Chapter 44

32. Black

The invaders from PaleNet have been disrupting the bulletin board for three days.

Amid the flood of nonsense posts, our board users held their breath, waiting for the storm brought by Jonnaen to subside.

However, these guys show no signs of leaving. Instead, their numbers are increasing.

Considering the nature of PaleNet, it seems unlikely that the number of troublemakers will decrease; it will only increase.

As long as they have a mobile phone, they can access PaleNet.

As long as there is a signal and data, anyone can connect and cause chaos.

Amid this turmoil, one user took action.

gijayangban: PaleNet User Manual.txt

A journalist who has used PaleNet for a while wrote a lengthy post.

It suggests a shift in thinking: if we can't use our board, let's play on theirs.

Given that the journalist was already interested in PaleNet, he meticulously studied the user manual.

PaleNet is clearly different from our board.

It's not a single community board like ours but a multi-layered structure with numerous boards divided by topic.

It seems that users can even create their own board on a topic of their choice with the administrator's approval.

The boards are ranked from top to bottom based on the number of users, with the most popular being the "Survival Information Board."

I clicked on the Survival Information Board.

ㅇㅇ: Can you eat zombie meat?

聖血盃: I tore my ass while defecating...

ㅇㅇ: The post below is a troll, don't click

ㅇㅇ: Tips for getting more government rations.tip

ProAngvelMan: (factos) Kim Aeba is just spouting lies

Kim Aeba: Go to hell, lol, lower class people, lol. I'm going to study psychokinesis~

...

...

The atmosphere is not much different from our board.

The number of posts and users seems to be dozens of times greater than ours.

I'm not particularly curious about the content, but I clicked on a post by a user named ProAngvelMan.

ProAngvelMan: (factos) Kim Aeba is just spouting lies

-I have talent, so I'll get into the Guard Branch (I can't even pass the written test)

I'm retaking the year while working, so I'm different from ordinary retakers (I have no intention of studying)

I have many friends and am a normal person, but I'm just using PaleNet for a bit of fun (I spend all day on the internet)

The age group is clearly younger than ours.

It's childish, but that's the way it is.

There are also popular posts on PaleNet.

However, unlike our board, PaleNet has so many boards that even if there are popular posts, they might get buried and not be found.

To address this, Jonnaen created a hall of fame for popular posts from each board.

This is called the "Bulpan."

According to the journalist's user manual, this Bulpan is the alpha and omega of PaleNet.

What does the heart of PaleNet look like?

Actually, accessing the Bulpan is the true purpose of connecting to PaleNet.

With a pounding heart, I clicked on the Bulpan.

ㅇㅇ: The Legion is withdrawing from Yongsan District.jpg

ㅇㅇ: A tiger mutation has appeared on Palgong Mountain in Daegu.jpg

Pilgrim88: The True Hunter - Chapter 22

Munmyeong: Collecting fog for clean water (2)

ㅇㅇ: Nutria cooking recipe for Nakdong River people "From slaughter to a full table"

YaongMewDaWongKyawng: Top idol Preca found on Jeju Island evacuation ship!

ㅇㅇ: The Hope's current status.jpg (Still leaning)

...

...

"Wow."

Unlike the Survival Board, this feels quite good.

The quality of the posts and the level of information are incomparable to ours.

Take Pilgrim88, for example. He's a top-tier webtoon artist.

He seems to make more money from broadcasting than webtoons, but he's famous enough that I know his name, even though I don't read webtoons much.

We do have a webtoon artist named Dragon, but he's not in the same league.

It's like the difference between an artist at the threshold of professionalism and one at the pinnacle.

In any case, this Bulpan is an incredible place.

There's nothing but interesting posts.

They say the number of people on an internet site is the king, and it's truly so.

However, PaleNet also has its weaknesses.

Since it's an open board, there's no concept of accounts, so there's no function to send messages to users, and because users are not specific, the ratio of "troublemakers" who change their nicknames frequently and cause chaos is much higher than on our board.

Moreover, the site itself is slow and unstable.

Just downloading Pilgrim88's webtoon takes forever, and I had to boil a cup of coffee and clean the house while waiting for it to finish.

Still, it's undeniable that PaleNet has much more to see.

It's a good sign.

Now, PaleNet users are causing chaos on our board, but they might all leave soon.

In any case, there are a lot of boards.

Beauty, games, movies, literature, construction, firearms, sewing and repairs, flea markets—there's nothing they don't have.

