Translator/Editor: TranslatingNovice

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Chapter 4: Good News

There are stages to the apocalypse.

Opinions may differ from person to person, but a key indicator in distinguishing these stages is the state of countries.

The serious stages all hinge on the collapse of a nation.

The collapse of South Korea began when Chinese warlords initiated a suicidal war and nuclear missiles hit major cities in South Korea.

Many people died, and numerous cities were destroyed, but even at that point, the South Korean government system was still functioning.

There was no need to go outside.

I could just receive broadcasts from shortwave radios or TV signals to stay informed about the national emergency.

My main TV was ruined due to the EMP, but I installed the emergency one I had prepared and observed the situation.

Millions had died, and about half of the city functions were halted, but Seoul and nearby provinces were quickly stabilizing and managing the situation, thanks to the military, civil servants, and volunteers.

I left my bunker when communications in my area were restored and a system was in place.

I prepared for this day and headed towards Seoul with my old cargo bike.

This would be extremely dangerous in a gun-ridden America, but this is Korea.

The risk of sniping or gunfire is nothing compared to the U.S.

Even if this were America, I would have made the same choice.

Being overly cautious from the start doesn't get you anything.

Of course, even in Korea, basic etiquette is necessary.

Cheap brand, worn and shabby fashion, minimal belongings. It's the dress code of the apocalypse.

Besides that, I carried three days' worth of food and water, some dollar bills, cigarettes for bartering, a U.S.-made handgun, and a sharp, well-honed hand axe for self-defense.

There wasn't much threat on my way to Seoul, but the apocalyptic landscape and air gave me a mix of relief, reward, and an overwhelming sense of gloom.

I had a good reason to leave my well-prepared hideout and head to Seoul.

“I'm looking for Hunter Lee Sang-hoon.”

I pick a military person who seems approachable and ask.

“Hunter Lee Sang-hoon?”

“Yes, the current disaster response leader.”

“Can’t you see everyone’s busy?”

Though he seemed nice at first, he was quite prickly, but he softened up when I offered him a few packs of cigarettes.

“Oh, you’re looking for Director Lee Sang-hoon. It's a common name, you see.”

“Oh, he got promoted. Just as I thought, he was different from the start.”

“Please wait a moment. I’ll try to contact him. Who shall I say is asking?”

“Tell him Park Gyu, who went to school with him. If he doesn’t remember, say the valedictorian from his class; he’ll know.”

The soldier returns after a while.

“Director Lee Sang-hun is in a meeting and can’t be reached right now.”

“Is that so?”

“What is it you need? If I can help, I will.”

I didn’t come to meet Lee Sang-hoon specifically.

I knew from the moment I left the bunker that he wouldn’t meet me.

Honestly, I didn’t want to meet him either.

I used Lee Sang-hoon’s name for a different purpose.

“I'd like to get a military walkie-talkie and a personal identification number.”

Some areas still have mobile phone service, but many don’t.

Especially the further away from the city, mobile phones are useless.

In such situations, high-performance shortwave radios, K-walkie-talkies, are the most useful communication tool.

They are heavier and more complicated than phones but reliable. If set to the public frequency, you can communicate with anyone in the nearby area without knowing their number.

That's convenient enough, but military walkie-talkies are a step above civilian ones and can access encrypted military frequencies.

This means direct access to information from the military, the most reliable force and information source at this time.

“Since you know Director Lee Sang-hoon, I can give you a walkie-talkie for free, but I can’t give you a personal identification number. It’s only assigned to military or monster disposal personnel.”

Just as I expected.

I never thought I’d get the personal identification number anyway.

The soldier hands me a brand-new, unopened walkie-talkie.

I carefully check it on the spot for any faults and test it.

Perfect, it’s in good condition.

This is the moment I achieved half of my goal for coming to Seoul.

During the remaining time, I cycled around Seoul.

According to sources, five nuclear missiles were aimed at Seoul, of which four were intercepted mid-air, and one hit inside the Four Gates.

The number of casualties is still being tallied, but it’s believed to be over a million.

The roads are jammed with immobile vehicles, turning them into parking lots, and various parts of the city are in ruins.

Especially inside the Four Gates, where the nuclear missile hit directly, entry is prohibited.

People who had lost their homes wander around, and hospitals overflow with bomb victims and the injured who couldn’t find beds.

The public order didn’t seem too bad.

Whether it’s because of the strong police force or the citizens lacking the energy to commit crimes, it remains to be seen.

The effect of the EMP wasn’t as severe as I thought; while many vehicles and base stations had stopped, quite a few are still functioning, and electricity is being restored, albeit limitedly, in priority areas.

What people fear is the next airstrike.

According to government announcements, we retaliated with nuclear weapons and devastated the origin of provocation, but few believed that.

As expected, an air raid alert goes off while I’m still in Seoul, so I take shelter in the subway.

In the subway, I see many refugees.

The neighborhood seems to have large apartment complexes nearby, so the subway is crowded to capacity.

“?”

In the subway, I doubt my eyes for a moment.

< Samsung 'Best Louis Bill Herrington' Resident Area >

< Ravel 'Chief Head Stone' Resident Area >

< Brandia 'Proud Noble Hill' Resident Area >

< Lotu 'Rupert Reich Palace' Resident Area >

…

...

The subway station is divided into sections for each apartment complex.

There are middle-aged men and women, not wearing armbands but as if they had invisible ones, nervously marking their territories.

A man, looking over 60 with a red hat, suddenly appears in front of me and asks bluntly.

‘'Ahjussi, what person are you?'’ (Ajussi can mean middle-aged man)

‘'I'm still in my twenties. Twenty-nine, to be exact.'’

‘'No, I’m saying what person are you. Are you a person from the neighborhood?'’

