Chapter 199
Chapter 199
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 199
Chapter Title: Tokyo Apocalypse - 5
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Geom-in was descending deep into the ruins.
As he walked down the dark corridor, he desperately wanted to go home.
He missed the shelter that offered food, comfort, safety, and even entertainment.
But having come this far, turning back empty-handed would disappoint everyone.
Of course, what he had gained was substantial...
Geom-in stopped walking and unpacked his dimensional backpack.
It was filled with the resources, items, and crops he had collected.
All of them would enrich the shelter and its people.
The earth chestnuts were especially impressive.
The duration was short, but if Ji-man properly cultivated them, they could grow significantly, so it wasn't a big issue.
"Good, good."
Geom-in closed the backpack and hurried onward.
He was following where the dung beetle led, but something felt off.
Even when main paths were visible, it veered into alleys or required crawling through tight spots.
But voicing objections felt awkward.
Partly because he was passive, but the atmosphere felt gravely serious.
'Something wrong? It was playful at the entrance...'
Dung beetles had quite cheerful personalities.
This was a fact only Ji-man and Geom-in, who often played with them, knew.
They'd break into physical comedy mid-task, which was hilarious.
So it was strange for such a fun-loving creature to just tug hair for directions today.
'It's already day three here... I'm getting used to it.'
Living alone and hunting had become quite proficient.
Compared to his former self, he felt much more mature now.
'I've grown.'
He wanted to show this side to the shelter members, but there was no way back yet.
Sung-ho said he'd figure something out after work, so exploration was the only option.
Geom-in carefully followed the dung beetle's lead, gripping the walls.
They had descended quite far; the air grew stuffy, making breathing difficult.
According to the dung beetle, there used to be an air regulator, but it was broken.
"You guys are an amazing species. But how did you end up cursed?"
The dung beetle tugged his hair instead of explaining.
Geom-in stopped and shone his flashlight on the wall.
A massive mural appeared.
"What is this..."
The mural depicted some monster.
All things under the sun... probably referring to the Lotus race and civilization.
The monster in the mural blocked the sun, devouring everything with its tentacles.
Geom-in stared silently, realizing it resembled the nurse's thing Sung-ho mentioned.
"Ghoul flowers too... so many tentacles. Ow."
The dung beetle yanked his hair again.
Shining the light in the corner revealed people reaching toward the monster.
"This is worship? Worship... Ah, mentally controlled by the monster..."
The dung beetle bounced angrily in frustration.
Then it scurried down and drew on the floor.
According to it, this mural summarized the fall of the Lotus civilization.
The monster's identity likely referred to the thing in the labyrinth's depths.
"Those worshippers include that programmer An Geun-seok and his ilk..."
With humans worshipping it that much, it definitely had mental abilities.
"A monster that destroyed a civilization... No way we can fight that."
Then the dung beetle tapped his shoe with its front legs.
It felt like it was saying not to worry.
Then it drew a new picture.
A location in the south of the Lotus continent.
"Where's this?"
The dung beetle pointed at the spot, twisted its body staggeringly, then straightened up.
"Ah, defends against mental attacks? There's an item like that here?"
Sung-ho had a ring with mental resistance, but this seemed on another level.
Not perfect... monster attacked during research... they don't know details...
Such drawings followed.
Since Lotus continent humans conducted the research, the dung beetles didn't know.
Geom-in scratched his head.
"Lotus continent humans, huh? Never seen one."
The leather pouch Sung-ho found was presumed human-owned, but none seen in person.
The dung beetle pointed at Geom-in with its front leg.
—You're the same as them.
That's what it was saying.
Geom-in snapped to attention.
These guys are so smart; teaching them Hangul would make communication way easier, right?
"Want to learn Hangul?"
The dung beetle clumsily drew Sung-ho's face.
It had learned some letters at first but forgot since Sung-ho was too busy.
"Busy running around Busan, so yeah, you forgot. I'll teach you."
Nod nod.
The dung beetle climbed back onto his shoulder.
