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Blocking the escape route made cleaning up an easy task.

We moved diligently to take over the townhouse. We blocked the main gate and escape routes, shot anyone approaching, formed teams, and emptied each house one by one.

We dragged people hiding in closets and smashed their heads with a hammer, shot those under beds with a handgun, crushed those hiding in storage with fallen shelves, and killed indiscriminately, regardless of age or gender.

No matter how these survivors armed themselves with slings, once the fortress fell, they were nothing but flies in the face of firearms.

Even after that, just in case there were cockroaches hiding, my companions searched every corner of the townhouse.

“Nice view.”

I swung my blood-stained hammer and climbed to the rooftop of a solar-powered house. Looking around, I could see the entire townhouse.

The townhouse grounds, surrounded by construction site sound barriers and sharp fences, felt closed off. Walls stood on all sides like a prison. The rear escape route was also blocked by a cliff of dirt.

‘It’s a real fortress.’

If we set up a machine gun on the watchtower, we could hold our ground even against the military.

Jeondohyeong pointed to a small field we had created by overturning a yard or road. A field where unknown plants grew densely. Some vegetables weren’t ready for harvest yet, but others, like lettuce, were.

“Not bad. We can be somewhat self-sufficient, and with groundwater, we don’t have to worry about water.”

I blinked and looked at Jeondohyeong.

“Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be by the electricity?”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

No? Uncle Park Yang-gun was excitedly going house to house, searching for hidden resources. Shouldn’t the Electric Thief be by the electricity?

Jeondohyeong looked at me incredulously and pulled something out of his pocket.

“I’ve been in this house the whole time. I’ve already found everything there is to find. Take a look at this.”

“A battery?”

Just a regular battery? But Jeondohyeong shook his head.

“It’s a rechargeable battery. With this solar setup, we can use battery-operated devices for a long time. Oh, I’ve already checked the computer, air conditioner, and refrigerator. The internet and TV don’t work, though.”

Truly the Electric Thief. While people outside were fighting for their lives, he was peacefully enjoying the electrical facilities.

I turned my gaze back to the townhouse.

Companions mercilessly wielded weapons, and screams occasionally echoed. The bodies of fallen survivors were tossed on the roadside, staining the leaves red like autumn foliage.

A season where the world turns red. A season of a merciless sky. A season of harvesting supplies, houses, and facilities. It was a bountiful autumn.

***

The cleanup was done. Non-combat personnel walked through the townhouse with light steps, despite carrying heavy loads.

Even the kid carried a bag, eyes sparkling as he looked around the houses. The companions who had just finished a battle laughed joyfully, as if they felt no fatigue.

“Even if we all moved in, there’d still be houses left.”

“Look at the crops over there. We’ll finally get to eat some vegetables after a long time.”

I quietly unfolded a map to check the surrounding terrain, then looked up. The tense battle was over, and it was time to relax.

Honestly, I wouldn’t normally think of this, but seeing Sajihyeok and Jeondohyeong, I learned something. A gathering. Relieving tension with food and drink.

After clearing my throat a few times, I spoke loudly to the companions and their families.

“Anyone here know farming? If there are crops ready for harvest, we’re thinking of having a feast tonight.”

The city-dwelling companions stared blankly at each other and shook their heads, while a few older family members stepped forward.

“I can’t farm, but I can tell what’s ready.”

“Look, there’s garlic and onions. The lettuce should be harvested this month.”

The grandmothers and grandfathers spoke with wrinkled eyes. Faces that looked aged from the apocalypse. They had experience.

I nodded lightly. As long as everyone, regardless of age or gender, did their part, it was enough.

“Then I’ll leave it to you. Let’s move the luggage first, harvest, and then have dinner.”

Then Jeondohyeong raised his hand.

“Who gets the house with electricity?”

“That’s for leisure facilities. Not for living. No one can monopolize it.”

I answered immediately. As the leader, I could have used it. To solidify my authority or leadership position, living alone in a special house would have been a way.

But I decided to open it up.

‘It can be used as bait.’

It’s a special house. If someone covets the leader’s position, they might act as if it’s their own. It’s a good bait to draw out signs of ambition, whether they realize it or not.

Of course, there was also the efficiency issue.

“The refrigerator is for storing vegetables, and in extreme cold or heat, it can be used as a shelter. The TV and computer are for leisure.”

