Hiding a House in the Apocalypse - Chapter 414



Only Noblemtl

Episode 414 166. Nemesis (5)

Since earning the title of Savior, Kang Han-min has become so famous that there is no one in Korea or even the world who does not know him.

However, there are probably not many people who can give a proper answer to the question of what kind of person Kang Han-min is.

Although I intentionally avoided the topic of Kang Han-min and Na Hye-in after retirement, it is not as easy as it sounds to not have looked up information about them even once during all that long, free time.

Once or twice a year, on particularly heavy drinking days, when the alcoholic euphoria coursed through my veins and warmed my whole body, I found the courage to search for them.

Kang Han-min, as portrayed in the short article, was a stereotypical, exemplary hero.

He is afraid of monsters, but still fights with his life on the line for his people and loved ones.

The fact that he enjoys watching Japanese animation is somewhat realistic, but in my opinion, it was nothing more than a forced device to make him look human.

The Kang Han-min I know is not like that.

Of course, I can’t say that I know everything about him.

Even though we went to the same school, there was always a high wall between us, and neither of us tried to overcome it.

What I saw was a faint cross-section beyond that high wall.

Despite its blurriness and ambiguity, it was eerie and terrifying.

He was extreme and at the same time megalomaniacal.

After many years, I saw him in Jeju.

I was quite shocked.

Because his appearance had inhuman characteristics, as if he were a human who had evolved to a higher level than a human being.

But since I started researching it again, I’ve started to question that idea.

Perhaps that inhuman appearance was also part of the production.

I did some research with a friend who was in Jeju.

“Please show yourself sometimes. You are truly powerful. You have the power to literally disintegrate monsters by striking a disintegration field with a radius of over 1km. Kang Min-savior is the undisputed natural enemy of monsters. It is because of him that we are able to operate in the extreme environment of the rift.”

Regular Awaken Lee Haru briefly performed a mission within the rift.

She was said to have been in a fairly robust section within the rift before she began to develop a high fever of unknown origin, shortness of breath, and panic attacks.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard of working with Savior Na Hye-in. When I entered the Big Hole, there was a rumor going around that Savior Na Hye-in was seriously injured while trying to save her subordinates and was recovering in the rear.”

The story of Seung-Hwan Ahn, who is also a regular Awaken, was not much different from Haru Lee’s.

“I have never seen him in person. The place I was in was already in a stabilization operation. However, I occasionally heard news on the radio. Savior Kang Min-sang appeared in Sector BT. Savior Kang Min-sang annihilated the monsters that had swarmed Sector BT. That kind of communication.”

Even within the same Awaken, Kang Min-han was deified.

And as is often the case with people who have been deified, Kang Han-min was also strictly separated from other people.

“He always kept his distance from us. He was surrounded by a small group of people, the so-called inner circle. So we could only see him from a distance, driving out monsters and clearing the way.”

My friend Do Kyung-soo, who is also a regular Awaken member, is the typical type who likes rumors and gets swept up in them.

He knew the backstory that neither Seung-Hwan Ahn nor Haru Lee knew.

“Becoming part of the Inner Circle seems difficult because it’s an image that only those who are good at it get in, but in reality, it’s not so difficult that you can’t even look at it. It’s true that there are many elites in the Inner Circle, but I heard that the death rate is very high. Old school, or at least comparable to regular hunters.”

Also, Do Kyung-soo says:

“If you listen to what older people say, there’s this story. It’s better not to go to places where there’s a savior like Kang Han-min. It’s better to go to places where there’s a savior like Na Hye-in.”

“Why is that? Is it because Kang Han-min’s side is more dangerous?”

“It’s true that Kang Han-min, the savior, only shows up in the most intense battlefields, but the seniors I know have a somewhat subtle reaction. It’s like they’re holding back on their words? They don’t say exactly what the problem is, but from what I understand, it sounds like Kang Han-min is treating us a bit more carelessly? They’re being rude? That’s what it sounds like.”

Among the regular Awakens, the one who served the longest and in the battlefield was Kim Hanna.

“······I’m always surrounded by people like my personal guard. Inner Circle? I’ve never heard of that before. Each group has a different name for them. Huh? Group?”

Kim Hanna hinted at a problem between Jeju Awaken and me that I hadn’t thought of.

Jeju Awaken seems to have been thoroughly fragmented.

It’s like being in a different company in the military makes you an old man.

Anyway, Kang Han-min, seen from Kim Han-na’s group side, was like the so-called “monkey paw.”

Obviously, when he appears, threatening monsters are eliminated and difficult missions are easily accomplished, but immediately after he disappears, a large-scale counterattack by unusual monsters or an accident of unknown cause occurs, resulting in many casualties.

What broke Kim Han-na’s heart was the loss of her close colleagues.

“I don’t know for sure, but when I was in school in Seoul, my seniors seemed to have a very negative view of Kang Min-soo. Did something happen every time he showed up?”

Looking at the circumstances alone, it seems that Kang Han-min has an unsettling side that cannot be hidden even by his title as a savior.

