Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Residents II
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Shin Noah
3
As everyone knows, traversing the Inunaki Tunnel is incredibly difficult.
Even I, a regressor, only managed to conquer it after five rounds, sacrificing hundreds of lives in the process.
That’s when it hit me.
‘…Isn’t this the ultimate security system?’
It was a complete shift in perspective.
From an intruder’s viewpoint, the Inunaki Tunnel boasted insane difficulty, but from a defender’s standpoint, there was no sturdier, impregnable fortress.
Moreover, this ironclad security only applied to intruders. For those who already knew the ‘traversal method,’ the Inunaki Tunnel was nothing more than a slightly tricky walking path.
Therefore, starting from the 197th round, I stopped publicly sharing the tunnel’s攻略 method on SG Net.
Instead, I plastered it with warnings like ‘Enter at your own peril and certain death,’ ‘No entry allowed,’ and ‘Even the most seasoned Void explorers will die instantly.’ No pangs of conscience? None at all. It wasn’t a lie.
I soloed the Inunaki monstrosity, then set up my guild safe house in the undersea tunnel. And I only sent ‘invitations’ to a select few trusted acquaintances.
The invitations, of course, kindly detailed the Inunaki Tunnel traversal method.
Now, without an invitation, no one could visit my cafe safe house.
“What do you mean, a shop that only accepts guests by invitation? What is this, some VIP golf course…?”
No Do-ha flipped the invitation over and over, her face twisting in disgust.
“If I think this insane idea of privatizing a monstrosity came from the sludge leaking out of that brain of yours, then sure, nothing surprising about it… But doesn’t this mean you’re not doing business with regular folks from the start…?”
No Do-ha waved the invitation around.
“Now I see, our Awakener Undertaker has become quite the noble. Give it a little longer, and you’ll be aiming for king. Shall I hand over the National Highway Management Corps leadership? Heh, perfect timing. I’ve been dying to quit this shitty job anyway. Congratulations in advance, Your Highness…”
“Oh, don’t worry too much about that. Corps Leader, do you see the number at the top of the invitation?”
“Hmm…?”
No Do-ha examined the invitation again.
[Invitation - Cafe Safe House]
[Depth: 1200m]
No Do-ha’s head tilted.
“Depth? 1200 meters? What’s this…?”
“It’s the invitation’s grade.”
“Graaade…?”
“Yes. I’ve prepared invitations in sections: 100 meters, 200 meters, 300 meters, and so on. For example, a 100-meter invitation contains just enough攻略 info to safely traverse the first 100 meters of the Inunaki Tunnel after entering.”
“Hmm…?”
“1200 meters is the highest grade. In other words, it has the complete 100%攻略 method for the Inunaki Tunnel. 100 meters is the lowest. And I’ll release all the 100-meter invitations publicly on SG Net.”
I led No Do-ha into the Inunaki Tunnel and demonstrated.
“Here’s the 100-meter mark.”
“Oho…?”
No Do-ha looked around.
“This is… a cafe.”
No Do-ha was spot on.
From here on, please imagine everything I describe in the friendly, upbeat voice of a home shopping host.
Where dank mold always sprouted from trickling water seeping through wall cracks, a tiny artificial waterfall now provided an interior accent.
Where moss had bloomed, colorful aquatic plants took their place. These weren’t ordinary plants—they were Void-mutated flora that thrived without sunlight.
Between the waterfall and planters, antique-style sofas and chairs were artfully placed here and there.
Chairs prioritizing comfort above all. Tables at just the right height for seated humans. Small lamps on the tables added ambiance.
Victorian-style tables were kept to a minimal number, while the rest exposed the natural grain of solid wood.
Lighting was, naturally, indirect. The space was wrapped in cozy darkness, but the faint outlines of tables and the sleek lines of chairs lent even the shadows an edge.
True space begins with sight and culminates in sound.
From this side to the far end of the darkness, the gentle trickle of the artificial waterfall flowed in. If sunlight is the mirror of the eyes, darkness is the mirror of the ears. The water sounds flowing beyond the darkness elevated this space to the pinnacle of Baroque aesthetics.
If you pushed through the darkness to approach the tunnel walls, surprise: graffiti sprawled across the concrete surface, utterly at odds with the cafe’s interior. But skipping clichéd framed paintings added a unique charm, didn’t it?
The tactile comfort of chairs and the smooth wood of tables. The auditory Baroque space. And the visual of hidden artwork.
Add the aroma of old-fashioned coffee to caress the senses of smell and taste—and voilà, a cafe satisfying all five senses, complete.
And the fact that this exotic scene unfolded in the heart of an undersea tunnel would surely stimulate guests’ imaginations.
I, Undertaker, was confident this place could claim the top spot in Korea—even without the apocalypse.
Home shopping pitch over.
“…No natural light at all, but it doesn’t feel cramped.”
No Do-ha ran her hand over a table.
She seemed thoroughly shocked.
“To think this was really a monstrosity that devoured hundreds…”
“Heh heh.”
