Chapter 201
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 201
Chapter Title: #Survivors (4)
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The alleyway opposite the carpentry shop at the northern end of the village led to the ranch.
Winter, who had headed out for hunting, stopped here first out of a faint hope.
Horses have a herd instinct and homing instinct. They don't easily leave their group, and even if they flee far from danger, they return to their home if it feels safe. This would be especially true for horses raised by humans from the start. Therefore, if any horses had survived the mutant horde that passed through the village, there was a chance they might have returned to the ranch.
It was just a possibility, though.
"We didn't check inside thoroughly."
These were the words of Lieutenant Escamilla, who had led her platoon to scout the northern part of the village. She had accompanied the work crew up to the fork near the carpentry shop, and now she shook her head at Winter's question about the ranch.
"The view beyond the fence was clear. We confirmed no major threats and pulled back."
It meant they wanted to conserve their limited ammunition. If the outside was clean, there couldn't be too many mutants inside, and with a base established, they figured defenses would suffice.
"So, you don't know what's inside yet."
"That's true... but I'm doubtful we'll actually find any horses. The fence on the road side has collapsed. Probably mutants that spotted prey broke in."
"I'm not expecting much myself. Still, it's worth checking."
The conversation ended there. Winter slipped into the alley between houses with the three platoon members who had volunteered for the hunt.
First to come into view was a shed with a rusted tin roof. It stored hay and feed. Next to it was a trailer parked for transporting horses. Beyond that lay the long stable.
The stable door on one side stood ajar. The interior was dark and silent. But Winter could hear breathing from within. Mutant or horse—it breathed more roughly than a human either way.
Creaaaaak—
He opened the other door fully. To secure visibility for his followers and to make noise on purpose.
Pruuuuh!
The soldiers' faces lit up at the horse's snort. Words from the senior-most, Sergeant Felipe Morales.
"My god, they really are here. I had zero expectations..."
Five horses were visible. It was just dawn. Having learned this place was safe throughout their lives, they must have spent the dark night here after returning to the ranch.
"Step back a bit. They're wary of us."
All the horses had their ears pinned back. Four showed whites of their eyes, tossing heads and stepping backward. Signs of fear. The remaining one was notably larger, head low and tail swishing aggressively. A sign of attack.
Fortunately, Winter had the "Riding" skill. Acquired to gallop along the Salinas River on a stormy night, and leveled high because he needed to carry one more person.
"Riding" didn't just grant mounting ability. It included taming.
Even without it, he knew how to act from experience. He'd learned many times. In every worldline where fuel supplies cut off, no transport was as useful as horses. They were likely valuable here too, whether for riding or packing.
Before the leader horse's temperament softened at Winter's cautious, slow approach.
Its coat was the color of darkness. A sleek Friesian breed. Shoulder height around 17 hands. Even the tack showed how much the ranch owner cherished it. (1 hand = 4 inches, 10.12 cm)
"There, good boy. It's okay, we won't hurt you. You can stay still."
Good boy, good boy. Even without knowing the exact meaning, it would recognize praise from hearing it often. At Winter's calm voice, the Friesian bared teeth like a camel and sniffed him. Horses are smart. If chased by mutants before, it would have learned their stench.
Winter scratched the horse's neck and shoulders. It closed its eyes and pursed its lips.
"Yeah, feels good, right?"
Winter slowly circled behind and scratched its rump, delighting it more.
Ooooh... An exclamation leaked from the rifleman watching from afar.
Seeing the leader accept human touch, the rest raised their flattened ears. Some bared teeth or flared nostrils. The affinity from 10th-grade "Riding" helped greatly here.
"You can come closer now. Approach slowly so you don't spook them."
The three, including Sergeant Morales, closed the distance at Winter's gesture. Meanwhile, Winter secured the tack hanging on the wall. Some were quite worn, but there were plenty. Extras for the ranch owner's family, probably.
"You must be the one with the widest girth. Name's... Xcel? Is that you?"
The leader reacted positively to the name engraved on the saddle. It didn't resist when he lifted its leg. The shoe was a bit worn but in good shape.
"Lieutenant, are we eating these now? One alone would give a ton of meat."
The question came from a soldier scratching a horse's neck like Winter. The other two eyed him pitifully as Winter replied no.
"If that were the plan, why would I have asked who knows how to ride?"
He'd asked when recruiting volunteers before departure. Doubtful they'd find horses, but good he checked. Sergeant Morales, from Texas, had ranch experience and knew how to handle them—though not expertly.
Unlike the leader, the other four were featureless Quarter mixes, but that didn't make them useless. Winter said,
"We'll use them for transport. Even if we luck into vehicles, fuel availability and stabilizers for mixing are questionable. Roads will worsen near population centers."
If gas station storage was good, fuel might be usable as-is, but without confirmation, stabilizers would always be needed.
Road conditions were an issue too. Even Highway 101 past Camp Roberts was clogged with abandoned cars. Factor in a year of air force bombings, and it was off-road driving.
"And unless we get enough vehicles for the whole company, we'll mostly go on foot. Vehicles for supplies and wounded only. Horses will help a lot. Load gear on them, use for scouting too, right?"
