Surviving the Apocalypse with Crafting Skills

Walking past the corpses of feral dogs, we continued through the building’s underpass, and on we went.

A white something touched the lens of the gas mask, instantly turning into droplets.

– Click, click-click, click…

It was snowing from the sky.

And it wasn’t just any snow—it carried traces of radiation.

“I’m not sure if this much noise will be alright.”

James, holding his rifle, spoke with labored breathing while keeping a wary eye on our surroundings.

Faint wisps of vapor were escaping from beyond the gas mask.

“Once a pack of feral dogs retreats, they’ll likely attempt to hunt elsewhere. Without their leader, perhaps they’ll fight among themselves. Or maybe eat their fallen comrades.”

“What’s the likelihood they’ll come after us?”

“It’s questionable whether creatures that smell so strongly of gunpowder would attack us, but now…humans are the problem.”

“The congregation.”

The church of Reitan would surely begin its activities as night fell.

After all, most animals active on the ground either narrow their vision or sleep during this time.

After checking the time, I watched as the color of the deepening shadows before my eyes grew darker.

The sun was setting quickly.

“…Where are we?”

“We still have about an hour and a half even if we hurry…”

Though uncertain, there was no going back.

The wind cutting between buildings sounded almost like the swish of a blade.

“Let’s move.”

“…If he really is waiting for us, it’s dangerous for him too. If it’s a trap, they would’ve withdrawn due to the weather by now.”

“Rather, let’s use the situation to our advantage. As much as possible without getting caught by the congregation.”

After a brief discussion, Angela simply clutched her shotgun tightly and trembled.

Is she feeling sympathy for the feral dog carcasses surrounding us?

Or did she not expect the rescue operation to become this dangerous?

“Let’s move.”

There was no time to ask questions.

The snow was falling heavily, and the cold was seeping through the protective suits more intensely with each passing moment.

Without a fire, hypothermia could set in…

– Crunch. Crunch.

Footprints in the snow.

They say erasing traces is most important when moving outdoors.

Of course, with this snowfall, the tracks will disappear soon enough.

Still, as we hurriedly pressed forward, I hoped these footprints wouldn’t become a clue for the congregation to track us.

Even if they do, can we respond like the feral dogs?

Thanks to the snow, our footsteps might be audible, but even a small tear in the protective suit would make this a losing battle.

And in this precarious situation where one person getting injured could lead to all of us being wiped out?

“There.”

While walking and listening to the wind, somehow Angela’s voice brightened.

Looking up, what her yellow rubber-gloved hand pointed to were faint alphabet signs far in the distance.

[CONCORD HOTEL]

The avenue we needed to follow.

Crossing over the graveyard of vehicles blocking each other, our destination lay ahead.

We were still some distance away, but finally seeing where we had to arrive brought a sigh of relief.

Ten thousand.

“We didn’t lose our way.”

“…”

Despite the positive situation, James signaled for us to take cover behind a bus.

He then opened his bag and pulled out a pair of binoculars.

For how long did he stare ahead?

A moment later, his breath stopped, and a long sigh escaped.

“Look at the fountain in front of the Concord Hotel.”

“…?”

“Aim towards the light.”

“If it’s the light -”

“An orange dot. Can you see it?”

At his words, I consciously looked ahead and saw a blinking orange light.

Taking the binoculars and adjusting the focus, I observed.

– Whoosh…

The city was growing colder as the snow fell more violently.

Nevertheless, crosses made of wood and iron panels sprouted like weeds around the fountain.

And on the tallest cross stood a soldier whose upper body had been completely flayed, nails driven into both arms.

“Damn it.”

“Probably the congregation’s doing?”

“…This isn’t just a campsite; it’s a ritual site.”

“A ritual site?”

“Check the upper left side of the orange light.”

James handed me the binoculars again, slightly tilting his head—

“Damn it.”

He cursed loudly.

Angela shuddered at the sound.

“Give it back.”

