Stagnant Water of Apocalypse

Chapter 106: Mistletoe (1)

Ah… Should I’ve be more adamant in my persuasion for her to stay in the government shelter?

After living together with Da-jeong for only one night, I was forced to know her flaws I had not known before. Being fussy about what to eat was cute compared to this flaw of hers; It was drooling, snoring, and sleeping chaotically.

The terrifying pressure of the three-piece set made me unable to sleep. Originally, we were sleeping in separate rooms in accordance with the strict law of gender equality. But turns out, she wasn’t the type of person who would just sleep peacefully as she sleepwalked and laid next to me. She then put her legs on mine and started snoring loudly. She’s also sleep talking to boot.

“Ahhh, honey, please~”

“Oh really.”

I got fed up and moved to another room. The strange thing is that she somehow always found my location and laid next to me again. Thanks to that, I couldn’t sleep all night long.

When I woke up in the morning and asked her about the last night, she said she didn’t remember anything.

“I… I haven’t slept all night. Because of you.”

“Then sleep here.” Da-jeong patted the empty area of the bed beside her. When I asked how she slept with Seokhyun, she said that he didn’t complain at all.

“It seems like it was because the two of you were both snoring and sleeping chaotically.”

“Probably?”

“Anyway, it’s not normal…”

“I don’t want to hear that from you.”

“Sleep quietly, please!”

This is why living alone is more comfortable. I asked for her understanding before going to the cave and sleeping there. It was my most comfortable sleep in a long while. When I woke up and left the cave, Da-jeong was grumbling as she touched her head.

“Because the supply of nutrients is not good. My head is aching. I feel under the weather.”

“You have the audacity to say that with that belly fat of yours?”

“It feels good to touch this belly of mine. Would you like to touch it?”

“Forget it…”

Even though she was hellbent on going on a diet because she said she had gotten a bit fatter, in reality, her physique looks really good. It was due to the muscle she had accumulated.

At that moment, a ghoul walked into the room and left two bottles of water on the floor. Da-jeong promptly took the bottle and started to wash her body with it.

“These days, it’s hard to find water… Ugh… It’s cold.”

Of course it would be cold, it’s winter after all.

“You don’t have any cold resistance items?”

“No, I don’t. Can you give me one?”

Since I only have one and I also need it, I couldn’t give it to her. Thankfully, I have a good method for fighting the cold. I asked her to wait a bit, and then went to the shelter to boil some water in the brazier and bring it out.

When the hot water was mixed with the cold water her ghoul brought to her, Da-jeong let out a sweet moan and rubbed her body against mine.

“Ugh. You are the only one who cares for me. I wouldn’t be able to live without you.”

“Don’t make any strange noises and just wash your face. But, aren’t you bothered by your smell?”

“It’s natural to be a little smelly in an apocalypse. I bet you are smelly too?”

She put her nose right in front of my chest and sniffed. At that moment, surprise painted her face.

“You have a strangely refreshing and subtle scent…”

“I guess it’s because I live in the forest. Just wash your face quickly!”

“Okay.”

While Dajeong was washing, I also washed in the shelter before preparing a meal. By the way, today’s date was December 1st. I left the portal with one nail on my hand and held it up for quite a while. Even after 5, 10, and 15 minutes passed, the nail still maintains its shape. It’s evidence that the corrosive disease had slightly subsided. When the nail still held its shape after 30 minutes passed, I tried to apply some pressure on it. However, it broke at once. The good thing is, It didn’t turn into sand anymore, like it used to.

Da-jeong said while combing her hair with a comb,

“We might be able to use iron in February.”

“Shelters will start to actively use it, especially the government shelter. After all, there must be a furnace there.”

“Don’t you have it too?”

“Dunno.”

I indeed have it. And even if I don’t have it, I have the scarabs with me. They have an amazing ability to extract and process metals without any special facilities. That, in my opinion, was close to a miracle itself. After all, even in modern society, it takes enormous effort and cost to produce metal from ore. However, the scarabs could easily make it with accurate dimensions and shape using their mouth alone.

