---

‘Shall we attack the apartment?’

I looked at the corpses scattered on the floor and fell into thought. Quite a few corpses. I compared it to the number of people I saw during the apartment raid.

‘Seems like there are still a lot left.’

It doesn’t seem like we can take on the apartment with just the street people from the villa.

Tap, tap, tap. I tapped my knee. A simple plan unfolded in my head.

The resources left in the apartment. There must be many doors still unopened. That huge apartment probably still has a lot of resources waiting for my touch, sleeping soundly. In fact, it might be too much for the villa street people to handle alone.

I need a friend to act with me.

‘Street thugs, armed gunmen, symbols of authority. The police friends from the precinct joined the police station, right? Call them. And the Hope Community? Should I ask them to bring chainsaws and crowbars?’

It’s better to share with two friends. Build some reputation and friendship while we’re at it.

“Uncle. I’m thinking of attacking the apartment now, but—”

I called the uncle and brought up the topic, and the uncle left the attack to me. So, I contacted the police station friend, and Jeondohyeong arranged a time with the Hope Community.

It was time for a fun and rewarding pillaging activity.

***

People gathered in front of the apartment entrance.

The apartment residents gathered behind the barricades seemed flustered, pacing around. The confidence from their numbers or the momentum they had when pillaging the streets was hard to find.

That’s how ominous the crowd was.

The police cars lined up along the street flashed red like fresh blood and pale blue like corpses. The police, armed with handguns and batons, exuded a menacing aura.

On the opposite side were the Hope Community members, with hastily made shields and spears emitting a dull steel glow. Behind them, slingshots and Molotov cocktails seemed ready to fire at any moment.

Our villa street people were the most insignificant. Simple survivors. Few in number. We couldn’t empty the streets, so we left some people behind for defense.

At least we’ve tasted blood, so our momentum is decent…

‘As expected, my street is the weakest.’

It’s a world where it’s hard to survive without real effort. The potential competitors are too strong. It’s hard to relax.

Around that time, a few people from the police and the Hope Community approached me.

My police friend, a police officer who seemed like the leader of the pillaging squad, and the evangelical elder from the Hope Community.

“Dain? Who’s that?”

“That person over there.”

“Deacon Kwon. Long time no see.”

“Yes, thank you for coming.”

Friendly neighbors exchanged warm greetings.

The police and the Hope Community had clashed before, but it didn’t seem like a big deal. Everyone laughed with hope and anticipation.

Or maybe it was because of the huge treasure trove of the apartment right in front of them.

“I heard from this friend. We’re not the only ones left. We’re being given a good opportunity.”

“The more food, the better. How will we distribute it?”

“Cleanly, one-third each. Let’s keep it fair to avoid any trouble. We’ll have to work together a lot in the future, right?”

They discussed how to divide the residents’ resources, regardless of the residents’ opinions.

An apartment resident who overheard the conversation quietly approached and raised their voice, but it was meaningless. This place was full of pillagers.

“Who said you could—”

Bang!

A light gunshot rang out. As soon as that guy opened his mouth, the leader fired a shot into the air. It wasn’t a waste of ammunition; it seemed like a warning shot.

The rough-looking leader of the pillaging squad chuckled. He had been speaking kindly, but suddenly changed, stepping forward and pressing his gun against the head of the complaining resident.

“You heard everything, right? You guys have guns, don’t you? You bastards who killed the police and stole their weapons, where do you get off talking?”

It was the intel I gave. During the clash, the apartment guys fired guns. They’re targets for police revenge.

The apartment resident’s face turned pale. They tried to say something, making “uh, uh” sounds, but after seeing the leader’s eyes, they tightly shut their mouth.

Even I could see the unusual flames of hatred or madness in the police leader’s eyes.

He pulled the trigger without warning. Bang, a heavy gunshot. The resident fell with a hole in their head. The police leader kicked the corpse.

“Those who messed with us after stealing guns deserve to die. …Ah, what a waste of a bullet. Anyway, let’s move.”

It’s a common thing. Didn’t Sajihyeok say it? These days, people killing people is more common.

The people started moving systematically, without much emotion. As if the tasks were already divided, some people stepped forward first, and each group headed to different buildings without overlapping.

“Gather here. Don’t move around recklessly.”

Some police officers gathered the apartment residents in one place to control them. Surrounding the trembling residents, they aimed their guns. To prevent any mischief.

On the other hand, some police officers carried sledgehammers and tool bags on their shoulders, loosening their joints.

“We won’t be able to open everything today, will we?”

“Senior, you’re the expert, right? Last time, you opened them easily.”

“It’s all about technique—”

Professional door breakers. Door breaching, was it? The experienced ones who had forced open front doors for emergency arrests or searches stepped forward first.

The Hope Community was similar. Those with crowbars, grinders, and drills stepped forward, while others cleared the barricades and made space for cars to enter.

We also started moving.

“Mr. Park Yang-gun. Let’s head to that building over there.”

In the field of door breaking, we don’t fall behind.

We had a real thief, a wild technician, Park Yang-gun, who had reached the level of a master through self-study. Maybe we were even better.

