Chapter 150
Chapter 150
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: 74. Tyrant (2)
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Defender's house hasn't changed a bit.
But anyone who's spent time in a war zone could easily tell how many death traps lurk around it.
Take the shortcut leading to the house, for example.
It's blanketed in snow and hard to spot, but the moment you step on it, your foot sinks deep into a pit crammed with discolored red clothes and blades. You'd end up with a nasty leg injury.
And that's not the end of it.
Getting stabbed deep into rust-covered metal means risking tetanus or any number of serious infections.
The house next door, which looks like a prime spot for staging an assault on Defender, is the same story.
It appears intact on the surface, but Defender himself rigged it up.
It's just like my dummy bunker.
The second you occupy it and attack his place—boom! Explosive end.
That's why, when heading to Defender's, you stick strictly to the safe route he told you about. There are markers.
Trash-like plastic bags hanging from every tree.
They look like junk caught in the branches, fluttering meaninglessly in the wind. But those eye-catching bags are the signposts marking the safe path to Defender's house.
"Oh. There you are."
Defender came out to greet me from in front of the house.
His face was still strikingly handsome, but an indelible shadow spread across it like a stain.
Inevitable, really.
In this crumbling apocalypse of anxiety, worry, fear, violence, and inevitable decay, it's hard for people not to change. Most seem to warp in bad ways.
"I put Jongcheol in another room. He's reflecting on things."
I stepped inside Defender's place for the first time in a while.
His house used to be an illegal gambling den.
True to its origins as a playground for the rich, it was quite luxurious, built with top-grade materials.
But they skimped on insulation, apparently. Even with two wood-burning boilers roaring, the place felt pretty damn chilly.
"Oh. SKELTON."
Dajeong greeted me, bundled up in a puffy jacket two sizes too big for her.
I gave the siblings some gifts.
Fuel and rations.
"Where the hell do you keep getting this stuff?"
Defender said in a tone of mild admiration.
"Helped out a junior I know a bit."
"That National Crisis Committee member you know?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
As I unpacked, I got to the point.
"...So for that reason, I'm counting on your precious votes in this election. If you have any friends, put in a good word."
I'd heard that after liberation, the surefire way to win a National Assembly seat was handing out sneakers and rice wine around the neighborhood.
As a kid, I thought candidates who bought votes like that were scum. But now that I'm older, it's not so black-and-white.
Hell, no matter who gets elected, life doesn't change much. At least the ones tossing out swag show some humility toward voters, right?
"This is straight-up bribery, SKELTON."
Dajeong laughed as she ribbed me.
"Can't you just think of it as a token of appreciation?"
"It's a bribe. A bribe. Didn't peg you for it, SKELTON—you're totally blinded by that armband, huh?"
"Nah, think about it. Imagine trash like DSira slapping on the armband. You think we'd still have internet? The second that prick gets it, we're both banned for 72 hours."
"I'd be fine."
"I wouldn't. We had a beef before."
"C'mon, no one bans over that. Not even a petty asshole."
"That's exactly the kind of guy he is. DSira."
As I got unusually emotional in the conversation—totally unlike me—Defender brought out some tea.
It was yuzu tea, a real rarity these days.
"Whoa. Where'd you score this?"
"This?"
Defender smirked.
"Fellow Legion guy gave it to me."
"Jongcheol?"
"Nah, not the dog. Someone else from the Legion."
Defender crossed his legs on the single-seater sofa, savored a sip, then stared right at me.
He had that look like he had something to say.
But it wasn't exactly pleasant.
Kinda like mild dissatisfaction?
Soon, he uncrossed his legs, leaned forward, and grumbled bluntly.
"Isn't the internet getting stale yet?"
Bombshell out of nowhere.
I just stared, speechless, and he continued with a wry smile.
"It's the same crap every day. Same posters, same recycled content. Three years of the same routine—time to get bored, right?"
"Lives were fun, sure, but posts? Eh. World's ending, and watching that shit won't change my life."
I thought back to when I first met Defender.
He'd killed plenty, sure, but he loved our board more than anyone—a true comrade.
Nothing lasts forever, though.
Harsh times had cooled his passion for it.
"There were fun times. Peak was two years ago. Way more people, good posts everywhere."
"I lived for the comics, but all the artists bailed. Dragon went to Jeju and vanished. Now it's just fame-hungry hacks with no talent."
Defender stared straight at me, tilting his head oddly.
"?"
Our eyes met, and he looked away.
"Board's gone boring, but the weirdos popping up are worse. Remember Justice Min?"
"Yeah."
"Picked a fight with me, actually. Not the only one. Worst offender, but somehow they got our accounts and kept challenging me."
"Karma, no?"
Defender sighed.
"...Yeah, something like that. Internet's cool, but I'm focusing on reality now. Ignoring it doesn't make it go away, y'know? That's why the board's lost its spark."
I could let him ramble, but I didn't want to.
"Not true."
"Huh?"
"Every moment's a blast. Feels fresh every time."