Geom-in used the smartphone from the shelter members via auction house to photograph the mural.
Back at shelter, he could print it with the printer.
Anyway...
"I want to go home..."
The dung beetle patted his shoulder encouragingly.
Geom-in trudged weakly inward.
Most living creatures have an instinct to protect their offspring.
Even griffons treated as monsters were no exception.
The griffon atop the tower raged at the human daring to steal its egg.
Kyaaak!
It dove immediately, trying to snatch the human with its talons.
But the human used the egg as a shield, dodging everywhere.
It was utterly infuriating.
Hiding behind my precious egg!
Now the griffon tried landing on the roof.
That's when the human pushed the egg.
"Hngh!"
As the griffon approached, strangely, both the egg and human vanished.
The griffon tilted its head in confusion, while Sung-ho inside the dimension gate collapsed exhausted on the dirt floor.
The egg rolled, causing chaos in the shelter.
"Wh-wh-what is that?!"
"Kyaa! Something's rolling in!"
Starting with Mi-kyung's scream, people rushed out and stopped the egg.
They stared at Sung-ho in bewilderment.
"Bro, what the heck is this?"
"What were you doing out there to bring this..."
"It's a griffon egg."
Sung-ho dusted his butt and stood, calling Ji-man.
"Raise this well. We need a flying mount in the shelter too."
"I can't tame monsters though?"
"Da-jeong will handle that."
"You're giving her more work. Ji-man's already busy with the garden, fishing, and animals."
Everyone shared chores, but Ji-man shouldered the most.
He slept latest and woke earliest, so no one could stop him.
If he liked it, who were they to argue.
Sung-ho patted Ji-man's shoulder.
"You can do it, right?"
"Yeah. But bro, look at the horned birds."
Ji-man whistled sharply, and small ostrich-like chicks came scampering from somewhere.
Sung-ho gaped at them.
These the horned birds born a few days ago?
"...How'd they grow so fast?"
"Guess that's the breed. Great appetite, super friendly. So cute."
"Names?"
"This one's Beak, this one's Leg."
"Your naming sense is as tragic as mine..."
Anyway, the shelter was running smoothly.
Sung-ho reopened the dimension gate to check outside.
The Japanese who followed him to the roof were getting wrecked by the griffon.
"Uwaaak!"
"Save me! Sa..."
Sounds and visuals through the gate were only for him, so no one knew.
Sung-ho slipped out while the griffon killed the Japanese.
The griffon spotted him and cried out powerfully.
Kyaaaaak!
It was a cry vowing pursuit to hell's end.
Sung-ho descended to ground and pulled out his motorcycle.
As he started it, the griffon circled Mori Tower, then spotted him.
"Hey!"
Vrooom—
The bike sped off, griffon in pursuit.
Seok-hyun and Yuzuka waited in front of Frontier Building for someone.
Yuzuka had never actually seen a griffon.
So she was secretly excited.
"What'll we do after catching the griffon? Yuzuka is curious."
"Tame it and ride around."
"Is that possible?"
"There's this scary woman called the Monster Queen. She'll tame it."
"Heard about her, but didn't think she could handle something that big."
Seok-hyun shrugged.
"Honestly, not sure if it'll work. Griffon's level is pretty high."
"Yuzuka..."
As she started to speak, Seok-hyun blocked her with his arm.
"It's coming."
"Where... Ah!"
They spotted the motorcycle racing across Ariake Bridge and the massive griffon.
Furious, it folded wings intermittently for attacks.
But the bike dodged masterfully.
Missing, the griffon flipped and soared back up.
Yuzuka watched entranced.
"Amazing..."
Like a movie scene.
"Get ready!"
Sung-ho shouted, and Seok-hyun whirled the pre-tied rope.
What was the plan?
As Yuzuka wondered, the bike passed them.
Vrooom!
The griffon dove sharply then.
Seok-hyun lassoed its neck perfectly.
Dive ended; Seok-hyun got yanked up.
"Dangerous!"
