Chapter 28

Chapter 4: Eyelid (1)

***

What is this?

The next morning, the professor, holding his head from a hangover, was deeply puzzled by the object placed right in front of him.

[Yellow Peach]

...A peach drawing, yellow background. That’s right, a can of peach.

The problem is, where did this come from, and why is it already opened?

“Ugh... So, yesterday, I clearly...”

Fortunately, perhaps because he had good liquor, the broken memories floated back into his mind like pieces of film.

======

“Cheers!”

“Cheers!”

======

“Hahaha! What, professor? Your name is Professor Park?”

“Keehee! How can someone’s name be Professor...”

“Especially, you do game streaming! A man like you! Hahaha! This is the end of the world! The end of the world, indeed! No, it is the end of the world, right? Hahaha!”

“...Since it’s come to this, come and visit often. Ah, damn! There’s nothing to be ashamed of! Hey! One more drink!”

======

“Ugh!”

Clack, clack, clack, clack—

“Drinking such strong liquor without any snacks. That little guy sure drank a lot.”

“Ugh... I want to eat some hot soup...”

“Whoa, you’re still able to stand, so you’re not that drunk yet. I’ll be right back.”

“Hey, Professor. Where are you going?”

“Yeah. I’ll go to the mart and get some ramen.”

“...What?”

“There’s a mart downstairs.”

“No, we just risked our lives to escape from there?”

“Like a mother-in-law! Don’t worry! Who am I, the one who took out those raptor war freaks with just my head! I have a plan!”

“Hey, Vex. He’s drunk. Try to stop him—”

“I’m borrowing a bag, okay?”

“No, even if you’re drunk, that’s—”

“Hey, the metal Joe who lives and dies in Lo-Rom, are you scared?”

“Hahaha. These guys. Hey, bring the tools.”

======

“Whoa! It’s really empty?”

“Scavengers? They were all wiped out by the raptors and fled. The dome? It was destroyed by the raptors and fled. The raptors? They were either killed or fled by the abominations and dikes we dropped? I told you! I have a plan!”

“Ugh... Hap, there’s nothing left.”

“They must have taken everything carefully while fleeing. No odeng soup either?”

Creak—

“Hey, drunkards! Come here and look at this! A few shelves in the canned food section are knocked over, and there’s something underneath!”

Creak—

“Vex, quickly.... My back is going to break.... Ugh!”

“Hwangdo! There’s Hwangdo!” “Ohhh!!!”

“It’s a treasure! At the bottom of Pandora’s box was hope, and at the bottom of the 45th treasure chest was Hwangdo!”

“It’s a fruit snack!”

======

“Sweet!”

“Sweet!”

“The broth! The sugar is seeping into my body! It’s criminal!”

“Ugh, ugh—”

“Oh, it’s good to be alive!”

======

...Really.

No matter where or when, it’s a tradition for drunk men to do foolish things, but to think that I, of all people, would do something so dangerous that could put my life at risk!

The professor looked at the can that seemed to have been opened with a blunt object, feeling bewildered. Vex had used a security key from his pocket to open it because he was too lazy to get a knife. Wasn’t it a tungsten key that didn’t even leave a scratch?

“Phew. Really foolish.”

This was something he never imagined before coming here. Moving with someone, getting along so well with those people, and... playing and having fun like before the collapse.

Yes, yesterday’s foolishness was truly a game. After 7 years since the collapse, the professor had a great time.

“...With just a few days of memories, I won’t have to worry about depression for a year.”

The professor looked at the vomit, empty cans, and the two people sleeping soundly in between, and chuckled.

***

“Hey, are you really going to go your own way? Me and Vex are going to sell spices in Sector 43, you know?”

“Pfft— If I follow you, I might not die? Also, where did you get all that gunpowder?”

“Oh, didn’t I tell you? I’m from the raptors. I didn’t like what they were doing, so I took a fully loaded armored truck and fled.”

“...Sorry, but do you have a condition where you can’t control your impulses sometimes?”

