Chapter 176
Chapter 176
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: 아포칼립스의 고인물-176화
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: Separate to Survive - 1
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"Battle Royale is, well... like musical chairs. Only one person survives, and everyone else dies."
"That's a brutal event..."
"It starts not long after the Owl Bear shows up. I don't know the exact zone, but it'll be about the size of one city block."
Jang Won-taek pondered for a moment before speaking.
"Is there no place where the Battle Royale event doesn't occur?"
"There is. Inside dungeons. You know, the spaces beyond the dimension gates we usually enter. Battle Royale doesn't happen there."
"Hmm... There aren't that many dungeons, so that's a problem..."
"What about the battlefield? Like last time, do monsters make walls or something?"
Hyun-woo asked, but I didn't answer.
You didn't answer me either, so fair's fair, right?
Instead, I looked at Jang Won-taek and said,
"This Battle Royale doesn't form a separate battlefield. Instead, your stats stay sealed until the last one remains. Traits will probably be similar to before. Maybe just one extra effect unlocked."
Jang Won-taek furrowed his brow.
"So, if we don't end the Battle Royale event, we stay weakened the whole time?"
"If someone from outside enters, the Battle Royale extends. If people flee when the initial battlefield forms, the pursuers get a special skill that lets them track the escapees. It's meant to chase them down and kill them."
Both of them let out sighs of lament.
"What a truly cruel event..."
I decided to wrap it up there.
There were things I hadn't said, but nothing game-changing.
"If the number drops to one person when the initial battlefield forms, that person wins. The rewards are probably a Revival Scroll plus some extras. Like skill expansion slots."
"That does sound tempting."
Hyun-woo stroked his chin.
Already filled up all 10 skill slots?
Jang Won-taek leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.
His furrowed brow showed his distress.
"So that's why you told us to delay opening the shelter. But for us, it was unavoidable. We had to declare the Metal Plague was gone."
I shrugged.
"What now? Over a hundred people have to scatter. Even if they survive, grudges are inevitable. Would anyone just let it slide if that bastard killed their comrade, friend, or lover?"
"...So that's why you said true harmony is impossible?"
Jang Won-taek asked, and I nodded.
"The game makes it that way. It forces constant fighting. Once the Battle Royale ends completely, the shelter population will drop to half or less. Supplies will be looted too."
"I'll guard this place, so no problem."
Hyun-woo needlessly racked the slide on his pistol.
Whatever.
As I stood to leave, Jang Won-taek cleared the situation board.
"Mind if I ask where you'll be? We'll avoid that spot at least."
"...Three places."
"Excluding Geom-in, I suppose."
"The more Revival Scrolls, the better."
I pointed to three spots on the map, and Jang Won-taek indicated Bukhansan.
"What if I go up the mountain alone?"
"Alone won't trigger the event. Needs at least three people."
"Can't come down carelessly either, since we won't know if nearby battlefields have ended..."
"Better to end the battlefield with minimal casualties."
No one wants to be the victim, so the auction house must be full of nonsense rumors.
Best not to believe any of it.
Jang Won-taek sighed.
"Anyway, to avoid this Battle Royale, we wait for a dungeon to appear."
"You'll have to stay inside for quite a while. If you come out and it's still going, that's trouble."
"True... This is more headache than expected."
I stood and announced,
"Once I leave this time, I won't come back."
"Leaving already?"
"Seems stabilized enough from my view... You're not asking me to handle the Battle Royale aftermath too, right?"
Jang Won-taek smiled faintly.
"I'd love to keep you, but a promise is a promise. Still, there are people with ties, right? Like Hyung-jun..."
Making me linger to the end.
But once my brother joined here, there's nothing I can do.
Just hope he's safe.
"Handle it yourselves. I'll say my goodbyes."
The two newbies had joined Hyun-woo's Striker team and were nowhere to be seen.
Suits them to roam and hunt monsters.
Makes sense to leverage their traits in the city.
I left the office and went looking for Hyung-jun hyung.
He was living in the dorms with Yu Ji-hye, a woman in her 30s.
She gave off a gentle, kind vibe at first glance.
