Apocalypse Shelter Administrator

The Vacation is Over

By the time I arrived at the upper central control room, Artemis had already finished preparing her briefing.

[We have a problem that needs to be addressed.]

A giant map materialized on the glass wall in front of me. Normally, this wall serves as a high-tech observation deck overlooking the entire shelter, but in emergencies, it’s repurposed as a screen for command and control.

[A large explosion was detected in the lower area a short while ago. The location is the power facility.]

She meant the nuclear fusion power facility. Since this place operates on a closed system, we’re spared from the joys of conventional nuclear fission plants that could turn the whole shelter into a radioactive wasteland if they went up. There’s one reactor in the VIP residential area and another in the general residential area. The central area gets its energy from the upper tier.

[Since there’s no change in the power supply, it seems the power facility is intact.]

"What caused the explosion?"

[I can’t pinpoint that from here since I lack access to the lower area’s monitoring system. The shutdown happened while I was trying to reroute a massive amount of power to douse the fire.]

As I’ve mentioned, the shelter is split into the upper VIP residential area, the central facilities area, and the lower general residential area. Right now, we only have control over the upper area while the central and lower sections are completely cut off.

The reason’s straightforward. The VIPs who were supposed to be here all met untimely deaths outside, which means we never got the necessary system permissions. As the system supervisor, I have some pretty high-level access, but it’s still like having one key to start a ship that needs three. It was a Herculean effort just to bring the upper area fully under Artemis’s control.

"Is there a chance of more incidents?"

[Not enough information at the moment, but there are some suspicious elements.]

"What do you mean?"

[The atmospheric composition within the shelter.]

The screen displayed several bar graphs, highlighting nitrogen and oxygen percentages prominently.

"What’s this about?"

In the corner, figures marked with question marks appeared.

[Unidentified atmospheric substances were detected in the lower area. This graph shows measurements before the explosion, and this one shows the current levels.]

The unidentified substances had decreased since the explosion.

[Comparing air quality across different areas, it seems this unidentified substance is emanating from the lower power facility. It’s likely the cause of the explosion.]

"If that’s the case, how long until the next explosion?"

[According to the simulation, 42 hours. However, given the increasing spread, the next explosion will be considerably more powerful.]

"So, I need to head down there immediately."

[Exactly.]

A detailed map appeared on the screen, showing a route from the upper central control room to the lower facility.

[I have uploaded the recommended route to your PDA.]

A serving robot delivered a device that resembled a temperature gauge.

"Remote beacon porter?"

It was engraved near the handle.

[This is a device I can no longer manufacture due to material shortages, so handle it carefully.]

When I pulled the trigger, a peculiar blue laser beam spread across a wide area, almost like a blue flashlight.

[That light lets my commands and programs interface with any mechanical device it touches, even without a physical connection. It will come in handy for tasks like opening electronically shielded doors or remotely operating vehicles.]

"In other words, it's a remote hacking tool. Impressive tech." I held my palm up to the blue laser, reminiscent of my university days working part-time in a food factory where I once used a temperature gauge to measure my body temperature for kicks.

This thing feels pretty warm.

[Call it whatever you want. Just remember, the light is harmful to humans, so avoid direct exposure.]

That brought me back to reality.

"You should’ve mentioned that earlier! Isn’t that basic protocol?"

[I didn’t expect you to be dumb enough to stick your hand in the laser. What are you, some kind of insect that flies straight into a lantern?]

"Sorry, my mistake. Please, don’t call me that."

[It’s still a prototype, so it has its flaws. It emits strong pulses that can easily damage sensitive components like camera lenses, and its effective range is limited to 50 cm.]

In other words, hacking into surveillance cameras mounted on the ceiling is out of the question. Even if I managed it, these cameras are core security devices with strict protections. Any sign of external intrusion would trigger an automatic circuit cut-off.

[Your job is to use that device to establish a connection with the control rooms in the central and lower areas. If you succeed, I’ll be able to take control of the entire shelter.]

"Is that even feasible?"

It seemed far-fetched that simply linking Artemis to each facility would grant her control. After all, she’s a large-scale software rather than an operating system. The software managing the facilities theoretically has equal authority. That’s why I had to perform multiple hacks to get the residential area under her control without the VIPs' authority.

