The Spoiler of the Apocalypse

Six 2-liter bottles of water. About 12 kilograms. The heavy weight of those four packs pressed mercilessly against my shoulders. Twenty-four. An age when others speak of youth and romance. But the only words permitted to me were "overdue" and "interest." The private loan debt left behind by my runaway father. The student loans I took out just to try and attend college like everyone else. My life had been in the deep red from the moment I was born.

"1.2 million won in interest alone this month. My part-time job at the convenience store barely covers the rent..."

A bitter taste filled my mouth. A convenience store shift at dawn, a local supermarket in the day, and a logistics center at night. The fragmented hours I spent sleeping between my three daily jobs were my only solace. My eyes, bloodshot from chronic sleep deprivation, kept drifting shut.

"Haa..."

Sometimes, I wonder. Would it be easier if I just jumped in front of that dump truck speeding toward me? Of course, I couldn't. If I died, the debt would fall squarely onto my younger sister. For me, life wasn't about living. It was just about enduring day after day, unable to die.

"Si-woo, stop working for a second and drink this."

It was Mr. Kim, the owner of the local supermarket. He clicked his tongue and handed me a bottle of energy drink. "I'm fine, boss. I need to finish this quickly and head over to the logistics warehouse."

"Sigh... kid, look at your bloodshot eyes. You're going to kill yourself at this rate. Just drink it."

Mr. Kim patted my shoulder and handed me a plastic bag. Inside were a red bean bun and a carton of milk. This man, who always smiled so kindly, was the only person who shared any warmth with me.

"Ah, seriously... I shouldn't take this. Once I pay off all my debts, I'll treat you to something really expensive, so look forward to it, okay?"

"Haha, listen to this kid... just eat it and get some rest, even if it's only for a little while."

I nodded with a smile. And at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that moment.

—CRACK!!

A roar, as if the massive glass window had been shattered into pieces. Instinctively, my gaze turned outside. The clear sky was twisting. Crimson, blood-colored fissures were tearing through the clouds and spreading. Then, a voice drilled into my brain.

"Uh, uh? What is that!"

I heard Mr. Kim's bewildered shout. Beyond the supermarket's glass window, giants with red skin were pouring down. They were over two meters tall, with protruding tusks and murderous glints in their eyes. I had seen them somewhere before. No, they were so familiar that it felt surreal. They were the beings I had only ever seen in the novels on my smartphone screen, my only escape while riding the bus between part-time jobs.

"Don't tell me... Orcs?"

They were far more hideous than the descriptions in the novels. Their skin was dark red, as if smeared with dried blood.

—THUD!

Before I could even panic, the supermarket entrance crumpled like paper. One of the red monsters had burst inside. The axe it held was already dripping with fresh blood.

"KRAAAAAAA!!"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The beast's roar filled the narrow supermarket. The daily life I had thought was peaceful until just a moment ago had vanished. I quickly assessed the situation. First... I had to escape.

"Boss, this way! Hurry!"

I grabbed the arm of Mr. Kim, who was in a daze. But the entrance was already blocked by Orcs.

"Help me...!!! Argh...!!!!"

"What is this... what is happening!!!!!"

People's screams and the sound of flesh tearing began to fill the supermarket.

"Boss, please! Stand up!"

The metallic scent of blood stung my nose. Mr. Kim seemed completely shell-shocked. I hooked my arms under his and dragged him by force. "Is this... not a dream?" The violent tremors of Mr. Kim's body were transmitted through my arms. I was no different. My knees were shaking pathetically. My heart was pounding as if it would burst through my ribs. "It's a dream. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠This has to be a dream."

But even now.

—KRAAAAAAA!!

"Kyaaaaaa..!!!"

Right next to the checkout counter, an axe crushed the skull of a screaming college student. The red monster roared.

"...Damn it, there's no way this is a dream."

At that moment.

—KRAAAAA!!

One of the Orcs spotted us and charged with a roar. Mr. Kim just stared at it blankly. He had no intention of moving. It was too late for me, too. This was the end.

"Is this... how I go?"

The crude axe blade cast a shadow over my head. I closed my eyes instinctively. But then.

—CLANG!!

A metallic sound that tore through my eardrums rang out. When I opened my eyes, a massive back was standing in front of me.

"Pull yourself together, Si-woo!"

It was Choi Kang-min. The man who worked as a trainer at the large gym near the supermarket. He stood there, holding a fire axe. His voice was impossibly calm.

"Ch-Choi, sir...?"

"Take the boss and stick right behind me! Don't you dare let go!"

He was different from the others. There was no hesitation in his movements. He deflected the Orc's axe blade and precisely severed the tendon behind its knee. He then drove his axe into the neck of the monster as it lost its balance.