According to hyung, her trait was non-combat, and having survived alone, she'd been through a lot.
No need to pry into details.
"Hello."
Fear mixed in her eyes as she looked at me.
Living among unfriendly people, hearing all the nasty rumors about me, it had become prejudice.
Even when hyung explained, she wouldn't believe it.
Can't be helped.
I haven't lived squeaky clean either.
Hyung stepped out into the hallway, blocking her view.
"Hey, Sung-ho, what's up?"
"Battle Royale's starting soon... Here."
I handed him the strategy guide, and he gripped my hand tightly.
"Sorry. Always benefiting from you. I should've gone there too..."
The last part was almost a whisper.
Can't let sis-in-law hear.
I grabbed hyung's forearm.
"Call anytime. I won't abandon you."
"Sigh... Sorry and thanks again. See you alive later."
"Yep."
As I left, I noticed sis-in-law's belly slightly bulging as she turned.
No way she's pregnant?
I almost asked hyung but shut my mouth.
No need to burden him now that I'm leaving.
Said goodbyes, then tidied my dorm.
No permanent resident, so it was mostly clean.
Tossed a few bags into my dimensional storage, done.
"Just wait for Battle Royale now..."
Me, Seok-hyun, and Da-jeong had already agreed to cover separate zones.
No one from Korean Shelter would come once our positions leaked.
Best if it ends there, but escapees or variables could mix in.
"Prefer no one comes, but..."
On the other hand, I wanted the Revival Scroll and extras.
Hunker down and play it by ear.
I left Yeouido for Gimpo Airport.
Entering the shelter, everyone was bustling.
Turns out, under Yoo Hyun-i's supervision, they were building a power grid.
"Nothing amazing—just installing lights and running lines to each hut. While at it, extending outside for infrared sensors."
"Impressive to me."
Pulling power from one solar generator is easy even for a layman like me.
But linking multiples into a grid? Only Yoo Hyun-i could.
I showered him with praise, and he excitedly toured me around the expansive shelter.
"Want to centralize fridges in the middle, but they guzzle power. Might need hydroelectric from the valley."
I was shocked.
"That works?"
"Possible, but materials are an issue..."
"Just say the word. I'll get everything."
As dusk fell, LED lights lit up across the shelter.
Even advertising like this reduced monster attacks compared to before—thanks to Da-jeong's werewolf patrolling the perimeter.
But she spent a lot of time in reality, giving Geom-in headaches.
"Dark means fewer attacks but inconvenient living. Polled everyone— they want lights on."
Definitely, bright like this, local monsters would love it.
But this shelter wasn't the old cave one.
They had the power to fend off enemies.
Geom-in showed me around, introducing the hut foundations.
"Planning five huts. Two per hut. Extras for storage."
"...Why's ours the farthest back?"
Great sea view, but isolated.
He scratched his head.
"Yeoul-i complained a lot... Said it's... noisy."
Damn, that reason.
Da-jeong's excessive screaming is the issue.
Geom-in planned bathrooms per hut with plumbing.
"Computers too. NAS setup for movies, dramas anytime."
"And you'll game in your hut?"
He sheepishly scratched his head.
"President hoarded a ton."
The content I secured was hundreds of terabytes.
Multiply backed up—no boredom anytime soon.
Luxury only here, though.
Night fell, and we gathered in the center.
Live separately, but meals together was the unwritten rule.
Other rules like no casual gun use—everyone followed well.
This is all I could ask for.
"What's today's menu?"
"Grilled pork. Ji-man, grab veggies from the garden?"
"Sure."
Meal duty rotated; us veterans skipped.
We're often away.
Soo-yeon sliced thick wild boar on the board with her kitchen knife.
Sizzling on the BBQ grill.
"Let's eat!"
In apocalypse, only we can enjoy this.
Cheers as they devoured; I quietly said,
"Battle Royale soon—who wants in?"
"..."
Except Seok-hyun and Da-jeong, all hesitated.
Even Geom-in; probably no confidence.
"Then me, Seok-hyun, Da-jeong head out for it."
"Prefer to pass, but rewards too sweet. Revival Scroll."
