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The famine was like rising water, soaking the feet of the poor first. Unlike the alliance that used abundant resources as a stepping stone, individual survivors in the river area were already beginning to suffer from the famine.

The house of a survivor we looted based on a tip.

Companions rummaging through the house of a corpse with a shattered head brought back a few resources and shook their heads.

“Nothing here. This guy had nothing of value.”

“What about the gun? I heard he had a handgun.”

I asked the companion who was rummaging through the corpse. We deliberately targeted someone with a handgun, but could it be that he didn’t even have that? If so, things are really bad.

The companion squatting in front of the corpse pulled out the handgun and spun the magazine. The empty magazine spun like a top for a moment.

“Just one bullet left. Did he save it to kill himself?”

One bullet left. A loss.

This survivor resisted fiercely, as if he would starve to death if we looted him, so we had no choice but to shoot him.

The situation where we could disarm him by threatening and coaxing him didn’t happen this time.

It was a world where famine was coming. A world where even if you lost your food today, you couldn’t be sure you’d find more if you stayed alive. A season where food was life, treated as precious as one’s own life.

The companions tossed the resources into the transport cart. Really meager resources. A bit of kimchi and rice, a worn-out mask that had been reused who knows how many times, a thin bar of soap, and sugar that looked like it had been eaten raw.

I touched the mask and slowly turned around.

“We still have a lot of targets from the tips. Let’s take out a few more.”

No matter how little we gain, we can’t stop. If we stay still, we’ll just consume resources. We have to keep looting to replenish the resources we’re using up.

***

It’s a real famine. There are no healthy or wealthy people left. When we went to one house, a pale-faced man clutching his stomach raised both hands.

“Wait! My stomach hurts, just a second, let me use the bathroom.”

“…Go ahead.”

The survivor quickly ran into the bathroom. In this world where the water supply was already ruined, a trash bag was stuffed into the toilet instead of water.

The companions averted their eyes and searched the house first. Then they sighed deeply. They shook food that looked bad. Rice with bugs crawling in it, expired ramen.

“It’s all spoiled.”

“Ugh…”

It had spoiled during the intense heat and humidity of the past summer. Especially this survivor seemed to have failed to manage his supplies properly. If he had stored them well, they might have been at least edible.

Then, a clattering noise came from the bathroom. The sound of something blocking the door, the small window creaking open, and grunting noises.

Trying to escape?

I quickly approached and shook the bathroom door. It was locked. Only after smashing the handle with a hammer did the door open, revealing the scene inside.

“Hurry, hurry.”

The survivor was trying to escape, shoving his legs through the narrow window and flailing his head and arms. It was unacceptable.

I grabbed the shaking head and raised the hammer. A friendly voice came out of my mouth.

“Oh my. You really want to escape quickly. Let me help you escape for good.”

“No, it’s fine!”

“Don’t be shy.”

Thud, thud. The sound of hitting the head a few times, and a corpse hung over the window like laundry. My shoulders slumped like the corpse. The reward was too little.

“The sun’s not down yet, let’s move quickly.”

The companions moved silently.

We went to a few more houses and barely filled one transport cart. Even then, there were more hygiene products like soap than food.

On the other hand, combat was dangerous. Survivors desperately fighting back. Some waited behind the door and threw themselves at us with knives the moment the door opened, while others set wooden furniture on fire with lighters, saying they’d rather die together.

Exhausted, we walked slowly along the river.

“Are your injuries okay?”

“Yeah, just a shallow cut. I cleaned it with clean water and applied medicine, so it should be fine.”

A companion who got cut on the nose by a kitchen knife while opening a door. He even put on a bandage right away.

Suddenly, looking around the river area, the world was dyed red by the sunset. The world the Chairman tilted, accelerating its fall through spring and summer.

The street trees had all been cut down by people for firewood. Even the ginkgo trees. Even though their fruit was edible.

Even the river water had decreased. Maybe because I saw it overflow in the summer, but the water level felt much lower. If this dry period continues…

Then Park Yang-gun muttered.

“Isn’t Chuseok in a few days? Instead of a happy holiday, it’ll be a day when people die.”

“Ah, Chuseok.”

It’s September. The month with the Chuseok holiday. But there would be no joy like in the old days. In this ruined world, there were no holidays.

The companions’ mood sank slightly. Each of them muttered gloomily, recalling memories of better times.

“I was supposed to visit my parents this Chuseok.”

