Surviving the Apocalypse with Crafting Skills

“Huff.”

After separating the fuel tanks from the flamethrower and portable mounted flame gun, I set them aside neatly in the corner.

If more personnel and weapons accumulate here, we might have to create separate armories and ammunition stores, but for now, keeping them in my room should be fine.

“Sarah, thank you for your hard work.”

The clock was already approaching midnight.

Now that I’ve finished analyzing the chemical composition, it’s time to tidy up the armaments again and prepare for another reconnaissance mission.

“…”

Seeing Sarah, who was rubbing her eyes silently at her seat, I picked up one of the water bottles I had placed on the desk.

[Condibita – Lemon]

Eating only plain water and food keeps you in just an ordinary mood.

But consuming hearty meals, tasty drinks, or even alcohol makes your mood instantly better.

However, both tobacco and alcohol have side effects, so I intended to prepare a drink instead.

-Gurgle.

After tightly closing the cap, I shook the bottle vigorously several times and brought it close to my cheek.

“Cold!?”

“Here you go.”

As I handed the drink to her startled body, the glare in her eyes quickly softened.

After unscrewing the cap and lightly sniffing the scent—

“Eugh, it’s sour.”

She shivered as soon as she took a sip.

“I’m sorry for keeping you up so late.”

“It’s fine. Who even suggested helping earlier?”

In the blink of an eye, she drained the entire bottle still seated, crushed the bottle, and hurled it into the trash can.

-Tink, Thud.

“Got it.”

She clenched her fist once, glanced at me—

“Hmm.”

She sighed deeply.

“Is there any problem?”

“Problem? Well, yeah… there is one.”

She stood up, tapped the seat inviting me to sit, then casually plopped onto the workbench. She began fiddling with a stick figure made from bent steel wire.

“Xuan Woo, how long has it been since we met?”

“Forever, it feels like.”

“If it wasn’t for Grandfather, we probably wouldn’t have met at all, huh?”

She bent the wire a few more times before placing it on the desk.

Then, she leaned in.

“You started calling me ‘Sarah’ because the name ‘Ome’ overlapped with mine. Right?”

“That’s right.”

“So, then… if our names didn’t overlap—”

“I would’ve called you ‘Omen Lady.'”

“…”

“…”

“Sarah, Lady?”

“Ah, seriously.”

The tension in her forearms stood out as she crossed her arms, and I felt instinctively nervous.

“How long has it been since you met Ms. Dieterich?”

“From the escape till now—uh…”

“Did I ask for the exact date? At the very least, less than me, right?”

“Right, yes, correct.”

“Sara Lady? Sara Lady?”

“Ouch! Ow!”

“If I call you Ms. Dieterich, how about Ms. Angela? Huh?”

“Ow! My sides!”

Through the sharp gaze of her fingers on my ribs, my body wiggled uncontrollably.

It wasn’t ticklish as much as it was tingling and painful.

“Just… I owe you a lot for various things—ow!”

“Ah, so this is nothing important to you, right? Huh?”

“At least give me a reason—”

“What reason? Oh, you thick-headed idiot, did you just wake up from some sort of hibernation? Huh? Even bears know how to express themselves, you dunce!”

“Aaaagh—ow!?”

As I struggled, I knocked the chair over with a loud noise.

Still, Sarah kept panting, showing no sign of calming down.

“Hey. Get up. Quickly.”

“…Did I do something wrong?”

Assuming her volunteer help meant high affinity, I never expected this kind of reaction. Perhaps there was some resentment brewing?

“Ah, you messed up.”

She squatted beside the overturned me and poked my forehead.

“Shotguns, bullets, fertilizer-making methods, water purification filters, boilers, showerheads, plumbing, and everything crammed into my head—it seems there’s no essential software installed in there.”

Though in games, there aren’t interactions like these, right?

Or maybe because this was the first time such a situation occurred, was it?

Was it a mistake to meet in a family unit from the start?

“What will you do then? I’ll have to teach you from one to ten.”

“…You’ll teach me?”

After tormenting me, she now extended her hand.

She helped me up and brushed the dust from my back and bottom with a series of pats.

“Ow, ow.”

It almost felt like her hands were filled with emotion.

It hurt.

“First, starting now, we’re on familiar terms.”

“…Eh?”

“Stop stuttering.”

She’s so authoritarian.

“Second, from now on, I’ll ignore you if you don’t call me ‘Sarah.’”

“Didn’t we already—”

“If it weren’t for Ome, you’d have called me ‘Omen Lady.’”

“…”

“Think we’ve grown close?”

“Isn’t what you’re doing now pretty distant from being friendly?”

“Woof.”

She raised both hands like a tiger and took a stance, ready to pounce on me.

Damn, my body flinched uncontrollably.

“Huff, phew.”

“…It’s just reflex!”

“Reflex, you say.”

Only now, her mood seemed to relax as her expression brightened. She ruffled my head roughly.

“Don’t forget today’s conversation.”