With hundreds of boards, it's faster to find something that doesn't exist.

However, one board in particular caught my eye.

[ Pioneer Board ]

Do pioneers also use a board?

It's ranked around 700th, so there aren't many users, but it's not closed, so some people must be using it.

However, this board is private.

According to the journalist's PaleNet user manual, some boards can be made private with the administrator's approval, and these boards usually have a password.

I clicked on it.

[ Please enter the password ]

Sure enough, it's password-protected.

But I'm not just any user.

I'm Park Kyu, a friend of PaleNet's founder, Jonnaen.

SKELTON: Are you there? I have a favor to ask.

I immediately sent a message to Jonnaen's secondary account.

Message from 183cm88kg18cm: Oh, Mr. SKELTON. What's up?

SKELTON: Is this Mr. Jonnaen?

Message from 183cm88kg18cm: No, it's the person you met before.

Probably Jonnaen's assistant.

It doesn't matter whether it's Jonnaen or this guy.

I stated my request.

The password to access the Pioneer Board.

Message from 183cm88kg18cm: The Pioneer Board? Give me a moment. [email protected]#4$5%

SKELTON: Thanks.

Sure enough, it's a matter of having power.

I, Park Kyu, am a washed-up hunter in real life, but in the internet world, I'm a friend of a god.

Using the power of a god, I entered the Pioneer Board.

"Hmm?"

There are posts.

Presumably left by pioneers.

18KimHakmin: Prevent board closure

18KimHakmin: Prevent board closure

18KimHakmin: Prevent board closure

18KimHakmin: Prevent board closure

18KimHakmin: Prevent board closure

...

...

"..."

I suddenly felt a strong urge to comment.

It's a board, not a "revelation board."

In any case, it's a dead board.

There's almost no activity, and one man posts a thread every month to prevent the board from being automatically closed.

Naturally, 18KimHakmin's posts have no content.

Although it's a wasteland now, this Pioneer Board was quite active about a year ago.

There are several posts, but they are mostly barren, like the introduction board of a company website, with titles like "Pioneers' Mindset," "Pioneers' Song," and "Pioneers' Code of Conduct."

I clicked on one that seemed to have some content.

12ChuYongmin: Get a grip

The post had an attached photo.

The quality was poor, making it hard to see, but it seemed to show a group of refugees, presumably pioneers.

Below the photo, the poster's text continued.

- I often see kids these days holding meetings, saying we're doing something wrong. If they don't like it, they should just leave.

Just look at the streets.

There are too many useless people.

They complain and protest all day. They just waste food.

We're not driving away young people who could help the country.

The incompetent older generation.

They ruined the country.

They're paying the price.

Today, I sent a few old trash with a few guns to the countryside.

What can they do?

We are the ones who keep the country running.

His post had two comments.

8LeeDaeJoo: Is Gang Kyung-sik watching? You bastard. Get out.

20PyoKyungSu: Sir, you are absolutely right!

Posts from pioneers a year ago.

More accurately, posts from the guys who send pioneers to their deaths.

There was nothing more to gain from this board.

There was another interesting board.

The Beatbox Board, right?

Just as I was about to click on the Beatbox Board, an alarm went off from Viva! Apocalypse!

Message from COOKIEMONSTER18: My daughter is on her way there!

A message from Rebecca.

But what is this kid saying?

SKELTON: What? Your daughter alone?

Message from COOKIEMONSTER18: I'll take her there this time.

"..."

Creating such a troublesome event while I'm having fun on the internet.

Well, this is possible because the gap between us has narrowed.

We were quite distant even after acknowledging each other as neighbors, but since she brought the equipment, the distance has closed dramatically.

I checked the surroundings with binoculars, gathered my weapons, and went outside the bunker.

The abandoned field was getting dark.

I could see lights on the horizon.

Fires lit by pioneers who were driven out of the city.

Looking to the west, I saw Rebecca's daughter riding a bicycle with a gun on her shoulder through the bushes.

"SKELTON!"

She waved when she saw me.

"What is that? I've never seen it before."

"I found it before and fixed it by looking up how to repair it on the internet."

"Oh, really? Can I see it?"

"Sure."

I examined the bicycle.

It's a pretty good one.

It seems to be well-repaired.

"You fixed it by looking it up on the internet?"

"Yeah. I searched using the laptop you gave me when Mom was napping."

"Good job. By the way, I haven't heard gunshots lately. Are you still on guard?"

"I think it's better not to shoot now."

Soo looked at me with sparkling eyes.