“Hahaha! My jaw flew off then! My bounty is probably still up in the raptor society’s nest?”

“It was nice meeting you, sir. If we meet again, I’ll pretend not to know you.”

“Haha! You too! Professor, there’s probably a bounty on your neck and Vex’s because of yesterday. It was wise to hide your names.”

Surprisingly, the Hummer, with its bumper and hood missing and its rear end looking like a rag, moved just fine except for being a bit noisy. Ian and Vex, with a splint on his leg, stood facing the professor.

“Well... this is goodbye.”

“Yeah, if that’s your wish. A man can’t cling on like a child.”

“Hehehe. If you ever come to Sector 47, look me up. Hey, Vex! Did you finish that thing? Are you okay now?”

“...”

Without a word, Vex, who had been staring at the professor, limped forward and extended his hand.

His wrinkled face was filled with mixed emotions.

----------

‘Uncle! Come with us! Uncle of the 14th Battalion!’

‘Hey, kid. We’ve killed a lot of people. So many that we’re not sure if we’re good people anymore.’

‘That’s why we do good deeds like [rescuing a kid and staying behind] periodically. It’s a kind of self-proof. So, don’t cry.’

‘Ugh, ugh...’

‘If it’s too much, think of it as a small debt! When you grow up and meet someone from our battalion, treat them to a good meal. Hey! All set! Let’s go!’

‘Uncle! Uncle!!!’

‘Have fun! You have a long life ahead of you! Enjoy it, kid!’

----------

.

.

.

‘Have fun (Hev Fun. Enjoy)’

“Hap.”

“What. Why are you looking at me so creepily. It’s scary.”

The professor scratched his head and shook hands with Vex.

Click, click,

The fragmented and shattered memories began to find their places. Like fallen blocks or scattered puzzle pieces, the memories and emotions settled into a pattern. One, two, three. Back to one.

Vex didn’t answer. Instead,

“...Hehe, hehehehe.”

He smiled brightly, showing his teeth, unlike his usual leaking laugh.

They parted ways like that, with the promise of a future meeting.

***

Whirr—

Whoosh!

An airlock made of house plastic and five vacuum cleaners.

Apart from the inconvenience of holding your breath inside, there’s no better facility to separate the outside dust from the inside.

Once you take off your protective suit and open the door, your nose reacts before your eyes. The familiar, flesh-colored gray smell.

Home. After a dynamic 3-night, 4-day journey, this is home.

“Master!”

Ah, seeing the culprit of this extravagant outing and the decaying heart, it really feels like coming home.

“I’ve brought in some money.”

“Yay~ Did you pick up something good on the way back..... Ugh! What’s that shotgun! It can’t be refunded!”

Seeing Corduroy’s shock at the well-fitted double-barreled shotgun slung on my back, I said in a strict and solemn voice.

“Say hello. This is Miss Barrel, your new lady, from today.”

“...That’s strange. Was there a radiation storm today? It wasn’t in the forecast.”

No, once I tried it, I didn’t want to go back to the pipe shotgun.

Before parting, I couldn’t say anything when Ian asked if I still wanted a refund.

***

“So, this is...?”

“Yeah. Your master is someone who can make a fortune even when going to return a refund.”

A top-tier shotgun, a painting wrapped in multiple layers of cloth to prevent damage, a Rolex watch with intricate movements, and a large necklace with precious stones. Plus, a can of Hwangdo.

Seeing the harvest of this journey, Corduroy’s happiness circuits started to burn fiercely.

“So, how much do you plan to list it for at the exchange?”

“That’s... something I need to think about.”

I’ve been thinking about it on the way, but the situation is more complicated than expected.

If we list the items from the 45th sector treasure hunt in order of the most affected groups:

Scavengers > Dome > Raptors.

For the scavengers, it’s no surprise. We didn’t get attacked even once on the way back, which shows how much their numbers have decreased.

The dome lost over 20 elite troops and all their equipment,

The r