Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 002
Chapter Title: The End of Childhood, The Start of the Hunt (2)
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2.
Fear is highly contagious.
But hope spreads just as fiercely.
In truth, I desperately wished for it to turn out that way.
“Se, Sergeant.”
“Sergeant what?”
“Fuck, probably a rookie cop with some experience or whatever.”
“That young?”
Thank the heavens, the citizens began calming down one by one.
Even those about to scream, and the few rushing toward us.
“That means he’s capable, right? And he’s got a real gun too!”
They weren’t swayed by my paltry words. No way.
It was likely because this was a quiet back alley with little cross-traffic, and I was in uniform, keeping the panic from spreading.
“Thank you, everyone.”
But we couldn’t afford to relax. We had to hurry.
The gelatinous meteor shower loomed dangerously close now.
Ten minutes... maybe fifteen at most before it rained down on the surface.
“Any police officers, private security, or soldiers on leave? Not forcing anyone, but please lend a hand.”
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
The first to step up was a patrolman in his mid-thirties.
Hwang Cheol-man, Senior Sergeant. He snapped a crisp salute my way.
“I was deeply moved. Thanks to you, I’ve rediscovered my duty as a cop.”
Next came three sturdy men and two tough women, one after another. All soldiers on leave, they said.
“Thank you for answering my unreasonable call.”
I shook hands with each one. Breathing ragged, hands slick with tense sweat.
Hwang Cheol-man, last in line, asked in a rush.
“Where are you evacuating all these people?”
“Area S-042. The subway station.”
Since 2023, Seoul’s subway stations had been retrofitted into Shelter Cities against nuclear strikes.
Those underground fortresses even housed government offices and police-military HQs.
“S-042! Outskirts station—won’t clash much with other evac groups.”
“Ten minutes on foot.”
Hwang Cheol-man glanced at the muttering throng and the ripped-open sky, sighing.
“Might take longer. No, definitely will.”
“That’s why we move now. Assigning formations.”
I pointed to the female soldiers first.
“I’ll lead the vanguard with the ladies.”
Handed megaphones to the three male soldiers and continued.
“Citizens, team up with friends to manage the middle column. Flares for emergencies.”
Last one.
I nodded to Hwang Cheol-man. Armed with gun and stun baton, he was our sturdiest asset.
“Hwang Cheol-man, take rear guard. Signal if trouble.”
Out of nowhere, Hwang Cheol-man blinked.
“Rear? Solo?”
“You’re geared like me. Gun, stun baton.”
By my calculations, rear wasn’t high-risk yet. No tails on us.
“What if I lag?”
No swaying him, no matter my persuasion.
As impatience gnawed at me, an unexpected volunteer appeared.
“Then I’ll cover rear with you.”
Park Ji-yeon.
Long hair tied back, face etched with resolve. Simple jeans and sneakers—built for speed.
“Ji-yeon?”
We cocked our heads; she cleared her throat.
“What? I mustered out as sergeant too. Full evac training. No issue.”
Fair enough.
Maybe that’s why Seoul hadn’t plunged into full panic—conscription hit men and women alike.
“No, miss, we could get cut off. If they seal the station over some threat…”
Hwang Cheol-man flustered; Park Ji-yeon winked my way.
“No abandonment worries.”
“Why?”
“I’m Sergeant Kim Baek-jun’s lifelong fiancée. Right?”
I suck at lies, but I’m no fool.
“……Correct.”
Instantly, color drained from Hwang Cheol-man’s face.
“A-alright. L-let’s hustle. Rear’s mine.”
What the hell?
Unease hit; I glanced back. Heart lurched.
Not her fib that broke him.
Worst of worsts.
First slime had slammed into Seoul.
3.
Head throbbed like hell.
Cleared outer roads, and hell unfolded.
Boom after boom everywhere, ground quaking viciously each time. High-rises crumbling in echoes.
“Aaahhhhhh…………”
“H-help…… h-help……”
Distant yells and screams crossed in agony. Soon, just wails and sobs.
“That one’s got a monster too!”
Left-flank Female Soldier A shrieked.
For real.
Greenish slime plastered to the 15-story condo’s outer wall.
Bad vibes……
Pssshhhh……
Fired emergency flare skyward fast. Redirect via alley on smoke trail.
That instant.
Wriggle…… wriggle…… Body pulsed hard; then the impossible.
Wall melted deep, tilting our way slow.
My God.
God, my God.
Like a beast chomping meat. I bellowed like mad.
“Run! Run! Run like hell!”
