Stagnant Water of Apocalypse - Chapter 118

 Chapter 118 – Frozen World (5)

“Seokhyun-ah, come here.” As I called him, he walked towards us like an obedient child. Once he entered the bathroom, I called the portal and blocked the entrance with it. With the entrance blocked, whatever we said in the bathroom wouldn’t leak outside. Of course, it can’t stop the sound from seeping through the walls, but that much should be okay.

Da-jeong slapped Seokhyun’s ass.

“You’re the one who got lost, not us.”

“No. I am in the right place.”

“Where are you going, actually?”

“Dongducheon.”

“This is Bucheon, you dork!”

“Ah.”

“’Ah’ my ass!”

Da-jeong crossed her arms as she grumbled that she would die because of the frustration whenever she talked to Seokhyun.

“Should we do something for Rapwi? He had gone out to save people, but it seems like he had only been roaming around all day.”

“Well, there is a way…” I said.” But first, Seokhyun-ah, the truth is…”

I felt like I should talk about what happened between me and Da-jeong here. But before I spoke, Da-jeong said it first.

“Rapwi, we had sex.”

Isn’t that too straightforward?

Seokhyun blinked slowly and looked at the two of us.

“I can’t. I can’t give you Seongho, unless my eyes get covered with dirt…”

Then, one of Da-jeong’s ghouls jumped out of the toilet and sprinkled dirt on Seokhyun’s eyes.

“Aww, my eyes!”

“I’m not asking for your permission, I’m telling you this just so you know. Do you want to do it with us too?”

Da-jeong even asked him to do 3P, but Seokhyun refused. Instead, he gave me a thumbs up.

“Great. Now Duck is your girl.”

“No. Seongho was the one who became my man.”

“Doesn’t it usually go by ‘a man eating a woman’?”

“Hey, think about it. Would Seongho be brave enough to ‘eat’ me? I was the one who ‘ate’ him.”

“Hmm… okay! I approve!”

I was blown away by their nonsense. I can’t let it continue. “Come on, let’s start with the important stuff. Seokhyun, you have work to do right now, right?”

“Yeah. I have to go to five places.” He pulled a map out of his panties and unfolded it before us. Dongducheon, Gapyeong, and Gimpo. If we only counts Seokhyun’s current stats, there would be no problem in getting back and forth, but as he was directionally challenged, he wouldn’t be able to arrive at the set places. Afterall, all the road signs had disintegrated into dust.

That said, I couldn’t understand why the government shelter sent Seokhyun alone. They should have attached a guide or something to him. I opened my mouth once I finished organizing my thoughts in my head. “Well, with Seokhyun saving the government agents, it will also benefit me in the long run, so I’m kinda obligated to help you.”

“In what way will it help you?”

“I will explain about that later. And since you need a guide, wait a minute.”

Seokhyun’s eyes twinkled with curiosity when I returned from the portal with a scarab in my hand. “He will help you.”

“Isn’t it just a scarab?”

“This guy is not just a normal scarab, he’s a scarab that understands human words. He doesn’t know Korean, but he can read maps.” I took him towards the map on the ground. And all of our eyes constantly focused on the map. “This is where we are on the map. This guy has to visit these five places, and he needs a guide. Can you do it?”

When the scarab put his claw on his chin, Seokhyun fell into a shock. “Th-the scarab is listening and thinking…”

“They have a lot of talent. They are probably even smarter than us.”

“They?”

“There are a lot of scarabs in the shelter. There are also stag beetles.” Anyway, after the scarab looked at the map, he went outside with Seokhyun. After looking at the sky, the guy made an OK sign. At that moment, Da-jeong lost her spirit.

“Is what I just saw real? It’s unbelievable…”

“If you look closely, do you see the names of the buildings in the map’s legend here? It’s engraved on the wall, so it would be fine. You just have to teach the scarab the letters.”

The scarab doesn’t know Hangul, but it would be able to remember the shapes of the letters. Taking Gapyeong as an example, just let the guy remember the shape of the words Gapyeong, and he will be able to use the buildings which still had their nameplates, which sometimes also contains the place’s name in it as milestones to get to the destination. It’s impossible for Seokhyun, but it’s possible for the scarab. Afterall, they were a weird bunch of scarabs, who could even make bullets.

“Once you finish, you have to return the scarab to me.”

“But what are you guys going to do?”

“We…” Da-jeong covered my mouth with her hand before I could even tell Seokhyun.

“I’m going to take him on a bus. He’s at level 24 right now, and if he levels up 1 more, he will get an additional effect. I have to check what’s inside the portal!”

Seokhyun gave her a thumbs up as he heard our plan, clearly liked her plan.

“SEGGGS.”

I hurriedly took her hand away and said. “By the way, when you return to the shelter, there will be some dispute.”

“Dispute? Against Rapwi?” Da-jeong asked in a doubtful tone.

