Surviving the Apocalypse with Crafting Skills

Creak. Thud.

Curtis and James, out of breath, coughed a few times before collapsing onto the floor.

On the floor rested a wooden crate filled with a heavy machine gun and ammunition.

While Curtis wiped the sweat from his brow after collapsing, James covered the crate with a blanket.

“Didn’t I tell you not to trust him too much?”

The one to speak first was the son.

“Pipe bombs, armor-piercing bullets, and now you come back with a captured heavy machine gun. And you did it together with a man we can’t really trust.”

“Should I stop teasing the old man?”

“No, you’re the father who has been rough with everyone except mother and Sarah.”

After letting out a long sigh, Curtis’s face softened into a smile.

It was a handsome smile for a face so lined with wrinkles.

“It’s been a long time… It was fun.”

Grabbing tools, asking questions, brainstorming ideas.

Making prototypes, discussing how to refine them.

Testing the results, confirming their functionality.

The old man slowly reviewed the whole process with his tired mind.

“Moreover, I’ve reconnected with old comrades.”

“Seems like just yesterday we were shooting endlessly off the back of a Humber.”

“Maybe I’ll build a bunker soon. Or even a vehicle, perhaps?”

“Where are you going to drive?”

“A bunker, surely. Upon searching, we might find spaces the federal government built big enough to hide missiles in.”

“To mount a heavy machine gun on a vehicle at a place where missiles are hidden… sounds fantastical.”

“I should take Sarah out for a fine drive.”

Their laughter erupted. There was no more tension on their faces after a good laugh.

“So, Xuan Woo, what is that person doing right now?”

“He’s talking about plumbing and electricity. He wants to make this place livable.”

“…He’s serious about this?”

“To him, making bullets sounds much more complicated.”

At that, their heads nodded in agreement.

There was no more doubt. Only curiosity remained about how far the situation would improve.

“This might be a real jackpot.”

“My son, your life twisted and turned, yet I’ve somehow handed you a pinch of luck.”

“Are you the one who handed me luck, Father?”

“That yellow monkey I found, hey there?”

“Yellow monkey my foot. Looks like we ought to venerate him. How about adopting him as a stepson?”

“Taking him in as a stepson wouldn’t be bad. He’s much better than you whose marriage failed.”

“Father.”

After wiping off the last of his sweat, Curtis stood up, still wearing a smile that wouldn’t fade.

“Well, shall we go fetch some tasty snacks for our dear Xuan Woo Amen who is going to help us with hot showers?”

“Already treating him like a son?”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve met someone worth teaching. And it’s been far too long since I’ve played the part of a father. Do you have any complaints?”

“Just go already.”

The steel door opened and closed.

The muscles strained from carrying heavy metal and wood ached as James sat down deep in thought.

Teaching, what it means.

Being a father.

James recalled the games Curtis used to play with him when he was younger.

Digging trenches, standing guard, aiming sticks at the enemy squirrels while making noises to chase them away…

“Anyway, wouldn’t it be nice if you could sweet talk for once?”

As James stood up, the smallest smile formed on his face.

***

“So, you’re really going to give us a proper shower?”

“Hand, flashlight, flashlight!”

“Ah, here it goes, right?”

“A little higher… There.”

The five-thousand-liter water tank filled the room entirely.

We and Ms. Sarah sat on the water tank, inspecting its interior.

There were no visible signs of contamination. The Geiger counter carried by the Omen family also read normal.

Pouring a bit of water on the litmus paper produced a blue color, and…

“The water is clean. The lid was closed, so there doesn’t seem to be any immediate issues.”

“If we boil it once, we can use it right away. Five thousand liters, packed to the brim!”

“We won’t need to fetch and boil water every time.”

“What did you do when you were above, anyway? Between playing games and browsing internet communities while working part-time…”

Not the guy who would work part-time at convenience stores and do odd jobs after work…

So, um…

“I was someone trying to make a bit of money by doing various things.”

Resume embellishing technique #1.

Explain vaguely but truthfully.

It wasn’t a lie.

From office assisting to part-time convenience store jobs…

“Incredible.”

Anyway, the action and results satisfied everyone.

No matter how skeptical people were, if sales and customer satisfaction were good, who could do anything?

And now.