I was completely drained by her antics. My previously clear mind was now scattered, and the feeling that I could collapse and sleep on the spot if I lay down.

But my pride wouldn’t let me.

“…Sarah.”

“Finally, you’re speaking properly.”

“In the Republic of Korea, there’s a culture boasting history and tradition.”

“History? Tradition?”

No matter what happens in a traffic accident.

Or in an argument.

A certain sentence always signals the start of a fight.

“…How old are you?”

“25.”

Ah.

25?

“I’m 27.”

“So?”

“…Senior, get it?”

“Senior… Phew… Sniffle, Senior.”

Instead of the reaction I expected, something different popped out.

She laughed for a while, then grabbed my shoulder tightly.

“Uh, uh!?”

And then, she pushed me against the wall, her face mere inches away from mine.

…I could faintly smell lemon from her slightly parted lips.

The subtle pressure of her grip.

The warmth radiating from her touching skin.

Her deep blue eyes shimmering.

Her breath, which initially sounded like a growl, gradually softened into a calm laugh.

“Senior?”

With that half-question lingering in the air, Sarah stepped back, dusted off her clothes, and then gave me a quick wink before leaving the room.

“…Huh.”

I couldn’t say anything and just slumped down.

Surely, the reason my bottom hit the floor must be tiredness, right?

Right?

*

“What’s wrong? You seem out of it.”

The communal dining table.

For the first time, the Newman family, now somewhat recovered, was enjoying breakfast together.

However, Curtis’s first words at this table were directed at me.

“Energy?”

“Normally, you’d talk about what needs to be done, where you need to go, what you need to make, always jabbering on and on… But now, you can’t even take a bite of the biscuit, and you’ve spilled flour all over the floor.”

“Father.”

“Eh? As long as you eat, right? Even if you’re not hungry, you should force yourself to eat to gain energy.”

Even though Curtis complains about his age, is it the same for humans everywhere?

Thinking about last night—no, this morning?

I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed about that ‘Senior’ business mentioned to Sarah.

“…”

Seeing right through me, Sarah smirked, crinkling her eyes, and brazenly mocked me.

…Yet, her mockery seemed different today.

It shouldn’t affect me like this.

“What happened?”

“Mmm…”

“Who knows?”

But, strangely, both Angela—no, Angela Lady—and Sarah were answering the question at the same time.

They looked at each other, surprised by their simultaneous response.

“Phit.”

“…”

And then both returned to their food.

What is this?

“Ah, um. Anyway. Lisa Lady?”

“!”

Interrupting the awkwardness, Lisa jumped at the sound of her name.

The spoon in her can flew up into the air.

“Whoa, be careful.”

Matthew promptly caught it and gently handed it back to Lisa.

“I’m so sorry.”

“No, if I startled you, it’s on me.”

Though her voice was soft, it was audible with just a bit of focus.

It was thin and pitched rather high.

“Seems like you’re getting more comfortable.”

She nodded slowly, and then, as if tense, placed her food back on the table.

After taking a brief pause and muttering for a moment—

“I… thank you. For… caring.”

She slowly managed to spit out those words.

As Matthew embraced her from behind and rested his head on her neck, he looked quite content.

I was worried she might think it a kind of ‘imprisonment,’ but it seemed she had spent a decent period relaxing during our expedition.

“Starting today, how about we begin some work involving physical movement?”

“…What kind?”

“Our reconnaissance goal today is seeds. Therefore, we will need to use the fertilizer and soil we’ve prepared beforehand to start farming seriously. Do you think you can do some work while we’re out on reconnaissance?”

“Farming…”

Her face lit up instantly at the mention.

As if affirming the right answer.

“A vegetable patch?”

“Yes, Matthew. But on a slightly larger scale.”

“Actually, before the situation worsened, Lisa grew tomatoes indoors in the apartment.”

If only we had known this beforehand.

“…Not exactly a farmer, but I recall a bit… I would actually like to take charge.”

“How about letting me teach you then?”

While taking a large bite, Sarah suddenly turned her head toward Lisa.

“I’m tired of eating these canned goods all the time.”

“I’m not sure if I’m in a position to teach anyone… but yes. If it involves working together, absolutely.”

“Then reconnaissance will—”

As I was about to turn to Curtis, a hand stretched out in front of me.

“What about me?”

It was Angela.

“Oops…!”

And immediately, Sarah’s voice followed.

“No, Angela Lady needs to stick to medical duties. Remember that statement?”

“…You’re right.”

“Thinking about it, I should go on reconnaissance.”

“Sarah, you can help with the farming.”

In the end, I turned back to the person I intended to choose originally.

“Curtis.”

“…Oh, pretty young ones are there, aren’t they? Well, I’m charming too, but homosexuals aren’t my type.”

“Father….”

“Can’t I make a joke! Just finished stretching my body, perfect timing.”

After swallowing the rest of the biscuit, Curtis stood up from his seat.

I could feel the gaze of the other two following me.

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