The church building I visited after a long time had become almost like a real fortress. I felt that atmosphere from the church entrance.

A person monitoring the surroundings from the rooftop. Several cars were closely parked around the church building, functioning like a barrier, and there were electric lanterns hung on the second-floor windows to provide lighting in case of a power outage.

It's called a church, but it's a war fortress. You'd need an army to conquer it, and even ordinary zombies wouldn't be able to set foot in it.

Yanggun Park quickly scanned the building and shook his head.

"Wow, they wouldn't even dare to steal anything, right? Can you see the first-floor windows are all blocked?"

"...Yes, I can see them."

The glass windows were broken, but something was added inside the rooms. At a glance, it looked like they had ripped off the doors to block the windows.

It was admirable, but weaknesses were also revealed.

'A closed-off building that's hard to infiltrate from the outside. If zombies come out from the inside, it would be difficult to escape.'

In other words, it's an enclosed space. Tightly sealed, so foreign substances can't get in, but you can't get out either. It would be vulnerable not only to epidemics but also to fires.

"I'm here!"

At that moment, Dohyeong approached excitedly, waving his hand, and the car window blocking the entrance was lowered, revealing a familiar face.

"Dohyeong is here. Did you come to see Yeonji?"

The face of a patient I had seen when going to the hospital. The patient reacted as if a friend had arrived, indicating that the wandering Dohyeong had visited frequently, and Dohyeong spoke loudly.

"Elder Kwon and Deacon Bi-pum are also here."

"Hello! Ah, let me open the way for you."

Vroom-

The started car moved forward. Instead of the broken glass windows from the previous zombie wave, a crudely welded door made by tearing off the car body was open.

'...Why does this building have a different atmosphere?'

It's a real apocalypse stronghold. While other places are still ordinary buildings, this one is full of a recycled vibe.

True to the pastor's legacy, they are proactively preparing. If the pastor were still alive without any issues, this place would have even the cult-like contagiousness.

The patient poked his head out the window and pointed upward.

"The elders are gathered in the third-floor office. Go rest there."

"Yes, thank you for your hard work."

And so, we slowly ascended the church building. Dohyeong left on the second floor.

"I'll go meet Yeonji."

With a light, excited step.

"...Is that kid dating? Well, being young has its perks."

While Yanggun made that comfortable remark, I greeted each member of the community I hadn't seen in a long time as I walked.

"Oh, Deacon Kwon! You've come?"

"Yes, hello. Have you been well?"

Their faces were bright. They were united by a sense of belonging and camaraderie.

As I passed by, I saw many plastic bottle planters hanging from the ceilings and windows of the rooms, with fresh new sprouts growing.

I couldn't help but feel a bit down.

"It's running really well."

It wasn't like this when we were here. Under the pastor's guidance, there was an fanatical atmosphere, an uneasy atmosphere due to strange interference, and a gloomy atmosphere after the pastor passed away.

Around that point, we arrived at the office. After knocking, the door opened.

The evangelism elder, the administrative elder, and a rough-looking man.

"Deacon Kwon? And Elder Park is here too? Visiting?"

"It's been a long time, Deacon Kwon."

After the customary greetings among familiar people, the evangelism elder introduced the strange-looking man and us.

"This is the new security elder. He was active in the metal workers' union and has been a great help. This is the previous safety manager, Deacon Kwon, and this is Yanggun Park, who was in charge of supplies."

Indeed, a veteran from the metal workers' union who can wage a siege in the modern era.

Then what should I do against this community of hope? My head was spinning.

It's not easy to cause trouble now. The people are so united, and if strange things happen as soon as we return, it would be suspicious.

But just setting fire and running away doesn't benefit me either. This community isn't a liability to me.

'A scenario that benefits me...'

Completely destroying it and gobbling up the church's resources is a bit ambiguous. I don't lack resources at the moment. It's enough to put it on the reserve looting list.

'For now, it's best to keep them as a friendly ally.'

To maintain the community, they must have stockpiled a lot of resources regularly. I'll tell them to keep diligently accumulating resources until the day they eventually collapse, in place of me.

After pondering, I politely extended my gloved hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. I didn't expect you could fortify the place to this extent, it's impressive."

"...What's with the overly formal handshake? Forget it."

The gruff-looking security elder rejected it bluntly. Is he lacking in social skills? If so, I could join and just get rid of him. After all, his knowledge has probably lost its value.

For a moment, I saw the exciting possibility of mischief, but I held back.

The atmosphere I seek for my group of looters is to loot joyfully, not to be addicted to looting and lose sight of the bigger picture. Looting is just the optimal means, it shouldn't become the purpose.

"Haha. The security elder is a unique person."

"He's like a master craftsman, how nice."

Responding smoothly to the evangelism elder's mediation, I officially began my social life.

"How have you been? There have been a lot of waves lately."

"They do attack us sometimes, but we can still hold out."

Alliances are important. Communities have their own advantages too. The number of people can never be ignored. If I need to loot or act on a large scale, I should maintain a certain level of goodwill.