“Connecting the pipes to the shower and toilet areas, then finding and connecting the pipes from somewhere around here…”

“Listening to you just sounds like a huge construction project.”

In the game, it wasn’t that difficult.

After placing the design layout, gathering the materials, and combining scrap metal and iron pieces with a makeshift crafting kit, it was done.

Some people would have to find the toilet every time, or go to a stable shelter to resolve their needs, but…

The Crafter showed godly expertise in interior construction, bordering on reality manipulation.

Ah, of course, bullets and guns too.

It’s only because the fundamental survival stats are lacking.

Dependent on basic cooking even now, really.

“We’re also going to install a boiler. We need to draw electrical power, so… Phew, it looks like the workload is going to increase quite a bit. Oh, also, we’re going to need quite a bit of oil. And of course the water purification system…”

“Are you writing a fantasy novel?”

Instead of answering, I flashed a smile.

Crafting will start here.

“Keep the lid closed for now. I’ll think about the materials we need.”

“Um, are you sure you didn’t bump your head anywhere?”

“Why would I bother, when we’ve made different types of bullets?”

“Would finding clean water be easy if it hadn’t been months since my last proper shower?”

Wait, let me see what you’ll think when I craft a water filter using four gas mask filters, a screwdriver, and a large plastic bottle.

…Ah, wait a moment. What?

“How many, months?”

“Yes, months. Drinking water was scarce. We could soak a towel or use moist wipes on lucky days. Why?”

“…”

“Apocalyptic situation, right? Isn’t it normal for things to be this way?”

“…”

“…”

“I didn’t want it to be like this either.”

“…”

“Say something, anything!”

So.

There was this smell of vinegar somewhere.

Oh my goodness.

In the midst of crafting, I had overlooked this part.

How difficult it is to take care of hygiene.

I thought this smell was just absorbed into the bunker.

“…Make the water filter and boiler quickly.”

After handing over the notebook with materials listed, I exited the boiler room.

So, Curtis greeted me with that bright smile.

Or rather, greasy hair and a shiny nose.

My goodness.

“Here’s some crackers and beef jerky. You must be hungry.”

“Sarah, have some as well.”

Now that I notice, the reason his beard is that way.

Ah, seriously.

“Ms. Sarah.”

“…”

She only wanted the notebook.

Why was she suddenly sniffing around and…

“You use gunpowder like perfume.”

After muttering discontentedly, she pushed the notebook towards Mr. James and left.

Just as she was about to close the door…

“Don’t come in!”

With that single shout, she disappeared.

Mr. James scratched his head, then began reading my notebook slowly.

“Water filter, boiler, plumbing… Hmm?”

“I’m planning on solving the drinking water and shower issues seriously. We should regularly clean wounds to prevent infections.”

“Ah… I see.”

“Did you smell something from Sarah?”

“No, um… It’s inevitable, isn’t it? You three haven’t been able to settle down, and securing drinking water was difficult.”

He nodded, but a subtle smile lingered in their eyes.

“Speaking of a lady’s smell is…”

“Never mind. Forget about romance.”

“Excuse me?”

“It’s not bad to focus on work. If you get the shower made… boiler?”

“We need hot water for showers, and it’s better to sanitize and drink purified water.”

Not all families stare with the same blue eyes.

It’s not impossible.

“Not exactly, but… finding a toilet first seems a good idea. If there’s a shower area, we can dismantle it completely there.”

“That’s a decent idea. But the question is whether we can carry the heavy parts…”

“Still… I’m not sure if building everything from raw materials will be possible.”

“The water filter can be made quickly. Gas masks are in abundance.”

“You can collect four at a time just strolling through residential areas. And it’s good to have extra filters in stock.”

While nodding and planning, the door opened again.

Approaching me slightly tousled, she ruffled my hair loudly.

“Ugh, pfft, phew! Hair!”

Because it got in her mouth, she shook her head violently as she spoke.

“Here, now it’s fine, right?”

Sniffing my nose a little, I could indeed sense a sweet floral fragrance.

“Perfume?”

“I save perfume.”

She was giggling uncontrollably while the adults chuckled.

“You better not be unable to make a shower.”

“I know, I’ll stop teasing you.”

Fewer debuffs from not smelling bad and better mood bonuses await.

I better hurry up and defuse her irritation.

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