By the way, judging from the video I had in the laptop, it would not be impossible for them to make a gun given the time.

As I smiled happily, Da-jeong raised her eyebrows.

“Do you know that you are smiling like a villain right now?”

“I know.”

“Are you thinking about something? Did you decide to keep it a secret from me too?”

“No, it’s not a secret… It’s just that those friends are shy.”

“Friends? Are you talking about the raccoon?”

“Wait a minute. I’ll ask them.”

“And why are you asking them?” Da-jeong’s confusion was apparent on her face. If she knew that there’s a scarab which could understand a human’s word inside, she might have ripped her head off.

I walked towards the scarabs who were busy trimming the harvested vegetables and spoke, “Is it okay if I introduce you guys to someone?”

After a long contemplation, The scarab leader shook his head. It seems like they’re still being wary. I went back to Da-jeong and told her their answer. But, even though I told her as it is, she was still suspicious, saying that I was lying.

“Think however you want.”

“Then, are you seriously saying that there are raccoons who can understand human words inside your pocket space? I will see them soon! I will!”

“Let’s just eat…” I said. Our breakfast menu is pork soup. When Da-jeong saw it, she quickly forgot the racoons and said she couldn’t remember the last time she ate a hot pork soup.

“It’s going to be a bit chewy since I used wild boar meat instead of a domesticated pig to make it.”

“We are eating hot pork soup in an apocalypse! So why does that matter?”

“Add some salted shrimp to it.”

“Wait! I come from a faction who had to taste the soup as it is first before adding more things.”

Was there such a faction amongst pork soup eaters? Did they have the same war like those guys who like pineapple on their pizza and hate pineapple on their pizza?

Anyway, she scooped the broth with a plastic spoon and slurped it. Then, she grinned widely and put her thumb up. After that, without any more words, we were focused on our meal.

After finishing our meal, Da-jeong took her ghouls to the surrounding area to farm while I checked the English documents the president gave me.

“Wait a moment…” There’s something odd here…

When Chinese and Japanese people spoke to us Koreans, we heard it in Korean. But why is it not working for written text?

“Is it only working for spoken language?” Then, if an American read this text out loud, I might hear it in Korean.

When Da-jeong came back and read it, it didn’t work. The words coming out from the mouth sounded like Konglish. (T/N Korean english… In other words, Elite Miko English.)

“I guess it will only work if it was read by someone who speaks English as their first language?”

Da-jeong grumbled and said what kind of strict magic is that…

Wait, is this really magic?

“It could be.”

As I muttered, I asked what Da-jeong got from the looting. Without words, she threw me an instant ramyun pack.

“Hurry up and cook this”

“We can’t eat ramen like this anymore. The expiration date has passed.”

“The shelf life of a product and the expiration date of consumption are a little different.”

“It is, but it will start to smell oily.”

When she didn’t believe me and opened the package and smelled it, Da-jeong frowned and stepped back from the ramyun package.

“The smell is no joke.”

I think the storage location wasn’t very good.

“This is why ramyun is not a long-term food; It has a short shelf life. Handmade noodles are better.”

“Then? Isn’t it bad? The food situation is getting worse…”

“Of course it should be getting worse. It’s an apocalypse after all. That’s why we need to come up with a long-term survival plan.”

Currently, It was still possible to loot, but the possibility of getting something decreased considerably with every passing day. It was due to the fact that it was not only survivors who were looking for food. Monsters were also looking for it.

A lot of marts, convenience stores, and distribution centers had been robbed a long time ago. Therefore, survivors now had to wander around for hours to find even a scrap of food in the city. Though, if they were courageous enough to venture outside the city, they would find a lot of food because there’s several rice centers outside the city.

Da-jeong, who heard my explanation, was bewildered. “Every day you look at me and say I’m a pig, But you are the true pig between us two!’

“By the way, I’m running out of gasoline, have you heard anything about gasoline storage?”

“There’s gasoline in time shelter, isn’t there?”

“It won’t open until a year has passed since the apocalypse D-day. And people are keeping a close eye on those places, so I don’t want to be a target.”

