One piece of unpleasant news.

Though no vehicles were lost and the headcount had decreased, some cargo was lost during the escape.

We didn’t know exactly what that cargo was, but over the soldiers’ radios, calm but chilling threats rang out.

“If you lost it, go find it. If you don’t bring it back right now, you’re all getting sent to the Outer Zone. You hear me?”

The only silver lining was that inside the Rift, there was no one to steal lost cargo.

If it had fallen during our rushed maneuver, it would still be lying right where it dropped.

The problem, of course, was ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ the monster 10 kilometers away.

If this were Earth, we might wait patiently for it to dissipate on its own—but this was the Rift.

You could see the growing anxiety on the soldiers’ faces.

I had a bad feeling.

Sure enough.

“Somebody’s gotta go fetch it.”

They were trying to dump the task onto us.

But the civilian laborers gathered here weren’t working out of duty or patriotism.

They were here because the pay was good, the food better, and the labor relatively light.

That’s the same reason a young woman like Cha Eun-chae volunteered for this job, despite the obvious danger.

Of the 30-some laborers gathered in front of the soldiers, not a single one was listening.

Most stared at the ground or deliberately avoided eye contact.

The soldiers began swearing.

“You people must be confused. Your hazard pay includes a clause that says you follow emergency orders.”

“Hey, move.”

A soldier with a short fuse stepped forward.

“You’ve got five minutes. Pick three people, including a driver. I don’t care how—draw lots, rock-paper-scissors, whatever. If no one volunteers in five minutes, we’ll start shooting one person per minute.”

Some laborers who’d been avoiding eye contact glared at him. He smirked and cocked his gun.

Click!

“What? You fuckers. If we don’t recover that cargo, we’re screwed too. So you’re coming down with us. Ain’t that fair?”

It was outright blackmail.

But seeing that soldier’s flushed, frenzied face—like he had nothing left but spite—it really felt like he’d go through with it.

They were just as desperate.

Once the soldiers withdrew, the arguing began.

“What the fuck, if they’d killed the monster in the first place, this wouldn’t even be happening!”

“Right? Why the hell are they yelling at us?”

“Swearing won’t help.”

“Let’s just pick three. They asked for three.”

“Can’t we just refuse?”

“They’ll shoot us. They will.”

“Seriously?”

“They’re not bluffing. You think Big Hole’s a joke?”

Time passed.

Already two minutes gone.

Jo Yong-gu sidled up to me.

“Hey.”

He had something to say.

He leaned in and whispered into my ear.

“Should we volunteer?”

I looked at him, asking with my eyes.

Jo Yong-gu grinned and whispered again.

“We say we’re going to get the cargo, but actually sneak off through a side path.”

“That even possible?”

“Back behind the dune, they can’t see from here. The terrain’s a little bumpy, but it’s doable. We just take the long way around and slip out of the Cabinet. Sure, the Outer Zone’s dangerous, but better that than getting shot by some punk here, right?”

“What if we get caught?”

“We won’t. Think about it—those soldiers’ll be in deep shit if they don’t retrieve the cargo. As long as we get through this moment, we’re golden. I’m telling you, it’s airtight.”

Something about his confident face was persuasive.

And he was the most experienced driver here.

“Well, you’re good at handling situations too, right? If things go south, you just take care of it.”

“No one can solo a mid-class monster.”

“Let’s just try. Trust me.”

“······.”

I glanced at the people left behind.

They weren’t good people.

Each one was looking around, hoping someone else would take the fall for them.

Among them were the men who raped Cha Eun-chae and the women who’d stood by and let it happen.

One of them looked at me with eyes like a dog begging for treats.

Disgust crept up inside me, but I ignored it.

“Fine.”

Leaving was the right call.

Those who stay will face the fate that comes for them.

I always told myself this—I’m no hero, no savior.

That role belongs to Kang Han-min.

Me? I’m just a commoner who wants to see the end of this apocalypse—or if that’s not possible, survive to the bitter end. A nobody named S—legendary online, but just a regular guy in the real world.

Jo Yong-gu nodded.

“Great. But we need one more.”

He glanced around.

His eyes landed on Kang Gu-cheol.

For all his hatred, it looked like he still considered him the most trustworthy option.

Birds of a feather, I guess.

Kang Gu-cheol agreed to join us with barely a word.

“We’ve got the team. We’ll be back soon.”

Jo Yong-gu smothered his grin as he approached the soldier.

The soldiers murmured among themselves when they saw him.

Seemed like they knew each other.

