Hiding a House in the Apocalypse-Chapter 78.2: Photos (2)

Is there a more familiar mode of transportation for Seoul citizens than the subway? Since the war began, the subway has become an even more integral part of their lives.

During the height of the war, it served as an air-raid shelter, and after the infrastructure collapsed, it functioned as a refuge.

The subway, constructed with reinforced concrete deep underground, became a fortress unto itself, equipped with essential elements for survival—a reliable stronghold for many.

It’s said that before Seoul was abandoned, countless citizens lived in makeshift zones within the subway system.

Perhaps that’s why.

Thunk—

When Defender turned on the lights, the overhead lamps in the subway station pushed back the darkness in unison.

The power was still on.

As we descended the stairs into the subway, the stench of life left behind and the traces of human activity overwhelmed our senses.

Cardboard boxes, empty mattresses, discarded blankets, and trash of unknown purpose were strewn everywhere in chaotic disorder.

Even makeshift partitions of PVC panels, marked with footprints and abandoned in haste, caught our attention.

“When I was in high school, I got lost in the subway once.”

Da-jeong looked around with nostalgic eyes.

“I needed to transfer, but it was too far. I mean, who designed it like that?”

I wanted to respond to her, but letting down your guard underground is a grave mistake. Subways have always been zombie nests.

When idle, zombies gather in dark places, especially underground, staying still like computers in sleep mode. But once they sense a human presence, they spring into action.

This subway station was once inhabited, but it’s been over a year since it was abandoned.

Wandering zombies likely settled here, making it their new home.

I’ve never worked with an Awakened before, but having someone who can see through walls and sense people would certainly make things easier.

“There’s nothing here. Not a thing.”

Heo Jong-chul wasn’t holding a weapon.

More accurately, he hadn’t been given one.

If I weren’t here, they might have handed him one. But because of past complications, Defender kept him unarmed.

“No zombies, no people. Just us.”

Before long, we reached the stairs leading to the platform.

The stairs were cordoned off with tape bearing warnings of restricted access. Chillingly, the tape had a biohazard warning symbol on it.

“What’s this? Something bad?” Da-jeong asked, crossing her arms and frowning at the warning sign.

“Could’ve been a bioweapon,” Defender replied as he expertly cut through the tape with a knife.

“Want to go down?”

He turned to his sister as he asked, and she nodded with her arms crossed.

“A subway makes for a perfect backdrop.”

“A subway, huh. Think we’ll find one? It might not even be here.”

“Then we’ll check and see.”

Da-jeong removed the backpack from her shoulders and pulled out a small drone.

The palm-sized drone floated into the air with a gentle hum as she operated it with a simple controller, sending it down the stairs.

“Convenient.”

When I commented, Da-jeong gave a faint smile, her eyes fixed on the drone’s camera feed displayed on her glasses as she manipulated the controls.

“Drones are essential. Even during wars, they’re a must-have.”

“Especially the ones made by the Chinese,” Defender chimed in.

“They don’t use Awakened,” Heo Jong-chul added.

“Why don’t they use Awakened?” Defender asked, staring at Jong-chul.

“There must be a problem.”

Jong-chul adjusted his glasses and stroked his trademark sideburns.

“From what I’ve heard through my Chinese connections, they conducted experiments on Awakened individuals.”

“Experiments? Isn’t that common everywhere?”

“Sure, but they must’ve found something fatal. The Chinese initially tried to use Awakened seriously, but they suddenly abandoned the plan.”

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freёnovelkiss.com.

“What did they find?”

“From what I heard, it’s a flaw tied to the survival of the Chinese people. The details are unclear, but that’s what they say.”

A flaw tied to their survival.

Haven’t they already fallen?

There are supposedly survivors on Hainan Island, but that’s not my concern.

What does concern me is the group of Chinese individuals west of my territory, beyond DragonC’s bunker.

“Do you still have contact with those Chinese folks?” I asked, looking at Jong-chul.

He flinched and avoided my gaze.

“Uh, no. I don’t.”

“Speak freely. No need for formalities.”

I don’t care about being addressed formally—it only makes the relationship more burdensome. Mutual respect works better, whether it’s formal or casual.

“I doubt they’d like me much. I conned them, after all.”

Jong-chul spoke awkwardly, his gaze wandering. Then, as if remembering something, his eyes widened, and he raised his voice.

“Oh! Kids!”

“Kids?”

“Someone I know mentioned there’s an issue when Awakened have children.”

“Do they give birth to deformed babies?” Defender interjected.

