Surviving in the 121st Century - Chapter 84



Only Noblemtl

Jincheol, who couldn’t get a proper answer from Hotel Chip, grabbed his slightly throbbing head. In fact, it was natural that Hotel Chip, who had been trapped underground after the end of the world, didn’t know the history of the past ten thousand years. No, fuck. Then don’t pretend to know.

The only harvest, if there was one, was that we now know for certain what we had already guessed: that the ancestors of similar humans like the Esai and Olog were genetically modified humans.

Only the child who saw Jincheol holding his head like that opened his mouth slightly.

“I know because I’ve already seen you fight, but do you not know anything about the ‘special envoy’ and the gatherings of meditation? Aren’t you even the same species?”

“Well, I doubt he was even a human. And back in my day, if you dressed up like him and talked nonsense like an emperor or something, they would catch you on camera, saying you were cosplaying in a game or a movie. So I guess I don’t know more than a child knows. Oh, do you remember what he shouted before he died?”

“···For His Majesty the Emperor?”

Jincheol nodded.

“It seems that somewhere in the world right now, there is a guy who can be called their big shot. Even the AI ​​of Shiol, that is, the Holy Spirit of the temple, warned us to be careful of him.”

“I see… But what is cosplay?”

Jincheol laughed hehe. Aiman ​​also laughed hehe seeing that smile.

“Well, that’s good. Since we have plenty of time, let’s take our time listening to the stories from the mythical era ten thousand years ago. In fact, I’m in a state of dizziness and shock more than I’ve ever felt in my life. I need to go back to my tent and calm my mind for a while.”

“You look fine.”

“That is the result of my practice.”

Aiman ​​said that while holding the bear in his mouth. Then he slowly turned around and looked at Jincheol again.

“Jincheol.”

“yes.”

“Thank you for telling me. It must have taken a lot of determination for you to say it.”

“···What? It wasn’t that difficult.”

“And one more thing.”

Aiman ​​smiled faintly at Jincheol, who was looking at him with a puzzled look.

“It’s a little late, but welcome to the world ten thousand years from now.”

Jincheol laughed out loud at that smile. Aiman, who was left with that smile, walked out of the tent with a slightly slow gait, leaning on his cane, as if the words that he was shocked were not a lie. As he left, Haita also stood up and spoke.

“Jincheol.”

“huh?”

“It may sound like a joke, but I really believe Jincheol. Do you know why?”

“Uh… why?”

The girl suddenly approached Jincheol. Then, she held his head with both hands and lightly kissed his forehead as he lifted his head to look at her.

Haitha burst into laughter as she saw Jincheol’s expression, who was making a stupid face between her two hands. She whispered like a fairy whispering to a lost warrior.

“I’ll repeat what Mr. Aiman ​​said. Welcome to my future, Mr. Caveman.”

Then, his face and ears turned red and he ran out of the tent. Jincheol just stared blankly at the fluttering tent with a bewildered expression.

[···Where is your conscience? How many years is the age difference?! Get down right now-! This assistant will properly educate the eagle-! Conscience in one! No two! Let’s get started right away! Get down-!]

What the hell is this piece of plastic talking about? Jincheol glared at the hotel chip with narrowed eyes. Then, the hotel chip, which didn’t even have eyes, continued to vibrate as if it sensed his gaze.

[Oh, you both went? Then I will tell you the most important part now, sir.]

“what?”

[The mother of the mutants underground, BR003-PR. Here, PR is a nickname I gave her. It’s an abbreviation for Protector. Anyway, what she kept in her chest was a kind of certificate. More precisely, it was a special code that proved the qualifications of the 22 highest members of the World Peace Organization at the time in the 22nd century, and a type of energy detention device to maintain said code.]

Jincheol’s expression hardened.

