Chapter 307 – Meet the Honam
There are five stages of death.
This refers to a change in emotions through the stages of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance when faced with a major disaster such as a serious illness or business failure.
When the infection first spread in the shelter, I think I was the 5th person to be admitted.
As I looked at the neighborhood below, which had become hell, I realized how lucky I was to have everything at the top.
Next to him was a girl who grumbled but was pretty, smart, and even lovely.
I spent my daily routine checking to see if there was any risk of monsters infiltrating, and in my spare time, I watched disaster media.
I think it was because I didn’t have anything to do, and I felt like I was in a bad mood. And I wanted to find something to refer to in this unprecedented situation.
You’ve probably seen everything, starting with famous zombie videos such as Curse of Dawn, World War G, and The Walking Death.
Although it is only a part, it is true that there were some helpful parts by referring to the fictitious story.
However, there is one problem that has not been taught in any zombie apocalypse media.
That’s large-scale farming in a disaster recovery situation.
With so many infected corpses scattered around, is it okay to farm on the land that absorbed them?
I am reluctant to think positively about the fact that it contains a lot of organic fertilizer.
“It’s no problem to eat it. A number of investigations have been conducted on wild animals eating infected corpses over the past few years, but there has not been a single case of mutation. Moreover, the vaccine being distributed not only kills infectious agents, but also has the function of providing immunity to living organisms.”
Artemis, who had been studying it closely, spoke loudly.
However, this problem cannot be overcome with reason alone.
It was an important task to continuously verify the safety of farmland and inform the public about it and reassure them.
It wasn’t really important to us, but it was important to the soldier behind the monitor.
[Thank you for sharing your research data. It would be better to fight the monsters in front of you, but to wrestle with an invisible fear…]
Hwang Jin, commander of the Honam garrison, has dark circles on his face.
While fighting against monsters, they had to grow food and distribute it to prevent troubles, supervise soil quarantine, and even promote safety.
“For some reason, every time I see you, you seem to be getting gaunt.”
[I would be happy if I just lost weight.]
The field was clearly increasing, probably due to stress-related hair loss.
[There are still quite a few people who are afraid of crops, but rationing and eating are going smoothly.]
“What if I don’t eat it anyway? Now, all the canned food you find at the supermarket is probably spoiled.”
It is no longer possible to supply food through exploration and capture.
Everything worth eating has already been swept away, so there are only empty cans lying around.
If you are lucky enough to find something like a corn can, most of the time the bacteria will multiply and the lid will swell.
[Yes, the time to survive on food reserves ended a long time ago.]
“Did you say that there is no future for humans who do not sow seeds?”
[It’s embarrassing to hear it again.]
“No, it’s just cool. “How many commanders think of everyone’s future like you?”
I heard that in the past, in Jeju Island, he was promoted to major general after making a radio call. This is to praise the contribution to national recovery and food supply.
[The general will not take any of their gifts, no matter what.]
Hwang Jin’s military uniform, which he waved his hands with a straight face, still had a bamboo diamond instead of a star attached.
Perhaps he was communicating outdoors, and the scenery of the village was visible behind him.
It is very impressive to see several rats being skewered and roasted over a bonfire.
In front of it, children were watching with their mouths watering.
“We will continue to help promote research and education.”
[Thanks to you, I was relieved. There is a lack of professional manpower, facilities, and technology in that field.]
While the Yeosu garrison mainly received military supplies, the Honam garrison mainly received support in terms of research and public relations.
The military base was strong enough to operate tanks and even farmed, making it the largest force on the Korean Peninsula in terms of numbers alone.
Thanks to the soldiers, police, and civilian hunters who joined in search of food, it had a diverse armed force.
From police revolvers, air rifles and crossbows to assault rifles and bazookas, the quality varies.
Moreover, due to the location, our shelter and polis exist above their heads.
It is not subject to dangerous trickle-down effects from above like in Gangwon-do or below. Would you say it’s some kind of monster umbrella?
Therefore, what the troops stationed in Honam needed was food to feed so many people and promotional and educational support to maintain order.
“Then I’ll see you again at a later regular contact time.”
[Yes, thank you for your continued support.]
Communication has ended.
[He is useful. I rate it more highly than Lee Seong-bong.]
Artemis said.
Her body is resting in the incubator.
“I don’t think Lee Seong-bong is bad. You are a true soldier. They went all the way across the sea and rescued their own people.”
[Hwang Jin doesn’t seem to be lacking in military capabilities. Isn’t it enough to command an operation with a mixed army of all kinds of weapons and people?]
“That’s right.”
To be honest, I am not confident in organizing poorly trained civilians into a unit and running them together with active duty soldiers. I’ve never done it before.
[Plus, the ability to manage that much land and people are amazing. It is the distribution of manpower and administrative capabilities. I think I would be better suited as a bureaucrat than a soldier.]
As a city control AI, it seems that this type of management skills are valued more highly than the ability to fight.
Beans!
I heard a small noise from the cage in front of me.
Inside were large rats, sniffing hard and sticking their noses in, making cute noises when they hit the wall.
“If I touch it, it won’t bite me, right?”
[Huh. Since the aggression has been almost eliminated, it will be safe as long as you don’t hold it too hard.]
I was currently in the first research center in the central region, not the central control room.
