Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: The True Apocalypse - 2
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People say you have to keep studying until the day you die.
Beyond the traditional sense of poring over books.
It probably includes the idea of never letting go of the thread of learning.
I reviewed the saved videos in my head over and over, trying hard to apply them to reality.
Of course, modifying the shelter to survive was part of it.
In some ways, even this could be called studying.
But what the beetles were doing was the real deal.
"...Amazing..."
They were staring at the tablet right now.
I'd always been curious.
How dogs or cats perceive tablet or smartphone screens.
Dingo conked out the moment he saw the crossbow-making video, but not the beetles.
They were clearly watching the screen and studying.
Nodding their heads at each other and pointing at the screen with their front claws—what else could you call that but studying?
They kept trying to scribble on the cement floor, so I fetched some large paper and pens.
Design blueprints appeared on the spot.
To my ears, it sounded like the beetles were arguing like this.
—Wouldn't metal bow arms be better?
—The problem is reloading! With our strength, ballista reloading is tough!
—Maybe the owner could do it?
—We have to plan for when the owner's not around! We need to be able to reload it!
—That includes that wolf of ours, right?
—Yeah. Using pulleys and gears...
What the hell.
I shook my head to snap out of it.
Must be fatigue making me hear things.
Anyway, the beetles were passionately debating the ballista design.
The structure was finalized everywhere else, but reloading was the sticking point—the blueprints got revised several times.
The leader beetle grunted and mimed a cranking motion, and the others nodded.
"Your strength isn't enough, huh?"
They all nodded in unison.
Did I actually hear that?
Whatever the case, it seemed their power really fell short for reloading.
These guys were surprisingly strong, but there were limits as beetles.
They glanced at me, then shifted their attention to Dingo.
One beetle stuck out its tongue and clamped a piece of paper in the sleeping Dingo's jaws.
That's when it hit me.
"You want Dingo to handle the reloading?"
Dingo's grip and pull strength was insane.
He was the size of a small Jindo dog now, and even I had trouble handling him.
A peek at the blueprint showed gears and pulleys incorporated.
To multiply Dingo's pulling power into something massive.
"Were you dwarves in a past life or something?"
Just a throwaway line.
This felt like a fantasy world, so I name-dropped the classic dwarf.
The beetles froze and stared at me blankly.
Feeling I'd messed up, I apologized quick.
"Sorry. So, what do I need to prep?"
They finally started sketching out each component on the paper.
Roughly carve the wood like this.
They'd handle the design and small parts; I'd do the big pieces and assembly.
Division of labor, basically.
"Alright. Before we kick this off..."
I'm beat today—let's eat, crash hard, and start fresh tomorrow.
I suggested, and they eyed each other before pointing at the sweet potato jelly.
Like asking if they could have some as a reward for their hard work.
I handed over two special jellies.
"Good job today. Sleep well, and we'll get back to it tomorrow."
Dingo, who'd been dozing, snorted and bolted upright with a short bark.
"Yeah, yeah, got it."
We gathered for a meal and slept long and deep.
.
.
.
The next day.
Me and the beetles dove into the work for real.
For the part bearing the most stress, we decided to repurpose an old ebony club.
Couldn't use it as a weapon anymore, but the handle was solid.
The beetle guide picked out some suitable timber.
Acorn-like fruits scattered at the base suggested it was oak-ish.
"Got it. Let's get to it."
Finish up quick before monsters show and bug out.
Why'd this forest—which used to be peaceful outside of goblins—turn like this?
I fired up the chainsaw and felled the tree.
Cut it to ballista size, hauled it back to the shelter, and the rain started.
Temps had climbed enough it wasn't snow, but getting pelted wasn't fun.
Catch a cold and I'd be the one suffering.
"This is how it goes, right."
I clamped the lumber on the workbench and started processing.
Cranking the lever to saw through wood was grueling and monotonous, no doubt.
But thinking back to the orc and monster attacks, I couldn't slack.
Who could guarantee no werewolf next time?
"Gotta do the work, no matter what."
Muttering to myself, cranking and sawing away, the parts started taking shape.
Precision finishing was the beetles' job.
Out of the corner of my eye, they were poking the tablet screen with their sausage-thick claws while replaying videos!
"Huh."
Proof they fully grasped what the tablet and videos were.
I gave up trying to figure out whatever the beetles were up to.
"Pondering it just costs me..."
While they worked on the metal bow arms, I tackled the stand.
Blueprint said it was fixed-mount...
Made sense—ballistas operated best stationary.
Shelter's circular; just rotate to cover most angles.
"Hell, moving something this big would suck anyway."
The sheer size had me hyped for the power.
This should handle orcs or werewolves easy.
Werewolf? Needed a way to pin their movement, but that was fine.
"If those bull peppers grow fast, worries gone."
Most monsters had noses.
Zombie-types and plants were the exceptions.
Keepers or bone creepers didn't smell much either, but they were special cases.
Stock up on pepper bombs and most monsters were covered.
"Key is spotting 'em early and prepping."
Worst is spacing out clueless and getting chomped.
Before I knew it, the stand was done.