“That regressor laugh of yours even sounds different now. Surprising. Awakener Undertaker, to think you had this kind of talent…”
Coming from No Do-ha’s personality, this was high praise—but the real surprise was yet to come.
“No Do-ha Corps Leader.”
“Yes…?”
“See those thin threads by the bookshelf? They’re puppet strings leading to the tunnel’s deepest part. I asked Ha-yul to install them. Just tug lightly…”
Twing—The string vibrated pleasantly, like a cello string.
“Infuse it with aura, and the vibration reaches my private room at the tunnel’s core.”
“Oh…”
“Then I know a guest has arrived and can respond right away. It’s a bit of a distance from here to the core, but I can cover it in one go on foot.”
“I see. That’s certainly…”
“100-meter and 200-meter grades aren’t treated the same. The deeper the depth, the fancier the interior and the richer the menu. In other words…”
“Yes. It’s modest, but it could motivate Awakeners. Not much else to enjoy these days… Hmm. Being cut off from the outside might actually be a plus. Forget the world’s gone to shit for a moment and savor a cup of coffee…”
“Exactly. So, No Do-ha Corps Leader, I have a proposal.”
“Hm? What is it…?”
“As you can see, running the cafe properly will require a ton of coffee beans. My stockpile won’t last long. So I’m thinking of asking that Sword Marquis geezer to clear a coffee plantation…”
“…”
“Think it’s doable?”
No Do-ha’s face clouded over.
The Sword Marquis was essential for modern farming among Awakeners. He was swamped just plowing fields for food crops.
Suggesting prime land for a luxury like coffee was bound to trouble a pragmatist like No Do-ha.
Of course, I could persuade the Sword Marquis on my own without her consent. But that would probably get her resignation letter.
“Even so, farmland’s precious as hell right now—no room for coffee trees…”
“The world needs luxuries too.”
I whispered.
“Think about it. Adding a famous spot in Busan elevates the National Highway Management Corps’ status compared to big guilds elsewhere…”
“But isn’t the peninsula unsuitable for coffee farming? Seems inefficient…”
“No worries there. I’ll plant various coffee trees from the Void and breed ones suited to Korean climate. I am a Void expert, after all.”
“Hmm…”
“Security too. Better me managing the undersea tunnel than leaving it be, right?”
“Hmmm…”
“Above all, No Do-ha Workshop Master, imagine waking up each morning to coffee. It’s a stone’s throw from headquarters. Think of it as a 30-minute dawn stroll.”
“…”
“It’ll boost Corps members’ morale and welfare.”
“…”
Deliberation. Contemplation. Agony. Torment.
Finally, No Do-ha mumbled in a voice like crawling ants.
“…Well, if it’s just a small vegetable patch level…”
“Good thinking, Corps Leader! As expected, we’re on the same wavelength. Anyway, since you’ve agreed, I’ll build the cafe freely from the next round.”
“…”
“No worries. You won’t regret this choice. Honestly, Corps Leader, you grumble all the time, but when I sincerely ask, you always come through. I know how deeply you care for me…”
“Shut it.”
“Yes.”
Cafe safe house, grand opening success!
4
Naturally, the cafe safe house was a roaring hit.
Despite the unease of stepping into a continental-grade monstrosity’s maw, brave souls kept coming for that delicious caffeine fix.
Above all, the tiered access levels like 100 meters, 200 meters sparked odd rivalries among Awakeners.
-Anonymous: (300m) At 100m, only espresso or americano, but here you can get cafe latte lol
-Anonymous: (400m) Noobs gotta at least reach here. Boss said iced coffee starts at 400m.
└Anonymous: I like espresso fine?
└Anonymous: (400m) Nerd lololol
└Anonymous: Espresso’s for refined tastes, kid’s being a punk.
└Cooking Queen: (100m) Everyone, please don’t fight over this. Just be happy the cafe exists, okay?
-dolLHoUse: Pathetic.
-Anonymous: (100m) Rumor has it Baekhwa Girls’ High School guild starts at 200m depth standard—is that true? If so, special treatment?
└High School 5th Year: (1200m) ㅗ >_<);;
In various subculture worlds, they slap A-rank, S-rank on Awakeners, but Korea had no such system.
Frankly, I couldn’t agree with labels like S or A. How much stronger is S than A, exactly?
Numbers based on solid metrics felt far more intuitive than alphabet games.
That’s why my invitations easily doubled as ‘ranks’ or ‘levels’ for Awakeners.
-[Three Thousand]Witch Judge: 1,200 meters deep. Waves whispering through tunnel walls. In an era where nature itself is peril, time to appreciate ‘nature as spectacle.’
(Proof shot: Coffee cup photo with ‘Depth 1200m’ invitation subtly placed on table.)
The vast majority got ‘100-meter depth’ invites, and only proven talents in skill and character gradually upgraded their depths.
Selection was entirely my whim.
But whims honed over hundreds of rounds, thousands of years, become unassailable objective data.
I was convinced this ‘depth’ system was more reliable than any other metric.