***

The ultimate form of looting is to plunder people's hearts and labor. I faithfully followed the vision that the pastor showed us.

"You didn't have to prepare this for us."

We, who had learned recipes for Molotov cocktails and techniques like car hood and door removal, gratefully accepted the gifts. We obtained a surplus of weapons that we had made.

Two slingshots made of thin pipes and taut rubber bands, and a few slingshot bolts.

Honestly, they aren't very good weapons. The accuracy and power are disappointing.

The evangelism elder spoke in a friendly tone.

"You're not outsiders. Deacon Kwon, the security position is open, so you're welcome to come back anytime."

"Did they not leave my position?"

When Yanggun Park asked in a sulky tone, the administrative elder laughed. He gestured to the people.

"With so many people here, the supply management position can't be left empty! But if you're going to starve, come back."

Meanwhile, the evangelism elder was having a sweet conversation with Nayeji, and I felt the atmosphere of the hopeful community for the last time.

A small community content with just surviving without big goals. They've armed and prepared themselves somehow, but they have little potential to grow into a large group.

'I don't need to eliminate them by my own hand, but rather it's worth using them.'

Even though it was unintentional, I've built a good relationship with this group. They can diligently stockpile a massive amount of resources in my place, and I can borrow their manpower if needed.

I bowed my head.

"I'll see you again later."

"Yes, we'll see each other again."

As we exchanged farewells and returned to the villa, Yanggun Park kept looking back, saying:

"Are you really not staying? Doesn't that side seem safer?"

"No. We are safer here."

I stated firmly. I truly believed that.

Waves? Unlike the church attacked by less-evolved zombies, we don't fight in the first place. The ground floor houses are completely empty, and naturally there's no food, so the zombies ignore us.

No matter how well-armed you are, you're not safer than those who don't fight.

And the completely sealed buildings...

"If a fire breaks out, they'll all die. The communal living also makes them vulnerable to viruses."

In terms of virus prevention, we were more perfect. One person per house. Eating, bathing, sleeping, all separately. We wore masks when meeting.

I explained my thoughts step-by-step, and suddenly the evangelism elder started trembling.

"Did you by any chance plan to carry out a virus attack or arson on the church? You really didn't, right?"

"..."

Even Park Yanggun looked at me curiously.

"I did think about it, but do we really need to? Our resources are abundant enough."

I don't have the intention to loot excessively yet. Even if I did loot, arson was definitely not the plan. If the fire spreads out of control, it would be disastrous.

Moreover, there would be nothing to salvage from the aftermath of a fire. Arson should only be used when you really need to eliminate the target.

"Anyway, for now let's just hunker down in the house until our food runs out. There's no need to do anything more in the current situation."

It's a nomadic style. When there's no more grass for the animals to graze on, they move. We've decided to stay put in the villa until we run out of edible food.

We hunkered down in the villa, waiting for the day when we could loot.

***

Time passes as we wait. While we consume and watch our dwindling food supplies, waiting for the day to loot, others in the world are waiting for a cure to be developed.

The onions and scallions in the makeshift bottle planters I made with Jeon Dohaeng are rotting, and I blankly stare at the calendar.

'How many days since the zombie outbreak?'

Enough time has passed that I don't even bother counting the days anymore.

I look out the window.

There are a lot of zombies, even during the day. Zombies have started to occupy the bright daytime as well, since people have all holed up inside their homes.

With human activity diminished, the zombies seem even more numerous than they actually are.

'Domino...'

The domino is falling.

The city is dying rapidly. There are barely any vehicles on the roads as logistics have dried up, and corpses and filth are rotting everywhere, nourishing the weeds and wild animals that have fattened up.

Especially the organized hordes of zombies, moving like a pack of wild dogs.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Even with the mask on, the stench of ruin seems to brush my nostrils.

Suddenly, the sound of a door lock opening.

"Why did you call me?"

"It's probably about the food, you fool."

A reliable looting member.

I turn away from the window, a slightly amused tone involuntarily creeping into my voice.

"It's time to loot."

We still have a decent amount of rice left. Soy sauce, salt, and chili paste are plentiful too.

But other things are lacking. We've finished all the canned tuna and Spam, and cleaned out the side dishes from other people's fridges.

What we're lacking are things like fruits, meats, and vegetables. We need a balanced diet to stay healthy.

"The side dishes are lacking, though. We can't just live on soy sauce and kimchi."

"So, do you have any places in mind?"

Jeon Dohyeong asked, his legs trembling slightly.

I slowly explained. The looting targets I had scouted. The other houses around the villa, Professor Kim's apartment, the church's membership list.

The desired resources are canned tuna or Spam. Or multivitamins and protein supplements.

Suddenly, I felt amused.

'Yeah, this is how it should be in an apocalypse.'

To obtain medicine, to obtain firearms, to obtain food, to obtain fuel, to find family. After all, isn't moving to fill the void what an apocalypse is about?

We have embarked on looting to prevent the serious problem of nutrient deficiency.