Guide to the Fallen World - Chapter 7
#7. Shelter Noah
“Why are you shouting? Do you think i don’t know how dangerous it is? But even so, it’s fine. That’s what I’m saying right now.”
At Yeowon’s calm response, Jay’s eyelids twitched. Every time she acted like this, even though she was an android, she felt so human. Yeowon set that thought aside and spoke.
“I’ve come too far. I don’t even know how I’m supposed to live without you anymore, and it was you who started the production of the guiding drugs and everything. From the beginning, I was just blindly cooperating, and here I am. Don’t you feel sorry for someone like me?”
“…”
“Besides, I’ve never even been outside the Ark. I’ve only seen it through satellite images.”
“Ultimately, that’s it. You want to go out.”
“Yeah. That’s the truth. But even so, it’s true that the chances of success are higher if I take the lead and draw attention while you support from behind, right?”
That was true.
Without even needing to pull all the computational power of the Ark to calculate it, it was clear that the success rate would be highest. By putting the Guide at the forefront, we could control the variables on our side.
“…I’ll modify the panic room and load it onto the tank. There’s one made of compressed alloy, the strongest thing on the Ark. It’s reinforced with barriers, so even an Esper’s attack probably won’t penetrate.”
Yeo-won was nervous inside when she heard the acceptance. It wasn’t like Jay to accept it so quickly without having to persuade her for long.
It seems urgent to secure the core.
“I promise you, if you have a problem, you should evacuate as soon as you have one.”
And this request. Is there something you’re hiding from me?
For a moment, the question that flickered through Yeowon’s mind was pushed aside. She knew well enough that asking wouldn’t yield any answers from Jay.
“Don’t worry too much. Nothing will happen. We’ll launch the emergency escape drones and set up evacuation routes, right?”
Jay sighed, shaking her head at her nonchalant tone. But she knew better than anyone that the suggestion from Yeowon wasn’t made lightly.
I couldn’t bring myself to tell Yeowon, but now that the Esper’s pursuit has come so close, introducing a guide beyond the Ark to cause confusion is highly likely to succeed.
Moreover, in securing the fusion core, the guide’s direct involvement will greatly influence the success or failure of the task.
Crucially, it’s something Yeowon deeply desires, so I can’t stop it.
Although Yeowon has become somewhat brighter recently, she is someone who was trapped in the Ark immediately upon waking from hibernation. In the early days, Yeowon experienced extreme maladjustment.
She tried to stabilize Yeowon’s unstable mind as best as she could, but the environment of the Ark was already the worst possible. It was like keeping a social creature, a living person, trapped in a coffin without their consent.
The emotions Yeowon must have felt, having witnessed the 500-year gap in time and the ruined Earth, can already be understood from the back of the guide, who had come to view touring shelters across various regions by satellite as the only joy in life.
That’s why it was impossible to crush Yeowon’s resolve to take action.
The importance of the matter also couldn’t be ignored.
Due to the power shortage, when their consciousness, being a transhuman, enters power-saving mode, she can no longer monitor Yeowon 24/7 like before. In that time, if Yeowon suffers a fatal injury or makes an extreme choice, Earth will be doomed.
The hope, barely kept alive through the supply of guiding drugs, would also be extinguished. It wasn’t a candle lit in front of the wind. Yeowon was that very candle.
If it were to come to that, it would be better for the Esper to secure the guide’s custody. At least they would care for the guide much better than a disembodied cybernetic human like herself.
While it’s important to be wary of that care turning into confinement or violence, a competent Esper would smile and accommodate whatever the guide tried to do.
Of course, exchanging ordinary emotions was something a transhuman like herself could easily do. However, only living people could share warmth.
As she finished her thoughts, Jay reminded herself of her objective once again.
First, to create confusion among the group of Espers tracking the guide.
Second, secure the fusion core buried in the underground ruins of Shelter Noah.
Third, maintain the guide’s mental state as it is. Keep in mind potential contact with Espers for the guide’s safety.
“I’ll explain the panic room function, so listen carefully.”
Thus, Yeowon’s outing to secure the fusion core was decided.
***
Between Shelter Noah and the Ark, there was a massive tunnel connecting the two.
After the Esper rampage, the area had collapsed, blocking the tunnel, but reopening it was not a difficult task for Jay.
What was truly difficult was sending the guide beyond the Ark.
“Have you memorized all the Esper’s details?”
At Jay’s question, Yeowon quickly nodded.
“I’ve memorized everything. By the way, I didn’t know there was a tunnel like this. No wonder you were talking about above and below ground in just one day.”