Da-jeong wiggled her leg; I added another finger.
"Plus a random extra. Skill slot would be best."
"Pardon too?"
Seok-hyun asked; I racked my brain.
"Dunno. This Battle Royale only once overall."
"If we finish and go next block?"
"Works if ongoing, but reward once only."
"Shame."
"Sleep here tonight; tomorrow we split. Gimpo Airport for me, Y Uni for Seok-hyun?"
"Yeah."
Da-jeong pointed to her chest.
"I'll be next door. Women's uni. Told gramps?"
"Said stay away. Auction house notice—he won't come."
"But don't want him too far..."
One per campus won't trigger.
Event inevitable—minimize casualties.
"Lots of people dying..."
"Apocalypse, what ya gonna do..."
Mood heavied instantly.
Ding-soon-i's grunts broke it.
Mi-kyung, blinking with chopsticks in mouth, freaked.
"Pups! Ding-soon-i's having pups!"
"What? Already?"
Ding-soon-i pregnant two months; due anytime.
Soo-yeon rolled sleeves, rushed; we watched.
Ding-soon-i birthed six wolf pups.
Smaller than first Dingo litter.
"So cute..."
"Looking for momma milk..."
Soo-yeon gloved up, moved pups to teats.
New life in the shelter.
And we must kill someone.
Conclusion: stay as far from those three spots as possible.
But Seoul had too many survivors—avoiding fights impossible.
Once real info spread, hundreds of auction listings popped up.
Mostly declaring positions.
Seoul chaos spread; provincial survivors caught on and scattered.
Some to mountains, some boating to sea.
But despairing comments:
Problem: anonymity meant only Korean Shelter info trustworthy.
Late gun hunts, but Shelter locked down.
No believers.
Koreans rioted; Incheon/Bucheon Chinese oddly calm—distrusted auction info.
Months fighting Koreans left only hate.
To them, Koreans were petty, territorial trash.
Bucheon Zhonghua Gang concluded:
Zhonghua wanted Seoul.
Supplies galore, maybe guns.
Ignored zombie raids, lynched survivors in packs.
Some Zhonghua entered Gimpo Airport.
Passed empty runways/tarmacs, entered half-collapsed terminal—saw someone on lounge chair.
Sung-ho.
One pointed.
"That's him!"
"Who's that?"
"That trash killed Shen-lung! The witch from Shandong Gang!"
"...Lucky?"
Zhonghua drew weapons.
Chinese in Korea fought among themselves, no unity—but "Zhonghua" solidarity against Koreans.
Solo Sung-ho: prime prey.
Meanwhile, Sung-ho watching Battle Royale vids with Dingo, sensed presence.
"Chinese, huh..."
No prejudice, but their ragged clothes stood out.
Ignored zombie raids, mobbed boldly.
Initially cautious, now guts out.
"You lot should leave."
"Don't listen to Korean trash."
"You killed Shen-lung, right?"
Sung-ho tilted head.
"Same faction as that woman?"
"No, but fellow Zhonghua people."
"What bullshit even here in Korea."
Sung-ho shook head.
Confirmed Owl Bear nearby via Dingo.
Battle Royale imminent.
Final warning:
"Saw auction house noise? Battle Royale starting soon. Stay near me, all die."
"We're seven, you're one."
"No way we lose."
Overconfident bunch.
T1 weapons, but amateur to Sung-ho.
"Your funeral. No regrets."
"Slot 1... No dice, as expected."
Prepped ahead, no issue.
Chinese murmured at weird status windows.
"Battle Royale real?"
"Ignore, just grab him."
"Charge!"
"Waaah!"
Chinese rushed Sung-ho.
Dingo barked fiercely; Sung-ho opened dimension gate, pulled gun.
Magazine loaded rifle.
Ch-chak.
Round chambered—Chinese panicked.
"Gun!"
"Don't push!"
Sung-ho leisurely squeezed trigger at fallen ones.
Tatata!
Muzzle flashed; seven dead instantly.
Dark red blood pooled.
Sung-ho checked points, stood bitterly.
"Told you—separate to survive."
End of Separate to Survive - 1
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