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People were bustling around even in places I didn’t know. The military stationed on the outskirts of the city was gauging the right time to enter the city center, while a powerful survivor group was preparing to counter them.

It was like a wild jungle. A jungle teeming with all kinds of predators.

I closed my eyes and sorted through the information I had seen and heard.

‘Military, alliance….’

The military’s firepower is incomparably strong. Even if it’s just a battalion-level force remaining on the outskirts, the level of weapons they can mobilize is different.

That’s why the powerful survivor groups joined hands.

And each prepared for battle.

‘The police sold handguns. It’s not just a simple business.’

They raised the level of firepower so that even ordinary survivors could shoot at soldiers if necessary. The police were also armed with shotguns and reserve firearms.

The reason they made the general hospital the center of the survivor zone was likely similar.

It’s a hospital that functions properly in the apocalypse. If they were to fight the real military, casualties would pile up, so they’d need a field hospital.

Add to that the makeshift explosives of the Electric Nomads and the oil secured by the Delivery Vigilante Group….

All the information connected.

“Urban warfare?”

A battle in a city packed with concrete buildings.

“Urban warfare? More like a dogfight.”

Mr. Ho chuckled and leaned comfortably against the car. He tapped the car with his palm.

“All the roads are blocked. Vehicles can’t move properly. It’s even worse on the outskirts. Some roads are blocked by landslides. The military can’t bring in proper firepower either.”

In the end, it’ll come down to infantry. Even if they bring a few support weapons like mortars or machine guns, they won’t be able to perform at full capacity.

I glanced at my handgun and said, “Isn’t that urban warfare?”

Ambushes, makeshift explosives, traps, civilian attacks, battles in the city.

But Mr. Ho shook his head.

“It’s a dogfight. Fighting to survive, to get food. Is this a human fight? It’s an animal fight.”

Humans are animals too, and in a ruined world, everyone fights to survive. I didn’t understand what he was saying, but instead of arguing, I got lost in thought.

The question was what I could gain from the confrontation between the alliance and the military.

I slowly stepped back and signaled to my companions. It’s time to head back. I also spoke to Mr. Ho.

“I get it. If the situation is like this, I’ll have to change my thinking. Let’s meet again.”

“I don’t really want to get involved with you.”

The scavengers also quietly retreated, maintaining cover.

And so, we headed home. Well, we made a detour to the Hope Community. A powerful survivor group, the Hope Community.

***

The Hope Community had changed a bit since I last visited. The vehicles left outside had their hoods and doors stripped off, leaving only the skeletal frames.

At the entrance of Hope Church, the Evangelical Elder and the Administrative Elder welcomed us warmly.

“Long time no see. How have you been?”

“Elder Park! Did you meet your family? I gave them your address last time when your wife and daughter sent a letter.”

Elder Park waved his hand dismissively at the inquiry.

“We’re divorced, why would I tell them? It was dangerous enough as it is. The hiking club people came over, ugh.”

The mood soured a bit. The Administrative Elder scratched his head awkwardly and then bowed his head.

“I guess I said something unnecessary. Sorry.”

“It’s fine. How’s your daughter?”

“Lost contact. Don’t know where she is, or if she’s even alive. No news is good news, I guess.”

We stood there awkwardly for a moment, and the Evangelical Elder changed the subject.

“Anyway, welcome. Let’s go inside and talk.”

The Evangelical Elder opened a door made from welded car hoods and doors, and I quickly followed him inside, carefully observing the people and interior.

The building’s interior, dark due to the lack of electricity, felt like an abandoned house.

Looking past the open room on the first floor, all the windows were welded shut, and faintly visible were blankets and beds. It seemed like a room just for sleeping, and no one was there now.

The second floor was relatively brighter. There was a bustling human presence, and sunlight streamed in.

“Careful, careful. That’s right.”

“Do we need to water this today?”

I suggested, and the pastor mobilized the church’s resources to create an indoor farm.

A baby in its mother’s arms reached out with tiny hands to pluck a tomato, survivors chatting while working. Despite their grimy appearances, the atmosphere was filled with hope and life.