“Well, that should be right. Oh, I heard that there’s oil stockpiles in the refineries.”

“Tell me more.”

“This information is pricier than a pork soup.”

“I’ll give you Hwajo for lunch.”

“I like steamed chicken. So, what is it again…”

What she said was this:

Time shelter was not the only thing that the government had prepared for the survivors. She heard that the government contacted the Korean oil company and stock a lot of diesel, gasoline, and kerosene in specially made containers.

It was truly an eye-opening piece of information.

“But, they didn’t tell people about it because people will surely rob it since they want to use the oil to fight the cold, right? That’s why they say they stocked it in a rural area that no one knows about.”

“Do you not know where that is?”

“That old man should know.”

That’s right… Damn it. I didn’t want to be associated with that shelter anymore, but there was no way to get the location other than asking him.

In order to extend the shelter further, I need to use the mini fork crane. But that mini fork crane was truly a gasoline eater. Therefore, I will need a lot of gasoline.

While looking at the auction items used by government shelters for some information, I found something unexpected. It was the ciphertext conversation of people on Dap island.

They finally reach level 15?

I could see the names of all gym members and Jiman. Only the three friends couldn’t be seen.

“They worked hard.”

Suddenly, Da-jeong pulled my ear.

“You need to stop talking to yourself. I am with you, you are not alone anymore.”

“Ah, yeah, sorry. I’m just excited that the gym group people have reached level 15.”

“Since we are already over level 20, they should’ve reached that level. If not, then they’re not worth surviving all these time.”

“Still… wait a minute.”

I suddenly remembered Sooyeon. She was a doctor, so she will definitely speak English well. Meanwhile, Yoohyeon should be able to translate the engineering terms.

When my thoughts reached that point, I promptly wrote some coded words on the very same item they used. Instantly, the comment section was turned upside down.

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“Noona, noona, noona! Seongho hyung left a comment!”

On a certain peaceful day on the island, Yoohyeon, who was resting after doing his daily tasl, noticed the comment Seongho left and went outside to announce it to others.

Sooyeon and Jiman, who were harvesting some spinach from the large vegetable garden, whipped their heads at Yoohyeon at his shouting.

“Yes? Seongho?”

“Yes Yes. He asks about everyone’s wellbeing.”

“…Ah, it’s true. Let’s take a break.” Everyone sat on the ground at that very moment and entered the Auction House. Winter gardening was a difficult thing to do for normal people, but in Dap Island, that fact didn’t apply. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, and spinach were growing well, ignoring the climate. The reason for it was thanks to the bio-friendly nature of Jiman.

“It will be too chaotic if all of us answer him all at once, so I’ll talk to him first.”

After asking for their understanding, Sooyeon coughed to clear her throat. The thought of chatting with Seongho after a long time sends quite a butterfly to her stomach. After he went to Seoul, she never knew whether he was alive or dead. The main reason for that was because her level was low, so she couldn’t use the Auction House.

– It’s been a while, Seongho.

– How are you all doing? The reason I contacted you guys is…

He wrote some instructions in English and asked if it was possible for us to translate it. After reading it, turns out, it was a method to make bullets and gunpowder.

Where in the world did he acquire this?

What else is he going to do?

As always, Seongho’s actions were very secretive. However, as Sooyeon already came to terms with it, she didn’t ask him further.

-So, rather than the structure, you want us to translate the step by step movement when the ball hits the live bullet, right?

-Yes.

-And the recipe for the gunpowder has to be interpreted in detail…I’m not sure if Yoohyeon could do it or not…

Then, Yoohyeon intervened.

-Basically, to make gunpowder, you will need potassium nitrate and charcoal.

-Is that you Yoohyeon? It’s been a while…

-Hyung!!! Are you doing okay? But let’s cut out the chit chat and do the urgent things. So, to make potassium nitrate, fertilizer…

-Wait a minute, wait a minute. It’s too complicated, so please tell me about it step by step.

-Okay

-Seongho, I’m ready.

Sooyeon then proceeds to explain what Seongho wants to him. Next to her, Ji-man was smiling while telling her that her pronunciation was impeccable. Meanwhile, Yoohyeon brought a dictionary from his room and translated the sentences into Korean.