Not empty words—dead serious.
Defender chuckled dryly.
"If you say so, no arguing. But next year? The year after?"
"Why worry about the future?"
"Why? Obviously—"
"World where we could drop dead tomorrow without batting an eye. What's the point planning for next year?"
Defender shook his head with a bitter smile.
Dajeong jumped in for him.
"My bro's circling like Dad—deep down, he's nudging you to join the Legion."
"Join the Legion?"
Only one thing he'd invite me for.
Defender barked a hollow laugh and nodded.
"Some insanely skilled badass is leading the Legion hunters."
"...Yeah?"
Felt like I knew who, but kept quiet.
"Gold Sign Floris."
Kim Daram, as expected.
"Heard her chops are no joke. Was National Crisis Committee, crossed to Legion still treated like top guest. Next thing, she's got the haughty generals watching their step—built massive power."
"...And?"
"Hunters under Floris get pre-Awaken treatment. Actual ecosystem's formed. No more scavengers or refugees stressing—just join up. Guy like you? You'd have a name already."
I stood.
Strong disappointment flashed in Defender's eyes, but unavoidable.
"Votes, please."
"C'mon, SKELTON, armband that great? More important than reality?"
"Yep."
"Why?"
"Why?"
"Explain. Sticking here's just death. We've survived 'cause monster activity's been low. But nearly two years dormant."
"Legion forecast: countless monsters massed at this gate. Eruption hits, they sweep right here. Monsters at our door—what then?"
Maybe I'd misjudged Defender too harshly.
Time to reflect a bit.
His desperate eyes pleading to sway me from a wrong path—it wasn't the usual curt killer vibe. Genuine worry for a friend going astray.
I'd twisted his intent, trapped in the Legion frame.
To him, with no grudge against Kim Daram, government or Legion were just factions—didn't matter.
But above all, reality pushed him here.
His darkened face today wasn't imagination. Psychologically cornered, probably. If he's like this, I owe him an explanation.
"...Alright. I'll tell you why I'm obsessed with this meaningless armband."
Sat back, faced the siblings.
Defender serious, Dajeong intrigued—both staring.
Fresh feeling, seeing their faces anew. Organized my thoughts. Where to start?
To keep sane in extremes, manage stress properly.
My mentor Jang Gi-yeong ranted human minds were diamond-hard, unscratched. Bull from my experience—minds have HP too.
HP varies.
Some have tanky HP, barely dented. Others low-HP crumble easy, harming self and others. No infinite HP, though.
Even toughest crack in endless despair.
That iron-willed guy Jang praised survived two years on frontlines, snapped, killed teammates, sprayed bullets at Chinese—perfect counter to his theory.
Escape the cycle: actively manage inner stress.
Good ways: hobbies, lovers, family calls, bank balance, pets. Bad: gambling, booze, debauchery, violence, sadism.
War started, world changed.
No hope, tomorrow's uncertain.
In this crumbling world, what's warmer comfort than Viva! Apocalypse!?
From bunkers isolating us, connecting, watching changes, sharing laughs over same stuff—huge happiness. Defender knows.
Wanna wear that beloved board's armband.
Heart-pounding, right?
Managing what I love 'cause I love it.
Not aiming tyrant, though.
Benevolent unpaid admin for board's peace, autonomy, everyone's joy.
Summarized, told Defender.
"...Oh. Okay?"
He looked a bit grossed out.
Dajeong stared wide-eyed, muttering.
"SKELTON's dead serious about the board. First time seeing someone who values internet over reality."
I'll take it as praise.
Anyway, convinced 'em solid.
"Got it. If you're that into it, votes were yours anyway. Got Legion buds into Viva!—I'll mention it."
"SKEL, you know I'm always Team SKELTON, right?"
Convinced the Defender siblings.
Two votes + referrals secured.
They walked me to the entrance.
"Heading out when it warms up. Change your mind before then, lemme know."
Defender still hung up on it.
Gazing wistfully, added:
"If you die... it'd feel weird."
"Appreciate it, but no mind-changing. Don't come kill me later."
"If it happens, I'll back you up sniping from behind."
Defender offered a fist.
Our knuckles bumped mid-air after ages.
Three, actually.
Dajeong joined from the side.
Mounting the motorcycle, Defender called from afar.
"Hey, SKELTON."
"Yeah."
"Your callsign? Mine's Raptor."
Right—we'd never swapped.
Our misty, distant respect in the fog.
But world changed, so did we.
Fog cleared in dry reality; Legion rift split our once-virtuous distance.
Fresh start—sharing my true name-like alias felt right.
Faced the siblings, stated my old name calmly.
"Professor."
Defender startled but nodded with a knowing chuckle.
Dajeong whispered to him.
"What? What hunter? Huh?"
Defender, smirking slyly as she prodded:
"...A great one."
Fired up the bike and left.
Wind carried Defender's faint mutter past my ear.
"Internet really ruins people—"
Pretend I didn't hear the rest.
The fateful day arrived.
No content here.
But I know how to win.