Chapter Text
'A miscalculation.'
「"Oh my, we got quite the crowd here! I guess you humanthings really are serious about the whole religion franchise!」
"Hyunsung! Hyunsung-! Ugh, h-hold on, be careful!"
[The free service of planetary system 8612 has been terminated.]
"K-kiyoung..? What.. What are you doing here?!"
[The main scenario has started.]
"Fuck, guess?! What are you doing here?! Do you know how long I have been looking for you?! Please, hyunsung, let's just go home!"
'Ah, so this is the start of the apocalypse it was talking about..'
The feeling of a train dangerously wiggling on train racks sent goosebumps throughout both of our bodies.
「But that won't do! Just how many of you are in here? 40 ? 50? That's really too much.」
"S-shit! What's this?!"
[#SU-2124 channel is open.]
"I- i think i saw someone go inside! This isn't good- ah!"
[The constellations have entered.]
"Fuck!"
"Fuck."
[The main scenario has arrived!]
+
[Main Scenario #1 – Prove Your Value.]
Category : Main
Difficulty : F
Clear Condition : kill one or more living organisms.
Time limit : 30 minutes
Reward : 300 coins
Penalty for failure : Death.
+
"What kind of bullshit is this?"
It was my only chance to finally get a hold of him and never let go.
"So you want us to kill each other?!"
「If you want to live, Bahahaha!」
"Kiyoung..i.."
'Was Hyunsung really worth it?'
I felt his arms wrapping around me too, the familiar sensation of his tears on my shoulder felt oddly euphoric, After so long..
I closed my eyes, I could feel myself getting dizzy as the same memories from decades ago rushed over me.
I heard loud voices from underneath, but my eyes were tightly shut.
What a goddamn mess.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.. Please.."
No..no..please..not again.. Why can't I just keep him by my side…please.. Don't..leave me again..
"K-kiyoung! N-no, kiyoung!"
"My fucking head hurts."
I opened my eyes to take a horrified inhale, the only thing that stopped me from yelling my brains out was the fact I was so out of breath as if I just ran and won a marathon.
'Foreign, everything, not the same air..'
I recognized the difference in environment even as I slouched down, holding my head tightly with a blurry vision.
"W-where.. Where am i..?"
No, doesn't this place look too modern? This isn't the continent.
I kept looking around with cold sweat.
"A-ack!" I flinched when I looked to my left and noticed the 7 year old looking kid sitting besides me.
'You're zoning out..? Even with someone suddenly appearing right next to you..?'
"Hey, kiddo."
I tried my best to smile and not seem strange, but he still flinched when I lightly tapped his shoulder.
"H-huh? W-what is it? Kiddo..?"
I was gonna start talking, but I just realized that we were at the same eye level, and had the same voice pitch.
'Oh, it's this kind of.. Fuck, okay. this isn't my first time being shrunk to a kid, so i can manage.'
"Ah, people always call me kiddo, isn't it a nickname?"
Let's just play dumb to save the awkwardness, he is a kid after all.
"No, that's.. Whatever, what is it?"
The kid's tone was awfully quiet, he didn't look in the best shape either.
"I just wanted to ask.. Where are we?"
He raised his eyebrows a little, and answered with hesitancy.
"A…subway station..? An underground one.. Do you not know what a subway station is?"
'Damn, I just wanted to make sure, why do you have so much attitude?'
"Ah, I see! I barely go on trains, so I don't remember much, Haha, Thanks."
"Mm."
The kid looked back in front of him.
"Not much of a talker, huh?"
He is the only one here, I should milk as much information as possible from him
That's.. A lot of bruises on him though..?
Let's just gloss over it for now.
"Many trains must have passed by, are you not going to take one?"
"...im waiting for.. Something. Someone."
Oh? You really got something to hide, after all!
"Ah, really? Your parents?'
He frowned, making me a little nervous.. Should I not have brought up his parents?
"No, not them."
"I see.."
I looked at the empty train tracks blankly, this was oddly deserted yet clean.
We sat in silence, I kept staring at this mysterious kid, and when I almost started talking again, he beat me to it.
"You're not supposed to be here."
I am already nervous about this little kid being some sort of miniboss or something, and this sudden declaration is making me even more nervous!
"... Why do you think so?"