The work lasted for almost an hour. By that time, Hyung-jun, Mikyung and the three friends who came for lunch were surprised when they’re told that they were currently conversing with Seongho.

“Did Seongho arrive at the seed vault safely?”

When Hyung-jun asked, Suyeon put her finger on his lips. “Please wait a minute, manager, we are concentrating.”

Next to him, Mikyung smiled. And finally, the translating work was completed. Seongho said his thanks to them and quickly put the seed he obtained from the Seed Vault at the Auction House for 10 points. By the time they bought the last seed, it could be said that almost all edible vegetables in Korea were brought to Dap Island.

Hyungjun crossed his arms and nodded his head. “Looks like he really went to the seed vault. He’s really someone who fulfills his promise.”

Through the auction Seongho said that they had done a great job translating, and then, he sent them various weapons and food.

While the others look at the weapons which have just arrived, Mikyung finally greets Seongho.

– How are you, Ahjussi? You didn’t forget about me, didn’t you?

-Of course not. Is there something you want to eat? I will send it to you if possible.

-There are many things to eat here, hehe.

At his easygoing words, Mikyung let out a relieved sigh. It seems like the crack between them which happened at the time of his departure had already disappeared.

Mikyung proceeded to tell Seongho that the new additional effect she got when reaching level 15 was terrific.

-There will be a chance for us to meet next soon, I’ll be able to see it by then.

– Really?

-Of course. So, keep working hard, eat well, hunt hard.

– You too, stay safe, oppa.

The conversation ended and Seongho grabbed the paper he wrote the translation at. WIth the paper, he will be able to craft live ammunition. Though, It would be difficult to make it right now since it would take a lot of effort and time.

“But the possibility alone is enough.”

He opened the portal and went into the cave and explained the method to the scarabs. However, they said they didn’t understand any of it and only grabbed their head.

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“Hmmm… He need gasoline…” Jang Won-taek made an ambiguous expression upon hearing I Love Gimbap’s request.

Why does he need gasoline and not kerosene?

Looking at the president who seemed to be confused, Lee Beom-seok opened his mouth.

“It seems like he has a facility which runs on gasoline.”

“In that subspace of his?”

“After recovering the bolt, we are able to confirm that it wasn’t made with trees which could be found In Korea. So maybe…”

“Hm… There is a chance that he can enter the place from which these fantasy creatures came from.”

“Yes.”

“There’s guns and a gasoline-powered facility inside… He’s really like a squirrel.”

“What should we do, Mister President?”

Jang Won-taek tapped the desk with a pencil rhythmically as he stared blankly to the ceiling. After a few moments passed, “I thought he’s going to ask us to translate the English document… DId someone do it for him? How is Da-jeong’s English?”

“It’s barely enough to say hello.”

“Then, he must have other helpers. Maybe even an engineer.”

“Shall we find them?”

“No… There’s no need for that. You shouldn’t be unnecessarily vigilant against him. Be mindful. He is not our enemy.”

“But he’s also a man who has the potential to be an enemy.”

“That’s why we need to do him a favor here… We don’t want other shelters to take him in, don’t we? Tell him the location of the gas station in Ganghwa.”

Ganghwa-do gas station refers to a warehouse where various types of oil are stocked. As the government had threatened oil companies based in Korea, there was a huge stockpile of oil there.

Lee Beom-seok’s stomach aches when that location comes out from the president’s mouth.

“It’s really nice to be him…”

“Don’t get me wrong. I will definitely ask as much as I give to him.”

Meanwhile, Seongho clenched his fist when he heard the location. Though, he also felt strange at the same time as the strict president informed him without even thinking much about it.

“I think he’ll ask for something later… No.. He’ll definitely do it.” Afterall, it’s only natural for people to ask for something after giving something; that’s the basics of trade.

“Well, for now, I just have to do what I have to do. There’s no need to worry about it” My priority right now was to go to Ganghwa Island and secure the oil.

Without sitting idly any longer, He left together with Da-jeong.