Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: 59. Cabin
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Recently, it was undeniable that Woo Min-hee had started suspecting this pure-hearted Park Gyu.
This cunning woman let my post with zero comments sit for about a day before launching this terror attack in the replies.
Cleverly enough, she seemed to know that I check notifications every time they pop up, deleting all her comments just an hour after posting them with meticulous precision.
I still believed she had no idea who I really was.
Well, she probably had her suspicions.
There were a few obvious leads, after all.
The match between the forum nickname and my personal ID code.
The fact that SKELTON had zero activity on the board whenever I went out in Incheon.
A few instances where she might guess SKELTON was Park Gyu.
And Umchang's childlike yet unnervingly sharp wit.
But this Park Gyu was the type to stick to a duck's foot once he started evading.
Moreover, I knew exactly what kind of person Woo Min-hee was.
She lived on 10% reason and 90% impulse.
Just like this Park Gyu evading to the end, she was the type to latch on and harass someone relentlessly once she got hooked.
I'd never had a personal relationship with her, but from stories of men who'd dated her, they all complained about her absurd suspicions and persistence.
Her harassing me as Umchang was probably an extension of those flashy, glittering days.
More than anything, with her personality, if she was 100% sure I was Umchang, she'd come find me.
This wasn't a hypothesis.
It was inevitable.
Like punching numbers into a calculator and getting an instant answer.
Ignoring her was the best move, but completely brushing off her prank might fuel her suspicions more.
So, I waited for her to comment on my "zero-comment post" from yesterday and immediately replied.
Could there be a shorter yet more profound response than this question mark?
The reporter seemed to think the same, posting the exact same reply as me.
"..."
What to do?
I'd gripped an axe and made life-or-death choices plenty of times, but gripping a keyboard for one? This was a first.
Another question mark wouldn't cut it.
Exclamation points were Seamonkeypapa's thing.
A tilde would just rile her up.
Come to think of it, question marks need Shift too.
Anyway, I had to say something.
What, though?
I racked my brain over Woo Min-hee from school days, team leader era, and post-apocalypse, but nothing came.
No choice but to go with instinct.
Tap.
"..."
Weird? What's weird about Dong-o's Virtue King Um Baek-ho?
Anyway, Um Baek-ho's virtue must have reached even two thousand years later, because Woo Min-hee didn't comment again after that.
Realistically, something probably came up, or she went to check other posts.
Regardless of this woman suspecting and bothering me, I had my own preparations underway.
Thud.
Split and stack firewood,
Squish squish.
Make food that can last through winter,
Vrrr.
Check the boiler and heating system.
That's right.
I was preparing for winter.
Some might call it insane.
With daytime temps hitting 30 degrees in this late summer, why prep for winter?
But the cold snap was coming.
US boards said it'd be worse than last year, right?
Even without a cold snap, winter prep was essential.
Against monsters, you could choose not to fight or run if unprepared.
But unprepared for cold? Death was the only option.
Dozens of frozen corpses on the golf course by my territory proved it firsthand.
My ace in the hole for this winter: the wood-fired boiler.
But installing it wasn't simple.
Too big for the bunker.
Main entrance sealed against Legion threat, no way in.
Tried garage, but door to main bunker too small. Fail.
Garage install? Fire risk to vehicles and gear spells doom.
Pondered long, no answer.
So, change of perspective.
Instead of bringing boiler inside, build a house for the boiler.
The idea came from Rebecca, no less.
"My family built a wooden house in winter."
Overwintering in a warm log cabin during snowfall sounded romantic.
But in apocalypse? Luxurious.
I had a container house.
Modifying that beat building a fancy cabin—more efficient, cheaper.
Rusty, dirty, ugly, but a home just needs to block wind and rain, right?
Showed Rebecca the container.
"I know how to build cabins."
Didn't even mention container.
That omission meant it wasn't worth mentioning.
"I build good ones. Did it with Dad and a hammer."
Rebecca was thrilled after so long.
"Even handled construction in the army. Trust me, SKELTON."
Unusually proactive.
Tired of her beloved internet world?
Makes sense after a year glued to it.
Saw her munching while browsing—Korean board confirmed.
Nothing left on local board, so sniffing foreign ones.
But I didn't need her help.
Territory merge yes, but risky time.
Yesterday, roaring engines of vehicle convoy on road.
No gunshots, but multiple vehicles now? Chilling.
No leaving safe base for group construction.
*
Test-built a house for Rebecca and Suu alone.
Heat delivery later; for now, slate panels like A-frame for Gold, tent-style roof doubling as walls, reinforced with cement and insulation.
Showed prototype to sniper mom and daughter first.
"Oh my God."
"SKELTON, this is a doghouse?"
