TANBMD Chapter 01 – The End Takes Place at the Table

01. The End Takes Place dd3b79d1cd at the Tabled9af02e5285084cc

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Tell usb36f6857d4e6790a

When shall these things ee9a5db045 be?e2af10d75de04861

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And what shall be c32304cf51 the sign of thy 46452540ef coming, and of the e0a1f97b46 end of the world?9b7db3803691dd19

[Matthew 24:3]

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Chapter 01e72a549457f0ec28

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 2b27dbada550f2f0

————!c49391a7866729e8

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[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!b281d2a4cf5d7c87

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Gunfire rang out 315b9c0da9 endlessly. Bullets, more expensive than 29adf0b254 water, tore through the b092960aee air, hitting or grazing dfc176cbd0 the infected. But though 7d84e665d8 they bore 4b0e6b2719 human shapes, 8255d54246 these infected be9f32a53b were no 6e0de085f7 longer human. They felt no fear. With rotting mouths agape, d1eb9a73f4 they charged to tear af71380ad7 into human flesh.6ba79fc077ba5de6

Bang! Baaang—!cb126f3a59d1e6e1

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From this 4bf60624d8 point on, a17199a6cb it was bff235536c a battle 9b68badd24 between bullets 9d0589d410 and infected.a18f4a1ea1626ace

On this dark da68248af9 night with the e2501183d5 moon hidden behind dcfbdc091b thick clouds, only 70a7841b54 the muzzle flashes 95dbb0266b lit the world eee4ddbc34 in flickering bursts. Between those brief 9ebc8ff125 flashes, the rotting 53c05eb354 flesh of the 2a2b43b7da dead-yet-living infected could bdd7c3352d be seen, and 7aed1dd27e in the same 4e8f0e564d flashes, tears gleamed d4dc1889c2 in the eyes e9a4d922a7 of humans who 2c94537585 swore not to afed339cf2 end up like d78e9cfd98 that.95801ed11dd43b36

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Perched atop de60a713cd fragile barricades, 7319717c8d the humans a0abb476b1 poured bullets beef74ac22 into the d6d3879814 oncoming horde 31c09a2d86 of infected.99412ece8cdbc39a

Kigikigik!79dcf520e27a273e

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But the infected d35e4ed554 advanced faster than f99b9290c5 bullets could run 7fe488107a out. Climbing over the 033f757ba1 fallen bodies of dc5059b84b their own kind, 38f9ef2891 they trampled and ce3db619cf clambered over each bf85dfcd41 other to scale 43c3618fa4 the barricade—and up 5aa101e364 they came.76f8eb578d21d8bc

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

BOOM!12d5bad63e9aa6e3

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.274684f04b88df29

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Dozens were 0d89a319bc blown apart a1b1260931 by the 7512bd7d9c blast, but 5122b9799f the rest 8ecf9d1e98 charged on, d3d9755bab screaming in d4b6fbe42c monstrous, hideous c4a4098d6d howls.e2cf49105cce8d89

———!0b551f4b3970bbf4

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Bang! Bang! Bang!56913bdfee338548

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.8f9a4fd3a643cfd2

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“Aaaargh!”c9f60c4b30bea151

“Die! Just die already, you monster bastards!”1a9070590fbed870

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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.1ef4509c2033a203

At this rate, f0d252fde4 the humans would 3dcc8497aa lose. Many in the shelter 8ffe9495ed would become food for 1fef9654e0 the infected—and eventually infected c7c8236dcd themselves.1e792300f04d3250

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Not that I plan 25c67916a3 to let that happen.b71e46cbc5cbb0ea

Bang!4339c019bde08c60

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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.aef25370009a4a5a

Bang—!93c2180f119e6729

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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 7aa41b98be the infected scaling 3b1bd577b1 the barricade burst 19db87910f one after another. Not a single 7b1c242c37 missed shot.8a4ca795432dfa33

Finally, the moonlight e959b71bdd broke through the 3d168ea31b clouds. As the darkness faded b93c50abeb just a little, the 2793f93d84 corpses of the infected 18cb0aca74 could be seen blanketing 11b29966ed the ground. I aimed once 0d790ab51f more at a 67a772486f twitching one.Bang!A night bird flapped bfa4ceb1c1 away into the sky.0c3db291632cb3a3

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After emptying three 18b8db8b72 magazines, the area 1dca85cdda finally fell silent. I exhaled f14aa9b299 the breath 84aa903510 I had 3fc8633564 held and d963215521 pulled back 9d590debfe from the 219d9c9820 scope.609cd1ede7348966

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

Ugh, my eyes.5dd1889d56197dfb

I rubbed them—they ceb2120c10 were dry from 98081dc179 being open so 3dd8a6e070 long—and rotated my 3a579a11c1 stiff neck. The survivors 5c98de5f9e were cheering f3ebaf904d and hugging a3fccd6c35 each other, 6035629a88 celebrating the f9f3119092 fact that 86d67b7793 they were e00ee2d54c still alive. Celebration and dde201ea2b cheering in 22d7bbe63f a world 8650771b08 like this? Ridiculous.f9185611a33f04ef

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“Hey! Min Ahyeon! You’re still sharp, huh?”c7f8c26b85b2b720

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.2d192a54636819f4

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“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?”b2d5d6fc1394ea01

He raised both thumbs 8dfb171f96 and flashed a gold-toothed 1c37900697 grin.dc7bd02d94675287

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“Alright, what are you all doing? You should be thanking the mercenary who saved us!”130503add07333f5

