"Hey, props team, stage team! Are you all finished with the final touches?"
"Props team! All clear!"
"Stage team! We still need to work on the bullet marks in Zone C!"
"Since we don't have much time left, I'll authorize the use of live ammunition! Put on your silencers and finish it within 5 minutes!"
It seems that Jack, the guy, is really just a messenger, as he's nowhere to be seen.
"Hey, over there! Actors! If you're ready, please come this way!"
At the center of the commotion, a man with a megaphone was directing people, looking as if he were on a movie set. He had a disheveled appearance.
"Nice to meet you! I'm Director Lee Sang-guk, in charge of directing this play!"
The man extended his hand as if to shake hands, but the professor and his group stood with stern faces, glaring at him. The director awkwardly withdrew his hand.
"Haha, my apologies. With the play just around the corner, the actors needed time to get into character, and I was being a bit too playful. You're playing the role of a small resistance group rescuing Old Picture, the hostage, from the enemy, right? That gruff and cold demeanor suits you! You really are professionals! To be planning a play that will go down in history with such excellent actors, I, this so-and-so, am truly moved!"
'Is this guy really clueless?'
After hearing Jack's thoughts, I had concluded that this was enemy territory, but the director's reaction made him seem like he was only thinking about the play involving Old Picture.
Knock knock.
[Back / Three / Left and Right / Two / Armed]
Vex used the hand signals we had used in Zone 45 to inform Ian and me about the surroundings.
'Three in the back, two on each side. Seven in total... I've only confirmed what I can see, so there are probably twice as many watching from hidden spots. They're not just watching us; they're monitoring everyone here. Most of the director and production team are likely civilians.'
Indeed, it makes sense. To create a stage that could deceive Old Picture's sensitive eyes, it would require exceptional skill. Even if the Executive Department had gathered the best talents, there wouldn't be many with the talent to design and direct a stage like this.
"Right? A play that will go down in history... Since I didn't get the full details, could you tell me how it's historical?"
"Hahaha! You must be new here, so you're a bit behind on the news? The dome is already in an uproar over this. That giant monster, the landmark of Zone 47, is officially coming under the dome's control! It will be a huge help in pushing back the raptor marauders and rebuilding the old civilization! I've always said that one day, even on this blood-soaked land, the flower of culture would bloom and heal the hearts of those steeped in despair! To be the one to lay the first spade for this great project, I am truly—"
The director, who was easily excited by my casual probing, continued. The professor, who had already deduced the situation, ignored the director's self-praise and focused on organizing the details.
'So, this is how it's known in the dome.'
The dome's leaders had only released partial, positive information about the project. If the play succeeds, Old Picture will come under human control, strengthening the dome's forces. That's how it was presented.
'After all, it's been years since Old Picture was sealed in the center of Zone 47. The dome had tightly controlled the media back then, so few people would still know the truth. Even those who do know would likely keep quiet, wary of the dome's stern gaze.'
Given that most of the communication devices in the dome are minor copies of Gedroyts Company's products, it wouldn't be surprising if they had backdoors to control the media. The wise people who understood the implications of the dome's propaganda would likely pretend to be unaware.
'This is the reality of the dome. A well-controlled group that only accepts selected external information, detached from the common sense of the wasteland.'
These people, who had sacrificed their freedom and intellect for a 'peaceful' life in this mad world, were the reality for most civilians living in the dome.
In the end, it means that the director, Lee Sang-guk, and the gathered props and production teams have no idea that the monster approaching is a deranged creature that has killed over a hundred people.
"20 minutes until the rendezvous!"
"Whoa! Look at me! I'm sorry, but with my long-held wish finally coming true, I got a bit excited. Here, take your scripts first!"
"Script? You want us to memorize this 20 minutes before the start?"
"Technically, it's not a script but a situation description! Just act according to the situation. Can you do that? You're professionals, right!"
Smirk!
The director, trying to look cheerful, winked at us.
The professor seriously considered whether he should punch that beard-covered mouth.
'Did I misjudge? Is this not a civilian director but a spy sent by the Executive Department to kill us? Dragging us here and making us act in a war scene without giving us a single line, telling us to ad-lib? Is this really a director?'
It had to be one of the two. Either the director, Mr. Lee, is a complete fool, or they've prepared so thoroughly that any actions we take will be understood by Old Picture. Given that the dome's people aren't that careless, and seeing the piles of used cement bags and tools, it seemed more likely to be the latter.
"Hey... Director Lee?"
"Yes, actors?"
"Could you at least give us a brief explanation? Even if we ad-lib, we need to know how you'll move."
"Hmm, it's all written in the script, but sure. Good communication between actors and the director is important for making a great movie!"
Director Lee Sang-guk, still excited, opened the script.
