Apocalypse's Teacher - Chapter 34

Chapter 34

A Rod is Not a Choice, But a Necessity (5)

***

I looked at the ugly middle-aged man sprawled on the floor.

One of the people I had decided to take care of on my way here, the very reason the children had to flee.

‘…I didn’t know he was the shelter leader’s brother.’

I was shocked when Helen told me.

Someone like him had committed such atrocities by relying on his family connection.

My heart chilled.

Instinctively, I reached into my pocket and pulled out a carefully wrapped explosive.

“Don’t hold a grudge. You’re dying because you deserve it.”

I forced it into his open mouth.

Gurgle—

A gurgling sound came from the explosive pushing into his throat.

Dirty saliva coated my fingers.

…Right.

What I was doing was clearly an act of murder.

A condemnable act, and something a teacher should never do.

But it had to be done.

The post-apocalyptic world was filled with problems that couldn’t be solved with mere integrity.

I held my breath, finished the task, and stood up.

Then I exhaled.

“Bastard.”

I cursed once more.

Why? Well, let’s just say it was to remind myself that this scumbag deserved to die.

A means of rationalization.

Let’s put it that way.

I wiped my face with my hand.

Killing someone, no matter the reason, brought a unique mental fatigue.

A fatigue I could never get used to, nor did I want to.

Fortunately, I knew how to cope with it.

I walked towards the end of the hallway.

I closed my eyes and covered my ears.

Boom!

I ignored the chilling sound from behind.

Pretending it was nothing, I focused on my next task.

***

At the end of the hallway was a massive iron door that could be mistaken for a bank vault.

A door that wouldn’t budge from just explosives.

Strangely enough, the door was wide open, and a middle-aged man was sitting at a long table in front of it.

T h i s w a s copi e d f rom ki n g mtl .or g
I looked at the man with cold eyes.

“You’ve come.”

The middle-aged man, who looked similar to the orphanage director I had just killed, greeted me nonchalantly.

It was clear they were related by blood.

“Have a seat.”

Click—

At his words, the armed guards on either side of him pointed their guns at me.

I glanced at them briefly, then at the table.

It was literally a feast.

A whole roasted pig.

Salad made with various fresh vegetables.

Fried chicken that made my mouth water and an assortment of fish and shellfish that sparked curiosity about their source.

I understood.

This was the symbol of the shelter’s corruption.

The obscene gold they had obtained by abandoning their humanity.

As I stared at it, fuming inside, I found myself somewhat relieved.

‘…He deserves to die.’

The thought that he truly deserved to die made me feel an odd sense of relief.

A laughable feeling.

T h is w a s co pi ed f r o m k i ng mtl. o r g
I slowly walked over and sat across from him at the table as he picked up a fork and knife.

“Help yourself.”

He began cutting the food.
Th i s w as c o p i ed fr o m k i n g m t l. o rg

I silently glared at him, then suddenly unzipped my jacket.

“Don’t do anything stupid, old man.”

The armed guards flinched.

The shelter leader, who had been cutting food, also gasped.

Why?

Because I was wearing a time bomb.

T h i s w a s c o pi ed f r om k i n g m t l .o rg
I had anticipated this scene.

Shelter leaders always showed this behavior when I confronted them.

Their intention was obvious: to negotiate.

They didn’t care that I had destroyed their infrastructure, disrupted their command, or even killed the shelter leader’s brother.

All they wanted was more manpower.

Capable soldiers.

To solidify their position, that was all they needed.

The shelter leader’s eyes darkened.

He exhaled the breath he had been holding and spoke.
T h i s w as c o p i ed f r o m k i n g m tl . o r g

“…I didn’t think you were a thoughtless person.”

“I’m doing this because I have thought it through.”

“Youth is wonderful. It allows you to do absurd things under the guise of youthful vigor. But do you know that such vigor doesn’t always bring the desired results?”

“You’re quite the doomsayer.”

“Think of it as advice from an elder.”

