Apocalypse’s Teacher

Chapter 32

A Rod is Not a Choice, But a Necessity (3)

***

The preparations were complete.

Kang Ki-hyun and Helen had drawn a map of the Mapo Shelter.

Mr. Park had prepared homemade bombs.

And I was ready to use them.

“Are you going right away?”

“Yeah.”

On the hotel rooftop, I spoke as I looked in the direction of the Mapo Shelter.

“…I never thought I’d be doing this again.”

It was the literal truth.

Three years ago, I had done something similar because I had nothing to lose, but this was nothing short of a suicide mission.

Moreover, unlike back then, the shelter was not in a state of chaos; it was in its normal state.

“So, are you scared?”

Mr. Park asked.
Th is wa s c o p i e d fr o m k in g m t l . o r g

I chuckled and replied.

“Me?”

“Of course not.”

Mr. Park laughed heartily.

He downed some whiskey he had somehow pulled out.

“See you alive.”

“You don’t have to say that.”

“Are you going?”

“I have to.”
T hi s w a s copi ed f ro m k in g m t l . or g

“Okay.”

Mr. Park waved his hand.

I watched him for a moment, then turned and headed downstairs.

T hi s w as c o p i e d f r o m ki ng mt l . o r g
***

I planned to keep this a secret from the kids, except for Kang Ki-hyun.

I didn’t want to make them worry unnecessarily.

But, as always, things did not go as planned, and this damned god threw another difficult situation my way.

“Mr. Park!”

Just below the penthouse, as I was packing up the prepared items, Hyesung appeared.

I looked up.

Hyesung, smiling brightly with a missing front tooth, ran over and hugged me.

“Give water to Kongkong!”

I flinched involuntarily.

Hyesung blinked and tilted her head.

“…Ah, should I?”

I tried to act nonchalant, but it was no use.
T h i s w a s c o p i e d fr o m k i n g m tl . or g

There’s a saying that kids are more perceptive than you think.

They have a knack for asking difficult questions at the oddest times.

Hyesung was no different.

Her smile faded.

Her grip on my clothes tightened.

“…Where are you going?”

The question made my heart sink.

T h i s w a s c op i e d f r o m k i n gm t l.o r g
Hyesung looked at me intently.

I tried to steady my trembling heart and hugged her as I spoke.

“Um, I’m going to get you a present.”

It was the most plausible answer I could think of, but it didn’t seem to reassure her.

“No, you’re not…”

Hyesung mumbled, glancing at me.

It was the first time she had looked at me like that since we met.

For some reason, my heart felt constricted.

The thought of lying to a child, making her anxious, filled me with guilt.

I struggled to find the right words, then spoke.

“…I have to visit a friend for a bit.”

“A friend?”

“Yeah, a friend. So, I’ll be staying out tonight.”

“Will you come back tomorrow?”

“Of course.”

As I patted her back, Hyesung fiddled with her hands.

“…Just one night?”

“Yes, one night.”

She looked at me directly, but there was still no smile.

“Promise?”

Hyesung extended her little finger.

Seeing her tiny fist with only her pinky sticking out, I hooked my pinky around hers and answered.

“Promise.”

“And a present?”

“Um… Should I bring a cake?”

“…A hundred?”

“A hundred.”

Hyesung gulped.

T h is w a s c o p i e d f r om kin gm t l . o rg
Despite everything, her gluttonous nature shone through as her eyes sparkled.
Th is w a s c o p i e d f ro m ki n g mt l . or g

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Listen to your sister today, okay?”

“Yes…!”

Hyesung nodded her head vigorously.

I hugged her tightly and patted her back as I walked.

“Let’s go to your sister.”

Hyesung swung her legs and hummed a tune as I carried her.

“Cake…!”

Hearing her voice filled with anticipation, I smiled and thought to myself.

I’d have to bring back some snacks while I was at it.

***

As the sun set, Kang Ki-hyun blocked my path as I was about to leave, heavily loaded with gear.

Her face was tense, and she was fully armed.

“Take me with you.”

She spoke resolutely, and I remained silent for a moment before replying.

“You need to watch the others.”

“How can you…!”

“It’s better if I go alone.”

Kang Ki-hyun’s shoulders twitched.

I smiled and continued.