“Have you fully learned how to use the guiding blocker?”
“I spent a whole week in the frequency training room. I can use it even with my eyes closed now.”
Jay could tell that what Yeowon said wasn’t an exaggeration, but a fact. Even so, despite knowing this, she still felt uneasy.
The one bit of relief was that traveling through the abandoned underground tunnel meant she wouldn’t encounter any monsters. It was fortunate she could head toward the shelter with the fusion core while avoiding any commotion.
After double-checking the fusion core detector, Jay also reviewed the android’s full operating system once again before rushing through the old tunnel.
“If you happen to encounter an Esper, start by using full-force counter-guiding. Use the amplifier to expand the frequency range only up to 50 meters and don’t extend it further. Got it?”
“Jay. This is the tenth time you’ve said that.”
“I can never emphasize it enough. Have I only given you that one piece of advice?”
“…I’ll take it to heart.”
“You should have said that from the start. We’ll reach Shelter Noah in about three hours. Since it’s an area where the barrier was destroyed, monsters might appear. You’ll be safe inside the panic room, but the monsters in the collapsed buildings can’t be detected by satellite, so don’t forget to stay cautious. Keep the portable barrier system on at all times and stay close to the combat android.”
“I don’t need you to keep nagging me. I’m already being careful. Besides, thanks to the panic room you made, I can’t even leave. So stop worrying, Jay.”
“Alright. When I give the signal, just slightly open the hatch of the panic room. Don’t forget to stay alert, ready to close it at any moment. And never remove the guide protection suit or visor. Your safety comes before securing the fusion core.”
“Got it. I’ll be careful.”
After confirming the fluctuations in Yeowon’s brainwaves, Jay decided to stop there and fell silent. Even though Yeowon tried to act nonchalant, it was clear she was just as tense.
Indeed, Yeowon knew well the atrocities the Espers had committed in their search for the guide. Given that this was Yeowon’s first outing in two years, it was only natural to feel more anxious than excited.
Still, if Jay had known it would turn out like this, she would have shown a little less of the Espers’ misdeeds. With a sigh of regret, Jay clicked her tongue.
After three hours of travel, the two of them finally arrived at the ruined Shelter Noah.
As the search signals from the reconnaissance drones navigating through the ruined buildings began to fade one by one, it became clear that something was off.
It could have been the work of monsters, but to destroy search robots equipped with evasive maneuvers so quickly would require a certain level of intelligence.
With this, it was confirmed that an Esper was present in the ruins of Shelter Noah.
The problem was that the Esper had positioned themselves right above the fusion core.
Before all the reconnaissance drones were destroyed, Jay had sent a few combat androids, but the result was a clear defeat. Something dark appeared on the camera, and frighteningly, all signals were cut off.
Although there were still dozens of combat androids left, kept behind to conserve power, further deployment would be meaningless.
After confirming the situation, Jay controlled the android to open the hatch of the panic room, which had been tightly sealed. It was a modification made from something originally not intended for the panic room, and it was small enough that only a small dog could barely fit through it.
However, that small hole was enough to stop the guide’s frequency shielding. The tiny gap in the panic room, which had been designed to prevent any leakage of the wave, was now compromised.
It was a hole that could be opened or closed at any time, but it was more than sufficient to serve as a channel for the wavelength to leak out.
If things went wrong, an Esper’s arm could slip through, or a monster’s snout might poke through. But preparations for such scenarios had been made thoroughly.
Breaking off the train of thought, Jay gestured to Yeowon.
“Now, let’s begin the radiation guiding. We need to lure them first, so start with regular guiding slowly, not counter-guiding. Once they get closer, I’ll activate the frequency amplifier, and if they come within a certain distance…”
“To suppress them, I’ll start counter-guiding.”
Having received the cue, Yeowon had already begun the radiation guiding.
And from that moment, the Esper’s movements began to change.
The one who had stayed in place no matter what now started to approach, as if it had been waiting for this moment. The heat sensors spread throughout the area belatedly sent out a series of beeps, signaling the Esper’s approach.
As a result, Yeowon caught sight of a terrifying figure racing toward them through the small hatch. By the time their eyes met, the Esper had already pressed itself against the panic room hatch.
Then, with a chilling sound, the panic room began to crumple.
The steel panic room, with a width of 80 cm, started to sustain damage as if it were made of styrofoam.
It was a force that couldn’t even be fully described with the word “terrifying,” but what truly heightened Yeowon’s sense of danger was Jay’s voice, filled with shock.
“You! You can’t be…!”
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