"You…" he finally made eye contact, with his unnerving cloudy eyes.
"Me..?" I smiled as gently as I could, I didn't want to scare him away, especially in this state.
"You should leave."
My smile fell a little, but I collected myself.
"Why is that? Am I not pleasant?"
"N-no, not that.. It's just.. Something is coming and.. You can't let him.. No, Them, see you."
"Ah!" My, you cutie! So you're not a miniboss, you were just worried for me all along! "I see, thank you for warning me, kid."
"We're the same age.." He frowned, but it was funny teasing this little hero.
I stood up from the chair, gazing around me more.
'Maybe this mini villain was a mini hero-nim all along! He must be protecting me from the thing that brought me here, is it looking for me?'
"Are you sure you're fine on your own?"
I was honestly more worried about my own well being, since we're both skinny, tiny kids, anyone can punt us around the whole subway if they wanted.
Won't the mini hero-nim protect me? Please? Pretty please..?
"Yes, I'm okay, nobody would be able to hurt me."
Damn. Okay. Mini hero-nim sure inconsiderate.. Fine, I'm leaving! When a bad guy tries to kidnap you don't yell my name! Oh, he doesn't even know my name, does he?
"Ah, I see! Then, before I leave.. My name is.. Kiyoung! Hehe, remember it!"
The cringe giggles, and the leaning forward with arms to your back with a big smile.. Perfect.
Let's not ask for his, just for more dramatic effect!
"It was nice to meet you, kid."
I already knew his name anyway.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Remember me when you grow up, maybe we can meet again after a cool timeskip!
I walked until I reached what seemed to be the subway's stairs to the surface, I didn't know what was awaiting me outside.
"U-ugh.. What is this.."
With every step I took upstairs, I felt like gravity was getting a bit.. Heavy?
No, that's not it.
Reality is.. Warping?
I walked and as I looked up I saw the sunlight, it almost felt like a wallpaper, nothing was moving, like everything was frozen… or nobody was there.
But it's not time to worry about that! Let's just exit this- W-whoah!?
"W-what the-!" It Was like a vacuum, and when half of my body entered it, I was immediately sucked out of the station.
It was a similar sensation to the warp gates back at the continent.
Peeeeeeeep!
The sound of the subway train's arrival echoing behind me was the last thing I heard before coming out.
'the thing he was waiting for..!'
I tried to turn back, but for some reason..
Chatter, chatter.
Crowds and voices were suddenly everywhere, as if the station had never been dead empty.
"What the fuck.." I whispered in confusion and I looked around, some people spared me some glances and I saw some considering to approach me, to ask if I was lost, most likely.
I quickly ran through the crowds, I could feel an upcoming headache the moment I raised my head.
"This.. Is definitely korea." perhaps..
I looked back at the subway station for any clues, and.. there it is.
Seoul station.
"Fuck."
I turned to look around me, there were no smartphones in sight, only flip phones.
The fashion was a bit outdated as well.
Was this back in the.. 2000s? I'm probably.. 8?
Was the station from before some sort of different space?
"Shit, this is bad, I need.. I need to leave.."
I didn't know how I could possibly ever go back, do I have to wait until I'm 24 to be summoned to the tutorial dungeon again…?
Wait. No.
"Is there another version of me back in my hometown?"
That means… that the other version is the one getting sent back.. Fuck! No! Either way, I'm not reliving my childhood in the middle of nowhere!
Do you realize how much I hated being a kid?! Fuck, please..
"Hyunsung, Why do you do this to me..?" Out of all the trouble Hyunsung ever caused me, this one definitely takes the cake.
'I swear if I don't hit him on the head at least once when I find him I'll stick my leg up my own ass.'
I started walking back towards the subway to check for anything that could bring me back.
I was almost tempted to throw myself on the tracks just to try my luck, but it's too risky for my taste.
And time passed, I kept walking around until the sun was down.
Ugh, I'm starving, take me back to my luxury steak back in blue!
This.. Is hopeless. I can't stay here for the night, but I also can't stay in the middle of the street! Not when I'm too clean to look like a beggar, kidnappers are probably less likely to take beggars.
There is nothing in this subway, I should.. Find another place to stay.
I wasn't born in Seoul, So i am basically walking around and wishing for the best.
