Raid Preparations
"If I'm going to be treated like this, I'll just leave."
"You can't leave."
"You told me to get out earlier!"
"That was when you were just a regular resident. Haven't you figured out the situation yet?"
Creak... creeeaaak.
The moment I resummoned the Wooden Hammer Tower, the man with glasses turned deathly pale.
"Ahem, understood."
"Go stand in the back."
I didn't bother killing him. With that kind of mentality, he'd probably collapse on his own soon enough. I glanced down at the paper I'd collected earlier. None of the residents had any particularly useful skills. Well, of course they didn't. Those weren't exactly common.
"From now on, all of you are going to rip doors off empty apartments. If possible, grab some metal pipes or anything that can be used as a weapon."
"Yes."
Group B answered in thoroughly intimidated voices. While they went to gather supplies, I used the time to scout the route from the shelter. Most of the path leading to the fire station had already been cleared. There were still zombies wandering around here and there, but that didn't matter. I'd be the one dealing with them anyway.
It took them about an hour and a half to gather everything. Most brought wooden interior doors. The three biggest guys hauled in full front entrance doors.
They catch on quick, but they've got no sense.
The doors were meant to serve as shields. Not for me—for them. But if they were that heavy, they'd just end up exhausting themselves.
Time to get this started.
I resummoned the towers from the roof of Building 1 and placed them on the outer edge of Building 3's roof. It would be easier to snipe from that side.
"Everyone listen up."
"Yes!"
Since it was all men, their response came out loud and clear.
"As you've probably guessed, those doors are your shields. Stay close together at all times."
I picked two guys and roughly showed them how to form a proper formation.
"Just hold this formation and walk all the way to the fire station."
"That's it?"
"Yeah. Easy, right?"
No one answered.
"Alright, move out."
They exchanged nervous glances before each grabbing a door and starting to walk. The heavy doors scraped loudly against the asphalt.
Scraaaape. Scraaaaaape.
"Is it really okay to go like this? The zombies are going to swarm us."
"If we're not careful, we'll get surrounded from all sides."
It seemed they'd realized the noise was perfect for drawing in zombies. A few of them tried lifting the doors to carry them instead, but they quickly got tired and set them back down.
They were right to be worried. Right on cue, zombies started rushing toward them one by one.
"Wha—?! Fuck, what do we do?!"
"Just run!"
"You crazy bastard! Don't run! Hold your position!"
"Fuck, those guys are bolting!"
Seven out of the forty men fled. But they didn't get far before the zombies caught them. There was no way they could outrun zombies that moved just as fast as living people. The ones who ran were quickly surrounded and torn apart alive. Their agonized screams reached all the way to where I stood.
A few were quick enough to actually escape the zombies. I had no intention of letting runaway slaves live, though.
Shhhk— Thud!
If I let them keep running, the formation would collapse and everyone would be in danger.
Still, the rest are holding up pretty well.
The ones who hadn't run surrounded the zombies charging at their doors and pushed them back. It was only possible because there weren't many zombies yet.
Instead of running, you should've just stayed in formation.
I used the Longbow Tower to snipe the zombies trapped between the doors.
Whiiiish— Thump!
The zombie collapsed limply. The guy who'd been struggling against it fell over along with his door.
Even though the fire station wasn't that far, it took quite a while. Every time a zombie appeared, the terrified men froze up. While they struggled, I prepared to head to the fire station myself. By the time Group B got close, I casually joined them. Since they'd drawn in the last of the nearby zombies, the road was now completely clear.
We reached the fire station shortly after.
"You guys wait here."
"We don't have to go inside?"
"I need to check if there are any survivors inside."
"Understood."
I resummoned a tower inside the fire station. A small toothpick-like structure rose up.
So there are survivors after all.
They were standing in front of the door, gripping fire axes and various pieces of equipment with tense expressions. They were clearly firefighters.
I knocked on the garage shutter.
Bang bang bang.
"Is anyone there?"
"Who are you?"
The wary voice was thick with suspicion.
"Not a zombie."
"What do you want?"
"I'm here to make a trade."
"...A trade?"
If this hadn't been a fire station, I would've just taken everything by force. There were a few professions I genuinely respected, and firefighters were one of them. Heroes who risked their lives on a pathetic salary to protect others. It was something I'd never do even if you beat me to death. That's why I respected them. Enough to show this much courtesy.
"I'd like to exchange food for equipment."
"Please wait."
Even firefighters must have found it difficult to save people in this zombie outbreak. After all, the people they were supposed to save had turned into zombies themselves.
The shutter rose slightly. Our eyes met through the gap.
"I won't bite. You can open it."
Of course, I'd already summoned a Longbow Tower behind me just in case. There was no guarantee they'd show me the same respect.
"I'll trust you."
In times like these, there was nothing more meaningless than trusting others. The only things you could rely on were your own skills and level. Unfortunately, they'd probably get wiped out soon.
The shutter slowly rose all the way.
"What exactly do you want to trade the food for?"
"Before that, do you know about status windows and skills?"
If I was going to sell them on my cooking, they needed to understand at least this much.
"What is that?"
As expected, they didn't know.
"The status window is..."
I explained the basics—stats, skills, status windows, skill windows, and so on—to the firefighters. They needed to understand the relationship between stats and skills to truly appreciate the value of buffs.
The firefighters had skills of their own. Just like with the apartment residents, it seemed every survivor had awakened. Maybe those who hadn't awakened had turned into zombies instead.
