Hiding a House in the Apocalypse - Chapter 460



Only Noblemtl

460 184. Encounter (2)

One thing that must be made clear is that Kang Han-min also has experience in the Chinese battlefield.

He killed people without any reason.

Most of them are those who committed hostile acts against us, but there are also quite a few who were killed for “preventive” purposes.

Above all, Kang Min-han has a history of using locals like cards in a game and throwing them away.

There was no trace of remorse or hesitation on his face as he drove children to their deaths.

He may seem like an ordinary person on the outside, but he was capable of being cruel enough to achieve his goals.

What on earth is that strong Min trying to do here?

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry!”

Why would he, who could kill people like rats trampled by military boots if he wanted to, play the role of an immature young man in a place like this?

“You little brat. Is this something you can apologize for? If you touch another man’s wife and apologize, is that the end of it? Huh?!”

“Let’s not talk about it, let’s just lose first. Let’s make a mess first and then talk.”

“Catch him! Catch him!”

But what is Kang Han-min trying to do?

Are you planning to capture the lowest of the low and then wipe them out with your mighty power?

Could it be that he is trying to do something like the “play” in the novels he used to enjoy reading?

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Don’t hit me! Please don’t hit me!”

“Shut up, kid!”

“Ahhhhh!”

A dull thud is heard.

The thugs are beating up Kang Han-min.

Cheon Yeong-jae’s gaze turned to me.

He nodded.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The suppression was accomplished in an instant.

I saw Kang Han-min’s face, tied with rope and beaten, as men fell, almost dying.

My eyes were swollen and I had bruises all over, but one thing was certain.

He was laughing.

There was no fear or terror in those eyes, and they contained something creepy, something different from leisure.

*

“Thank you so much, Hunter Park Gyu.”

Yoo Yang-seo is the leader of a group that worships Kang Hyeon-min.

If Kang Han-min is a god, then he is the leader of a cult that worships that god.

Every time I see him, I feel that he cares a lot about his appearance.

Not only was she naturally beautiful, but the clothes and style she wore always gave off a luxurious vibe, and she wore a different perfume every time we met.

“Thanks to you, I was able to save Kang Min, who was in danger.”

The car carrying Kang Han-min departs.

The vehicle carrying Yoo Yang-seo also had Awakens with a soft glow in their eyes looking this way, waiting for Yoo Yang-seo to arrive.

“If you need anything, please contact us at any time. We are not very well off, but we are indebted to Hunter Park Gyu, so we will provide whatever Hunter Park Gyu wants. We will also assist you if we can.”

I’ve had the idea for a while that Kang Han-min’s gang wasn’t just one.

So, it is true that they are mixed in the same category as Jeju elites, but it feels like there is another group among these Jeju elites, the Kang Han-min bodyguard who fanatically supports Kang Han-min, and another group centered around friends like Jeon Si-hun who respect Kang Han-min but walk their own elite path.

From scratch to scratch.

This is probably the best expression of the new situation in Seoul.

He asked Yu Yangseo briefly as he was about to leave.

“I don’t need anything, but can I talk to you for a moment?”

A strange light appeared in Yoo Yang-seo’s eyes.

“With me?”

“yes.”

She turned around.

His eyes were filled with a strong sense of personal interest.

“I thought you didn’t like me very much.”

It seems like he has some insight.

So, I guess he took on the role of a cult leader.

“Wait a minute, let’s move.”

I asked for Cheon Yeong-jae’s understanding and went into the ruins.

There were no chairs or tables or anything, but there were a couple of pieces of debris that were large enough to sit on.

First, we took a seat and then recommended a better-looking seat.

Yoo Yang-seo didn’t sit down with a faint smile on his face.

Since you’re wearing nice clothes, you don’t want to sit down in a place like that?

I guess it’s a good thing.

There are questions that have been raised since Kang Han-min’s discovery and rescue, and up until now.

“······Do you usually do things like this?”

This is a statement that is not based on any circumstances, evidence, or data.

That is, it is 100% convincing.

If I had to give you a basis, it would be the time we spent together since our school days.

Kang Han-min is a man familiar with eccentricities.

I don’t know if it’s because of his personality or a negative outburst of unmanageable stress, but Kang Han-min, whom I’ve seen so far, has always acted strangely.

Since becoming a savior, his traces have been thoroughly veiled, but the Kang Han-min in reality that was revealed to me only slightly still indicated that he was the Kang Han-min I knew.

Today’s discovery may be a continuation of the past.

It was with that kind of impulse and thought that I suddenly asked a question.

Yoo Yang-seo has quite a poker face, but this time he reacted as if he had been hit on the nail on the head.

The eyes, which had a soft glow, were lost in thought for a moment, then soon changed into a fake smile.

“As expected, he is a colleague of Kang Hyeon-min, the savior.”

The moment I heard that, I felt like I knew why he had admitted it so readily.

Perhaps the compliments will continue.

I don’t know what kind of compliment it is, but if you look at those wiggling, wiggling dimples, you’ll soon be hearing it.