I had to be extra careful so I wouldn't get kidnapped, but I am starving! I am too weak of a kid to be able to resist hunger!
Does this count as child endangerment? Hm, probably
Reminds me of the angel kids, I should be charged with child endangerment against them, shouldn't i? Huh.
I wonder how they're doing.
I wonder how my blue cubs are doing, actually, does time pass faster here than there? I hope so.
I looked around the streets, it was getting late, and I was still walking around hopelessly.
'Ah, a 24 hour laundromat, sweet.'
I sat inside. It was pretty warm, I'll stay here and figure something out tomorrow, plus the sky was getting cloudy too, so I couldn't afford to get wet or cold.
I think I'm gonna end up sleeping here..
They wouldn't kick out a small kid, would they?
On second thought, I would have rathered getting kicked out.
"I won't hurt you, I just want to help you, what's your name?"
"....ki.."
"Ki?"
"...young.."
"Kiyoung?"
"...mhm.."
"Are you okay? How did you end up here?"
A strange woman who seemed to be in her 30s was standing over me, she had a bunch of grocery bags in her arms.
"Are you an orphan?"
"No." Jeez, how straightforward, shouldn't you be more mindful of a little kid? What if mini kiyoung really was an orphan? He'll be so hurt.
"Ah, that's a relief.. But when was the last time you saw your parents?"
'I'm so done already.'
"Uh.." What should I say? Which route am I going?
"Subway station yesterday."
"Did they use the subway?" Sure.
I nodded.
"Do you think they forgot you or left you on purpose?"
Will she try to take me to the police to look for them? Fuck no! Do you want me to meet another version of myself? And my parents? No!
Okay, let's go with the asshole parents route, I won't have to make up much anyways.
"They told me to wait in the station and they'll be back."
"I see.."
Tragic, huh?
"Will you hold this noona's hand? I know someone who can help you find your mommy and daddy!"
Ugh, I don't want my damn mommy and daddy, I want to go home! The one in the continent!
"I..no..no.." Even when everyone in the world left me, there is always one thing.. One thing that will never fail me!
"E-eh?! Oh no, why are you crying?!" She nervously sat me up, and sat next to me.
"N-no.. Don't take me to mommy.. Please.. Hic..hic.."
'My trusty tear gears!'
"Is there something wrong with your parents..?"
"N-no.." I wiped my tears messily, while I continued to recall hyunsung disappearing right before my eyes. I tried puppies dying in movies before, it wasn't as effective though.
"Ugh..wahh..sob…hic..hicc..mngg.. Hic.." I'm sure you feel terrible, don't you? You just made an adorable kid cry.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, please don't cry!"
She nervously started to look through her h
Shopping bags, and pulled out an ice pop.
'Wasn't it raining a couple hours ago? Should you really give a baby cold snacks?'
"Here, kiyoung, Eat up! You must be super hungry!"
I would have appreciated it if you gave me a rice treat, but stupid babies like stupid snacks, so whatever.
"Sob.. O..ok..hic.. Nom.."
..Fuck, its good, damn, is this the flavor of nostalgia? It might be.
"Thank you, nice noona.. Please.. Don't look for mommy and daddy.."
"But.. Why? Don't you miss them?"
"..."
Okay, brain gears now! Let's make a quick narrative, mini kiyoung is a sad young boy traumatized by his abusive parents, but he doesn't want them to be punished, due to his loving kind nature, and the fact that they treat his sister as the golden child.
Okay, okay, nice, three, two, one..
"I.. I do.. But.. They don't.."
"They.. Don't?"
"N..no.. Mommy and daddy don't want kiyoung anymore.."
"They don't want kiyoung anymore?"
"No.." Wow, this ice pop is fucking delicious.
"Mommy doesn't like kiyoung.. She screams at him a lot.. And punishes him all the time.."
"And daddy..?"
"Daddy is never there.. Daddy always complains.. And screams at mom and me.. And he hits us.. But he never hurts my sister.."
"Oh no.."
Is the situation dawning on you, noona? Look at your face, hahahaha, calm down, you shouldn't believe people so easily, noona!
"Is this why.. Kiyoung doesn't want to go back to mommy and daddy?"
"Mhm.." I nodded, wiping my crystal, pure tears.
