Apocalypse’s Teacher

Chapter 85

Helen's mischief subsided.

No, should this even be called mischief?

To be precise, it would be better to say it like this.

Helen, who had been acting differently from her usual self and showing odd behaviors, had stopped.

'What was that all about in the end?'

I seriously pondered.

After all, in a world like this, living as a group and looking after each other's mental health is one of the most important things.

'Hmm....'

Something came to mind while I was lost in thought.

'Homesickness?'

Could it be homesickness?

I don't know exactly what kind of dishes they make in Canada, but it was clear that what Helen tried to create was cuisine from her own country.

Also, looking at how she laughed and cried to herself, it seemed like she was going through some emotional fluctuations.

While I was staring blankly at the ceiling, thinking that I should have a serious conversation with her soon.

"Mister!"

Gihyun called out to me unusually loudly.

That made me turn my head toward Gihyun.

Not just me, but everyone in the penthouse turned to look at Gihyun.

"Huh? What is it?"

"Come here!"

Gihyun's face was full of surprise.

What in the world could have startled that usually indifferent kid like this?

Thinking that, I felt an inexplicable urgency and headed toward the room where Gihyun was leading me.

*

Zzzzt-.

The electronic noise cut off.

Amid the static, I could hear what seemed to be human voices.

A radio.

It seemed that we had picked up its transmission.

[Our Dongdae- shelter will absolutely not stand idle about this room- and....]

My expression hardened.

It wasn't for any other reason.

Using radio to convey messages like this was something only the massive shelters or groups of vagabonds would do.

'Dongdaemun.'

Though the static had cut it off, surely the word following "our" was Dongdaemun Shelter.

Judging by the context of the transmitted words, this was clearly a declaration of war.

'Where to?'

A sense of crisis surged within me.

Dongdaemun Shelter was the place where the old man had been held just a while ago.

That declaration of war could be directed at us.

As I speculated that possibility, I listened closely again.

[We are recruiting warriors to resist the Eternal Pilgrimage Church.]

Thud-.

My body froze.

Not just me, but everyone who had come here to listen to the radio was trembling.

What in the world kind of nonsense were we hearing right now?

It felt absurd and baffling.

Of course, wars between shelters in the winter after the apocalypse weren't uncommon.

Why wouldn't they be?

Shelters, vying for their interests and trying to expand their resources even a little, could naturally end up at war.

The reason for my reaction was none other than their opponent.

'Are they saying they're going to war with a cult?'

Just one shelter?

And publicly, like this?

"What nonsensical talk...."

The old man muttered in disbelief.

It was a sentiment I could fully agree with.

Dongdaemun Shelter, as its name suggests, only dominated a single small region.

The Eternal Pilgrimage Church was a massive group that had swallowed up the entire area south of the Han River.

What in the world were they thinking to take such an action?

That curiosity was growing within me.

I shot up from my seat.

"What is it? Where are you going?"

"To gather information."

I quickly left the room and grabbed my coat and equipment.

"Where to?"

The old man's question.

I pointed my chin toward the west as I answered.

"I'll drop by Mapo."

If it's a major shelter, there should be someone there who knows something.

*

A clean and well-organized reception room, a sight you wouldn't expect in such a chaotic world.

I was sitting there, facing Hak-jong, the shelter leader of Mapo.

"...Let's not ask why you're here. I have a rough idea."

Hak-jong handed me a cup.

The black liquid, emitting warm steam, was undoubtedly coffee made by grinding beans.

I gently pushed it aside and spoke.

"No matter how much I think about it, I just can't understand."

My voice was slightly lowered.

Despite the cooperative relationship, the nature of our counterpart made it impossible to fully relax.

"What don't you understand? The Eternal Pilgrimage Church's expansion to Gangbuk? Or the hidden backing behind Dongdaemun's resistance?"

His eyebrows slightly raised.

'He knows.'

It seemed the cult was showing more significant movements than expected.

"I'd like to hear everything slowly."

"That's not difficult."

Hak-jong shrugged his shoulders.

Then, sitting across from me, he continued.

"The Eternal Pilgrimage Church is looking for something."

"What?"

"I don't know what it is. It seems to be a person, but it's not about a specific individual."

It sounded like utter nonsense.

As I frowned at the absurdity of it, Hak-jong sighed.