“Savior Kang Min is actually a very weak-hearted person, despite his appearance.”

I remember Kang Han-min’s face, who stood firm despite Jang Ki-young’s vicious bullying that drove dozens of people out of the school gate.

“He is so pure. So innocent. Untainted.”

I have never been to Kang Hanmin’s Chinese accommodation.

But I do know that his lodgings are in the middle of a confusing red-light district.

“He is also very affectionate. Every time someone who is not related to him dies, his heart breaks.”

I thought of the Chinese boys he had driven to their deaths, the ones he had thrown away like old shoes.

The ability to maintain a blank expression while only thinking of images opposite to what he said must have been one of the professor’s characteristics that he had naturally acquired since his school days.

I’m waiting for the next words.

“It’s to get rid of the attachment.”

Yoo Yang-seo said.

“In order to relieve even a little of the stigma of pity for ordinary people, the strong-minded savior goes into the midst of the most lowly and vile people and pours their filth directly onto his pure body.”

“······.”

I need to correct my assessment that Kang Han-min’s followers are like a cult.

It’s not like a church.

“So, you went to find the fitting model, Hee-ya?”

“Yes, that’s right. That’s what happened.”

It is already a church in itself.

“First of all, I want to let you know that I have absolutely no intention of insulting or disparaging Hunter Park’s genuine help. Even if Hunter Park hadn’t helped, Kang Han-min, the savior, would have walked out of there on his own.”

I guess so.

There is no disagreement.

“I’ve been to similar places before. The place I visited today was so horrible that it almost felt like a joke.”

“Where did you stop by?”

“I remember a practice where organs were harvested and sold on the spot, a sex slave den, a fighting arena, and a gambling house where people played a death game with living people. They would capture innocent people, tie them up, and beat them every turn to see whose turn it was to die.”

In Yoo Yang-seo’s clouded eyes, as he spoke of terrible places that had not even been seen on the bulletin board, only Kang Han-min came to mind.

“All these ugly things fight and carve scars into the pure and delicate body of Kang Min-hunter, so that he can overcome them.”

I wanted to ask what was gained by doing so, but I didn’t ask.

There is no need to talk to fanatics.

It’s a long-standing belief.

Because the end of that conversation will be an eternal parallel line anyway.

“······By the way, Hunter Park Gyu doesn’t have any children yet, right?”

The last question in the letter was not answered.

*

We have all had the experience of faith turning into doubt, doubt turning into anxiety, and that anxiety turning into despair.

“······.”

The belief in Kang Han-min was not that strong from the beginning.

I am Jang Gi-yeong’s disciple.

As an Awaken, I evaluate Kang Han-min as a different being from me, but as a human, Kang Han-min is a person that I cannot understand and do not want to understand, at least from my perspective.

He had already revealed his madness several times during that brief encounter.

“No!”

In a sense, he was my faith.

But it would be different from the faith of the Book of Changes.

Because while Yoo Yang-seo’s faith is a faithful faith that never wavers, mine resembles the faith of someone who doubts and is skeptical.

The place where we met again was, as expected, a strange room that imitated the other side of the rift.

“Come in.”

Although his face was swollen in some places, he looked more refreshed than the day before, indicating that he had received proper treatment.

Perhaps the heavy cream he applied to his skin and the lighting that tinted this grayish world with sickly colors partially obscured his complexion.

One thing is certain, he is genuinely smiling?

“I never thought that Aniki would help me there! I’m really touched. No, how did you know and come to help me? I knew that Aniki was on the internet a lot, but I haven’t seen him around lately, so I thought he was quiet now?!”

I didn’t bother to bring up the topic of my sub-account.

It’s not an important story, and there are too many stories piled up to talk about that.

for example,

“I wish Woo Min-hee would just be left alone.”

Or a story about my junior.

“It seems like I’ve already reached my limit. I’m holding on by force, but I think it’s time to retire. There are some excesses, but there are also merits, and if there are any shortcomings, I’ll make up for them.”

Kang Han-min listened to me with a thoughtful expression, without saying anything.

But the real question starts now.

He asked, glaring at Kang Han-min, who was staring into the distance.

“What are you going to do now?”

It’s a short and abstract question, but I think it says it all.

The important thing is this:

It’s been three months since the Nemesis battle.

I was forced to stay in the city that was descending into chaos to find out what happened next.

I wasn’t expecting a rosy future, but I thought there was some hope.

But that hope is fading away as time goes by.

The more things change and the more they differ from what I had hoped for, the more I am tempted to leave the city.

“······well.”

Kang Han-min finally sighed and opened his mouth.

The thoughts contained in those radiant eyes are difficult to read, whether then or now.

“I’m thinking about it. But it won’t be easy.”

“If there is anything I can do to help, I will.”

“Did you tell me about Woo Min-hee?”

Kang Han-min looked at me.

He nodded.

