Surviving the Apocalypse with Crafting Skills

“Frau Dieterich?”

“… I’m sorry, but right now -”

“It’s an urgent patient. Please open the door.”

The sound of sniffling was heard a few times.

The thick iron door creaked open.

…As expected.

Is this the only doctor here?

“Where does it hurt…”

“The patient suffered severe assault. I ask for your treatment.”

Her red eyes.

Her disheveled golden hair.

Even so, after taking a few deep breaths, the doctor, who seemed to bear the last name Dieterich, nodded.

“Please come in.”

Even though I’m a grown man.

The SS soldier picked me up and laid me on the examination bed before saluting me.

“Who is this person?”

“I am a technician under Sturmbannführer Schultz.”

“What were you doing…”

“There was a mistake which led to an attack by a corporal.”

“… A mistake? Isn’t that always the case?”

“Once treatment is complete, I’ll report to Sturm-”

“I’ll speak to the lieutenant colonel directly. Yes. You may go now.”

As expected, a normal military salute.

So does that mean this person, Dr. Dieterich, doesn’t fully align with the Nazis but is more a part of the Hanseatic group?

“Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Of course.”

“…You speak fluently.”

Fluent might be a stretch; it’s more just speaking what comes to mind.

I haven’t really thought much about that aspect.

The subtitles were in Korean, but the spoken words would have been in English, wouldn’t they?

“If my words sounded discriminatory, I apologize. Most patients coming here are immigrants – especially Asians, who are usually foreign laborers.”

“I understand.”

“How long have you been here?”

“Just about a day.”

“…So they haven’t touched you too badly yet, even being directly under them?”

The room was obviously stocked with medical supplies.

In the immediate emergency kit, there were neatly packaged gauze, medical alcohol, and more.

Farther away, you could see various syringes and surgical tools on a shelf.

“What kind of work did you do above the ground?”

“All sorts… mostly living day-to-day jobs.”

It seemed like the backdrop of labor-intensive work was creeping in, but it should be okay.

“Were you a doctor above as well, Doctor?”

“A doctor. Just not one for people.”

“…Veterinarian.”

“Most doctors were busy treating nuclear explosions or gunshot wounds from raids. Those with strong beliefs refused to evacuate, choosing to stay with their patients until the end.”

“So how did you end up with these Nazis…?”

“I didn’t choose to be here.”

Holding an alcohol swab with gloved hands, Dr. Dieterich began to tear up.

“…There was someone I worked with and helped at my hospital, but when they were captured, I was captured too.”

“That person—”

“Was a Middle Eastern immigrant, a devout Muslim. And while in the camp, they kept antagonizing the guards, which eventually got them hanged.”

“…Me.”

“Is it really wrong? To be of a different race? To have different beliefs? Can superiority and inferiority truly be judged by hair color, skin color, or eye color?”

Her tears finally burst forth.

The alcohol swab fell to the ground, and her hands covered her face.

…But there was something I wanted to test.

“Sturm… Lieutenant Colonel Schultz. Hans Schultz. That’s right, someone you know.”

“That’s correct.”

“That person seems to be trying to change things from within.”

“Their plan is to kill all the superiors and sit at the top themselves. You know that, right?”

“They seem to be gathering capable people. You appear to be one of the important ones to them.”

“Capable…”

Instead of accepting the cloth I offered from the bed, she reached for a handkerchief from her supplies.

“I’m not as good as real doctors. My suturing is a mess, and it takes me too long to remove a bullet. My incisions aren’t clean, leading to slower recovery. For internal organ damage… internal organ damage…”

“…”

“…It’s better to just let them die. It’s less painful that way…”

She cries a lot.

She might be ready to get her hands bloody, but her mental fortitude isn’t strong.

“If someone else had been here instead of me, someone who knows more about people than animals—”

“Still, you’ve saved people, haven’t you?”

“It’s just basic treatment. Whether it’s humans or animals, disinfection and rest are key. The rest is up to the body.”

“Consider how many can’t even do that much.”

A veterinarian is ultimately still a doctor.

Humans are, after all, also animals.

In this case, with enough surgical experience, one naturally earns the title of a doctor.

Of course, it comes with the label of “shoddy.”

But with books, space, and various medications, one quickly becomes a multi-talented talent.

Becoming a certified doctor from the outset is close to impossible, especially in an apocalypse.

