Chapter 128
Chapter 128
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 128. Designated Survivor
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Something was wrong.
I already knew the regressor had taken the fish. Ailin had told me.
But the fact that it came from here...
I hurriedly turned my head to look at the water surface.
Floating on the water were countless corpses.
[Critical: 0 times]
No critical hits when I need them most.
-Rumble...
The building began to tilt, and screams echoed from far away.
"Damn it."
At this rate, everyone really will die. What the hell are the Containment Team and the others doing?
-Crack...
Just as cracks started forming in the building and a horrific sound reverberated,
white hair brushed past me as a hand reached out.
At the same moment, the fish was pushed back, and slender hands grabbed my waist.
"It's dangerous."
Jang Chaeyeon looked at me with slightly narrowed eyes.
She seemed angry.
"I knew Chaeyeon would come."
The hands gripping my waist tensed briefly before relaxing.
"...You trusted me, huh."
"Yes."
"I'll forgive you."
"Thank you."
-Thud!
Propelled by Jang Chaeyeon's strength, the fish retreated and crashed into the outer wall.
Soon, Song Arin and Yoo Daon ran up beside me.
"You have no idea how scared I was, thinking you were really going to die."
"Arin came running with such a scary look on her face."
Song Arin was panting heavily, out of breath up to her chin, while Yoo Daon hadn't broken a sweat.
-Thud!
While Jang Chaeyeon kept pushing the fish back, the two caught their breath and we shared information.
"Jaeheon, your face looks pale."
Yoo Daon looked at me with concern.
"I'm having some bad thoughts."
This didn't feel like it would end lightly.
"Song Arin. What's a reality check?"
The only reality check I knew was for distinguishing dreams from reality.
"It's different from what you know."
Song Arin muttered while sweeping back her hair.
"What that old man does is a bit more professional."
"Professional?"
"Everyone's appearance is unique."
"...Right."
"There are no 'identical mes' in the world. Just like the fake you we saw at the art gallery—no matter how much they look like you or me, there are unique tells."
"So even if there were two of me, subtle differences like face shape or speech habits."
"Exactly. And that old guy is the best at spotting them here."
"How?"
"If I knew, I'd be the team leader of Management."
I got the gist.
"Understood."
-Thud!
As something crashed into the wall again far away, Jang Chaeyeon backpedaled toward me while speaking.
"Pushing it back by force has its limits. We've bought some time, but should we run?"
...
I stared at the fish.
It was flailing against the wall, opening and closing its mouth.
"...We need to head to the Gangseo Branch."
"The floor's flooded... Will the subway even work?"
There was no way to get there in three steps like before.
"Do it."
Jang Chaeyeon replied without taking her eyes off the fish.
"Take the subway?"
"Let's."
I looked around.
Everyone who could escape had already fled.
Where the hell did the Containment Team and everyone else go?
My uneasy premonition wouldn't fade.
"Go."
Jang Chaeyeon gave the fish one final big shove—thud—and it slammed into the wall, then she spun around urgently.
"Let's move."
At her words, we started running through the Management Bureau interior.
No sign of anyone in the corridors.
It was as if the entire branch's staff had evacuated at once.
"...Too many people missing."
And I wasn't the only one thinking it.
Song Arin bit her lip while scanning the surroundings.
"Did they all vanish into thin air or something? Where the hell did everyone go?"
"...The scents are still there."
Yoo Daon closed her eyes and sniffed.
"Perfume, cosmetics, that kind of thing. But... they all cut off suddenly somewhere."
"Cut off?"
"Yes. Like people just evaporated while walking down the street."
...
...
I exchanged glances with Song Arin.
"This way."
After running for a while, Jang Chaeyeon pointed to a door with a worn, rusted handle and looked at us.
"One of the subway entrances."
What do you mean, no entrances?
Opening the door revealed a subway station I hadn't seen in ages.
Water was overflowing from above, but this place was like another world—no drops in sight.
"No people here either..."
"It's not that there are no people."
Yoo Daon calmly replied to Song Arin's mutter.
"No one came here to begin with. No scents of perfume or cosmetics at all."
...
My unease grew stronger.
-Clunk...
Soon, the subway arrived with mechanical sounds.
[The Australia Branch is currently non-operational and will not be stopping. Gangdong Branch.]
The train doors opened.
No one was aboard.
...
We boarded slowly.
[Heading to Gangseo Branch.]
With a clunk, the subway departed.
...
Silence lingered.
No one opened their mouth.
As if speaking would make the anxiety reality.
[Gangseo Branch. With no pedestrian traffic at Seoul Station, please proceed comfortably.]
