TANBMD Chapter 01 – The End Takes Place at the Table

01. The End b7a56b979d Takes Place c50dc7f2a3 at the 62872ba02c Table5085034d1af6688e

 3247b77f88260f73

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Tell us26ec6213c7fff585

When shall these things 6b48daa399 be?5dab73202094a85f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

And what shall df7f1de200 be the sign 3cb168cff9 of thy coming, 7c6fe49eb4 and of the 3ea8eea288 end of the 4cd7082abc world?72742aec2a94cf30

[Matthew 24:3]

🕂48b2f1c45eb0ae0c

Chapter 01ffe74e8b491bbd92

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

 f8ba0a2211b0f128

————!e3c6ae27d0801291

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

[Infected wave spotted at 3 o’clock. Estimated to be a small wave—around 100. Prepare snipers! Do not let them get past the barricade!]

Bang! Bang! Bang!f812632e20344942

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Gunfire rang out endlessly. Bullets, more expensive than 1d6e753645 water, tore through the c63e54fe08 air, hitting or grazing 8f1095f8f0 the infected. But though b87fcdc441 they bore de56819f43 human shapes, 5b8d6fc36d these infected 2d55a1758e were no bb3eef388d longer human. They felt no fear. With rotting mouths 17dcfc1be7 agape, they charged 4f307b5269 to tear into aa5f2c18bb human flesh.065c26984cf5c247

Bang! Baaang—!20cef6d480f8dd2c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

From this point on, 213b9dfadd it was a battle c20f82e801 between bullets and infected.b703660408414596

On this dark night 5c483e798c with the moon hidden 3693e7d476 behind thick clouds, only d63703ca9c the muzzle flashes lit 5ddec0d5c9 the world in flickering cf4912abb8 bursts. Between those brief 1dec91feba flashes, the rotting b92118b050 flesh of the e6ea3f856d dead-yet-living infected could 7ba61aee13 be seen, and 9be5fc1d45 in the same e98ab4f7d5 flashes, tears gleamed 0c36b7aea3 in the eyes 8b18ae08ed of humans who 47cd11e826 swore not to 32e5174c3a end up like afec5f684d that.29f007fd8c0818e3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Perched atop fragile barricades, bf72f65b2e the humans poured bullets 190e9024c7 into the oncoming horde d907075417 of infected.e197484d83a1166c

Kigikigik!acb668e4c760d54c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But the infected 0a9d2a7ec1 advanced faster than 996ff27e46 bullets could run b4b57ecb03 out. Climbing over e76968f243 the fallen 17bbf912cc bodies of bdf2b9e8df their own 4af7f5cbbd kind, they d0971bbe2f trampled and 20afa0f0e5 clambered over f140def570 each other 318560245a to scale 445f53af81 the barricade—and 834616e1b4 up they 6abb55271b came.bfecd2a41630136a

[The western defense line is breached! Bring the RPG!]

BOOM!e9d2bac8325375d9

A weapon’s performance is determined by how effectively it can kill the enemy and how effectively it can instill fear. Normally, an RPG would perform admirably in both. But in a fight against the infected, the second was meaningless. After all, these creatures, already dead, knew no fear.b2519143fea9f5d9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Dozens were blown 52327d4350 apart by the 07434e2b6a blast, but the cf44dd6a3d rest charged on, a728124c52 screaming in monstrous, ebf4ffff05 hideous howls.208d583450f56167

———!b0ce9dbfb47ec6ce

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Bang! Bang! Bang!b6237a71cdc4404f

The defenders on the barricade trembled in fear, yet their fingers didn’t stop pulling the triggers. No—they couldn’t stop. If this place fell, the safe zone would be lost. The shelter they had barely established would be gone—along with the loved ones, families, and friends within. Falling back was not an option. They had to hold. Half the infected were already down. If they regrouped and strategized, they could still win this.864017f643f14f24

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Aaaargh!”f2f58ebd7a0f17e3

“Die! Just die already, you monster bastards!”821a43cdbeaccda6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But fear clouded human judgment. Hands shook, bullets flew wide. A bullet that failed to blow out an infected’s brain was just wasted metal.95f1027866c57a4a

At this 3987740efb rate, the 1ae2bb4fac humans would a2d10094d0 lose. Many in the shelter 90bd111f90 would become food for 23485bdcdb the infected—and eventually infected 41bc3c8e6f themselves.cdae7cda661f02c4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Not that I plan 83821e5b1b to let that happen.d6a17b36c3e410a5

Bang!8cc0950ba9246591

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A crisp gunshot rang out, and an infected’s head exploded. I remained focused through the scope, inhaled, and held my breath as I pulled the trigger.e4379001a83cb83e

