Chapter 57
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Shelter Expansion
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“We will begin playback of the video.”
With Queen’s voice, the video started playing on the laptop. It was live footage being transmitted from the work android robot I’d built—M01.
Escorted by the residents, M01 proceeded until the sewage treatment plant’s entrance came into view, then took the lead toward it.
No zombies were visible outside, but the story changed once the front gate was opened and they entered. A pack of zombies charged toward them like wild beasts.
Bang! Bang!
Gunfire rang out from the rear, where the residents were shooting.
The zombies toppled forward under a hail of bullets. With so many residents providing escort, the zombies couldn’t even get close before they were all wiped out.
M01, which had paused briefly during the fight, crossed the open area and headed for the central administration building. Zombies appeared here and there, but fortunately, none of them were variants.
The administration building’s door was locked with a padlock. But when M01 reached out and touched it, the locking mechanism clicked open with a thud, and the padlock fell away.
The door swung open. Light pierced the pitch-black darkness within. The view instantly switched to infrared camera mode.
Something on four legs burst out frantically from inside.
There was only one zombie charging out. The problem was that it was a Chaser. I tensed up a bit, clenching my fist.
“It’s a variant!”
The residents shouted urgently. Bullets poured in. But this time, M01 didn’t stand idle. Instead, it began moving toward the oncoming Chaser.
The Chaser leaped as if flying and mounted M01. It grabbed M01’s head roughly with both hands, as if to rip it off, and bit at the neck.
But it wasn’t just any tin can—it was a mithril tin can. The exoskeleton cracked a little, but the internal components remained intact.
M01’s hand extended.
Its right hand had already transformed into a steel drill.
Whirr.
The rapidly spinning steel drill made contact with the Chaser’s body. The Chaser instinctively tried to leap off, but M01’s left arm had turned into a claw and gripped it firmly, making escape impossible.
The drill didn’t deal much damage to the Chaser’s body, but the residents closed in and unleashed a barrage of gunfire. Bang! Bang!
It had defensive power surpassing that of regular zombies, but it was no match for sheer numbers—especially with its movements restricted by M01.
Even so, the stubborn thing held out for quite a while before finally collapsing to the ground.
“Job experience has increased. (1-person party bonus +150%)”
The administration building interior lit up.
Queen, sitting cross-legged beside me, continued her report.
“The exoskeleton is slightly damaged. Repairs are requested.”
“Current durability: 90/120”
Even after dealing with the Chaser, durability had only dropped by about 30. No surprise there—durability of 120 was comparable to a truck.
‘I’ll have to use Machine Repair on it later.’
With that thought, I issued a command to M01.
“Begin sewage treatment plant repairs.”
M01 started moving.
“One M01 may take considerable time. Proceed with the task?”
“Hmm.”
Recalling Professor Alex’s request for agricultural water, I sent M01 into the sewage treatment plant. I planned to check on it occasionally, but leave the rest to M01.
I had plenty to do myself, and I could monitor progress via the camera anyway.
That’s what I was thinking when the radio crackled to life. I picked it up, wondering who it was, and heard an excited voice from Maria.
—Leader, survivors have arrived. Not just one or two—dozens, maybe over a hundred.
Survivors? Suddenly?
?
—They introduced themselves as survivors from Shelter A and Shelter B.
Shelter A survivors would be Emily’s group, and Shelter B’s would be Pedro’s, whom I’d rescued. How they’d ended up together was a mystery, but… I jumped to my feet.
Pedro’s group, en route to Shelter Apocalypse, had run into Emily’s group purely by chance. Wary of each other’s trucks at first—wondering if they might be from the Salvation Church—they lowered their guards only after recognizing each other’s faces.
“Pedro, right?”
Emily and Pedro, the leaders, were somewhat acquainted. Before variants appeared and regular zombie numbers surged, there had been exchanges between shelters.
That was several months ago by now.
“That’s right. Heading this way… you’re going to Shelter Apocalypse too?”
“Looks like we have the same destination.”
“For trade?”
“No, to settle there.”
Emily looked slightly surprised. Pedro was Shelter B’s leader. For him to head to Shelter Apocalypse to settle meant—Pedro gave a wry smile.
“I judged my abilities insufficient to lead Shelter B any longer, so we decided to abandon it.”
