Civilized people shouldn't act this way, but after starving for a long time, none of that even registers.
Sauce smeared thickly around my mouth. I slurp up the delicious food as if I'd eat the plate itself, eliminating the need to wash dishes afterwards.
I emptied them in an instant, yet there was still more food laid out before me.
It was a table befitting the words, "I didn't know what you'd like, so I prepared everything."
It wasn't until about two hours later that the words "I can't eat anymore" left my mouth.
Never had there been such a feast. I tried to force more down, hating to leave anything behind, but my stomach had reached its limit.
"Ah... I'm stuffed..."
It felt like my airways were finally opening up. Vitality returned to my deteriorating body. The lethargy, chronic fatigue, and frequent anemia from constant malnutrition—all of it vanished in an instant. What had been blurry was now clear.
"Th-thank you. I don't know how to repay this kindness."
Doubting Seo Yura could wait. For now, she had not only quenched my thirst but filled my stomach as well. She had saved me when my death would have surprised no one; to keep suspecting her would be morally reprehensible.
I bowed as deeply as I could. When I tried to prostrate myself fully, she flustered at the unexpected reaction.
Honestly, even a full bow feels insufficient. To repay this kindness, I would need to give both body and soul...
Ah, perhaps that's going too far. Regardless, I will never forget this kindness.
"Did you eat everything? Even scraped the bowls clean."
"Thank you so much. I really almost died... You saved my life."
"Well... you don't have to go that far..."
She shrugged as if it were nothing, but the corners of Seo Yura's mouth twitched. She even let out a series of fake coughs, as if pleased.
Her face flushed slightly as well.
"I'm glad you ate well. No matter how the world has turned, a man shouldn't starve. Count yourself lucky I found you."
I nodded repeatedly at Yura's words. She wasn't wrong about a single thing. What would have happened if I hadn't been discovered then? I would have ended up like those others—with my neck snapped, swallowed whole, vanished without a trace.
It could only be described as a stroke of heavenly luck.
"Your name... is Baek Seohan, right?"
"Ah, yes, that's correct."
"I checked your fingerprints, and that's what came up. Ah, it was purely for treatment purposes, so don't misunderstand."
"Yes."
So in this place, they could identify people by their fingerprints? It wasn't even surprising anymore. I had to introduce myself eventually anyway, so I decided not to mind.
"Hmm... You should be able to walk on your own two legs by now?"
"On my own two legs? Oh, I really am better."
What the? Just moments ago, I could barely stand, but now I felt fine. In fact, I felt as though I'd recovered even more energy than before. I felt like I could even break into a light jog.
"It's because of the serum you received. See? Doesn't hurt, right?"
"It really doesn't hurt at all."
"Then will you follow me? You'll need to stay here for the time being until your treatment is complete. I'll show you around so you don't get lost."
What was the rush? Before I could say another word, I was pulled along by Yura's hand back out into the corridor.
After passing through corridor after corridor, a massive dome-shaped plaza appeared.
"Holy shit..."
An exclamation slipped out before I even realized it.
It was incredibly vast—roughly the size of two World Cup stadiums joined together. Wouldn't it take over thirty minutes just to walk from one end to the other? That's how it felt.
Moreover, the landscaping was breathtakingly beautiful. Trees and flowers were planted throughout the vast space in neat, orderly arrangements.
"Do you really live here all alone?"
"Yeah, there used to be other researchers, but you know how it is. Because of the Grotesque Phenomenon... Now I've converted it into a Shelter for my own use."
What on earth had happened?
How had she ended up alone? Digging into every detail would probably lead to an endless story. It wasn't something to pour out to someone she'd just met. I'd slowly get closer to her and find out.
"Noah, the man behind me right now, Baek Seohan. Register him as a resident."
Beep— Bleep—
A robot slightly larger than the others moving about nearby. It was clearly made of expensive materials. It nodded at Yura's words, approached me, and began scanning me up and down.
"Don't worry. Noah is the core AI managing the central systems here. If anything comes up, just ask him."
"R-really? Ah, hello, Noah?"
[Welcome, Mr. Baek Seohan. I am the core AI, Noah. First, I shall proceed with your biometric vital check.]
[Body temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration show no major abnormalities. However, due to current malnutrition, your metabolic rate appears to be 20–30% slower than usual. As we have confirmed your recent meal, it should return to normal levels shortly, so there is no cause for alarm.]
"Ah, thank you..."
That was remarkably detailed.
Could it determine my condition immediately from just a single scan?
Noah, having finished collecting my data, let out several more bleeps and whirred noisily.
