---

My head hurts. Did I make a wrong judgment? Whether it’s the Hope Community or Dokdo, whenever I plan something, it feels like things subtly go wrong and fall apart.

As a pillager, I’m also struggling with what to pursue. My head is packed with all sorts of thoughts.

I couldn’t even hear the conversation between Rider Zero and the boss properly.

“Boss, I saw a corpse at the entrance. You’re pretty good with a knife, huh?”

“Well, this is a sushi place. Slicing is basic. Whether it’s zombies or fish, the basics are the same.”

“If you think you can’t keep the shop running, give me a call!”

I can’t help but resentfully watch Rider Zero trying to recruit the boss.

Why does the person who brings bad news always seem so annoying? Rider Zero, who was already unlikeable, felt even more irritating.

Of course, Rider Zero didn’t notice my gaze and was busy flapping her hands, focusing on persuasion.

“You can cook the same way if you join us. This is my goal…”

The boss, who was diligently packing sushi into containers, seemed interested and made eye contact with Rider Zero.

I also let go of my resentment for a moment and focused on her voice. As both a wannabe scenario writer and a pillager, I’m always interested in other people’s dreams.

In a sushi shop where corpses roll around, Rider Zero’s cheerful voice echoed with a bright light.

“We want to be the thread that connects people. If things keep going like this, the city will eventually collapse. Zombies are taking over, communication is cut off—”

A world where zombies are everywhere, making it hard for people to face each other.

The Delivery Vigilante Group wants to be an analog means of communication. Like postal carriers from the era before the internet and phones.

The dark future she envisions and the romance that can only be dreamed of in such a future.

Of course, there were also practical measures to maintain the group. Delivery, requests, rewards, and special products like proper food that will become valuable in the future.

Rider Zero finished her speech.

“Anyway, that’s it. Boss, if you’re interested, give me a call.”

“Sounds good.”

The boss responded positively. His expression, which had hardened after poisoning the vigilante group, softened.

It was only natural. Their dreams didn’t clash. Rider Zero, who wants to connect people, and the boss, who wants to cook and share his food for a lifetime.

There’s room for coexistence and moving forward together.

I also started to think more deeply.

‘Coexistence. A purpose to unite various pillagers.’

As the leader of a pillager group, I already had the thought that I needed to engrave the benefits and losses in the minds of other pillager members.

The benefit of trusting and following me is survival, and the loss of betraying and opposing me is losing your life.

But for the long-term vision needed to lead them…

Tap, tap, tap, I tapped my knee with my fingers.

Around that time, the boss finished packing. He subtly winked at me.

“Enjoy your meal! …If you need more side dishes, come by. I can’t do it often, but I’ll try to take care of you occasionally.”

It’s about the pufferfish poison. I shook my head.

“I don’t think I’ll be coming back. If the seafood supply stops, we won’t be able to eat it.”

It’s better to look into hospitals or pharmacies. Medical drugs are made with precise chemical technology, far superior to any natural poison.

‘People are scarier after all…’

With that, I finished my outing and started heading back to the villa.

***

Rider Zero’s motorcycle was parked at the entrance with the engine running.

‘Should I pull the brake?’

I paused for a moment, but since there were people around, I decided to play a small prank.

Clink—

I pulled out the motorcycle key and threw it into the drain. The key slipped through the iron mesh. It’ll take some time to retrieve it. I couldn’t help but laugh.

Before Rider Zero came out, I quickly shook the bag of sushi and ran away. It wasn’t enough to fully vent my resentment, but as long as I’m happy, it’s fine.

Isn’t this world already depressing and bleak? From a mental health perspective, these small joys are important.

“Haha.”

As I ran wildly, people’s eyes questioned whether I was a zombie or a madman. I adjusted my mask. A faint smile appeared on my lips.

Looking back, there weren’t many times in my life when I genuinely laughed out of joy. Ironically, I’ve laughed more since the apocalypse started.

When I escaped from jail, stole a bicycle, crashed into a public restroom with the Electric Thief’s car, took revenge on a whistleblower, and punished the Security Elder.

‘…Is doing bad things fun?’

It seems like committing crimes without any crisis is enjoyable.

It’s not strange. Jeondohyeong, who enjoys stealing electricity, and Park Yang-gun, who’s addicted to professional theft. All the members are mentally unstable criminals.

For a moment, it felt like all the complicated thoughts about the future and vision were washed away.

I looked around the streets.

Daytime. Clumsy zombies come out only to get beaten by vigilantes or passersby—human time.

People live day by day without any grand purpose or hope. In that sense, pillagers live with intense joy, making them a superior version.

“What does the future matter?”

Isn’t it enough to live joyfully by doing bad things moment by moment? We can just gather pillager members who enjoy survival and pillaging itself.

Meanwhile, my feet kept moving, and I returned to the villa without any issues.

***

Just before entering the villa, I saw a strange woman. An ajumma hiding bowls of food near the road or buildings.

‘Is she a cat mom?’

I thought she was feeding cats and was about to pass by, but the bowls she was placing looked unusual.

Instant rice and seaweed soup that looked like they had been reheated. It was clearly a human meal, not for cats.

Feeling my gaze, the ajumma turned around. Her face, full of deep wrinkles and sadness, forced a smile.

