Surviving the Apocalypse with Crafting Skills

“Yes, hold it steady…”

As the needle for stitching wounds went in and out, forceps firmly held the thread.

The person lying on the steel table, aptly named the operating table, didn’t flinch.

With this amount of blood loss, I’d believe if they were dead.

Still, this made me think—even veterinarians are, fundamentally, doctors.

After the thread was spun around twice with the forceps, a dazzling dexterity of fingers tied the knot in an instant.

“Scissors.”

“Here.”

Had all those dramas I occasionally watched in spare time helped?

Instead of just handing them over, I slipped the scissors between her spread fingers, making Ms. Dieterich’s eyes widen a little.

“Where did you learn that?”

“Saw it on TV.”

“Ah, I guess even dramas tried to show a bit of realism back then, didn’t they? Surgical dramas were really fun when I was back there.”

“We need to focus on the patient.”

“Of course.”

She simply cut the thread and moved on to the next wound with gloved hands.

The feeling of the forceps closing with a click accompanied the needle piercing through flesh.

The man lying there still hadn’t regained consciousness.

“With this much blood loss, will he make it?”

“A person usually needs to lose around 1.5 to 2 liters of blood to die. His bleeding was sustained, but if we hurry, we might save both this woman and the man. Scissors.”

“Scissors.”

-Click.

The arm, the stomach, and the leg.

Even though my role was merely as an assistant, I felt lightheaded.

The smell of blood was overwhelming.

“This one’s done. Now Ms. Sarah and Mr. James.”

“I understand.”

I tapped the metal door carefully twice with my foot, and Ms. Sarah and Mr. James, masked and gloved, entered immediately.

After Curtis opened the door completely and stepped aside, Ms. Sarah approached me as I nodded reassuringly toward his worried glance.

“Are you alright?”

Was she misunderstanding that I was about to collapse? Almost her gloved hand reached out to touch me—but I straightened my body quickly and bit my tongue lightly.

“…Yes.”

Even though I said that, in truth, I felt like I was about to faint.

My head was heavy, and a buzzing sound kept ringing in my ears.

Every time I blinked, I could feel the weight of my eyelids growing more pronounced.

“You’ve been told many times—don’t push yourself.”

“I’m fine, but please move the man quickly.”

Even though her worry was heartfelt, there was still so much to do.

We had managed to bring in these laborers, no, survivors, so by any means, we had to save them.

Placing the man on the makeshift stretcher and watching them disappear, I now faced the woman.

“Before we start, I have to say this—this woman has wounds near her chest and her thighs, which are somewhat sensitive areas.”

“Are you suggesting I should close my eyes?”

“No, quite the opposite. For saving a person, precision is key. There cannot be any mistakes.”

With large scissors in hand, Ms. Dieterich met my gaze.

“Are you ready?”

At this point, my body stained in blood wouldn’t feel much anyway.

Unless the wound was pressed directly.

“I’m ready.”

The sound of scissors cutting through the cloth—shhh, shhh—resounded in the air.

The moment wet fabric touched her, the body spewed out a gush of blood.

“Needle.”

“Needle.”

The only thought that came to mind as I observed the flesh painted in dark red was:

Please, let this be over quickly.

*

“Haaaah.”

I woke up… damn, I can’t even estimate what time it is now.

During my days as an unemployed person, I used to estimate the time from the light filtering through the curtains.

If the light was white, it was morning.

If the light was neon-colored purple and blue, it was night.

But now—no matter how I tapped my eyes with my hand, I couldn’t see anything.

-Tick, tick.

I barely managed to find the switch of the lamp I had placed by my bedside, turned it on, and grabbed the door.

As I tried moving my feet following some audible voices, I bumped into Ms. Dieterich by chance.

“Phew, you’ve been asleep for a long time, huh?”

“…Um, yeah.”

“Two people are fortunately recovering well. The woman woke up first. She’s named Lisa Newman. The man is Matthew Newman.”

Probably a couple of survivors.

Good.

In cases like this, if you convince one, the other naturally follows.

“Your face is quite swollen, are you alright?”

“Um, yeah.”

“James and Curtis are standing guard. Take more rest if you’re tired.”

“…But we need to go out and find medical supplies.”

“We’re doing well enough with the supplies we have.”

“We used resources to operate on both of them—”

“One person is far better than another lying here sick now.”

Her sudden stern voice and gaze froze me in place.

Her face soon softened with a faint smile—but veterinarians are, still, doctors.

“So at least, can you tell me how long I slept?”

“Not allowed. I’ve already instructed them not to show you any clocks for a while.”

