Chapter 30: Waiting

Visiting the church building after a long time, it had transformed into something close to a real fortress. I felt that atmosphere from the entrance.

People watching surroundings from the roof. Several cars pressed tight against the church building functioning as walls, and electric lanterns hung in second floor windows to provide light during blackouts.

Though called a church, it was a war fortress. Would need an army to capture it, and ordinary zombies likely couldn’t even set foot inside.

Park Yang-gun quickly scanned the building and shook his head.

“Wow. Can’t even think about theft? See how they blocked all first floor windows?”

“…I see it.”

Though windows were broken, something was added from inside. At a glance, it looked like they’d torn off doors and nailed them over windows.

I couldn’t help but admire it. Though weaknesses were visible too.

‘A closed building hard to enter from outside. Would be hard to escape if zombies appeared inside too.’

In other words, a sealed room. Tightly closed so outside contaminants couldn’t enter, but also couldn’t exit. Vulnerable to not just epidemics but fires too.

“I’m here!”

Just then Do-hyung approached excitedly waving his hand, and a familiar face appeared as the car window blocking the entrance lowered.

“Do-hyung’s here. Came to see Yeji?”

The face of a patient seen during hospital visits. The patient greeted like a friend visiting, apparently Do-hyung who sometimes wandered alone had visited often, and Do-hyung spoke loudly:

“Deacon Kwon and Elder Park came too!”

“Hello! Ah, I’ll open the way!”

Vroom-

The running car moved forward. Instead of windows broken during the previous zombie wave, I saw a crude door made from welded car parts opening.

‘…Why does only this building feel different?’

A real apocalypse base. While other places were still normal buildings, only here was full of recycling vibes.

Like a group carrying on the pastor’s will, preparing one step ahead. If the pastor had lived without issue, this could have had pseudo-religion’s infectiousness too.

The patient stuck their head out the window and pointed up.

“The elders should be gathered in the third floor office. Take a break.”

“Yes, keep up the good work.”

So we slowly climbed the church building. Do-hyung split off at the second floor.

“I’ll go meet Yeji.”

Light steps as if excited.

“…Is that kid dating? Ah, to be young.”

While Park Yang-gun made carefree remarks, I moved greeting each community member I hadn’t seen in a long time.

“Oh, Deacon Kwon! You came?”

“Yes, hello. Have you been well?”

Their faces were bright. United by something like belonging and camaraderie.

Bottle planters hung thickly from ceilings and windowsills of rooms we passed, with fresh sprouts emerging.

I felt annoyed for no reason.

“Everything’s running so well.”

It wasn’t like this when we were here. Just fanatical atmosphere under the pastor’s guidance, uneasy atmosphere from strange interference, gloomy atmosphere after the pastor died.

Around then we reached the office. Knock knock, the door opened.

The evangelism elder, administrative elder, and one rough-looking middle-aged man.

“Deacon Kwon? Elder Park came too? Just visiting?”

“It’s been a while, Deacon Kwon.”

After brief greetings between familiar faces, the evangelism elder introduced the stranger to us. Pointing to each person:

“This is our new security elder. He worked in the metal workers union, really helping us a lot. This is Deacon Kwon who handled security before, Elder Park who handled supplies-“

Indeed. A metal workers union veteran who could wage siege warfare in modern times.

Then what should I do about Hope Community? My mind raced.

Not easy to cause trouble now. People were too united, and strange events right after our return would be suspicious.

But setting fires and running wouldn’t benefit me either. This community wasn’t harming me anyway.

‘A profitable scenario…’

Even destroying them and snatching church resources was awkward. I didn’t lack resources right now. Enough to put them on the reserve raid list.

‘Keeping them as friendly allies might be best for now.’

Won’t a maintained community stockpile many resources normally? Let them gather diligently for me until their eventual fall.

After considering, I kindly extended my gloved hand.

“Nice to meet you. Amazing you could fortify this much – impressive.”

“…What’s with the formal handshake. Forget it.”

The gruff-looking security elder refused bluntly. Poor social skills? Could join and take him out then? Since his value would drop after sucking out all knowledge anyway-

For a moment I saw exciting trouble-making potential, but held back.

The marauder group atmosphere I pursued was enjoying raiding, not getting addicted to raiding and losing judgment. Raiding should be the optimal means, not the goal.

“Haha. The security elder is quite unique.”

“Like a craftsman, it’s good.”

Responding mildly to the evangelism elder’s smoothing over, I properly began socializing.

“Have you been well? Waves seem frequent lately.”

“They attack sometimes, but we manage.”

