Chapter 279 – New Ecology – Barricade
The vaccine that Jinsu brought from Tanis was powerful, but not perfect.
Although it is possible to collapse a very large entity or colony, the power of remaining infectious agents is still a threat.
They are preventing the destroyed and divided world from returning to its original order.
This also applies to the territory of the former Republic of Korea, where vaccine distribution machines are operating in all directions.
As this is where the highest concentration of vaccine is sprayed, the surface is almost completely cleaned. However, monsters hiding in the ruins and underground were still lurking in the darkness.
The warlords and emerging religious forces in power also do not want the restoration of the pre-war order. They had no intention of abandoning the status they had gained by sacrificing the common sense and morality of the past.
The world has definitely become safer than three years ago.
However, if you go down a dark alley to take a shortcut, you will find yourself in the jaws of a monster or the knife of a robber.
A similar case is taking place tonight in a ruin in South Korea.
[This area is classified as a temporary war zone.]
A ruined city that was once teeming with hundreds of thousands of infectious agents.
An emergency broadcast went out on the outskirts of the street where many peddlers, explorers, and travelers passed by.
[If you are within hearing range of this broadcast, please keep your posture low when moving.]
A voice that is dry yet powerful is not human.
[There is no need to disarm, but do not take a hip-fire stance towards this direction. You can respond by firing without warning.]
Boom!
A combat drone is equipped with a large light, illuminating the area near the broadcast epicenter.
One sentry gun and two stalker robots are guarding the road barricaded with abandoned vehicles.
Behind it, people of all kinds are huddled together and looking around with anxious eyes.
[If you need protection, you can stay.]
Two men were hiding next to a public phone booth quite far away. Both were wearing large backpacks, so the covering effect was not great.
“Let’s go quickly, bro. “What are you procrastinating on?”
“Wait a moment. Because I have something to check.”
The younger brother looks around anxiously and the older brother observes the barricade with a telescope.
At that moment, a faint roar was heard from the other side where the brothers had passed.
As dusk sets and darkness begins to fall, bustling activity is discovered throughout the city.
Some of them are survivors running around looking for a safe path, some are wild animals that have entered the cracks of civilization, and some are monsters of a new world.
Although South Korea has been generally safe since the distribution of vaccines, there are times when risk factors arise.
This is the case when infectious agents come down from the north, some fertile ones proliferate abnormally, or those hiding underground crawl up.
At this time, if you were unlucky, you had to fight off their pursuit alone or hide.
If you are lucky, you may be accompanied by an armed bandit, searcher, or military patrol to pursue safety.
If you’re even luckier, you’ll meet the Shelter Army active outside. This is because, contrary to its scary appearance, it puts operations on hold and supports public protection services.
Therefore, these brothers have now met the greatest luck among misfortunes.
“Good. I don’t think anyone recognizes us.”
The older brother finally finished observing and stood up.
The two had just escaped from the police after committing a fraud.
The underprivileged who don’t know anything and risk everything just to go to the city of their dreams!
It wasn’t difficult to whisper sweet words to them and extort money from them.
“I made it big after a long time, so what kind of trouble is this?”
“It’s already happened, so what can we do? Let’s be patient. If I just get through today, I can go downstairs and have fun and eat comfortably for the next five years.”
In order to get away as quickly as possible, I took a route I didn’t normally use, and this is what happened.
Before I left for a more distant place, I was reluctant to go into crowded places.
“Surely those robots won’t catch us?”
My younger brother asked anxiously.
“Let’s stop worrying. How much crime is going on in the police, and who cares about petty criminals like us? Those cans don’t care about people eating each other’s backs as long as they don’t touch the centipede’s area.”
“That’s true.”
This is a rebuttal that anyone who has lived in the polis has no choice but to agree with.
Ta-ta-tang!
At that moment, a gunshot was heard from the barricade. The stalker, who was standing on the roof of a car, fired toward the road on the other side.
“Grrrr!”
Walker, whose back was torn in half by gunfire, struggles to crawl along the asphalt road. The moment the stalker’s gun is aimed at the top of the guy’s head.
Bang!
A bullet fired from the stalker’s side pierced a hole in the walker’s forehead.
[Kill confirmed.]
The robot lowered its muzzle. A searcher armed with a shotgun looked around the walker’s body with nervous eyes.
However, the tension was not due to concerns about battle, but because of almost missing the opportunity to kill.
[Thank you for your cooperation.]
Stoker said.
“Haha, don’t say anything.”
In fact, although it is a meaningless support fire, if you cooperate with the shelter army in this way, you will definitely be rewarded.
Not only the bullets used, but also allowances for contribution and additional points for future relationships.