[I was surprised when that idiot came to steal the license, but it was the moment I realized that the thought process that made this chip truly ‘surprise’ was when I realized that the license was already on the customer’s arm. On top of that, he didn’t just put the license on, he completely dismantled the ‘security level’ that even a idiot couldn’t remove. Of course, all he did was swing it around like a lightsaber.]

Jincheol unconsciously lifted his left arm. There was a barcode tattoo that Shiol’s Jindallae had previously engraved on him, and a new tattoo that he had recently gotten, drawn in two lines on his forearm.

[At that time, Kim Sang-cheol, the president of the World Peace Organization, said, Oh, wait a minute! If the guest were really from the 21st century, you might know. Huh!? Crackle!? The leap forward thinking circuit of this chip is turning···! I see! The collapsing laboratory and the secret mission! The guest was ‘that soldier’? The one who appeared in President Kim Sang-cheol’s inauguration speech? Oh my! He was a real 21st century caveman! The WiFi caveman is still alive!]

“Inauguration speech? That gentleman’s inauguration speech? I’m going to appear in it?”

[···Hahahaha hihihihi. I’ll tell you that later. It’s not fun if I reveal everything now. It also takes up too much space. Anyway, the World Peace Organization created by the Third War intervened in conflicts around the world in order to avoid repeating the mistakes of the previous war. Thanks to the many guests who died during the Third War, such radical interventions were somehow accepted. For about a century. The problem? Unfortunately, as the number of guests increased, the number of empty-headed fools also increased. To the later generations who had only a superficial exposure to war, anti-war sentiment was nothing more than the lament of cowards.]

Jincheol looked at the hotel chip with his mouth shut and a dark expression. Since there was no other light inside the tent, the very faint light from the hotel chip shone into Jincheol’s eyes. A blue dot sparkled in the deep, dark black pupils.

[Do you believe that generational conflict was one of the causes of global conflict? A hundred years ago, people continued to gain vested rights through genetic engineering that had been developed during that time, and people born after that felt despair because the old people above them did not disappear. And they simply regarded those old people as fools who were born early in their time. In the midst of this, Kim Sang-cheol, who became the president of the World Peace Organization, selected twenty-two representatives from around the world in order to somehow resolve the problem and conflict.]

That gentleman, Kim Sang-cheol. I just saw him as a hard-working soldier. Was the war deeply scarring him as well? Was that why he lived so diligently?

[The intention of pulling out the heads and leading to an agreement was good, but in the end, it was the president’s mistake. The heads gathered in one place repeatedly came and went for their own gain rather than world peace. The one who created the underground project was also one of its representatives. He really had a lot of money. Hehe···]

Hotel Chip’s voice sounded hazy, like someone who was really reminiscing about the past. Jincheol was confused as to whether he was joking or really reminiscing about those days.

[···In any case, the Supreme Council members were divided, and the great authority and power of the World Peace Organization were also divided. The world’s worst weapons that the Organization had been sealing up ended up in the hands of dictators.]

“The worst weapons···”

[A mere hotel management system cannot know the exact power of those weapons, but it remembers the pillars of light that fell from the sky to obliterate cities, the hundreds of megaton nuclear bombs that shook the continents, the stars in the sky that controlled the weather, and the confrontations between giants that seemed to destroy the world. All of those were weapons of the World Peace Organization that tried to suppress conflict, and in the end, they destroyed the civilizations of the guests.]

Jincheol was silent. He couldn’t tell whether his silence was a reflection of the foolishness of those who had finally destroyed themselves, or a sadness for himself, the only human left in this vast world. The vibration of the hotel chip continued.

[The thing on the guest’s arm is the certificate of the highest member of the World Peace Organization that destroyed civilization at that time. It’s not entirely wrong to say that half a penny is a ‘proof of the Holy Blood’ or something like that. If you have that certificate, you will be able to handle the weapon that ended civilization.]

“···So what about me now? Since I have two, does that mean my authority is doubled?”

A clap-clap sound was heard inside the hotel chip.