It gave me a bad feeling, as it meshed with the extreme side of him that I had seen before.

Perhaps a memo from the alleged president may have fueled such suspicions.

That strong man appeared before us.

“what?”

The captain tilted his head.

“No, why the fuck are you blocking the path? What the hell are you doing?!”

The captain was usually quiet, but when a problem related to control arose, he seemed to lose control of his anger and kept swearing even when we were there.

“Fuck.”

The rider turned sharply to the side.

The plane was rocking back and forth so much that I had to grab the handle.

“What’s going on?”

When Kim Da-ram asked in an irritated voice, the captain answered in a voice that still sounded irritated.

“Look at that damn helicopter. It’s deliberately obstructing our path.”

I don’t know anything about helicopter piloting, but it seems real that a helicopter with Kang Han-min’s emblem painted on it is blocking our path.

Meanwhile, the giant bell was already climbing the mountainside.

The superstructure of the building-like thing was bent quite downwards from a right angle compared to the ground.

This is the moment we’ve been waiting for.

Kim Da-ram looked at me with sharp eyes.

The moment I saw those eyes, I thought that my junior must have had similar thoughts to me.

“Are you deliberately interrupting me?”

However, Kim Da-ram may not have delved into Kang Han-min’s true nature.

She doesn’t think deeply and she doesn’t like that kind of thing.

She has lived a life where she only looks at superficial appearances and makes assumptions, and she will continue to live the same way in the future.

That way of life isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

In fact, that approach is more efficient and positive in most situations than someone as deep-thinking as I am.

“maybe.”

Anyway, things got complicated.

Kang Han-min’s helicopter is blocking his path.

I tried communicating with them, but there was no response.

However, it is realistically and politically impossible to attack rashly.

The opponent is Kang Han-min, a South Korean hero known as the savior.

Who would dare point a gun at him?

“What should I do?”

The captain turned his head and asked.

He is asking me for a solution.

But it’s not like I have a clear solution.

“How can I dodge and shoot well?”

“······It’s not that easy.”

“First of all, there are three of us, so we can’t interfere with all of them, right?”

“Strike each one individually, is that what you mean?”

He nodded.

The formation scattered.

The three helicopters scattered in different directions, targeting different targets from different directions.

Kang Han-min’s helicopter hovered in the air for a moment, then soon headed towards the path of the helicopter that was ready to strike first.

“Number 2. Stop attacking.”

He spoke directly into the microphone.

“No, to be exact, just pretend to attack.”

Kim Da-ram looked at me.

Her distorted face showed a feeling that she could not possibly do that.

I believe I will do so.

“Number 3. Attack begins.”

The helicopter turned in the other direction and spat out missiles.

The next moment, Kang Hanmin’s helicopter flew towards them at full speed.

and.

thud!

Even though it was quite far away, a shock wave that felt like it would shake the entire inside of the body erupted from Kang Min’s helicopter.

That’s right.

It’s a reflective field.

Fortunately, due to the distance already created, the missile passed through Kang Min’s force field and struck the Kraken-type’s leg.

Boom!

As the name Hellfire suggests, 12 missiles of incredible destructive power sequentially exploded on the monster’s legs.

Before the smoke cleared, we saw three legs detach from the monster’s torso.

“Nice shot.”

He spoke into the microphone.

“Let’s take it slow.”

There’s a story I heard a while ago.

Even within the same specialty, only those with the best skills could remain in the government forces.

The helicopter pilots were government forces and indeed, their skills lived up to their reputation.

Even without my instructions, they managed to shake off Kang Min-i’s helicopter with flashy maneuvers and hit it for the second time.

This time, Kang Han-min did not deploy a reflective field.

It seems like he doesn’t even think about it because it’s too far away.

Three of the Kraken type’s legs fell off again.

Six of the bridges targeted for destruction were destroyed.

But there’s still something left.

The guy still has a leg left to support his balance.

The number is two.

The helicopter I was on hasn’t launched a missile attack yet.

But Kang Han-min also knows that fact well.

Kang Han-min’s helicopter, which had missed its missiles twice, now positioned itself between us and the Kraken type.

The captain spoke bluntly.

“Firing is impossible at this rate.”

I know.

“Kim Da-ram.”

“huh.”

“Prepare some explosives.”

Kim Da-ram looked at me with surprised eyes.

“Are you really going to do it?”

He nodded and looked at the captain.

“Can we approach the Kraken type?”

The captain was also surprised and asked.

“Are you going to do Plan B?”

I notified you in advance.

If a missile strike isn’t enough, they’re clearly warning us that they’re going to do something crazy.

The government pilots at the time couldn’t help but laugh, but this is how things turned out.

Kang Hanmin does not actively attack us, but he indirectly interferes with us and even tries to kill us through so-called “inadvertent” actions.

If this were a normal mission, I would have given up, but this mission involved the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

The opportunity is now.

This operation can only be successful if the guy’s angle is subtly distorted relative to the Earth’s center of gravity as he climbs the ridge.

Doo doo doo doo doo—-

I watched as a huge gray-white object moved and wobbled before my eyes, carrying a large amount of explosives on my back.

