Chapter 33 – Sieve

I live in Geumhwa New City.

It is a city near the Seoul Metropolitan Area, bordering Seoul, Incheon, and Bucheon, and it was a new city that had been developed not long ago.

Along with the city’s development, the old downtown area was designated as the Redevelopment Zone where I currently live. It had been marginalized in almost every aspect.

For example, Line 1, which connects Seoul and Incheon, was routed toward the New Downtown Area, and the intercity bus terminal, apartments, and commercial centers were all constructed over there.

Among these, the most important was the Line 1 route.

Line 1 allowed for easy connection from Incheon, where Choi Seunghwan operated, to Seoul, and further to all the train tracks leading to the provinces.

This later became the catalyst for Choi Seunghwan to expand his influence.

‘I can’t let that bastard have this again.’

In the previous timeline, once he had finished growing, that bastard led Korea into a state of civil war. As a result, not only did countless people die, but a significant portion of the national territory was devastated.

Of course, Korea wasn’t the only place where people decided to side with the Monsters to bring about the Apocalypse of humanity; most countries suffered a fate similar to Korea’s.

However, Choi Seunghwan was insanely competent.

He performed the tasks assigned to him with terrifying efficiency.

As a result, the number of Koreans decreased drastically, and only the “prime cuts” who survived through repeated filtering remained.

Meanwhile, that ‘filter’ was also the method I intended to use.

‘Geographically, if anyone wants to enter Incheon by land, they have no choice but to pass through me. Which means…’

Like a sieve, my goal was to pick out all the good people and let only the useless ones enter Incheon.

‘Well… while I’m at it, I’ll stop the civil war too.’

This wasn’t out of patriotism or simply for the sake of humanity.

In the Apocalypse, having many people I could communicate with meant it would be easier to gather power and the pool of available talent would be that much wider.

In other words, it was about growing the pie.

‘Now then, shall we begin?’

I started planning the operation in detail.

* * *

“I have something to tell you.”

I called over Sua, Deokchan, and Seongjae.

“The world won’t change just because the three of us survive. For humanity to survive, we need to maintain at least a city-scale population.”

“I suppose so…”

“Ahem. Certainly.”

“What’s this? Is Siwoo finally trying to act like a Lord?”

Seongjae quickly grasped my intentions, accompanied by a joke.

“Something like that. There’s something I need you to do. Together with Elder Deokchan.”

“Just say the word.”

“I shall do my utmost in any task.”

I led the three of them to the motel district inside the City Wall.

It was a place I had intentionally left behind when planning the sectors.

“Let the newcomers stay here.”

“My goodness, so not with us?”

“Correct. I don’t know how many people will come; I can’t let everyone enter the Shopping Mall.”

“You are certainly right about that…”

Deokchan grew quiet. He flinched with anxious eyes, his expression looking as if he were recalling things he had experienced before.

“Come to think of it, Seongjae. How is Seongmin doing?”

“Ah, he’s much better. I heard he’s been training with Ms. Sua lately.”

“Oh, really?”

That was good news.

“I’ll place restrictions on the newcomers via contracts. If they betray us or do something bad, we’ll be notified immediately.”

“Hmm, that would definitely be best.”

“Tell Seongmin for me.”

“Sure, I will.”

Then, we examined the buildings in the motel district once more. Deokchan and Seongjae, who were tasked with the reconstruction of the motel district, chattered endlessly, seemingly happy to have new work.

“Hmm… assuming people live here…”

“We can pull power lines for electricity… the water is the problem.”

I looked warmly at the two of them, who were already starting to plan.

“Then I can leave it to you two this time as well, right?”

“Of course!”

“Of course!”

The two shouted almost simultaneously.

* * *

Next was Sua’s turn.

“And… Ms. Sua.”

“Yes.”

Sua answered in a voice full of military discipline.

As time went by, she was showing more and more of a soldier’s demeanor.

‘I feel like she’d get along well with that guy if he comes?’

A random thought crossed my mind for a moment.

I quickly shook it off and focused on the main point.

I spread out the map and pointed with my finger.

“Ms. Sua, you’ll be overseeing from here to here… Check if there are any decent people among the refugees and recruit them.”

“Ah, by myself?”

“Yes. I’ll attach a few Magitech Armors and Mountain Cavalry to you. Also, do you think you can handle Stompers on your own now?”

“Um… I’m not sure yet, but I might be able to.”

Recently, she had been experimenting with new techniques following Seongjae’s ideas, and it seemed the results were quite good.

“That’s good. If it doesn’t work, I’ll provide firepower support with the Assault Cannons.”

I provided her with a safety net.

I also decided to delegate one more authority.

“By the way, Ms. Sua.”

“Yes?”

“The area from here to here is quite wide, isn’t it?”

“Yes… actually, I thought I might miss some spots.”

“Do you want to try this?”

I transferred the authority of six Observation Probes patrolling that area to her. Upon receiving the Mana from me, she seemed quite shocked.

“What! Mr. Siwoo, have you been seeing things like this normally?”

“Yes… that’s right. But for now, I’d like you to keep this a secret.”

My request for a secrecy oath was protected by a contract. She understood the meaning and nodded.

“Yes. I understand.”

“I’ve already set the patrol routes for the Observation Probes, so just check them consistently. You can do that, right?”

“Yes. I’ll do my best.”

Sua wore a serious expression.

‘Good… I think she’ll do a great job.’

I gave a satisfied smile.

Finally, I gave an order to the black Mountain Cavalry.

‘Patrol primarily around the Main Base, the motel district, and the Dungeon Entrance.’

Since those places held everything we had, including facilities and resources, I couldn’t neglect the defense of the Main Base. Having finished delegating the tasks, I decided to focus on what I had to do.