"Everyone, listen to me! If you panic, you all die! Men, grab the carts and block the entrance! Women and the elderly, run to the basement storage passage! Now!"

His firm voice echoed. Order began to emerge from the chaos. As everyone hesitated, Choi Kang-min jumped right into the middle of the Orc horde.

"Choi, sir!! You can't go there!!"

He swung his axe, carving a path. He didn't even care that his forearm was being torn apart. People's gazes were locked onto him. In this unbelievable situation, he was a man trying to save everyone without fear. Protecting a child. Blocking the path of an old man. Choi Kang-min was doing his best to keep us all alive.

"This is insane..."

I couldn't believe it was the strength of a single person. He dodged the Orcs' blades. He swung his axe, driving it into their chests.

—KROOOOOWOOO!!

Of course, he couldn't dodge everything. A fist swung by a red monster struck Choi Kang-min in the back.

"Ugh..."

Blood trickled from his lips. It was an impact that would have brought any ordinary person to their knees. But Choi Kang-min didn't let go of his axe, even while staggering. Instead, he swung it viciously, burying the blade in the monster's neck.

Watching that desperate back, someone screamed as if wringing the sound from their lungs.

"Ar-are we just going to watch?! If that man falls, we're all dead too!!!"

That single scream became the fuse. People paralyzed by fear began to come to their senses one by one.

"Damn it, if I'm going to die just standing here, I might as well...!"

"We can't just let him die alone!"

Several people nearby grabbed makeshift weapons. They ran to Choi Kang-min's side with steel pipes and debris. With more people, the path opened up more easily.

"...Boss! Let's move quickly too!"

"Y-yes, let's go!!"

I followed, holding onto Mr. Kim tightly. A corner of my heart burned hot. I had been tormented by debt collectors my whole life. No one had ever fought for me. But this man, Choi Kang-min, was vomiting blood to clear a path for us, people he didn't even know.

"...A hero."

That was the only word that came to mind. If not that, how could anyone act like this? Dozens of survivors were now following him naturally. However, hell was not that lenient.

"It's the storage hallway! We're almost there...!"

—BOOM!

Choi Kang-min's shout stopped. A narrow, long hallway leading to the basement storage. Hundreds of Orcs were chasing us from behind. To make matters worse, a new group of Orcs was bursting through the walls in front of us. A desperate crisis with nowhere to retreat.

"We're blocked front and back! What do we do now!"

"Wh-what do we do!!!"

People screamed and looked at Choi Kang-min. He gasped for air and scanned the surroundings. His gaze landed on a switch in the middle of the hallway.

"There is one way!"

He gestured urgently toward the group of civilians, including me. Our lagging gazes focused on him. Desperate eyes. A trembling voice rang out amidst everyone's expectations.

"If someone can hold them off for just 10 seconds, I can open the security shutter inside and secure an escape route! Please... please help me!"

He drove his fire axe into the floor and shouted at us.

"Si-woo! Boss! And everyone else there! Please, I beg you, just push the carts for 10 seconds to block the Orcs in front! I'll open the door and come back to save you immediately!"

There ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was no room for doubt. This man had stepped forward to save us. His body, which didn't have a single intact spot, was visible at a glance. I suppressed my fear and grabbed Mr. Kim's shoulder.

"Boss, just a little... we only need to hold out for 10 seconds. Let's go!!"

Now was the time for us to move.

"Yes, let's go!!"

I gripped the cart handle. I was scared. So incredibly scared. But how could a person only ever be on the receiving end? A man who adapted immediately to a suddenly changed world. A saint who put others before himself even then.

"RAAAAAAA!!"

I made eye contact with the Orcs. I could feel my body trembling. If I took even one hit from that axe, I would die instantly. But, but...

"Get lost!!!!!!"

Now, it was my turn.

I lowered my head and pushed the cart. It wasn't just one or two people; everyone in the back was moving. If there was no cart, they used drawers. If there were no drawers, they used chairs. They pushed anything they could find to block the Orcs.

"Thank you!! Thank you!!"

In the meantime, Choi Kang-min moved quickly. The people in front headed toward the switch according to his instructions.

—CLICK

—RUMBLE—!

A heavy metallic sound rang out. The massive security shutter rolled upward.

"It's open! The shutter is open!"

Someone cheered as if screaming. The weight of the cart felt light for a moment. 10 seconds. No, we had endured a time that felt like an eternity.

"Hurry inside!!"

Bright light poured out from within. Following Choi Kang-min's instructions, a few people in front went in first. Choi Kang-min encouraged them, patting each person on the shoulder.

