Stagnant Water of Apocalypse

Jang Won-taek calmed his rapidly beating heart and took a slow and steady breath. An action only possible because of decades of rolling in snake filled pits called politics.

Unfortunately for him, Seongho had the ability to catch even the minute movements of his facial muscles and even the sound of his heart. Therefore he knew that he was pretty excited.

“Joining our shelter, huh?”

“Is there any problem?”

“Rather than a problem, I wonder why Seongho made such a choice. Not long ago…”

“I said I don’t like to be under someone.”

“Has things changed?”

“After hearing the story today, it has.”

Jang Won-taek did not ask further questions. He must have been seduced by the fact that this place had information. Just because government shelters were currently quiet didn’t mean their abilities were nonexistent. If only the Corrosive Disease disappears, they would be able to deal with the surrounding monsters at once and serve as the shield of mankind.

The shelter’s information and huge amounts of material were enough to make it possible. The problem was, personnel. Rumors had spread that they had guns, but they still failed to recruit survivors. On top of it, the cold also slowed down the already crawling recruiting process pace to something that was barely moving. Jang Won-taek knew that survivors would start to flock towards them once the winter ended, but he wanted to have a sizable force before then.

That was why, when he heard Seongho’s words, he couldn’t help but get excited. If they could recruit I Love Gimbap, the government shelter will emerge as a hot potato. Something which the current PR team was incapable of achieving.

Jang Won-taek glanced at Lee Beom-seok, who was clearly bewildered, and tapped the table.

“Of course we welcome any survivors … especially if it is Seongho-ssi. But I know you’ll leave someday.”

He, who had strong anti-collusion tendencies, would not stay in the Government Shelter for long. That was Jang Won-taek’s judgment.

And it was correct.

“I will be here until a month after the corrosive disease subsides. Until then, I will work for government shelters.”

“Not for government shelters. For all of us.” Lee Beom-seok intervened, trying to correct his words. But Seongho did not respond.

In the first place, he was someone who wouldn’t even try to make people understand him just because they had different ways of seeing things than him.

He is someone one who really stands out…

Jang Won-taek had lived in Yeouido for a long time and met quite a lot of people who were like Seongho. They were always doing things their own way, making it difficult to change them. That tendency would be even harder to change in this apocalypse.

Jang Won-taek felt that it would be better for him and the Government Shelter in general to accept his proposition here.

Despite Seongho’s fame, another thing which he particularly coveted was his combat power. Even Seokhyun had said that if Seongho fought him with all he had, he would lose. Perhaps the same also goes for the Ghoul Queen.

Jang Won-taek turned his gaze to the woman in question, who was sitting close to Seongho.

“Our Da-jeong, who came after a long time, seems to be close with Seongho.”

“Of course. We are one.”

Hyun-woo, who had just put the cup to his lips, spit the water. Without minding him, Da-jeong hugged Seongho’s arms and winked at people.

“How about One Plus One?”

Jang Won-taek smiled sadly. He was aware that they were close, but never had he thought that they were in that kind of relationship. Now, Seongho’s offer has become a league sweeter. Afterall, if he accepted him, he would even get the ghoul queen. It was temporary, of course, but for the current Government Shelter, that was enough.

He has no reason not to accept it. It’s a service which is clearly worth 30% of the material the shelter has.

Jang won-taek’s fingers stopped tapping the table and opened his mouth. “I’ve felt it before… but you really have a talent for making proposals by putting people down. You should have been in politics.”

“I am not interested in politics.”

Jang Won-taek smiled brightly at Seongho’s answer. “Every act where a person interacts with other people in life is politics. If you always throw your fists just because you don’t like something, it’s the beginning of a war.

“You said you didn’t like having someone above you, so I’ll correct it. We are equal partners.”

Seongho said without holding his hand. “Whoever sees it, it looks like you are leaning on me.”

“You are free to think whatever, but I have no intention of giving orders. Seokhyun, did I ever give you an order?”

