Apocalypse Survival Guide Chapter 12

Chapter 12. Destruction of Daily Life (12)

"... I feel like I've lost ten years of my life."

Nadia shivered with lingering anxiety as she uttered those words. She had a pitiful expression, claiming that she couldn't unclench her grip on the crane control lever.

"Thanks to you, we're safe. Your skills from operating the power loader haven't gone to waste."

I reached out to pry open Nadia's clenched hand. Her hand, which was icy cold, finally ward up when it touched mine.

Instead of the lever, Nadia held onto my hand tightly. Since she was holding it, she leaned into as if to share more warmth.

"It might have been a bit different, but I'm glad it worked. I don't think I could do it again if you asked..."

"I don't want to experience sothing like that again, either."

The monsters appeared so horrendous that just looking at them made my heart pound, and facing them directly made my mind feel like it was breaking from sheer tension.

Whether it was from exposure to the blue crystal ore or accumulated fatigue, I kept getting headaches—an ache that felt like my brain itself was being squeezed tightly, making even my eyes throb.

Nadia made a whining sound, her tail drooping.

"My head hurts..."

"Mine, too. It's probably because we haven't had a proper rest since leaving the shuttle."

Even in an environnt where we couldn't rest even if we wanted to, now that we were in a secured place, I was confident I'd pass out the mont I closed my eyes. That would be the sa for Nadia.

However, it wasn't the ti to completely relax just yet.

"Did we drop all the monsters?"

"I checked thoroughly with the external caras. Since we don't see any inside the cargo hold, it should be clear. No, it is clear."

Nadia manipulated the external caras here and there as she declared. She assured we didn't need to worry even if a monster clung to the vehicle's undercarriage, as it would naturally get ground off on the rough terrain.

As Nadia said, Titan, Saturn's moon, had a fairly rugged landscape. Terraforming hadn't been fully completed, causing inconsistent hail or blizzards that piled up and cracked, making it impossible for the ground to level out.

Deep crevasses also ford unexpectedly, adding to the treacherous terrain. That's why travel was mainly done by shuttle, with this kind of orbital vehicle being the next option.

As the icy wind that ca through the broken window battered our tired, swollen faces, a small knocking echoed from the ceiling of the cockpit.

Carry seed to tap with its helper arms, checking whether we hadn't forgotten about it.

"Looks like it wants to be with us."

"Probably, since it's such a people-loving one."

Whether it was initially programd that way or had learned that it was better to behave so over ti, Carry didn't particularly like being alone.

"But there's no place to put it in here."

Nadia glanced around the cockpit with a troubled look. The space was so cramped that it was impossible to lie down. Carry wasn't small, so for it to co in, we would have to leave.

Carry wasn't like a greedy desert cal trying to occupy a tent, so it probably wasn't hoping for that.

'The cargo hold is spacious, but...'

But there was no heater there. While it could block out the blizzard, being in the empty cargo hold was a sure way to freeze to death.

While pondering how to be together, I lifted my head as the cold wind blew in from the broken window. And then, a good idea ca to .

"Carry, you won't fit entirely, but how about just sticking your head in?"

【BEEP-】

I couldn't tell if it liked the idea or not, but decided to proceed as I imagined. I borrowed the cutting laser from Carry's helper arms to tidy up the ss of broken glass in the window as cleanly as possible, matching the fra to Carry's size.

Though external caras were equipped, the cockpit was mostly made of wide glass panes for the pilot's visibility. That ant, by moving over a bit, Nadia and I could make space for Carry to be with us.

Like now.

"See, how's this? Now it can join us with its head at least. Plus, it blocks the cold wind. Ah, it's finally getting a bit warr."

I proudly looked at the scene I had set up with my own hands. Carry was filling in the space of the cockpit glass, with half its body still outside.

"... Is this okay?"

"Why not? It's killing two birds with one stone."

Although it was a bit funny-looking, there was no better solution.

"..."

Nadia looked at and Carry alternately with a speechless expression. Seeing her hollow-eyed face made wonder if sothing was wrong, so I looked at Carry again.

【(⩌_⩌ )】

Carry wore a curiously dissatisfied expression, as if saying it wasn't fine. Its lens caught my gaze, and quickly switched expressions.

【ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌ )】

"Looks like Carry is fine with it?"

"No, um. ... Yeah, since you say it's the best we can do, I suppose."

【(⩌‸⩌ )】

Having solved our issues, we decided to rest while heading to the residential area. As the heaters began functioning, the cockpit's warmth rose quickly.

With warmth embracing us, my eyelids grew so heavy that even moving a finger was a struggle. It felt like sothing invisible was holding my body down.

"How long will it take?"

"Taking the orbital vehicle ans we'll have to go a bit out of the way. So about... three hours, Hyun-woo."

"Three hours..."

From the shuttle crash site to Base Heaven took roughly six hours. Unlike the airborne shuttle, the orbital vehicle was a ground transport influenced by the terrain.

Since it could only move given the relatively gentle terrain, the distance we needed to cover was long. We had to avoid crevasses and mountain-like formations.

"Then let's sleep right away."

"Both of us?"

"Yeah."

Given the situation at the base, it would be wise for one of us to remain awake and take turns sleeping. But that was a decision to be made only if we had enough strength left.

Three hours. Too ambiguous to call long, yet too short to call brief. Even if we slept right now, it was doubtful if it would be enough ti to sufficiently recover our stamina.

"Carry will keep watch in the anti. Right, Carry? I'll get you new parts when we reach the residential area."

【ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌ )】

"You're the best, Carry."

I could trust Carry's monitoring mode. It was the first to notice the monsters approaching near the tunnels.

