Ch.505. Cigarettes.

# 05. Cigarette.

“If someone asked you to name the most important characteristic that sets humans apart from other animals, how would you answer?”

After confirming the location of the Superstore from the rooftop, I marked the route on my map and immediately came down from the building.

My legs screamed in protest as I tried to move with my heavy backpack, probably because I had just climbed up and down a building that was well over 20 floors.

The snowfall was gradually intensifying, so there was no time to rest.

“Me? I’d probably answer ‘free will’ without much hesitation.”

This conversation was partly to distract myself from the pain in my feet and legs.

And partly because I wanted to share my thoughts with someone else after seeing this frozen world and the people who had met their deaths for various reasons.

Isn’t there something romantic about spending hours discussing topics that have no definitive answers, topics born purely from experience?

“Of course, small animals like cats and Puppies have their own thoughts and will too. I’m not disrespecting them. But are there any other creatures in this world who try to realize their will as extensively as humans do, even to the point of denying everything else?”

Warm clothes that prevent freezing to death despite temperatures so low that even corpses don’t decompose.

Countless processed and modified foods to make them last longer and provide more nutrition.

And streetlights to drive away the darkness that prevents humans from functioning properly and puts them in danger.

All these things were born from humanity’s will to deny their own deficiencies and discomforts.

“Cold. Hunger. Darkness. All living creatures struggle and strive to survive, but most grow thicker fur, develop wings to migrate with the seasons, or are active during the day and rest in burrows at night.”

But humans were different. They chose to confront life’s obstacles head-on and completely erase them from their lives.

“…If you try to force something too big into a box, it’ll tear or burst. You might be able to hold it together with strong tape for a while, but if you keep stuffing things in, even the strongest box or tape will eventually give way.”

Clothes, food, and countless machines including streetlights.

They resolved various discomforts humans experienced while living, but simultaneously placed burdens in places invisible to ordinary people.

“You know what? Even in this city that seems like it’ll be winter forever, you can occasionally spot summer clothes.”

If this city had been located in a perpetually winter place like Greenland where the Inuit lived, would such clothes have been necessary?

I can’t definitively say that the environmental problems that were major issues in my time directly caused this snow-covered city, but they certainly had some influence.

“Anyway… what I’m trying to say is that while humans’ will to fill deficiencies and eliminate discomforts is amazing and admirable, we should have thought about the side effects earlier and more deeply.”

People of the past who could easily obtain food forgot how to produce their own, leaving not a single blade of grass in cities.

The buildings created by people who overcame height constraints and fear of darkness now became the darkness threatening me.

“It really is too dark.”

The spaces between buildings that truly deserve the term ‘concrete jungle’ are always pitch black no matter when you enter them.

I never would have imagined needing a flashlight just to walk safely on the street—not exploring inside buildings or deep forests.

“This is why I try to stick to main roads whenever possible.”

Even artificially created shadows are still darkness, and the fear and anxiety of not being able to see what’s in front of you remains the same.

Even though I know there’s nothing threatening me as long as I watch my step, I still flinch and break into a cold sweat when I feel something strange under my feet or hear something being stepped on.

“Phew… I thought it was just an old piece of equipment, but it’s quite sturdy.”

Despite the strong winds and intensifying snowfall making my body sway, the Drone didn’t shake much and maintained a consistent altitude.

I had been worried it might fly away and break in the strong wind since it looked so crude and simple, but that was unnecessary concern.

If anything, I should be worried about myself now.

My legs tremble every time I pull my feet out of the snow, probably because I climbed up and down that building earlier.

“Today I should just focus on finding food, not moving too far…”

Still, the situation was better than usual.

Normally, when I’m this tired and in pain, I have no one to talk to so I just have to endure.

And since I couldn’t distract my mind from the pain by talking about other things, it was both physically and mentally exhausting.

“Ah. I think we’re almost there.”

The billboards that would have provided information about the buildings have all lost their light, causing most buildings to lose their names.

Nevertheless, I could tell I had reached a commercial district by the densely packed buildings that truly deserved the term ‘concrete jungle.’

The glass walls not particularly suitable for human habitation and the colorfully painted walls were clear indicators.

“Just looking at the cars crashed into each other and the numerous corpses in inappropriately red-stained clothes, you can tell this is an important place, right?”

Many people gathered where food could be found as it became a limited resource.

And naturally, these gatherings led to various incidents and casualties.

Human free will wasn’t programmed to deny only phenomena like cold, hunger, and darkness.

“Let’s go inside first to find food, rest a bit, and then look around the warehouse to see if there’s anything useful. If we’re lucky, we might find something like a heater.”

I’ve developed a habit of speaking optimistically when I’m mentally or physically exhausted. This time was no exception.

“Preserved food seems to have been unpopular, as I’ve found some left in every place I’ve visited so far… There should be some here too, right? If so, I’m going to eat until I’m stuffed today.”

No matter how accustomed I’ve become to scenes of despair and death, there are limits.

The cruelty of humanity that even snow—which covers everything to make it look quiet and pure—couldn’t hide.

With each step I took, my heart grew heavier.

“Now I don’t even need a flashlight anymore.”

Anyway, the places I can step on are covered with snow.

And places that aren’t have things piled higher than the snow that I shouldn’t step on.

“I told you earlier that Superstores and shopping malls have characteristics that are recognizable even from a distance.”

This is it.

I smiled bitterly.

“Just a moment, I’ll take a short break before going in.”

After finally reaching the Superstore, I decided to take a brief rest before entering.

I put down my heavy backpack for a moment and took out a gas torch along with what I presumed to be—and had been considering as—a white pack of cigarettes.

“Phew…”

I light the rolled paper and inhale a puff of smoke from what’s burning inside.

Since I only smoke when I really need mental stability, considering issues like stamina and addiction symptoms, my chest still stings as I’m not quite used to it despite having cigarettes for quite some time.

“Hah.”

But as I breathe in the cold air, my frozen body warms up.

And the sensation of my complicated mind, filled with brutal scenery, becoming numb with smoke…

“You know, I used to really hate people who smoked.”

As much as I hate to admit it, it gave me a pleasant sense of stability.

“Why put that trash in your mouth? It’s bad for your health and expensive too. That’s what I used to think.”

But ever since I picked up cigarettes next to a corpse, I’ve become a wretched person who reaches for cigarettes whenever mentally cornered.

“Still… given the circumstances, cut me some slack. I’ll dispose of the butts properly.”

I extinguish the half-burned cigarette by pressing it firmly with my gloved finger.

Then I carry it to a nearby trash can and drop it in.

Despite all the filth and unsightly things around me.

My cigarette butt made a soft thud as it hit the bottom of the can.

“I’ll warn you in advance. What you’re about to see inside… won’t be very pleasant. You probably have some idea already.”

If the outside of the building is like this, the inside can’t possibly be intact.

There must be an even more violent and cruel past remaining inside, just as there has been everywhere else.

“So if there are any children or sensitive people watching this footage, take a break. Read a book… or listen to peaceful music.”

These horrific scenes should only be seen by people like me who are already accustomed to them.

“By the way… I wish there would be some kind of response soon. Anything would be fine. Are you all oversleeping or what?”

[Is this a movie shoot?]

[Does anyone know what’s going on?]

With a final sigh at the unchanged text on the Controller screen.

I stepped into the ancient hell.