Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: D - 1
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A lot had happened over these past three days.
From what people were saying, barricades had been set up at places like the highways leading to the outskirts.
In some spots, military trucks were completely blocking the roads.
When people protested, the soldiers took a hard line, claiming it was orders from above.
Fortunately, Hyung-jun hyung had made it back via a local road without any barricades.
He grumbled that his daughter had already grown distant from him in the meantime.
"Anyway, on the way here... it was no joke. The kids had murder in their eyes. Just yesterday, they were still pretty docile."
"Must've heard some rumors in the meantime."
"Exactly. But the guy who came into Gimhae with me said something. Apparently, troops have been deployed to the nuclear plant."
"The Gimhae power plant?"
"Yeah."
"Wonder if the blackouts are because of that."
"That's what I was thinking too. Someone else said they heard a broadcast in Ulsan. Telling people living around that petrochemical complex to evacuate first."
"How many people live there? Evacuating all of them..."
"It's either war or a coup. Totally insane. How do they plan to fix all that?"
"...Hyung-nim, just hypothetically... what if there's no need to fix it?"
Hyung's eyes wavered.
"You mean the zombies?"
"We don't know when it'll happen, but it feels about right, doesn't it? Deploying troops to key facilities makes sense, but they're not even calling up the reserves."
"My civil defense duty's already done."
"Yeah, exactly."
"I stopped by the community center on the way, and everyone had already gone home."
"Then it's confirmed. The zombie outbreak's why."
The president was imposing martial law to usher in an orderly apocalypse.
Shutting down the nuclear plants, evacuating people around the petrochemical complexes.
There were probably plenty of other measures too.
Like completely cutting off the city gas.
Hyung went to the makeshift kitchen, opened the valve, and turned on the gas stove.
No flame, as expected.
"They even cut the city gas. Fuck, how are we supposed to live like this? Storm the city hall?"
Even if we did, there'd be no one there.
That's when Kyung-hoon and Bora returned.
Both looked pretty excited.
"The vibe outside was insane. Soldiers shoving people around and stuff."
"For real?"
"Yeah. Seems like there are folks not following orders. You can't just block everything without explaining why."
"It does feel like a super dangerous situation."
Soon, Mi-kyung and Yu-hyun came in too.
Their eyes were red-rimmed.
Seemed like family matters, so best to keep quiet here.
Hyung-jun hyung gathered everyone.
"Alright, let's huddle up. Sung-ho... he's kinda one of us in some ways, so listen in."
Kyung-hoon looked like he had objections but didn't voice them.
Probably figured no point arguing with hyung.
I listened from a bit away as hyung spoke.
"From what I heard coming from Gimhae, and from talking to others... looks like some massive accident's hit. No power, no gas, no internet—it's basically an apocalypse, right?"
"Yeah..."
Once everyone agreed, hyung licked his lips.
A sign he was tense as hell.
"We don't know when the zombie thing kicks off, but from now on, we stick to the plan. We've got the rotations set: meals, cleaning, all that. We'll ration food... and stock water whenever it comes on."
"Starting now?"
Mi-kyung asked, and hyung nodded.
"Right now. No zombies yet, but it's apocalypse-level anyway. No idea when this ends, can't just burn through supplies."
"Right."
Bora nodded in agreement.
Things would resolve tomorrow.
Or rather, get way worse—but anyway.
The meeting wrapped, and everyone grumbled about the heat.
Mid-summer, no AC, no fans—sweat pouring down.
They fanned their T-shirt collars, complaining.
"Man, it's brutal. Gonna melt."
"High humidity makes it a steam bath."
I quickly wrote up a tutorial攻略 on a note and showed it to hyung privately.
A攻略 accounting for the lowered difficulty.
Hyung's eyes widened at the note.
"This..."
"It's been a while since I saw the video, so not 100% accurate, but close enough. Early escape routes vary by location, so watch out. Item respawns at tutorial end—grab it for sure."
"What item?"
"In the game, one spawns nearby. Random spot, so search around."
"Heh, an item pops out of thin air?"
"Goblins appeared that way too."
"...True."
At this point, even a fantasy wizard or dragon popping up wouldn't faze us.
Hyung gripped the note tight and patted my shoulder.
"Thanks. Was stressing hard. This kid saw the tutorial vid, should've asked for攻略 sooner."
"No way I'd ignore you, hyung-nim. Sorry it's not more."
"Don't apologize. If food runs low later, hit me up."
"Sure. If I'm still alive."
"Yeah..."
I thought as I headed out.
This was the best move.
Revealing my skills and joining them would make things easier, sure.
But harder to survive.
Difficulty's down, but zombies are still scary.
Mix in some enhanced ones sparingly? Nightmare fuel.
No one but a guy like me survives that.
Heading home, a loud racket echoed.
The tattooed guy's tow truck, loaded with people in back, speeding off joyfully.
No other cars, roads wide open—smooth sailing.
Soldiers blew whistles, but it blew right past.
The hat guy in the bed spotted me and spat.
"See ya later, you fuck! Haha!"
Yeah, see you tomorrow.
.
.
.
Soldiers hurried me home on the way back.
Get inside quick.
After days of hard shifts, their words had barbs.
Mouthing off now? Wouldn't end with just a scolding.
Up to the second floor, and there was Su-yeon hiding in an empty first-floor spot.
"Su-yeon-ssi?"
"Shh. Soldiers passed?"
"Yeah, but what's up here?"
"Something to tell you. Citizen's Park? They're doing construction in the underground parking."
"Construction?"
"Workers and materials going in nonstop. Spotted it a few days ago with binoculars from home."
"Still going?"
"No, done. Crazy fast, right?"
She stuck out her tongue in amazement.
Me too.
