Chapter 18: Hope

Day 35 of the Zombie Outbreak.

I witnessed firsthand the greatness of slavery, division of labor, and the potential of groups.

The synergy between the professor’s knowledge and cult religion exceeded imagination.

‘Wow, such efficiency…’

I looked through the small window in the door. What was originally a study room for high school students was now filled with women busily making recycled planters.

It was practically a factory. Some cut plastic bottles while humming hymns, others joined the pieces, some added soil, others planted seeds.

It was incomparable to the amateur attempts Do-hyung and I had made.

I clenched my fist. This was hope. This was the future. Making others work while I reaped the benefits – this was truly sustainable.

‘Is this the ultimate form of plunder? Stealing people’s time and labor?’

As I pondered this, someone tapped my back. It wasn’t Do-hyung.

“Deacon Kwon Da-in. Let’s check the roof. What you requested earlier has been completed.”

It was an elder whose name I didn’t know. A gun-carrying elder appointed by the pastor, who felt like an escort showing me around the building and introducing people. Though he might actually be watching and monitoring me.

I quickly smiled. The religious voice I’d carefully practiced flowed naturally.

“Yes, Elder. It’s always wonderful seeing our brothers and sisters working together.”

As a newcomer positioned somewhere between common believer and influential elder, I needed to blend in well.

I observed believers farming in various rooms as I made my way up to the roof.

The modest church was only three stories tall. Apart from the neon cross rising like a clock tower, it wasn’t very high.

Under the sunset sky and strong wind, I surveyed the surroundings, then approached the blocks piled along the walls.

“I see all the sidewalk blocks have been collected and moved.”

“The brothers put in the work.”

I peered over the roof edge. The walkways below were bare, leaving sandy soil exposed.

That soil seemed wasteful. Though the blocks were prepared for defensive walls against zombie hordes, surely we could use that ground too.

“Could we perhaps grow herbs in that soil?”

Maybe we could harvest something like perilla leaves or mugwort? Even if the church failed, plants would survive.

The elder frowned at me.

“Not sure. Never farmed before…”

His eyes said the disaster response expert should know, not him. I naturally redirected his suspicion.

“I haven’t studied agriculture specifically either. More concerning is the limited space.”

The church grounds with modest parking and rest areas, streetlamps with broadcast speakers. Thin flower beds wrapped around the church instead of fencing. Far from adequate.

I wanted to lay barbed wire and traps everywhere… but we lacked resources and manpower for construction. Above all, the pastor opposed making it difficult for elderly believers to come and go.

“I’d like to install barricades… but we can’t go against the pastor’s wishes. Ah, it’s meeting time?”

“Right. Almost late. Let’s hurry.”

The elder’s eyes suddenly blazed with faith as he turned quickly. I hurried after him, an involuntary smile forming.

‘This church group is useful anyway.’

A group solidly unified under the pastor. Despite being new, there was barely any conflict. Everything was the pastor’s command – with shared faith, there were no disputes.

Joining had been the right choice.

The meeting was held in the chapel before service.

The pastor on the platform looked down at the elders seated in front. Away from preaching to believers, a comfortable smile played on his lips.

“Another fulfilling day.”

“All thanks to you, Pastor.”

After meaningless pleasantries, the meeting began in earnest. Elders in charge of supplies, administration, prevention and security discussed various matters.

The pastor listened seriously, occasionally nodding and making brief comments.

Soon his gaze turned to me.

“Deacon Kwon Da-in. You’ve been such a great help. I’m always grateful.”

“Not at all. Serving you, Pastor, gives my life meaning.”

The elders nodded approvingly. I heard praise about Brother Kwon Da-in’s deep faith.

Evidence I’d blended in well.

“So, Deacon Kwon Da-in. What else should we do going forward?”

“Besides steadily stockpiling long-term food and maintaining prevention measures…”

I shook my head slightly.

“Emergency generators or solar panels would be good, but that’s quite difficult in the current situation.”

“Indeed. It’s unfortunate.”

The pastor sighed.

The zombie outbreak worsened daily. Noisy, lengthy construction was challenging. Even if we tried, construction companies were fully booked – many people finally preparing now.

After brief consideration, I spoke:

“For now, we should maintain our position while monitoring how the world develops. And keep purchasing food and prevention supplies.”

I could have proposed recruiting more deacons to form a deacon faction, or more aggressive measures like hunting unbelievers or raiding, but I held back to avoid the pastor’s suspicion.

The current church was satisfying enough. No rejection or wariness.

“Then tell the elder what supplies you need. We’ll purchase and stockpile what the church budget allows.”

The pastor gestured toward an elder.

Something occurred to me then, and I raised my hand like making a presentation.

“Ah. I have one suggestion.”

The pastor who’d been about to end the meeting looked at me. With all elders watching, I voiced a proposal containing my desires.

“Street evangelism has become difficult now, hasn’t it?”

“Yes. Many of our evangelism team brothers and sisters have been hurt by unbelievers.”

