NOVPUB199: Refuge In A Ruined World (1)
199: Refuge In A Ruined World (1)
After exiting the collapsed building, there was another vast strip of land flattened by something, similar to the area in which I found the first alien monster.
At one end of the strip, in the opposite direction where we just came from and about two hundred metres forward, the rest of the city continued on, destroyed and abandoned in the same manner as before.
On the left, the flattened strip carried on as far as I could see, carrying on for a good few miles without any buildings or monsters in sight.
Lastly, on the right, the strip ended after roughly fifty metres with a colossal, concrete wall, easily three or even four storeys tall and with a couple watchtowers posted along the top.
Spotting a small door in the bottom middle of the wall, I then heard the Protagonist’s voice.
“That’s the base.”
He flashed a smile as he gestured towards it, and to give him credit, I didn’t expect it to be so outwardly impressive.
After making sure there were no hostile presences nearby, I followed him as we walked towards the entrance, unable to hold myself back from making a comment.
“It’s quite conspicuous.”
I didn’t necessarily expect him to answer me, but he chuckled.
“Probably not what you expected, right?
You’re right in that, ordinarily, a small camp hidden somewhere in the corner of the city or in some underground bunker would inspire more confidence to remain undetected.”
‘Actually, that’s exactly what I was thinking.
If there were all those creepy monsters roaming around everywhere, it would naturally be safer to hide in a place where you would be less likely to be found, especially if you didn’t possess the means to defend yourself.’
But instead, they weren’t doing that.
The base was just here, large and sat right out in the open.
“―And yet, this could without a doubt be called the second-safest refuge in the country.
Or well, we’re probably third or fourth right now, but not for long.”
Glancing at his face, that last sentence seemed to be more him talking to himself than to me.
For a moment, a recollection of Ina’s teachings flashed in my mind.
About the kind of publication this Illusory World came under; about manhwas.
‘For Transmigrators in particular, didn’t she say there was a common trope of being transported into the world of a series or game that the main character was playing?’
Assuming that that was what was going on here, it would mean the Protagonist likely had information about what would happen in the future…
and, going further than that, if it was something he had really invested a lot of time into, wouldn’t he already know?
That I wasn’t from here.
“…”
“Anyway, I mentioned it before, right?
You have to invest if you want to guarantee safety.
This place wasn’t built just to look imposing.”
‘No.
He can’t know.’
My instincts told me there was no way he was suspicious.
After getting Heightened Senses, I might’ve been putting a little too much faith into it without any evidence, but it had served me well so far, and it was the best bet I had to go by.
But then, if he didn’t already figure me out, how would that be?
‘…Random encounter?
If he thought I was an NPC in the game, one that was procedurally generated as the game continues, that would…
not explain it.
Ever since he first saw me, he’s been way too calm, though he tries not to show it, I can tell he’s excited about something…’
I brainstormed for a while as we continued towards the base’s entrance, and as we arrived at the front door just two metres high, I realised what it was.
‘There must be a unique NPC in the game who disguises his real identity.’
Thanks to the Draconic Shadow which didn’t leave an inch of skin uncovered below the neck, and thanks to me hurriedly equipping the Villain’s Vizard in time, there was not a single spot of my body that could be seen when the hood was pulled up…
Excluding my eyes, I suppose, but that wasn’t a detail many would be keen enough to notice.
Anyway, other than that I was completely unidentifiable.
If there was some unique NPC in the source material who was both strong and disguised himself like me, which in this sort of dark setting wasn’t totally unexpected…
…Well, wouldn’t he naturally think it was me?
‘It’s perfect.’
I was already planning on disguising myself like that anyway, but if he was already convinced, then maybe I didn’t need to force it as hard as I thought.
The only tricky thing now would be killing the aliens.
Assuming he existed, I had no way of finding out what that NPCs combat abilities were, or even if the Protagonist knew about them.
Still, considering he seemed to know I was strong without watching how I killed either of the aliens before, it would be safer to assume that he did.
As I thought all this, the gate opened, revealing the interior of the camp to us.
The Protagonist led me inside, letting the gates close behind us, opening his mouth with a grin.
“――Welcome, to the Sanctuary at the End of the World.”
The gates were fully shut and firmly locked, then barricaded with steel girders all by a pair of identical-looking, brawny young men.
After that, they turned to us, bowing simultaneously.
“”Welcome back, Boss!””
Turning to them, the Protagonist tilted his head.
“Dong-ha, Dong-min.
Why didn’t you just leave it to the golems?”
At his question, the two men, evidently twins, stood up straight and saluted, with one of them taking the lead to explain.
“Yes boss!
We were worried for your safety and wanted to greet you immediately upon your return!
Our apologies!”
“Ahh~ In that case, forget about it.
Anyway, this is our new friend.
His name’s Enki and he’ll be taking the role of defense.
Treat him well.”
Watching as the two proceeded to salute and bow towards me, I paused for a few seconds, not really knowing what to say.
It seems I didn’t need to, however, as the Protagonist quickly dismissed them and whispered to me.
“Ex-military.
They’re sturdy, and they follow orders well, but they can be a bit overbearing, so don’t mind them.”
‘Right…’
Not responding, I instead looked around the inside of the base, and to be honest, it was even more impressive than what I expected by looking from the outside.
The area of the base was wide, and there seemed to be different areas dedicated to different operations, with one area containing a line-up of big tents, seemingly the sleeping quarters and “restrooms”; an area containing rows of square plots of farmland; an area with shoddy weapons and training dummies made out of scrap; and another, particularly large tent at the opposite end from the entrance.
All of it was surrounded by these giant concrete walls, and both throughout the base and along the top of the walls I could spot numerous, human-shaped golems walking around, helping out with things such as farming, transporting equipment and patrolling.
They weren’t anything at all like the golems I had prior experience with, and seemed solely designed for automation and assisting around the place, but it was quite incredible nevertheless.
As well as that, there were about a dozen or so people I could see around the place, most of them either resting or training, and almost all of them young, probably around my or the Protagonist’s age, some even younger.
‘There’re probably some more inside the tents over there, too…’
Overall, everything seemed pretty well-maintained and in order.
Surprisingly so in fact, for an encampment of survivors in an apocalyptic world like this.
Being self-sustaining in terms of food production was undoubtedly a massive help, but throughout all of it, there was one thought I couldn’t erase from my mind.
That was, as I considered what I came here to achieve…
“…”
…I could only hope it wouldn’t result in another massacre.
