Chapter 121
Chapter 121
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: Dreamer I
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Shin Noah
1
Before I knew it, my tale had surpassed 120 chapters.
Not that I counted each one myself, but according to O Dok-seo, that's how it was.
I wouldn't know, but according to O Dok-seo, the self-proclaimed web novel expert, the number 120 holds some symbolic meaning.
"Got it, old man? Anyway, I need 120 chapters' worth. You have to hand them over to me without a hitch up to 120."
"Why is that?"
"Because I'm planning to stockpile a generous 120 chapters and release them all at once on the platform... Ah, damn. Would you even understand if I explained, old man? You said you never even looked at web novels before the Void arrived anyway."
"Hmm."
"Anyway, 120 chapters! I need at least 120 chapters' worth. I'm saying this because I have a plan!"
O Dok-seo nagged at me like she was my editor. In fact, she was performing the role of an editor.
What could an old, sickly man like me do? I had to let the young one have her way.
But the method of writing was up to me.
I preferred traditional methods. I would write by hand in a notebook and pass it to O Dok-seo. Sometimes, I went even more traditional by regressing and telling it orally as oral literature instead of writing it down.
When I let her taste this old tradition lost to the modern generation, O Dok-seo wore an impressed expression.
"No... fuck. What am I supposed to do with this? You need to give me usable manuscripts."
I was a kind author to my editor. So, I answered at O Dok-seo's level of understanding.
"Not my problem?"
"......"
"Good luck."
My role was simply to spin the tale and tell it.
It was troublesome if she expected me to edit, revise, proofread for typos, and cut it down to fit some specific format.
Not because it was annoying, but because a regressor's life was busy.
If my tale were officially released somewhere and errors were found, it wouldn't be my fault. It would entirely be O Dok-seo's responsibility.
Wouldn't the Undertaker, possessor of [Perfect Memory], ever make a mistake?
Between us, if any typos are ever spotted, just blame "Ah, that damn O Dok-seo." She's a chuunibyou otaku, but she has a good heart, so please be understanding, generous readers.
Anyway.
Since 120 chapters is supposedly a monumental number, this seems like a good time to organize all the cities on the Korean Peninsula that have appeared in my tale so far.
Call it a newly created map for the apocalypse era.
Here's the memo I handed to O Dok-seo while explaining the state of affairs, transcribed as is.
――――――――――
[Busan]
Headquarters of the National Highway Management Corps.
Food produced in the Gimhae Plains and Kyushu via the Sword Marquis is stored in Busan. The Corps' patrol teams double as caravans, transporting food and supplies from Busan across the nation. That's why the patrols are sometimes called "caravans."
Judicial and military power within Busan is exercised by the Three Thousand Worlds Guild. The National Highway Management Corps and Three Thousand Worlds are blood allies.
The last hope of the Korean Peninsula. Power outages and water shortages happen whenever there's a gap, but with the romance of rainwater and candlelight, it's no problem. Cheers to you for surviving another day.
-Major figures: No Do-ha, Dang Seo-rin, Yoo Ji-won, Old Man Show's corpse.
[Daejeon]
Megacity of refugees. The majority of refugees and drifters from across the Korean Peninsula gather here.
The areas around Daejeon are infested with creatures mutated by Void Poison. Daejeon uses this ecosystem to produce its own food. However, the safety of the foodstuffs is in no way guaranteed.
It's essentially controlled by the Great Satisfaction Society Guild, manipulated by Pink Hair. If you don't value your life, please visit the city and enjoy some tourism.
-Major figures: Voldemort.
[Sejong]
Along with Pyongyang, one of the Korean Peninsula's premier holy cities. A countship of Cheon Yo-hwa, by Cheon Yo-hwa, for Cheon Yo-hwa.
The city is firmly ruled by the Baekhwa Guild, composed of alumni from Baekhwa Girls' High School.
Originally, the guild members came from families devoted to the cult known as the Church of the Heavenly Day, and they still revere Cheon Yo-hwa. Cheon Yo-hwa herself despises cults, but the way the city operates is unmistakably the headquarters of a cult no matter how you look at it.