With zombies increasing, the streets grew dangerous. Recklessly grabbing people while shouting was too risky.

There was a better way.

“What if we spread word about recycling farming methods and sidewalk block collection under Hope Church and the pastor’s name? It would reach more people than now.”

This was my selfish desire.

If many people grew planters while conserving long-term food, I could raid it all later. Essentially having others farm briefly while I claimed the harvest.

The pastor considered briefly, checking his wristwatch.

“That’s a good approach. In these difficult times, we need suitable methods to reach worried lambs. Talk with the evangelism elder. After service, of course.”

Clap clap, the pastor clapped his hands.

“Let’s prepare for service.”

“Oh my. Seems all our brothers and sisters are here. Could our Deacon Kwon and… what was your name? Do? Do brother help outside?”

The grandmother handling visitor logs and sanitizer went into the chapel with a groan. Bang, the door closed.

As safety manager, I was tasked with watching for approaching zombies during service.

I glanced at Do-hyung. He who’d grumbled wanting a proper deacon title now stared at his feet with a somewhat pale face.

I expected more complaints about his name being confused.

“What’s wrong?”

“Well…”

I focused on my task without much interest.

Recording video on my phone. The target was the visitor log. A treasure map filled with names, numbers, addresses. Though just taking this would be profitable, I believed in the church’s potential and only filmed it.

Do-hyung’s gloomy voice reached me.

“I talked with a woman here.”

“Romance?”

If it was just romance rather than something else, it really wasn’t worth listening to.

While turning pages, I heard something I couldn’t ignore.

“That’s not it. You know, that woman we killed.”

Who was he talking about? The couple? The female officer? The college student neighbor? I looked at Do-hyung questioningly as he trembled.

“Seems she was friends with the dead person. Got bitten by a zombie while watching online lectures. Said she was such a good friend, couldn’t tell a lie. Crying about how such an unfair death…”

Ah. The snitch. The zombie killed her. We just put in a zombie and blocked the door.

Though such words nearly burst out, I quickly swallowed them. This wasn’t the time for such talk. But I couldn’t think of appropriate words either.

Why care so much about the past. What’s that woman’s name. Let’s find her in the log and raid her place. Only inappropriate thoughts came to mind.

Fortunately, Do-hyung reached his own conclusion.

“Just, feels a bit… yeah. Couldn’t say anything to that friend, just. Just.”

“…But you came to the pastor. That friend will be fine. You’ve seen yourself how excellent this church is.”

I finally found suitable words. Do-hyung seemed to smile weakly.

“Right? Guess God must really exist. Giving such a path to a friend in sorrow.”

He assumed the now-familiar prayer position and closed his eyes. Like a drop of black ink in clear water, faith seemed to fall.

If even I felt my mind slowly tilting from church life, Do-hyung must be beyond words.

Then the blackout came. Time for service. Time for darkness to dye the world.

“…It’s really dark.”

We quietly watched darkness claim the city. A world without light or sound. The world lit only by moonlight seemed unlike the modern society we knew.

Especially with zombies prowling that darkness.

‘In another month, the city will become wilderness.’

I recalled the street scenes I’d witnessed.

Streets where city maintenance gradually broke down. Garbage began piling up, sometimes bodies lay strewn about. Human touch slowly vanishing.

Of course hope existed.

For instance, this church.

I slowly pressed my ear to the chapel door. Eavesdropping on service. The pastor’s voice faintly reached me.

Satan has sent waves of plague! Water and birds! Satan’s virus taints God’s creation, we must only through faith-

I smiled contentedly.

‘Using the apocalyptic theory well. Now it’s getting cult-like.’

Isn’t it most satisfying when gift recipients cherish and use their gifts well? Though this pastor wasn’t the Chairman’s adversary, they were certainly talented for living in this era the Chairman created.

‘Use my home as a sub-base with stockpiled long-term food, make the church the main base, and live off others’ resources for now.’

The more bases the better, right? If resources run low or danger rises depending on the situation. Just move between them.

The villa, church, camper van, mountain shelter. Plus houses to raid from the visitor log.

As I mapped it in my mind.

Bang-!

Gunshots rang out. Not just once. Slowly, more shots followed. From inside the chapel.

Do-hyung and I frantically opened the wooden doors. There in the candlelight stood the pastor with zombie blood splattered on his face and the elder who’d pulled the trigger.

Faintly visible were several zombie corpses.

The pastor spoke:

“Satan persecutes us. Trying to crush us who are hope for overcoming them. Let us pray.”

Face stained with blood, the pastor closed his eyes and clasped his hands. Emotional prayer sounds emerged from all around.

The performance of the cross-wielding pastor and elder directly killing zombies. The atmosphere and staging that could convince even the faithless.

As I stared blankly at the scene, I felt doubt rising in my heart. The doubt and faith church life had planted in my mind.

‘Is it real? Is the pastor truly the Chairman’s adversary? A key to stopping the apocalypse?’

Then… forget joining and benefits, shouldn’t I kill them? Faith sparked murderous intent.