Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: The Hidden Bunker
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‘Lucky.’
Yuseong sincerely thought so.
Even when he had to spend nights outside the base, he’d gone days without sleep. And that wasn’t long ago.
The world outside the base was an incredibly dangerous place for him. Even after he could travel with the robots, he’d avoided sleeping outdoors whenever possible.
But now, searching for a base, he had no choice but to spend nights in the open. With no idea when he’d find one, he couldn’t stay awake forever, so he forced himself to sleep.
And it stressed him out immensely.
Just staying outside put him on edge, and beasts attacked every night.
Of course, the robots handled them without him even waking up. Still, he stayed combat-ready for any emergencies. Naturally, he didn’t sleep properly.
After days of this, even with his nano machine-enhanced stamina and iron will forged from countless hardships, Yuseong was exhausted.
He considered using otherworld travel for a quick nap. But he resisted the temptation.
‘Without a base right now, this is the only thing that can protect me in a crisis.’
An ace up his sleeve for escaping danger instantly. He couldn’t waste it lightly.
In that state, Yuseong was utterly worn out. If this bunker had been ruined too, he would’ve risked it and gone to the other world to sleep.
No matter how vital the ace was, he couldn’t let his mind break while hoarding it.
Fortunately, this bunker looked intact from the outside.
Because he couldn’t even tell where it was.
That meant it was properly hidden. All the previous bunkers had exposed their interiors through broken doors or holes.
In a situation where monsters and beasts roamed outside, such places couldn’t serve as a base.
‘Guess I’ll start by finding the entrance.’
A well-hidden bunker was hard for Yuseong to find too. But luckily, the map marked the entrance.
‘Good thing it’s underground.’
Surface buildings showed their entire structure on the map, making entrances unclear.
But bunkers—mostly underground with small surface facilities or just entrances—only showed those surface parts and doors on the map.
He’d confirmed this passing ruined bunkers. It saved him from blindly searching for entrances.
‘Here it is.’
The marked spot was among several large boulders.
‘Plenty of cover, at least.’
The boulders would block sightlines, hiding the entrance even if it opened.
‘Around here.’
He zoomed in the map and wandered, searching. The boulders served as landmarks, so he found it quickly.
‘This is it.’
Under the largest boulder, the map pointed to a solid stone floor.
Yuseong tapped the spot.
Thud! Thud!
‘Sounds the same as the rest of the floor.’
No hollow inside. But this was probably camouflage too.
He ordered the robots to search around the entrance and inspected carefully himself.
Control device found, Master.
Good news came soon. Yuseong approached the speaking robot. It stood before a boulder right by the entrance.
“Nothing’s visible here?”
Please place your hand here.
He pressed his hand where the robot indicated.
Whoosh!
A lid camouflaged as rock surface slid open, revealing a small electronic device inside.
‘This bunker’s way better made than I thought.’
Why it was intact was obvious from this hidden device.
‘The electronics still work. Must be a power source somewhere.’
Incredible. A century after civilization’s fall, functional electronics.
‘Or maybe... people are here?’
His heart skipped briefly.
In the old days, he wouldn’t have cared if others survived. He’d have been wary. Survivors like him would compete for the same resources.
But now, he’d met people in the Ark and other world. Resources were plentiful there.
‘Still, stay cautious.’
He’d encountered bad apples in the Ark too. No reason to assume everyone here was like Cookingde or the western garden folk.
‘Assuming anyone’s alive besides me.’
Yuseong refocused on the device.
‘Lock, probably. Password? Biometrics?’
Didn’t matter. Normal entry was impossible either way.
He drew his knife—a dagger bought in the Ark, usable in reality—and wedged the blade at the device’s edge.
After prying, the panel came loose, exposing wires and backup terminals behind.
He connected his portable computer.
“Strategy Guide. Hack it.”
【Hacking initiated.】
The Strategy Guide’s voice rang out, and soon:
【Hacking complete.】
Whirr!
A low hum. Beside him, the bunker entrance slowly revealed itself. The ground lifted, exposing stairs descending underground. Yuseong led the robots down.
Whirr!
Motion sensors, perhaps? The entrance sealed automatically once they entered. Lights flickered on along the stairwell, illuminating the way.
‘Even this works?’
Impressive and relieving.
At the bottom waited another door. If the outer one hid the bunker, this one guarded it.
But it stood wide open. The Strategy Guide had already hacked the internal systems.
Yuseong stepped inside. His potential new base. He was excited.
‘Wow.’
He marveled at the sight.
Not the finest interior he’d seen. He owned rural houses and Seoul high-rises in the other world, all luxuriously renovated.
No ruined-world structure could compare.
Yet this bunker impressed him plenty.
‘Doesn’t feel like a typical bunker.’
He’d seen many. Ruined, sure, but enough to grasp their purpose.
Hasty shelters for bare survival. Cramped, no specialized rooms. Few had power or water setups.
‘But this entrance was electronic.’
The corridor ahead gleamed under ceiling lights.
Even in this advanced lost civilization, electronics lasting over a century were rare. That’s why he’d scoured for supplies.
Here, though—just the entrance area—all devices functioned perfectly.
Not your average bunker.
‘This alone would be livable.’
His spirits lifted. He hadn’t checked everywhere, but what he saw sufficed. Even if the rest collapsed, fine.
‘Still, better check.’
He inspected room by room.
Spacious chambers. He expected living quarters, but nope.
Dust-covered weapons unused for ages.
‘Armory?’
Weapons were always welcome. He examined them.
Plenty of his NK-4s, plus shotguns, sniper rifles, railguns. But something else caught his eye.
‘Laser rifle?’
Unlike his ballistic guns—propelled by gunpowder or electromagnetism—this fired pure energy.
“Ha!”
More weapon types, the better. Ammo he could buy in the Ark with earnings. New varieties were pure profit.
He checked more rooms.
Some held weapons; others were warehouses. Supplies piled under dust. Plenty useful—Yuseong was thrilled.
‘But chances of people here just dropped.’
Even neglected, human activity leaves traces. None here.
Narrow, long corridors—for defending intruders, likely.
At the end, stairs down. Below opened a vast space ringed by rooms.
He checked every room that floor. Conclusion:
‘Recreation area.’
Billiards, theater, karaoke—playthings galore. Even unfamiliar machines; he asked the Strategy Guide for help.
‘Definitely not ordinary.’
Down another floor.
‘Living quarters here.’
Four bedrooms, two bathrooms, spacious living room. Fit a whole family. Repeated in every door.
‘Multiple families cohabiting?’
The bunker’s nature clicked.
‘Rich or powerful folks pooled resources.’
Made sense.
‘But where’d they go?’
People had lived here. Faded, but homey vibes everywhere residential.
Yet no bodies, no skeletons. Did they leave?
The answer lay below.
“......”
A dining hall. Tables in a wide hall. Adjacent kitchen, pantry-like storage.
But Yuseong stared at the hall.
He knew exactly where the bunker’s residents went.
Skulls sprawled on or near tables.
‘Suicide.’
Those who’d lorded over a gleaming civilization with wealth and power couldn’t endure the ruined world.