The refrigerator is used like a storage room, the air conditioner is turned on when it’s hot, and a radiator is used when it’s cold.

The internet and broadcasts seem to be down, but we can still enjoy movies and music. We picked up album CDs and movie DVDs from the streets while moving.

The companions nodded in understanding.

I waved my hand.

“Finish the move.”

***

That evening’s meal was abundant.

Seaweed soup made with rice water, fried canned ham, garlic and kimchi stir-fried in ham fat, and lettuce to wrap the ham. A proper meal, hard to come by since the apocalypse.

Even the simple laborers, sitting far away, couldn’t stop exclaiming and laughing.

The exhausting move and battle seemed to be fully compensated by this one meal. A meal worth killing ten people for just two to eat.

But I and my companions frowned, pressing our heads as if in pain. Sajihyeok sighed.

“Mr. Dain. Even dogs don’t bother you while eating. Can’t we not talk about work during meals?”

The criminal companions sat three meters away. The leadership, so to speak, sat in a square, discussing the future.

I blinked.

“If you don’t bother someone while eating, aren’t you just like a dog? Do you want to be a dog?”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

“It’s a joke.”

“Really, what’s wrong with your head…”

Shouldn’t a con artist be smooth? I don’t know why he can’t take a joke.

I focused on the discussion.

“Moving in isn’t the end. We need to assign night watchmen, guard zones, farming, foraging, and so on.”

Our living situation has changed. We need to overhaul the entire system. Sajihyeok was in charge of such numbers and administrative tasks.

On the other hand, resource management was Uncle Park Yang-gun’s responsibility.

“Uncle Park Yang-gun, have you checked the supplies?”

“Not yet. Who knows what’s hidden in every corner of the houses? We need to find everything first.”

Back in his element, Park Yang-gun didn’t even drink and just grinned. It seemed he was full of energy, doing what he loved.

“What we’ve found so far is a decent haul. Plenty of tools and equipment, some seeds for farming, emergency medicine, wood stoves, and even a barbecue grill.”

“How about food?”

After ammunition, food is the most important.

“There’s a fair amount of dried wild greens, probably gathered from the mountains. But aside from that, it’s just average survivor level.”

So, we’ll still need to pillage. That’s good. A bit of tension and scarcity will keep the companions motivated.

As I made a lettuce wrap, I glanced at Jeondohyeong.

“Can you manage the facilities?”

“There’s some documentation left. I think I can study it.”

Jeondohyeong was flipping through books, manuals, and printed materials while eating.

“Someone who liked fixing things must have lived here. There’s documentation on light farming and garden maintenance.”

I was impressed.

The survivors of the townhouse were like generous trees. They gave us houses, crops, and even sustainable knowledge and tools.

Suddenly, Sajihyeok grumbled.

“Mr. Dain, what will you do? It feels like we’re doing all the work.”

“I’m in charge of pillaging—no, safety management. I need to think about defense and offense.”

It’s not that I don’t find such tasks fun. Everyone has a role. Mine isn’t maintaining, repairing, or producing—it’s killing people.

“This is the optimal position for fighting people, but it’s not without issues. It’s vulnerable to wildfires. The groundwater could dry up. We also need to know how many survivors are around.”

Moving is such a tough job.

A strange place, strange people, a strange environment. And the first emotion you feel when encountering something strange is wariness and hostility.

This isn’t just our story. The survivors around us, facing us as strangers, feel the same.

We made a lot of noise, so the surrounding survivors probably have a rough idea of the situation and are on guard. It’s hard to smoothly pitch multi-level marketing schemes, and direct contact might be difficult.

The companions seemed to understand my thoughts, nodding their heads. Though they might have been too focused on their food or books to really listen.

“Anyway, I plan to get a grasp of the surrounding environment in the next few days.”

“Alright. I’ll get up first. There are still houses to check.”

Park Yang-gun quickly got up, adjusted his mask, and turned away.

Sajihyeok and Jeondohyeong also quickly finished their food and left.

“I’ve set up the night watch similar to before. Positions are at the main gate and escape route. I’ll inform you.”

“I’ll read a bit more.”

Left alone, I started eating again. It really was delicious. The garlic roasted in ham fat, the fresh lettuce.

Looking up, the sunset had faded, leaving a deep indigo sky. On the ground, the barbecue grill glowed like a torch.

The season when leaves turn red. We reaped a bountiful harvest and moved to a new home. All thanks to being pillagers.

 

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