I couldn’t see Jo Yong-gu’s face from behind, but I could imagine the grim look he was probably putting on.

We were too far to hear what they said, but we saw the outcome.

He returned with a grim face.

“Goddamn it.”

He pulled me behind the vehicle.

“A guard’s coming with us.”

“A guard?”

“Yeah. Lucky me—it’s someone I know.”

Figures.

For a scumbag like Jo Yong-gu, suspicion was inevitable.

I looked over and saw the soldier who would be tagging along.

Even from a distance, he looked uptight.

His eyes darted our way constantly—he clearly didn’t trust us.

Well, they must have a few seasoned ones among them too.

Looks like we drew the short straw.

Still, it was positive in a way that he was willing to share the risk.

Might seem trivial, but in this selfish world where everyone only looks out for themselves, someone accepting even minimal risk counts as a kind of sacrifice.

Then came an unexpected volunteer.

“I’m going too.”

Cha Eun-chae.

Clutching her faded Kang Han-min comic book, she looked at me as she spoke to Jo Yong-gu. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

I didn’t know what she was trying to say, but I could guess her intent.

She must think I’m at least the safest option.

It didn’t feel good.

I wasn’t some altruist, and I hated being treated like a convenient tool.

Honestly, part of me wanted to drop my pants just to show I wasn’t some harmless pushover—but even on a hot head, that thought crosses a line.

In the grand scheme, one more or one less person doesn’t really matter.

Jo Yong-gu glanced at me.

I shrugged.

“Fine. One more travel companion’s not a bad thing.”

And just like that, our little expedition team was formed.

The soldier joining us was named Kim Jeong-hwan—about thirty, sturdy, and with a dependable look.

Definitely more responsible than the others, and clearly one of the leading soldiers in the group.

He borrowed the unit’s only hunter-grade weapon.

Domestic-made hunter weapon.

Not exactly top-tier.

More like junk-grade.

“Let’s get moving.”

Kim Jeong-hwan urged us forward.

The recovery team was set.

Me, Jo Yong-gu, Kang Gu-cheol, Cha Eun-chae, Kim Jeong-hwan, and one more unnamed soldier.

Matching Jo Yong-gu in seniority, Kim Jeong-hwan had everyone unload all non-maintenance cargo before departure.

A preemptive measure—just in case we tried to kill him and flee.

He even warned Jo Yong-gu to his face.

“If we don’t come back and only you do, be ready for a little ‘questioning.’”

If we came back alone, his comrades would interrogate us. Maybe worse.

Jo Yong-gu turned pale, and for once, the slick bastard didn’t talk back.

And so, in that gloomy mood, the electric vehicle rumbled to life.

Seating was adjusted slightly.

I was moved from the passenger seat to the cargo bed. Kim Jeong-hwan took my place up front.

For the first time, I got to face my companions in the back.

The mood, predictably, was tense.

Cha Eun-chae sat beside me, keeping her distance. Across from her sat Kang Gu-cheol.

Across from me was the unnamed soldier, who immediately began fiddling with his pistol, constantly showing it off.

It wasn’t exactly a threat—more like a nervous tic.

Sure enough, he issued a seat change.

He had Cha Eun-chae sit beside him, and placed me and Kang Gu-cheol side-by-side.

Even so, Kang Gu-cheol refused to give up the seat across from Cha Eun-chae.

The vehicle started moving.

Electric cars aren’t fast.

Top speed maybe 60 km/h.

Still fast enough to leave any human in the dust.

I used binoculars to check the monster’s location.

As Jo Yong-gu said earlier, we planned to circle wide around it and return to where we’d dropped the cargo.

Thankfully, the monster hadn’t moved—its tendrils still gently waving.

We took a wide detour.

“Ahem.”

Kang Gu-cheol cleared his throat.

Looked like he had something to say.

He glanced at the soldier, then turned to me.

“You got any kids?”

I shook my head.

He gave a dry laugh and pulled something from his coat.

A family photo, probably taken before the war.

I glanced at the soldier.

He was staring at us blankly, but didn’t seem intent on interrupting.

“What do you think?”

Kang Gu-cheol smiled faintly at the photo.

“······.”

I wanted to switch seats.

Why was he showing this now?

Doesn’t he know showing off photos of your family or lover before a dangerous mission is basically a death flag?

Just yesterday, this bastard was plotting rape—and now he’s acting like a sentimental father? I didn’t get it. Didn’t want to.

“Hey?”

He wanted a response.

I thought for a moment.