‘'Please refrain from being rude. You're not my superior, are you?'’ (Man is speak to MC in informal speech)

‘'Are you a resident of this neighborhood?'’

‘'No.'’

‘'Non-residents should go that way.'’

In the end, he waves his hand dismissively without even looking at me.

The non-resident area is in the most remote corner of the subway station.

An area barely touched by light.

Several people are wandering around with gloomy faces, and faint radio sounds can be heard.

‘'This air raid is not a nuclear strike but a cruise missile attack. The national military will block it with the spirit of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, but citizens should prepare for any unforeseen incidents.'’

Soon, the ground shakes faintly, and the distant explosion sounds eerily through the subway station, as if traveling along the walls.

Boom - Boom -

Experiencing an air raid in a subway with strangers is not a pleasant experience.

Above all, there's no such thing as privacy.

Rustle -

As I unwrap a chocolate bar due to hunger, eyes glint as if a swarm of rats have appeared.

It’s already uncomfortable enough, but then an unknown boy comes up to me and stares.

Gurgle -

Perhaps he hasn't eaten properly.

Just by appearances, there seems to be enough fat to survive a month without eating.

A person, who looks to be the boy's parent, comes late and takes him away.

'’Excuse me.'’

I asked a few questions while offering a new chocolate bar.

‘'Rations? They gave us a little, but even that...'’

The boy's parent looks resentfully at the people who dominate the entrance.

Instead of those residents who treasure their words, I throw a question to this person.

'Did the complex residents monopolize everything?'

The parent of the boy nods silently.

‘'I see.'’

A fresh discovery.

In times of crisis, it's natural for people to band together into interest groups, but Koreans have their own center of attraction.

If there were villages in the Joseon Dynasty, now there are apartment complex communities.

The more units and influence a complex has, the stronger the community's power.

This power balance is starkly revealed within this cramped underground shelter.

Strong complexes take good spots and monopolize resources, while others are left with poor areas and minimal supplies.

A very Korean scene, so to speak.

Soon, the air raid lift alarms ring everywhere.

-Air raid lifted! Air raid lifted! Citizens, please go outside and resume your daily lives.

Despite the short but sweet time I spent with the one-parent family, I give my goodbyes and leave the subway.

As I try to exit the subway, I see the previous signs dividing complexes and residents of the communities.

‘'...'’

Well, they probably won't harm anyone.

They are people who even if they can tolerate theft, they can’t tolerate bike theft. As I walk through with my bike, I feel many sinister eyes scrutinizing me and my bike, but there’s no actual threat.

After all, life is still bearable, and the country remains intact.

I unintentionally overhear a conversation.

‘'This bombing hit the new downtown area. It's terrible, the Chinese put chemical weapons in the missiles.'’

This is a typical conversation.

But then, a woman's blunt remark stops me in my tracks.

‘'Good news.'’

I doubt my ears.

‘'Good news? In this situation?'’

‘'Yes, good news. There aren't many decent complexes left in Seoul. If all but ours are destroyed, wouldn't our area become the most high-end residential place?'’

If it were just one or two people, I would've ignored it.

But human behavior always exceeds imagination.

‘'Hearing it like that, it’s incredibly good news.'’

‘'Our apartment will become Seoul's top luxury complex.'’

‘'My friend always bragged about their area, but now they're in the same boat.'’

‘'I can't wait for the war to end and see the reordering of the residential hierarchy.'’

‘'It seems opportunities come with crises.'’

Since the war began, I avoided looking at people's faces.

They were all going to die soon anyway.

But this time, I couldn't help but look at their faces.

They are ordinary faces, the kind you'd see anywhere.

That's why my anger deepens.

‘‘Aren’t your words a bit too much?'’

I ask them, knowing I would never see these faces again.

Their response is cold stares.

A middle-aged woman exchanges glances with the residents and says with a smirk.

‘'Go on your way.'’

There is no way to know or learn about the fate of the entire complex community that I witnessed that day.

I'm not leisurely enough to pay attention to those who consider the world's ruin as good news.

However, I am well aware of the final fate of the residents of one of those factions, 'Rupert Reich Palace Residents.'

I remember it was a year and a half after my first visit to Seoul.

A group of refugees passed by my hideout.

-Krghh! Krghhh! This is... Dong! Rupert Reich Palace Residents! If anyone is listening, please respond! Repeat! This is...

They constantly tried to communicate with the surroundings using the public frequency.

I chose to listen instead of responding.

Though I had enough food and water to feed and hydrate hundreds of people, I had nothing to spare for them.

Not even a grain of rice, not even a flake of my skin.

Anyway, their presence in my territory wouldn't be good news for them.

-Crackle! Aaaaah! Monster! This is Rupert Reich Palace Residents! We are being attacked by a monster! Repeat! This is Rupert Fucking Palace Residents!

About a month before, a few monsters that kill people appeared around my base.

It wasn't the monsters themselves that attacked

It was the beings contaminated and mutated by the plague brought by the monsters.

'Mutation.'

Several stray cats a mother cat was caring for in the vicinity got infected with the mutation factor, grew to the size of tigers, and now, with the prowess that had driven mandarin ducks and natural monuments to extinction, they aim to extinct humans.

Their combat strength might be weaker than the mutated killer dog group 'Gold Pack' active in the south, but they're formidable against ordinary people.

Tatatang!

Along with the sound of gunfire, the walkie-talkie poured out horrific screams.

-Krrghh! This is Rupert Reich Palace Residents... Repeat! We are being attacked by a monster!!

I listened quietly and then spoke into the radio.

‘'Good news, isn't it.'’

Translator Notes: The Four Gates are referring to the four great gates of: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Eight_Gates_of_Seoul