Therefore, those with guns tried to help in any way possible when a situation like this occurred.
“Keeeeek-!”
The night begins now.
The screams of the infected entities became closer and more ferocious.
The evacuation announcement that had continued until now was stopped, perhaps because it was judged that there was a higher risk of attracting monsters.
“Damn.”
The older brother, who was still contemplating whether to join or not, made up his mind when he saw two twisted figures appearing from a corner 50 meters away.
“Let’s join too.”
They haven’t found themselves yet, but it’s only a matter of time.
“Bro, those bastards won’t mistake us for the infectious agent, right?”
“It’s okay because they are the ones who see night as if it were day. But just in case, raise your hands and run!”
Bang!
Meanwhile, another firing continued from the barricade.
“Fuck, what is this normally quiet place…”
My younger brother’s complaints did not last until the end.
“Shaaaaa-!”
This is because two strange-looking infected entities the size of large dogs were running towards us, making it impossible to even determine the original.
Looking at its appearance, the sounds it makes, and its eight legs, it appears to have mutated from an arthropod.
This type of infectious agent is more resistant to vaccines than those based on mammals, including humans.
“Bounce!”
For the two running, the distance to the barricade felt as long as a thousand miles.
Each time the eight pointed legs stick into the asphalt road, they tick! Tick! A creepy sound was heard. It is rapidly getting closer.
Boo!
In an instant, the drone illuminated the brothers.
I was happy to confirm to the barricade troops that they were humans and not infected, but I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Shaaaaak-!”
This is because the infectious agent, seeing the clear image of the delicious-looking prey, worked even more diligently.
The barricade troops pointed their guns in this direction.
“Don’t shoot!”
“Save people!”
The two shouted urgently.
Tatang!
However, the shooting was carried out regardless of their cries. From overhead, not from the barricade.
Slurp!
A multi-legged infectious agent was knocked down by an aerial shot from a drone.
The other one stopped chasing, puffed up its body, and launched something into the sky.
Squeak!
A fairly thick cocoon shot from the snout sharply cuts through the air. However, it failed to reach the height of the drone and fell due to a slight difference.
Strangely enough, when it was launched, it flew in one line, but when it reached the peak and fell, it spread out wide like a parachute.
Because there were so many holes, the falling speed was very fast.
Cheeeeek!
The asphalt floor that the cocoon came into contact with melted into cotton. It is truly a very threatening attack ability.
Bang bang bang!
The drone immediately opened fire. However, the multi-legged infectious agent has already hid itself under a nearby manhole for a long time.
Two of his legs were cut off by bullets, and his torso was bleeding, but he did not die.
“I lived, I lived!”
“Hehe! Hehe!”
The conman brothers barely reached the barricade and laid down on the ground to catch their breath.
“Do you have guns?”
The old man holding the shotgun asked.
“No, we are just tourists.”
“Then stay inside there. “If you stay here, it will block your view.”
“No problem! Let’s go quickly.”
The older brother, who didn’t want to attract attention, grabbed his younger brother’s arm and pulled on his hood.
[Stop.]
However, the robot Hangi turned around and aimed his gun.
“Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”
Humans are animals of adaptation. For three years, robots dispatched from the shelter roamed all over Korea.
Thanks to the numerous cases of being saved, chased, or dealing with robots, people did not have any hesitation in speaking respectfully to robots.
Even if you swear in your head, ‘You bastards dare to attack humans,’ you can’t ignore the robot’s power and its background.
[Take off the hood.]
“Yes? Why is the hood…”
A man who lowers his head further as if something is going wrong. The telescope hanging around his neck shook. As if he represents a violently beating heart.
The old man holding the shotgun moved subtly, befitting his experience, and blocked the two’s escape route.
[If you do not remove your hood immediately, I will use force.]
“I think you misunderstood something. “We have nothing.”
When the older brother took off his hood with a friendly smile, his younger brother hesitantly followed suit.
[Are you Kim Seong-sik and Kim Seong-jun?]
“No. “You looked at the wrong person.”
“Oh, how did you do that?”
His older brother responded politely, but unfortunately his embarrassed younger brother spoke in gibberish.
Slam!
Immediately the gun was aimed at the two.
[Identity verification. Arrested on-site for impersonation of police rental authority and group fraud.]
Only then does the younger brother look like he’s sorry, and the older brother looks down at his blood relatives as if he’s dumbfounded.
But even if they both lied, they would have been caught anyway.
I already did the first check using the facial expressions uploaded by Shelter, and the second check was possible using the tremors of the pupils and the tone of voice.
“It hurts!”
“You really looked at the wrong person!”
