Chapter 2

Hiding the Logistics Center in the Apocalypse - Chapter 2 (2/240)

Hiding the Logistics Center in the Apocalypse - Part 2

(The Apocalypse of the Nuclear Family (2))

“Huff... huff...”

Panting, I turned around.

Through the portal, I could still see the orc searching for me.

It had tried to enter several times,

but was blocked by a transparent wall.

Clang! Clang!

It pounded the wall in frustration, but nothing changed.

The orc gave up trying to enter.

It just stared at me, licking its lips.

“I’m alive...”

Just as I was about to take a deep breath of relief,

a message appeared.

Is this the magic stone?

In my hand was a blue gem of unknown origin.

It was a message I could see ever since my ability awakened, but this time it was different.

A familiar voice was added to the message window.

I called out to the owner of the voice.

“Pax...?”

My only friend at work.

The AI, Pax, was reading the status window message.

“What the...”

I looked around.

The place where I had been just a moment ago.

The interior of the logistics center was clearly visible, but the view outside the window was empty, like a blank sheet of paper.

It felt as if I were in a space outside the universe, or in a non-existent dimension.

I asked,

“Where am I...? What are you?”

Pax’s response was quick.

Damn, I thought it was my first day at work.

The logistics center looked the same as usual, but there was one difference.

All the lights were off, and the AGV robots and conveyor belts that moved the shelves had come to a complete stop.

Pax said,

Is it just me, or does the AI sound somewhat urgent?

“What serious problem?”

The refrigerator stopped?

That was a bit of a problem.

The outside view now resembled a war zone.

I might have to survive for a long time in this pocket space.

I needed to prevent any issues with the most important resource, food.

“How do you supply power? This is a pocket space.”

The solution was surprisingly simple.

The magic stone I received upon entering the pocket space.

Pax wanted it.

Without hesitation, I handed over the magic stone.

“Here, take it.”

I also wanted the items here to be safe.

As I lifted the magic stone into the air,

it slowly dispersed and disappeared.

Then,

Click!

Whirr—

The lights in the logistics center turned on, and the AGV robots started moving again.

The ventilation system turned on with a whirring sound, and I felt more at ease.

“...I’ve bought some time.”

“How do you get the magic stones?”

“If you’re a being from another world...”

I turned my head, and saw a handsome green orc still guarding the portal.

“Like that?”

In simple terms, it meant I had to capture the orc to get the magic stone.

The goal was set, but the method was unclear.

How could I capture that monster?

The only tool I had was the transparent wall blocking the orc.

And...

This full-fulfillment logistics center.

I asked,

“Can I search for items like before?”

“Like a real sword or a longsword?”

A real sword means a decorative sword, not a real one.

A dagger wouldn’t be bad, but it would be difficult to kill the orc with it.

“An axe?”

I went into the automatic shelving and found the G row.

As I searched for the numbers among the endless compartments, it felt like I was in a huge library.

Finally, I found the G-76 shelf and picked a usable axe from the dozens of hand axes.

It didn’t look like a weapon, but it was the heaviest and sharpest one among them.

It cost about 70,000 won.

But I didn’t need to pay.

From now on, I was the owner of everything in this place.

Just as I picked up the axe,

“What is this?”

The axe in my hand.

It was the last item on the shelf.

But as soon as I took it out, the shelf was magically refilled.

No matter how many times I took it out, it was the same.

In other words...

“The items are copied? That’s cheating.”

A logistics center with infinite inventory.

The full-fulfillment center brought into the pocket space had become a monstrous space.

“...Anyway.”

I took the axe and left the shelving.

The orc was still staring at me through the portal, not moving an inch.

It was a persistent bastard.

“You dug your own grave.”

I approached the orc, hiding the axe behind my back.

I only had one chance.

If it felt threatened, it might run away.

When I was close enough,

I took a deep breath.

The orc was large enough to fill most of the portal.

At this distance, I was confident I wouldn’t miss.

The orc’s ‘head.’

Sensing something was wrong, the orc’s eyes became cautious.

But...

“It’s too late.”

Swish!

I swung the axe with all my might.

The axe, spinning through the air, soon...

Thud!

Hit the orc’s head.

Splat!

Green blood spurted from the orc’s head,

Thud!

And it fell backward.

The orc’s body twitched a few times and then turned cold.

“Phew...”

The long-standing wish of the past three days was finally fulfilled.

.

.

.

Thud, thud.

After killing the orc, I headed to a specific place.

Thanks to the power being restored, the facility’s lights and the computers processing orders were back on.

Arriving at the picking station, I quickly entered information on the keyboard below the monitor.

Tap, tap, tap.

This picking station was a kind of ‘pickup location’ where AGV robots brought ordered items to this spot.

With the power back, I could use the facility conveniently.

“I’m going to place an order.”

Tap, tap!

As I entered items on the keyboard, Pax added with a clear voice,

“It’s all free, isn’t it?”

Backpack, combat boots, military vest, water bottle, and emergency rations.

Shopping was quite enjoyable.

But as I stuffed the items into my bag one by one, a familiar feeling crept in.

“...Damn, this is like packing a duffel bag.”

How long has it been since I was discharged? The situation was truly frustrating.

After finishing the preparations, I added two more items to my order.

Thud.

An AGV robot threw a book and a box of pens at me.

“Really, there’s nothing you don’t have.”

This full-fulfillment center even had books.

I ordered a 200-page map book that covered the entire metropolitan area.

I could have used a smartphone, but the internet was down, and the map app wouldn’t load.

Flip.

I opened the first page showing the entire metropolitan area.

And I started marking a few places with a pen.

“My big sister who works in Gangnam, my little sister in Euljiro, my big brother and his wife who live in Dobong-gu...”

Finally, my parents and grandfather in Uijeongbu.

The Kim family was scattered like the Dragon Balls.

It was a perfect example of nuclear fission.

“Why are we all scattered so uselessly...”

At least they were all in the north.

I could find them one by one, starting with the closest.

I planned to find my little sister in Gangnam first.

“Everyone must be safe.”

My current location was Gunpo City.

It was part of the metropolitan area, but the distance to Seoul was not short.

It was quite far, but with family love, I could probably make it.

Moreover, this full-fulfillment center was truly great, and I could even get a decent vehicle.

Strain.

An AGV robot strained to bring my items.

Shine, shine.

A shiny creature with bright headlights.

Pax called out,

Click!

I took the bicycle and adjusted the saddle height.

“Before work... I didn’t expect to have such items.”

Not a car or a motorcycle, but it would be helpful.

According to the product page, it could travel up to 100km on a single charge.

I wasn’t envious of Tesla at all right now.

Sitting on the saddle, I looked outside the portal.

The orc’s body, with an axe in its head, lay sprawled out, and behind it were overturned, broken, and burning trucks and buildings.

It wasn’t a particularly happy world...

“Should I go?”

Whirr—

I started the electric bicycle.

Behind me, the Pax full-fulfillment center, with its shelves full of items, loomed majestically.

From food and drinks to even entertainment.

It had everything except for nothing.

Compared to the outside, it might as well be called heaven.

But...

“There’s no family like ours.”

Ding!

Pax chimed in.

Thus, I stepped out of the portal.

With the 10,000 square meter Pax full-fulfillment center at my back.