Well, it’s only natural, since Seokhyun was known as the strongest in government shelter, so who would even be gutsy enough to have an argument with him?

But I thought of someone who would definitely do so.

“That guy is going to question exactly what Seokhyun had done, and he will definitely question how he managed to arrive at the isolated agents without getting lost. Also, after hearing Seung-yeon’s story, he would definitely find everything strange.”

“It’s not the old man or Geom-in?”

I shook my head. Neither Geom-in nor the President were my enemies. Therefore, there was only one person who would do such a thing: Joo Seung-cheol. It would be weird if he didn’t do it after seeing such an incredible opportunity like this.

“Joo Seung-cheol. He’s gonna argue Seokhyun has contact with you, isn’t he?”

“Yeah.”

“He used to flirt with Da-jeong, but why? Because she’s a woman? Because she’s pretty?” Seokhyun asked.

“Well. yeah. I am pretty.”

I ignored Da-jeong’s words.

“I think he saw Da-jeong as someone who could be an ally if he played his cards right. However, the same wouldn’t work on Seokhyun.”

“Because he’s childish?”

“Yeah. Because Seokhyun is too unique. Joo Seung-cheol would be lost about what he should do to control him.”

“Well, I am second to none in terms of craziness.” Seokhyun smiled broadly.

I put my arm over his shoulder and emphasized. “If he decided to keep his stay-low attitude and didn’t do what I just said, you don’t have to do anything to him. However, there’s a pretty good chance that it will happen. Once he did it…”

“Should I kill him?”

“…you don’t have to do that. Just show him your strength by being a little rough. No one knows what his unique skill is, right?”

“I don’t think even the President knows.”

“I haven’t heard any rumors.”

The time he had spent in the government shelter was quite long. But the fact that there were no rumors about him, means that he had been hiding his unique skill thoroughly. I wanted to use this chance to take off his mask.

“Joo Seung-cheol is full of suspicious things. It’s strange that he invested in the game company which developed Seola, nobody knows his unique skill, and that he’s in a government shelter, even though he has his own shelter.”

“Do you want to reveal his goal this time?”

“If the guy makes his move first. If he’s quiet, Seokhyun can just do what you usually do in the shelter.”

“Hmm, it would be fun if you two fight. Seokhyun’s power is no joke.”

“Just in case, he might have a resurrection scroll.” No, I was convinced Joo Seung-cheol had a resurrection scroll. However, I decided to exclude the possibility of him having transcendental powers. If he had that kind of power, he would have successfully seduced Da-jeong and found me sooner.

Da-jeong jumped on my back at that moment.

“Rapwi, Rapwi, since he has asked you to do that much, in return, shouldn’t you ask for something from him?”

“Yeah. What should I ask…”

“Tuna! Ask him for tuna.”

“Tuna sashimi? I like that idea. I have never eaten one.”

What do those words even mean… Anyway, since the two of them asked about it, it seems like I had to catch one sometime soon. I confessed to both of them “But I don’t know if there are tuna in the sea of otherworld or not. I haven’t been out there.”

“What have you been doing, then? If I was you, I would have gone out on a boat and explored the sea like a sailor.” Da-jeong criticized me.

“It’s not like I have 48 hours in a day. These days, because of you, I can’t even go in.” I defend myself.

She moved both of her hands towards my cheek, and pulled it.

“That’s why you need to level up quickly! The two of us can come in and help you.”

That’s what I’m most worried about. Anyone who sees what’s inside the portal will certainly become greedy. It will evolve into obsession soon and lead to a bad ending for me. But if it were them, my friends…

“Yeah, let’s go in together someday.”

After saying that, I suddenly imagined Rapwi going naked and running on the beach screaming “SEGGSSSS!!!”.

That’s not allowed.

.
.
.

One hit, two hits, three hits.

Seokhyun, who was beating Joo Seung-cheol on the floor, panicked as Joo Seung-Cheol grabbed his wrist. It was because he suddenly felt like he was running out of power.

“The wall and the floor is made of reinforced plastic, so do it in moderation.” Seung-cheol grabbed Seokhyun’s wrist as he said that. His eyes were blazing red with anger.

On the other hand, Seokhyun twisted his arms and shook Seung-Cheol’s hands off him.

“Status window.”

Once his status window was opened, Seokhyun was amazed. It was because his stats were nerfed. The effect of the items was also blocked, and his skill was downgraded.

He soon found the cause,

「Active Buff(s): Ability Blocking」

Isn’t it the same ability of the Wi-Fi zombie that Seongho had warned him about before?

Blocking all abilities, it could be said that it was a really great unique skill. After all, no matter how strong someone is, if they got their stats reduced, they would be powerless.

Seung-cheol stood up, wiping his lips with his sleeve.

“I thought you are someone who can be reasoned with, but you are completely crazy.”

