The spring of 2023, no different from any other time.
A nuclear attack hit our family.
Boom!
It wasn't a real nuke that went off.
It was just that our Kim family got scattered in all directions.
It all started with the wedding of my eldest hyung.
Following that, the two Kim Sisters also declared their independence, and not to be outdone, even my parents suddenly moved our home to Uijeongbu.
Finally, I, who had just been discharged from the military…
"…This is really too much."
Was left alone in an empty studio apartment in front of the school.
Our once lively family of two sons and two daughters dispersed just like that.
"…I feel lonely."
I realized then.
I was too old-fashioned a person to accept the era of the nuclear family.
But back then, I was still okay.
Because I had no idea that we would soon have to face a completely new era.
***
There were four months left until I could return to school.
I started a part-time job at a logistics center as a delivery worker.
The main reason was to earn some pocket money, but I secretly hoped to feel a bit of human interaction.
I just couldn't get used to the empty apartment I was living in.
But even here, the place was adapting to the changing times.
"There are… no people…"
The era of humans handling deliveries was over.
We were now in the age of logistics innovation.
Whirr – Whirr –
In front of me were over a hundred shelves moving on their own.
The identity of this was the damn 'automation system'.
That's right.
The place I had joined was no ordinary logistics center.
Its name was PAX Fulfillment Center.
For short, it was called PAX FC.
Unlike traditional logistics centers that received and sent out packaged parcels, this PAX FC had all kinds of items already on display.
From simple groceries to children's toys, office supplies, and even building materials.
When an order came in, an AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) robot would bring the item, and all I had to do was put it in a prepared box and pack it.
– Kim ssi! Here it comes, catch!
– One, two!
These kinds of sounds could no longer be heard.
The piles of delivery boxes and the rippling muscles of hardworking men were all gone.
The sweat-drenched men's logistics center was now a thing of the past.
Beep – Beep –
Scanning the barcode on a can of tuna brought by the AGV, I grumbled to myself.
"There's no warmth here, no warmth at all."
Ding!
[This item is not registered.]
"Of course you'd say that, you bastard."
My only conversation partner was the AI embedded in the center, PAX.
From order processing to inventory calculation, and even quality checks through weight measurements.
There was nothing this thing didn't interfere with.
They say it's an AI several generations more advanced than AlphaGo or something.
Of course, it still wasn't perfect.
"Kim Jeong-gyeom nim."
Someone called out to me.
Like a mirage in the desert, a man was walking toward me from afar.
I responded.
"Ah, yes. Manager Shin."
"We're out of stock on tuna cans, but PAX keeps saying there are some left. Could you go and check on the inventory side?"
"Ah… sure, what should I do with what I'm working on now?"
"I'll handle it for now, so go ahead. Check properly to see if it's really missing even though it's already inputted into the inventory."
"Got it."
There were no more words exchanged.
We had a strictly business relationship.
Manager Shin silently held the barcode scanner, and I made my way toward the warehouse.
When I arrived, the warehouse was cloaked in darkness.
I pulled open the prefabricated panel door.
"Now, let's see…"
Inside the warehouse, there were several packaged water bottles and boxes filled with various miscellaneous items scattered all around.
After rummaging through a few of them, I soon found the box of tuna cans I was looking for.
"Got it."
Just as I was about to pick up the box and head back,
Whoosh—!
A strong gust of wind blew.
And then,
Bang!
The panel door slammed shut with a loud noise.
I put the tuna can box down and tried to grab the doorknob, but,
Click.
"What the hell?"
It wouldn't open.
Brrrr…
I took out my smartphone and tried calling Manager Shin, but he didn't answer either.
I sat down in the corner, stunned.
The warehouse was wrapped in silence.
Maybe because I had been working just a moment ago, the stillness of the warehouse felt strangely unfamiliar.
Should I call 119 for help?
"Eh, if I don't show up, Manager Shin will come looking for me."
It was an unintended accident.
The door won't open, and Manager Shin isn't answering the phone, so what else can I do?
At least I could relax for a good 20 minutes before going back.
Under the fluorescent lights, the boxes stood rigid like stones, casting an eerie vibe.
I pulled out my smartphone and sent a message to my younger sister in Seoul.
A reply came back quickly.
The conversation was light-hearted at first,
Suddenly, the mood shifted.
Brrr—
My younger sister called me, but,
< ☎ Kim Sister 2 ☎ >
Click.
She hung up before I could answer.
Brrrr— Brrrr—
I tried calling back, but there was no response.
"…What's going on?"
At that moment,
Boom!
A deafening explosion echoed.
It was at a level where even the ground was shaking.
Clack!
The fluorescent light illuminating the warehouse went out, and a red emergency light switched on.
The warehouse was now bathed in a sinister red glow.
A sense of unease swept over me.
"…?"
Whirr! Whirr!
Rrrrrrring!
A siren began to wail.
It was a sound I had only heard during safety drills.
Maybe because of the earlier explosion, the alarm sounded particularly ominous.
A light came on in the speaker attached to the wall.
"All employees, please evacuate to the loading dock immediately! I repeat, all employees evacuate to the loading dock immediately…!"
I jumped up to my feet, but,
"Damn it."
Click!
The doorknob I grabbed once again wouldn't budge.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"There's someone in here!"