“No.”

Jang Won-taek had always taken the form of a request whenever he needed someone to do something. And whoever he chose, they had the right to refuse. However, in reality, no one could ignore his influence, so they would obey him.

As soon as Seongho took his hand, Jang Won-taek furrowed his brows.

“Now, we are eating from the same pot.”

“For the time being.”

After the three of them left, Jang Won-taek sighed and lit up the cigarette pinched between his fingers.

“Uh-huh… I’ve designated this room as no smoking area. But it seems like I will be the one who also breaks it.”

“No one will ever say anything.”

When Lee Beom-seok spoke, Jang Won-taek smiled bitterly. “I mean, the action is problematic itself. I can’t even keep the promises I made to myself, so how can I tell other people this and that?”

“The president deserves it. Unlike others, you saved people.”

Jang Won-taek let out a long puff of acidic smoke.

“You better not say that in front of that friend. By the way, Major Kim, you know Seongho?”

“Oh, yes. We moved together for a while in Gimhae. However we separated after I received the summons and went there.”

“How was he back then?”

Kim Hyun-woo tried to remember the days he couldn’t remember well.

“At that time, he was strong. Some people attacked to collect supplies from the Gimhae Battalion, but they were forced to return empty handed.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

The three didn’t even know that Seongho had destroyed the Gimhae clan and continued to chat.

“He was kind to the Japanese people on the island as well.”

“Yeah… When I first heard about it, I doubted if it was the same person. He even gave them some medicine.”

“It must have been because those people were worth using.”

Jang Won-taek was bitter at Lee Beom-seok’s words.

“Don’t always look at the bad side.”

“He is a Punisher type of person. He separates everyone into those who he needs to kill and those who he does not have to. He’s very dangerous.”

“…It is our role to embrace such people. You shouldn’t forget that.”

“I understand.”

The two bowed their heads to Jang Won-taek. This is why they respected him. He believed in human goodwill. He always thought that even the worst human beings could change. It’s unclear whether that will work in Apocalypse though.

“Oh, there’s one more thing I need to ask you, Major Kim.” Jang Won-taek, who said that, had an apologetic expression on his face. After all, as soon as Major Kim joined Government Shelter, he continued to give him missions and make him wander from one place to another.

But Kim Hyun-woo didn’t seem to care. “It’s more convenient to take orders.”

“I’m glad you said that. All you have to do is… take your men and bring rifles and anti-tank weapons from Yongsan bunker here. It has to be a no-shock one, and it has to be usable.”

Kim Hyun-woo put on a troubled expression.

“There is no anti-tank weapon without aftershocks. And it’s very difficult to use modern anti-tank missiles. Maintenance is required.”

“Is that so? Will the bad gift from before repeat?” Jang Won-taek felt his head hurt. He had bragged about the weapon to Seongho, what would happen if he was unable to give it to him?

He opened his mouth after giving the matter a ponder. “Take him to Yongsan bunker then.”

“President, that is not possible.”

“I know what you want to say. But this time, you will follow my will. We can’t treat a guest who brings you a big gift like that ever again.”

“I understand.” Although Lee Beom-seok was not convinced, he decided to follow his superior’s will.

Jang Won-taek gave instructions to Hyun-woo. “Take him and tell him to choose for himself. Of course you have to watch him.”

“Yes sir.”

Even though Jang Won-taek ordered so, he himself wasn’t sure if the measure would really work. After all, Seongho was someone who was able to grab a lot of supplies from the Gwangju Time Shelter. He told him that he’s not satisfied with what he got at Gyeryongdae bunker, and if he knew about the Yongsan bunker, he would naturally get greedy.

Jang Won-taek leaned against the chair. “He’s really a greedy person.”

“How about severing contact with him after this, Mister President? He’s too greedy.”

Lee Beom-seok suggested it, but Jang Won-taek just shook his head.