"Hurry inside! You've all worked hard!"

The sight of him taking care of the survivors until the very end. Now it was our turn.

—KROOOOOR!!

I barely managed to push an Orc away with the cart and shouted, "Choi, sir! Now us too...! It's our turn!"

Other civilians also turned their heads to look at him. The bloodied Mr. Kim, the middle-aged woman who had been trembling beside me. Everyone was waiting for Choi Kang-min's next words. But.

"..."

He didn't move. He just stared at us, his hand still on the shutter switch.

"Choi, sir? Hurry... hurry! The Orcs are right in front of us...!"

My voice rang out urgently. Choi Kang-min slowly opened his mouth.

"Everyone, thank you so much. Thanks to your noble sacrifice, these people were able to live."

He was polite. That was why it was even more chilling.

"H-hey! What are you talking about! Hurry up and let us in!"

Someone screamed and reached toward the shutter. Choi Kang-min shook his head and replied.

"Unfortunately, I cannot do that."

"What...?"

"The food inside is limited, and you are already injured. The smell of the Orcs' blood will attract even more monsters. If I let you all in... the survivors inside will be in too much danger."

In an instant, the atmosphere in the hall changed completely. People stared at Choi Kang-min with bewildered faces.

"Wh... what does that mean?"

"Yeah!! Open it, hurry!!!"

He didn't say a word to their pleas. He just shook his head again.

"I will not forget your names. True heroes."

His hand pulled the switch. The security shutter began to descend toward the floor again.

"Y-you son of a bitch! You said we'd live together! You told us to block them!"

"Stop!!! Stop it!!!!!!"

"No!! Save me!! Save me!!!!"

Choi Kang-min quickly pulled his body into the gap. Just before the shutter closed completely, I saw his lips move without a sound.

"Stupid idiots."

—BANG—!

It was a perfect severance. The heavy steel shutter hit the floor.

"Open it! Open it, you son of a bitch!!!"

People let out blood-curdling screams. But that was the end. In a situation where we were busy dealing with the Orcs right in front of us.

—KROOOOOR!!

—STAB!

People who had lost their way began to fall one by one.

"Th-this is..."

It was futile. I couldn't understand this situation. I had believed that man was a hero. I had helped him with all my might. But... the result was only this?

"Si-woo..."

I heard Mr. Kim's trembling voice beside me. I just stared blankly at the closed shutter. My mind went blank. No thoughts, no countermeasures came to me. That was when.

"Danger! Get out of the way!"

I heard Mr. Kim's urgent shout. At the same time, a rough hand shoved my shoulder hard.

—CRUNCH!

A dull sound of rupture hit my ears. When I, who had been thrown to the floor, lifted my head, an unbelievable sight unfolded before my eyes.

"B-boss?"

An axe blade was buried deep in the middle of Mr. Kim's back. I understood immediately. Mr. Kim had taken the hit meant for me.

"Run... run away..."

Mr. Kim groaned in pain but forced the corners of his mouth upward. "Si-woo... you have to live..."

"Wh-what are you saying!! Boss!! Pull yourself together!!!"

I immediately pushed myself up. Mr. Kim vomited blood and continued.

"Cough... someone like you... who works so hard... will surely find the light someday..."

—SPLAT!

That was the end. An axe swung by another Orc fell onto Mr. Kim's head.

—DRIP

Something hot splashed onto my face. Mr. Kim's bright red blood. One of the few lights in this world had just gone out.

"AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!"

A scream erupted. But no one waited for my grief.

—CRACK!

I felt a burning pain in my side. An Orc's axe had deeply sliced through my waist. The impact lifted my body, and I rolled onto the cold concrete floor.

"Ah..."

I didn't have the strength to move a single finger. Even crawling on the floor was impossible. The blood pouring from my chest and side soaked the floor.

"Damn it..."

My life is truly unlucky. I worked like a dog from dawn till night without a wink of sleep. I struggled to live somehow, even if it was a life that would end just by paying off debts. But this is the result. Used by trash, and my only ally had his head smashed in and died.

"Choi Kang-min..."

That man's final sneer flashed through my mind. I felt wronged. I was so wronged that I couldn't close my eyes like this. I don't want to die. No, I can never die until I kill that bastard.

"I'll live... I'll live no matter what..."

I put strength into my fingers. I grabbed the floor and tried desperately to crawl. I bit my lips until they bled. Between my closing eyes, I glared at the shutter where that bastard had disappeared.

"I'll kill you... I will definitely..."

At that moment.

A blue holographic window flickered in my fading vision.

The world went silent, as if it had stopped. And beyond the closed shutter. Where Choi Kang-min had disappeared, strange letters floated up.