I pounded and kicked at the door, but despite being a simple panel door, it was surprisingly solid.
It seemed like everyone had already evacuated, as no matter how much I shouted, no one came to open the door.
"119… 119…"
I frantically tried calling emergency services.
Beep— Beep—
But the call didn't go through.
A notification indicating I was out of service area appeared at the top of my phone screen.
"Is it a war or something…?"
As I stamped my feet in frustration,
Finally, there was a sound at the door.
Bang! Thud! Thunk!
"…?"
It wasn't the kind of noise that sounded like a person knocking on the door.
The impact was so strong that the panel door caved inward.
'…It's not a human.'
Sensing danger, my body froze on the spot.
I held my breath, desperately trying to erase my presence.
Grrr…
A beast-like growl followed by,
Thud… Thud…
The sound of heavy footsteps gradually moved away from the door.
Thump.
The moment the tension released, I collapsed to the ground, unable to stand.
"What do I do now…"
There was no way out.
All I could do was stay still.
***
"······"
Three days passed like that.
In the dusty warehouse.
Water bottles were scattered across the floor.
As the smell of tuna grew stronger from the eight cans I had opened because I couldn't bear the hunger, a change finally arrived.
[You have been chosen]
[Check your awakened ability]
A blue screen, like something straight out of a comic book or novel, appeared before me.
It described the supernatural ability I had gained.
[My Own Subspace]
Level: 1
Details: You can store the object you see in front of you in the subspace.
Subspace.
I had seen it in novels before.
A virtual space where you could put in and take out any item you wanted.
Wouldn't it solve everything if I just put that damn panel door into the subspace and maybe even that monster that occasionally passes by making growling sounds?
But it wasn't as simple as that.
[Available storage capacity: 1]
Just one.
Not eleven, not even two, just one object could be stored in the subspace.
Should I put that cursed door in there?
If I did, the monster would probably tear me apart soon after, but if I stored the monster, then escaping would be impossible in the first place.
"Is there any other useful item…?"
I opened every box in the warehouse, but all I found were tuna cans, bottled water, sneakers, a summer raincoat, and a USB memory stick.
Even if I stored those, they'd be completely useless.
I shook a small box that fit in my hand.
The USB memory stick rattled inside.
Then suddenly,
"···Wait a minute."
I had a thought.
The subspace ability allowed me to store only one object.
But if I stored the box itself, the USB memory stick inside would be stored along with it.
Even though there were other items inside, the box itself was still considered as 'one' object.
In that case…
"Isn't it possible to store this entire logistics warehouse too?"
Right here, the PAX FC center.
This logistics center, constructed as a five-story building, was conveniently shaped like a cube.
"It's worth trying."
Ding!
[Please enter the target to store]
When the message appeared, I pictured the PAX Fulfillment Center.
Contrary to my doubts…
[Target specified. Do you wish to store it?]
The message was positive.
I answered without hesitation.
'Yes.'
[Starting storage]
"Ugh!"
I felt nauseous.
A wave of dizziness hit me as if my insides were turning upside down, and my head started spinning, making my legs wobble.
And when that painful sensation gradually faded away…
"Wow······"
I was left in awe.
In this logistics complex, there are six warehouses from Building A to F, all lined up in a row.
The building used by PAX Fulfillment Center was Building C.
As I turned my head, I saw Building B to my left and Building D to my right.
But in the spot where the PAX FC had once stood, Building C was now…
"…completely empty?"
I stood alone on the empty field.
The building was gone.
I had really stored the logistics center into my subspace.
Ding!
[Storage completed.]
[Found an operating system suitable for system operation in the stored object.]
[Updating the operating system.]
[Update progress 6%···]
I had finally made it outside.
However, the situation outside didn't look good either.
"What happened to everything?"
Delivery vehicles were all dented or, in some cases, completely destroyed, lying scattered in the middle of the road.
There were clear signs of destruction in both Building B and D as well.
Scorch marks were everywhere, and many of the glass windows were shattered.
Unsurprisingly, there were no people in sight.
It looked like a disaster had swept through.
But it wasn't over.
The disaster was still ongoing.
Thud. Thud.
At the far end of the empty space where the PAX Fulfillment Center had once stood, heavy footsteps shook the ground.
"Is that… an Orc?"
A massive figure, nearly two meters tall.
Tusks sticking out ferociously on both sides of its mouth.
The green giant, straight out of a fantasy movie, was inexplicably heading toward me.
It was definitely the same creature that had been lingering near the door for the past three days.
"Damn it!"
I had to survive.
I immediately started running in the opposite direction.
The creature let out a roar.
Kwaaaaah!
It seemed my sudden action had provoked it.
The beast began to charge straight at me.
"Aaaaah!"
I ran like crazy.
Even though I was running at full speed, the Orc behind me was steadily closing the distance.
"Please… please!"
Was there any hope in running away?
I wasn't sure, but I kept putting one foot in front of the other.
Graaah!
Just as the Orc's furious roar rang out from right behind me.
Ding!
[Update complete.]
[The system has been restored, and you can now enter the subspace.]
A message popped up.
[Would you like to enter?]
I screamed 'Yes' at the top of my lungs…
And a blue portal enveloped me.