Black Fog and Base Grievances
Conversation. But it hadn't become a problem yet, so I let it slide. I had more pressing matters right now anyway.
"Mm..."
Classroom 401—what we'd conveniently call 401—was a mess. Blankets and mats laid out on a floor we'd barely managed to clear of dust. Desks and chairs shoved toward the teacher's desk. And personal belongings piled on top of them. It looked just like my old classroom 408: a total disaster.
Can't be helped.
We'd said we'd clean today. After the meeting, we had to tidy everything from the main building to the outside.
"Sorry to bother you so early."
I said it from the doorway. Kim Yunjin, sporting dark circles, waved me off quietly with a flick of her hand.
"What're you talking about... You're the big boss here. Unlike some people, we've got manners. Come on in already."
She trailed off meaningfully. The thorns in her words were probably about yesterday's mess with Hwang Jinseok.
"...Yeah."
I gave a wry smile and stepped inside. There was Kim Yunjin smiling at me, and Choi Yuri, half-buried under a blanket, groaning "Ugh..."
"...Welcome, boss. Good morning."
Choi Yuri greeted me in a weary voice. She didn't look great. Made sense— she'd carried Yoon Mina on her back yesterday, so some strain was inevitable.
I nodded back.
"Yeah. Sorry for waking you, Yuri. Sleep more."
She let out a big yawn. After a moment, she burrowed back into the blanket.
"Aww. Okay, I'll sleep a bit more. Do your thing and go, boss."
"Sure. I'll keep quiet."
I glanced around. Yoon Mina was sleeping nearby too. Seeing a limbless woman asleep like that tugged at the heartstrings. I sighed.
"I was planning to call only Seoyul, but..."
"Huh?"
I glanced back at Kim Yunjin behind me. Her eyes were bright and alert despite the morning hour.
"No issue, I guess."
It was stuff they already knew anyway. And nothing that required raising my voice.
Thud.
"Seoyul."
I plopped down on the floor and got to the point.
"That black fog you mentioned before—could you tell me about it?"
"Huh?"
Lee Seoyul tilted her head. She sat quietly beside me and said,
"You mean the future apartment, right?"
"Yes."
I'd heard a bit before, but it was vague. Back then, the talk was mostly Liberation Army and Yuseong University. The apartment complex was just "swallowed by black fog."
I chose my words carefully.
"That head I brought yesterday... That's why."
"Ah."
Lee Seoyul blinked. She'd probably pieced it together.
"Th-that's connected to it?"
"Not certain, but high possibility."
I explained: the two Liberation Army guys I'd seen yesterday. The faceless one in dead man's clothes. Even melting in sunlight.
"...Scary."
"Yeah. About that fog—have you seen it yourself?"
This mattered. If she'd seen it up close and knew what it looked like, I could push this issue back a bit.
But.
"...Not properly. Felt like I shouldn't get close, so I stayed far away."
She shook her head. I narrowed my eyes.
"...So you saw it from afar."
A needless follow-up born of disappointment.
"Yeah. But not clearly. Couldn't see inside properly..."
Unexpectedly, solid info came.
"From outside, the interior was completely invisible?"
"K-kinda visible, but... how to say. Like a dark forest?"
Hmm, Lee Seoyul pondered.
"Like night, I guess. It was dark. Y'know those black fog cities...?"
Night. Black fog. City.
"Got it."
"D-did that help? I'm not totally sure..."
"Enough."
Lee Seoyul wouldn't lie about something trivial. And she probably hadn't misseen it.
I bowed my head to her.
"Thanks for the early morning chat."
"Eh... That's it?"
Her dazed voice. Yeah, that was it.
"Yes. Good work."
"N-no, thank you for bringing me here."
Bringing her here. I gazed at her, lost in thought.
Come to think of it, I hadn't talked much with her since bringing her.
Though I don't chat much with most base folks anyway...
Truth was, it'd been neglect after the rescue. I'd handed her off to Jeong Suhyun and Kim Jungshik, but... women, especially ones I'd saved myself—uncomfortable dynamics were inevitable. Kim Yunjin and Choi Yuri were handling it, but limits existed.
I'm a guy too, after all.
I turned to Kim Yunjin, who was watching me quietly.
"Yunjin, Seoyul."
"Y-yeah?"
"Yess."
Kim Yunjin startled—she hadn't expected to be called. Lee Seoyul just answered calmly.
I asked them,
"Any inconveniences or suggestions from base life?"
Jeong Suhyun aside, it'd been nearly 10 days since meeting Kim Yunjin. Around 18 or 19 since taking Our Love Church. Close enough. But 10 days discomfort-free? Unlikely. They'd glossed over it.
