Editor’s Survival Guide - Chapter 153

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Survival Rules for an Editor – Episode 153

ep21. Fog-Shrouded (3)
-Standby
Cha Si-eon flashed his searchlight, sending a signal.
Then he gazed at the scattered points of light dotting the sky with a rigid expression.
Because of the dense fog, the searchlight’s powerful beam appeared only as a faintly glowing dot.
Moreover, the spacing between the dots was quite considerable.
It seemed the circumference of the circle where we stood was not a matter of kilometers, but tens of kilometers.
Since Cha Si-eon said nothing and merely watched, I spoke first.
“If this forms a ring, we should be able to return to the Train Station.”
“The time it takes to get there is the problem.”
Cha Si-eon answered in a heavy voice.
“Response Teams 1 and 2 are standing by at the entrance to the Train Station. If our communications remain cut off, they will move in.”
That was true.
What was pressing Cha Si-eon wasn’t our isolation in this separate world—it was the movements of the Management Bureau on the outside.
If we didn’t send a survival report, Response Teams 1 and 2 would enter the Train Station.
And they would destroy the core of the neutralized “Colossal Siren.”
That way, we’d have a chance of survival.
No—our lives didn’t actually matter.
Even if we died, resolving the Train Station risk would be the lesser evil.
To avoid the worst case of mission failure and the Train Station risk persisting, there was no other choice.
If this happened, Lee Sol would die, but that would no longer be an important issue.
Since thirteen people had lost their lives trying to save her, everyone would acknowledge that obsession was reckless and futile.
To prevent such a situation, we had to escape this space as quickly as possible.
But we couldn’t recklessly break through this warped space either.
And time was critically short.
If I were Director Kwon Mu-seop—the person overseeing the Field Team—I wouldn’t hesitate more than five minutes before sending Response Teams 1 and 2 to the Train Station.
Cha Si-eon seemed to have already finished these calculations, which was why his expression remained grim.
I glanced at the dented guardrail in front of us for a moment, then opened my mouth.
“The entry passage might be blocked.”
Cha Si-eon glanced at me at my words.
“Communications aren’t working right now. This won’t be a Special Zone in normal condition. If what we saw earlier really was the Island, then this space might be a temporary Special Zone still in development—like the Hotel I went to with Director Kwon earlier.”
“You mean a Special Zone in its nascent phase?”
“Yes. If that’s the case, we’re not too late yet. Well, I can’t guarantee anything, but let’s do what we can. We don’t know how things will turn out anyway.”
Cha Si-eon looked at me for a moment.
Then he exhaled and nodded.
“First, I’ll verify whether the rules of this space are valid, then have the team assemble.”
—
■ Guide to Escaping the Fog-Shrouded Bridge
Cross the bridge.
That is the only way to escape this place.
However, as you cross the bridge, you will encounter other Bridge Crossers.
They can have complex effects on your body and mind, and in the worst case, they can take your life.
To date, thirty-two types of Bridge Crossers have been identified, and those who succeeded in crossing the bridge encountered them an average of 2.7 times.
Please study the information and patterns of the Bridge Crossers described below carefully, so that you may cross the bridge as safely as possible.
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The way to escape the Fog-Shrouded Bridge is simple.
Cross the bridge.
But I won’t be crossing it alone.
Strange phenomena called Bridge Crossers wandered across the bridge.
And as we walked this bridge, they would appear through the thick fog.
From ahead, or from behind.
-This is Point 1.
Cha Si-eon signaled with his searchlight.
Then he spoke to me.
“Seo Do-un, please mark Point 2 with your searchlight.”
-Point 2.
I manipulated my searchlight at a distance as Cha Si-eon instructed, flashing the light.
Then Cha Si-eon sent another signal to the team members.
-Identify in that direction.
At Cha Si-eon’s instruction, everyone began flashing their lights in order.
Once the point identification was complete, Cha Si-eon issued another command.
-Exploration Team, respond.
Points 3, 8, and 9 flashed.
Those three made up the Exploration Team, and their numbers were consecutive.
-Points 8 and 9, explore the space and regroup.
We still hadn’t grasped the properties of this space.
Moving a large group in an unexplored area was dangerous, so he intended to conduct reconnaissance first.
At that, Point 8 flashed their light rapidly.
-Me
-Motorcycle
-Available
“So Point 8 must be Agent Jung Jin-u?”
I muttered in disbelief.
Could it be that a motorcycle came here with us?
Cha Si-eon also looked somewhat taken aback, then sent another signal.
-Drone?
When asked about the drone, no one answered.
It seemed no one had brought the drone.
The motorcycle must have transitioned along with us because Jung Jin-u was sitting on it until the very end.
It was absurd, but good news.
With a motorcycle, we’d have mobility.
-Move cautiously.
Point 8’s light began moving at Cha Si-eon’s warning.
Point 9 was probably moving too, but we could barely perceive it.
Meanwhile, Point 8 moved toward Point 9 at a speed we could track.
At that pace, they’d meet within five minutes.
As we watched their movement, Point 8’s light suddenly stopped.
Rat-a-tat-tat—
Then came a faint sound.
Gunfire.
It was distant, but the sound reached us faintly, almost like a vibration.
Then Point 8’s stopped light flashed again.
-Pattern 7 confirmed, breaking through.
At Jung Jin-u’s swift and composed report, I let out a light sigh.
—
Pattern 7. “The Herd of Bleeding Cattle”
Overview: A herd of about ten bulls. They possess decayed bodies and emit a severe stench. Because of this, you can detect their presence by odor before they reveal themselves through the fog. These cattle are laden with carts or farm implements and are starving. When they discover you, they will attempt to eat you.