“Student, do you live here?”

“No.”

I do live here. But honestly, there’s no reason to answer truthfully. Why should I give my information to a stranger? Who knows what might happen later.

The ajumma seemed a bit flustered, and I pointed at the food with my hammer.

“What’s this? It doesn’t look like cat food.”

“It’s for my son. He left home, and I’m worried if he’s eating well.”

The ajumma, showing signs of anxiety, hid the bowl behind her back as if protecting it.

She seemed mentally unstable. She acted as if I was about to spill the bowl, rambling excuses.

“My son turned into a zombie while shopping with me. Luckily, he recognized my face and ran into the street after attacking others.”

Ah. So she’s a zombie mom, not a cat mom.

This wasn’t good. Cat food would’ve been much more beneficial. At least wild animals can be hunted if resources run out. Feeding zombies? Not so much.

The zombie mom looked like she was about to cry, her eyes drooping, but she held back her tears and forced a smile.

“My son, who used to stay locked in his room, now runs around outside. He looks much happier… I’m just worried if he’ll meet bad people or starve…”

“Oh, I see. That’s tough.”

I pretended to sympathize.

It’s a world full of zombies. There must be many people keeping zombies locked up at home, and many others seeing their family’s faces in the zombies wandering outside.

As time goes on, more people will probably live with a few zombies in their hearts.

Seeing my gentle response, the zombie mom fumbled with her phone and showed me a picture.

A middle school student in uniform? His expression and posture seemed timid and introverted.

“If you happen to see this kid…”

She trailed off, but I understood. She’s offering a reward if I kidnap him and contact her? Of course, I have no intention of taking such risks.

“Yes, I understand. You should go now.”

“Okay, okay. Thank you for listening.”

The zombie mom slowly turned around, carrying a basket full of instant rice and seaweed soup containers, and left.

I watched her back.

‘We might be able to cooperate now.’

I saw potential for cooperation in her.

She’s offering bait for zombies herself. I was already feeling a bit guilty about using my food supplies, so this works out well.

After waiting until the zombie mom was out of sight, I quickly poured pufferfish poison into the seaweed soup.

I also searched the area and found a few more bowls, emptying the pufferfish poison into them. It was mechanical labor. Not fun, not rewarding.

‘Dealing with zombies isn’t fun.’

I’d rather be plotting conspiracies at the church.

Thinking about it, poison isn’t a great strategy either. Using poison requires a lot of food as bait, which isn’t sustainable in the long run.

After using up all the pufferfish poison, I casually threw the trash on the roadside and returned to the villa with a blank expression.

I need to talk to the members about the Hope Community.

***

Even though I brought sushi, we don’t share meals together. Everyone eats separately at home because of the fear of the virus.

“The community changed like that?”

Park Yang-gun poked at the mysterious fish sushi, rolling his eyes. He’s showing signs of wanting to escape and return to the church.

On the other hand, Jeondohyeong sighed in relief. Unconsciously, he clasped his hands in a prayer-like gesture.

“That’s a relief. At least Yeji won’t get hurt.”

I pressed my head.

These are the pillager members. Seemingly united, but ready to scatter and turn on each other at any moment.

No one thinks like me or follows my style. It’s a miracle they haven’t betrayed me yet.

Park Yang-gun spoke.

“Then wouldn’t it be better to go back? Not that I dislike you, but if it’s safer over there.”

I closed my eyes tightly, then decided to turn the crisis of the pillager members scattering into an opportunity.

An opportunity to lead the pillagers with my vision. An opportunity to use the Hope Community. To maintain the pillager group steadily, I need to test and succeed now.

“Let’s just steal their resources and knowledge cleanly.”

“…Steal?”

Park Yang-gun leaned forward, intrigued. Jeondohyeong seemed similar. They liked this idea more than just going back.

These criminals prefer crossing the line over ordinary actions. If I just provide the opportunity to commit crimes, they’ll follow.

“Stealing slingshots, shields, and knowledge is more fun, right? Joining the community would just be boring.”

“I like it!”

Jeondohyeong answered immediately. The vicious Electric Thief seems to have been influenced by the professional thief Park Yang-gun.

Park Yang-gun, the original thief, also seemed convinced.

“That’s quite appealing. No.”

“Elder Park Yang-gun. Think of it as reclaiming your youth. Regain the passion you had when you were young and stealing.”

“Huh… It’s exciting.”

That’s it. Somehow, I’ve managed to unite the pillagers. Honestly, it’s exhausting even with just two people.

On top of that, I have to plan for myself.

‘Do I need to find someone else who can think, besides deserters? …The professor’s daughter?’

The daughter of the professor who advocated for the massacre of a million people might be able to help me. According to my online search, she’s attending a university in this city.

Anyway, I’ll leave future matters for later and immediately started planning for the Hope Community.

‘In my heart, I want to rejoin and cause internal strife.’

But when has anything ever gone my way? It’s better not to make such long-term plans.

It might be better to maintain a friendly relationship. The pastor is gone, so the potential for expansion as a cult is removed.

Or, depending on the situation, cause accidents on the spot.

So, for a few days, we reduced our meals and deliberately didn’t wash, making ourselves look filthy before visiting the Hope Community.

If we looked well-fed and clean, we might end up on their pillaging list.

 

---