“I had travel plans. I told my wife and kids we’d go on a trip next Chuseok. But my kid went first.”

No one in the apocalypse has escaped loss. Except maybe the Chairman. He was the only one who achieved his dreams through the apocalypse.

I forced myself to muster strength, picturing the Chairman’s face, which I could barely remember now. I should follow his example and strive to achieve my life goals.

“On Chuseok, we should eat until we’re full. Should we work until tonight?”

“Isn’t night dangerous? We might not notice if enemies get close.”

The deceptive mercenary blinked and asked. I looked at him with ambiguous eyes.

Even after watching him for days, I still don’t know his real purpose. He’s too moderate to be causing trouble. If he wanted to create division and stab us in the back, he’d use more insidious methods.

This feels more like he’s giving reasonable opinions to gain my trust.

‘Is he more interested in gaining status than killing and destroying?’

Either way, it doesn’t hurt to be cautious. And caution and hostility are best hidden behind smiles and goodwill. I stepped on the stump of a cut-down street tree.

“That’s a good point. If we give them space, even with guns, it’s dangerous. There’s a risk of friendly fire in the dark. But as I said before, today is the most abundant time.”

I rummaged through my pocket and pulled out a lighter. Click, the lighter lit, and a red flame swayed like autumn leaves.

“People use fire at night to hide the smoke. Let’s attack by following the light. At least it means they have resources to cook with.”

“Can we leave just one person behind?”

The companions’ eyes turned to Sajihyeok, who had been standing still. The miraculous marksman who could hit ten different targets with ten shots.

Sajihyeok hesitated and stepped back.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“…Sajihyeok, stay and guard the house.”

“Huh? I’m good with guns now!”

But no one stood up for Sajihyeok. Everyone subtly turned their heads or avoided eye contact, and eventually, Sajihyeok was excluded, his eyes filled with resentment.

***

Night fell. At night, cumbersome weapons weren’t necessary. Observing the enemy, avoiding danger, and knowing the positions of companions were the most important.

And we had Park Yang-gun, who had sharp night vision. He became an excellent guide, leading us.

“There’s a zombie ahead. Let’s go around.”

“Okay.”

Zombies were still quite common at night, so we avoided them. No matter how well-armed we were, if zombies swarmed us, there was no way out.

“Over there, I see smoke. Looks like people are there.”

“Lead the way.”

Even experienced survivors who tried to hide their light could be found by the smoke.

Of course, being thieves, we also took on the task of breaking into doors. With tools we’d somehow acquired, we skillfully picked the locks.

After that, it was my and the companions’ job.

“Hello. We came because we smelled something delicious.”

“You guys…”

They seemed to have sensed us opening the door, as each of them glared at us with weapons in hand. I strode in confidently, and the companions with rifles followed closely.

These survivors seemed like a group of friends, and they seemed to know us.

“Who tipped you off? Wait, this isn’t even your zone, is it?”

“Side job, side job. Business hasn’t been good lately.”

One of the survivors moved subtly. His foot slightly touching the stove where wood was burning. His intention to kick it over was blatant.

Fire is a hassle. I quickly waved my hand.

“It’s just a side job. We’re not here to kill you.”

“…Robbers? We don’t have much either.”

The survivor picked up a pot on the stove. Boiling porridge. It looked like they were boiling rice or weeds.

But the movement of the hand holding the pot was suspicious. It felt exactly like when I’d throw a pot of soapy water.

‘Is he going to throw boiling porridge at me?’

I panicked and pulled out my handgun, firing. Bang, the gunshot rang out. This time, I got lucky. I aimed for the body, but the bullet hit the guy’s forehead.

He fell backward, and the pot rolled away. The terrifying weapon scattered messily on the floor.

The remaining survivors jumped up, raising their weapons. Blades glinted red in the firelight.

“What the hell! You said it was a side job! You said you wouldn’t kill us!”

“You were about to attack me with a dangerous weapon.”

I can’t be fooled. I’ve used pots as weapons before.

“So you were planning to kill us after all. We can’t just sit still. Let’s die together.”

The survivors gnashed their teeth and raised their blades. The distance was close.

I’ve heard that American police have a 21-foot rule, maintaining a 6.4-meter distance from suspects. Closer than that, even with a gun, it’s dangerous. This distance was definitely dangerous.

Then, one of the survivors who had been silent raised his hand. He pointed at the others with a fearless voice.

“I’ll tip you off! Kill these guys!”

 

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