"Alright! Here's the explanation! Act 1, [Encounter]!"
.
.
.
.
***
#1. Encounter.
Characters: Habben, Vex, Ian.
(Noon. Bright lighting. The three resistance members are running on stage. Hiding in a narrow alley to avoid the enemy, they encounter a civilian who hasn't yet grasped the situation.)
"Huff, huff! Vex, how much time is left?"
"Four minutes! Habben, why are you running when we have plenty of time?"
"You guys can't act as well as I can. It's better to be slightly out of breath than to pretend to be exhausted. After the demolished convenience store, third alley, one, two... here we are."
Swoosh!
The three arrived at the alley marked in the script, catching their breath and observing the giant, fleshy monster covered in various shoes, like scales, from a distance.
"Let me explain one more time. First, Old Picture was born from the memory of a family man who didn't even realize he was dead. The exact cause of death is unknown, but it's suspected to be shock. It has a habit of collecting shoes, but as long as its fantasy isn't broken, it's fine. If something seems off, it immediately starts throwing shoes. If you stay still, it will cut off your ankles and take them. Ian, didn't you lose your shoes while running away?"
"Hmm? Oh, yeah. I was kicking the tentacles that were clinging to the buggy, and my foot got stuck, so my shoe came off."
"Lucky you. When it acquires new shoes, it stops to examine them, giving us time to throw a bomb and collapse a building."
"If it hadn't come off..."
"That squishy flesh can harden when needed. It could either bury you in concrete-like flesh or use hardened tentacles to crush your legs and take only the shoes."
Rustle, rustle,
Squish!
"Ugh! What the hell is making that noise?"
"Close your eyes and focus on the headache."
"Habben! I saw something, something that appeared and disappeared!"
"Good. The mental waves Old Picture emits periodically are the host's memories."
[I saw it too. A man holding his wife and son's hands, walking past a convenience store. It's like an analog photo that's just been developed.]
'Right. That's why it's called Old Picture.'
The professor didn't focus much, but he knew. The host's memory of walking past a convenience store with his family, as usual.
Rustle, rustle,
Old Picture was now about two blocks away.
"See those three mannequins hanging in front of the monster's body? Can you see them?"
"Hmm... wait. Those mannequins look like the people in the monster's memory..."
"Exactly. They were gifts from the dome's surveillance department when they first bound Old Picture here. Old Picture lives to complete the host's memory of 'walking down this street with my wife and son.' These mannequins represent the host and his family, the center of that memory. Physically, the monster's body is that mass of shoes, but the most precious things to it are those three mannequins."
"Wait. If the dome gave these mannequins... what did it use before? Old Picture must have existed in this area even before the dome tamed it, right? If what you say is true, patrolling this area was its mission."
"True. Before the model garden was created, it was extremely violent. It used real people instead of mannequins."
This guy has good eyesight and keen observation. Impressive. The scene Old Picture's mental waves showed was brief, like a shutter click, but he noticed it immediately.
"People?"
"Yes. When it found people resembling the three in its memory, it would immediately kidnap them, break their joints, and walk with them until they died and rotted. Then it would discard them and look for new ones. It was almost a disaster, but fortunately, Zone 47 was in chaos at the time, so it was easy to find fresh corpses. The dome's surveillance department managed to stop its indiscriminate killings by providing new corpses to replace the rotting ones."
When the professor first arrived in Zone 47, his mother showed him the area where Old Picture was sealed, which was so horrific that it could have been from a hell dimension. The monster had reconstructed the street with its flesh, pulling together debris from collapsed buildings and the aftermath of war, to match the host's memory. When he saw the [GX 25] convenience store sign pulsating with the monster's heartbeat, he couldn't help but vomit.
After a brief explanation of the monster's appearance before it was tamed, the faces of the professor's group, who had been trying to remain calm, became even more distorted.
"So, you're saying we have to perform in front of this thing?"
"Y-Yes..."
"Ha, ha, ha, this is great. Hey, can I smoke a cigarette?"
"Sure, Ian. You look like a character from a war movie. Smoking would suit you. Wear your sunglasses too."
"Acting as a retreating soldier? Won't that seem awkward?"
"Old Picture's host was a civilian, so it's fine. You'll be more familiar with a movie-like appearance. Remember, never show fear or hesitation. You can act violently as long as you don't damage the mannequins. Act like a soldier who has just encountered a civilian family on a walk."
Even though it looks like a monster, in Old Picture's memory, it's just a normal family man. Showing fear or hesitation would break its fantasy and trigger a rampage.
"But if it follows the host's memory, and we're strangers, won't it immediately go into a rampage?"
"From what I've seen, it's not that precise. Human memories are often edited, especially the hazy memories of the dead. As long as it makes sense, it seems to accept it."