“This job requires stealth. The more people, the easier it is to get caught. And if we’re captured, we’ll become hostages. It’s more efficient for me to go alone.”

Her eyes showed a strange light.

Th i s w a s c o p i e d f r om k i ng m t l . o r g
I could tell she was worried.

‘You don’t have to be.’

Her compassion made me wonder how she would survive in this harsh world.

Dragging my suitcase, I approached her.

I placed my hand on her head as she stood there glaring at me.

“I’ll be back soon.”

There was no response.

Kang Ki-hyun lowered her head and trembled.

I watched her for a moment, then walked away.

Th is w a s copie d f r o m k i ng m tl .or g
The sound of my suitcase dragging across the hotel lobby echoed eerily.

***

“Ugh…”
This w a s copi e d f r om kin g mt l . o r g

In the hallway of the Mapo Shelter’s lounge, the new recruit Gi-chul staggered as he walked.

His face was red, and his eyes were half-closed.

He reeked of alcohol with each breath, looking every bit like a drunkard.

‘No one believes me…’

Gi-chul cursed inwardly.

The reason was simple.

No one believed his story about encountering the blacklist on the day he and Hak-jong went out to capture the runaway researcher.

At first, he understood why.

After all, it was the blacklist, and encountering someone on the highest danger level in the shelter and surviving was unbelievable.

He had explained in detail what happened that day, but the reactions remained cold.

-That guy is spouting nonsense again.

-That guy always lies as soon as he opens his mouth.

-Senior! Say something! Your subordinate seems to have delusions of grandeur.

-….

No matter how much he explained, it was useless.

By the second time, he was already feeling frustrated.

By the third, fourth, and fifth times, no one believed him, and he became bitter.

‘My senior didn’t say anything.’

Gi-chul clicked his tongue.

Hak-jong, who had also encountered the blacklist with him that day, hadn’t backed up his story.

‘Damn, who do they think they are?’

He thought about how the well-off, gun-toting guys acted like they were something special, and it annoyed him.

As Gi-chul kicked the hall wall in frustration,

Rumble—

The wall vibrated.

“Huh?”

Gi-chul hiccuped and looked around.

He then looked back at the wall and down at his foot.

“What?”

Did I do that?

It was a drunken thought.

Gi-chul swallowed dryly and kicked the hall wall again.

Rumble—

This time, the vibration was even stronger.

Gi-chul gasped.

Quickly looking around, he crouched down and grabbed his right foot.

‘Crazy…!’

A look of delight spread across Gi-chul’s face.

His mouth stretched into a wide grin.

‘Is this… is this…?’

Superpowers.

He might have superpowers.

No, he definitely had superpowers.

“Yes, damn it! If the world is ending, there should be something like this!”

He cheered.

Gi-chul stood up and raised his arms to the sky.

“Status window—activate!”

It was his era now!

An era where the new god, armed with a status window and superpowers, would usher in a new order!

He grinned and shook with excitement.

At 26 years old, Gi-chul, who was often called a bastard when drunk, imagined his brilliant future as he made a scene.

Rumble—

This time, a bigger vibration, like an explosion, echoed.

Gi-chul’s face went blank.

“…Huh?”

He hadn’t kicked the wall, but something was off.

Moreover, the sound seemed to be getting closer.

Rumble—

‘Huh?’

His thoughts started to clear.

The alcohol haze lifted.

Cold sweat ran down his face.

Gi-chul looked towards the direction of the vibration with trembling eyes.

Boom—

The explosion was louder and clearer than before.

Gi-chul’s body twitched.

His feet stepped back.

Suddenly, everything went white.

Boom—

The wall exploded, and concrete flew out.

It grew bigger, closer, and filled his vision.

Smack—

Gi-chul lost consciousness.

***

Bang—

The vent passage collapsed.

I emerged from the vent and took a deep breath.

‘It exploded well.’

The bomb had detonated without any issues.

The wall had completely collapsed, revealing the adjacent corridor, so I wouldn’t get lost.

“Phew…”

As I stretched after the sudden movement, I looked down at something on the floor.

“…What’s this?”

A young guy had fainted, his eyes rolled back.

His face was red, and drool dripped from his mouth, clearly drunk.

I clicked my tongue.

“These young punks are so weak.”

How problematic these young folks were; what was to become of the country?

End of Chapter