A Man Enters My Shelter

A man had entered my shelter... Civilized people shouldn't act like this, but after starving for so long, none of that even registers. Sauce smeared thick around his mouth. He sucked the plates clean with such gusto that no dishwashing was needed. The table emptied in a flash, but there was still so much more laid out—befitting her words that she'd prepared everything since she didn't know his tastes.

It took a couple of hours before he finally said he couldn't eat another bite. This was gluttony on a whole other level. He hated to leave anything behind and tried to force it down, but my stomach had reached its limit.

"Ahhh... so full..."

It felt like my airways were finally clearing. Vitality surged through my battered body at last. I'd always suffered from malnutrition, chronic lethargy and fatigue, even frequent anemia—but now, all of that vanished in an instant. My blurry vision sharpened too.

"Th-thank you. How can I ever repay this kindness?"

Suspecting Seo Yura could wait. Right now, she'd not only quenched my thirst but filled my belly too. She'd saved a man who could've died any moment, and doubting her still felt morally wrong. I bowed as low as I could, even starting to prostrate myself fully. She looked flustered by the unexpected reaction. Honestly, even prostration felt insufficient. To repay this grace, I'd give my body, my heart... ah, maybe that's going a bit too far. Either way, I'd never forget this debt.

"All done? You even cleaned the plates spotless."

"Thank you so much. I really thought I was done for... You saved my life."

"Well... it's nothing that big..."

She shrugged like it was no big deal, but the corner of Seo Yura's mouth twitched. She seemed pleased, coughing awkwardly in succession. Her cheeks even flushed a little.

"Glad you enjoyed it. No matter how messed up the world is, a man shouldn't go hungry. Consider yourself lucky I found you."

I nodded vigorously at Yura's words. She wasn't wrong—not one bit. If she hadn't spotted me then, I'd have ended up like the others: neck snapped, swallowed whole, vanished without a trace. It was sheer luck, nothing less.

"Your name... Baek Seohan, right?"

"Ah, yes, that's me."

"Your fingerprints checked out that way. Oh, it was just for treatment purposes, so don't get the wrong idea."

"Got it."

So they could ID people by fingerprints here. Not surprising anymore. And we'd have exchanged names anyway, so I let it slide.

"Hmm... Think you can walk on your own two legs now?"

"My own two legs? Whoa, they're really fine now."

What the hell? Just earlier, standing was a struggle, but now it felt effortless. If anything, I had more energy than before. I could probably sprint without issue.

"That's the serum. No pain, right?"

"Not even a little."

"Alright, follow me then? You'll be staying here until treatment's fully done. I'll give you a rough layout so you don't get lost."

What was the rush? Before I could ask, Yura grabbed my hand and pulled me back into the corridor. We passed hallway after hallway until a massive dome-shaped plaza opened up before us.

"Whoa..."

An exclamation slipped out involuntarily. It was enormous. Easily the size of two World Cup stadiums stitched together. Just crossing from one end to the other would take over thirty minutes, or so it felt. And the landscaping was breathtaking: trees and flowers arranged in perfect patterns across the vast space.

"You really live here all alone?"

"Yeah. There used to be other researchers, but... you know how it is. The Monsters showed up. Now I run the shelter myself."

What the hell had happened? How did she end up alone? Digging into that would probably drag on forever. Not something to dump on a guy she'd just met. Better to build rapport slowly.

"'Noah,' the man behind me is Baek Seohan. Register him as a resident."

"Th-thanks..."

So detailed. It could assess my condition with just a scan? Noah finished collecting data, beeped a few more times noisily, then...

"H-3?"

"Just say bathroom then, no need to complicate it."

Thwack! Yura, who'd been watching quietly, smacked Noah's metal head with a clang. At her nod, Noah wrapped up and returned to its spot. It even looked kinda down... almost human. Its display showed 【•́ ̯•̀】.

"I'll show you to the bathroom entrance."

"Ah, sure..."

Filled my stomach, and now a free shower? Looking forward to it. I hadn't said it, but I felt grimy as hell. Itchy all over, sour fermented sweat stench and body odor. In a water-scarce world, just splashing my face outside was a luxury.

"Use as much water as you want. Take your time. Us women hate how gross men can get."

"For real? Even if it's that much trouble..."

"Unlike outside, electricity and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠water are plentiful here. Don't skimp out of politeness, or I'll shove you back in. Got it?"

I nodded. She handed me a single towel, and I entered the marked H-3 zone alone. The moment I stepped into the changing room, I froze. Could this place stop surprising me already? This was no ordinary bathroom. Marble floors, sleek walls gleaming softly under the lights. I'd been told it was for washing up—no mention of a sauna...

I stripped. Couldn't just stand there dumbfounded. Now I felt like the dirtiest thing in the room. Clothes off, I stepped into the bath proper.

Rumble... Ha, couldn't help but laugh in disbelief. Towering ceiling lost in the heights, massive marble pillars. It had the grandeur of a temple. Hot spring water poured from intricately carved lion heads. If my old comrades saw this, they'd all faint—slapping their cheeks, insisting it couldn't be real.

I dipped a toe in. Tingling heat raced up my nerves, sending indescribable shivers through my peripherals. It was like my body was being pulled in. Unable to resist the temptation, I eased in slowly... starting from the farthest points from my heart.

"Huuu..."

Once submerged up to my neck, my muscles melted away. My body floated lightly, dissolving helplessly into the warmth. All the grime built up on me drained out, soul and all. Yeah, everyone could live safely here. Lee Seoyeun and my remaining comrades too. Free from the daily torment of the Monsters.

Yura said she lived here alone. Even if the population boomed, this place's resources wouldn't dent a bit—like an ant's fingernail. Water and power for life, plus food. No clue on exact reserves, but from what I'd seen, they were near infinite. Otherwise, this level of extravagance was impossible. Hell, there might be more resources and tech here than when the Monsters invaded. Humanity's rebirth? Not a pipe dream if played right. A future back on the surface under sunlight felt close.

The shelter's deepest core. The control room overseeing all systems. Dozens, hundreds of monitors flickered under the vigilant watch of one lone person.

Displays showed Baek Seohan bathing. Yura propped her chin, gaze impassive yet intently fixed on him.

"A man... a man..."

A being she'd never connect with in her lifetime. One she'd dismissed as mere pixels on a screen—now living with her in the shelter she'd retrofitted herself.

"Does he have a girlfriend? Nah, it'd be weirder if he didn't."

His libido and hormone levels exceeded the male average, per scans. Among the rare few men left, he was exceptionally prime. Handsome too. At first, she'd thought he was some influencer, beauty shining even under dirt piles.

"He can't leave..."

Greed stirred from her heart's depths. Her pulse quickened oddly. Long isolation had worn her down. Managing this vast facility solo. Even for an introvert, losing human warmth frayed the mind.

Her first real companion in ages. On the monitor, Baek Seohan finished bathing and stepped out. Yura rose, handing control back to the AI as she went to greet him.