Relinquishing power wasn’t an easy choice, but he made it willingly for their future.
“Anyway, why are you…”
“We’re settling there too. I have a personal connection with Si-hyun… plus, James took over as leader.”
James, now in charge, had implied that staying in Shelter A meant obeying him, which felt like a threat. She refused.
Of course, being the cunning type, he’d offered carrots too, but she figured heading to Shelter Apocalypse with Park Si-hyun was better.
Besides…
‘There was that creep too.’
She shook her head, recalling the esper who’d bluntly propositioned her for a night together.
“Well, everyone has their reasons… Since we’re headed the same way, want to travel together?”
“Sure. Stronger together.”
The road to Shelter Apocalypse’s factory district was crawling with zombies. Dangerous enough to risk life and limb, but two groups were better than one.
That was the backstory of how they arrived together at Shelter Apocalypse. They marveled at the sprawling steel walls. They’d heard stories, but not that it would be this impressive…
‘Come to think of it, we haven’t seen zombies either.’
Same here. Even deep inside the factory district, where zombies should be thick, there were none—just the occasional one or two.
‘What on earth is inside?’
Lost in thought, they waited in front of the electrified barbed wire for Park Si-hyun.
But before he arrived, the gate opened first. Maria guided them inside.
The moment they beheld Shelter Apocalypse’s true form. The first thing that caught Emily’s eye was the sentry guns on the rooftops. They swiveled ceaselessly.
As if watching them.
Emily clicked her tongue inwardly.
‘I knew he’d made sentry guns, but…’
The ones she knew of numbered just one. But now, she saw over ten here alone—likely more elsewhere.
‘What the hell happened while I was gone?’
He’d left the factory district just a few weeks ago. Yet this place, once swarming with zombies aside from Shelter D, now hosted a massive shelter.
Unrealistic in this apocalyptic world—unlike the pre-apocalypse one.
Meanwhile, the first thing Pedro noticed was the fields. Crops grew across the vast expanse. If all were harvested…
‘No more going hungry.’
Safe shelter, ample food. Just thinking about it eased his mind.
“Emily, Pedro.”
Park Si-hyun arrived a step behind to greet them. They turned. Emily beamed brightly, but Pedro looked tense.
They’d made it to Shelter Apocalypse, but there was no guarantee he’d accept them. Rejection meant nowhere to go.
They’d be in dire straits.
Park Si-hyun eased his tension with a gentle smile.
“Welcome to Shelter Apocalypse.”
“You’re not kicking us out, right?”
To Emily’s joking remark,
“Of course not.”
He chuckled. Combined, Emily and Pedro had brought nearly a hundred survivors. Shelter Apocalypse could ‘easily’ accommodate them.
If not?
Expand more. Power was plentiful, and no real obstacles to growth remained.
“Thank you, Leader.”
Pedro bowed first,
“Whew, having to serve Si-hyun as leader from now on… Not bad, though.”
Emily bowed gracefully too. Shelter Apocalypse’s family had just doubled.
“Certain conditions have been met, raising the shelter’s level.”
“LV. 2 Shelter Effects”
- Leader’s Strength +2, Agility +2, Intelligence +20
Residents’ Strength +1, Agility +1
“Owned Shelters”
Shelter Name: Apocalypse
Level: 2
Population: 205
Owner: Park Si-hyun (Mechanic)
Sub-Owner: Zixuan (Healer)
Loyalty: 78
Taking in Shelter A and B survivors had leveled up the shelter.
In the game, ‘shelter growth content’ wasn’t that important.
Gather skilled players, and it’d end in 30 minutes—40 at most. Better to solo or small-party farm in that time than build shelters.
But in this unaccelerated world, it was different.
Higher shelter levels meant bigger stat bonuses for residents. Equip them with mass-produced power suits and weapons from the factory…
I was confident they’d wield tremendous power.
“We’re proceeding with the plan as scheduled, right?”
To Zixuan’s question as I pondered, I nodded.
“Yes, as scheduled.”
No more delays. With population doubled, food stocks were in critical condition. Time to push for the Valhalla Food Factory.
Shelter C survivors, plus Emily’s and Pedro’s new groups, had all volunteered. It was the prelude to a grand expedition.