Hiding a House in the Apocalypse-Chapter 96.1: The Forsaken (1)

The idea of preparing for the apocalypse requires having as many cards in hand as possible.

It’s simple logic.

The more options you have, the more flexible you can be in any situation.

The problem lies in reality.

Increasing your cards means needing resources based on pre-war standards.

Each doomsday theorist has different levels of economic standing, and the gap between them is already clearly visible.

A single future has been forecasted.

I am certain that Kim Byung-cheol’s Seoul will not last long.

At most, it will hold for half a year.

It won’t make it past this year.

Let’s list the expected problems.

Antagonistic hunters like Kim Daram, soldiers, fanatics, refugees (who are essentially marauders) are all threats.

To protect my property from these countless scoundrels that will soon be pouring in, the best method would be to hide my bunker. But for various reasons, I’ve built connections with influential people, and I’ve revealed the location of my bunker.

There are pros and cons.

The advantage, of course, is the resources that have remained intact for three years after the war.

Honestly, I never expected to live this comfortably at this stage after the war.

The downside is its confidentiality.

An unhidden bunker is nothing different from a treasure trove for the so-called "golden goblins."

The moment a superior human faction targets it, not only will my life be at risk, but my property could be swallowed up by these useless scoundrels.

And it would likely happen with a very high probability.

To deal with this age-old problem, I have been coming up with numerous ideas.

I’ve built decoy bunkers, planned escape routes, and even considered relocating.

Every time, the conclusion I reached was that my bunker and I are bound by fate and cannot be separated, but now, it is time to seriously consider a change in approach.

A third location is necessary.

But I cannot give up my bunker.

I once read in a book that sometimes, when a person is faced with a crisis, reconsidering from square one isn’t a bad option.

The foundation of my doomsday theory is, after all, Viva! Apocalypse!

Right now, I am focused on becoming a "named" figure and all that, but deep down, I know better than anyone else that I was once the most diligent student, eyes shining brighter than anyone else's.

Back before the war, over three years ago, I reflected on the past writings and thought about my future direction.

The scenario that is about to unfold—Seoul’s complete collapse and the rise of antagonistic humans—was one of the scenarios I anticipated long ago.

It was delayed for various reasons, and the level of hostile humans has increased dramatically—probably the difference between level 1 and max level—but in the grand scheme, it’s not too different from what was expected three years ago.

In this situation, when it becomes difficult to hide or defend my main bunker, some users have suggested creating a third bunker in an observable location, where they can monitor the main bunker and reclaim it when the situation allows.

This method also has its pros and cons, but for someone like me, who cannot afford to give up the main bunker, it is the unavoidable alternative.

A third bunker is not optional; it is essential.

*

I suddenly recalled the time when I first built the bunker.

When deciding on the location of the bunker, the most important factor for me was the location.

It wasn’t just about ease of defense or access to resources, but considering the impending political and social changes, the strategic importance of the site, visibility, and potential for expansion—many factors played into the decision.

Honestly, I believe I evaluated it more carefully than even the legendary Dangun Wanggeom.

And over the last three years, it has been proven that the location I selected for my bunker was the perfect spot.

Even if I were to search for a better place, I wouldn’t be able to find one.

But for now, I must leave this bunker vacant.

I’m thinking of a year, at most.

While it may seem like a long time, considering the level of people who have leveled up after the war, I can’t say it’s excessively long.

The problem now is where to establish the third bunker.

On old apocalypse forums, it was often said that a third bunker should be located in a place where the main bunker can always be observed and accessed.

However, that condition is not so simple.

The only high ground near my bunker is the area around my bunker itself.

While it’s possible to observe neighboring areas from my bunker, it’s difficult to do the reverse.

If I were to use drones or similar observation devices, it might be possible, but drones are a double-edged sword.

If I use a drone, my enemies will also be able to see it.

So constant observation is not possible.

“...”

A shift in thinking is required.

The person who has always provided me with inspiration is, of course, my role model, John Nae-non.

I searched for his writings again after a long time.

John_nenon : (John Nae-non) ㅎㅎ Tonight

John_nenon : (John Nae-non) Surprisingly sturdy structure of a rural hospital

John_nenon : (John Nae-non) Golden Retriever ㅎ

John_nenon : (John Nae-non) The defense capabilities of a so-called "psychiatric hospital"

John_nenon : (John Nae-non) Visiting a rural abandoned hospital (1)

...

...

He referenced a lot of writings from foreign users, but in his later years, he also wrote a lot about Korean circumstances.

Before he was banned from the forums, he was particularly interested in hospital buildings located in rural areas.

These buildings were typically isolated, made of reinforced concrete, difficult to access from the outside, and had simple but strong, secure structures with essential living facilities like ventilation, cooling, and water supply. It seems that John Nae-non found these places very appealing.

In fact, in his later years, he posted several times about personally visiting abandoned hospitals and similar places.

Rather than spending on a large bunker with limited resources, he argued that repurposing abandoned hospital buildings could create a quite satisfactory hideout.

However, as John Nae-non himself stated in his posts, this method is more suited for survivalists who are part of a group, not individuals.

No matter how isolated the hospital may be, it can still be visible from afar, and the cross on top becomes a symbol that attracts the hungry and sick, like zombies, who are drawn to it.