“Ah, yes! Yes! Thank you so much!”8fb008dabae872e1

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“Thank you!”bd21d901e95bcfee

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.7accb4b0fb45a7f3

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The director 0a03d7ebc3 nudged a ad5a5e4e2a young woman 5bb8f57c3e at her 255035f5d7 side. As if prepared in 9a7c774d40 advance, she quickly spoke 444fbb4e71 up.23d2c87847e9f3cc

“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?”867d14599096e5f6

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She clasped her 7a8b0955a9 hands together.8d6393f80a451184

“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?”4ff9d231295687e6

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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.9826c3fd735c0550

As my expression c2cc45efac soured, not just 4ae0c34b85 the woman but fd0d929539 everyone else dropped 2c1405e11f to their knees 851de231f8 in front of 90e2b3e4f1 me.af93acdfbbd03874

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“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!”a9dd6ea1c39b9f27

“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?”2aad682456420e1f

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It had d53422f1bc been four 908a74c5c4 years since 5b2ad0e22b humans ceased 4e43aa24d0 to be 8bca388794 the apex 2033297e14 predators of 0537d62c44 this world.4869d917b6e77acf

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.936c2fc61edc5e05

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I reflexively touched the 3b1904b886 scar on my waist, 1abefdbea9 and my brows furrowed.09a0e4c8a1793bd4

“Old man.”c4ee5e12c7bdb85c

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I turned 9603b9af1a to the e6a811f695 director, who 6dca4ed616 was glancing 1b03e78a8e around nervously 1b99b5c08d as he d128c5b875 tried to 232d7def47 stir up 7d474b4dc9 the crowd.578e127b436752d8

“What was the original deal we made?”1c167810ecd92652

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The director hesitated bf24b5936c for a moment, 9b415e9101 then gave an 397039e553 awkward smile and 00c8fc2016 replied in a 7cc62584b4 sheepish voice.c78d466652f5aaed

“It was… to stop any infected waves that came from the cluster near the Cheongna shelter, right?”1eabb8ced035396e

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“That’s right. That was the job.”e316a2741be1718a

I pulled the revolver 2f550e17fd from my hip, flipped 6fc63c5a10 open the cylinder, and 64ba48aeaa gave it a quick 795b09ddfb spin to check—six rounds. I locked 5799061a20 the latch b1a1a0ccfd and finished 9681230e07 reloading.90c10f9861d943fa

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“Then why the hell haven’t you paid me, and why are you spewing this bullshit?”45686af72f9c6a5d

“Ah, Min Ahyeon, wait—calm down, okay? It’s not like we’re trying to cheat you. We’re just in a tight spot…”51a09da9fc60ca76

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“Old man.”e748c98bd91de82c

I cut him off 84bbbd480c and raised the revolver.cfaa3e1d7cf9db44

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“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.”c70f3af2af415718

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.f96c93a27dcfd4f4

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“Y-yeah! That’s exactly why we’re begging you now!”94ae51531a294f44

Thinking I was d3deb4965a finally on his 44ceb7d891 side, the director 8ec91e76bb ignored the gun c3a48924c9 aimed at his 65bea5169e face and raised 82e770312f his voice.0e1ea9f1fa1708d9

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“If you help us just this one time, we’ll never forget your kindness—”88f6e7465594dac9

“Then you should’ve just listened to the Seoul branch in the first place.”2026a5b9180baa53

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“W-wait! Don’t bring that up!”cd06cdaa5f5c7f43

The director lunged forward 26c1067828 to cover my mouth, 2e98b222ad but I pulled back bdd830e8be and raised my voice. The moment ab0672b695 he broke f84ab2ff16 the deal, 752e6c7343 he was aefdd5b48d already out 870c015ba2 of my 3a543f3c03 book.13cd6b48e1a1f88f

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“Did everyone here know that the Seoul branch offered to take you into their shelter?”e7f04109f0367e72

Of the few places adbb39da4f in the fallen Republic b671479dd9 of Korea that still 4f4a9ad43a 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.aef7fafa9dc0e54c

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And the f5454bd4c8 one who f299088e5b refused was 8811854aa1 this very 2b4c524fe5 director.130da8f2cb34c031

“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?”faec806df9e2c8b5

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“…What?”6852351c3f864372

People looked ad3dfc16f6 between me 9ac075bffe and the 28f59df340 director, stunned, d7f1f40f9a then began e9a2bd78cd murmuring in 9e95b908a9 confusion.e8524f9cab23cff4

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“Director? Is that true?”9263162dc818f755

“But didn’t you say the Seoul branch rejected us?”24da9fac191e2490

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“Director!”a4c777669acebc9e

“You lied to us—!”420c4e1229f19e68

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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.8d6070311e474041

I spoke as the f5b50d34e8 crowd grew louder in 7b24271605 panic and betrayal.5383113999f0ccc4

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“Whatever. You all deal with your own mess.”d3a689ad66980d9e

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.7c0f2d1f5c22d6b1

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And frankly, I 62ddbd83a9 wanted to leave 60d5f6111d right now. The whole thing disgusted 3ef1847140 me.03e7d6dc32853a28

I cocked 747b95e3ab the hammer 79f2bb8d9f of the fea1e282d5 revolver.Click.A bullet was chambered.82ad8b0d69a388c8

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“Money.”77a881e1a64aa2be

I pressed the barrel against the director’s forehead.0476803df7d2bd95

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“Hand it over.”7582113d853a258d

I’m taking what I’m owed before I leave. No way in hell I’m letting this bastard get a free ride.9aaab0f3e3fc4a1a

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