Whatever it was, finishing in three days? Insane.
"Can't explain it, but it felt super rushed. Garage is huge, workers and materials endless... later, wing-body trucks rolling in. Must've loaded something important."
No denying it—a shelter.
"Making a shelter, huh."
"Yeah. We figured politicians' private bunker. They sniff out danger like ghosts."
"Finishing this quick means something's definitely up."
She slumped her shoulders.
"Sigh... Part of me wishes it'd just blow up already. What's the point of this?"
"No guarantee no zombies."
"It's the stifling wait. You know that mood sometimes? Everything drags, nothing works right—boom, just end it?"
Feisty noona.
I asked her.
"Why tell me this?"
"If I say 'just'... weird? Got a feeling about you, Sung-ho-ssi."
"What feeling? Just a big guy."
"You said at the hardware store before. War Club's good. I looked up spores—they nest in zombie skulls?"
"That's the word."
"Once settled, vulnerable to exposure, skull weakens—drill a hole, neutralized quick. People didn't buy it."
"Too much info, don't know what to trust."
Kwon posted some intel, but after I confronted him, he deleted it all.
Result: Awakener forums flooded with unverified tips till days ago.
Some probably twisted facts to troll.
Su-yeon clapped her fist into her palm.
"Reminded me of what you said. Spiky weapons best. Early shop ebony club has spikes, right?"
"Y...eah? Think I saw in a vid."
I played it vague.
Su-yeon's glasses glinted.
"Gym owner's zombie dodge tips too—you're definitely different. Wish our team guys were like you."
"How's your team?"
"Bad to say, but no interest in essentials, just grub greed. Anyway, getting chummy with you's good. Not a burden?"
"Nah. If we survive, help each other out."
"Music to my ears."
She brought info, so I owed some.
Squatting, scribbling a note—Su-yeon squatted beside.
"Whatcha writing?"
"Tutorial攻略."
"Huh? Didn't you say no game?"
"Saw vids. Mityube, Kimbap Lover's. Memory fuzzy, don't fully trust."
She clapped delightedly.
"Whoa... this'll make me popular."
"Already are, doctor's rep."
"Sigh, nah. Subtle shade 'cause non-awakener. Useless in fights."
"Big wake-up if they fight early."
"Yeah. Gotta convince 'em."
She dusted her jeans, stood.
Wrote something on my palm.
"Eden Villa 302. If rumors say I'm dead, take everything inside."
She knew that was nonsense better than me.
How'd I hear rumors, know her team's spot?
But I got it.
Trusting me to use her stockpile.
No clue why suddenly...
"Got it. Let's meet alive later."
She grinned, handed a pouch.
Painkillers, antibiotics pack from before.
"Figured you'd fight hard, get hurt—prepped extra."
"...Thanks."
"See ya."
She turned casually and left.
.
.
.
20 hours to zombie outbreak.
I spent time in the otherworld forest, organizing the warehouse, odd jobs.
Moat completion still far, but wanted calm.
"Loot from here first tomorrow."
Marked a clearing by the cave ahead.
No time to sort on the day—running ragged.
"Too many loot spots... prioritize metals, meds."
Rest later opportunities.
I planned routes on the map.
Finish looting in 5 hours, prep for Metal Plague and tutorial.
"Level 6... still power-level chance."
Day-of only, during Metal Plague.
Done right, levels skyrocket, points galore.
"Plenty possible."
Finished sorting roughly, patrolled forest with Dingo.
Big day tomorrow—no stamina drain today.
If only no damn goblins.
Dingo sniffed, led somewhere.
"This the first one I found."
Surprise—two more Sun Apples on another branch.
Still with stamina recovery.
"...Weird."
Month old, already this big?
Matched nearby ones in size.
"Grow this fast?"
Monster-popping, weird-option-crop forest—whatever.
Pocketed the two Sun Apples.
"Not just good soil."
Maybe whole forest enchanted?
If so, my farm crops grow fast too?
"Need to check."
Tough now, but stable later—worth it.
Fertilizer stocked plenty.
Farming illiterate, but have basic ag books, vids.
Figure it out.
Patrolled shelter area for goblin traps.
Yup, found one.
Dingo pawed excitedly.
Dug with trowel—pit collapsed.
Wooden spikes at bottom.
Decent effort, but...
"I'm too big for this, idiots."
Boots anyway—no injury.
Typical goblin trap.
Broke spikes, buried.
"19 hours left..."
Time to wait calmly for zombies.
Back to shelter, checked routes, rewatched tutorial vids.
"Difficulty down, should be easy."
Updated point gains—curious what.
"Tomorrow'll tell."
Crossed to second-floor house with Dingo.
Really not long now.
.
.
.
Midnight.
Up on the second-floor house roof with Dingo, but sweltering beyond expectations.
"Tropical night brutal."
Recalled weather service: worst heatwave in 40 years.
They always say that.
Dingo knew cuddling meant hot, kept distance.
Cold-hearted pup.
I gazed skyward.
"US military prepping meteor intercept by now?"
Who knows.
All info cut—don't even know government's moves, let alone abroad.
All I knew: troops blanketing Busan area.
"And apocalypse approaching..."
13 hours left.
Flashback to awakening, realizing the crisis.
32 days prep—tons, but not perfect.
Surely oversights.
Could boomerang later.
But.
"No regrets."
No point clinging to past.
Just run forward.
"..."
Fierce wind whipped past.
Bad premonition—I stood.
Northwest sky glowed red.
Like red paint bleeding canvas.
And.
"Ah."
Hundreds of streaks slashed the night sky.
I finally realized.
Silver Spore meteor swarm hit Earth.
Meaning one thing.
US failed intercept.
"Finally..."
Apocalypse Day was here.