“Did you try to argue with me while knowing that?”

“…there is definitely someone behind you. It’s that bastard, I Love Gimbap, isn’t it?”

After a brief lull, the two of them were being pulled apart from each other. No one dared to touch Seokhyun, but Jang Won-taek directly blocked him. Geom-in also pretended to stop him.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but let’s calm down, calm down…”

At that moment, Seung-cheol raised his arms as if it was ridiculous.

“No, I was the one on the right, am I? Now that person is no different than a murderer.”

That’s right. The person who set that rule was none other than Jang Won-taek. And all personnel in the shelter agreed to the rules. But unbeknownst to them, Seokhyun also had something to say.

“That b*st*rd has an ability-blocking unique skill!” He shouted loudly over Jang Won-taek’s shoulder.

“Sorry?”

“What is it?”

Seung-cheol panicked and Seokhyun quickly explained the situation. He demonstrated that his ability had been weakened by swinging his fist. In other words, he’s telling people that the reason Joo Seung-cheol could block his fist was because he was weakened, not and not because of Seung-cheol’s strength.

“Oh my gosh…”

“Did you really have that kind of unique skill?”

The eyes of the people all turned to Seung-cheol. He said it was a misunderstanding and took a few steps back. Even if he denied he had that unique skill, he wouldn’t be able to explain how he managed to block Seokhyun’s punch.

“I didn’t mean to hide it. I just haven’t had a chance to speak about it.”

“Seung-cheol, haven’t you invited me to your shelter before? Were you planning on kidnapping me by blocking my ability?”

When Yoon-jeong came forward and asked, he denied that it was absolutely not true.

“This is frustrating! There is no benefit to me doing that, so why would I do that?”

However, even though he tried his best to explain himself, the people’s reaction was not good. They could tolerate him for hiding his unique skill, but since his unique skill was revealed, and turns out it was an ability where you can block other people’s ability, it was another story.

After all, doesn’t that mean he can turn awakened people into normal humans if he really wants to?

Jang Won-taek raised his voice. “Let’s calm down. I have a lot of work to do today, so all decisions will be postponed until later. Until then, neither of you should leave your room. Understand?”

“…” Seokhyun looked at Seung-cheol without saying a word, while Seung-cheol looked at people’s eyes.

“Wait. But the rule of this shelter is that violence is considered the same as murder. So, he will be kicked out, right?”

“Seokhyun-ssi, what will you do? Will you obey my order to stay quiet in your room, or do you want ro be kicked out of this shelter right now?”

“I’ll be quiet in my room.”

“You promise me?”

Seokhyun nodded his head at the President’s question. The situation had just managed to calm down. And as no one wanted to be the one who broke the atmosphere, everyone left the final decision to the former President, Jang Won-taek.

Seokhyun said to Seung-cheol, who was going out surrounded by his men.

“Remove your ability from me.”

“If I remove it, won’t you hit me again?”

“I said I would be quiet, didn’t I? Remove it.”

“Quiet my ass… I won’t remove it until I get to my room.”

“Okay.”

Unexpectedly, Seokhyun was the one who took a step back. People who realized the mood had gone wrong, left the cafeteria one by one. In the midst of that, Seokhyun also moved. Geom-in asked something from his side, but he didn’t reply. His gaze was only lay Seung-cheol.

And when Seung-cheol’s subordinates were pushed away for a while by the people, Seokhyun approached him very naturally. Seung-cheol knew that the madman was approaching him, but he didn’t do anything. Because he didn’t think a man with no weapons and no abilities could do anything dangerous to him.

But it was a mistake.

Seokhyun took a piece of mithril from his rabbit ear and stabbed Seung-cheol in the back.

“Uh-huh!” Seung-cheol, who had his heart pierced, screamed and grabbed his chest.

“Yo-YOU!!!!”

“He stabbed him with a knife!”

“Crazy!”

The entrance to the cafeteria fell into chaos.

“Move! Move!”

“You moth*rfuck*r!”

Although Seokhyun was treated harshly by Seung-cheol’s subordinates, he did not lose his smile. When Jang Won-taek witnessed the situation, he was genuinely angry.

“Didn’t you promise me not to do this!”

“I promise you to be quiet in my room, so it’s not like I broke any promise.” It was such a childish logic, about how he didn’t have to be quiet because he hadn’t entered his room yet.

When everyone was speechless because of that, something unexpected happened. Joo Seung-cheol, who was on his knees, was enveloped by a light before disappearing. It was an event no one could have predicted.

“Is-is that resurrection?”

“He has a resurrection scroll?”

At about the same time, the ability blocking debuff disappeared from Seokhyun’s status window. Seung-cheol’s men, who were holding onto him, were beaten one by one and thrown into the wall.

“Move!”

People were terrified by the thunderous voice, and moved away from the door. At that moment, Seokhyun’s body shot out like an arrow.