Apocalypse’s Teacher

Chapter 87

- While briefly looking out the window, I saw a young girl running alone. I thought it wasn't right to leave her alone in such a dangerous place, so I brought her here.

I mulled over the old man's words and looked at the girl in front of me.

'A middle schooler?'

She seemed to be around the same age as Gihyun and Jinwoo.

She had a gentle impression and long straight hair that reached her chest.

And she looked completely shrunk in on herself.

Where could this girl have come from?

Certainly, there shouldn't be anyone else around here except us, so her origin was suspicious.

Holding onto those thoughts, I greeted her.

"Hello?"

"Ah, hello...."

The girl blushed slightly and lowered her head.

"What's your name?"

"Juyeong. Han Juyeong...."

"Alright, Juyeong. Would it be okay if I asked how you ended up here?"

The girl, Juyeong, hesitated as she glanced back and forth between me, the old man, and Jinwoo.

Juyeong, who was shifting her gaze nervously, finally gave her answer afterward.

"F-From Dongdaemun... I escaped."

Dongdaemun.

That word made both the old man and me freeze.

Even so, Juyeong continued her story.

"They called it a war and started teaching us how to shoot guns, so it scared me...."

Her trembling voice as she spoke made her appear pitiful beyond compare.

Although it was a situation that warranted suspicion, I couldn't help but feel a wave of sympathy rising within me.

'Ah, I really can't be harsh to children.'

It was because of this cursed personality of mine.

I hesitated briefly on what to do with the child, then sighed deeply and spoke.

"You must be tired, so just rest for now. We'll talk later."

Looking closely, her dark circles were visibly deep.

Her fingertips were also trembling.

She wasn't in a condition where questions would be appropriate right now.

Concluding as such, I stood up while carrying Hyesung in my arms.

"Gihyun. Can you guide her to an empty room?"

"...."

Gihyun stared at Juyeong with sharp eyes.

"Gihyun?"

"Alright."

Gihyun approached Juyeong and tapped her on the shoulder.

Then he gestured toward a room with his chin.

"Go in."

"Y-Yes...!"

Juyeong hurriedly entered the room.

*

Juyeong was the youngest member of the Dongdaemun Shelter.

Generally, the youngest in a group would be protected and loved by everyone, but not in this world.

In a world where children were scarce and individual value in a group was determined by labor, Juyeong's young age provided no protection for her.

Juyeong was a shrewd child who understood this.

That's why Juyeong volunteered for tasks like this.

Recruiting Seokho.

Huff.

Huff.

Left alone in the room, Juyeong exhaled deeply, releasing her tension.

'That's the Bomberman...!'

Her heart felt like it was going to burst from fear.

His build was intimidating enough, but the moment she realized he was Bomberman, his gaze felt terrifying.

The large scar running across his cheek, the burned marks all over him, and his roughly overgrown hair all gave the impression that he could kill someone at any moment.

'Still....'

Despite that, the conversation had gone better than she had imagined.

No, not just better.

'Why are there so many kids here?'

She was shocked.

As far as Juyeong and the Dongdaemun Shelter knew, he was a man who operated alone.

'The youngest one doesn't even look old enough for elementary school.'

A little kid wearing strange goggles, rolling around with a puppy.

-Big Sis!

The way she approached her so openly despite it being their first meeting somehow felt irritating.

Juyeong frowned.

'Living so carefree.'

While some people were struggling desperately to survive, doing whatever it took, that kid was surely living cluelessly among kind adults.

Her demeanor was unmistakably carefree.

Clench-!

Juyeong's fist clenched tightly.

'No, it doesn't matter if Bomberman has kids with him.'

Not only does it not matter, but it's actually an advantage.

It meant gaining more bargaining chips.

'No threats.'

The Shelter had strictly instructed her on this.

Never take hostages in front of Bomberman.

-Once, some people tried to hold hostages in front of Bomberman. It was a group of vagrants who were moving with him. They used the vagrants as bait to try and recruit him while he was away. Do you know what he did?

-W-What did he do?

-He blew up the entire Shelter along with the hostages.

His brutal and unrelenting nature.

Surely, if she made a threat, he would blow up this hotel along with all the kids.

...Or so Juyeong thought.