“…”

Through the binoculars, the name of the hotel was unmistakably Concord.

At the ritual site, some figures with exposed red skin already knelt barefoot on the ground.

Many members of the congregation struggled to rekindle the dying flames—

“Haa.”

Someone was having their throat slit in plain view.

Their attire didn’t resemble military uniform, and their beard was unkempt.

Was this the person we were supposed to meet?

“Even with a generous interpretation, it’s a trap, Xuan Woo.”

“…Just wait.”

That person was dragged away, and nails began to pierce their wrists.

Thankfully, the trousers weren’t military issue.

The next offering was a woman.

“…”

I silently handed the binoculars back to Angela.

Then, I indicated the direction to look with my finger.

A brief silence.

But the trembling hands and expression revealed her emotions clearly.

“…”

It seemed the two of us had lost the will to move forward.

However.

– Whoosh…

The snowstorm was intensifying.

Snow had begun to accumulate on our heads, needing to be shaken off.

Our breaths grew heavier.

“…”

We could no longer check the area ahead through the binoculars.

The way back was blocked by the snow.

The time was 1720.

Filter replacement in 30 minutes.

“Over there.”

Through the faint clicking of the Geiger counter, Angela’s voice echoed hollowly.

“…It’s okay to give up, you know.”

“Finally—”

“Hold on.”

Blocking James’ sarcastic snort with a gesture, I met Angela’s gaze through her gas mask.

Probably neither of us could see each other’s eyes.

But.

“…It’s snowing. Going back using a map in this condition is risky, and we might end up in the place where starving feral dogs are devouring their own kind.”

“Ah…”

“Shall I inform you of the realistic options we have left?”

“Isn’t it only two anyway?”

“…Quite a few, actually.”

James tilted his head roughly, puzzled by my words.

“…Because there are.”

I extended one finger.

“First, we enter any building and wait until the snow stops. It’s relatively safe, but the problem is encountering other animals hiding from the snow or stumbling into a den.”

“That was—”

“Just luck. The interior was quite dark because no light came in, but it could’ve easily been a cave full of bats.”

“Shit.”

Is this the first time?

Hearing James swear like this.

Ignoring it, I extended a second finger.

“Second option here: resume reconnaissance when the snow stops. However, we’ve already consumed resources by waiting, and the man we were supposed to rescue might have given up or been captured and killed by the congregation ahead. Hence, third option: retreat after the snow stops. But the problem is we don’t know when that will happen.”

As I counted off the third finger, James finally grabbed his head.

Angela standing before me looked like she might wobble and collapse at any moment.

I extended a fourth finger.

“Fourth: Proceed with the rescue mission despite the snow.”

“…No, that’s too reckless.”

“Surprisingly, those words coming from Angela? Don’t you think all the choices are reckless?”

We could freeze to death.

The purification tanks we prepared might run out, forcing me to search for resources to assemble a makeshift 30-minute filter on-site, risking ambush.

Besides, any injury during the rescue operation would expose us to radiation risk.

Even with Prussian Blue—a drug that helps expel radiation—given the lack of proper facilities, exposure itself is a significant danger.

“…However, the path to the rescue is clear. Walking forward, we have the ones who conveniently lit up the area for their ritual. Plus, the preacher or priest shouting prayers makes it easier to gauge our position. Most importantly, in this situation, the snow acts as our ally, covering us.”

“…”

“In this apocalypse, people who accurately send Morse code signals are unlikely to be fakes. Honestly, it’s funny to think that anyone capable of sacrificing random people would go through the effort of sending a distress signal. There’s a low probability it’s fake.”

Once we start, we must see it through.

Also, I couldn’t bear the thought of becoming bald for the first time in my life.

It’s the surface, after all.

Having invested so many resources, we needed to return with at least a straw in hand.

“We’ve already cast the dice. Like the Romans crossing the river, or us crossing the frozen stream.”

The contents of the bag were gradually emptying, but the perceived weight was increasing.