“I’ll take it to heart. But you’re mistaken if you think I’m young. I just have a baby face.”

“Confidence is good.”

The shelter leader put a large piece of meat in his mouth.

He chewed and swallowed it before continuing.

“But it’s wise to know when and where to show it.”

“You’re the one who should know where and when. Unless you want to blow up with everyone here.”

“Do you have the guts?”

“Do I look like I don’t?”

I tried to look as crazed as possible.

Would such threats work? Of course.

These cowards valued nothing more than their lives.

The shelter leader sighed.

The armed guards beside him cowered.

What came next?

A tearful plea for persuasion.

“…Think rationally. Do you think anyone will thank you for this?”

“I’m not doing this for gratitude.”

Th i s w a s co p i e d f rom k i n gm t l . or g
“Think about what you’ll gain.”

“If it’s your corpse, I’d be satisfied.”

“…Hmph.”

Clatter.

The shelter leader set down his utensils.

He pressed his temples and spoke.

“Do you know? A group is inherently irrational.”

I chuckled.

I had a rough idea of what he was going to say.

The go-to speech of old folks, life advice.

“Go on.”

I decided to humor him.

The shelter leader continued.

“…No matter how excellent the individuals in a group are, there’s an unchanging truth. Humans are a pitiful species governed by herd mentality. And they feel safe only behind the walls of a group.”

“Wow, you’re quite the anthropologist.”

“Irrationality is frightening. Fear is even more so. Do you know what they have in common? They blind people. In a situation where cold judgment is needed, they make you think of immediate survival. The result is the collapse of the system.”

The shelter leader glared at me.

“That’s unacceptable. That’s why a rational leader is needed. Someone who can control a group consumed by irrationality.”

“And that’s you?”

Th i s w a s co p i ed f rom kin g m t l . o r g
“Better than others.”

“And that’s why you’re feasting alone here?”

T hi s w as co p i e d f r om ki n g m t l. o r g
“These? They’re symbols of authority. The sharpest blade to control an irrational group.”

“Does rationalizing like that make you feel better? More at peace?”

“What can I say, it’s the truth.”

“You’re good with words. Were you a politician?”

“You have a keen eye.”

“This is why I hate politicians… I can see your ideology clearly.”

I leaned my elbows on the table.

I pushed my head forward and said.

“You’re a fucking commie.”

The shelter leader’s eyebrows twitched.

I couldn’t help but smile.

T h i s w a s c o p i e d fro m k in g m t l . o r g
“Guys like you probably sit in your rooms jerking off, saying ‘Marx is a god!’ with a Hitler poster on the wall.”

“…Young man. Know your place.”

“The one out of line here is you. Justifying yourself with irrationality and whatnot, you just like the power you have. That’s why you’re doing these experiments with zombies.”

“It’s necessary. Resources aren’t infinite. The group’s anger shouldn’t be directed internally.”

“Bullshit.”

Click—

I pulled out my pistol and aimed it at the shelter leader.

Immediately, two guns were pointed at me.

I smiled brightly and said.

“Should we all die together?”

The two guns wavered.

Their eyes met each other.

In the tense standoff, something unexpected happened.

T h i s w as c o pie d f ro m k in gm t l . o r g
Something I hadn’t foreseen.

One of the guns pointed at me shifted direction.

A burst of red flame erupted twice in the air.

Bang!

Bang!

A deafening noise.

As I winced, the shelter leader and one armed guard collapsed.

Thud.

‘What the hell!’

An unanticipated event.

I quickly aimed my pistol, but the armed guard dropped his gun.

“Calm down.”

“What…!”

“I have no intention of fighting you.”

The armed guard removed his mask.

Underneath was a haggard middle-aged man.

My heart skipped a beat.

I knew this man.

Several weeks ago, I had met him when I went to the elementary school to get Hyesung’s beans.

“An old acquaintance.”

He was the strange man who had let me go.

End of Chapter