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Only one broadcasting station had an accident. But the aftermath was significant.

The public service advertisement originally prepared by the government was properly broadcasted on other stations, but the mud thrown by one madman covered everything. No, ruined it.

“The internet is going crazy…”

Jeondohyeong muttered while tapping on his phone.

The miraculously developed self-diagnosis kit, the selection of only non-infected individuals for reorganized troops and government agencies, the system for managing suspected infections using automated phone responses, and the quarantine measures using soldiers in protective gear.

All those hopeful news were tainted with distrust.

“They already blocked visits to quarantine centers, but because of this video, families and various groups are almost ready to raid them.”

It’s understandable.

Living without seeing the faces of family members who turned into zombies, and then hearing they’re in such pigsty-like quarantine centers, of course, people would want to go.

Although the result would accelerate the apocalypse…

I suddenly felt my fingers itching.

‘Ah, no. I can’t lose to those guys.’

I can’t fall behind the madmen of the apocalypse. The moment I fall behind, I’ll be swept away by the waves others create. Isn’t the whole world already scrambling to respond to the virus our chairman spread?

I can’t just sit still. I need to create the flow.

I tapped on my phone.

Using a phone with a stolen USIM from a cafe, borrowing someone else’s Wi-Fi, and even turning on a VPN, I wrote a post.

– How to easily get firearms

– Police are treasure goblins

– The era where you can only rely on individual strength has come…

The core of the posts, with slightly different content under different titles, was simple.

Attack the police who patrol in pairs or groups of four. You can get tasers, handguns, and bulletproof vests. Even traffic police are armed these days. Just hit them with a car and take it…

“Done.”

Fortunately, some posts became popular. Of course, there were comments cursing the writer, but I didn’t care.

I just envisioned the police collapse scenario I’ve been thinking about for a long time.

‘With just me and Jeondohyeong, we can’t even touch a police box. We need to create a movement by attacking the police to gain benefits or justify our actions.’

Thanks to one PD, the right atmosphere was formed.

I glanced at Jeondohyeong’s phone. The aftermath of that insane public service ad.

The government hastily explained that it was just a temporary quarantine center, and that only some temporary centers were involved in illegal activities, and that official centers were not like that, but no one believes it.

And that fundamental distrust will ruin all quarantine measures.

I smiled faintly and welcomed the apocalypse.

***

Day 30 of the zombie outbreak.

Rotating blackouts began, many people took to the streets, and the number of infected skyrocketed.

And I sensed danger.

***

Whether the world turns upside down or not, staying holed up at home is no problem. Sometimes watching apocalypse movies, the people who just stay at home and endure surprisingly live long.

With plenty of food, water, and electricity still somewhat supplied, it’s practically paradise.

But I seriously considered going out.

‘Those people are dangerous.’

Standing by the window, I saw the cultists who have recently gained a lot of power.

The ones who used to shout alone have now formed groups of two, three, and are loudly grabbing people. Believe in our pastor, he’s chosen by God, salvation is under him.

One citizen who was grabbed shook off their hand.

“Ah, get off me!”

“You! Non-believers will become zombies!”

“No, really!”

Even when the citizen raised a baseball bat, the cultists didn’t back down. Just their eyes gleaming with madness.

In the end, the citizen turned and ran away.

That charisma, blind faith.

“Are they really fools? Why believe that?”

Jeondohyeong clicked his tongue. I glanced at him. To me, this electric thief seemed weak to persuasion.

A guy swayed by others’ opinions.

Moreover, his confidence that he wouldn’t fall for it is dangerous. I decided to warn him that those guys are a very threatening force.

“You might believe it. That’s why it’s dangerous.”

“Do you have a religion? Like the apocalypse? You seem like you’d believe in eschatology.”

“No.”

I don’t. I don’t believe in that stuff. Religion is just one of society’s components. If I had to find something akin to a faith object, it would be the chairman.

But I didn’t not understand.

“In my opinion, those cults are like mental viruses.”

“…Huh?”

Jeondohyeong looked at me with bewildered eyes, wondering what I was talking about.

“Like the flu or I-virus. When mental health weakens, they infiltrate and infect. Some viruses can even penetrate immunity.”

I turned my head and looked down at the cultists like they were enemies. They are mental zombies. That’s why they’re dangerous.

“Given time, those church people will take over this neighborhood.”

They’ll spread like a virus.

The I-virus disaster, the government’s trust shattered by the last broadcast incident, blackouts every 3 hours, a society with skyrocketing crime.

If mental health exists, it’s a season prone to illness, so such cult viruses will actively infiltrate.

If I just stay holed up at home, at some point the whole area might be filled with those church people. I’d be isolated. The villa might get raided. This isn’t good.

‘We need to deal with it quickly…’

Tap tap tap-

I tapped on the window, lost in thought. A scenario to deal with the church, the pastor.

‘Report to the police? No way. Even if I report illegal activities, there won’t be enough manpower to handle this.’

Zombie lure terrorism? Or does the church have sprinklers? Maybe throw a few zombies into the fire water tank during worship and set a fire for a mass infection.