“No, we have to keep in touch with him. You know why.”

“Is it because of his Unique skill?”

“People did not find Da-jeong in the Gwangju Time Shelter incident. But she was definitely there. Rumor said that people can enter his subspace.”

“It would have saved a lot of people. What a waste.”

“You know what would have happened to you in the Wetland labyrinth if you said it right in front of his face, right?”

Lee Beom-seok’s face hardened and Jang Won-taek looked at him and said,

“Don’t force him to do anything or even ask why he lives his life that way. Because if you do it, you will only live with him as your enemy. If you are still alive, that is.”

If you keep in contact with goodwill, one day he will reach out. Jang Won-taek thought so.

.

.

.

Seems like Da-jeong wasn’t just being picky with food when she told him that the food in the Government Shelter was bad. The dishes they served were terribly tasteless. However, he couldn’t just not eat it. There were many eyes looking at him at the moment. I scooped the mashed potatoes with a spoon and shoved it into my mouth. The seasoning was lacking, there was no taste at all except for the potato.

Da-jeong shrugged and smirked at his display. “Isn’t so fuckin tasteless, is it?”

She said it in a loud voice to the point people started to look at her.

“Well… It’s edible.”

“Your face said so otherwise, though? Don’t you think so, Mi-kyung?”

“…” Mi-kyung only looked at me before putting her head down and eating again, giving no answer whatsoever.

Hyungjun hyung fluttered his plastic spoon.

“They say there are food and seasoning supplies in the sealing room, so we have to hold on until then. That’s right, Seongho. Didn’t you say you have some smoke with you?”

“Let’s go to my room after this, hyung-nim. I’ll give it to you there. You should come too, Sooyeon.”

Sooyeon, who put the plastic spoon in her mouth, nodded.

“Okay.”

After exchanging those words, we hurriedly finished our meal. However, when I stood up and was about to return the plate, Jang Won-taek came and sat down next to me.

“Can I talk to you for a moment?”

I stood back down and nodded.

He lowered his voice and said, “I was going to prepare something better for you than the previous one, but there was a setback.”

Seongho knew what he was talking about. The anti-tank weapon. However, it would be better than the M-72 he got at Gyeryongdae shelter.

“It’s enough if it can shoot.”

“There will be a problem with the whole machine if you use it. It’s a sophisticated piece of equipment after all.”

It seems like it would be quite different from the M72, where I could just aim and shoot. If so, should I use the M72 again? I think it would somehow damage the Slingshot Sniffles, but there’s a high probability that it won’t work for the Shield Sniffles. In the meantime, if the looters attack, I would have to fight back. Things were getting complicated.

Seeing my expression, he quickly added.

“So we want to give you a choice.”

“What kind of choice?”

“You just have to go inside and choose what you want.”

That means he gives me the location of the bunker. I glanced at him.

“You will tell me the location?”

“You will go there with Major Kim.”

Ah, so he wants me to take just what I need… Smart. There is no need to show that I could store it in the portal, so I should use a dimension slot. I mean, as long as I have the location, I could just come and pick it up later.

I nodded and stood up, he asked.

“How many people will be going?”

“Only four will go.”

He nodded his head happily.

“It will be the first time the four stagnant waters move together. We look forward to great results.”

“We will just give you the information we acquire, no more.” I said so, but he still smiled warmly.

“That alone is enough.”

Sometimes I just couldn’t figure out what this old man was up to. I went back to the dorm area. Four people were supposed to share one room, so there was no privacy or anything like that. All in all, the food and living place was far inferior to Dot Island. I feel sorry for sending them here now. Thankfully, they didn’t seem to care.

I headed to the room where Hyeongjun hyung and Sooyeon were waiting for me. When I opened the dimension slot and took out a cigarette, Hyungjun hyung was delighted.

“It’s a cigarette!”

“You know you can’t smoke here, right?”

“I’ll just hold on to it now.”