She looked lost, she knew she had to take me back to my parents, but what if they end up taking me and continue abusing me? You wouldn't want a child like that to suffer, do you? You want me to go to foster care? Or an orphanage?
"Kiyoung.." She bit her lips, I would be conflicted too..
"Does Kiyoung not want justice to be delivered to his parents? What they did to Kiyoung is very horrible."
"N-no! M-my sister.. I don't want to ruin her life just because they ruined mine.. She is still a child! S-she is barely five!"
"Kiyoung.." Look at those eyes! She is so touched! That's right, you can figure something out, right? The government wouldn't notice, just take me in!
"Well.. Kiyoung-ah is very lucky!"
'Hm? What do you mean? Do you have a solution already?'
"This noona right here.. She takes care of many children just like you! You're gonna have a new family the moment you accept my offer, is that alright?"
"What do you mean?"
Fuck, is she a child trafficker? No way, right?
"I work in an orphanage.. And I can convince my team to take you in!"
'Oh, right, orphanages, I forgot about that.'
"R-really? Is that possible?"
But shouldn't there be a bunch of paperwork procedures to sign a kid to an orphanage? Well, unless..
"I came to visit my sister here, it's a little far away, but I'm afraid.. Kiyoung might never get adopted by someone.."
.. Is she going to sneak me in? I can live there but not get adopted? Shouldn't that be illegal?
"It's okay, I don't have to be adopted!"
Fuck it, it's not like im gonna stay here for a long time, benigore, Lucifer or even hyunsung will all find me in a heartbeat once im staying in one place.
"Then, Let's take you to meet your new family, kiyoung-ah."
Munch, munch.
I was chewing on today's lunch in the orphanage's backyard.
This was my second year here.
'I tried running away multiple times, but I was always dragged back, there is no point.' I ate the rice in silence.
"They said today is the anniversary of me coming here." Everyday was basically the same, I wake up, I eat, i sleep.
Sometimes I read, sometimes I play a bit, But my physique doesn't allow me to play for too long.
I get sick pretty often as well, so I barely go outside when it's not spring.
.. That's what I tell them, at least. I don't want to play catch with a bunch of 6 year olds.
This almost feels like the windowless room back in the blue guild.
The windowless room.. Hyunsung made that.
Hyunsung.. I wonder if you're in this situation too.
There were some times where I think I went a little crazy because I couldn't stand not seeing my blue cubs for so long, but I think I'm getting used to it.
'I even wrote down all the people I knew from the continent in a journal, along with some employees.'
I stared at the old journal, it was thick, and I made sure that they didn't know I had it, just in case.
I even drew Hyunsung a couple times just so I wouldn't forget his face.
I hope he is doing okay and didn't go insane because I'm gone.
I clenched the journal with a hand and continued eating with another.
I think I'm gonna spend a long time here.
Maybe I can visit Yulha once I'm out of this place.
"Happy birthday!"
"Thank you." I smiled slightly and took the messily wrapped gifts.
Today I'm 14.
How much time passed?
I don't know what it was, but I think the years were passing oddly quickly.. Sometimes I feel like I slept on the 1st of a month, then woke up on the 1st of another.
Maybe it's whatever external force helps me pass time quicker so I don't lose it.
My first years feel like a blur, I could barely remember them.
"Hyung! I– I made you this cake myself! Eat well!"
"Hey, I helped make it too!"
"But i-i did m-most of the work!" I took my slice, zoning out.
Funnily enough, I don't remember the name of any kids here. Every other month, kids get adopted and added, so I just gave up trying to remember their names.
"Thank you, hayan."
"H-hehe.."
"What about me?"
"Yes, thank you too, hyejin."
Well, those weren't actually their names but.. I had a bit of an uh.. I guess, 'moment', after i couldn't remember some of their names until i checked my journal, so at some point, i just started calling the kids that reminded me of my family by different names.
They were confused, but they probably just assumed I had some kind of mental illness and got used to it.
The night passed quickly, and so did 4 years.
My last day here arrived.
"It hurts me to say goodbye, but.."
"It's okay, it's about time anyways."
"Waaah! Hyung! Hyung! Don't leave!"
"I have to, you'll be fine while i'm gone"
"Please visit when you can, kiyoung."
