Nakyuan Sector Revitalization Project
After leaving the farm, the executives instructed the residents to prepare for a banquet that evening. Han Seol and Han Byeol directed the residents, and everyone moved with disciplined efficiency. I returned to the mansion and read a book.
As I read, all sorts of thoughts crossed my mind. Automating everything was incredibly convenient, but then why did the hydroponics room require manual harvesting? And why were the third, fourth, and fifth chambers in the hydroponics layer still locked? There had to be some condition, but with nothing but guesswork to go on, it was frustrating. So far, the only unlock conditions I'd discovered were accepting residents or killing people. Even judging solely by the mansion without venturing to other sectors, the hydroponics room itself was a tremendous asset. It was the only place where we could harvest fruit, after all.
I have no idea. It'll probably unlock eventually if I just keep living here.
Since the war ended, I'd received multiple reports from the executives about residents suffering from a lack of work. The reports were labeled "petitions," so I ordered them to use "reports" from then on. I figured eating well and resting plenty was ideal, but apparently not. They were tormented by the inability to labor. There was something the residents lacked beyond just official caps.
Thinking back, their faces had looked happy when they spent the whole day hauling and organizing spoils of war. I needed to give them jobs. A few with aptitude for study were already learning medicine from Lee Kyung-min. With new doctors joining and them training under specialists, we could increase our numbers. With all sorts of tools available now, there were suggestions to learn carpentry or mechanics from incoming artisans in the territory, craft things, and sell them.
That's when Han Seol compiled the executives' ideas and proposed one: the Barrier Inner Sector Revitalization Project.
Basically, the buildings inside the barrier stood alone amid empty landscapes. Some areas were ruins, others had cracked asphalt everywhere, and most were just bare dirt. Han Seol suggested turning the barrier's interior into a real city. Erect fences around each sector, build warehouses or small structures in unused spaces next to buildings, pave roads, and install streetlights like I'd casually mentioned. Awakeners could venture out to salvage intact sidewalk blocks and lay them inside. Jeong Su-hwan wanted guard towers at regular intervals too.
It would definitely require massive labor and skilled workers to maintain this place. Skilled workers were arriving soon, labor was overflowing, and we had plenty of food to sustain them, so it was worth a shot. The ideas from that executive meeting were tabled for discussion after more settlers arrived.
"Your Excellency! A word, please!"
The residents had bustled about, and by evening, a magnificent scene unfolded outside the mansion. Delicious foods lined the tables, drum barrels blazed with bonfires, and lanterns provided light everywhere. Simple tents blocked the still-chilly evening breeze.
I permitted unlimited alcohol and cigarettes for the night—minors excluded, of course. I climbed onto the makeshift platform the residents had built and spoke.
"You've all worked hard... and we'll aim for one or two such events a year going forward, so let's make next year's even more lavish."
"Long live Your Excellency!"
"Long live!"
Over a hundred residents cheered toward me in unison. These gatherings still felt awkward and painful for them. I kept my speech short, and the banquet kicked off in earnest.
Sitting at the head table, I ate the food brought to me. Surprisingly, the butter-grilled corn—something I hadn't tasted in ages—outshone the meats. Had they sprinkled sugar on it? The sweetness and buttery savoriness dominated my mouth. Dishes from the farm and livestock factory kept arriving. Residents took turns staying at the housing to cook more.
Watching them laugh and chat about the future instead of their desperate pasts brought a smile to my face.
"Your Excellency! May I humbly offer a toast?"
"Go ahead."
Jeong Su-hwan politely filled my glass with liquor. As he did, every resident filled theirs and looked my way. I raised mine and said,
"Cheers."
"Yes, Your Excellency!"
"To Your Excellency!"
"Cheers!"
Minors and children clustered together, devouring food happily. I'd ordered a makeshift smoking area in a barrier corner for unlimited cigarettes today, forbidding spitting or littering butts, and keeping kids away. Smoking was a preference, but I hoped the children never picked it up as adults. I hadn't realized so many residents smoked. Those returning from the smoking area had eyes moist like newborn fawns.