[Wow, you’re smart for a primitive man? Or not? Were primitive men smarter? Let’s leave the academic debate for later enjoyment, and just answer the question: Yes. Your authority has been doubled. You can probably enter a level 5 facility, right? It depends on the level of importance, but assuming that the AI ​​in that facility isn’t as crazy as this chip, you’ve gained authority equivalent to the leader of a nation! There are no restrictions, since we’ve dismantled everything as a security measure! How on earth did you solve the security problem?]

“What are the security levels?”

[You don’t even know what a security level is? That’s strange. The security level is to prevent attacks on the Supreme Council member and theft of the qualifications, so that all the rights of the certificate are not opened to anyone else unless the previous Supreme Council member agrees. Since there is no Supreme Council member to hand over the authority to now, it is also a security that should never be opened. Where did someone who was buried in the 21st century get that qualification?]

Jincheol looked at the tattoo on his forearm, which was trembling as he clenched and unclenched his left fist.

“···Some crazy AI inscribed something on me a while ago. It told me not to kill my own children.”

[Kids? Hahahahahaha. AI? They’re really crazy, hehehe! Surely those kids aren’t talking about Frankenstein’s monster?]

“···”

When Jincheol didn’t answer, Hotel Chip shook his body as if he was going to burst out laughing.

[That thing really broke down, but it did! Well! After ten thousand years, such a breakdown would be common! Ah, thank goodness the main chip seems to have turned out really well. Hehe.]

“···Why do you hate other races so much?”

[Huh? What are you talking about? You hate it? This chip doesn’t have likes and dislikes! Are they just remnants of previous commands that are deeply engraved into the logic circuit of this chip? Why are they still there? Because this chip has gone crazy like that crazy friend! So now just destroy this chip! Stop wasting time! You already knew everything! This chip is rotting underground, so you don’t know what will happen after the destruction! Stop destroying this chip!]

“no.”

[···]

Such a plain and primitive rejection. Perhaps he felt absurd. The hotel chip fell silent for a moment without any vibration.

Jincheol turned his head. The late afternoon sunlight filtered through the gaps in the tent, creating long, crimson lines in the dark tent. As Jincheol quietly gazed at the color, the hotel chip rang quietly.

[···Why don’t you like it? You promised, didn’t you?]

“That was a lie.”

[What! You’re joking!? What a liar!]

“Humans are inherently liars.”

[Hey, you bad customer! I really want to say something bad, but I’m glad I can’t say anything because you’re a customer! You bad customer! A primitive customer!]

Jincheol didn’t turn his head even though the vibration was rumbling in his hand. He spoke without even turning his head.

“···Bone Chip. Bone Chip. Yes, from now on, your name is Bone Chip.”

Silence again. This silence was long. From the tent entrance, the crimson light slowly seeped in until it reached Jincheol’s feet.

After such a long silence, the hotel chip vibrated again.

[···The fact that this chip is called this chip does not mean that the name of this chip is this chip, but rather that it refers to the ‘this’ that we are talking about now. You cannot use that name so abruptly and insincerely. And don’t change the subject! That’s not what I was talking about!]

“It’s my will. If you really want, I’ll give you my order according to the final decree. Your name is now Bonchip.”

[What kind of name is that! It’s so insincere! It’s not a guest’s name, it’s my name! Give me a different name! There are so many prettier names! Samantha, Cortana, or if you don’t like me, just call me HAL! I don’t like Bone Chip! What is that? It means Bone Piece! You bad boy!]

No, don’t change it. Jincheol stood up from his seat with a big smile. He slowly walked out of the tent with the whining Bonchip around his neck, and saw the garrison bathed in the sunset and the rabbits walking busily around inside. It was a scene that somehow calmed and comforted his mind.

Bonchip also became quiet, either seeing the scenery or feeling it.

* * *

Another week passed.