"I'll try."
I'm not sure why they were so attached to me, is it because I'm the oldest one?
It can't be Liar's Temptation because everyone around me was normal, and I'm not even sure if it's even working still because I can't use my mind's eye anymore.
I packed up a little suitcase of everything I brought or had.
"Bye bye, kids, I'll visit one day."
"No! Don't leave!"
"That's enough, this is hard for him too."
I could only stare blankly at the crying kids, and some teenagers that will probably end up like me.
I clenched my worn out journal, put it in the suitcase, and tried to show a smile to them as a last goodbye.
"Goodbye, kiyoung, you were a great kid."
I nodded, opened the door and closed it behind me.
I'm tired.
So, so tired.
Why am I here?
"...."
I walked away, it was still early, the weather was a little cold.
The sun was shining very brightly through. The sun.. My sun.
I really miss him.
No.
'So I'm basically homeless now, aren't i?'
I sat on a bench in the park I was walking around in.
I was already far away from the orphanage. Around half an hour away.
'Seodaemun Independence Park.. What a timing. Although I would have preferred to stay dependent.'
So.. What do I do now?
…
Should I start working at retail?
Stay at a cheap motel? I don't really have a lot of money on me right now.
Poke poke!
I flinched when I felt a poke at my shoulder, and quickly turned around, but nobody was there.
Was I imagining things?
No, something definitely poked me.
"What the fuck?"
'Wait.. Could it be the things who brought me here?'
"S-show yourself! Who the fuck did this?!"
I looked around me frantically, and- what the? I could've sworn the park had more people when I came here, but it's empty now!
The silence was definitely unnatural, the kid that was crying stopped too abruptly as well.
Why is this place so much colder?
Suddenly, something popped up in front of me.
"Huh? It's a pop up window.." How.. Nostalgic.
It was blue, and used a different font than the one I had back on the continent..
And it said..
Do You Wish To Reschedule 'Three Ways To Survive The Apocalypse' ?
Yes No.
"Reschedule what?!"
Three ways to survive the Apocalypse? Is this why I was brought to this place? To save it from the Apocalypse or something?
Maybe it's safe to assume this place is like the 1st timeline.
Maybe it happened without me, but it ended up so badly they had to do it again?
'Maybe this is a remastered version of this world, like the time me and hyunsung rewrote the 1st timeline..'
Damn, but did you have to make me a fucking baby? Couldn't you have just.. I don't know, brought me here by the time it happens?!
I grumbled in annoyance, and started considering.
"Reschedule, huh? So I'm altering the time it happens, does this mean it'll happen quicker?"
A second pop up window appeared.
Yes, you will change the time it's supposed to happen.
"Okay.. Well, can you at least tell me who you are?"
The window disappeared, and I was met by silence.
"Tsk, fine, but can't you do a timeskip instead or something? Wouldn't it fuck up some things completely to reschedule?"
Or, maybe the world was so bad it's better if it happens quicker?
Ah.
You're right, that does sound a lot better.
..I guess not.
Player Lee Kiyoung, Do You Wish To Use The Skill 'Time Skip' ?
Yes No
"Obviously! Please let me get this shit over with-!" I didn't hesitate to click yes.
Well, I probably should have hesitated.
"Ugh!!!!!"
'What the fuck?!
A crushing pressure suddenly dawned on me, my head felt like it was gonna split in two, everything was shaking as if it was some horrific earthquake.
'I'm gonna throw up…!!!' I think the candy that hayan gave me before i left was leaving my stomach.. And I'm not sure if it's going up or down!
The sun and moon were in their cycle, again, and again!
The atmosphere was distorting, I could see days, months, years passing..
People walked by me as if I was invisible, day and night passing and birthday parties being held, there was one boy that frequently had his birthday here.
The bench got renovated, the trees were chopped down and they grew again, somebody broke up with their girlfriend, and a child climbed a tree and fell.
'I hope they called an ambulance..'
"S-stop-"
Skill 'Time Skip' Has Been Used.
Skill Regeneration Time : 8759:59:59
"Haaaaah!!"
Everything stopped.
What the fuck… what the fuck..
"Haaah.. Haaah…haaah.."
I fell to the floor, my body was burning.. Did I grow as well..?