With mobility for their strongest fighter, Winter, the company would be far safer. Scout routes ahead, eliminate small threats, lure enemies away, or bypass entirely if needed.
"I get what you're saying, but..."
Private First Class Ian Schultz, the one who suggested eating them, spoke up.
"We have to feed them, don't we? I hear they eat and drink a ton. Can we handle that? Might be better as food."
Winter, saddling all five, smiled mildly.
"No worries there. Farms and ranches everywhere for the next hundreds of kilometers. Pastures, streams, puddles go without saying."
Winter had passed nearby once. Not this worldline—when civilization fully collapsed, fleeing to the boonies. He didn't remember details, but horseback travel was fine.
Anywhere not desert, mountains, or cities was similar. America being the world's top ag and livestock nation.
Schultz looked visibly disappointed. Hungry? No, work crew got priority rations. Winter guessed his thoughts.
'Hoped it'd end quick.'
Though volunteered, duty made up over half. No one wanted to trudge pathless mountains and woods exhausted. Reading him easily, Winter felt no urge to scold.
"Easier to haul game back now. Less back-and-forth."
Sergeant Morales gave a wry smile at the turnaround.
"Doubt we'll catch that much."
Natural, not knowing Winter fully.
No need to correct. They'd see soon.
"Mount up, Morales. Schultz and Harper, lead the others by the reins. We'll leave one at base. I'll circle outside—might be more."
Winter mounted Xcel, grabbing reins of the nastiest-tempered too. Even with affinity, it might kick soldiers. A bad hit could kill with no medic.
Trotting lightly up a low hill, Winter found the ranch fence wide open. Up close, not mutant work. Lock neatly on the gate. Ranch owner must have left it open fleeing.
'In panic, hard to think that far.'
Circling past the gate yielded only unidentifiable bone fragments.
Reporting horse acquisition to company HQ, they tethered one inside the base wire, and Winter finally began serious hunting.
"Everyone sprayed insect repellent?"
Final check. Morales eyed Schultz and Harper, then nodded.
"Of course."
Mountain village—easy to find bug spray.
For hunting, head to the western foothills. Dense woods, and wind from there. Already sprayed with pungent stuff. Human scent on wind alerts animals hundreds of meters, up to kilometers away.
Pace unhurried. Noise issue, plus two riflemen couldn't ride. Even with Winter's "Instruction" skill, teaching riding mid-hunt was tough.
'Need impressive results here.'
Food securement was goal, but not all.
"Tracking" activated. Scent and sign. Winter's mutant stench sensitivity owed much to "Tracking" buffs. Worked on wildlife too.
He raised original 8th-grade "Tracking" to 13th. Low priority, low cost—not burdensome now.
Genius-level "Tracking" quickly found first sign. Footprints.
'Rabbit... huh. Better than nothing.'
Not Australia's pest level, but prolific rabbits were potential vermin. Unlike regulated game with seasons, bags, limits—rabbits year-round, unrestricted.
Not that easy to catch.
Grazed grass, broken twigs, tiny scat, covered prints—all clear to Winter's eyes. Buff-heightened intuition drew his focus.
Even rough passage time.
As it converged to now, Winter signaled halt. Approaching in an arc upwind, prey unaware. Dismounting sharpened direction.
I'll go alone.
Morales and the three nodded, dropping low after hand signal.
Winter darted forward in wind-whipped rustling. Spotted target in brush.
Range about 30 meters.
Huge ears, black-tipped ears and tail—jackrabbit. Long front legs made it look unlike typical rabbits standing still.
Fingertip tapping trigger guard silently, Winter decided to save ammo. Released rifle grip, drew greatsword. Fist-tight grip prep. Pulled arm back, waited. Hitting no issue. Just avoid torso.
'Guts burst wastes precious meat...'
Chasing tough. Confident in speed, but
It moved in place. As it turned back exposed, Winter hurled greatsword ferociously.
Crunch!
Steel biting skull. Immense force—straight-line invisible, full blade buried with momentum left. Small body slid, then tumbled as inertia faded.
============================ Author's Note ============================
#Q&A
Q. Erin Eum Yu Si In-nim: @As expected, the great old one's innocence... If you show it next chapter, everyone will worship!
A. My innocence is an exhausted resource... Nothing left to show even if I wanted. ㅠ
Q. Reine Sis-nim: @Where's the ebook serialized? When for Ridibooks publication?
A. The one I mentioned was Ridibooks.
Q. Jadsureoran-nim: @Seeing you still go on about old stuff means you haven't fully come to your senses... Life's a chain of black history. This'll be black history later too.
A. Haha. Probably. But believe it'll be less than before.
Q. Wolha Uimyeon-nim: @Seeing Winter's combat prowess reminded me... What's his longest-tenured field? Compared to average others... Stealth, long/short-range shooting, guerrilla, melee, urban warfare etc. Personally think guerrilla's his specialty..
A. Hmm... Never thought that way... Hard to conclude.
Q. hia-nim: @Can skills level up just from use?
A. Principally yes, practically no.
Q. Beolre-nim: @Can't we scavenge parts and fuel for a chopper for air support/scouting?
A. No maintenance personnel.