“No, not that. But there seems to be serious data about it.”

Though we couldn’t know exactly what data Jong-chul referred to, it was undeniable that the Chinese had discovered a fatal flaw in Awakened individuals—one severe enough for them to forsake the powerful beings and face destruction instead.

Awakened above level 5 can temporarily neutralize reflective barriers. With this ability to "dispel veils," they could crush monsters with firepower in localized battles.

A single level 10 Awakened could seal low-intensity rifts with ease.

And level 15? They’d be closer to gods than humans.

To abandon such powerful beings, the flaw must have been devastating.

“Nothing wrong! The subway’s clean! Probably just a bluff,” Da-jeong’s voice broke into our conversation as her drone returned.

I only just noticed the stickers plastered all over the drone.

“...There used to be rumors that subways were kept ready for evacuation in emergencies, for the higher-ups to escape.”

Listening to Jong-chul, we moved toward the platform.

Unlike the filthy, stinking waiting areas, the platform still preserved the original form of a pre-war subway station.

Though dust and trash littered the corridors, the clean walls, screen doors, faded posters, and the subway car waiting with its doors open made it feel surreal.

“Hey! Let’s get on!” Da-jeong shouted excitedly, sprinting ahead.

She was the first to board, throwing herself onto the priority seating and lying down.

As I stared at her, she jumped up, flustered, and said, “I’ve always wanted to do that.”

Defender stood by the handrails in front of the seats, and Jong-chul suddenly sprawled across the aisle, pretending to crawl like a mermaid.

“What are you doing, Jong-chul?” Defender asked.

Jong-chul responded with a weird sound, “The Little Mermaid.”

This guy’s nuts.

Still, who would’ve thought?

For some, the subway, once a dreaded necessity, had become a playground more entertaining than a theme park.

“Skelton, why don’t you do something? It’s your first time on the subway in ages. Get into the spirit,” Da-jeong urged me.

What could I do? I had no particular fondness for the subway. It was just a means of occasional travel for errands or family visits.

But one seat caught my eye.

I sat on the bright pink seat, making myself comfortable.

Everyone stared at me.

“Seriously, Skelton? That’s the pregnancy seat.”

Looking at them calmly, I replied, “Which is better, the pregnancy seat or the priority seat?”

It was a joke, but everyone averted their gaze. Da-jeong outright changed the subject.

“Alright, let’s take a photo!”

Each of us posed in our seats.

Jong-chul held up the camera and said, “Say cheetah—”

“?”

“It means cheese.”

We struck poses again, waiting for his signal.

“Say cheetah—”

Click.

The photo was taken.

Defender, his sister, Da-jeong, and I.

Except for Da-jeong, the rest of us wore bored expressions, though our eyes revealed satisfaction.

I smiled faintly, looking around the empty subway car.

A place once brimming with life now stood still, its only movements the faint tremors we caused.

“Jong-chul, want a picture too?” I offered.

“Can I?” he asked, hesitating.

“Sure, why not?”

"While We’re Here, Let’s Take Pictures"

We took countless photos, immersed in a glimpse of our past ordinary lives.

Above us was an abandoned amusement park, but I doubt it could provide as much joy as this.

The surreal experience of mundane, everyday life turning into a fantastical memory was something only this subway, untouched by time, could offer.

After the gentle thrill faded, we reviewed the photos we had taken.

There were plenty of them.

Group photos, shots taken with unique concepts in mind, and even one of me sitting on the pregnancy seat—a picture that seemed to carry a satirical social message.

But there was one glaring issue with all these photos.

“Hmm...”

“What’s wrong, Skelton? Why the sour face all of a sudden?” Da-jeong asked.

“They’re all great, but...”

“But?”

“They lack impact.”

“That’s true,” she admitted. “But does that matter?”

Da-jeong smiled brightly, her expression infectiously cheerful.

“You know, as long as we’re having fun, that’s all that matters.”

She was right.

As long as we enjoyed ourselves, that was enough.

We decided to submit these photos to Photo! Apocalypse! as a showcase of our past lives.

“Hey,” Da-jeong said on the way back. “If the Legion faction doesn’t suit me, can I come to your place, Skelton?”

“What?”

“I mean, I’ll go there because my dear brother insists. But if it doesn’t work out... what if it’s full of people like Heo Jong-chul?”

“ABC and his friends?” Jong-chul muttered nonsense, oblivious as ever.

Da-jeong stifled a laugh and continued, “See? If everyone there is like him, I’ll have to leave. But my brother probably won’t, what with his favorite colleague there.”

