Hiding a House in the Apocalypse-Chapter 74.2: Tyrant (2)

Defender’s home hadn’t changed much since the last time I visited.

But anyone who’s spent time in a warzone would immediately notice the deadly traps lying in wait around the area.

Take the shortcut to his house, for example. It’s covered in snow, making it hard to spot the dangers beneath. Step on the wrong spot, and you’d sink into a pit lined with rusty, blood-stained spikes, leaving your leg not just injured but exposed to a host of severe infections, including tetanus.

Even the neighboring house, which looks like a prime position to attack Defender, is a trap. It appears intact but has been secretly reinforced by Defender himself. It serves as a decoy, much like my fake bunker. Any attempt to occupy it and attack Defender would end in a massive explosion.

That’s why visiting Defender’s house requires following the safe route he shared with me. It’s marked with scraps of plastic tied to tree branches. To the untrained eye, it might seem like windblown trash snagged on branches. But to those in the know, it signals the path to safety.

"Hey, you’re here."

Defender greeted me outside his house.

His face still bore traces of his former handsomeness, but a shadow lingered, like a permanent stain.

It couldn’t be helped. In this era of fear, violence, and decay, it’s almost impossible for a person to remain unchanged. And most people, it seems, change for the worse.

"I’ve put Jong-cheol in a separate room. He’s reflecting on his actions."

I entered Defender’s house, which had once been an illegal gambling den. As befitted a place built for the wealthy, it was luxurious, constructed with high-quality materials. However, the insulation left much to be desired. Despite two wood-fired boilers, the interior still felt quite chilly.

"Skelton!"

Da-jeong greeted me, bundled up in a coat that was two sizes too big for her.

I handed them gifts: fuel and food.

"Where do you keep getting all this stuff?" Defender asked, his tone tinged with admiration.

"Just helping out a former colleague with some work," I replied.

"That ‘colleague’ wouldn’t happen to be from Gukwiwon, would it?"

"Well, yeah."

As they organized the supplies, I brought up my purpose.

"...So, for this election, I’d like to ask for your votes. If you know anyone else, please recommend me to them too."

Back in the day, I’d heard that handing out rubber shoes and rice wine was a surefire way to win elections during Korea’s post-liberation period. As a child, I’d thought that candidates who resorted to such tactics were inherently bad. But now that I’m older, I see things differently.

After all, whoever gets elected, life won’t change much. At least those who hand out goods show some awareness of their voters.

"This is outright bribery, Skelton," Da-jeong said with a playful laugh.

"Can’t you think of it as a token of appreciation?" I countered.

"Nope, it’s a bribe. Skelton, I didn’t think you’d stoop so low. You’ve really lost your head over this election."

"It’s not like that. Think about it. What if someone like Dies Irae becomes moderator? Could you even stand to keep using the forum? That jerk would probably ban me and you within 72 hours."

"I’d be fine with that."

"Well, I wouldn’t. I had a bit of a spat with him before."

"Come on. Who bans people over petty arguments? That’s just ridiculous."

"No, really. That’s the kind of guy Dies Irae is."

As we debated, Defender brought over some tea. To my surprise, it was yuja-cha (citron tea), a rare sight these days.

"Wow. Where did you get this?"

"This?" Defender smirked. "Got it from a friend."

"Jong-cheol?"

"No, not him. Someone from the Legion faction."

Defender sat in a single-seater sofa, crossing his legs and sipping his tea. He stared at me, as if debating whether to say something. His expression wasn’t entirely pleasant—there was a hint of dissatisfaction.

Finally, he uncrossed his legs, leaned forward, and spoke bluntly.

"Don’t you ever get tired of the internet?"

The sudden remark caught me off guard.

Seeing my silence, Defender let out a bitter laugh and continued.

"It’s always the same thing, you know? The same people posting, the same content recycling over and over. It’s been three years of the same routines. Honestly, I liked the live streams, but other than that, what’s the point? Watching stuff on the internet won’t change my life."

I thought back to when I first met Defender. He’d been someone who, despite his violent tendencies, genuinely loved our forum. But nothing lasts forever. The harshness of the times had eroded his passion for the community.

"Back in the day, it was fun. The golden age was about two years ago. There were more people, and the quality of posts was way better. I used to love reading the webtoons, but now all the artists are gone. DragonC went off to Jeju Island, and the rest are just attention-seekers without talent."

Defender glanced at me, tilting his head slightly, as if he was scrutinizing me.

When our eyes met, he quickly looked away.

"The forum’s decline isn’t the only problem. It’s also the weirdos showing up more often. Remember Justice_Min?"

"Yeah."

"He wasn’t the only one who picked fights with me. There’s been a whole wave of them lately, like they’ve somehow gotten hold of my account details. They keep challenging me to fights."

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"Sounds like you brought it on yourself."

Defender sighed.

"...Yeah, maybe. But it’s made me realize that as much as I enjoy the internet, I should start focusing on reality. Ignoring it won’t make it go away."

I wanted to respond before he drifted too far down that train of thought.

"It’s not like that."

"What isn’t?"

"Every moment is exciting. Every time I log in, it feels new."

I wasn’t just saying this to appease him. I meant it.

Defender chuckled softly.

"If you say so, I won’t argue. But what about next year? Or the year after?"

"Why think about the future?"

"Why not? Isn’t it natural to..."

"In a world where we could die any day, what’s the point of worrying about next year?"

Defender let out a dry laugh and shook his head. Watching us, Da-jeong stepped in to clarify.

"My brother’s trying to recruit you, Skelton. That’s what all this roundabout talk is about."

