Marauder of the Apocalypse-Chapter 83: Urban Warfare

People were busy moving in places I didn't know about. The military stationed at the city outskirts was gauging when to enter the downtown area, while powerful survivor groups prepared to check the military's advance.

It was like a wild jungle. A jungle with all sorts of predators lurking.

I closed my eyes and reorganized the information I had seen and heard.

'Military, alliance....'

The military's firepower was incomparably strong. Although it would be battalion-level forces remaining on the outskirts of the city, the level of weapons they could mobilize was different.

That's why powerful survivor groups had joined hands.

And each was preparing for battle in their own way.

'The police sold handguns. It wasn't just simple business.'

They raised the level of firepower so that even ordinary survivors could shoot at soldiers if necessary. The police themselves were armed with hunting rifles and reserve military firearms.

The reason for making the general hospital the center of the survival zone was probably similar.

A properly functioning hospital in the apocalypse. If they fought against the real military, casualties would be numerous, so a field hospital was necessary.

Add to that the improvised explosives from the electricity nomads and the oil secured by the Delivery Vigilantes...

All the information connected as one.

"Urban warfare?"

Combat taking place in a city packed with concrete buildings.

"What urban warfare? It's a dogfight."

Ho snickered and leaned comfortably against a car. He pounded the car with his palm.

"Every road is blocked. Vehicles can't move properly. It's even worse on the outskirts. Some roads are blocked by landslides. The military can't bring in proper firepower either."

This meant infantry would be central. Even if they brought some support weapons like mortars or machine guns, it would be difficult for them to perform at full capacity.

I lowered my gun briefly and said:

"Isn't that urban warfare?"

Ambushes, improvised explosives, traps, civilian attacks, combat taking place in an urban setting.

But Ho shook his head.

"It's a dogfight. Fighting to survive, to get food. Is this a human fight? It's an animal fight."

Humans are animals too, and in a ruined world, everyone fights to survive, so I didn't understand what he was saying. But instead of arguing, I became lost in thought.

The question was what I could gain from the confrontation between the alliance and the military.

I slowly backed away and signaled to my companions. Time to head back. I also spoke to Ho.

"I understand for now. With the situation like this, I'll have to reconsider my thinking. See you next time."

"I'd rather not get involved with you."

The scavengers also slowly maintained their cover as they retreated.

We headed back home. No, we changed direction midway and went to Hope Community. To the powerful survivor group, Hope Community.

***

Hope Community had changed somewhat since our last visit. The vehicles left outside had their hoods and doors completely stripped, leaving only skeletal frames.

At the entrance to Hope Church, the evangelist elder and administrative elder greeted us warmly.

"It's been a while. Have you been well?"

"Elder Park! Did you meet your family? Last time your wife and daughter's letter came, so I gave them your address."

Elder Park waved his hand dismissively at the question about his well-being.

"They're people I divorced, why give them my address? Do you know how dangerous that was? The hiking club people came and—"

The atmosphere turned a bit awkward. The administrative elder scratched his head sheepishly, then suddenly lowered his head.

"I guess I said something I shouldn't have. I'm sorry."

"It's fine. How's your daughter?"

"Lost contact. Don't know where she is or if she's alive... No news is good news, I suppose."

We stood there awkwardly for a moment, and the evangelist elder changed the subject.

"Anyway, welcome. Let's go inside and talk."

The evangelist elder opened a door made from welded car hoods and doors. I quickly followed him, carefully observing the people inside and the interior.

The building's interior, dark without electricity, looked like an abandoned house.

Looking past the rooms on the first floor where doors were open, I could see windows completely welded shut, with faint glimpses of blankets or beds. Perhaps rooms used only for sleeping, currently empty.

The second floor was somewhat brighter. I could sense busy people moving about, and sunlight shone through.

"Careful, careful. That's right."

"Should we water this today?"

The indoor farm that I had suggested and the pastor had mobilized the church's capabilities to create.

A baby in its mother's arms reaching out to pluck a tomato, survivors chatting as they worked. Despite their unkempt appearances from not being able to wash properly, there was an atmosphere of hope and life shining through.