There are several hospitals near my territory as well.

It wasn’t a typical "orthopedic," "plastic surgery," or "dermatology" clinic, common in cities. It was a “nursing home” or “hospice,” the final resting place for elderly individuals whose lives were hanging by a thread.

Many of these hospitals had been visited by pioneers in the past.

I decided to pick one of these numerous hospitals as my third bunker candidate.

There were three options in my mind.

Two of them were located near fields by the roadside, and the third was situated halfway up a mountain far from my territory.

Vroooom—

Without hesitation, I mounted my motorcycle and started the survey.

The absence of people around made it clear: this was my last chance.

The radio was blaring about how Kim Byung-cheol and the faction had successfully held off the monsters through dedicated fighting. But from my personal experience, I knew that the only reason we weren’t overwhelmed was simply because the number of monsters was low.

I didn’t see any signs of large-scale monsters either.

Literally, by pure chance, some monsters bypassed the Han River, and that alone sent Kim Byung-cheol into a panic, creating a crisis in all of Seoul.

If a proper monster offensive hit Seoul, that would mark the end of this small world.

The first and second hospitals were disappointing.

While the overall structure as a hospital was intact, the internal condition had deteriorated—either due to poor construction or the direct toll of the war. The interiors had rotted, and the facilities had been thoroughly destroyed, making them completely unusable.

The second hospital was so filled with waste that it was physically impossible to enter.

It seemed that even before the war began, hazardous waste contractors had dumped industrial waste there.

The third candidate was a place I didn’t particularly want to visit.

It was located halfway up a steep mountain, surrounded by a golf course.

As expected for a hospital on a mountain, it wasn’t easily visible unless it was winter, but the drawback was its location in a valley, making it difficult to monitor the surroundings. The halfway-up mountain location created two major problems: supply difficulties and transportation issues.

In short, if I could settle there and be self-sufficient, it wouldn’t be a bad place. But without the ability to support myself, it could become a desert in the mountains, where everything would become scarce.

Anyone who’s spent a long time in the mountains knows that just because there's a lot of greenery doesn’t mean life is abundant.

The basic survival elements—drinking water, food, sunlight—would likely be in short supply.

Therefore, unless you’re an expert in mountain survival, surviving in the mountains is something to approach with caution.

Reluctantly, I headed to the final survey site.

As expected, the road was well-maintained, considering the hospital had once been there.

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It was even a paved road.

I even saw a torn banner that read “Award-winning Hospital,” fluttering in the wind.

The road condition was good, but there were no signs of cars having passed by.

It seemed like even the common scavengers hadn’t bothered to come by.

Well, I wouldn’t expect many to come to a remote hospice like this, especially considering the wasted fuel.

But unlike the previous two hospitals, this third one appeared to be a “luxury hospice.”

The road signs, markers, and the overall quality of the area suggested it had been used by people with more resources—probably children sending their parents to a more comfortable place.

Though, I suspected the final result wouldn’t be too different from the others.

But as I neared the hospital, an unsettling feeling crept over me.

It was a sense of life.

It felt like someone was living there.

It was strange. At a hospice for elderly people, where everyone was supposed to be near death, the presence of life itself was odd, but the vibrations in the air, faint sounds of chickens, what sounded like music, and the regular noises all hinted that there were people there.

Click—

I got off my motorcycle and grabbed my gun.

As I held the weapon, a cold wind swept down from the mountain top.

I swept my hair back ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) and carefully moved forward along the slope.

The Genesis Hospice

The name of the place appeared clearly in front of me.

Indeed, the sign and its materials were different from the norm, confirming that this was a high-end hospice.

Next to the sign were several graves.

Most of the graves didn’t have tombstones, but some had crudely carved characters, hinting at the family heritage of the deceased.

Some of these graves didn’t look all that old.

I was right.

People were living here.

A strong curiosity gripped me as I thought about it.

The people left in this hospice, a dead-end in life, had somehow managed to survive for three more years in this apocalyptic world—a testament to the wonder of life.

Of course, I had to differentiate between wonder and danger.

I followed my training, concealing my presence, and approached the hospice.

There were people.

Elderly individuals.

They were working in the fields, plowing the land under the mountain’s shadow, sweating in the heat.

From a distance, they clearly appeared to be elderly.

But were they old by pre-war standards? I would say no.

They were likely in their early to mid-60s.

Still capable of working.

“....”

I hesitated.

Should I reveal myself to them or just leave quietly?

Now that I knew a third party was living here, this area had lost its value for me.

It wasn’t clear what I could gain from interacting with them.

After some thought, I decided to turn back.

I wouldn’t make contact.

But the fact that the entire world’s level had risen was undeniable.

“Who’s there?”

One of the elderly individuals pointed towards me.

Click! Click!

The sound of gunfire rang out.

Turning around, I saw a hostile group of elderly individuals armed with firearms, appearing from the side.

“Drop your weapon and come forward. We know you’re alone.”

The elderly leader snarled at me, his sharp eyes glinting as he growled.

As soon as I saw the gaunt face of the leader, I felt like I understood one of the secrets of this facility.

That old man.

Half of him was a zombie.

Neither fully alive nor dead, he was leading others in a twisted version of life. They were surrounding the living, with the dead leading the way.