Seok-hyun yanked the rope, swinging onto the neck.
Then punched the back of its head.
"Get off!"
Keak!
Not only saddled by a human but punched too, the griffon fainted.
Ogre-level power to the head was inevitable.
Losing lift, it plummeted.
Asphalt shattered; Seok-hyun rolled safely to ground.
To Yuzuka, it felt dreamlike.
Couldn't grasp what happened.
"Yuzuka!"
Sung-ho returned from behind, arm extended.
She reached; her body lightly mounted the bike seat.
They rushed to the fainted griffon.
"Didn't hit too hard, did you?"
Seok-hyun scratched his head.
"Thought it'd survive this."
"Heart's beating, so not dead. Should feed it a potion."
Sung-ho opened a dimension gate, summoning Da-jeong.
No need to hide from Yuzuka, who already knew.
She was wisely holding back questions.
Da-jeong emerged and screamed.
"My griffon! Who did this! You!"
"Messed up the strength control."
Surprisingly, Da-jeong didn't kick his butt.
"I'll let it slide. You worked hard getting here."
Da-jeong placed hand on beak; golden light enveloped it.
She fed it potion.
"Good boy. Drink up and perk up."
As if hearing, griffon blinked.
Spread wings, stood.
Its murderous glare at Sung-ho was gone.
Excited, Da-jeong mounted neck.
"Hop on!"
The three climbed; it powerfully flapped skyward.
Despite Seok-hyun's punch, Da-jeong's trait and effects healed it fast.
Physical abilities greatly enhanced too.
The four toured Tokyo skies on griffon back.
Yuzuka endured wind eyes closed, then widened them.
Roads collapsing everywhere—not partially, but Tokyo-wide.
Monsters and people swept into fissures, screaming.
Like an earthquake.
Even Midtown Tower, surviving magnitude 8 and metal plague, toppled its massive frame.
54-story building crashed, turning base to ruins.
"Tokyo...!"
Sung-ho silently watched Tokyo's destruction.
Expected, but not this fast.
Not just Tokyo—everywhere with ghoul flowers would follow.
Ground upheaving, buildings crumbling, human traces fading.
Lotus ecosystem taking over.
Only Seoul parts aggressively defoliating ghoul flowers were safe.
Sung-ho told Da-jeong.
"To the Great Labyrinth entrance."
"Heading home already? Got it."
She turned griffon's head.
It flapped vigorously on command.
Before leaving Japan.
I swept the auction house, buying every elderwood.
Japanese didn't know totems, so ignored elderwood's uses.
Some cited elderwood longbows, speculating price rise, but few cared.
Elderwood without known use wasn't pricey.
"Only 4... "
I stowed the elderwood sticks in backpack.
Great Labyrinth dimension gate area was deserted.
Nearby buildings collapsed, evacuating humans and monsters alike.
Handy for returning to Korea hassle-free.
Griffon in dimension storage... good.
"Let's go home."
Crouching Da-jeong stood.
"Auction folks here are funny? Blaming us for their mess."
"They're doomed anyway. Ignore."
"Someone's inciting go to Korea, now."
"With that mindset, they'd die to monsters in labyrinth. Don't sweat it."
"Hmm..."
"Let's go quick. Nothing here anyway."
Seok-hyun was right.
We entered Great Labyrinth gate one by one.
Emerging in Seoul, breathing air felt like finally home, relieving.
But ghoul flower explosion hit here too.
Cracks in remaining buildings; ground splitting.
Da-jeong sighed at me.
"Watched others' homes shatter, now ours is."
"Yeah."
What could we do. Adapt.
We moved to runway, pulled griffon from dimension storage.
Multi-layered ropes; tank and Seok-hyun tugged, out it came.
Regaining senses, it looked around.
"Go! Home!"
Soon, after Tokyo, we flew Seoul skies.
From above, devastation clear.
City boiling like pot water.
Thanks to Korean shelter info, chaos minimal.
We flew over upheaving city to Korean shelter.
End of Tokyo Apocalypse - 5