"So you're saying we level up by killing zombies?"
"That's correct, but if you're going to fight zombies, you need to be prepared."
"That's why you said we'd need this food."
"You catch on quick."
Their eyes changed when they looked at the side-dish containers I'd brought.
"Then what equipment are you looking for?"
"We're planning to hunt a fire spirit called a Salamander."
I explained about the Salamander as well. I needed their professional recommendation for the right equipment. Firefighters were experts in this field, after all.
"If it's about suppressing a fire, we'll help."
"Good. In return, I'll only take one of you. We'll also need one fire truck on standby."
The firefighter and his colleagues stared at me in disbelief. If I was letting them join a boss hunt, this much support was only fair. The participants would gain massive experience, after all. They wouldn't dare ask for items too, would they?
"What's your name?"
"I'm Lee Jungwoo. Is there anything else you need?"
"Just prepare the equipment we need."
"Hmm... With only this much food, it won't be enough to equip everyone waiting outside as well."
"I'll bring more food. And you don't need to equip all of them."
Lee Jungwoo's gaze shifted to Group B standing in the back.
"Are you really okay with that?"
"Yes."
Lee Jungwoo's face twisted into a frown.
We traded the food I'd brought in the cart for a full set of firefighter turnout gear, an air respirator set, a smoke-penetrating lantern, a multipurpose axe-crowbar, and a thermal imaging camera. For the boss fight, we borrowed twenty fire extinguishers and other fire suppression tools.
Whether the fire comes from combustion or magic, all I have to do is put it out.
The real problem would be the spirit's direct attacks.
Well, I'm not the one who'll be tanking anyway.
We decided to save the fire truck for the end. If it drew aggro, it could get attacked. Of course, I'd be the one delivering the final blow with the fire hose.
"Aren't those people also going to fight the Salamander?"
"That's right."
"...I'll lend you these as well."
It was ten sets of firefighter jackets and pants, gloves, and fire helmets. He'd shown mercy even though they could just tough it out with their bodies.
"Thank you."
"Please return them when you're done."
"Understood."
Lee Jungwoo said he'd join us a bit later. I turned around and asked the group.
"Who wants to wear the firefighter gear?"
"Me!"
"I'll wear it!"
"Pick me!"
They all raised their hands, apparently thinking the gear was a lifeline.
"You, you, and you. Put them on."
"Thank you!"
"We're saved!"
I gave the sets to the ten guys who looked like they could run the fastest. They had no idea they'd be used as bait.
We returned to the open space in front of the apartment. Group B grunted as they moved the equipment. I also had them bring out the fire extinguishers stored in the building.
"Everyone gather up."
"Yes!"
"We're ready!"
It was time to explain the plan. First, I'd provoke the Salamander with arrows. Once it reacted, the men in firefighter gear would lure it to the construction site on the right side of the apartment. The open area was the perfect spot to fight it.
"Why do we have to be the bait?!"
"Can't we all do it together?!"
"That's right! The more people there are, the more the attacks will be spread out! It'll be safer!"
The bait candidates protested.
"You guys volunteered to wear the gear, didn't you? If you don't want to, take it off and lure it yourself."
Realizing I meant what I said, they quickly shut up. They had no other choice. If they tried to run, they'd get a hole in their backs.
"For convenience, we'll divide into Tanker and Dealer teams. Got it?"
"Yes!"
"Dealer team, spray water on the ground. We don't want the fire to spread easily."
"Where are we supposed to get water from?"
"Figure that out yourselves. You want me to explain everything?"
"Understood..."
Even if it was a fire spirit, it would consume mana when spitting flames. It also seemed to reabsorb fire once it spread. If it became harder to ignite flames, it would burn through more mana.
"Tanker team, when the fire spirit approaches, throw the portable fire extinguishers. Draw its aggro and run. Understand?"
The key to this plan was the portable fire extinguishers. When thrown, they would burst and spray suppression liquid everywhere. The effect wasn't amazing, but they'd be perfect for dodging attacks while keeping the monster's attention.
"Yes..."
"Understood."
"Fuck, are we dying today?"
Morale was at rock bottom. They'd seen the Salamander's massive body from the roof.
Right then, the fire truck pulled into the construction site.
"How exactly do you plan to defeat the Salamander?"
Lee Jungwoo must have seen it too—his expression was dead serious.
"Even if it spits fire, we just keep putting it out. Whether the flames come from magic or combustion, extinguishing them ends the threat."
Fire magic used mana as a medium to create flames. But whether those flames continued burning afterward followed physical laws. Otherwise, it would constantly drain mana.
"Then what about when the spirit is actually spitting fire?"
"We'll tank it with our bodies."
I pointed at Group B.
"That's dangerous! Just because they're wearing fire-resistant suits doesn't mean they're safe!"
"It'll be fine. And if you're going to participate in this operation, don't question my decisions."
"Ahem..."
Lee Jungwoo couldn't argue any further. After all, he was essentially an outsider here.
"We're starting, so get ready. Tankers, move to the construction site entrance. Dealers, grab your extinguishers and take your positions."
"Yes!"
The Tanker team moved to the entrance carrying the portable extinguishers. The Dealer team hid behind the pre-dug dirt mounds or stood behind abandoned steel beams. It formed a shape similar to a crane wing formation. Lee Jungwoo would drive the fire truck in case of emergency.
"Beginning the operation."