"Recruit me?"

There was only one thing Defender could be trying to recruit me for.

"The Legion faction?"

Defender gave a wry smile and nodded.

"They’ve got a powerful hunter leading them."

"...Is that so?"

I had a feeling I knew who Defender was talking about, but I didn’t voice it.

“Call sign: Floris.”

Of course—it had to be Kim Daram.

“They say his influence is no joke. He used to be part of the National Assembly faction, but even after defecting to the Legion faction and being treated like an outsider at first, he quickly gained power. Before anyone knew it, even the arrogant generals were treading carefully around him.”

“...So?”

“They say under Floris, hunters are treated as they were before the emergence of Awakened. An ecosystem has been established where hunters can live without worrying about raiders or refugees. Why not join us? With your reputation, you’d fit right in.”

I stood up.

Disappointment flickered in Defender’s eyes, but I couldn’t help it.

“Don’t forget to vote for me.”

“Come on, Skelton. Is that armband really so important? More important than reality?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Why not?”

“Explain it to me. Honestly, there’s nothing left here but death. We’ve survived this long because monster activity has been sparse. But they’ve been dormant for almost two years. According to the Legion’s forecasts, countless monsters are gathering near the main gate. Once it erupts, they’ll sweep through here. What’s your plan when they’re at your doorstep?”

Maybe I had been too harsh in judging Defender. I needed to reflect.

As he tried to persuade me with a desperate gaze, he no longer looked like the cruel and ruthless killer I’d known. Instead, he resembled a friend, trying to lead me off the wrong path.

Perhaps I’d misunderstood him because of the Legion faction label. To someone like him, with no ties to Kim Daram, the National Assembly and the Legion were just factions—nothing more.

But above all, it was reality that had driven him to this point. When I first saw him today, I thought he seemed gloomy. That wasn’t my imagination. He was likely overwhelmed, both mentally and emotionally.

If Defender was that earnest, I owed him an explanation.

“Fine. I’ll tell you why I’m so fixated on something as trivial as an armband.”

I sat back down and faced the siblings.

Defender looked serious, while Da-jeong gazed at me with curiosity.

It was oddly refreshing to see how their expressions differed. I took a moment to gather my thoughts. Where should I start?

To avoid losing one’s sanity in extreme circumstances, stress must be managed effectively.

My mentor, Jang Ki-young, used to claim that the human mind was as unbreakable as a diamond. But from my experience, the mind has something akin to HP.

Everyone’s mental HP is different. Some have high HP and remain resilient, while others crumble at the first sign of hardship. But no one’s HP is infinite. Even the strongest person will break in the face of unrelenting despair.

I’ve seen it firsthand—a supposedly unshakable soldier, praised for his mental fortitude, went mad after two years on the battlefield. He killed his teammates and even opened fire on civilians.

The only way to escape such a fate is to actively manage your inner stress.

There are good ways—like spending time on hobbies, with loved ones, or with pets. And then there are destructive ways—like gambling, drinking, violence, or cruelty.

Since the war began, the world has changed. Hope is gone. Even the concept of “tomorrow” is tainted with uncertainty.

In this crumbling world, where else can you find solace like you can in Viva! Apocalypse!?

In a bunker designed to isolate me from others, I’ve found happiness in connecting with people, laughing with them, and witnessing their lives unfold.

To wear the armband of my favorite forum—to manage the place I love—is thrilling. Isn’t it?

I don’t intend to be a tyrant. I’ll be a fair and benevolent moderator, ensuring the forum remains a safe and happy space for everyone, all while working for free.

I laid out my thoughts concisely for Defender.

“...I see.” Defender’s expression soured slightly.

Da-jeong, on the other hand, looked at me in awe and muttered, “You’re really serious about this forum, huh? I’ve never seen anyone who values the internet more than reality.”

I’ll take that as a compliment.

At least my message was clear to the siblings.

“Alright. If it means that much to you, I’ll vote for you. I’ll also talk to some of my friends on Viva! and ask them to do the same.”

“Skelton, you know I’m always on your side, right?”

I had convinced the siblings. Two votes secured, with potential extras.

They walked me to the entrance.

“If you change your mind, let me know before I leave for good,” Defender said, though his lingering regret was evident.

“I appreciate the sentiment, but I won’t change my mind. Just don’t come back to kill me later.”

“If that happens, I’ll make sure to shoot you from behind.”

Defender extended his fist. For the first time in a while, two men exchanged a fist bump. Well, three, if you count Da-jeong joining in.

As I mounted my motorcycle, Defender called out.

“Hey, Skelton.”

“Yeah?”

“What’s your call sign? Mine’s Raptor.”

Come to think of it, we’d never exchanged call signs before. That was the kind of relationship we’d had—mutual respect from a safe distance, maintaining just enough mystery.

But as the world changed, so had our relationship. The fog that once defined our dynamic had lifted, replaced by the stark reality of our divide.

I decided to share my true name, or at least, the name that defined me in this world.

“Professor.”

Defender looked surprised, then let out a soft chuckle and nodded.

Da-jeong whispered something to him, her curiosity piqued.

“What is it? Who is he?” she asked.

With a faint smile, Defender replied, “...A great hunter.”

As I started my engine and drove off, I caught a faint snippet of Defender’s words carried by the wind.

“The internet really does ruin people...”

I chose to pretend I hadn’t heard that.

The day of reckoning had arrived.

VIVA_BOT014: “The election for forum moderator will now begin! Voting will open immediately after the Viva! Apocalypse! live broadcast ends. I trust everyone has prepared excellent content~”

I had no content to show.

But I knew how to win.