The evangelist elder climbed up the narrow stairs equipped with obstacles and spoke:

"Thanks to Deacon Kwon, the community is running well. The actual harvest from farming is meager, but the very act of working and harvesting gives people a certain hope."

"Is that so?"

I nodded absently. I wasn't interested in that.

Instead, I casually threw out a different question.

"The electricity is out. Are you doing okay?"

Water must be hard to find, and welding work would be impossible now. The administrative elder and evangelist elder maintained a brief silence as if hiding something.

The evangelist elder slowly said:

"We're managing fine. Rain comes often so water isn't scarce, and we prepared since before the electricity was working properly."

That wasn't wrong. They had built a fortress-like building early on and had diligently stockpiled weapons.

But I wondered if they were actually fine because they planned to move to the survival zone.

We had arrived at the top floor. The floor with the room that used to be the pastor's office. The floor where I, Park Yang-gun, and Do-hyung had joined forces to kill the pastor.

Do-hyung subtly stopped walking and mumbled in a small voice:

"I'm going to meet Yeji."

We nodded or waved our hands without much reaction. Do-hyung went back down to the second floor, and we entered the office.

The evangelist elder and administrative elder went inside and sat down. On the desk where the pastor used to scribble his diary, there was a gas burner and a kettle.

"Would you like some tea?"

"No thanks. We should save water."

The pleasantries passed. I spoke directly to the point.

"I heard the military is coming in. Is that certain?"

"...It's almost certain."

The evangelist elder and administrative elder honestly shared various pieces of information. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

From information discovered by the Delivery Vigilantes who occasionally went to the city outskirts, to reconnaissance using drones borrowed from the electricity nomads, to information gathered by the police using survivors as informants.

Failed crops, soldiers searching around their base in squad units, looking for roads to enter the city, finding and using motorcycles.

"In the end, it's a food issue. There's no food to sustain the military since the crops failed. They will definitely enter the city."

I interlaced my fingers and lowered my head.

'It would be best if the alliance and the military both died.'

I wasn't sure how big the difference in firepower was.

"How many troops does the military have left?"

"About 300 people, it seems. And they appear to be making and modifying things. We have drone photos, but my phone won't turn on."

The evangelist elder looked at his black phone screen with frustration. The administrative elder gestured around as he explained verbally.

"Looks like they're making carts that can be attached to motorcycles or bicycles. Probably so they can mount machine guns or mortars on them."

Considerable time had passed. The military had adapted in their own way. Modifications accounting for the poor road conditions.

They had probably gained combat experience and revised their operational plans as well.

At that point, Sa Gi-hyeok, who had been sitting blankly, raised his hand.

"What's the military's objective? Who do they plan to get food from, and how?"

"We don't know exactly, but it's probably looting. They won't hesitate to do whatever it takes to get food for 300 people."

If that was the case, I had no choice. I had to side with the alliance.

Three hundred soldiers becoming marauders? A raider group you had to enlist to join? This needed to be eliminated.

After contemplation, I raised my head.

"You're planning to create a survival zone centered around the general hospital. I know about the alliance. I want to join the alliance too."

The evangelist elder smiled slightly.

"Are you thinking of returning to the community? You're welcome anytime."

"No. Subcontract to the four of us. Like mercenaries. And recruit other survivors to bring in as well. Of course, help us have a say in planning."

This was a war against a military whose goal was looting. Even with an alliance, they needed numbers. If only the alliance fought, they couldn't sustain the casualties.

'They'll hire mercenaries.'

This was an opportunity for me. A chance to loot military equipment. At the same time, a chance to gather people. Naturally forming companions while working as a mercenary.

It would be dangerous, but I decided not to think about that.

'We simply can't survive with just four people anymore.'

Everyone was changing, adapting, becoming more ruthless. And they were doing it based on their skills. I needed to evolve too, and a marauder could only evolve by risking his life.

The evangelist elder seemed to examine me carefully, then sighed and nodded.

"We were actually planning to gather people to fight soon. If that's what you want, Deacon Kwon, then alright."