Unlike the second laboratory outside the shelter, which handles dangerous things such as infectious agents or poison gas, this one deals with safe things.
Like the edible rat that is sitting in my palm right now.
“Hey cute guy! Look at this weight. It’s really real. The flesh is also soft.”
[Is he petting me or is he giving me an appetite…]
The expression on Artemis’ hologram is not very good.
[You handle rodents with your bare hands.]
“Why? It’s just cute. “I heard you’re much more hygienic than most people?”
[But it’s still a rat. I hate it physiologically.]
“It looks like you at least gnawed on a wire while you were at NASA.”
Side.
I kissed the rat’s face.
[Oh my god.]
In fact, the reason Artemis is in the incubator is not because it is time to rest.
It’s just because I didn’t want to come along to the food rat research and breeding farm where I am now.
However, this edible mouse is a masterpiece that combines her genetic technology. It was a valuable source of protein for countless refugees.
“People can’t live just by eating rice, right? “You really did a great job.”
[How amazing is this?]
Even if you praise her, she isn’t particularly happy.
“The taste was good.”
I tried rat meat sold as street food in Police, and it was almost indistinguishable from chicken.
[Can you please stop? And even if you do go out, stop eating street food. Even if you only eat one meal, eat at a properly proven restaurant.]
“Yes, yes.”
I observed the rat turning its head here and there on the palm of my hand.
This guy is smaller than a guinea pig and doesn’t have a single hair on his entire body. Like a Sphynx cat.
However, it looked cute because it was plump and had no wrinkles. Of course, there are a lot of parts to eat.
This is an improvement to maximize efficiency as an edible product.
After slaughtering, removing the intestines, washing, and frying or grilling the whole fish, you can eat it.
Because the bones are thin, you can chew them all, so they are excellently filled with both protein and calcium.
Since they are hairless, exposure to sunlight increases the risk of skin diseases, but since they are slaughtered before that anyway, there is no problem.
The unique tail that causes disgust has been artificially degenerated to less than 1 cm.
Likewise, their limbs are very short, so their mobility is poor. Crowded breeding is possible by hitting the cage with low jaws, and it can be easily captured even with bare hands.
It does not make any noise like chickens, pigs, or cows, so it is the best for those who camp in remote places.
Kkokkio~! The story of the camp where infectious agents were drawn in by the sound of crying and were wiped out is so famous that no one knows about it.
“Artemis, do you know that these mice account for a greater proportion of your praise than vaccines?”
[It’s a dangerous monster. If you don’t see it, you quickly forget about it, but the belly button comes to visit you every day. Humans tend to be more concerned about small graces rather than big graces.]
The 80 or so rats initially sent to the Honam garrison have now spread throughout the Korean Peninsula.
It has almost replaced chicken in grilled skewers, and large-scale breeding farms are also operated in Honam and Yeosu.
It is commonly seen at police street stalls and is even sold at Prime.
“I think it will taste better if you make it.”
[I absolutely hate it.]
I liked the savory taste of chewing on the bone and the appropriately oily texture, so I asked Artemis for it, but was turned down every time.
[I won’t make it until sparks get in my eyes.]
“Just distributing it to others, so they can eat it.”
[That’s someone else’s story. Is it the same as feeding my man? If you really want to eat, go out and buy it.]
I made a sad face as I looked at the mouse I was holding in both hands.
“Our poor rats. It must be sad to be hated by your mother.”
[Who is the mother?!]
“I meant it in a scientific sense. The father of air conditioners, carrier. Something like this.”
I put the rat into the cage.
The cage nameplate said version 1.3, but the version currently distributed nationwide was version 1.0.
As the breed progresses to a later stage, its efficiency as livestock increases, including fertility and meat conversion rate.
“But if more improved varieties are released, how do we weed out the existing varieties? Should we do a campaign?”
[When different versions cross, the offspring is 100% born as a later version. Isn’t it simple?]
“It’s not simple, it’s perfect.”
It was truly the ultimate in genetic engineering.
“Artemis, compared to your greater research, a rat like this may seem insignificant.”
I smiled happily when I saw the fat rat waddling on its treadmill.
“But I like this sight. Until now, whenever you’ve been to a research lab, you’ve always seen things being burned, torn, and destroyed, right? In contrast, being in a place where the problems of eating and living are solved, I feel like my mind is purified.”
[If only you like it…]
Fighting against colonies of infectious agents and distributing vaccines to purify the world is certainly a great task.
However, the sight before my eyes made me realize the value of reconstruction beyond protection.
It might be too grandiose of an idea with just a fat rat.
[You haven’t forgotten your promise to get a massage tonight, right?]
Artemis asked me as I was leaving the lab.
These days, she is digging deeper into the sensations her body gives her.
When he first descended, the stimulation from his sense organs was so strong that he could only lightly enjoy his senses of taste and smell. Drinking tea or enjoying the scent of scented candles.
However, it seems that I am gradually getting used to my body, and finally, as I mix with my flesh, I am now able to enjoy stronger stimulation.
Recently, I have become obsessed with various massages, and rather than receiving them alone, I prefer to receive them lying next to me.
“This is the third time I’m asking you today.”
[Just in case. And I’m slowly getting ready to keep my promise.]
“Promise?”
[The names Black and Pink. Because those children will be attending to us today. He didn’t show it, but I could see what he was looking forward to.]
Artemis said as if there were no more holds.