Difficulty: Medium
Response Method: Hang from outside the bridge’s railing. Hide your body as much as possible. Pray they pass without noticing you.
Remarks: If you possess firearms or explosives, you can subdue them by physical force.
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“Fortunately, the Fog-Shrouded Bridge’s patterns appear to be manifesting as documented.”
“It seems so.”
Cha Si-eon nodded as he watched Jung Jin-u’s moving light again.
I felt a sense of dissonance at my own words—calling this fortunate.
Those who succeeded in crossing the Fog-Shrouded Bridge encountered Bridge Crossers an average of 2.7 times.
But this didn’t mean Bridge Crossers appeared fewer than three times when crossing the bridge.
It meant you could only survive if they appeared fewer than three times.
In other words, this was a statistical trap based on survivor data alone—a cold truth that many victims met Bridge Crossers and died immediately.
But for an agent who knew the countermeasures, it was a simple event.
After dealing with the cattle herd, Jung Jin-u continued smoothly, soon meeting Point 9.
-Regrouped.
When the lights of Points 8 and 9 became one, Cha Si-eon asked.
-Speed of movement.
-40 kilometers per hour.
At that speed, we could traverse this circle in an hour.
Cha Si-eon issued another instruction.
-Move to Point 10.
-Signal if you discover the Train Station while moving.
Point 8’s light began moving again.
At that pace, they’d meet Point 10 soon, and once regrouped with Points 11 and 12, they’d reach us shortly after.
Of course, only two or three people could ride the motorcycle, so movement speed would slow as we went on.
Cha Si-eon and I decided to rest briefly while waiting for Jung Jin-u.
Bridge Crossers wouldn’t appear if we weren’t walking on the bridge.
So everyone not currently moving was having rest time.
I watched Jung Jin-u’s smooth progress, then suddenly realized how surreal this view was and muttered.
“I never thought we’d twist a space like this.”
Cha Si-eon said nothing.
That back of his head still seemed displeased.
With the situation outside and the situation here, there was much to worry about.
It was a position where pressure was inevitable.
But right now, pushing himself harder wouldn’t help.
So I spoke deliberately lightly.
“It means the Type 1 Special Zone is also in dire straits. Look—they’re doing things they’ve never done before.”
“……….”
“So let’s think positively. Treat it as a final struggle. We’ve already located the core, so we just need to return.”
At my words, Cha Si-eon reluctantly sighed.
That’s when it happened.
Suddenly, a light flashed from Point 3’s direction.
-Pattern 4 confirmed.
Pattern 4 meant “The Great Flood.”
Sending that signal meant they’d made it through safely, but why?
Point 3 should be on standby right now.
That’s when Cha Si-eon, who had been sitting next to me, grabbed his gun and stood up quickly.
I was startled and hurriedly rose.
Following Cha Si-eon’s gaze toward the bridge, something was creeping toward us through the fog.
Step—step—step—step—
Then came light footsteps.
This was……
Soon, what appeared were monks in long robes.
Monks with lotus flowers perched above their necks instead of heads.
Recognizing them, Cha Si-eon released his gun and murmured.
“They seem to be making one last desperate move.”
Starting to send Bridge Crossers even to people standing still.
—
Pattern 29. “The Monks”
Overview: A group of about thirty monks with lotus heads. They simply pass by, showing no particular reaction to you. However, when the Monks pass, your body rapidly ages by eight years. This aging occurs according to your life habits over the past three months.
Difficulty: Low, or High
Response Method: If you are under sixty with no underlying medical conditions, pray in place for a moment. If you have been given a terminal diagnosis or have harmful life habits, humbly accept death.
Remarks: The Monks will find you again before you finish crossing the bridge. At that time, they will remove the aging they imposed on you.
—
Encountering the Monks meant experiencing eight years of aging.
But that was a temporary phenomenon that would be restored before leaving this bridge.
For Cha Si-eon and me, it wasn’t particularly fatal.
So we stood waiting for the Monks to pass.
Their lotus heads were beautiful.
But staring at that grotesque sight for long wouldn’t be good for our mental health, so I kept my eyes closed.
Step—step—step—step—
Footsteps continuing in steady rhythm.
I waited for that sound to stop.
But before long, I started feeling anxious.
Bored and itchy.
Even my clothes began feeling subtly uncomfortable.
Was this what aging felt like?
My life habits over the past three months were the best I’d ever had.
Still, growing old was frightening.
As I endured the tedium with such thoughts, it happened.
“……Seo Do-un.”
I heard Cha Si-eon’s voice from beside me.
Ordinary, but somewhat rougher than usual.
Thinking the Monks had left, I opened my eyes and looked to the side.
But I saw Cha Si-eon’s belt.
Why?
No matter the height difference, if we’re both standing, our eye levels should match roughly.
Without understanding, I looked up.
Then I saw the eight-years-older Cha Si-eon looking down at me.
I couldn’t speak to other changes, but his hair had clearly grown down to his back.
That Cha Si-eon asked me,
“What happened?”
“What……”
I was about to ask what he meant, but froze in shock and covered my mouth with my hand.
No, I tried to, but my sleeve covered my hand completely, so I couldn’t perform the intended gesture.
“Huh?”
And my voice.
Why did I sound like a child?
I was clearly standing, but why was the ground so close?
Seized by a bad feeling, I frantically rolled up my sleeves.
But the cuff kept eluding me, so I just tore off my outer jacket.
Then I grabbed my thin combat shirt and managed to excavate my hands.
What is this……
My hands had shrunk impossibly small.
I looked up at Cha Si-eon in disbelief.
Cha Si-eon was looking down at me with an expression of having witnessed something terrible.
……I had meant to stay positive.
But the Special Zone’s malice was simply too much.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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