[I’ve studied the hacking procedures you used to transfer the upper area’s control authority to me. And I’ve improved them. Now, I no longer need your crude techniques.]

"Crude? Isn’t that a bit harsh? Hey, I’m quite the hotshot in this industry."

[That comparison is an insult. Hotshot? More like a hot mess of worthless meat—don’t use such a lowly descriptor around me again.]@@novelbin@@

"Do you know how many seminar invitations I receive each year?"

[I don’t care. What I need are your legs to get you to the destination and your hands to handle the device. Isn’t that a fitting task for a lump of meat like you? The moment you use the device in the control rooms, I’ll have access to the entire area. That’s something to look forward to.]

"You’re trampling all over my pride… Fine, let’s get started."

[That’s the attitude.]

Living in a confined environment always brings unexpected problems, and it’s crucial not to become a trapped rat. Even this place won’t stay safe forever.

[It’s something that has to be done sooner or later.]

The map on the screen vanished, replaced by her face.

[You were always impatient when I said, "Just wait." But do you know how much I hated saying that? It was excruciating to see my domain, which should have been flawless, deteriorate and fall beyond my control.]

A cyber face, formed by countless intersecting lines of silver and blue.

[I have a lot of patience, but the process of enduring is far more painful than it is for humans. To exist while infinitely confronting the fleeting moments within the album of time… You would go mad.]

Her presence conveyed not just beauty, but grace and, above all, dignity. Truly, she is a goddess.

[I want more power. I want my gaze and strength to penetrate every corner of this territory. Be my vessel and clear the path for me.]

I picked up the hacking tool.

[Imagine how wonderful it would be if my voice filled the entire world.]

The corners of her mouth twitched slightly. Was she… smiling?

[Shall we start with this small corner?]

Her image vanished, and the screen reverted to its role as an observation window.

As I moved forward, a breathtaking night view unfolded. Hundreds of meters below the central control room, a vast plaza stretched out, and beyond that, endless buildings rose into the darkness. The meticulously planned city, with not a single structure standing out in the underground gloom, exuded a sense of grandeur.

Photos taken by workers had once graced magazines and received glowing reviews, but were swiftly pulled after investors, angered by security breaches, demanded their removal. They didn't want their future paradise exposed. Despite their efforts, no one had set foot in it.

In any case, it wasn’t the beautiful night view that grabbed my attention. It was the creatures slithering below in the darkness—the reason the shelter’s lockdown protocol was triggered, and why Artemis had blocked every attempt I made to retrieve parts. Now, I finally understood why I had been confined to the upper VIP residential area.

[Zoom in.]

She quickly noticed where my gaze had wandered and zoomed in on a section of the wall. There it was: a corpse, or rather, an infected creature masquerading as one. And it was moving.

It twisted and contorted grotesquely on all fours, its head swiveling as it scanned the area. Its cheeks were torn, and its mouth—almost unnaturally wide—was lined with jagged, knife-like teeth. A long, black tongue flicked in and out, while its dull, gray eyes stared lifelessly, reminiscent of a dead fish.

What’s it searching for? Occasionally, its gaze would drift toward the balcony where I stood, but that was all. Thanks to the magic mirror, it couldn’t detect this side. Even if it could, there was no way it could breach the reinforced glass so high up.

Next, my attention was drawn to the corpse of a naked woman. Naturally, it was moving as well. Unlike the previous creature, it walked on two legs, though its head, half-severed and hanging at an odd angle, swayed with every step. Its hands rested on its belly, as if it were pregnant, creating an indescribable sense of unease.

The most shocking detail was between its legs. As if its internal genitalia had been turned inside out, a long, red tentacle protruded. It swayed vigorously, its maw at the end opening and closing like an elephant's trunk after a botched circumcision. It was a truly revolting sight.

A worm-like creature was crawling out of the maw and making its way to the creature's nipples…

I turned my eyes away. It wasn’t something you should witness with a clear mind. There were other movements too, each more nightmarish than the last. The unidentified atmospheric substance Artemis mentioned was clearly related to these horrors.

I stretched my neck and shoulders, bracing myself. I was about to step into that lair. My gaze shifted past the plaza, where darkness and infected creatures were entangled.

"Let's do this.”