Innocent yet determined.

Many thoughts came to mind.

When this kid first came to my bunker, she was a normal, timid child.

To see her grow so well in this harsh and brutal era without any friends.

I've never had children and probably never will, but I feel proud.

"Do you want anything to eat?"

"Something juicy."

"Juicy, huh? But what's in the luggage, a Javelin?"

Soo nodded.

"I didn't bring it before because I was tired. So, I came for it."

"You came for that?"

"Yeah. I was also bored. Mom is on the internet again."

"Come in."

Soo entered my bunker.

She slightly frowned at the toilet in the center.

"Strange."

"Is it that strange?"

"It looks perverted."

"..."

I shut my mouth and prepared a snack for Soo.

She likes juicy things.

I took out two frozen mangoes, defrosted them in the microwave, and served them to Soo with a bit of ice.

"Wow!"

Soo gratefully enjoyed the snack I offered.

After she finished the mangoes, she stared at me.

"Do you have something to say?"

"Isn't SKELTON super strong?"

Is this a continuation of that?

"Me?"

"Yeah!"

What should I say?

Should I say I'm strong?

No, I'm strong compared to the average human.

The problem is that too many have surpassed me.

After thinking for a long time, I smiled bitterly and answered.

"Kind of."

"Liar. SKELTON is super strong, right? Aren't you a hunter?"

"Well, I was a hunter. But not anymore."

"Why?"

Soo raised her head strongly.

"Well, I don't have the strength. Or should I say, the ability."

"Ability? Psychic ability?"

"You know. Ah!"

There was a litmus paper-like psychic ability test given by Woo Minhee.

Since the topic came up, let's test it.

Even if the result is good, I have no intention of telling Woo Minhee, but there are always what-ifs in life.

Imagine if Rebecca dies from an overwhelming attack, I suffer a fatal injury, and Soo is left alone.

If that happens, wouldn't it be worth contacting Woo Minhee?

Of course, I can't move her with just words.

The psychic ability test she gave me is not given lightly. She gave it because it's necessary.

If the result is good, she will gladly come to get Soo.

This is 100% certain.

Woo Minhee is a very honest person in a certain sense.

If she thinks it's not necessary, she won't even give a tissue.

She didn't give a single penny for Kim Dalram's wedding...

"Soo, do you want to try this in your mouth?"

"What is it?"

"They say it's a paper to test if you have the qualities of a hunter."

"Really?"

"Yeah. The whiter it turns, the higher the quality. What do you think?"

"I want to try!"

Soo showed strong enthusiasm.

"If you become as strong as SKELTON, you might be able to protect everyone."

"That's good."

"And kill the Koreans you don't like."

"······Don't be too much like your mom."

"Just kidding."

Soo put the test paper in her mouth.

What result will it show?

Will it turn a bright white, making Woo Minhee come running barefoot?

Or will it turn a gray that just saves face?

Gray is an ominous color in this era, but it's a necessary color for the insurance I want.

"Uh."

Soo tilted her head.

It's black.

The color didn't change at all.

It's a disappointing result, but for some reason, I laughed.

"Why are you laughing, SKELTON?"

"Sorry. I didn't mean to."

"SKELTON, try it too!"

Soo handed me the paper she had put in her mouth.

An unplanned test.

Of course, I took out a new paper and put it in my mouth.

When the bitter paper touched my tongue, I did have a glimmer of hope.

I still have some lingering hope.

For the moment when God's choice comes to me.

For the day when I can step out of this remote place and proudly act as Professor, a somewhat grandiose name, as I did in the past.

For the day when I can team up with those who hurt me and I hurt, like Kang Hyun-min and Na Hye-won, and proudly walk through the cracks, banishing the monsters I hate from this world.

My hatred in my heart has not cooled.

But as always, reality is harsh.

"What? SKELTON is black too!"

This time, Soo laughed loudly.

I looked at the unchanged black sheet with a wry smile.

"······"

Two black sheets were placed side by side.

One belongs to Soo, a girl from a distant foreign land, and the other to me, Park Kyu.

She taped the two sheets to the bunker wall as a keepsake.

"We're both black."

For a failed test, Soo seemed quite happy.

"Let's go. I'll take you back to your mom."

"Okay!"

After Soo left, I stared at the two black sheets for a long time.

I suddenly thought.

Is black necessarily a bad thing?

"SKELTON, what are you doing? Are you in that weird toilet?"

"······"

I need to seriously reconsider the placement of the toilet.