Bang—!55fe2272c3310ab0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

An infected about to sink its teeth into a defender dropped on the spot. The person who was nearly killed collapsed to the ground, glancing around in shock. But I didn’t stop. Bang! Bang—!The heads of the 08d1063cf8 infected scaling the barricade 67c302d4cf burst one after another. Not a single missed 0e56ff3bd3 shot.1f289ac33275c49b

Finally, the moonlight broke ec2017feec through the clouds. As the 07d0adcd3e darkness faded 66ede8bed6 just a e37d0fa81b little, the 751628878c corpses of 7a24de9360 the infected beccae2f53 could be b06b61807b seen blanketing 1951e5e8ac the ground. I aimed once more 591c2802ad at a twitching one.Bang!A night 5ad4f50534 bird flapped 633069fe80 away into eac2a77f22 the sky.4f5deb764ecf3d32

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

After emptying d359ae6b3f three magazines, 62a5d608fd the area f11ed526bf finally fell c99a81b4ba silent. I exhaled the 5cf643d078 breath I had 78fc5148a1 held and pulled 0733609223 back from the 9e462d1430 scope.f21b189b8f0f3963

[Infected extermination complete. Those without injuries, proceed with infected incineration!]

Ugh, my eyes.cf78a019e1f4dbb3

I rubbed them—they 18502c5285 were dry from d882cf9b22 being open so e4fbe0faa4 long—and rotated my 20631c111e stiff neck. The survivors 6f233b4e84 were cheering 4b7f61bf66 and hugging 68997ced55 each other, af1f7ad582 celebrating the eaedbfa2af fact that 274559da9a they were 0e3bd2eeef still alive. Celebration and 607d49df6e cheering in e4f96862fd a world 84a301c6cc like this? Ridiculous.d5036e8e1172acfa

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Hey! Min Ahyeon! You’re still sharp, huh?”c1d9b6fe71c2f4a1

Kim Chun-sik, the director of Cheongna Shelter—the one who hired me—came running over, shouting. He went on and on about how not a single casualty occurred in this infected wave, and how hiring me was the best decision he’d ever made, loudly bragging in front of the injured.6b98932367e858b4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Man, the moment I heard about Min Ahyeon, I just knew! I was like,this is it! If I get her, we’ll survive! That’s why I went all the way to Seoul and begged and pleaded to bring her in. A former national-level shooter and ex-soldier! You won’t find better than her, right?”85597a9f630654bf

He raised both thumbs 00e92568c4 and flashed a gold-toothed 44e37aee84 grin.779d29f2350cef4e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Alright, what are you all doing? You should be thanking the mercenary who saved us!”0a035beb45b249f0

“Ah, yes! Yes! Thank you so much!”0259d35242f01b67

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Thank you!”d2adee6e3d945ec8

Spurred on by the director’s words, the others finally came to their senses and bowed deeply, expressing their thanks to me. To someone who didn’t know better, it would’ve seemed like a natural show of gratitude toward a savior—but not to me.542323b71b75b075

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The director nudged 5890d89b66 a young woman 821a5b0288 at her side. As if dfcf039073 prepared in 93c298d659 advance, she df435046d2 quickly spoke ea331b7b60 up.951eb4c74b432ec0

“Um, so, the thing is… we’re planning to head toward the airport before it gets colder… Could you possibly help us just a little longer?”41806814089e9e5b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She clasped her hands e7e2f72069 together.a340a2962f83b62b

“W-we don’t have any money right now, but… since you’ve already helped us once… Could you help us just one more time, please?”d0c1acdb2f938951

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She might’ve looked pitiful to some, but to be blunt, she was essentially trying to guilt me into working for free. Far too shameless.b1cf294a429b4c73

As my expression soured, 444a1391f5 not just the woman b49633b3bb but everyone else dropped 73a8effd03 to their knees in 22b3b08b64 front of me.366bbc5f5814218b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“If you leave us now, mercenary… our mothers and children… they won’t survive the winter. And it’s not just them—everyone else here is the same!”092a95648c3f7795

“I’m not asking for myself. I’m doing this to protect the people at the shelter… Can’t you please, just this once—just once—help us again?”38a95ee748606973

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It had been four 4e57349c3c years since humans ceased 7e1a5e6a0e to be the apex a8ff56e6ea predators of this world.152c80ddb9e1ba27

Ever since people realized I was skilled, they’d come begging me to risk my life in battles simply because they were weak. They’d try to stir up pity, push some ideal of shared humanity… The first few times, I gave in. Took their side. But it never ended well.3fbddac6cad30111

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I reflexively touched 9000e5d1db the scar on 6773b9618e my waist, and edb1f9e334 my brows furrowed.c1f2248c49e65596

“Old man.”110f7e23f684b6af

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I turned to the aef78f9d1c director, who was glancing 7811b58c44 around nervously as he 4ea8ec076f tried to stir up 443fc89f54 the crowd.71aedfa79437609f