The Evangelical Elder led the way up the narrow, obstacle-filled stairs and spoke.

“Thanks to Deacon Kwon, the community is running well. Honestly, the harvest from farming isn’t much, but the act of working and harvesting itself brings hope.”

“Is that so?”

I nodded without much thought. I wasn’t interested in that.

Instead, I casually asked another question.

“The electricity’s out, but are you okay?”

Water is hard to come by, and they probably can’t do things like welding anymore. The Administrative Elder and the Evangelical Elder maintained a brief silence, as if hiding something.

The Evangelical Elder spoke slowly.

“We’re managing. It rains often, so water isn’t scarce, and we’ve been preparing since before the electricity went out.”

It’s not wrong. They built fortress-like buildings early on and stockpiled weapons.

But maybe it’s because they’re planning to move to the survivor zone.

Before we knew it, we reached the top floor. The floor with the pastor’s office. The floor where Park Yang-gun, Jeondohyeong, and I killed the pastor.

Jeondohyeong paused and muttered in a low voice.

“I’ll go meet Yeji.”

We nodded or waved without much reaction. Jeondohyeong went back down to the second floor, and we entered the office.

The Evangelical Elder and the Administrative Elder went inside and sat down. On the desk where the pastor used to scribble in his diary, there was a gas burner and a kettle.

“Would you like some tea?”

“No, it’s fine. We should save water.”

The pleasantries were over. I got straight to the point.

“I heard the military is coming. Is that certain?”

“…It’s almost certain.”

The Evangelical Elder and the Administrative Elder honestly shared various pieces of information.

From the information discovered by the Delivery Vigilante Group occasionally going to the outskirts, to the information gathered by the Electric Nomads’ drones, to the information the police gathered using survivors as informants.

Failed crops, soldiers searching the area around their base in squads, movements to find roads into the city or to find and use motorcycles.

“In the end, it’s about food. With the crops failing, there’s no food to sustain the military. They’ll definitely enter the city.”

I clasped my hands and bowed my head.

‘The best outcome would be for the alliance and the military to destroy each other.’

I’m not sure how big the difference in firepower is.

“Does the military still have a lot of troops left?”

“About 300, it seems. They’ve also been making and modifying things. We have photos taken by drones, but the phone won’t turn on.”

The Evangelical Elder looked at the black phone screen awkwardly. The Administrative Elder gestured and explained something.

“They’ve made trailers that can be attached to motorcycles or bicycles. They can probably mount machine guns or mortars on them.”

A lot of time has passed. The military has adapted too. Modifications considering the poor road conditions.

They’ve probably gained combat experience and revised their battle plans.

Then Sajihyeok, who had been sitting quietly, raised his hand.

“What’s the military’s goal? Who are they going to get food from, and how?”

“We’re not sure exactly, but probably pillaging. They’ll stop at nothing to get food for 300 people.”

Then there’s no choice. I’ll have to side with the alliance.

300 soldiers becoming pillagers? A pillager group you have to enlist in to join? They need to be eliminated.

After some thought, I raised my head.

“The plan is to make the general hospital the center of the survivor zone. I know the alliance. I’ll join the alliance.”

The Evangelical Elder smiled slightly.

“Are you thinking of returning to the community? You’re always welcome.”

“No. Hire the four of us as subcontractors. Like mercenaries. And recruit other survivors to join us. Of course, help us contribute to the planning.”

It’s a war against a military whose goal is pillaging. No matter how strong the alliance is, they’ll need numbers. If only the alliance fights, they won’t be able to handle the casualties.

‘They’ll hire mercenaries.’

This was my chance. A chance to loot the military’s equipment. At the same time, a chance to gather people. Naturally, I’d act as a mercenary and make companions.

It’ll be dangerous, but I decided not to think about that.

‘With just the four of us, we can’t survive this period.’

Everyone is changing, adapting, becoming more ruthless. And doing so based on their own skills. I need to grow too, and pillagers can only grow by risking their lives.

The Evangelical Elder seemed to study me carefully, then sighed and nodded.

“We were just about to start gathering people to fight. If Deacon Kwon is willing, then it’s settled.”

 

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