“The rendezvous point isn’t far from the fountain. If he’s still alive, we should be able to meet him before being discovered.”

We needed to decide before it was too late.

*

“Lord has said, ‘New wine is not put into old wineskins; otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills, and the skins are destroyed. New wine must be put into fresh wineskins, so that both are preserved!’ What does this mean!”

“Amen!”

“Truly, new times call for new people. When old wine enters the new era, everything collapses. Surely, God created us according to His great plan…!”

“Amen!”

“Angels are described as terrifying figures that everyone fears. Look at yourselves! Even you, who once wore their shells, feel fear and shame, do you not!”

“Amen!”

Their loud chanting helped us gauge their location.

Following the faint glow of lights, we hid behind the rear of a car and crawled toward the designated rendezvous point.

Fortunately, unlike earlier when we couldn’t see even a foot ahead, visibility had improved slightly.

“Haa, haa.”

But the white snow obscured our view so much that finding the rendezvous point seemed futile.

Moreover, the preacher’s enthusiastic cries occasionally faltered.

Yet, the oil-fed orange flames survived the strong winds, flickering precariously.

-Swish, swish.

Following the signal, we adjusted our direction, placing our hands on the cars for balance.

It was strange yet impressive to see the massive figure swiftly moving between cars, and we had to mimic the movements.

-Swish.

Quickly pushing off the ground with our legs, we hid beside the next car.

It was Angela’s turn last.

“Sshh.”

She was panting heavily, showing obvious signs of exhaustion, but she had followed well until now.

If only there was no mistake—

-Thud.

The hand placed on the door.

For some reason, the car door was open.

The unnecessary closing sound was dull and clean.

“…”

For a moment, silence fell.

The strong wind continued, but it wasn’t loud enough to drown out the prayers.

“…Let us continue. So, what attitude and faith must you maintain in these difficult times—”

Luckily, they assumed the wind closed the door, and the ceremony seemed to proceed as planned…

-Crunch. Crunch.

Behind James.

Figures clad in black robes and wearing tattered bulletproof vests began searching between the cars, flashlights in hand.

There’s no such thing as slipping by unnoticed, huh.

Oh, Lord.

“…”

Without a word, James drew his shotgun.

I had no choice but to do the same.

The problem was Angela.

“…!!!”

Her body, leaning against the car, froze completely, seemingly overtaken by panic.

At this rate, we’d become hostages without even retaliating.

“…What is that over there?”

But alas, it was James who got discovered.

-Bang.

Though no order to commence combat was given, the shallow layer of snow on the bulletproof vest scattered into the air with a “puck” sound.

“Enemy!!”

“Brothers and sisters, the infidels have dared to step into the sanctuary!!”

With a thunderous roar, the footsteps multiplied instantly.

At least we could hear them because it was winter.

At least.

“Angela!”

Thankfully, the shock from the firing startled her, and I quickly handed her the shotgun.

But could she shoot properly?

“Bless misfortune as opportunity. Regard every hardship as a test. Satan likes to test us as He tested Jesus.”

-Bang.

At the second shot, my head exploded, though the bullet pierced the metal sheet, sparking.

Hastily ducking for cover—but why now?

Of all times, the snow started clearing slowly right now.

-Ting, ting, ting.

Pistol bullets were now hitting our exact location.

Rapid footsteps approached us from the fountain side.

“We are His angels!!!”

The preacher’s thunderous cry echoed.

In response, the resounding—

“Amen!!!”

The situation grew chaotic.

The tightening grip around our throats.

If armed men arrived, it would certainly be fatal.

It was time to take a risk.

So, I revealed myself.

“We are His will—”

Facing the orange flames aimed at me, I pulled the trigger toward the approaching black robes just as—

-Pfft.

The sound of a silenced rifle.

-Crack.

The sound of a skull being crushed.

Thus, the prayer was cut short.

“…Minister? Minister!”

There was someone else besides us.

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