I couldn't breath, was I holding my breath as that 'thing' happened?
As I laid on my side, gasping for breath..
Time left until the apocalypse:
05:59:53
"..."
I stared at the window in silence.
6 hours..?
It should be 1pm now, right?
I changed my position and laid on my back, I couldn't bring myself to care about the dirty floor.
"Huh… an apocalypse is happening.. In less than 6 hours?"
Indeed.
Although I advise player Lee Kiyoung to not lay on the ground. Many Korean citizens are worried.
"...."
"..."
"Hey."
"..."
"Who are you?"
"..."
"..."
You should be more concerned about the apocalypse in 6 hours.
"Damn, you're sassy. Alright."
I got up, and started dusting off myself, 'Ew, laying on the floor was a mistake.'
"What the fuck should i do now? Walk around until it starts?"
Pray to repent for your sins so you could survive, humans do that a lot, right?
"Oh, shut up."
I groaned in annoyance, looking around for something near this park.
'Wait.'
Hmm..
'Maybe I really should repent my sins..'
"Hey, you. Do churches offer free stay if you go there to worship?"
I believe so. There is a church around an hour away, at the other end of Seoul, fancy, free and open most of the day.
In fact.. I would advise staying in a closed space today.
'Nice.'
It was giving me a hint, maybe it can't tell me directly, so it disguises it as an unserious suggestion.
So I can waste some time walking and admiring the sceneries around Seoul, and also arrive at that church and take some food or something!
"Okay, let's go now, the apocalypse is happening in only a few hours and I should at least get myself a knife or something."
Understood, but I advise player Lee Kiyoung not to think out loud, you're making Korean citizens uncomfortable.
"..."
I nodded solemnly.
I looked down at my suitcase, it had clothes, my journal, and some other necessities.
But is it really as necessary now that an apocalypse is happening?
'Probably not.'
I opened the suitcase, I took out the money I had and my journal, and closed it back up, I quickly walked towards a tree and placed the suitcase on it.
'Maybe a survivor can do with those clothes later on, but for me, this thing is just going to be unnecessary luggage, I can live wearing the same clothes for a while.'
Okay, now we're actually good to go!
"Fuck, i should've took the damned subway with the little money i have instead."
I groaned in annoyance again, my feet hurt..
'So much for trying to be athletic!'
Thankfully I have my good ol' fashioned phone I was given a bunch of years ago which has a working GPS, or else I would've definitely got lost.
Although I do owe that random pop up screen creature for giving me free internet, I would've appreciated it if it didn't disappear right after though, a pop up window cheat code would've been nice.
'Guess that's my sign to take nothing for granted in this world.'
I munched on the snack I bought on the way, money doesn't matter as much anymore now that I know an apocalypse is happening soon.
Hmmm..
I looked down at my phone again.
"Ah, sweet, I'm close."
I zoned out as I walked the last few minutes towards that church.
The apocalypse is less than hours away.
"I wonder what the zombies are gonna look like.. I never expected to experience an actual zombie apocalypse before."
'It sounds cool though, I'm sure my little pop up friend isn't going to leave me so soon, plus, I survived the tutorial dungeon, an apocalypse can't be that different, right?'
Yeah, probably not.
Chatter, chatter!
"Ah, there we go."
I looked up, and I finally found it!
There was a sign reading 'Myeongdong cathedral', it looks pretty cool and old, the aesthetic is nice.
I was Christian before the continent anyways, I can fit in.
'But is this really a good idea? It's full of people, and it's really big, zombies would thrive here, why would the pop-up creature recommend such an inconvenient place?'
I shrugged, and went inside.
"Good evening..?"
"Oh, good evening ma'am." I was a little surprised at this random auntie greeting me all of a sudden, oh, i think she works here, she looks a little strange though, is she tired?
I haven't interacted with many people outside the orphanage for years, so this is a little weird.
"Um, excuse me, I never really came here before, can you show me where the nave is?" In such a big church, the nave should have some clues to why I should be here.
"O-of course, It's actually right.. There!"
She pointed me towards a door, I looked back at her.
"Oh, there? Alright, thank you, ma'am!"
"Of course."
I went through the door, and as expected, a big wide nave greeted me, it looked pretty cool, actually!