Shape was rough, but it met the beetles' specs.
Now for a base to anchor it.
I dug into the ground and drove square timbers deep.
Acting as piles.
Layered on some perforated plates—no wobbling even when I shoved with my foot.
"This do?"
Showed the leader beetle; he seemed pleased.
Next up: assembling parts... but
Glancing over, the beetles were struggling with fabrication.
Bow arms done, but the drawstring was trouble.
Had to be springy yet tough—Dingo'd yank mercilessly.
"How's this?"
Pulled some looted stainless wire from the hardware store.
Tough as hell, bends decently.
The beetles marveled at it.
This was modern Korea's tech prowess.
Anyway, wire solved the big issue.
Beetles got back to bustling, and I mulled future plans.
"Werewolves we can handle, but..."
No guarantee nothing bigger shows.
Flying types especially.
Rare, but griffons? Extremely dangerous.
They could stoop from the sky and snatch people.
Horror movie material.
Suddenly taloned, airborne to the nest, slammed in, screaming while live chicks tear into you.
Griffons crippled one or two limbs first—no running.
Most monsters meant gruesome deaths, but griffon nests high up? Extra terrifying.
I scanned the shelter.
Zero defense against flyers, plain as day.
But I wasn't worried.
No suitable nesting spots visible.
Trees tall, but too spindly for their bulk.
"Still, better safe."
Prey shortage could expand their range.
Classic animal doc scenario.
"Griffon chicks are tasty, weren't they."
One of few non-toxic monster meats edible.
Eggs huge, rich flavor—a delicacy.
In the original game, just protein shuttles for vet bets.
Sucked against nets especially.
Reality? Whole different story.
Slight screw-up and you're talon-fodder to the nest.
"To counter griffon threats..."
Need hidey-holes in the shelter.
Perfect, since we need ballista mounts anyway.
I eyed the ballista stand area.
"Gonna need two."
Say I'm working and spot a griffon dive.
Seconds to hide—if too far, dead mid-sprint.
"Sandwich panels won't cut it for defense."
Supply shed looks tough but rattles when I push/pull.
Big griffon? One smash.
Better build sturdy outposts.
"How to..."
Stack bricks best.
Brace the back for extra strength.
Need firing slits for the ballista.
I sketched a rough diagram.
But first, one must-do.
"Smash those zombies."
Monsters all targets, sure.
But prioritize the ones evolving to ghouls.
They're slow, loners—easy to spot.
"Final stage, they hole up in corners."
Exact evolution moment? Nobody sure.
Beginner-era stuff, forgotten amid bigger threats.
I tossed the beetles an extra jelly, grabbed my pack, and whistled Dingo.
"Time to hunt."
.
.
.
"Whoa... impressive."
Didn't expect Junho and Dohyung to handle things this well.
Up on the hideout roof, ropes webbed everywhere like spider silk.
Buildings linked seamlessly; farther ones had extra knotted ropes dangling.
For emergency climbs, obviously.
"Expected something like this, but..."
Way better than hoped.
Must've farmed more ropes—they'd outgrown what I gave.
Next meetup, treat 'em to a feast.
Growth spurts had them eating like pigs.
Even petite Yeoul downed two bowls minimum.
"They did great, but..."
Some assholes can't leave well enough alone.
They wanna cut? Fine. But get ready to die by me.
I leaned against a roof fixture and peered below.
"Spotted the pre-ghoul ones."
Subtle signs most folks miss.
First: eyes shut.
Full ghouls lose vision entirely?
Other senses dull too—movements sluggish.
Ears swell bigger.
To gather sound better? Who knows, but they grow.
Final ghoul form: vision and smell zilch, hearing jacked to max.
Exaggerating a bit, they'd catch heartbeats from meters away.
No movie cliche of hiding in corners while zombies shuffle past.
"Lucky there aren't many."
Not just ghouls—orc or werewolf numbers stay low.
Even later ogres; survivors mostly tangle with goblins and standard zombies.
Speaking of, it was in the攻略 guides.
Gov-distributed ones described it vaguely.
"Sharp folks'll act on it, but..."
Duller ones might miss the point.
Auction house was blowing up over it—talk turning to fights.
Eh, I'm not fundamentally different from that guy.
Just figured, with my weak body, better take 'em out pre-ghoul.
Boils down to picking what's best for me.
"Too many ghouls piling up gets risky."
Small but nimble—could swarm the hideout.
Enhanced stage? Meeting one is dicey.
Plus, traits absent from original game change everything.
Everyone's got one life—except Bunny Duo.
I bookmarked the loudmouths' IDs.
"Wait, why'd I come here again?"
Oh, right.
To pass a cipher to Bunny Duo.
Time flew building the hideout and farming.
Bunny Duo was chilling quietly in Jinju.
Soon as I hear something, I'll head there.
"Gotta check that guy south too..."
Busy times.
For now: hunt down zombie-to-ghouls and smash.
Dingo's nose is sharp—even if I miss, he'll sniff 'em.
"Dingo, up."
He hopped onto my pack; I rappelled down the rope.
Hunt time.
The True Apocalypse - 2 End