Hoarding In Hell [EN]: Chapter 60

60. Flood (2)

Hyun-woo took out the record left by Baek-gol from his inventory.

In the end, he decided to name this writing ‘Baek-gol’s Record’ instead of a record about destruction.

He had considered the name ‘Doomsday Diary,’ but he thought Yu-min would give him a cold look if he used that.

The very first page of Baek-gol’s Record.

The first photo was none other than a picture of the entrance to the Guillotine Dungeon. It was surprisingly similar to the photo taken by the public official.

Before a disaster occurs, dozens of small incidents accumulate.

Not to mention the destruction of humanity. There was not just one harbinger of destruction.

The increasing number of ability users, frequent changes in the attributes of dungeons, unexpected anomalies, the evolving responses of monsters, the emergence of new dungeons…….

All of these circumstances were recorded in Baek-gol’s Record.

Hyun-woo first focused on the event occurring closest to the present.

The Guillotine Dungeon’s Flood phenomenon.

Hyun-woo looked around.

A significant number of troops were on guard, and even hunters and tanks were stationed in preparation for any eventuality. If a situation occurred, the nearby garrison and clans would be contacted immediately.

‘It seems like they are preparing well, but…….’

However, Hyun-woo knew the outcome. This barrier would be breached within 10 minutes of the Flood occurring.

The defense line would be breached by the unexpected number and strength of the monsters, and the Hapjeong-dong area would suffer enormous damage.

The disturbance would continue until dawn.

The casualties would approach 10,000, and the property damage would be incalculable. Later, defense corruption and collusion between hunters would be revealed, but the capital of Korea would already be fatally wounded.

Because of this, Korea would experience social and political turmoil, making it unable to prepare for the disasters that followed.

Hyun-woo intended to actively use this incident.

‘Normally, this would happen in two months.’

Although the Guillotine Dungeon was inherently unstable, specific conditions were required for a Flood to occur.

What Hyun-woo had Kirson do was to satisfy those conditions early. Hyun-woo estimated three days. With Kirson’s abilities, it was more than possible.

‘It’s better now than in two months.’

In two months, several more incidents would occur. The damage was greater because of that. After the Guillotine Dungeon Flood, floods would occur one after another around the world, the state of the dungeons would change rapidly, and the monsters would become stronger.

And ‘that thing’ would happen.

Difficulty increase.

Humans would end their tutorial-like infancy and finally enter the main game.

The Guillotine Dungeon Flood was just a signal flare. Hyun-woo intended to seize his own opportunity in the process. He couldn’t just be a simple hunter. He couldn’t be satisfied with just being the head of a clan.

Higher than that.

Higher.

He had to be high enough to grasp the stars to seize the opportunity for reversal.

Hyun-woo took a light breath and looked at the Guillotine Dungeon. There were quite a few people walking or exercising nearby, making the sight of the heavily guarded soldiers feel out of place. It was hard to believe that a Flood would really occur.

‘Still, what’s going to happen will happen.’

Hyun-woo took a seat in a suitable place near the river and waited. And he started the breathing technique he often used in Difficulty: Hell.

He wouldn’t die from fine dust anymore, but Hyun-woo was using this breathing technique even for normal breathing.

And an hour later.

At 6 p.m., when many office workers were leaving work and the roads began to get crowded.

Suddenly, a burst of sound was heard from the entrance of the Guillotine Dungeon.

***

Tatatatata─.

The sound of helicopters was deafening.

Broadcasting helicopters flocked from all directions, pouring out searchlights.

The flashing lights and searchlights resembled a concert hall, and the surrounding people were filled with tension.

All kinds of broadcasting relay vehicles occupied the overpass and broadcast the status of the Guillotine Dungeon live.

The KBC [Korean Broadcasting Corporation] reporter was broadcasting the status of the Guillotine Dungeon with a clearly nervous expression.

[This is the Guillotine Dungeon where monsters are appearing! As you can see, gunshots continue to ring out. As the number of appearing monsters increases over time, concerns are growing that this may be a Flood!]

Black stones were all collapsed at the entrance of the dungeon that was being shown.

Amidst the thick dust, humanoid monsters with red eyes shining rushed at the barrier, collapsing only after being hit by hundreds of bullets.

At that time, one of them grabbed a soldier while clinging to the barrier with barbed wire wrapped around its body. Just as it seemed the soldier would be dragged in, the monster was soon struck by a hunter and fell back inside the barrier.

[It seems to be defending successfully, but the number of monsters appearing is gradually increasing. Contrary to concerns that a Flood should be declared quickly, the government and clans are showing a 모습 [moseup – appearance/attitude] of being anxious about being criticized for their incompetence in dungeon management…….]

“Damn it!”

Seo Tae-kyung, the Gangbuk branch manager of Jeonryeongnyeon [a fictional hunter association], who was in charge of managing the Guillotine Dungeon, cursed and turned off the TV.

“Who says we’re anxious! What if a panic breaks out if we declare it rashly!”

“But Branch Manager, no matter how you look at it, it seems like a Flood. To receive full support from other clans…….”

“Who doesn’t know that!”

Seo Tae-kyung gritted his teeth. As the broadcast said, he was indeed anxious. Even in this situation, he was thinking as conservatively as possible, worried about being held responsible.

“Tell me the situation again.”

“The first defense line has been breached, and we are blocking them at the second defense line. But the number of monsters is increasing so rapidly…….”

Seo Tae-kyung had a headache. A monster outbreak meant that hunters had touched something wrong in the dungeon, or the number of monsters had increased excessively.