Not great reaction.
Horror.
My defense:
"Shape's like this for efficiency—small size heats fast with less fuel. Built next to toilet to share warmth."
"SKELTON loves toilets too much."
"Toilets are important."
Defenses failed; vetoed by duo.
"We'll come. Let's build together."
Mom and daughter joined cabin construction.
Early dawn arrival at my territory.
Tough for night-owl Rebecca, but I requested dawn.
Rebecca in rolled-up fatigues, sharp wild-animal eyes like first meeting, not her usual daze.
"I'll direct. SKELTON supports."
My triangular slate house really offended her.
That honed-knife look said it all.
Despite my hurt feelings, felt Rebecca's soldier bones this time.
Ace soldier, not average.
Workaholic ghost.
Brought blueprints, studied my setup and plans with Suu's help, then sketched furiously with ear pencil—squiggles, English, symbols I couldn't parse—and dove in.
"SKELTON, chainsaw?"
"Hand saw too."
"Wow, SKELTON has everything."
"Basics."
Didn't mention Manseokne.
Vrrr.
Suu on overwatch with rifle and binos; we felled, trimmed wood, sorted materials, prepped foundation.
Two-person team? Work flew by.
Sunset, quitting time: my input.
"Pretty is nice, but camouflage first."
"Got it."
Next day, revised blueprint.
Dummy bunker behind new toilet as core, using hills and slopes—looks buried from outside.
Crudely masterful; nodded approval. Suu approached.
"Mom drew all night."
Asked Rebecca:
"You okay?"
"One night no sleep? Fine."
No mercy needed.
"Let's start then."
*
Under Suu's sharp watch, we built new hideout fast.
New cabin of wood and plywood took shape on summer-shrouded hill; genuine joy, mutual praise.
But when I said I'd live next door, light argument—"Not what we agreed!"
"Wall between."
"Redraw plans?"
"No need. Mine's Gold House."
"Gold House?"
"Yeah."
The crude triangle I first showed.
As work progressed, wariness thawed between us.
Rebecca, seeming washout soldier? Surprise foreman.
Suu, too young? Sharp, cool sentry.
Radio calm amid gunfire? Promising sprout.
"Nyam nyam. Northeast 3km. Ignore. Nyam nyam."
To Rebecca:
"Please. Proper parenting?"
"..."
"Husband coming, right? Somehow, but coming?"
"Fine."
While prepping against winter—fair, merciless giant foe—I glanced at chaotic board, felt a sense of mission.
Winter prep: cozy survival for me and mine, gearing for new spring.
But a thought: if only I/we survive, warm spring?
Pailnet friends freezing? Unavoidable.
But board joiners prepping future, dying this winter?
Desolate board next spring? What feeling?
"Rebecca."
Even this SKELTON wants productive board activity sometimes.
Beatbox fun, but like Dragonsee, Anon337, great John_nenon—warm hearts, spread good influence.
"Can you post on Korean board?"
"What?"
"Serialize cabin build and winter prep."
"Me? You have SKELTON ID."
"Yeah, but can't use it."
"Why?"
"Just... yeah."
Next day.
Viva! Apocalypse! Korean board: one post.
Rebecca's simple winter prep series.
Awkward sentences from all-day internet, but cuts and sense pro-level.
Internet pro: whited out identifiable backgrounds except cabin for anti-trace.
Response? Lukewarm.
2-3 comments.
Not seeking comments.
Hope one person sees, preps winter, meets here next year—Park Gyu's small wish.
Balanced net and real work.
Daytime no longer sweltering: cabin complete.
"Suu, look."
American Rebecca loved shows.
For Suu, missed process on watch: draped industrial plastic over (old factory style), unveiled with flourish on arrival.
"Our new house?"
Suu's eyes sparkled.
Rebecca rubbed faces with grinning daughter.
Suu squirmed, scanned around.
"SKELTON winters next door, right? Where do you live?"
Pointed to triangular Gold-style beside their house.
"Doghouse?"
*
Despite good intentions, Rebecca's posts flopped.
Started with 3 comments, dwindled to 1-2, latest zero.
Doubts hit: meaningless echo?
But good deeds sometimes rewarded.
Final post day: 20 comments flooded.
...
Trolls aside, mostly "good job" vibes.
Unspoken, but all watching.
Our winter collab completion, with their hopes.
No "I'll prep" posts.
But planted "winter" seed? Fact.
Reward enough?
"Why not your nick, SKELTON?"
Suu radioed.
"Well..."
Organized thoughts, honest.
"Can't let slip I'm SKELTON."
"Why?"
"Circumstances."
"SKELTON shy?"
"..."
Lately, Suu might be the real wildcard over Rebecca.