Arson during a blackout isn’t bad either…

“It’s ambiguous.”

All scenarios were well-written but stopped. They weren’t complete. Lack of research.

The church’s building structure, emergency power, personnel, security system, all the lacking information left holes in the scenario.

“This won’t do. I need to go out.”

“To attack the church?”

Jeondohyeong quickly caught on to my intention. But it’s not enough. Too hasty.

I carefully observed one of the cultists’ faces. My habit of observing people around me to reflect in scenarios paid off.

Even masked, I could tell. He lives in this villa. I remember his voice.

I pointed at him.

“That guy. He lives on the first floor. Let’s go in tonight and get church information first.”

***

Deep night fell. Rotating blackouts. After 3 hours, a 1-hour blackout made the night even darker. That darkness is the looter’s friend.

I put on a mask, pulled my hat down to cover my eyes, and wore gloves to hide my skin, then glanced at Jeondohyeong. Relying on his phone’s light, Jeondohyeong also wore a looter’s uniform.

“Let’s go.”

Armed with a hammer and a hand axe. A taser with little battery left.

Jeondohyeong silently nodded, and we quietly went down to the first floor. It’s late, so there’s little activity.

A shadow passed by the main gate outside, but I didn’t pay attention. The city is silent and dark due to the blackout. At this hour, only zombies, future zombies, or thieves are out.

“…”

I took a deep breath and tapped Jeondohyeong. Open the door.

Creak-

A blue spark flashed in the dark. The pale light faded, and the door lock clicked open.

Thud-

“…?”

The door didn’t budge. Even with more force, it only slightly moved.

“It’s locked?”

Jeondohyeong stomped his feet and whispered. Exactly. Besides the door lock, there’s a key lock.

I felt deep regret. A thief. Opens doors, unlocks locks, steals leftover gas from cars. A real main member I want to recruit, but still haven’t met.

But if there’s none, we have to improvise. Isn’t that what the apocalypse is all about?

“Through the window.”

If the door is closed, go through the window.

We carefully left the main gate. The moonlight was faint, reducing visibility to the extreme. The streetlights that should light the streets are all off.

Growl, a zombie’s cry came from somewhere.

We quietly circled the villa and saw a slightly higher window. A window broken by juvenile delinquents.

“Lift me up. I’ll go in and open the door.”

“…Okay.”

And so, we successfully broke in.

Slowly opening the insect screen, climbing over the window sill, avoiding the sleeping person, opening the front door, and standing by the resident’s bedside with weapons.

I tapped his head with the hammer. The cold metal touch woke the man.

“Wh-what? Huh?”

Sleepiness quickly left his voice. I quickly spoke before he could shout.

“That pastor of yours. Is he real? If he is, I want to repent and join.”

From now on, I’m not a robber. I’m someone who needs the pastor’s teachings, or someone to be drawn into and converted by the religion.

That change in position worked well on this cultist.

The man slowly got up, and faint moonlight shone on his eyes, making them gleam. He opened his mouth.

“He showed us a miracle.”

The story of Hope Church begins.

When the zombie outbreak happened, pastors and clergy turned into zombies one by one, and the congregation infected en masse also turned into zombies.

Thus, Hope Church seemed doomed, but a miraculous thing happened.

Some survived the mass infection and symptom onset. One evangelist and a few believers. While most clergy and believers turned into zombies, some remained uninfected.

I spoke in a bright voice.

“So that evangelist…?”

“No, now he’s a pastor, no, a saint. He showed us a miracle of defeating the virus like defeating Satan. If you believe in him, we can be saved!”

A miracle? Just lucky not to get infected.

The evangelist seized the opportunity and claimed to be the pastor, taking over the church.

I coldly looked at this fanatic.

“If you pray to him, the virus will avoid you, and you can save family members who have already turned into zombies.”

“Really?”

My head turned quickly. It was Jeondohyeong. Already showing signs of being swayed by this nonsense. He grabbed my sleeve, seeming uneasy.

“With this unbelievable virus, such a miracle might be possible… Let’s at least check-”

“Yes! You should meet him in person! There’s a worship service tonight!”

“What time is tonight?”

“During the blackout!”

I got all the information I needed. Now it’s time to go back to being a robber. I can’t let Jeondohyeong be swayed further. I gripped the hammer tightly.

“Unfortunately, you’re seriously infected.”

“I’m not infected?”

“No. With a mental virus.”

Physical therapy is the answer. I swung the hammer down. Thud, the same feeling as when I hit a zombie at the mart. One hit wasn’t enough, so I mechanically swung a few more times.

“You’re killing him like this?”

“Of course. He lives in this villa. We were going to kill him to take over the villa anyway. …Let’s clean up the body.”

The couple’s house was already emptied of supplies and moved to my house. Leaving the body in the house we planned to use as a warehouse should be fine.

I finally searched the dead man’s wallet and checked his ID. When going to worship, if someone asks, I’ll say I was recommended by this person.

 

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