“Are you okay?”

Kim Da-ram asks cautiously.

He nodded.

Although I often give risky instructions to my team members, I know exactly what I need to do.

This is something I have to do.

Doo doo doo doo doo–

Another helicopter is seen passing right in front of us, creating a loud noise and strong winds.

On the side of the helicopter is a painting of a kneeling clown playing a harp.

Looking closely, I saw that the medieval-style clown had tears in his eyes.

What do those tears mean?

“descent.”

He jumped down, holding on to a single rope for his life.

In a split second, many things pass by.

A kraken-type gray-white thing blocking one corner of the field of vision like a wall, the ground approaching while swaying in the wind, two legs constantly moving and writhing below, and the faces of my comrades repeatedly appearing and disappearing through that scenery.

They all have something to tell me.

I’m curious.

What are they trying to tell me?

But the answer can only be found after falling into eternal slumber.

I can’t die yet.

It’s not the time.

He grits his teeth and grabs the rope.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Just ahead, you can see two legs moving, shaking the axis of the earth.

At the same time, the roar of a helicopter is heard.

Kang Hanmin’s helicopter is approaching this way.

Booooooooooooo———

be near.

I even have an ominous feeling that the helicopter’s propeller will come to cut the rope that is like my lifeline.

“······.”

Ignored it.

For now, I’ll just focus on the task at hand.

chin!

The explosives were set in the bag and attached to the two intersecting legs.

Beep-

I spoke into the radio right after the setup was finished.

“Put it up.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the rope rose upward.

A loud noise and strong winds are coming closer.

It’s not ours.

It belongs to Kang Hanmin.

Soon, Kang Han-min’s helicopter and mine were positioned on parallel lines.

For a split second I saw.

The open window of the helicopter.

There was a face there that I knew well.

It’s Kang Han-min.

He was sticking his upper body out the window and glaring at me with a slightly surprised expression.

In that moment, I felt a question engraved in my mind being erased.

As expected, he is a strong man.

The guy hasn’t changed.

The inhuman appearance is the result of directing.

Kang Han-min is no different from the Kang Han-min I know, the one who gave me the creeps in the sewers of Beijing.

A fleeting encounter is fleeting.

I ascended upwards and Kang Hanmin’s helicopter flew away in that direction.

Kim Da-ram stretched out his hand, leaning dangerously forward.

“senior!”

I held Kim Da-ram’s hand and climbed back into the helicopter.

As soon as I got on the helicopter, a loud noise erupted from below.

Two legs fell off.

Now all the legs that supported the rear of the Kraken type have been removed.

He spoke into the communicator.

“Please fire at the coordinates I just sent you.”

As if on cue, gunfire was heard from the south, and numerous shells struck the Kraken-type superstructure climbing Mt. Bukhan one after another.

The Kraken type staggered violently as numerous explosions littered its surface.

After a while, the guy’s huge body began to tilt to one side.

“Huh?!”

“It’s going to fall! It’s going to fall!”

The Kraken type is tilted.

The guy, who had lost both legs to support himself on the steep slope, began to fall helplessly in the opposite direction when given the proper amount of force.

Kuuuung–!

He’s a sight to behold, not only when he dies, but also when he falls.

The Kraken type was overturned, covering dozens of buildings standing tall even in the ruined city with its massive body.

In the thick dust, the creature moved its several legs but never got up again.

“I did it!”

“You can really do this!”

“Take a picture of that kid!”

Cheers resound.

Both on board and in the radio.

“senior!”

Woo Min-hee’s booming voice was heard.

It’s the voice of my old, cute junior that I rarely hear from him.

“Senior! Seriously! You really did it? As expected from Senior. Defeating a Kraken-type with just a handful of equipment. Who else but Senior would do something like this?!”

He must have been very happy.

Well, if a Kraken type had just reached there and swiped its destruction beam, our city would have been destroyed.

I suddenly felt a cool sensation amidst Woo Min-hee’s rambling praise.

Kim Da-ram was giving me a cold look.

When their eyes met, Kim Da-ram shook his head.

An expression on her face as if warning her that she absolutely should not do this.

He chuckled.

“Make up.”

“What reconciliation? We never fought.”

Anyway, the city was saved.

But the presence of the helicopter leisurely gliding across the sky in the distance casts a shadow on my mind.

“Anyway, senior.”

Kim Da-ram called me.

“It was a good job.”

For once, she gave me a thumbs up.

“······.”

After responding with a faint smile, I stared at Kang Han-min’s helicopter moving away.

After a while, the vice-captain turned his head.

“A message has arrived from Kang Han-min’s helicopter.”

I checked the message.

[ We sincerely apologize for interrupting your maneuvers during the mission to train you. The communicator broke down midway, so we were unable to notify you in time. ]

I heard swear words here and there, but I didn’t pay any attention.

My gaze is directed somewhere else.

Since the rift opened, the position of Nemesis – the natural enemy of humanity – has been taken over exclusively by monsters.

But today’s events made me realize for sure.

That humanity’s greatest enemy may still be ourselves.