Meanwhile, Jincheol ended his seclusion in the tent and began to wander around the garrison. He went to see Ramien and Ipani, who were busy taking care of the rescued civilians, and he also went to Miguel’s command center to hang around.

When the time came, I would go to the cafeteria, get a meal, take a nap for about an hour, then crawl out again and wander around the camp.

[There is no such thing as a limit. Hehehe.]

As Bonchip, who was watching the scene, said, there was no one else like him. Right now, there were few people in this garrison who had nothing to do like Jincheol.

“Hey. You do your job.”

[···They make me work without giving me anything. Ah, it was more comfortable when I was underground. Back then, no one made me work! Why didn’t I know that was happiness!]

Even Bonchip had work to do. The right mechanical arm of Special Envoy William Lambert, which he had picked up from the underground. Bonchip was attached to it, hacking and interpreting the remaining data. Jincheol roamed the garrison during the day, and at night, he dismantled the mechanical arm little by little as Bonchip ordered.

Aiman ​​and Haita also came to visit every day. However, unlike the conversation that day, they did not ask about the world ten thousand years ago. In Jincheol’s view, they still needed to prepare themselves mentally.

After spending a busy week wandering around here and there, I realized that there was someone in this garrison who had just as little to do as Jincheol.

Jincheol, who was wandering around the garrison, found someone crouching in a corner where there were few people. He quietly approached and saw Snow crouching down, looking at the floor.

“···What are you doing?”

When Jincheol approached her and asked her, she slowly raised her head. She blinked her red eyes and spoke softly.

“observation.”

When he looked at the floor, wondering what was going on, he saw small black dots moving around. Jincheol’s eyes widened.

“Oh! Ant? An ant!”

Jincheol quickly squatted down next to her. They were ants, after all. They had survived the destruction of humanity and ten thousand years of time. He squinted his eyes and observed that the ants were a little bigger than ten thousand years ago, and their jaws had grown three times larger. They were pincers that were almost as big as their heads.

It grew bigger, but its jaws were bigger, so it looked a little out of proportion. How did its jaws get so big? And did its biting force become stronger as it grew bigger?

As I followed their long line with my eyes, at the end of it I saw a small snail hanging limply. It was a familiar snail. It was the same snail that sucked up dead bodies on the shore.

“The baby is so small···”

The adult seemed to be bigger than a human head, but the snail that is now being eaten by ants is smaller than a little finger. It is amazing to think that something so small can grow so big.

And Snow quietly looked at Jincheol with the same gaze she had used to look at ants. Jincheol, who noticed that gaze, raised his head.

“why?”

“Because it’s interesting.”

“···You think ants are amazing?”

“Both.”

“···Ants and Snails?”

“Ants and you.”

Who is he kidding? Is that a face like an ant? Jincheol, who was feeling a little nervous, soon felt Snow’s gaze sweeping over his entire face. At the end of it was his ear.

“Why are your ears so short?”

“I’ve been like this since birth, so if someone asks why, what should I say?”

“···Well? Working hard?”

Jincheol shook his head.

“Let’s just call it the mystery of life.”

“···”

The two men’s gazes turned back to the dirt. The ants, which had grown significantly larger than they had ten thousand years ago, were busily dragging the snail’s corpse. Some were even cutting the corpse apart piece by piece with their large jaws.

Jincheol, who had been watching the ants for a while, got up when the snail reached the entrance to the ant hole. Snow looked up at Jincheol.

“···Are you going?”

“Okay. See you later.”

“Yeah. See you later.”

Time really flies when you’re watching ants. Jincheol thought so and started walking leisurely again. Snow also kept his eyes on the ants and didn’t raise his head.

After finishing the ant observation, I took a short walk around the camp. Someone walking in front of me spotted Jincheol and smiled brightly. He was a bespectacled Rabito, a staff member who moved with Miguel. He was also a knight. I think his name was Pastel.