"I-I'm fine."
"Anything's okay."
"No. I'm the one adapting here."
Lee Seoyul shook her head. Fair—she'd just arrived.
I looked to Kim Yunjin.
"Ugh. Plenty."
And there it was.
"Speak freely. No one's listening."
I spent little time with base folks. At most Jeong Suhyun, Kim Jungshik, maybe Lee Yoon. So feedback time was scarce. But I needed ties with them. Be a leader, not a boss.
Or maybe boss is better?
As I pondered, Kim Yunjin spoke.
"Clothes are short. Blankets too. We rotate one, but laundry means sharing."
Clothes, blankets. I'd considered it.
"Pads from last time are plenty, but daily stuff—shampoo's low. Cleanser too. Right, soap. Soap's especially gone."
Shampoo, cleanser, soap, pads. Probably just what we grabbed from that mid-size mart with Bae Sungkwan.
"Food's okay... but seasonings, veggies would be nice."
Made sense—we'd dumped food at church, so reliant on summons. Short on spices, green onions, onions.
But.
"...Seasonings should be in the cafeteria."
"Cafeteria? Ah."
Yeah. Veggies rotted, but bulk basics would last. Not even a month since apocalypse—shelf life years left.
"And?"
"Ahem..."
Kim Yunjin cleared her throat fake-cough. I watched, waiting.
Then.
"Boss's attention is lacking."
"......"
Kim Yunjin spouting nonsense. Or not nonsense.
Thud.
I stared at her silently. Dark circles, droopy tired eyes, decadent vibe. She stared back.
Flowing silence.
"...Eh..."
As we locked eyes, Lee Seoyul made a dumb noise beside us. Kim Yunjin pfft-ed a laugh.
"Pfft. Just kidding. Kinda awkward saying it. We got nothing to do anyway."
"...What nothing? Base cleaning, cooking, prepping my return spot. Plenty."
But.
"Don't bullshit."
Kim Yunjin was serious. She leaned closer.
"This place runs solely 'cause of you... You saved us, built it. We're just riding along."
Hmm.
"...Couldn't alone."
"No. Without you, we'd all be dead. Think about it."
I grimaced.
"Still, everyone's useful."
Food, healing, surveillance. I needed them.
"...Funny. Better with us for your goals? Or without?"
"Yunjin."
"Your goal ain't saving folks or killing bad guys. Honestly, you could solo to your hometown."
She remembered my church persuasion: head home, but need your skills to bring you.
True enough.
Their abilities were essential. My mana let Frost Blink 1km max daily—6km. Chungnam Seocheon over 200km? Brutal trek.
But gap between my view and theirs was wide. I roamed outside; they stayed in.
No.
Pointing it out felt wrong. Especially with her hand on my face. Soft, but chillingly cold.
She brought her face close.
"So yesterday's bullshit pissed me off. Hwang Jinseok and Lee Jeongsu."
Curse-mixed tone. She'd always been feisty since day one.
But.
"Just them. Rest know what you do. Me, Seoyul too. Know their place."
Her eyes gleamed.
"That so."
"Fact, not 'that so.' Right, Seoyul?"
"...Yes."
I glanced over. Kim Yunjin frowning, Lee Seoyul blinking but agreeing.
Natural sigh escaped.
"Yunjin. No fighting among base folks, no matter what."
She bleh-ed, flapping her hand.
"Duh, know. You see us as total babies."
Babies. I'd never viewed them as kids needing protection...
"Right? You do."
"Guess so."
Couldn't deny. They were vital, worth protecting.
"We're adults. We discern right/wrong. That's why yesterday's guys shut up. Warm roof, reality check—bam!"
"......"
Yeah. Humans grasp reality.
"Just sayin'. We'll handle needs ourselves."
Themselves...
"Really?"
"Yeah. You won't listen anyway. Last proposal—think on it."
Last proposal?
Ah.
I shook my head.
"Nah."
Kim Yunjin tsk-ed. Then awkward expression.
"...How'd talk go here?"
True. I'd come for quick Seoyul chat. Supplies derailed to heavy stuff.
Plus, sorry seeing flustered Lee Seoyul watching us.
I sighed.
"Got it. Daily goods, clothes—I'll consider."
No more needs apparent. Even if more,
"We'll go together then."
Not solo like usual. Planned group haul.
Department store or mid-mart best.
Lower neighborhoods had good spots.
Of course.
Yuseong University, Liberation Army, remnants first.
Who knew when.