If you're suddenly tired of surviving the apocalypse, go to Sejong and badmouth Cheon Yo-hwa. Recommended phrase: "Isn't it a bit crazy to still walk around in your school uniform like that?" You'll get a biology lesson on realizing just how many organs were inside your body.
-Major figures: Cheon Yo-hwa.
[Seoul]
The front lines. Everything south of the Han River has been reduced to scorched earth. Boasts the cheapest housing prices on the peninsula.
A defensive line has formed to block the endless stream of anomalies from the north. All bridges except Jamsu and Seongsu have been demolished for security.
My hideout was originally in Seoul, but after the Inunaki Tunnel was remodeled, Cheon Yo-hwa's Baekhwa Guild has been defending Seoul.
Highly recommended for old-timers still craving a Han River view. Note, however, that the view comes with anomalies included.
-Major figures: Saintess.
――――――――――
There are other cities like Jeju Island, Naju, Pyongyang, and more, but since they haven't appeared in my tale yet, I'll skip them.
"Huh? Old man."
Once you lay it out like this and unfold the map, you might think the same as O Dok-seo.
"Doesn't it seem pretty doable, surprisingly?"
"Hmm."
"Food production is steady, forces are running smoothly centered on Busan. Cheon Yo-hwa really looks up to you, old man. So saving the world... might be a stretch, but saving the Korean Peninsula seems totally possible, right?"
"Well."
Sorry, but things aren't that simple.
Just look at the last episode where Daejeon evaporated overnight—you all witnessed it.
Let me say it again on this occasion.
This world hates humans.
2
First off, maps made back when the world was fine are utterly useless.
Because this world is dead serious about screwing humanity over.
If the National Highway Management Corps blindly sends out patrol caravans, accidents like this happen all too often:
-Oh no, this is bad. Daejeon should be around here. Why does it feel like we're just going in circles?
-Team leader, big trouble. We've been wandering this area for 14 days already. We posted on SG Net, but no comments...
-14 days? What are you talking about, deputy? It's only been 4 days.
-Pardon?
Missing. Evaporated. Vanished.
They're just crossing a distance of maybe two bus stops, yet it takes over half a month time-wise.
You think you're walking a road, but before you know it, you're heading down to the bottom of a pond.
Where a river should flow, a rock salt mine rises, and where mountains should be, a vast lake stretches to the horizon.
A literal labyrinth.
The world devoured by the Void is one giant maze, a labyrinth.
My role in this world is to break through the labyrinth. In Greek mythology terms, I'm Theseus, who threaded the maze and grilled up the Minotaur steak.
"Undertaker, sir."
"Yeah? What is it?"
"Patrol Team 21 on my map has been stationary for 3 hours already."
"No movement at all?"
"Yes."
"Poles? Wires?"
"They seem cut. The reports periodically posted on SG Net stopped 180 minutes ago."
"Ah... caught in the Void again. I keep saying, sending patrols near Daejeon always causes problems. Saintess? Are you monitoring?"
[Yes.]
"Send a message to Patrol Team 21 in the name of the constellation. Tell them a rescue team is coming soon, so don't panic and stay put."
[You're going personally?]
"Yes, since the wires are cut, they need repairing too."
"Got it."
Yoo Ji-won's [Minimap] and the Saintess's [Telepathy].
Thanks to these two's support, I somehow managed to connect cities even in this harsh apocalypse.
Ruling surfaces was out of the question, but ruling lines was something to hope for.
And of course, besides the Saintess and Yoo Ji-won, countless talents were aiding the National Highway Management Corps.
"Ha-yul."
"Yeah?"
"Wires are cut again. Let's go lay some thread."
For Theseus to walk the labyrinth, he needs Ariadne too.
Puppeteer Lee Ha-yul.
This girl, who spun puppet threads like a spider, was indispensable for managing the peninsula's highways.
3
With Ha-yul on my back, we quickly spotted Patrol Team 21 huddled in the middle of the forest.
A considerable time had passed since they fell to the Void, leaving the team members in a wretched state.
