Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: 44. Construction (2)
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Next to my main bunker was a garage even larger than the living quarters.
Like the bunker itself, the interior was reinforced with rebar and concrete, and the entrance was concealed under dirt and rocks. To boost its secrecy, I'd deliberately set the garage floor low, forcing any vehicles inside to climb a ramp at around a 15-degree incline.
Inside this garage sat the collection of heavy machinery and vehicles I'd scraped together before the war, sinking deeper into debt with every purchase. They were all neatly parked, waiting for their owner's touch.
Excavators, loaders, rock drills, forklifts, bulldozers.
Park Gyu's heavy equipment collection.
Most were secondhand, but they were in solid condition, meticulously maintained like Baek Seung-hyeon's motorcycle.
"Whoa..."
A few guests had entered my bunker before, but this was the first time anyone had set foot in my garage.
"You built all this by yourself?"
Dajeong stared at me blankly, forgetting her usual facade, her face a mask of disbelief as she asked.
For once, a swell of pride tickled my chest pleasantly. I tried to play it cool.
"...Well, it took some sweat."
Defender was just as stunned.
He even muttered in a trembling voice as he looked at me.
"S-Skelton bro."
"What? It's always 'Skelton bro' whenever something comes up."
My plan was to use my heavy equipment collection and the Defender siblings' manpower to build a new bunker right next to the main one.
In other words, disguise the existing bunker as a decoy.
"What, you're gonna start construction now? How long do you think it'll take?"
"About a month?"
"You think that'll cut it?"
No plumbing or electricity. None of that.
Just dig out the earth, slap some concrete around it, make something vaguely like my bunker, and plop a toilet in the center. Done.
"The toilet's the key."
I tasked Defender with sourcing one.
"We got a spare at our place, but it's busted. That okay?"
"Doesn't matter. The decoy bunker's supposed to look long-abandoned."
The Defender siblings didn't seem thrilled with my plan.
Dajeong especially looked displeased, and sure enough, she tapped on her tablet and showed me the screen.
"Could be. But don't worry. That's exactly what I want."
"Just trust me and let's get to work."
When I built my bunker, I'd planned for endless expansion and modification.
That's why I never sold the heavy equipment, even under debt collector pressure.
The construction timeline had come sooner than expected.
I'd figured on expanding once humans here were as rare as national treasures.
That way, no gunfire threats—just watch for mutations and monsters while building freely.
Not quite Park Cheol-ju level, but I'd planned walls, solar panels for power, farming for luxury in humanity's twilight.
Three years, I'd thought.
But humans turned out tougher and more resilient than expected.
Big cities still teemed with millions, and the wilds clung to elderly stragglers from urban exodus like weeds, tenaciously alive.
Construction now was risky, sure, but a bigger threat loomed.
It wasn't optional.
It was essential.
And so, we began with the Defender siblings.
This was a test, too.
Whether I could live and work with others, not just solo.
With Rebecca wanting to join, I needed to shift to group survival mode. The siblings needed allies to defend their turf too, even if they didn't say it outright.
Defender's darkening moods suggested that Viva! Apocalypse! newbie—Justice Min—was no pushover targeting him.
Sooner or later, it'd need handling.
We were all sensing our fates intertwining.
"Alright, a bit more. Yeah. That's it. This way."
Oddly, construction felt easier with a team.
They checked blind spots, handled my tasks.
I'd heard bits of Defender's past—wandering post-China, tough jobs everywhere.
He'd done plenty of construction; no teaching needed, he nailed it.
While he assisted with the heavy gear, Dajeong monitored surroundings via drone, easing worries.
Worst case: Legion swarm mid-build.
Even pioneers would be a headache.
Luckily, none came.
Probably from the shelling and battle here.
Where one shell falls, more might.
I housed the siblings in the decoy bunker during work.
Offered mine since I was using them, but they refused.
"We value our privacy a lot."
"Can't do anything about the bathroom?"
The biggest hurdle wasn't Legion or raiders—it was nature.
Rainy season; downpours flooded excavations, halting work.
No septic pump, and we'd have quit midway.
Vrooom—
Watching the pump roar, Defender turned, amazed.
"Skelton, what don't you have?"
"I prepped plenty."
"Overkill much? Not a treasure goblin... or treasure skeleton?"
Rain softened the earth, though.
The mini excavator churned smoothly, satisfying.
"Looks decent enough?"
A week in, the decoy took rough shape.
Half my bunker's size due to collapse risks, but fine.
The toilet was key.
Resting, Dajeong brought espresso from the machine.
"Coffee. Here."
Barista certified, hers was richer, more flavorful than mine.
"Phew."
Defender wiped sweaty brow, scanning around.
"Man, this place is peaceful."
"Your kill count's dropped, right?"
"No targets showing."
Gauging his face, I probed carefully.
"That guy you killed—is he still hunting you?"
"Yeah."
