Chapter 314
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 314
Chapter Title: 127. Constellation
It's been four years since the war began.
Through countless episodes, we've gradually formed a proper group.
With winter approaching, I think it's not a bad idea to reassess our territory's strength at least once.
There are currently ten people in our territory.
Among them, the combat personnel capable of direct fighting are me, Cheon Young-jae, Ha Tae-hoon, Bang Jae-hyeok, and Defender—five in total.
By "direct combat," I mean active, offensive battles including fights against major monsters.
The Rebecca mother-daughter duo could be added to combat roles, but I intend to use them solely for perimeter defense and guarding.
Hong Da-jeong is a special case.
As a professional drone pilot, her personal combat ability is too weak to count her as direct combat personnel, but in missions using drones, she provides more value than several ordinary fighters combined.
The rest—Valentine and Bang Jae-hyeok's mother—are non-combat personnel.
Valentine is capable of limited combat, but I have no intention of deploying him unless absolutely necessary.
He's a valuable asset.
The only one who can achieve our immediate goal of a second Failnet.
Bang Jae-hyeok's mother has zero combat ability, but she's diligent and handy, making her a precious resource in many areas, especially daily life.
Besides, losing her could severely impact the mental state of the capable fighter Bang Jae-hyeok, so in combat situations, she'll evacuate to the deepest bunker alongside Valentine.
Thus, our territory's resources, with a not-insubstantial ten people gathered, are frankly abundant.
Ammunition, food, fuel, medicine, vehicles, and other consumables.
What I already had was plentiful, and the amounts brought by the newcomers are considerable too.
Nothing is particularly lacking.
Of course, things like medicine could run out in an instant.
One or two battles with heavy casualties would deplete them.
Ammunition would last longer, but frequent combat would burn through it just as quickly.
The most dangerous threat to our group is, of course, other humans.
I've always seen humans as the greatest threat, and that hasn't changed now that we've formed a group.
If anything, forming a group has increased the risk of clashing with other humans compared to solo survival.
This organization's stability is what allows me to dream of secondary goals like a second Failnet or invading Jeju's intranet.
Personally, our group's biggest advantage is that there's no one around us.
That means no threatening forces nearby.
Human interactions can bring mutual benefits, but in a situation where everything is scarce and uncertain like now, nearby groups are a nuisance.
They could turn hostile at any moment, forcing us to watch our backs over limited resources, waste routes unnecessarily, and more—pure downsides.
Of course, if we had enough trust in an external group to rely on them fully, that'd be different, but how do you build that trust?
Starting from zero is extremely difficult.
Blood ties, school ties, regional ties.
You need some traditional connections to even have a conversation starter.
Expanding the range regionally, there's one confirmed group.
To the east, atop a distant mountain peak, there's a group of elderly people.
Communication is impossible, but they won't come down the mountain, so they're not a major concern.
In terms of defensive strength, our territory is incomparably stronger than solo survival days.
The entire area, centered on the outer walls, has been fortified into a fortress.
We've added reinforcements along the steep northern ridgeline, so surprise attacks are unlikely.
However, we're helpless against artillery from the Queen of War.
If someone locks on coordinates and fires, we have to take it.
Most bunkers would withstand it, but Rebecca's cabin, Ha Tae-hoon's house, bathrooms, showers, and other auxiliary facilities wouldn't escape damage.
If the barrage is intense, even my bunker might malfunction.
The silver lining is that no forces remain capable of large-scale artillery just to take a single bunker.
We won't get shelled as a pastime like Chairman Park Chul-joo's legion did.
Even our territory has weaknesses.
The bonds between the people forming the group.
Roughly divided, there are three factions: Incheon hunters, the Defender siblings, and the Rebecca mother-daughter.
They form a group centered around me, but bluntly put, without me, they're strangers with no interest in each other.
If I die or disappear unexpectedly, our group would likely scatter with high probability.
Defender and Rebecca both have places to go.
They have former bases around here.
If group conflicts peak, they'll head to familiar spots.
Uniting such disparate people isn't easy.
Just forcing them together won't make them close.
Sharing a drink won't turn everyone into friends overnight; this isn't that casual a society.
Trust builds layer by layer over time and events.
I won't force unnatural closeness.
If there's conflict, let it be.
Resolution is their responsibility.
All I can do is mediate to prevent extremes.
Fortunately, our vast territory and separate living spaces mean the disparate groups rarely clash.
If numbers grow further, though...
Can we take more?
We need a doctor.
If we find a Valentine-level engineer, we'd make room even if stretched.
But as past events show, joiners arrive unannounced from unpredictable places.
If someone I know well, sharing a piece of my past, entrusts their life to me—what then?
Off the top: Kim Daram's family, or my one-week disciple Song Yu-jin, whose whereabouts are unknown.
Maybe even someone connected to our Viva! Apocalypse!
Group expansion leading to collapse is common in others' cases.
When saturated, we must refuse.
In my old Professor days, that'd be effortless.
But now... I'm not sure.
I lack confidence.
Am I weaker, or changed?
I don't think it's just weakness.
It's an era of loss.
