In the Fog (2)
Near Paju Central Road, on the way to Geumchon Station. From afar, I could see the massive fog wall encircling the city like a barrier.
"Why is the fog only around that area..."
Next to me, Haseon peered at the fog in wonder. I'd seen something similar before, so I kept a calm expression and glared into the mist beyond.
As the train plunged into the fog, I realized the rescue request post claiming you couldn't see an inch ahead wasn't exaggerating at all.
This isn't just fog—it's like we've driven into a smoke bomb.
Beyond the glass of the cockpit in car 1, there was nothing but suffocating white vapor. Only the tracks right in front of us and the dense green roadside trees flickered faintly into view.
I wondered if I could secure visibility even in this fog, so I sent out the recon drone and linked its camera feed to the monitor. But the results were disappointing. Even that high-performance drone's camera showed only hazy mist.
In the end, I recalled the recon drone back inside with nothing to show for it.
Shoooo!
At that moment, the air conditioning and air purifiers inside car 1 kicked into maximum output with a loud rumble.
This isn't ordinary fog.
The train was treating it like toxic gas that needed purification. Inhaling this stuff would probably lead to something nasty.
"...Let's give it a shot—"
I activated the targeting panel on the modified turret. Then I switched to infrared detection mode. Even if the fog blocked visible light, it couldn't hide the heat signatures of living creatures.
And sure enough, something lurked at the fog's core.
"Huh? Something's there."
A crimson silhouette flashed across the infrared screen. I hurriedly gripped the turret control lever and swung the view around.
"Uh... how does this thing even—"
But the thing on the monitor was too fast. My clumsy handling of the unfamiliar lever couldn't keep up with the creature darting through the air.
"Argh, damn it. If only it'd move how I want...!"
I was gripping the lever, grunting in frustration, when I sensed a presence behind me.
"Haseon?"
Turning around, I didn't see Haseon—it was the recon drone. The one that had slunk back dejectedly from the fog outside tapped the targeting lever with its mechanical arm, as if begging for a chance to redeem itself.
Its body language screamed, Let me handle this!
"You got this?"
The drone bobbed up and down in affirmation. It rarely came up to the cockpit like this. Clearly, failing to see anything in the fog outside had bruised its pride.
"...Alright, give it a try. I sure as hell can't keep up anyway."
I scooted my butt off the cockpit chair to make room, and the recon drone eagerly took position at the control panel. Its mechanical arm seized the lever, and the screen whipped around rapidly.
Whirr—
"Whoa..."
It handled the controls way more smoothly than I'd expected right from the start. After a few tugs on the lever, it locked onto the red silhouette, tracking it steadily as if fixed in place.
As I leaned in, awestruck, the clear shape of the creature came into focus at the screen's center.
It wasn't an animal, nor a typical monster from games. Round and somehow flickering like fire. Less a monster, more like the fireball one awakener had shot from his hand before.
A rippling crimson orb.
"Like a will-o'-the-wisp?"
"Oh, yeah, now that you mention it..."
Haseon had snuck up and was peering over my shoulder at the monitor with interest. Her words rang true—if it was a goblin fire, the silhouette made sense.
I tapped the recon drone's chassis, still gripping the lever.
"Good job."
Pleased with the praise, it waggled the lever side to side.
"While we're at it, I'll activate the lure. When it comes around that building, fire the turret, okay?"
I patted its smooth dome head as I gave the order. It whirred in understanding and made minute adjustments to the turret.
I flipped the switch on the monster lure. Then I shifted position slightly, focusing out the window for any approaching movement.
"Look outside. The fog... it's getting thicker."
Haseon's voice trembled. Was it reacting to the lure? The hazy fog from moments ago now surged toward the train like crashing waves, roiling fiercely.
I narrowed my eyes, straining to spot differences up close—and that's when it happened.
Kaboom!
The recon drone, having locked on as instructed, slammed the turret's fire button as the fog closed in.
"Guh...?!"
The recoil shook car 1 violently. Fwoosh!
The blast's wind shear momentarily cleared the fog with a whoosh, revealing them in the punched-open line of sight.
Where the shell had struck dead-on, the fog parted to show a small orb wreathed in crimson flame. It crackled with fissures, then shattered into gray ash, crumbling pathetically.
So that's it.
The monsters spewing the fog.
I pulled out my smartphone and left a quick reply on the post that had requested my help.
Having witnessed the artillery's power firsthand, I warned them not to come out, fearing they'd get caught in the crossfire.
Kaboom!Thud!
Even as I typed, the recon drone kept blasting away. Fog masses drawn by the lure exploded one by one into dust.
And slowly, change began. Gaps started opening in the fog that had blanketed the city without a seam.
Each time a fog-spewing monster died, those gaps widened.
With the lured ones cleared, it was time to start the rescue.
"Path's open now."
I stood, grabbing a towel from beside the bathroom. I soaked it thoroughly with bottled water, then wrapped and tied it firmly over my mouth and nose.
The fog had thinned, but this was insurance against hallucinations or auditory tricks. I asked the drones to protect me and haul me back to the train if things went south.
"Haseon. I'll slip through this gap and bring back the survivors. No matter what, keep the train doors locked tight and wait safely."
"Okay..."
Haseon clasped her hands, watching me go with worried eyes.
The recon drone seemed better suited to turret duty than frontline combat, sadly. Gripping my spear tightly, I stepped out of car 1's door with the other two drones.
I picked my way carefully through the gaps in the fog.
Thankfully, the towel wrap kept any bodily changes at bay so far.
The sniper drone was pulling its weight too. Boom!
Whether by calculating fog density or some drone-exclusive skill, it occasionally sniped into the invisible murk, taking out monsters.
...They're not attacking.
These were odd monsters. I'd figured they'd approach humans to induce hallucinations with fog, but apparently blanketing the city was the goal.
They weren't aggressive—just guarding their turf and pumping out mist.
"It's so quiet."
"Raaagh—!"
"...Spoke too soon."
The silence shattered with a bellow.
"...Not a hallucination, right?"
For a second, I wondered if the fog was messing with my hearing, so I checked with the drones. But their lenses—all three—snapped toward the sound's source on the right, confirming it was real.
The noise came from an alley-side clothing store.
Not a scream?
It sounded more like a battle cry than a cry for help. Spear at the ready, I crept slowly toward the store.
Inside was still choked with uncleared fog; I couldn't make out details.
Heading into that...
As I hesitated, chaos erupted.
Crash! Clang!
Someone stumbled out through the store's glass window, staggering from the fog.
My first survivor encounter in the fog. But something was off about him.
"Hah, hah! I... I won! You fucking bastard!! Come at me! I said come on!!"
His torn T-shirt revealed a body caked in dirt and bloodstains. His eyes were unfocused.
He'd mounted something sprawled on the ground, wrenching its arm into a perfect armbar.
"..."
I stood there, spear in hand, staring blankly. I couldn't intervene.
His life-or-death opponent was a mannequin from the store, dressed in chic clothes.
"..."
Crack!
The mannequin's plastic arm splintered under his superhuman strength. Yeah, he was definitely winning.
Fog-intoxicated, he'd mistaken it for a monster.
"Uh... you okay?"
I asked cautiously, and he sprang up. He glared at me and the drones.
Braced for a lunge, I watched as he took deep breaths, then started hacking up pale mist from his mouth.
"...Who the hell are you... Ah! Monster—!"
Focus returned to his eyes. He whipped around, facing the pitifully toppled mannequin.
"..."
"..."
For a moment, we both silently stared down at the mannequin.