Looks like he’d been starving for quite some time. Meanwhile, Sooyeon showed interest in my dimension slot.

“Seongho, can I touch it?”

“Sure. Slot number one.”

She was amazed to see the Mithril Blade floating in the air.

“It’s like some kind of game quickslot.”

“You know about that?”

She laughed awkwardly at my question.

“I heard a lot from Geom-in ssi.”

It was really sad to hear that he was talking to a doctor in his early 30s about games. Shortly after, Seokhyun, Da-jeong, and Geom-in entered one after another. When the room was full, Da-jeong snapped her fingers.

“No one will come in because the door is blocked by Tank.”

“Thank you.”

I looked around at the people and said. “Now that we are all here, let me tell you something. I’m here to gather information and respond to anything this place is trying to do if it is regarding us. Do you know that the Corrosive Disease is almost gone?”

Hyungjun hyung and Sooyeon nodded their heads almost at the same time.

“I know some crazy bastards are shooting guns out there, so you’re right.”

“I don’t know for sure because I haven’t been testing these days.”

“It’s not completely gone now, so the gun didn’t last long. It will be gone in a month or so.”

“A month, huh?”

“A lot of things will change when that time comes. You know the government has a huge stockpile of weapons.”

“We are aware of it.”

“Once it is usable, the government will no longer stand still. They will use Geom-in’s totem to create a good shelter. Those two qualities will become a focal point that draws people in.”

“Then what should we do? From what we talked about before, didn’t we decide that we will appeal to them by working hard to be able to get guns?”

“From now on, you are all going to gather as many supplies as possible before entering my shelter.”

Sooyeon hesitated and said,

“After hearing about it from Seok-hyun-ssi, didn’t we need to do some quest?.”

“You’re right. You have to go to a place similar to the Farming Dungeon and find 3 Aether Stones. I’ll give you a scarab and dingo, but it won’t help much in battle.”

“It’s just like doing it alone.”

Even my hyung-nim seems to have no confidence in doing it. It’s only natural. So far they had been hunting together, so hunting ‘alone’ would be a foreign concept to them.

I opened dimension slot 10 and showed them the gun I had. Except for Seokhyun and Da-jeong, everyone was surprised.

“You have a gun?”

“Oh my gosh…”

“There was a time when goblins appeared in Gayasan, is it not? That’s when I looted it.”

I took out the revolver from the dimension slot and put it in Sooyeon’s hand.

“How is it, Sooyeon-ssi? With this, can you fight monsters?”

“…”

After hesitating for a while, she finally nodded her head. Seems like the reason for her delay was because she never had guns in her hand before.

I retrieved the revolver and put it back in the dimension slot. There’s only one month left, so I guess I would have to go around and train with the members.

At that moment, Geom-in opened his mouth.

“I, I can do it. The mission, I mean.”

“You can’t enter just yet”

“Why?”

“I know that once you enter, you wouldn’t leave if we didn’t force you. That too on premise we know where you are, you shelter maniac.”

“It’s not like that…” He laughed wryly and scratched his cheek. But he didn’t seem to be offended at all.

“You can enter together with the others later. I won’t ask you to leave at that moment.”

“Okay.”

Seeing him clenching his fists with all his might, it seemed like he’s waiting for that day. But so are other people.

I looked at them and said, “Anyway, after the corrosive disease disappeared, it’s the real thing. We’re not the only ones with guns.”

Even if it’s not the looters at the subway station, there will be others. After all, there’s quite a few bunkers in Hannam-dong. What they stocked up in the bunker is irrelevant. But I know that it would be dangerous for us. Also, there were those who have not yet revealed their identity yet.

“Always cover up and think bullets can come at you any time. Body armor is a basic requirement, and you must always wear a helmet.” I said in serious expression.

Da-jeong, who had only listened so far, opened her mouth.

“Major Kim is looking for you, Seongho.”

It’s time to depart. I got up and said

“The four of us are going to kill a Sniffles.”