The robot tied their hands and feet with binding cable ties and threw them into a corner. I returned to guard duty after hearing a dull sound.
“These people deserve to be punished!”
Puck! Puck!
You can hear the sounds of survivors swearing, hitting, and stepping on people who were taking refuge.
In today’s world, even a single piece of bread can lead to stab wounds. Fraudsters were the worst offender to those living in this era.
[The two current criminals are scheduled for trial. Please stop further acts of violence.]
Only after the robot said one word did the commotion stop.
Afterward, similar situations were repeated. People running away from the sudden abnormal appearance of infectious agents joined in one after another.
“Please save me!”
Another survivor running waving both arms enters the barricade.
“Keeeeek!”
Ta-ta-tang!
Cut the entrance to prevent infectious agents from entering.
“We are the 51st Division’s supply unit! “I will join you there!”
“Should we just throw away Letona?”
“Then are you going to drag the damaged car all the way here? “I have to live and see first!”
Well-armed soldiers join in, making loud noises of boots.
“Human flesh, ugh!”
Sometimes, you are pounced on and dragged into the darkness before you can reach it.
In this case, the sound of crunchy pieces of flesh being torn apart and teeth scraping against bone could be heard faintly.
The fingers of the soldiers who joined the old man holding the shotgun were shaking.
They were truly relieved to see the two robots and the sentry gun standing in front of them like a mountain without any sign of agitation.
It has been 3 years since the vaccine was distributed.
The era of infectious hell where large colonies are rampant is over.
However, what has arrived in Korea is not a safe world, but a new ecosystem.
Humans have climbed the food chain quite a bit, but we still have a long way to go before we reach the top.
* * *
“Already caught?”
While receiving work reports in the central control room, I heard the news of the arrest of the police fraudster who had signed a few days ago.
I thought I would catch it, but it was too quick.
“What are you surprised about?”
Artemis asked.
“I thought it would take at least half a year.”
CCTV is not everywhere like before the war, nor is it an era where police organizations are spread out across the country to maintain security.
I thought it would be difficult to catch them, no matter how excellent our intelligence network was.
“Do you know why banishment was as scary a punishment as death in the Middle Ages?”
She smiled brightly and placed her butt on my desk. This is a habit when teacher mode is activated.
“Is that because it is a time of lawlessness with many undeveloped areas?”
“That’s correct. I can’t sleep outside because I’m afraid of animals. Even on the Korean Peninsula, during the Joseon Dynasty, many people died from being bitten by wild tigers.”
When Artemis snapped her fingers, a satellite photo appeared on the central control room screen.
It was the Korean Peninsula at night, and everything was pitch black. Like the nighttime photos that circulated on the Internet in the past for the purpose of mocking North Korea.
Photos of North Korea at the time showed only the area around Pyongyang being bright and the rest of the country was dark, but that’s exactly what South Korea looks like today.
Only the area around the shelter, a very small part of the south, and some areas of Jeju Island are bright, while the rest is pitch black. Most of the streetlights across the country have stopped working a long time ago.
“The outside world is worse now. Although the infections have been weakened, they still exist, and in return the danger from human marauders and bandits has increased. In this situation, the paths people can take are limited.”
On the dark map of South Korea, major passageways are marked with red lines, which are more monotonous than you might imagine. The location of the conman brothers’ arrest was also slightly out of line.
“If the road you could travel on looked like this, it would have been surprisingly easy to catch, right?”
“Of course, there was some luck involved. Moreover, they did not expect us to take active action against these civilian crimes.”
I skimmed through the video of the barricade battle outside the ruins that occurred yesterday on my PDA.
“If you had known we were wanted, you would have risked your life to find another way.”
“If I’m curious, should I ask?”
Artemis showed a video of the two brothers in prison. I didn’t feel sorry for him as he was so frightened that he was wrapping his arms around me…
“It’s okay. A difficult future awaits us, so I don’t want to ridicule it.”
When you manipulate the screen, you can see the victims’ families shedding tears after receiving their property back. Fortunately, we were able to recover 100%.
This is because, in a world where the financial industry has disappeared, everything was contained in the backpack the fraudster brothers were carrying.
There is no way to smuggle money somewhere. In this respect, dealing with stolen property is more difficult than before the war.
Meanwhile, I looked back at the arthropod-shaped infectious agent that was captured during the battle several times.
That threatening combat power is combat power, but seeing it disappear through a black manhole hole didn’t really refresh my appetite.
“You mean you ran away?”
It’s like stopping a fight and escaping from an opponent you can’t defeat.
Those who looked like small to medium-sized bugs were doing what a mutant with a certain level of intelligence would do.