Defender sighed, opening up.
"Came near my turf once. Guessed from a photo clue. Just a streetlight in frame, and he tracked it."
As he spoke, Dajeong sat beside, staring at me.
Instinct hit.
Their crisis was worse than I'd imagined.
Including both in view, I asked.
"Be straight. How bad?"
They exchanged glances, nodded at me.
"Not as bad as you, but we're in danger too."
Seemed I wasn't the only one testing.
They joined construction to learn more about me.
Online bonds aren't everything.
This Skelton was a virile young man.
Living with a pretty girl like Dajeong? Could turn beastly.
Common tale.
Nice guy snaps, becomes rapist overnight.
I swirled the warm coffee, downed it.
"...Got it."
Tough times for all.
Prepped or not, apocalypse crushed everyone equally.
No buckling under it.
"Once construction's done."
Fingering my waist-dagger, calm.
"Wanna go kill that bastard?"
Siblings stared, shocked.
Smiling at them.
"You helped with the build."
"Skelton."
"No brag, but I'm good at killing people."
Dead serious.
No joke.
Defender caught it, whispered to sis.
After murmurs, they looked.
"We're good for now."
Dajeong said.
"Our problem, we'll handle."
"Hold on."
Back to my bunker, tore paper strip, scribbled with pen.
Handed it over.
"Here. Take it."
Defender smirked at the coupon.
Dajeong covered mouth, giggling.
"So childish."
No arguing that.
But sincere.
"No brag, but I'm more badass than you think. That's why Legion eyes me."
"Nyenyenye~."
Sis stood first.
Stared at bro still eyeing the coupon.
"What? Say thanks."
"Uh, yeah."
Defender pocketed it awkwardly, looked at me.
"Thanks, Skelton. The thought means a lot."
"No, for real. Use anytime."
"Mine too."
He stood, shy-faced.
His usual cool demeanor flushed pink.
Thrilled, apparently.
By Skelton's summon coupon.
"Yeah. I'll use it when the time's right."
Everyone knows.
Humans peak efficiency helping each other.
I'd chosen solo for reasons, but now's team time.
Not just Defender.
"Oh, and that sniper I mentioned."
"Yeah."
"Thinking of setting up a meet."
Showed them pic of me with Rebecca and Soo.
They marveled warily, considered positively.
"Eh, it'll happen when it's time."
Defender eyed my turf indifferently.
"When the time comes."
He wasn't rushing to meet the duo.
Forgot momentarily.
This guy's a wary killer.
Gathering folks as hard as living together.
Our group, community—conflicts inevitable.
But these siblings? We'd mesh.
"Alright, let's start. Legion could crash anytime."
Plus, Defender? Top-tier worker.
*
Two years, eight months since war began.
Incheon prepped Second Evac Fleet.
No Legion word, but southern cult expanding ominously.
Days warmed; swarming bugs heralded summer.
In this stormy lull, our construction wrapped.
The veil hiding my bunker complete.
"Hm..."
Dajeong arms crossed, displeased at the new bunker.
"Too slapdash?"
Defender agreed.
"Hard work, but result's iffy. Looks ready to collapse."
Fair critique on the shoddy decoy.
Half size, slapdash concrete—fine from afar, but inside screamed rushed.
Without the central toilet, it'd pass as any bunker.
But the toilet's vital.
It makes it special.
"My plan is this."
How to use the crude decoy.
First, bury main bunker entrance with excavator.
Sucks losing it, but alternatives via decoy or garage.
Then, dig out dried tree roots above, plop on decoy.
Kim Daram told Kim Pil-seong: key bunker feature.
Invaders hit hill, spot roots, find decoy below.
Decoy entrance stepped like main.
"Won't vents give it away?"
Dajeong persisted doubting.
Wagged finger at her.
"Now for the magic trick."
"Magic?"
The trick?
Ting—
Piano wire and explosives.
Plucked wire's clear ring, checked strength/flex, set charges around decoy.
"Skelton, no way?"
Defender caught on late.
Grinned, nodded, explained to puzzled Dajeong.
"Explosive finale."
"Explosive finale...?"
Assume Legion squad enters per Kim Daram's intel.
They find spot quick via markers.
Know rough features/location, not exact.
Tree roots at entrance, toilet center.
They find roots, enter crude decoy.
See lone toilet in dark.
Stray beyond? Glinting wire halts them.
Meanwhile, I watch from main, detonate—bury decoy in rubble.
"This is like that mystery manga trick! Killer fakes victim's death in front of hero!"
Dajeong's eyes sparkled, excited.
"Yeah, similar."
"S-Skelton bro!"
Not flawless.
Charges might under/over—collapse fail or main damage.
Gut-adjusted; no expert.
Biggest threat: return visitor.
Kim Daram.
That infuriating pupil-devouring junior.
If she comes,
I'll exit, face her.
And ask why.
It's that era.