We’d all be dead.
Slightest delay on that alley turn.
Eardrums shredded in roar.
Five seconds on, dust storm ravaged rear street.
“My God.”
“……Fucking insane.”
Evac column halted brief to gulp air, gaping at our old path.
Scaled a vending machine, scanned rear.
No Hwang Cheol-man, no Park Ji-yeon. Stragglers?
Minute ticked; citizens clamored.
“Cop kid, we moving?”
“Rear join confirmed, then go.”
A woman begged.
“Weird noises. Hurry. Please.”
“Corner turn, then shelter close. So—”
“—You dumb fuck, just GO! Crushed in collapse probably! Wait and we all die!”
Couldn’t trust my ears.
Ditch ’em that casual?
Then five shapes from dust.
Hwang Cheol-man and Park Ji-yeon safe.
Hwang signaled full merge. Leaped down.
“Moving out now.”
Corner rounded, minute dash: vast M-crossroads sprawled. Dead center, S-042’s huge mouth.
“Waaaahhh!”
“R-run away!”
Opposite boulevard.
Panic-stricken folk shrieking, bolting our way.
Panic maxed—trampled their own fallen.
Wh-what?
Yellow fog choked view beyond.
But screams pierced: “M-monster!” Agonal gasps.
“Full sprint! Full sprint!”
Entrance hit; control shattered.
Flank refugees surged gateward, down escalators, into shelter like berserk.
Shoving ahead like it saved souls.
“Policeman uncle……”
Sleeve yank then.
“P-please…… h-help……”
Down: girl my age, ten-ish. Dust-caked, hands gore-soaked.
“What’s wrong? No stay here. Down quick.”
“No! Mom said go.”
“Mom?”
Gut dropped.
Her mom: legs pinned under debris heap.
“But can’t free her. Told us go alone, but no mom, no go.”
Boy her twin, bawling, prying chunks barehanded. Mom hollered my way.
“Policeman uncle, please…… take the kids…… please……”
Shittiest spot.
Yellow fog rolling in.
Heh, heh-heh-heh-heh, unknown cackles and screams closing.
Hesitated split-second.
Kids only optimal? Her too, and we all die maybe.
Pure logic, or fear won? Hell if I know.
Then.
Like savoring the show, starlight dazzled down.
One, two, three, four, five.
Spotlights on a stage.
Brainphone buzz in skull: grotesque voices seeped.
Unspeakably vile, but gist:
[We are watching you.]
Snapped gaze skyward.
「Holy Apostles Selection」
……No fucking way.
Those pricks the Guider named?
You bastards…… sparked this apocalypse, then giggle from box seats?
Teeth ground.
Yeah.
Know your game.
So this surge hits.
Die first—won’t dance to your tune.
Fist balled, night sky glared.
Guider too, city-gazing.
Yeah, watch.
Watch good. Keep watching.
Next beat. Hoisted girl under arm.
Fought refugee tide to rubble front.
Irreversible now.
Mom whipped head no, pained.
“No good. Uncle!”
“Works fine.”
Snagged decent pry bar, dug in.
Tough go.
Near-lift—bar snapped.
“Go already! Hurry!”
“Nope.”
“Kids only then, beg you.”
“Why kids only.”
Last stragglers streamed past. Hands jammed rubble-deep.
“Auntie and kids all savable!”
Shit, shit, shit, agony.
Fingers pulped max effort; zilch budge. Kids piled on too.
“Baek-jun!”
Voice called rear.
Whirled: Hwang Cheol-man, Park Ji-yeon heaving. Hwang blank: “Evac clear. Why out?”
“This last assist. Begging.”
Hwang eyed mess, hemmed. “Huh? That mass…… ten guys minimum…… abandon…… realistic……”
“Assist fast more realistic!”
Park barked, heaved with.
“Crazy stunt. Total crazy.”
Hwang griped, caved reluctant.
Movie? Miracle heft here. Reality? Nah.
Instant next: fog blanketed us thick.
Egg-rot reek slammed; mom frantic whisper.
“Here? Here? Go now! Please. Truly no. Go please……!”
Squelch, squelch, squelch.
Fog-muffled slop-steps neared.
Chill locked. Instant gooseflesh hell.
“St-stop! S-s-s-something comes! Deaf fuck?”
Hwang spasm-panicked backward.
“Baek-jun. Me too…… now…… no more…… strength……”
Even Park near-quit.
[???, Broken Dawn's Master regards you.]
Some mystic voice bloomed serene in my skull, light-pure.
And miracle struck.