"We don't know the details either. When they requested our cooperation, we avoided it, claiming we were busy managing our internal affairs."

"Those guys asked for cooperation?"

"Yes, strange indeed. For such self-righteous people to request cooperation rather than resort to threats."

Hak-jong's voice was sinking.

His gaze grew sharper, and the coffee cup he had been holding was now resting on the table.

"There's only one thing that comes to mind."

"...Those guys are in no position to go to war with anyone right now."

"You catch on quickly. That's good."

I racked my brain.

'...Come to think of it, it is strange.'

The events at Seodaemun Prison.

Although we acted based on our own reasoning, it was suspicious that those guys hadn't taken any follow-up actions or conducted any investigations yet.

It's been a full week.

That was roughly how long I had been going in and out of the prison to transport the supplies they brought there.

Yet, I couldn't find any trace of them passing through.

"The situation, huh...."

I thought to myself.

The most notable characteristic of the Eternal Pilgrimage Church and the issues that could stem from it.

At the end of my thoughts, only one thing came to mind.

"...The cult leader?"

The Eternal Pilgrimage Church is, after all, a religious group.

A group centered around a priest who had never once appeared publicly.

Naturally, in a group where all power is concentrated on him, any issue with him could lead to internal chaos.

Hak-jong nodded.

"We think the same. The reasoning they gave us when requesting cooperation for the war in Dongdaemun was based on that."

"So they weren't just acting recklessly?"

"If they're shelter leaders, they wouldn't act so foolishly."

"The former shelter leader in this area wasn't like that though?"

"That's why he got hit in the back of the head and left."

A hollow laugh escaped me.

It was because of Hak-jong's smug response, as if bragging about stabbing someone in the back.

Hak-jong seemed to sense my reaction, and said nonchalantly.

"He was better off dead. That guy had no future."

"You killed someone for the greater good?"

"At the very least, you're not in a position to criticize that."

My mouth shut tight.

My forehead creased slightly too.

It was because there wasn't a single part of what he said that was wrong.

"...Well, let's move on from this topic."

"Are you going to join the war?"

As I was about to get up, Hak-jong asked me that.

I looked at Hak-jong and asked in return.

"Why do you think that?"

"Don't you dislike them? Those religious fanatics."

"I do, but at this point, it doesn't really matter anymore. I'm just spending each day drinking myself to oblivion."

Hak-jong stared at me as if piercing through me.

His gaze, filled with suspicion, suddenly made me wonder, 'Did he find out about the kids?'

As a brief silence passed, Hak-jong answered.

"That's a relief. It means there won't be any chaos on our side."

"I guess the reactionary likes peace and quiet?"

"The shelter just reached a point of stability. It took time to recover, thanks to someone causing a massive disruption."

Hak-jong stood up.

Then, he opened the door and looked at me.

His attitude made it clear he wanted to end the conversation.

'I've heard all I need to hear....'

There wasn't any need to rub each other the wrong way unnecessarily.

Thinking that, I followed him out readily.

The meeting room was located in the deepest part of the shelter.

As I walked down the hallway, I surveyed my surroundings.

That's when something caught my eye.

"So women don't get used like that anymore."

The last time I was here, I remember most of the women in the shelter being used as disposable tools.

But looking around now, I didn't see any women showing such signs. Instead, they were all carrying various items and working.

"It's inefficient. As long as they're adults, they can be used as individual laborers. There's no need to keep them around as livestock wasting food."

"That's the reason, huh."

"What, were you expecting humanitarian values?"

"Not my concern. Do as you please."

Saying that, I glanced at Hak-jong.

'...Still don't get it.'

Even after meeting many people since the apocalypse, I still couldn't figure him out.

He rarely revealed his true intentions, and his actions made it hard to classify him as either good or bad.

"Once you go out, that's the exit. I'm not escorting you further."

At some point, Hak-jong stopped walking and said that, crossing his arms.

Only then did I snap out of it and turn to look at the exit.

"Hmm...."

"What?"

Just, living next door to someone this enigmatic naturally stirs up some curiosity, doesn't it?

Once again, I turned to Hak-jong and decided to poke at him a little.

"Since I'm already leaving, I feel a bit disappointed. Could you spare some spices?"

"...."

Ah, he's scowling.