“Alright. My hands are itching. It’d be embarrassing to fall behind those guys.”

Feeling the competitive spirit, perhaps. With enthusiasm, Park Yang-gun flexed his fingers softly, and we headed to Building 103.

A joyful day of sweating together and reaping the harvest. It was even better because we had neighbors to share the joy with.

***

Recruiting Park Yang-gun was a good move. He showed efficiency that was incomparable to the clumsy humans breaking doors while sweating profusely.

With a few quick movements, the door opened. If the door didn’t open, he’d tie a rope around himself and climb through the window to break into closed houses. A real thief.

Park Yang-gun, sweating refreshingly, laughed and mocked the police and the Hope Community.

“Those amateurs. Still haven’t opened everything?”

While we had already opened all the doors, they still hadn’t finished their work.

I praised Park Yang-gun.

“Wow. There’s no comparison. Mr. Park Yang-gun is the real expert. How could they compete?”

“…Is that a compliment?”

Park Yang-gun suddenly made a sour face. He roughly sat down on the side of the road, stroking his chin above his mask. He waved his hand dismissively.

“I’m going to rest now. Handle the luggage yourself.”

“Yes, I have things to do too.”

I slowly walked away, observing the atmosphere as I passed.

People busily moving food like ants. Apartment residents stomping their feet and crying. Police officers, after identifying gun owners, swinging their batons with heavy breaths.

“Ah, I was wrong! I was wrong! I really needed the gun—”

“Because of people like you!”

The culprit who had fired guns during the previous clash curled up and rolled around. Batons rained down on him.

I clicked my tongue.

‘Seems like they don’t plan to kill everyone.’

They’re pillaging but leaving the apartment residents alone. If they wanted to kill, they would’ve acted already. It would’ve been more efficient to kill everyone and put even the controlling police into labor.

I understand that decision. Massacring unarmed civilians? Even I couldn’t bring myself to say it.

For now, they’re treated as humans who quickly adapted to the apocalypse, but if they cross the line even a little, they’ll be treated as lunatics and attacked.

Even in the apocalypse, people haven’t fallen that far. Even if the world ends, people live, and there are minimal rules between people. Just like beasts have discipline.

Still…

“It’s bothering me.”

“What, what is it? What are you planning now?”

I was startled and turned around. Jeondohyeong, who had approached without a sound, was looking at me.

A vicious electric thief is someone to trust. One of the few criminal companions, right? I gestured toward the apartment residents.

“Will those people stay still?”

“Ah. They’ll stay still.”

“Really? They have no food, but among so many people, isn’t there someone who’ll try to get revenge? Come at night to set fires or spread viruses.”

There must be someone who’ll reveal the human nature of wanting to die together. Shouldn’t we prevent that?

It’s a hot afternoon like summer. Even though it’s hotter from working, Jeondohyeong rubbed his goosebump-covered arms. He must’ve sensed the danger too.

“No.”

“Why?”

“They don’t have enough food to eat right now, how can they think of other things?”

“They’re lacking, so they might go for mutual destruction, ah. Right.”

I suddenly realized. People with nothing to lose are scary. Then, let’s leave them some hope. If they have some hope to live, they won’t recklessly throw away their lives.

He’s truly the best supporter, a professional at killing people without getting his hands dirty. How many accidents has this guy induced already?

“Good suggestion. I didn’t think of that.”

“…Huh? What suggestion? What did I say?”

Leaving Jeondohyeong, who was pretending not to know, behind, I went to find the evangelical elder and the police leader.

By the time I finished discussing with them, the sun was starting to set. The streets were piled with resources that would take several car trips to move. Rice sacks, kimchi from kimchi refrigerators, salt, soy sauce, gochujang, various foods.

Even divided among three groups, it’s more than enough. Enough to not need to pillage for a while. The building alone had more than one or two units, and with high floors, there was that much food just sitting there collecting dust.

In front of such a heartwarming scene, the police leader approached the apartment residents.

“This bastard stole a gun?”

“I’m sorry. Please.”

“Who reported him?”

A few people quietly raised their hands. The leader nodded and pointed toward the pile of food.

Enough food for the reporters to eat, but not enough for the apartment residents to share.

“Citizens with a strong sense of reporting are not enemies. Here’s your reward. Take it. It’s your food.”

The reporters, with bright faces, approached but soon hesitated, realizing the situation. Could they really protect that much food?

Already, suspicion seemed to flow among the apartment residents. Eyes coveting the reporters’ food, eyes of wariness. Hands tightly gripping weapons.

Leaving them with just enough strength to fight each other is enough. Once they fight, the hatred will turn toward those close to them.

Having seen the reward for reporting, they’ll report anyone doing suspicious things.

I tapped Jeondohyeong’s shoulder.

“It was your idea. This way, no one will try to attack us first.”

“No. How did you even think of that…”

Jeondohyeong, looking bewildered, turned his head away.

And so, we finished our pillaging. We gained so many resources that the long time invested was worth it. We also kept our dangerous neighbors in check, so it was a good day.

Like a celebratory cannon, the sound of the police leader shooting and killing the police attacker echoed.

 

---