Usually, monsters in the dungeon build their own ecosystem and control their numbers. However, it also increases due to hunter intervention or anomalies unique to mobile dungeons. Monster outbreaks usually happened for that reason.

Seo Tae-kyung hoped that this time it would be the latter.

A Flood was a situation he couldn’t handle.

“If it’s really a 3-star dungeon Flood, we can’t stop it with our power alone. What about the Gangnam branch? Have you heard from other clans? What about Commander Oh Dae-sung?”

“Commander Oh Dae-sung went to rescue hunters trapped in the Jirisan Dungeon, and Representative Lee Ji-tae is said to have gone to Switzerland to attend the launching ceremony of a group called Chrome or something. And Commander Park Do-ryeong is always out of contact, as usual.”

Seo Tae-kyung gritted his teeth. The strongest ability users, who could be said to be the central force of the hunters, were absent at the same time in this situation.

“What about the vice representatives? There should be guys like Noh Ha-eul or the Maparam team, right?”

“They say they are coming. The closest is Noh Ha-eul’s team from Howan Mama……. Ha, but other clans have been contacted, so support will come soon.”

“Of course, if the hunters in the Seoul area gather, we can stop them! But I’m saying this because the damage will be great without a commander-level person!”

It was almost a scream.

The population of Hapjeong-dong, where the Guillotine Dungeon is located, is 20,000. Even if the military is evacuating them, damage will inevitably occur if the second defense line is breached.

In the case of a Flood that occurs in a remote mountain village, the monsters wander around aimlessly because they cannot find a target and are defeated individually, but Seoul is a target in all directions.

“The monsters are coming over!”

Shining with red eyes, it was a rat-headed monster whose height reached his chest, a Ratman.

“Ratman…….”

Seo Tae-kyung muttered in dismay. Humanoid monsters are far stronger than goblins or orcs. Among those humanoid monsters, Ratmen are not the worst, but their numbers are enormous, and they are skilled at cooperation.

They never move alone. In other words, there were a huge number lurking beyond the barrier. Seo Tae-kyung made a hissing sound and shouted loudly at the monsters that had crossed the barrier.

“Ahwooooo─!”

The Ratmen flinched and paid attention to Seo Tae-kyung. His skill, ‘Roar,’ was effective against humanoid monsters, having the effect of breaking their will and slowing them down.

The moment the Ratmen flinched at Seo Tae-kyung’s roar, the hunters rushed in and attacked. But there were no high-level hunters who could kill a Ratman in one blow.

Still, Seo Tae-kyung felt hope as he realized that his skill was effective.

But that was then.

콰과과광! [Kwa gwagwa gwang! – Onomatopoeia for a loud explosion]

With a roar, stone fragments flew in all directions. Seo Tae-kyung was hit head-on by a concrete chunk that flew straight into his face in an instant.

His consciousness faded for a moment, but he barely managed to endure it. Amidst the buzzing tinnitus, a scream-like cry was heard.

“The wall has collapsed!”

Seo Tae-kyung discovered that several hunters had fallen from the fragments that had flown in all directions. He saw soldiers who had been fighting on the barrier hurriedly leading the injured away.

It was time for the hunters to step up, but no one moved due to the sudden shock.

Soon, a huge werewolf nearly 2.5m tall appeared, trampling on the collapsed barrier. Seo Tae-kyung looked up at him with a bewildered expression.

‘Werewolf…… It’s a boss monster.’

Looking at the way the wall was split, it was clear that it was a guy using ‘skills’. There were often such guys among the boss class.

As the wall was widely breached, the firepower scattered, and Ratmen, seemingly under the command of the werewolf, were rushing in like a flood.

If he didn’t catch him now, he would suffer more damage, but there was no one who could break through these many humanoid monsters and catch the werewolf right now.

It was hopeless.

That was then. Someone grabbed Seo Tae-kyung’s shoulder.

“I’ll take it from here.”

***

[Can you see it! The barrier has been breached! A huge number of Ratmen are rushing in!]

Broadcasting reporters were still broadcasting the situation of the Guillotine Dungeon live. Seeing that the barrier had been breached, even a reporter would be scared and run away, but the reporter was still looking down from under the overpass and broadcasting. It was hard to know whether he had a strong reporter spirit or was fearless.

[Jeonryeongnyeon’s branch manager Seo Tae-kyung is heroically blocking them! But is support from the clans still not here yet?]

Hunters living nearby or hunters who were waiting were arriving one after another in real time. But compared to the increasing number of monsters, that support was insignificant. Some hunters were even scared by the number of monsters and retreated.

[The Flood is a serious situation. This is now…… Wait, what is that?]

The reporter pointed to the middle of the monster horde pouring out of the Flood. There was an unbelievable sight there.

[Th-there, who is that? Someone has jumped into the middle of the monster horde alone!]

***

Even if his ears were sensitively trained, it was impossible to hear the reporter’s voice from the hundreds of Ratmen and the loud helicopter noise.

But he roughly guessed what they were saying by looking at the searchlights pouring towards him.

Hyun-woo looked at a Ratman approaching him.

[Ratman (LV 17)]

Even the title was not activated, but there was not much difference. Hyun-woo thought it would be okay, but considering Yogulem’s trials, this was simple. In Difficulty: Hell, even trash-eating rats are level 15.

The Ratman rushed towards Hyun-woo. It was a slow and weak attack that made him sigh. Hyun-woo lightly dodged it and then struck the Ratman’s chin with the back of his hand.

Crack.

“Huh?”

At that moment, the Ratman’s neck bone broke, and its head spun around several times. Hyun-woo was embarrassed by the Ratman’s twisted appearance, as if it had been wrung out like a rag.

“What, why is it so weak?”