‘Since I’ve left the low-density areas to Ms. Sua… now I just need to clear out the New Downtown Area.’

The place where my original studio apartment was located.

The time had come to take back that New Downtown Area.

* * *

Tat-tattattat-

The sound of gunfire echoing from afar. In the past, a girl would have been filled with hope, thinking the military had come to rescue her, but now it was different.

‘Mom said there’s a high chance they’re Looters these days…’

Was she barely in her second year of middle school?

Her small frame trembled with fear.

In the vicinity, there were already three Plunderer Groups that the survivor group she and her mother belonged to had identified.

Considering their range of activity wasn’t that wide, she couldn’t even guess how many Plunderer Groups were already active in the New Downtown Area.

‘Mom… when are you coming?’

In her anxiety, she simply sat still like a stone, waiting endlessly. Moving around would only make her hungrier and thirstier.

Especially with food—she could just eat some crackers—but water was the biggest problem. The rainwater she had collected was a yellowish color and often tasted like strange metal, making her really hate drinking it.

So, like a lucky charm, she merely fiddled with a cellphone that had been dead for quite some time.

Hoping for the impossible—that the phone would suddenly turn on and a call from her mother would come through.

But… today was going to be a little different.

* * *

When had she fallen asleep?

BOOM-!

BOOM-!

The girl woke up to a low-frequency sound shaking the building.

“Uh, Mom?”

With shaking eyes, the girl first looked for her mother. The sun had set a while ago, and the living room was already dark.

Also, as winter was slowly approaching, the temperature was dropping to the point where it felt cold indoors once night fell.

But something more frightening was happening.

Step-stepstep-

Thump-thump-thump-

The sound of chaotic footsteps in the apartment hallway beyond the front door. At first, the girl thought it was her mother, but she soon changed her mind.

‘Mom’s footsteps wouldn’t sound like this…’

The survivors usually moved in groups of two or three at most. And usually, her mother would return alone to her house with only her own share.

But today, there were far too many footsteps.

‘Five…? No, it sounds like at least six people…’

She stifled her breathing so that not even a sound would be heard.

She knew well enough that if she were discovered, she would either die… or if she were unlucky, suffer something even worse.

‘Just pass by quickly…’

She prayed.

But the world betrayed those expectations.

Click- clickclick-

The front door handle began to shake.

‘It’s okay, I locked the door well—’

Click-

Thud!

But the door ruthlessly betrayed her expectations.

‘Why, why did it open!?’

Just as the girl froze in terror.

“Suhyeon? Are you sleeping?”

It was her mother.

* * *

“Mom, so… we’re going to live with these people now?”

“Yes. They are people we will be with from now on. This person is called Siwoo.”

A young man with a calm impression. Upon meeting his eyes, the girl reflexively turned her head away. The young man smiled warmly, as if to reassure her.

Then he added.

“When you leave, just follow these armors.”

“Ah… yes. What should I do about my luggage?”

“By tomorrow morning, it will all be moved on its own. You don’t need to worry.”

“Yes…”

Thus, they set out along the dark road, following the armors.

‘G-guns?’

The girl was surprised to see the guns all the armors were carrying. It wasn’t a familiar design, but no matter how she looked at it, that weapon was a gun.

Furthermore, from time to time, monkey-like creatures holding sharp spears moved among the armors. Despite their tiny size, they gave off a strangely ominous aura.

‘What are those things…’

The girl avoided them as much as possible. Meanwhile, it wasn’t just those strange soldiers who surprised her.

“Suhyeon. Eat this.”

“Wow, beef jerky?! Something this precious!”

“There’s clean water here too, so chew it well.”

“Whoa…”

Suhyeon’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the shimmering, transparent water.

“He gave us all of this.”

“All of this…?”

“We’re saved now. He said we just have to do our best.”

How long had it been?

Her mother’s expression looked incredibly bright.

* * *

After filling their hungry bellies and quenching their dry throats, the mother and daughter continued to walk, following the armors.

The armors, who instantly dealt with the Monsters that occasionally attacked, escorted them and quickly left the New Downtown Area, heading toward the old downtown.

As the atmosphere grew increasingly bleak, the girl became frightened and gripped her mother’s hand tightly.

“Mom? Is it really okay here?”

The girl whispered.

Though she was only a middle school student, she knew that this area was a Redevelopment Zone where the marginalized lived, and thus a neighborhood where public safety was unstable.

‘I heard the bad kids from school all hang out here…’

Rumors spread quickly, after all. However, her mother’s expression suggested she trusted them completely.

“Suhyeon. Everything will be okay now.”

For some reason, the girl felt anxious.

Why was her mother acting like this? But once she had entered the middle of the Redevelopment Zone… only then did she understand her mother’s heart.

Under the dark night sky, the only place shining brightly.

It was… a castle.

The castle in the middle of the downtown area had a stature like the Suwon Hwaseong Fortress she had once visited on a school trip. There was no shortage of electricity, as bright lights illuminated every direction.

‘Guns… and a castle?’

The girl was astonished.

But what was even more amazing was that a moat, which she couldn’t imagine how they had dug and filled with water, surrounded the City Wall.

And behind the wall, in the center, was a building that looked as if it were clad in iron; its original form was impossible to guess.

‘What on earth is that building…?’

Just as she was thinking that.

Tiririri-

Clang!

A steel drawbridge lowered in front of the mother and daughter.

“Uh… Mom…?”

“Let’s go in. Mom has already looked into everything.”

Her mother gripped her hand firmly and led her. From her, the girl could feel a strong will to protect her.

‘If it’s here… it might actually be okay.’

And she, too, was naturally being persuaded.