“But sleeping too much is bad for your health—”

“Is letting a computer run for dozens of hours without shutting down healthy?”

She made me raise my hands in defeat with her teasingly scolding tone.

“In the dining hall, you’ll find some soup and biscuits simmering. Eat them all, and drink the warm water in the kettle. Take a half-hour rest, then turn off the light and sleep soundly.”

“…”

“That’s my doctor’s prescription. Don’t even think about arguing.”

“…About the other survivors—”

“If you keep working here, I’ll handcuff both your hands behind your back and make you rest.”

I ended up being threatened.

So I was in that bad of shape?

Still, the mention of soup made me suddenly realize how empty my stomach was.

“Well.”

I nodded slightly and watched her retreat to a secluded recovery room, then started moving my feet.

Just as I was about to pass by the dining hall—

“Where do you think you’re going?”

A hand grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back.

It was Sarah.

“Hahaha…”

“You never listen to anyone, do you? Are you so restless?”

“I need to see them with my own eyes.”

“Seeing with your own eyes, huh.”

She dumped a whole packet of biscuits into the soup bowl and handed it over after thoroughly soaking it.

As I sat down pointedly at the table, she followed my gaze.

“How long was I out?”

“Listen to the doctor.”

…Tch.

“A friend could tell me, right?”

“A friend is precisely why I won’t tell you.”

The feeling was that I slept for more than a day.

I swirled the spoon around in the soup without warming it, prompting a long sigh from Sarah.

“Roughly, two days and 12 hours.”

“Huh?”

“Exactly, probably less than 60 hours, but… anyway, that’s how long.”

My mind felt like it wasn’t just numbed—it had turned stark white.

The feeling of waking up on a day you’re supposed to go to work.

My head felt like it would explode, yet… I was greeted with a bright and peaceful morning.

“Nobody here will scold Mr. Xuan Woo, so just eat your meal quietly.”

“…”

“Your body must’ve been wrecked if you were snoring so loudly without even noticing someone entering your room.”

“So I’ve wasted two, no, three days?”

“Nothing major happened. A patient woke up and took a sip of gruel, that’s it.”

“It’s not about nothing happening…”

The time lost during these days.

Scouting, collecting, interior design, crafting—

This is no time to be so peaceful.

“Sit down before I glue your butt to the chair.”

“Sarah—”

“Let’s drop the -ssi.”

“…Sarah.”

“Much better.”

With her arms crossed, as she looked down at me, I finally picked up the spoon.

“For a while, you’re on vacation. Eating, sleeping, and pooping—repeat these three things to recover your body.”

“I can’t do that.”

Even back in reality as an unemployed person, that would’ve been the happiest cycle, but not here.

Here is a place where even the slightest laziness in the early stages can lead to disaster.

We can’t just overlook barricades being smashed by the things appearing through the passageways formed when some bunkers collapse due to external shocks.

“Then should I make you an injury patient?”

At her finger-cracking sound, I shook my head.

If she were some frail, girly girl, it might be a different story.

But preferably, Ms. Dieterich—no, the doctor—if she said that, it would essentially mean she’d professionally “break” me.

Or worse, would a military-grade beating be scarier?

“So, just eat the soup I made and lie down quietly.”

It’s annoying to waste so much time.

Rather… Ah, right.

“Could I borrow some reading material?”

“Reading material, huh?”

“Magazines containing survival knowledge, or something about makeshift crafting.”

“Hmm.”

After a brief pause, when she returned to her seat, she carried several thin books in her hands.

She grinned slyly as the covers of the books she tossed on the table appeared:

‘NUDES’

Nudes.

‘HOT’

Hot.

‘TOP BEAUTIES’

Top Beauties…

“There’s plenty of this kind.”

“Who would have such things…!”

“Oh, dad brought them over. He said they’re good for young men at their peak and even for grandfathers with the strength to hold a spoon.”

“…What did you say?”

“Not, what, don’t you want it?”

After looking at the cover once, I glanced at Sarah again.

What the heck is this woman even doing here.

“…Are you some kind of jerk?”

“Pardon?”

“No, nothing.”

“I heard you muttering.”

“It’s just me talking to myself. No, wait, if you don’t want it… sleep.”

Finally, the last magazine was handed to me.

It was a survival magazine.

This kind of reading can still increase skill stats, so…

I also needed to test this method of acquiring knowledge.

“Definitely not an ordinary person…”

Did my hearing get damaged?

For some reason, I can see her mouth mumbling, but I can’t clearly hear what she’s saying.

“What are you staring at so intently?”

I’ll definitely rest well today, and meet the Newman family tomorrow.

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