"Master, try this too."
"Oh..."
It was rice cake. The white cake Han Seol handed me steamed fresh, with a saucer of honey for dipping.
"This is really good."
"Thank you."
Han Byeol sat beside me with a bright smile. Indeed, good food and drinks were best shared.
"Your Excellency! We pledge our loyalty!"
"Your Excellency! Thank you for accepting us!"
"Good. Work hard, everyone."
One hundred fifty-seven new residents sent by Ham Seong-hoon had arrived: doctors, teachers, chefs, architects, mechanics, carpenters, construction laborers, actors, auto repairmen, and more from the professions I'd requested. Loyalties ranged from 50% to 70%, none below 50. They had no divided loyalties, knowing they'd otherwise linger in the crumbling reconstruction government or wander seeking groups. Most were 50-60% now, but a few days here would fix that.
I issued citizenship to all, set up large tents around the territory, and prioritized baths and meals like with Jeong Su-hwan's group. Health checkups were scheduled for tomorrow morning.
A week after the 157 new residents joined, health checkups were complete, and they'd adapted to life here. All loyalties exceeded 70%.
Three days prior, the executive meeting approved the Barrier Inner Sector Revitalization Project. Han Seol and Han Byeol asked to appoint seven former reconstruction government admins to assist them; I approved. Han Seol gathered all residents and announced the project. She warned it would be a massive, long-term labor effort, but they rejoiced. One even muttered openly, "Finally escaping the parasite life draining His Excellency's food supplies."
Time for the architects, carpenters, mechanics, and construction laborers to shine. They eagerly shared ideas and began drafting initial plans. I nodded along without understanding, then returned to the mansion. Project meetings would be in Im Jui's office after 6 p.m., but no entering then— she needed personal time.
A week into the project, Im Jui and the 1st Guard Unit felled trees outside the barrier, hauling them back by cart. Carpenters directed residents in processing them. The first goal: wooden fence gates and fences for every sector, standardized from carpenter prototypes.
Residents sawed happily, faces and clothes dusted with sawdust, looking happier than ever. Safety first—I mandated breaks and gear during work.
Kim Dae-geon confirmed he could supply all items from the executive meeting list: tools, nails, varnish, and field slang I couldn't decipher.
Sector maintenance would take far longer than I'd thought. Carpenters prioritized basic woodworking education for residents. I figured sidewalk blocks could just be laid down, but a construction laborer gaped in horror. Ground preparation came first, he explained.
Jeong Su-hyeon, the construction vet, had the same vibe as Kim Cheol-ho, the artisan I'd met at the black market. I wondered at first if he knew Jeong Su-hwan due to similar names. Turns out he'd worked sites for over twenty years pre-apocalypse—a seasoned pro. Cement? Hard to source in bulk now; factory remnants were spoiled, hardened like stone or lowest quality. Urban areas used old methods for roads now. Sidewalk blocks were fine, but sand and gravel were needed in masses too.
I appointed him groundwork chief and told him to requisition unforageable materials via executives for trade. Everyone brimmed with zeal. It never ended. Paving floors meant drainage too. Seeing my half-soulless expression, the Han sisters shooed me home to rest—they'd handle it. The situation felt reversed. Peering out the window, I alone lounged while residents toiled.
This should suffice, right? They'd craved labor, so I'd granted it.
A month after the new residents joined, most loyalties topped 90%.
Best to cluster housing, so we were restoring West Sector 2 next to Im Jui's home in West Sector 1. Finish that, then build houses. Guessing, but with all building types unlocked singly, the ??? structures might open now.
Logs piled mountain-high in the territory. People, now woodworking-familiar, sawed, marked, and nailed diligently. The carpenter insisted on thoroughness for major projects—reliable. Groundwork hadn't even started. No more pleas for work anytime soon.
It began to fulfill residents' requests, but seeing real progress unfold, I grew excited about the territory's transformation too.