However, a doctor from a different field learning a bit about another area is possible.

From this perspective, she’s a winner.

“…Thank you for your encouragement. I feel a bit more strength. No, this isn’t the time, would you mind showing me the affected area? Was it hit badly?”

“To be precise, it’s more of an event aimed at winning favor.”

When I slightly lifted the cloth covering my stomach—

My goodness.

“Good heavens, the bruising…!”

“Ugh!?”

So that corporal didn’t hold back, did he?

At a glance, it was quite patchy, with parts already turning black and blue.

“Dieterich. I’ll request warm water and medical ice for my ward.”

[Understood.]

“Relax. Those people… truly.”

A doctor who uses radio communication naturally and receives sufficient supplies of materials while living comfortably.

I wonder how such a person would respond to an invitation to escape from the 0th Empire.

I’ve confirmed that she has bad memories.

And her current situation mustn’t be good either—

—Kong, kong, kong.

“Yes.”

—Kong, kong, kong, kong.

“You may enter— sigh.”

Opening the door with a deep frown, it seems familiar to Frau Dieterich.

Then, an SS officer marched straight into the ward.

Though he doesn’t look like Hans.

“… I requested warm water and medical ice. And besides, I didn’t request you specifically.”

“All news goes through my ears, Frau Dieterich.”

“That’s abuse of communication privileges. Moreover, I remember that the communication department is a busy post.”

“Sturmbannführer has recently granted the communication department a unified 30-minute break as part of recent welfare measures, Frau Dieterich. You too must have that free 30 minutes.”

“I have a patient to treat immediately. If it doesn’t help with medical treatment—”

“Ah, but a patient can stay here, can’t they?”

At his sudden removal of his hat and lying down, an involuntary sigh escaped.

Yeah, that’s the 0th Empire for you.

It’s because Hans Schultz is a different breed.

“Should I report to the lieutenant colonel directly?”

“But due to prolonged work, my head is throbbing, I hear ringing in my ears, and according to you, my chest is pounding. What illness would you diagnose, Doctor?”

With a sigh, Frau Dieterich picked up the radio.

“… Please connect me to Colonel Schultz.”

[Sorry, the communication team is currently undermanned, making a connection difficult. Please request it again later.]

However, as her face crumpled, Frau Dieterich barely managed to dodge an advancing body.

“What nonsense are you doing?!”

“…”

A clearly upset officer.

But soon looking awkward, he chuckled and blocked the door with his body.

“Every time, Schultz, Schultz, Schultz, Schultz. What’s so special about Schultz? Huh? Aren’t you trying to seduce him with that fine face and body? Running to him and kissing him on the lips, perhaps? And here you are giving medical excuses to give ice to those inferior races?”

“Communication officer—”

“Ya-kob, Ya-kob, Ya-kob, Ya-kob! That dirty pervert! A veterinarian looking only at animals? Flirting with beasts or something, perhaps? Tumbling around with that monkey, right? Huh?”

“I won’t tolerate this impertinence further.”

“What can you do with that useless radio?”

There was a sufficient reason to mess things up in the 0th Empire.

Swiftly, I snatched the radio from Frau Dieterich.

“This is Asian 0032. A technician under Sturmbannführer Schultz.”

“Hey monkey, what are you—”

[This is Asiate0032, Xuan Woo. Yes, speak.]

“I would like to request a connection with Colonel Sturmbannführer…”

[… Please wait a moment.]

The differing reactions compared to Frau Dieterich made his face freeze visibly.

[Requesting connection to frequency 4.]

After looking around briefly, the man quickly fled.

“… You.”

“It seems I’m quite important to Hans. And it appears I’ve already informed the communications department.”

Returning the radio, I closed the door.

My stomach was still hurting, but a more important task had arisen.

“Can I address you as Frau Dieterich?”

“… Yes. And you?”

“My name is Xuan Woo.”

“Yes, Mr. Xuan Woo.”

“Alright, Frau Dieterich… First, regarding eavesdropping or anything like that…”

“There’s none here. This place is safe for now. I’ve already cursed Hitler plenty.”

She smiled confidently, looking somewhat pitiable.

They say if you cry and then laugh, hair grows on your buttocks.

“So, if I were to say I’m planning an escape from the 0th Empire… would you consider coming along?”

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