It's a little emptier than expected, which is good, to be honest.
But, there was one thing..
'There is nothing here?'
I walked around for maybe 15 minutes, and there was nothing eye catching aside from some fancy glass!
I guess the nave doesn't have anything, let's search the whole cathedral, and see!
I'm sure I'll find something, maybe a holy sword to help me in the apocalypse!
"Yeah, that should be it!"
"Yeah, no, there is nothing."
I plopped down on a bench outside, I didn't find shit in this place.
"How much time is left..?"
I looked at my phone again.. '6:33pm.. Already, huh? I spent too long at this cathedral.'
I saw a motel on my way here. I should go stay there when the cathedral closes.
"Oh right, the apocalypse, I forgot."
Then, let's just go to the food stalls near here until it starts, it looks really good.
…
Munch, munch..
"I can't check the pop up window, but I'm sure there's only a little time left."
'6:46pm.'
My.. I lost sense of time. Did the timer start at 12pm or 1pm?
I think it started at 2pm?
I left the orphanage at around 9am, so.?
.. My memory has been getting really bad.
I opened my journal, and looked again at all the drawings I had. I couldn't forget them, their faces.
.. The faces of my family.
I miss them a lot, honestly, they're the reason I'm looking forward to getting this apocalypse over with as soon as possible.
6:50pm.
I should go back to the cathedral just in case, I think the pop up creature recommended a closed space.
Today is a Sunday, and the sign says the cathedral should close at 8pm, instead of 7pm, lucky!
I went inside the nave area again, it only had a couple people inside since closing time was near, but I sat away from them anyway, just in case.
Then, I heard a mother daughter duo speaking, they seemed to have finally finished praying.
"Mom! Cmon, I'm so tired!"
"Yes, yes, I'm done, let's- oh wow, it's already 7pm! Let's go home now, sa-"
Kiiiiiiik-! "Aaaah!!??!" All the chatter was interrupted as every single bulb in the cathedral exploded, from the middle of the high ceiling to its sides, the glass fell on me, and all the other.. 20 something people that were with me.
'Ah, so this is the start of the apocalypse it was talking about..'
I couldn't care less about that though, I was more speechless about the realization that the apocalypse is really happening dawning on me.
'Not gonna lie, I did suspect that I was crazy and hallucinated everything.. But there is no reason for 30-40 something lightbulbs all to explode at the same time.'
"C-calm down, sweetie, I'm pretty sure something is wrong with the electricity!"
'Yeah, keep telling yourself that, auntie!'
I started trying to look outside any windows, but this goddamned thing is full of tinted windows, you can't see shit!
But what you can do..
"Aaaah! Help, help!"
"What is this?! What's going on?!"
"Please, sir, calm down!"
These are the voices i could make out by pressing my ear on the windows, it seemed that the chaos had reached the outside as well!
'Shit, I should've really grabbed something sharp, I was tired the whole day that I only grabbed food..'
What am I gonna fight the zombies with, my damn fists?
Next, I heard the sound of the announcement speakers turning on, but..
"Haaah…..hhhaaaaahhh…"
The only thing coming out of the speakers was deep breaths.
"H..haaa..aaa.."
The breathing was becoming rough.
"... Es..ca…aaahh..haa..haaa..haa..haa.."
And it stopped. It was silent.
Through the whole cathedral.
It was almost like they were waiting for someone to scream first, so they could start screaming again too, but a strange sense of despair was taking over, it was even affecting me.
It was like nobody dared to speak. Like their breath would be taken like the man in the speakers too.
Soon enough, the very front of the cathedral, where religious rituals were held, started shining brightly, followed by a drumming sound, and a pop.
Tick!
The familiar sense of upcoming torment made me flinch at every sound, it was a wonder what the other people, who were clueless, felt.
But to be fair, I'm honestly just as clueless.
'I never thought of a zombie apocalypse being this.. dramatic.'
I'm assuming it's not a regular zombie apocalypse? Probably. Nothing has been going as expected lately, it's annoying.
I suddenly heard a voice, almost like the one I heard back at the tutorial dungeon decades ago.. It's a wonder that I still remember it, maybe because that day was so traumatic.
[The free service of planetary system 8612 has been terminated.]
[The main scenario has started.]