“Woo Min-hee is needed. So is Na Hye-in. I wish Jeon Si-hoon was here too, and if you can bring that guy named I Am Jesus, I hope you can bring him too.”

Incomprehensible words.

That’s why I think there must be a key point.

The story continues in silence.

“As you can see, the rift is so huge and powerful. It’s a planetary enemy. I think it’s nonsense for us humans, who are nothing more than parasites living on Earth, to fight against it.”

Kang Han-min let out a deep sigh and sat down on the floor.

“I’ll be honest. Awaken and Nabal are nothing in the face of the rift. We can delay it for a while. We can create a permanent stalemate, like the Council kids want. Maybe we can last a generation. But what about after that?”

“······.”

“As you know, Awakens tend to appear in proportion to the total human population. The probability of an Alpha Awakened like me appearing is much lower. Okay, let’s do some math. It’s simple math. Let’s multiply 8 billion by 0.000000003. That’ll be 24. Let’s multiply that number by 300 million. What do you think we’ll get?”

Perhaps Kang Han-min is talking about the number of over-level 10 awakened people like himself, the so-called Alpha Awakened.

The number of Alpha Awakened that emerged when humanity still had that number is not the same as the number of Alpha Awakened that will emerge at the present time when the population has decreased by less than 1/10.

“I understand, but Awakened ones have a high probability of being called by the Rift. I am no exception.”

“Do you need an over 10 level Awaken like you?”

Kang Han-min nodded with a stern face.

“People like me are needed. We need a lot of them.”

“Can I ask why?”

“Have you ever told the story of Adam and Eve?”

“huh.”

“I think it’s a similar concept. It’s about spreading it.”

“Is that only possible for Awakens over level 10?”

A cold question.

Kang Han-min also nodded coldly.

“huh.”

In a confident tone.

“I’m sorry, but that’s something only we can do. It’s not because we’re good. It’s just because we’re more like the cracks. It’s hard to explain clearly, but it’s about plowing the field and planting seeds beyond the cracks.”

“······.”

Is this Kang Hanmin’s plan?

They look similar.

And the hazy thoughts that I can deduce from the arcane knowledge that was forcibly instilled in me when I defeated the Nemesis type.

But I had a feeling that it wasn’t quite the same.

There is a difference, even though I don’t know why.

We are different.

Kang Han-min’s story continued amidst swirling thoughts.

“Only we Alpha Awakeners can do that. We tried the regular Awaken too, but they couldn’t handle the cracks. Instead, they got eaten. That’s why we can’t hand over Woo Min-hee. She’s necessary for the permanent survival of humanity.”

“······.”

I thought about it for a moment.

What answer should I give?

Kang Han-min told me his plan, although it was not specific.

That was the most important issue between us.

It would be right to give an answer to that.

But his demands are well.

At least in this case, Skeleton might be better than the Professor.

The answers will vary.

If I were a professor, I would have said yes.

But Skeleton is different, and now I am closer to Skeleton than to Professor.

“I’m sorry, but that would be difficult.”

To be exact, Eom Chang-i is my current self.

I added while looking at Kang Han-min, who was glaring at me with a cold gaze.

“I don’t want to sacrifice my juniors.”

“Then can you save someone else?”

Kang Han-min asked immediately.

Judging by his expression, which showed no sign of discouragement or disappointment, he seemed to have already read my mind to some extent.

Answer that question.

“I am Jesus and Na Hye-in are both having a hard time.”

At the mention of Na Hye-in, Kang Han-min’s eyes twitched slightly.

I thought for a moment.

I wonder if this guy still has some lingering feelings.

Apart from that, Kang Han-min is already a completed savior.

“······A new Alpha Awakened individual has been discovered in Gyeongnam.”

He has a plan that he absolutely must carry out.

I won’t go along with all of his plans, but he said he would help me on my side, and more than anything, I’d like to see what his plans are.

As a man who carries the same flame of hatred within him.

“You won’t listen to me even if I die, but I guess you might listen to the legendary Skeleton.”

“Can I just bring that friend?”

“Yeah. Then I’ll try my best to bring back Woo Min-hee’s clone that I asked Yang Seo about earlier. It won’t last long, but if that’s what you want.”

He nodded.

Kang Han-min observes my expression and asks in a slightly bitter tone.

“By the way, Park Gyu. There’s something I’m curious about.”

“say it.”

“Min-hee and someone you know won’t work, but someone you don’t know will?”

Are you trying to point out my duality?

He nodded.

“huh.”

I’d gladly become a two-faced person if it meant protecting something precious.

Kang Min-i whistled at the firm answer.

Just before leaving the gray-white room, a question occurred to me.

It wasn’t a particularly critical question, and he asked me a personal question.

“Why are you doing such strange things?”

So I asked without hesitation.

Kang Han-min answered with a bright smile that made it hard to believe that he was the same person just a moment ago.

“If all the people die and disappear, we won’t be able to see that either, right?”

I kept my mouth shut and quietly left the room that resembled a crack.

“······.”

There’s something he hasn’t told me yet.