"Ah...! Undertaker!"
The patrol captain recognized me, his face lighting up. My official position in the Corps varied by regression round, but I always received respectful treatment from the members.
"You came!"
"Yeah. Everyone, good work."
I pulled out Ha-yul and chocolate from my backpack. Ha-yul toddled off on her own with squeaks, while I handed the chocolate to the team.
"How many days have you been stranded?"
"By my count, it's day 15 today. But since each member feels different durations, it's not precise."
"Properly ensnared. The sun?"
"We observed directions per protocol, but day 1 south, day 2 east, day 3 north, and so on—the sunrise direction changed daily."
"The moon?"
"I saw one consistently, but one member reported seeing three once."
"Any missing members?"
"None. We moved in groups of three."
Of course not.
With the sun and moon corrupted to that extent by the Void, the odds of everyone returning safely were slim.
Checking, the team that should have 24 members was down to 21. However, the colleagues had no awareness or memory of the three missing.
I sighed deeply.
'At this rate, I really need to carve a separate path around Daejeon.'
Then Ha-yul looked at me. She busily moved her tiny hands.
-Discovered. Broken spot.
Sign language.
Normally, the maid doll Ha-yul carried would speak for her, but we'd rushed out without it this time.
Still, the two of us communicated fine with signs. We even occasionally used Japanese sign language.
"Where?"
-Here.
Srrrrk-
Ha-yul raised golden aura with her gesture, pulling a thin puppet thread from underground. It was snapped in the middle.
Wires.
Ha-yul's puppet threads weren't just for guild hideout security. Like this, they were laid continuously underground along the Corps' roads.
Lee Ha-yul's puppet threads performed nearly like room-temperature superconductors when limited to aura. If you were skilled in aura, you could even send Morse code through the wires.
Above all, the "wires" were like Ariadne's thread for the patrols.
Celestial phenomena and compasses were easily nullified in the Void. In that maze, Ha-yul's threads were the "sole objective indicator."
Ha-yul and I buried the threads only along the safest paths.
In other words, as long as patrol members infused aura into the wires while moving, they could at least avoid danger zones.
Or rather, the survival rate plummeted the moment the threads snapped for whatever reason.
"Why do you think it snapped?"
-Don't know. Suspected work of underground anomaly.
"Sigh... Who knows how many times this has happened around here. Maybe I should give up the Daejeon route and just use the Sejong one."
-Okay?
"It'll isolate Daejeon more, worsening the Void corruption, but whatever. No other way. Let's reinstall the wires first. Bury them deeper underground this time."
-Yeah.
Thread flowed from under Ha-yul's nails. The puppet thread sliced through the earth like cake as it descended.
Thud-
Meanwhile, I fetched a utility pole and planted it. Utility poles were easy to find anywhere nationwide, perfect as markers for "wires pass underground here."
Repairs finished quickly. But the real important rescue work was just beginning.
"Team Leader Park."
"Yes, Undertaker."
"Take your team up to Sejong. I have some business nearby; I'll join once done."
"Understood. Thank you!"
The patrol caravan moved out.
After round 380, Ripee and Kongkong would have pulled the cart, but unfortunately, this incident was in round 205. The team pulled handcarts as they departed.
"Alright. Let's wrap this up quick and head back. Ha-yul, hop on."
-Yeah.
Ha-yul jumped onto my back like a sloth. I swept the area with a regressor's unique footwork.
Lee Ha-yul reached out from behind. Her fingers formed signs.
-LOL. LOL. LOL.
"......"
This kid loved being carried around on my back. She said it felt just like riding a roller coaster.
Anyway, after an hour of searching, no missing members.
Just as I thought to give up and return, something that shouldn't be visible in the remote Void entered my sight.
-Oppa. There.
"Yeah. I see it too."
I stopped dead.
[DREAM CASINO]
[Dream Amusement Park]
Flash flash.
Pink and red neon signs blazed brilliantly. In a situation where even Busan had daily blackouts whenever it felt like it, who knew where this power came from.
"No way, a casino...?"
...Looks like the missing Corps members had switched professions to gamblers.