Alliances were important. Communities had their own advantages too. Can’t ignore sheer numbers. Should maintain enough goodwill to cooperate if need to raid or act on large scale.

The ultimate form of plunder. Plunder people’s hearts, their labor. I faithfully followed the vision the pastor showed.

“You didn’t have to prepare so much.”

We who learned Molotov cocktail recipes and car door/hood removal smiled gratefully holding armfuls of gifts. Got weapons they said they made too many of.

Two slingshots made from thin pipes and tight rubber bands, several slingshot bolts.

Honestly not great weapons. Accuracy and power lacking.

The evangelism elder spoke warmly:

“You’re not strangers. Deacon Kwon, the security position is open – you’re welcome back anytime.”

“No position left for me?”

When Park Yang-gun asked as if offended, the administrative elder laughed. He pointed at people.

“With so many people, can’t leave supply management empty! But come back if you might starve!”

Meanwhile Do-hyung was holding Na Yeji’s hand in innocent conversation, and I felt Hope Community’s atmosphere one last time.

A small community satisfied just surviving without grand goals. Though somehow armed and prepared, low potential to grow into a huge group.

‘No need to eliminate, rather value in using them.’

Though unintentional, we’d built good relations with this group. They’d diligently stockpile resources in bulk for me, and could borrow manpower when needed.

I bowed my head.

“Hope to see you alive later.”

“Yes, let’s meet alive.”

So after exchanging farewells, on our way back to the villa.

Perhaps drawn to the seemingly perfect Hope Community, Park Yang-gun kept looking back saying:

“Really not going back? However I think about it, isn’t it safer there?”

“No. We’re safer.”

I declared. Truly believed it.

Waves? Unlike the church attacked by less-learned zombies, we didn’t fight at all. First floor villa units were empty, naturally zombies ignored places without food.

No matter how well-armed, not safer than those who don’t fight.

Plus a completely sealed building…

“They’d all die in a fire. Vulnerable to virus too from group living.”

We were more perfect for virus prevention. One unit per person. Eating, washing, sleeping all separately. Wearing masks when meeting.

I carefully explained my thoughts, and suddenly Do-hyung trembled.

“You’re not. You’re not planning virus terrorism or arson at the church right? Really not?”

“…”

Even Park Yang-gun watched me curiously.

“I considered it but why bother? We have plenty of resources.”

No plans for forceful raiding yet. Even if raiding, definitely not fire. Fires spreading would be uncontrollable.

Above all, nothing could be recovered from burned places. Arson only for truly killing opponents.

“Anyway let’s just huddle in our units until food runs out. No need to do more in current situation.”

Nomad style. Don’t animals move when there’s no grass to graze? We decided to wait in the villa until food for eating became scarce.

Just waiting for eventual raiding day, we huddled in the villa.

Time of waiting passed. Time waiting for raid day checking diminishing food we ate through, time others waited for cure development.

Green onions and onions rotted in bottle planters Do-hyung and I clumsily made, and I blankly watched the calendar.

‘What day of zombie outbreak is it?’

Considerable time passed, enough to tire of counting days.

I looked out the window.

Many zombies even in daytime. Zombies began claiming bright day beyond twilight’s boundary. Because people all locked themselves inside.

As human activity shrank, zombies felt more numerous than actual numbers.

‘Dominos…’

Dominos falling.

The city died rapidly. Logistics dried up until cars rarely passed roads, corpses and waste rotted in streets everywhere, and weeds and wild animals fattened on nutrients from the corpse city.

Above all, zombie groups moving organized like wild dog packs.

I closed my eyes and breathed deep. Though wearing a mask, destruction’s scent seemed to brush my nose.

Then, beep beep beep, door lock opening sound.

“Why’d you call?”

“Must be food, idiot.”

Reliable marauder members.

I turned from the window. A slightly smiling voice came naturally:

“It’s time to raid.”

Still plenty of rice left. Lots of soy sauce, salt, red pepper paste too.

But other things were lacking. Ate all the tuna and spam, cleared out all side dishes from others’ fridges.

Meaning shortage of fruits, meat, vegetables. Need balanced nutrients for health.

“Side dishes are lacking. Can’t just eat soy sauce and kimchi.”

“…So got places in mind?”

Do-hyung asked, legs trembling.

I explained slowly. My planned raid list. Other units around villa, Professor Kim’s apartment, church visitor log.

Wanted resources were tuna cans or spam. Or multivitamins or protein.

Suddenly felt like laughing.

‘Right. This is how the apocalypse should be.’

Moving to fill deficiencies – for medicine, guns, food, fuel, family. Isn’t that the apocalypse?

We set out raiding to prevent the serious problem of nutrient deficiency.