Not just people and goods.
Everything we knew—names, property, values, memories—fades.
To maintain humanity here, you must be more human than anyone.
"SKELTON. What're you thinking about all alone?"
Dusk was settling.
Su climbed to the hilltop outpost, still carrying a rifle that looked too big for her frame.
"You're on watch today?"
"No, it's Mom's shift."
"Then why Su?"
"Mom's at Valentine's bunker right now."
"Again?"
"For real. Mr. Valentine clearly doesn't like us, so Mom's gotta be bold."
"We shouldn't bother Mr. Valentine, though?"
"Sorry."
"No need for Su to apologize."
I must've been lost in thought for quite a while.
It was work that needed doing at least once, anyway.
Assessing the group's strengths, weaknesses, and issues.
In the past, I'd have evaluated forces right after forming.
And mercilessly cut unnecessary personnel.
Maybe my old ruthlessness delayed this evaluation.
"How's it here?"
I asked Su, feeling the wind between us—carrying daytime heat but autumn's chill—brush past.
"Not bad."
Su answered, gazing at faint lights in the distance.
"Hmm... That good?"
"No, not in a bad way. It's fine. Really fine. But."
"Because of the others?"
I asked, looking at Su.
The much more mature Su met my eyes squarely, then smiled faintly and nodded.
She soon averted her gaze, staring at those distant lights again.
Probably a refugee camp far off.
One that won't last long.
"...It was the same there. People were the hardest part. Really."
"It's like that everywhere."
"Is it?"
"Yeah. Though some places might differ."
I reflected on my life so far.
"Places like that are probably too harsh or dangerous for other thoughts. Or the time spent with those causing hardship is short."
"So no easy places in the world?"
Could be.
In most lives, human relationships are an eternal tangle.
You could cut it like Alexander, but risk his bad end.
But still.
Do we need to untangle that tight knot?
"Yeah."
"I see."
Su bowed her head with a sigh.
Far more adult than Rebecca, she didn't show dislike for the people here as openly, but Su clearly wasn't fond of our territory's residents.
Well, people she'd never met, different races, nations, languages, upbringings.
Even for a pure, young heart, bonding overnight isn't easy.
"But no need to despair."
Su looked up.
I stared at the faint lights she'd been watching.
They flickered briefly, then vanished.
Maybe blackout protocol.
Necessary if avoiding attracting raiders.
Above those gone lights, less glaring but grander and more majestic starlight adorned the sky.
The stars each made their claim.
"Everyone has their place."
People can't become stars, but on this vast earth-canvas, calling each of us a star isn't wrong.
Science says birth and death are stars' fates too.
Just differing in timing, form, beauty.
"All those many stars shine from their own spots, right?"
I pointed at the stars.
"...Yeah?"
Su's reaction was lukewarm.
I elaborated.
"Finding your place."
"Your place?"
"That comes first. Stars without a place fall."
"Meteor?"
I nodded and continued.
"No need to force unity. Find your place, shine there—that's enough."
"Hmm."
Watching Su's puzzled face, I looked up at the large triangle in one sky corner.
"When each star claims its place."
I pointed at those stars with my finger.
Su's eyes followed.
"Summer Triangle?"
I nodded.
"Yeah. They become a constellation."
We individuals can't be stars.
But I hope our group becomes a constellation, respecting each domain and shining.
"SKELTON."
Su, sitting beside me stargazing, spoke.
"Yeah."
"I've heard starlight is the afterglow of stars dead billions of years ago."
I smiled faintly.
"Doesn't that make it even cooler?"
Su stared blankly, sighed, and stood.
"Watch time now. Head back, SKELTON."
"Okay."
I left Su and descended the hill.
Her figure standing sentry under starlight ready to pour down will linger in memory long.
In a good way.
Wishing our constellation completes, I went down the stairs.
News of Ji Chang-su and his daughter reached us a week after Emgu's live stream abruptly ended.
The photo showed a woman and middle-aged man barely crawling up a precarious slanted corridor, clinging to a single rope.
Eyes bulging bloodshot, teeth grinding to shatter, climbing like beasts—the sight made me unconsciously tap my forehead and chuckle.
But the story behind it is far from light.
34 entered the government's treasure warehouse.
One minute later, only 7 emerged.
Injured groans leaked through the gap, but the only help was ending their pain.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Emgu recalls exactly four gunshots.
But we know.
The eerie groans before the underground parking lot may have stopped, but the tale of Emgu—and The Hope, one with him in a way—is just beginning.
Emgu knew the future too.
Emgu deployed a small drone into the warehouse, revealing the vast rail-connected area and its immense hidden treasures without filter.
The quantities of goods and equipment in those photos exceeded imagination.
As expected.
Enough to sustain hundreds of thousands.
People will flock to The Hope.
The homeless, hopeless, seeking hope, converging on the leaning apartments.
At least, I won't join that procession.
I have ample supplies and a safe shelter.
But one photo Emgu revealed swayed me.
"That looks usable, doesn't it?"
Beyond the sentry guns, killer drones, and slaughterhouse machinery for humans, one vehicle caught our eyes.