[There are no major issues with your current physical condition, but your hygiene levels are significantly low. This may make you vulnerable to viral infiltration or infection. We recommend proceeding to H-3 Sector first to cleanse your body.]
"H-3?"
[House Sector 3. Simply put, you may think of it as a bathroom.]
"Then why not just say bathroom instead of explaining it so complicatedly?"
Clang—!
Yura, who had been watching quietly, struck Noah's metal head with a resounding clang. Then, at Yura's gesture, Noah finished its explanation and returned to its position. It somehow looked dejected, almost human...
On its display screen, it showed 【•́ ̯•̀】.
"I'll guide you to the bathroom entrance."
"Ah, yes..."
She'd filled my stomach, and now I was getting a shower for free too? I was looking forward to it. I hadn't said anything, but honestly, I'd been feeling filthy. My whole body itched, reeking of sour, fermented sweat and a foul stench. Water was scarce these days; when I'd been living outside, washing my face had been a luxury.
"You can use as much water as you want. Take your time washing up. I can't stand dirty men."
"Really? I can really do all that?"
"Unlike outside, electricity and water overflow here. Don't hold back and just rinse off quickly. If you do, I'll shove you back inside. Understand?"
I nodded. Having received nothing but a single towel from Yura, I entered the place marked H-3 Sector alone.
From the moment I stepped into the changing room, I couldn't help but stop in my tracks.
Could you please stop surprising me?
This was no ordinary place. It was far too spacious to be a bathroom for one person. The marble floor and smooth walls exuded a soft luster beneath the lights.
I'd definitely been told I was washing up. No one mentioned anything about a sauna...
I took off my clothes. I couldn't just stand there blankly. Now that I looked, I felt like the biggest contaminant in this place.
Having finished undressing, I stepped into the bath.
Rrrumble—
Ha...
A hollow laugh escaped me.
The impossibly high ceiling and massive marble pillars. The grandeur, reminiscent of a temple, was utterly absurd.
Precious thermal water poured from the mouths of intricately carved lions. If my comrades saw this, they would have fainted, wouldn't they?
Claiming it was impossible,
I could clearly see them slapping their own cheeks.
I dipped in my toes.
A tingling heat traveled up my nerves, and an indescribable thrill stimulated my peripheral nerves. It was as if my body was being pulled inside.
Succumbing to the irresistible temptation, I slowly... submerged myself, starting from the farthest reaches of my body.
"Whew..."
Once I had submerged my entire body save for my head, my muscles uncoiled. My body floated lightly, helplessly melting into the heat.
All the filth accumulated in my body drained away, soul and all.
Yes, if it's here, everyone could live safely.
Lee Seoyeon, and the rest of my comrades too.
They could escape the days of suffering at the hands of the grotesque.
Yura had definitely said she lived here alone.
Even if the number of people increased greatly, the resources here wouldn't suffer so much as an ant's toenail worth of loss.
Water and electricity enough for a lifetime. And food.
I didn't know exactly how much remained, but judging by what I'd seen so far, the resources here seemed nearly infinite.
Because without that, such enormous luxury would be impossible to enjoy.
No, perhaps there were more resources and technology here than even before the invasion of the grotesque...
If things went well, the reconstruction of humanity might be more than just a dream, mightn't it?
A future where I returned to the surface and lived under the sunlight seemed close at hand.
***
The deepest part of the Shelter. The control room that governed all systems. With hundreds of monitors mounted on the walls, surveillance here was carried out by only one person.
On the display screen, the image of Baek Seohan bathing.
Yura rested her chin on her hand, her gaze seemingly indifferent, yet she observed him with utmost care.
"A man... a man..."
A being who would never have crossed paths with her in her entire life.
Something that should have remained merely an image on a monitor was now living with her inside the Shelter she had personally renovated.
"Does he have a girlfriend? No, it would be stranger if he didn't."
According to the data, his vigor and hormone levels exceeded those of the average male. A rare specimen even among the few remaining men.
And handsome, too.
At first, she'd wondered if he was some kind of influencer. To think he still looked beautiful even beneath that pile of dirt...
"I shouldn't let him leave..."
Desire bloomed, rising from the deepest recesses of her heart.
Her heartbeat quickened, strangely.
It had been a lonely life for too long. Managing this vast facility alone. No matter how much she enjoyed solitude, losing human warmth had slowly broken her mind.
A companion she'd finally, barely gained.
Slowly, Baek Seohan on the monitor finished his bath and stepped out.
Yura rose from her seat once more.
Leaving control of the control room to the AI once more, she went to greet Seohan.