In reality, the vagrants were puppets of a cult, which was why Seokho had no hesitation, but outsiders wouldn't know that.

Tremble-.

Juyeong shivered as she exhaled.

'It's okay. I can do this.'

Juyeong steeled herself.

That's what she had to do to survive. She couldn't afford to be scared.

'If I fail this time, it's really over.'

Time was running out.

She would soon be an adult, and if she failed to prove her usefulness by then, she would end up as the most despised servant in the Shelter.

Juyeong didn't want to live such a life.

Determination filled Juyeong's eyes.

'Let's start by investigating.'

She had gained more tools to use.

If Bomberman had been operating alone, recruiting him would have been tough, but there were plenty of people here who could shed light on his personality.

'Not that girl.'

The rude-looking girl who was returning with Seokho.

That girl seemed too cautious.

The blonde foreign woman seemed doubtful whether communication was even possible, and it was best to avoid talking to the bald old man as much as possible.

'I haven't directly encountered him, but he's someone who's been in Dongdaemun.'

Juyeong recalled.

'That airheaded-looking guy.'

Was his name Jinwoo?

She should approach that guy first.

'Piece of cake.'

Juyeong gave a sly smile.

The reason was the firm belief that a seemingly naive boy like him could be easily seduced using her charm.

...Little did Juyeong know, this decision would become the biggest mistake of her life.

*

"Hi...?"

A few hours later, Juyeong greeted Jinwoo, who was folding laundry in a corner of the living room.

"Oh, you're back?"

Jinwoo stood up with a smile.

"Perfect timing. It looks like the clothes you were wearing got quite dirty. Do you want to wear this for now? It's my sister's."

Jinwoo handed Juyeong a few pieces of clothing from the laundry he was folding.

Juyeong was startled for a moment but soon took the clothes and smiled.

"T-thank you."

"Yeah, change into them and come out."

Jinwoo smiled brightly.

Juyeong, while holding the clothes, headed back to her room, wondering 'Is this really okay?'

*

After changing into the clothes, Jinwoo complimented Juyeong with his characteristic bright smile.

"Yeah, it suits you well. Maybe it's because our builds are similar?"

Jeans, a knit top, and a thin jacket that was necessary even indoors due to the chilly weather.

Juyeong had to force herself to rein in her relaxed feelings, thinking these were the coziest clothes she'd ever worn.

"Not really, uh...."

"Are you hungry? There's still some time before we eat, but should I give you a snack? No, wait, I'll just go get the old man first...."

"W-wait a moment!"

Tap-!

Juyeong grabbed Jinwoo's hand as he was about to leave.

Then, while hiding her racing heart, she stammered.

"I-I'm still scared...."

She showed a pitiful expression while hiding her true feelings as much as possible.

It was a weapon Juyeong had devised, taking advantage of her innocent-looking appearance.

She judged that such an expression would surely shake Jinwoo's heart.

However, Jinwoo was not someone to be swayed by such things.

"Huh? Oh, come on, what's there to be scared of? The old man is really nice."

"Huh...?"

"Don't be scared. Even though he looks rough, the old man is incredibly soft-hearted. He'd be really hurt if a girl was scared just by his appearance."

Creeaak, creeaak.

An awkward smile spread across Juyeong's face.

'That's not it!'

Let's badmouth him a little!

Tell me something about his weaknesses or characteristics!

While Juyeong continued her internal complaints, she ground her teeth at the pulling headache but quickly calmed herself.

'No, no. I can still extract information this way.'

A natural conversation.

An expression that triggered protective instincts.

Keeping these two points in mind, Juyeong spoke to Jinwoo again.

"I-I want to hear more about that...."

Juyeong knew.

Men, regardless of their age, couldn't resist a woman who showed interest in them.

Especially if that woman was as pretty as she was.

Juyeong subtly approached Jinwoo and looked up at him.

Then, lightly grabbing his sleeve, she thought it was her ultimate move.

It was bound to work.

As she smiled inwardly with confidence.

"Hmm, then let's call the old man and talk together."

Jinwoo casually released her grip and headed to the room where Seokho was.

Juyeong's expression turned blank.

Jinwoo cheerfully called out.

"Old man! She's here!"

Juyeong didn't know.

That the concept of a 'pretty woman' could differ from person to person.