The mechanical voice announced as the doors opened.
-Clunk...
After we disembarked, the subway headed back into the darkness.
Carrying no one.
"...Let's go."
"No pedestrian traffic at Seoul Station... Doesn't that mean we shouldn't go?"
I replied to Song Arin's worried mutter.
"We have to anyway."
We needed to reach the Gangseo Branch.
At least the branch chief would know what's happening.
Climbing the stairs,
-Splash.
Water splashed underfoot.
"Everyone, get ready."
If it's a flood incident, there must be unconscious people.
Jang Chaeyeon and Yoo Daon tensely scanned the surroundings,
while Song Arin marched forward expressionlessly, step by step.
"It's fine."
As we walked silently ahead, she spoke up.
"They're all dead."
Countless people lay sprawled on the soaked floor.
Eyes closed as if peacefully asleep.
No translucent windows floated above anyone's heads.
No sound of rain.
Climbing the stairs, bright sunlight poured onto our faces.
The ground was still drenched.
"Over there!"
At Yoo Daon's urgent voice, I looked ahead.
A woman stood unsteadily.
One arm completely torn off, hair matted with so much blood it was hard to tell if it was red or brown.
One leg twisted uselessly, which she dragged desperately toward somewhere.
"Branch Chief...?"
She stopped abruptly,
"...Ah."
Her closed eyes opened, red irises fixing on me.
"Sta, tion. Kim Jaeheon..."
"Branch Chief!"
The Gangseo Branch Chief smiled weakly at me.
I rushed toward her.
[Name: Lee Haneul]
[Age: 268]
[Specialty: Indestructibility]
[Talent: Indestructibility]
[Background: Dying, she finally felt relief. Selfishly, after seeing the carnage time and again and making the call, this time it didn't have to be her.]
[Weakness: Stay still.]
"Are you okay?"
"I... told you... not to look at people like that..."
"Don't talk."
Blood poured from her mouth with each laughing word.
"Hang on, first let's treat the wound—"
"Shh."
Her index finger touched my lips as I scanned around.
The branch chief continued, eyes open, breathing raggedly.
"Only when one... person sur...vives does it activate."
"Branch Chief, what..."
"You know."
Her eyes calmly met mine.
"You saw."
...
The world where Yoo Daon became an adult.
The already-open door, monsters waiting, and the unseen branch chief.
[For humanity's last hope, the door has opened.]
The phrase surfaced in my mind.
Why the 'last' hope?
As if the door opens only when everyone in the world dies except one...
"No way..."
At my words, the branch chief smiled painfully.
"Choose."
...
"Can't... bring... colleagues."
"If... one person... remains..."
Her gaze shifted to Yoo Daon.
"But..."
...
"Who... is there."
She looked into my eyes.
"Absolutely... don't let... that person... Kerok! remain."
Now coughing up dark red blood, she whispered.
"Can I... ask a favor?"
Her desperate gaze pierced me,
"...Understood."
All I could do for her was nod.
"...Good."
She smiled softly, lowering the finger from her lips to stroke my cheek.
"I'm sorry."
"No."
The strength in her endlessly caressing hand faded.
A peaceful smile graced her face.
"I... tried so hard."
"...You did well."
"Hehe..."
Like a child, the branch chief smiled and looked to the sky.
"This time... I can rest. I'll do better next time."
"...Leave it to me."
Hearing me, she smiled gently and caressed my cheek as if seeing a dear one.
I couldn't tell if her gaze was on me or something beyond.
"Everyone..."
...
"Now... I can..."
She murmured and closed her eyes.
"See... your..."
Her hand fell to the floor before she finished.
The three approached behind my still form.
"...She's dead."
"...I know."
That was all I could say to Song Arin's words.
"The situation."
I took a deep breath and began explaining at Jang Chaeyeon's prompt.
The door opens only when one survives.
And the people remaining besides us.
"So, only one of us can survive and return."
Finishing, I looked at someone.
Black hair, innocent expression clouding with bewilderment. Then bewilderment turned to fear.
"N-No, I don't want to."
Yoo Daon's voice trembled violently under my gaze.
"Jaeheon can stay behind."
"Daon. You..."
"I c-can't. No, I won't. I hate it. Please...!"
She grabbed both my hands pleadingly.
"I can't, I-I can't. Alone, I can't do anything..."
"...You won't die."
Jang Chaeyeon cut her off, and Yoo Daon's face crumbled.
Head bowed, still clutching my hand.
"St-Still. I can't leave Jaeheon behind, I can't..."
She shook her head repeatedly, unable to finish.
...
Only silence remained.