-Goryeo Jang: (1000m) Broke-ass losers playing acorn height game is cute lol
-Goryeo Jang: (1000m) First affogato—coffee topped with ice cream? You scrubs eat that school lunch slop lol
-Goryeo Jang: (1000m) Heard 100m scrubs can only use cafe once a week—respect… They’d wriggle like worms and survive anything. Bro can’t go a day without coffee or I’d off myself…
Hm.
Ignore outliers.
Sim A-ryeon periodically whined to bump her grade from 1000m to 1200m, even 1100m, but I firmly refused.
Not favoritism. She had a mountaineer’s soul in her heart—give an inch, and she’d climb Everest nonstop.
Tales of this ‘Awakener ranking’ come next-next episode.
Anyway, once cafe ops stabilized,
I messaged the Saintess via constellation chat.
[An invitation…? ]
“Yes, Saintess. Last time, I begged you not to use Clairvoyance on the 1200-meter depth scene no matter what, right?”
[Ah, yes. I’ve avoided all info related to that place.]
“I kept it secret to show you personally. You’re always cooped up at your Yongsan home, aren’t you? Come out for a quick outing.”
The Saintess went quiet. Her silence radiated hardcore hikikomori INTJ vibes.
[…But from my place to Busan is too far, isn’t it? If I rode on your back, it’d be quick, but that’s a bit…]
“Oh, no problem. I tunneled there too.”
[What?]
Another perspective shift.
As widely known, the fictional Japan-Korea undersea tunnel got wholly devoured by Inunaki despite being imaginary.
So, couldn’t I artificially create fictional tunnels and ‘infect’ them with Inunaki too?
The result was at the south end of Hangang Submarine Bridge. I took the Saintess there.
“…My god.”
The Saintess in her white coat opened her mouth slightly.
“Why is there a tunnel here…?”
Exactly.
Beyond the ruins of the convenience store where we first met, a small tunnel dipped into the Hangang waters.
The so-called ‘Hangang Undersea Tunnel.’
“I’ll lead. Follow me.”
“Wait, Undertaker. Did you artificially create a monstrosity?”
“No. Hangang originally had several tunnels. Some planned but unbuilt. I overlapped a few and ‘requested’ Inunaki to infect them.”
“Requested…?”
“She’s a friend who listens well. Still, it’s a loophole, so I couldn’t spam these ‘portals.’ Limit was emergency doors at three spots.”
One in Gangnam—right here. Another at a coffee farm in Kyushu, Japan. The last spot’s use comes up in another episode.
The Saintess was dumbfounded.
“Limit? That’s already amazing.”
We entered the undersea tunnel.
All Inunaki Tunnels were connected.
But moving from ‘Hangang Undersea Tunnel’ to ‘Japan-Korea Undersea Tunnel’ required precise steps.
For security, no details, but the Saintess could stroll there in 5 minutes flat.
Emerging from the tunnel.
“…”
The Saintess halted.
“This is…”
“Depth 1200 meters. My safe house and the cafe’s deepest sanctum. Welcome, Saintess.”
There stretched an undersea tunnel.
But not concrete walls—glass walls.
400 meters long. From depth 1200m to 1600m, all aquarium-style undersea tunnel.
Vibrant blue seawater teemed with colorful fish flicking tails.
“…”
The Saintess’s eyes widened. She stared blankly at the glass tunnel endlessly.
Water shadows danced over her hair.
She’d always loved raising fish in aquariums as a hobby. To her now, this must shine like El Dorado.
“Undertaker, how on earth…?”
“Inunaki Tunnels link to the Sanzu River too—the underworld’s flowing waters. Drowning on wrong paths is why. Matches well with undersea tunnels for the same reason. Tricky, but as you see, manifesting an aquarium undersea tunnel was possible.”
“…”
117th round.
Battling outsider-grade monstrosity Mugen, I met the Saintess. An illusion, but real enough.
Atop the silver moon in night skies, she gazed at Earth and said:
-That planet’s surface, just one layer down, is entirely hell.
Her words had smoldered like charcoal soot in my heart’s corner ever since.
And now, in the 197th round—the Saintess gazed up at the sea from one layer below Earth’s surface, the abyss.
Outside the tunnel, starlit jellyfish drifted. Void lifeforms, turning the deep sea into a galaxy.
An inverted universe.
“How is it?”
I asked her thoughts on hell’s scenery.
“To your liking?”
“…”
The Saintess was silent.
All aquariums are lonely structures.
But a glass tunnel crossing an entire sea? A unique aquarium letting fish roam free while viewable.
A home in the world yet still free.
Who knows if my metaphor silently reached her.
But when she nodded after long lip-biting silence, I believed the aquarium-tunnel’s meaning had fully conveyed.
“…Yes. Very much so.”
“Glad to hear.”
“Thank you, Undertaker. …I’ll never forget this view my whole life.”
I smiled.
“Me neither.”
The cafe safe house has endless episodes.
But today, I’ll end here without an epilogue.
Just one addendum: From that day, a new stop joined the Saintess’s morning walk route.
- Residents. End.