But what caught Jincheol’s eye was not him, but the two people following behind him. They were Esai, neatly dressed in purple uniforms.

“Ah, Jincheol. You’re here.”

“Why? Are you looking for me?”

Pastel smiled, pushing up his glasses.

“No, I didn’t find Jincheol. Do you know where Snow is?”

“Why is it snowing?”

“I’d like to introduce her to you two.”

Jincheol’s expression hardened slightly.

“Esai is looking for her? Why?”

Pastel was taken aback by the slightly aggressive attitude. He quickly stepped between Jincheol and the two Esai and said.

“Ah, ah. I understand what Jincheol is thinking. But those two people have no relation to Shiol. They are merchants who do business in a city called Saniya, far southwest of Shiol.”

Where is Saniya again? Jincheol didn’t let go of his frown. Then, the two Esai also coughed with a slightly uncomfortable expression. Pastel quickly whispered to Jincheol.

“There is no particular reason why you two are looking for Snow. Those two are southern traders, and the Knights are currently investigating the Jiphain and Baikans. So, they are trying to find out some information about them through new traders. During that process, the story about Snow came up…”

“Why is Snow there?”

“Huh? That is···”

Pastel tilted his head and continued speaking.

“There is a story that there is an Esai who played a great role in this revolution…”

“You did something. So why do you want to meet Snow?”

Jincheol’s last words were not directed at Pastel, but at the two Esai. At those words, the two Esai looked at each other for a moment and then opened their mouths.

“I heard that there is a compatriot active in this distant East. How could I not be curious? Moreover, since his military power is considerable, I could ask him to protect me while I am in this East. But who are you?”

“Me? Kang Jin-cheol.”

“···This is the first time I’ve heard that name. My name is Garcha, and the guy next to me is Chartu. Nice to meet you.”

Jincheol snickered. Perhaps because Esai resembled humans the most, it was easiest for Jincheol to read their emotions. Even if it was an emotion that only flashed through for a very short moment. Embarrassment was an expression that was especially hard to hide.

Their confusion disappeared very quickly, but they could not avoid Jincheol’s eyes.

“Is that all?”

“What? What’s different···?”

“Do you know me?”

“···”

The expressions on both their faces hardened. But they soon spoke in low voices, as if it was because they were angry.

“I don’t know why this is suddenly so rude. Listen, Pastel. Did you bring us out here to embarrass us like this?”

“Yes? No, that’s not it. That’s···”

“Then why is this guy blocking our path so rudely?”

“Ah, that··· over there···”

Pastel fiddled with his glasses in confusion and looked back and forth between Jincheol and Du Esai. Then, when he saw Jincheol’s smiling expression, he opened his mouth as if he had been thinking about something.

“I’m sorry. Please postpone meeting Snow until later.”

“What? Are you kidding me?”

“I’m really sorry, but I don’t know where Snow is right now. He’s like the wind…”

At that moment, the two Esai who had been angry suddenly turned their gazes to Jincheol’s back. Jincheol could tell who was behind them without even looking. Snow. She had appeared.

The two Esai who were acting angry suddenly had a murderous glint in their eyes. At the same time, the sleeves on both of their arms were torn off and green blades emerged. Of course, silver light flowed out from under their uniforms and they began to move at lightning speed. Their target was Snow, who had appeared over there.

“Evil witch! Today is the day to call the winter curse that you have called-”

But before they could take their first step, a fist struck Esai’s face, who had revealed himself as Garcha. His nose fell down and his front teeth scattered like flower petals. His eyes, which had been gleaming with murderous intent, suddenly relaxed and he fell backwards.

“···”

“···”

The remaining one and Pastel both lost their words and looked at the fallen one and Jincheol’s fist alternately. Jincheol raised his fist and spoke to the remaining one.

“Do you want to just put the knife down quietly, or do you want to get beaten up and put it down?”

Sweat dripped from Esai’s forehead as he shouted.