Outside, a thick blizzard was swirling by now. Visibility was less than five ters.

If we hadn't secured the orbital vehicle, we would have been buried in this blizzard, wandering aimlessly until freezing to death. Or get surrounded and killed by the monsters.

'Battery levels are fine.'

The condition of the cargo orbital vehicle was, to be honest, far from perfect. Several minor malfunctions were listed in the system record.

It was a vehicle we boarded without knowing its condition. As long as it functioned, we didn't wish for anything more, and for that, it sufficed.

'Just need to hold on for one more day...'

Reflecting again on the thought I constantly had while mining in dark and damp tunnels, Nadia and I closed our eyes.

Then, the fatigue awaited, as if in ambush, pulled consciousness beneath the waves of sleep. Soon, all that could be heard was our breathing, which faded like a mirage not long after.

***

【BEEP BEEP! BEEP BEEP!】

Carry's alarm tone echoed in my ears, indicating the allotted ti had passed. I could hear the sound, but my eyes wouldn't open.

"Ugh..."

It felt like I had only blinked, yet it was already ti to wake up. The despair of that realization almost brought to tears.

When I struggled to open my eyes, Nadia was in a similar state. Like , she responded to Carry's alarm, pricking up her ears, but that was about it.

She made a feeble attempt to close her mouth, slumping as she mumbled sothing akin to "ugh," occasionally twitching her ears and tail as if she was shocked.

'This is tough.'

Though the splitting pain gnawed at us, it wasn't a bad feeling. To feel this pain, to be alive and experiencing it was perhaps a kind of blessing.

"... Carry, stop the alarm. My head's splitting."

I fumbled and tapped Carry's monitor, then rose with great effort. Checking the cockpit monitor, I learned we were nearing the residential area.

Though the sky was still dark and the blizzard fierce, making it hard to see the residential area, its light faintly glimred. The storm hit the do-like barrier, scattering light across the snow.

"Nadia, hang in there a bit longer. We're almost at the residential area."

"Urgh... I definitely slept, but it feels like I haven't... My back hurts from being hunched, my head aches, and my whole body feels like it's been hit with a hamr..."

"Sa here. But we have to get up."

"Ugh..."

Nadia managed to sit up despite her creaky movents, unbecoming of her age. She looked at the blizzard blowing beyond the cockpit and asked.

"It's still relentless. Hyun-woo, we're not heading straight in, right?"

"Yeah. Let's leave the vehicle here and go."

The barrier surrounding the residential area didn't obstruct objects from crossing it, precisely only at the designated entrances. While we could've driven the cargo orbital vehicle directly into the residential area, we decided against it.

Mainly because we didn't know what condition the inside was in.

If the residential area was intact unlike the base, enduring a little longer would finish things up. But if it was hell, like the base had beco, we'd need an escape ans left behind. A beacon of hope.

Of course, the best outco would be that the residential area was intact, we receive help, and safely board a shuttle to leave this icy moon.

Carrying more hope than despair in our hearts, we parked the orbital vehicle between the nearby rock formations. As the tracks slowly stopped, the engine noise that tickled my eardrums died away, and the vibration from below ceased.

As I was about to remove Carry from the window, it occurred to to speak.

"Once we remove Carry, we won't have anything to fill that space."

"And that matters because?"

"It'll an we can't imdiately get back into the cockpit in a hurry if there's an ergency."

It's normal for it to snow constantly on this icy moon. Abandoning a vehicle with a broken window here would an, before long, the cockpit would likely fill with snow.

Just as Nadia opened her mouth to respond, Carry opened a transport box faster. Wondering why, I peeked in, finding my tattered work suit inside. The one I discarded, now in rags.

Carry pointed an arrow at it on the monitor, suggesting we use it.

"When did you pack that?"

"I was going to think it over, but Carry solved it. We can use it to block the window."

Hoping not to return to find a cockpit filled with snow, Nadia and I disembarked the orbital vehicle. The harsh whistle of the wind and the soft crunch of snow greeted us as we adjusted our respiratory protectors.

The base was right in front of us. Bidding farewell to the orbital vehicle that brought us safely here, Nadia and I walked toward the faintly flickering lights.

Whoosh—

Ice grains, slightly thicker than snow, tapped gently against our bodies. Those spots lted from our breath on the protective glass, turning into droplets that spattered down.

Our white breath briefly dancing in the air dissipated suddenly in the gusting wind, so strong that Nadia's tail tucked between her legs.

Without a word, we braved the blizzard, leaving footprints behind us. Unlike the soft wave-like snow elsewhere, the distinct traces showed the passage of humans.

When we reached the barrier of the residential area, Nadia and I exchanged glances briefly before stepping through.

Honestly, I had long let go of the expectation that the residential area would be intact. If it were, communications would not still be down, nor would the barrier still be opaque.

As communication remained cut, the dreadful howls I never wanted to hear echoed in my mind. Our faces darkened naturally, but we hoped for at least a shelter; for us not to be the only ones left.

Finally, upon crossing the barrier, what greeted us was a burnt down and fiery residential area.

"... Of course."

As shattered hope lood over us, I clutched my tools tightly. Charred figures scurried madly beyond the flas. It seed unavoidable that we'd have to fight to find a safe place.

Should we retreat to the orbital vehicle and flee elsewhere, or endure here?

Not everything was over yet, as the option of a shuttle remained, so bowing to despair couldn't yet be justified. We believed that and braced ourselves to face the impending crisis.

Then, out of the blue, an incoming transmission alert from my bracelet shook the silence.

- Lee Hyun-woo? Are you still alive?

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

The broker is alive. She's probably the other girl in the cover aside from Nadia.