“...I don’t like her romantically. We just get along,” Defender said defensively.

“Oh, please. The moment she contacted you, you got all jittery,” Da-jeong teased before turning to me. “What do you think, Skelton?”

“Hmm...”

I glanced at Defender, who met my gaze and said, “It’s up to my sister.”

“Well, if that’s the case, there’s an extra place you can stay.”

“Really?”

“There’s a cabin. It even has a sauna.”

“That sounds nice. Maybe I’ll just stay here.”

As Da-jeong joked, Defender turned his head from the back seat and said softly, “You’ll need to get checked first.”

“Checked?” I asked, puzzled.

“There’s a good hospital there,” he explained. “I’m planning to have my sister undergo some tests.”

“Is she sick?”

“No, but it’s good to take the opportunity for a thorough check-up. You could get checked too, if you join the Legion.”

“I’ll pass,” I replied, glancing at Da-jeong through the rearview mirror.

We locked eyes, and she smiled playfully. I spoke firmly, “If you’re coming, let me know.”

“Okay!”

I don’t know when she’ll return. There’s no guarantee.

We might never meet again.

But knowing there’s a possibility she’ll come back is strangely comforting.

Perhaps this is how we come to terms with farewells.

In the faint clarity of a long, dreamlike slumber, I gazed out at the endless snowy plains.

The road ahead was still long.

*

MELON_MASK: Alright, folks! The last event of the year—Photo! Apocalypse! Let’s get started! Everyone ready? Send in the best snapshot you can think of!

Defender is Defender, and I am Skelton.

Right now, it’s time to focus on the photo contest.

Honestly, I’m confident about this one.

Why?

Because I have an ace up my sleeve—a single, exceptional shot.

It’s a photograph of Rebecca and her daughter staring into the distance, against the backdrop of a dark wilderness, as a massive swarm of giant monsters scatters in chaos.

There’s no competition. It’s a guaranteed win.

Feeling like a winner already, I submitted the photo confidently.

VIVA_BOT014: Whoa, this is...!

Of course. Even Viva Bot recognizes greatness.

Grinning with satisfaction, I responded.

SKELTON: Something the matter? 😊

VIVA_BOT014: This photo is amazing! Definitely worthy of winning.

SKELTON: Smirk.

VIVA_BOT014: But... there’s a problem. Someone else submitted the exact same photo.

SKELTON: What? Who?

VIVA_BOT014: User mmmmmmmmmm.

“That bastard!”

I shouted aloud, uncharacteristically losing my cool. Quickly regaining composure, I filled the chat calmly, like the professional I am.

SKELTON: That photo’s mine. I posted it in an article two years ago. You can verify it.

VIVA_BOT014: See, this is why you shouldn’t make enemies.

SKELTON: (Skelton invokes the right to remain silent.)

VIVA_BOT014: Are you two dating?

SKELTON: Excuse me?

VIVA_BOT014: Between power abuse and tampering, mmmmmmmmmm said they’d forgive you if you asked nicely.

“...”

m9.

What’s this guy’s deal?

Before I could process my shock, Melon Mask’s voice blared loudly from the speakers.

MELON_MASK: Wait a second! An incredible photo just came in. It’s better if I show you instead of trying to explain!

“?”

Melon Mask’s usual calm demeanor was gone, replaced by genuine excitement.

MELON_MASK: The title of this photo is... Family!

The screen changed, revealing a dim, desolate landscape.

Two men crouched in front of the camera.

One wore a tattered yet luxurious suit that somehow retained its elegance, but his pale, shriveled face clearly wasn’t human.

A zombie.

That face—Je Pung-ho.

Stunned, I shifted my gaze to the second man beside him.

A gaunt figure with long, flowing hair reminiscent of Jesus Christ, his eyes shone with a fierce light.

No doubt about it.

It was him.

The Internet friend who disappeared into the City of the Dead—IamJesus.

Behind them, a ruined city stretched into the distance, filled with countless zombies mimicking their crouched posture, all staring at the camera.

“...”

Unbelievable.

The zombie savior—no, the zombie king—IamJesus, had made a spectacular comeback, fully demonstrating his abilities during the grand event of Photo! Apocalypse! for the entire world to see.

MELON_MASK: I can’t believe what I’m seeing! How did you do this, IamJesus?

The screen switched to a live feed of IamJesus, surrounded by his zombie entourage. His glowing eyes fixed on the camera as he uttered his first and last words.

“Mem-mem!”

That was it.

MELON_MASK: IamJesus wins!

“...”

Fair enough.