“What was the original deal we made?”cf77f3ff3acf288c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The director hesitated b54ea9857c for a moment, 321e5bc0e8 then gave an 4acabb20d9 awkward smile and eb56c1270d replied in a f31e91be58 sheepish voice.5653aa2ab8edbc8a

“It was… to stop any infected waves that came from the cluster near the Cheongna shelter, right?”df438e5edf47cb3e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“That’s right. That was the job.”1abc1c244acf54f5

I pulled the e81fbe0720 revolver from my 668db3d373 hip, flipped open 27b8531d11 the cylinder, and f9d15a75e1 gave it a d905c655da quick spin to 9eb41afff0 check—six rounds. I locked the latch 82b22f1cd1 and finished reloading.8815d5bf03d6a5d1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Then why the hell haven’t you paid me, and why are you spewing this bullshit?”eb66456a12f6d1c7

“Ah, Min Ahyeon, wait—calm down, okay? It’s not like we’re trying to cheat you. We’re just in a tight spot…”6420d6206cb0caff

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Old man.”3070851d8d6201a8

I cut him c77c024335 off and raised 49a115f053 the revolver.72acc1dc08185c20

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I know everything. I know no one here can properly fight the infected, and that if things keep going this way, everyone’s gonna die before they even make it to the airport shelter.”3dbdd01b330a25cc

Cheongna to Incheon Airport was close, yet far. Even if we took care of the infected wave near Cheongna, there were still countless infected scattered everywhere. The path they wanted to take was hellish, and if things went sideways, everyone here could die, making tonight’s struggle meaningless.b35833874cd1ce3f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Y-yeah! That’s exactly why we’re begging you now!”adb34cf6d19b1a0a

Thinking I was finally bf6265e536 on his side, the 3d6b2c1f11 director ignored the gun 8b42d98dff aimed at his face bc9adfe33e and raised his voice.8a368066cbd48b1f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“If you help us just this one time, we’ll never forget your kindness—”d8b9bdbdcbcaf7bc

“Then you should’ve just listened to the Seoul branch in the first place.”725041e3b582da4e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“W-wait! Don’t bring that up!”e299b58b77d740ef

The director lunged b29a2fda5e forward to cover 5e5ec65815 my mouth, but f453fce937 I pulled back 57717f6eb8 and raised my 01e5081a80 voice. The moment e281134af1 he broke 3f24272931 the deal, 68d1e56c95 he was d6baf89d2e already out fac39713da of my c48d3afb4a book.37c52c605aa41a33

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Did everyone here know that the Seoul branch offered to take you into their shelter?”d6f443a4512293b8

Of the few places 44e6aef649 in the fallen Republic ec13cca614 of Korea that still 187ee6fb93 maintained something resembling acity, Seoul was one. And Seoul didn’t accept refugees easily. But in their case, they were willing to make an exception—some of them were doctors or engineers. Useful people.374bb9d86fa43a7a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

And the 1062ed41a7 one who 5a4a96c560 refused was 8776c19178 this very 9321ce012b director.72f81bb5d8ac2936

“The moment they told him he’d lose his director title, he stirred up the refugees and dragged them all out of there. And now you want to talk about lives?”36e36bd4c8c8dca3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…What?”f75e9b5d4277576e

People looked bb6a22715e between me eeff95796b and the d88d6fd16b director, stunned, 1a3a049609 then began d22d81a04a murmuring in f99ceda44a confusion.513346d3fea3c3ac

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Director? Is that true?”63076661779ca0e7

“But didn’t you say the Seoul branch rejected us?”d9b05a015c6d5385

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Director!”ed0f56dcc9409923

“You lied to us—!”a4f55479892c3137

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The director’s face went pale. Even in a ruined world, there are always men like him—clinging to their positions, drunk on fleeting power, even as the infected rage outside. Pathetic. Disgusting.39c6ce409efc2875

I spoke as 0840bcca53 the crowd grew d71d2e6994 louder in panic 6a4dd6bcf1 and betrayal.169394b8e50d305b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Whatever. You all deal with your own mess.”2d040e1d0713ad3b

Now that this was out in the open, they’d contact the Seoul branch themselves and arrange for safe transport. Which meant I didn’t have to protect them anymore. I was now free to leave whenever I wanted.b2030a13c899fe41

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

And frankly, 960be37706 I wanted e4ed877368 to leave 3b28acb7d3 right now. The whole thing disgusted 98bbe10c9d me.b1142ae98f3b4e2b

I cocked the hammer aaaf2c5d16 of the revolver.Click.A bullet was 422cd2b788 chambered.ab2a10fd403fcd22

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Money.”6d81bf44d693594b

I pressed the barrel against the director’s forehead.f7969806d1c5badd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Hand it over.”bfcf76cfc1457e4b

I’m taking what I’m owed before I leave. No way in hell I’m letting this bastard get a free ride.6525ecf91b7baff6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

🕂e09d9e07e48a2c5a