down a wire? Will that be destroyed?”

“Oh. This. This is a communications network that replaces wireless networks. Should I make a beacon fire or something······.”

As a result, even though the population of South Korea has decreased to less than 10%, each place still has experts who have established themselves in their own fields.

People active in various fields of industry, including electrical, chemical, mechanical, and computer engineering, are reviving the spirit of the past in various parts of the new Seoul.

On the outside, they seem like simple, ordinary people, but their eyes sparkle with intelligence and passion that I don’t have.

Above all, they have a similar spark to me.

“Let’s give it a try.”

Not the flame of hatred, but the flame of the will to live.

While the technicians were working on the communications issue, we headed to the armory.

“Are you doing well?”

Another technician, Seven, who only had seven fingers, was analyzing Chinese weapons.

“······Yes. So-so.”

Seven was looking at the Chinese blue dragon sword on the workbench with a frowning face.

“What on earth is this thing supposed to do?”

“well.”

I pretended not to know.

Even if I tried to explain the crazy uses of this weapon to this guy who has lived his whole life in a world of rationality, he would never understand.

“I don’t know about anything else, but I can tell that the propulsion system is a very high-performance thing. Both in terms of output and stability. It’s not something we can imitate.”

“Is that it?”

“Yes. It’s definitely a higher level of technology than our country’s. As you know, the smart kids there are scientists, right? They steal a lot, but the stupid ones can’t even steal properly.”

Seven continued speaking bitterly, examining the small propulsion device attached to the Blue Dragon Island.

“······Honestly, looking at this, I felt like it was a bit of a wall.”

He brought it to the joint project between Jang Gi-yeong and me, who had been making the propulsion system for some time.

“······.”

The shape is somewhat apparent.

Although it is still just an unfinished toy.

“excuse me.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“I wish you could make it like this.”

“You want me to give you a blade like that weird weapon?”

It will be my new weapon.

“Yes, an axe blade would be nice.”

As we were preparing with all our might to survive tomorrow, unexpected bad news broke out in the Internet world.

A notice has been posted regarding the end of service for my other precious world, Viva! Apocalypse!

*

MELON_MASK: There is no hope for life now.

MELON_MASK: Service is terminated.

MELON_MASK : What a fucking world!

Anyone familiar with Melon Mask would probably think that he is having a periodic bout of hysteria.

I thought the same thing when I heard the sudden news of Viva! Apocalypse!’s suspension from Dajeong.

Around 1 a.m., when I got back to my room after work and logged on to the internet, I had a strong feeling that this was not going to end smoothly.

Bumpy is dead.

Bumpy, the space sloth and friend of Melon Mask, closed his eyes.

Melon Mask didn’t give any specific details, but he probably died too quickly to be able to do anything about it.

The bulletin board situation was so chaotic that I went to Foxcode, a dedicated bulletin board for old-bee users created by Foxgame.

Anonymous 458: Four years after the war······. In a way, it was a waste of time. Who would have imagined that the service would last this long even if the world were to end?

berkut_break : If Viva disappears, this place will disappear too, right?

Denis_Oldman: Well, that’s good. I think this will be my last winter. I worked really hard the year before last to stock up on supplies, do maintenance, and even do some scavenging, which I didn’t do before. Let’s live a life of luxury. I prepared a bottle of soju and a flash grenade for times like this.

tntn_Orthopedics: Are you drunk on one bottle of soju? I’m not ignoring you, but you all drank a lot, right?

Denis_Oldman: Besides soju, there’s also whiskey. It’s cheap though.

Dies_irae69: The more the bulletin board disappears, the more we have to stick together. Tell me where everyone is. If you’re nearby, I’ll send my men to pick you up.

mmmmmmmmm™ : Why are you all dying? It’s an annual event. Our Melon having a seizure. To be honest, what does that kid have to do in space?

Anonymous424: How’s Seoul? I heard some monsters are invading.

foxgames: Has anyone tried server programming? I’m trying to make an alternative site via Necropolis.

…

…

The atmosphere of the bulletin board was, what can I say, bland.

In the past, everyone would have been dizzy with lamentations about what to do next in the wake of the Melon Mask scandal, but now everyone is quietly accepting this grim news as if it were a given.

Everyone must be tired.

I guess I’ve already lived long enough and I’ve accepted the reality that no matter how much I live, things will never be the same as before.

Perhaps, without even realizing it, we are being immersed in a common fate of destruction.

“······.”

I looked away from the bulletin board.

I didn’t really want to participate in this gloomy funeral-like atmosphere.

Instead, I sent a message to a woman whose face I still didn’t know, although I had developed a connection with her a long time ago.

SKELTON: Are you really closing this place?

After a while, Vivabot answered.

Message from VIVA_BOT014: Yes.

Message from VIVA_BOT014: Headquarters is already on emergency alert.

Message from VIVA_BOT014: As you may know, the state government has been providing us with power and supplies, as we are the only satellite network that is operating.

Message from VIVA_BOT014: But if Melon terminates its service, this will be the end too. Most of the staff who were here have already left······.

Vivabot does not answer.

Message from VIVA_BOT014: Haa… I’m going to get kicked out too. Just like the office colleague who left first, whose face I’ll never see again.

Her message is imbued with sadness, or rather, fear of the coming doom.

To be frank, what can someone who has been under the protection of a stable organization do when he comes out into the open?

There are probably two futures.

Either die from all kinds of pain, or die quickly.

I tapped away at the keyboard, recalling my previous dislike for the melon mask.

SKELTON: How come there’s no way to solve this on your side? How long will the entire message board be controlled by one cranky person who went to that universe?

It’s true that Melon is an excellent businessman.

It is an undeniable fact that thanks to his genius and bold execution, we have found solace in our souls by building a connection between people called the Internet in this harsh world of destruction.

But he abused his power excessively.

Aside from the first incident where he almost died, he periodically caused hysteria, as one Foxcode message board user put it, and each time he threatened to close the message board.

SKELTON: I understand that it’s sad that Bumpy died, but isn’t it too much to close down a bulletin board that is no different from our lives?

Someday the bulletin board will close its doors.

But the ending I had in mind was not a sudden closure like this, but rather one where all the bulletin board users die and disappear.

Just like the cyber tomb implemented in the game created by Fox Games.

Message from VIVA_BOT014: I think I mentioned this before, but when Melon went into space, she took full control.

Message from VIVA_BOT014: Ultimately, it was the right decision for Melon.

Message from VIVA_BOT014: We have tried to revolt and rebel several times.

Message from VIVA_BOT014: But Melon’s authority is too strong. No matter what I did, I couldn’t change the structure of Melon’s dominance.

Message from VIVA_BOT014: Melon was designed from the beginning to be like that and to run like that.

Message from VIVA_BOT014: This may be the last time I talk to Skeleton.

“······.”

Message from VIVA_BOT014: No, our hero. Twelvesquare. 🙂

Click-

I saved a screenshot.

and,

Knock knock

Tap on the keyboard.

SKELTON: Please don’t use emoticons like that.

Message from VIVA_BOT014: Yes?

SKELTON: In Korea, it is used by people with a bad reputation.

Message from VIVA_BOT014: ?

SKELTON: Yeah yeah

SKELTON: Let me talk to Melon Mask.