"Even a war situation it's never experienced?"
"Seems to be the case, but it's not certain."
This was the professor's main concern. Walking with family and seeing strangers is normal. But a soldier with a gun? That's unusual. However, if you can convince it without hesitation, it might work. There was a case where people entered in wasteland attire and claimed it was a cosplay, and it worked. When the monster showed interest in Ian and Vex's buggy, they could have talked their way out instead of shooting.
But a war situation that destroys the street of its memory? It's uncertain whether it would accept that.
'Let's see. The monster's memory can't be too detailed. It's likely hazy except for the actions it consciously performed. If the last memory from the previous play is true...'
Squish!
"Ugh! Professor! I saw it too! Three people sitting at a table in front of the convenience store!"
"It's starting! Remember, act like real soldiers, but don't damage the mannequins!"
Rustle, rustle,
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
The sound of something large and wet moving and the light footsteps on the pavement. The mannequins were heading to the convenience store as usual.
This was the start of the stage.
Swallow.
"Hey, when I go in, pretend to cover me!"
"Leave it to us!"
"Damn. I've never been this nervous, holding a gun loaded with rubber bullets!"
Thump!
The professor, with a tense expression, ran out of the alley, quickly scanning the area. Seeing the mannequins, he feigned a shocked look.
"Unbelievable... Civilians? What are you doing here?"
Squish, squish, squish!
"Ugh!"
The mental waves from Old Picture invaded his mind. The image of the three family members walking to the convenience store was overlaid with a man in a military uniform! If he hesitated, it would all fall apart!
[Who... are you? Is this some kind of training?]
The middle-aged man mannequin, looking around as if trying to understand the situation, asked.
'Good, it's engaged in the scenario! Now, I need to prevent the words [impossible] from entering its mind!'
Just talking wouldn't be enough. The professor looked up and nodded, and Vex quickly showed his wristwatch.
Crackle, crackle,
Suddenly, a broadcast echoed through the alley.
[Citizens, this is the National Safety Bureau, Civil Defense Alert Control Center. This is a real air raid alert. At the current time, a real air raid alert is in effect across the country.]
Wail! Wail!
The siren, not like a police car but like an old radio or a disaster drill, added realism. The entire street, including Old Picture and the mannequins, showed noticeable signs of agitation.
=====
12:30 PM.
#2. Civilians and the Resistance in the Midst of War
(The sharp siren and the clear sound of mortar fire. The protagonist encounters a civilian family walking down the street, unaware of the situation, and pulls them out of the line of fire.)
"Damn! Civilians! Get under that table! You'll get hit by shrapnel!"
The professor roughly pulled the female and smaller mannequins under the table.
"What are you doing! Get under here too!"
Bang!
The male mannequin, who had been hesitating, sat down at the table, hugging the other two mannequins. The agitated Old Picture calmed down.
'One hurdle cleared. The monster's memory is of walking down the street with its family. As long as we maintain the usual actions and inject a plausible scenario, we should be fine.'
First checkpoint: 'Sit at the table in front of the convenience store with the family.' Cleared.
The professor signaled Ian and Vex, who were waiting in the alley. They advanced with the precision of special forces, taking cover behind a flower bed near the convenience store and securing the perimeter.
[What's going on? An air raid alert? Is there a war?]
[Hey, honey!]
[Ahhh! Dad! I'm scared!]
The different voices of an adult man, woman, and child came from Old Picture's mouth. It was fully immersed in the scenario, filling in the gaps in its memory.
"Damn civilians. Did you just come from an island? Haven't you seen the news?"
[News?]
"Yes, the news! It's been chaos since yesterday! North Korea launched a nuke! War has broken out!"
Old Picture's massive body shrank at the professor's words.
[Now that you mention it... I've heard rumors about a strange disease spreading and the situation being bad...]
'The host's memory. It's trying to fit the situation into its memory.'
"Captain! We don't have time! If we don't reach the extraction point, we'll be surrounded and isolated!"
"I know! Hey, civilians, did you hear that? I'm sorry, but we can't afford to be lenient. If you want to survive, follow us."
[Where are we going?]
The professor pointed down the road, the one the monster always took.
"We're going that way. We'll provide cover, so you take care of your family. Hold their hands tightly and don't lose them."
(The protagonist shakes hands with the civilian family man. A sense of trust in the military and a strong will to protect his family begin to form in the family man's mind.)
The professor, recalling the script, extended his hand.
"Habben, Sergeant of the Republic of Korea Army."
[Republic of Korea Army Sergeant... Habben?]
Old Picture suddenly froze at the professor's words.
'Damn! Setting conflict! I should have just used Professor Park!'
The professor tensed his legs. If the monster said [