Then a thought struck me.

“Are they dead?”

That was my calculated response—my attempt to dodge the jinx.

Call it a professor-tier improvisation.

Of course, it didn’t land well.

The soldier across from me tilted his head.

Even Cha Eun-chae—who hated Kang Gu-cheol—gave me a strange look.

“······They’re alive.”

Kang Gu-cheol smiled awkwardly.

I didn’t reply.

Better to end the conversation here.

Before he could start rambling again, I opened my mouth.

“That pistol.”

I spoke to the soldier.

“Cal. 38, right?”

He nodded.

“You know your stuff?”

Of course I do.

I’ve memorized the specs of practically every firearm.

Finding the best gun for yourself is part of a hunter’s job.

The so-called Cal. 38 revolver is over 100 years old.

A second-tier weapon, issued to non-infantry in the military—more ceremonial than practical.

Same with the missile launcher earlier. These soldiers were clearly seen as disposable.

Even so, he seemed proud of it.

We exchanged a few more meaningless words before the vehicle rejoined the tracks.

Then I saw something shocking.

Far off in the distance, the human-powered train was slowly returning.

They must’ve stayed behind during the monster’s attack, but it didn’t seem like they’d lost many.

They moved like machines, perfectly steady.

As they crept forward, I scanned the surroundings.

Corpses.

Some peaceful, some horrifically mangled.

Beyond them, the abandoned cargo.

Kim Jeong-hwan got out and fiddled with his rifle.

“All right. Recover everything.”

Kang Gu-cheol’s face twisted.

“Everything? I thought we were just grabbing one.”

His anger wasn’t unreasonable.

There was way too much to carry.

Each box was at least 5 kg, and there were easily over 50 scattered across the ground.

Even with several people, it wouldn’t be quick—especially with the cargo strewn over hundreds of meters.

“······.”

I braced for exhaustion.

Something I hated.

But the soldiers held the guns.

“Come on, let’s go. Time’s ticking.”

The soldiers stood and watched.

Not lifting a finger.

We had no choice.

“Fuck.”

Kang Gu-cheol grumbled.

“If I had a gun, I’d kill them all.”

I understood the sentiment, but this wasn’t the place for it.

The monster we’d detoured around had disappeared over the ridge.

It had probably moved ahead.

We couldn’t see it anymore.

I trudged forward, moving boxes.

They were heavy, but not unbearable.

I took it slow to avoid sweating too much.

It took about an hour.

Faster than expected.

Looked like we found what they wanted too.

“This is it.”

Kim Jeong-hwan held up a box noticeably lighter than the rest, smiling.

“Let’s head back. Tell me your names later. I’ll make sure it goes in your file.”

Easier than I feared.

But the Rift doesn’t stay still.

A breeze rose, and gray-white dust began to swirl.

“Damn.”

In an instant, the world turned gray.

“Let’s move!”

Jo Yong-gu started the engine in a hurry.

“Huh?”

He let out a panicked sound.

“Engine won’t start?”

Machines always fail when you need them most.

And then—

Thud!

Fate arrives unannounced.

“Monster!”

A chill ran down my spine.

I ducked low and shouted.

“Get down!”

Before I finished speaking, something flew toward us.

Shhhhk—

Then—

“Aaaaaaahhhhhh—!”

Someone was dragged away.

A scream, moving fast—faster than thought.

Just like before.

“Run!”

I jumped out of the vehicle.

Someone followed and tripped.

I pulled them up.

Lightweight.

Must’ve been Cha Eun-chae.

“Run!”

I shouted, sprinting into the gray void.

Footsteps followed.

Who knew how far we ran?

When the dust cleared, we found ourselves under a dune, lost.

We had survivors.

Everyone on our side was alive.

But one soldier was missing.

Kim Jeong-hwan paced nervously, muttering.

We found the vehicle.

“······.”

Not far.

But beside it stood a monster—like a spire reaching for the sky.

Unmoving.

“Fuck······.”

Jo Yong-gu collapsed to the ground.

Even Kang Gu-cheol, who’d been leering at Cha Eun-chae just moments ago, clutched his head in despair and dropped to his knees.

It looked like all hope was lost.

But at least one person hadn’t given up.

“······If it were Kang Han-min!”

Cha Eun-chae clutched the faded comic to her chest and muttered.

No—this wasn’t hope.

It was faith.

Something stirred in my chest.

Anger. Or maybe hunger.

“······.”

My eyes fixed on the hunter weapon slung over Kim Jeong-hwan’s back.