After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World

It was a tense hour or so more of travel. No one wanted to walk in front of Baku—doing so felt like they had a predator behind them, waiting for a chance to dismember them.

When they finally reached the vicinity of what they knew to be Guia Village, they almost jumped up in celebration.

They were certain they were in the right place. After all, they had the interface map and they just had to follow it.

But… when they arrived at the walls of Guia some time later, the group was quite surprised. The changes since they had last been here… were not small.

”Oh, level 5 walls? Has Guia Village become a town?” Bulgogi mumbled, looking around. He was puzzled. After all, the monsters around were still village level.

Sipa and the others were also intrigued.

”Well, either way—-whether it’s become a town or became an even richer village— that’s good news for us,” Bart said, thinking they could finally get a good rest, and maybe they could sell the orc as early as here, if the price was right.

This orc was too stressful. Bart felt his lifespan was shaved several years during the few days of travel with this darned half-orc!

Anyway, they entered with the intent of finally getting a break and eating decent food. Well, not that the Restaurant food was decent, but it was better than what they’ve been eating the past few days.

With relieved hearts, they entered the gate, receiving the expected announcement as they passed the threshold.

[Welcome to Iron Mountain Village (Lv3). Please pay 10 copper as visitor’s fee.]

[Rules and Regulations are…]

If they were puzzled before, they were confused now.

”What? Did I remember it wrong? Didn’t this use to be called Guia Village?”

”And it’s still a village!”

”Also, the entry is so cheap!”

”Right?” Sipa mumbled, ”It has a level 5 wall and pretty dense sentries… isn’t the cost of entry too cheap?”

This made Bart narrow his eyes. Baltimore would never be so kind. And the name change…

”So many new rules, as well…”

Bart narrowed his eyes. ”No more fighting? That’s really out of character,” he said. ”Perhaps Jonathan asked them to do so?”

The team looked at each other and, knowing they wouldn’t be able to answer anything now, just entered though with a lot more curiosity in their minds than before.

As they went in, they looked around to note of the other changes. For one, some streets felt wider, the air felt cleaner. There was a sort of levity he couldn’t quite describe.

However, they weren’t able to analyze their new place very well because people noticed their entry—or rather, the half-orc’s entry.

Unsurprisingly, it created a bit of havoc, with several people gasping and hiding. Some screamed, and some did the same though they were pulled back—afraid they’d get its attention.

”Kyaaaaa! Orc!”

”That’s a half orc! I heard Orcs are even scarier!”

”KYAAA! Is the war starting already?!”

”RUN! RUNN!!!”

This made the mercenaries freeze and look at each other.

A War was coming? So unlucky?

Eloi looked at his boss. ”Ugh.. should we go now?”

Bart sighed, looking around. He was really exhausted, but it seemed like they had no choice but to leave.

While they had no danger of being slaves even if Guia lost—though not a very likely thing to happen considering all the improvements—their half-orc, who wasn’t a citizen of any territory, could still be taken.

Further, Baltimore was strong and was an elementalist. If he saw the half-orc and decided he wanted it, it’d be troublesome to pull such a good thing from him. Even if he would pay, it would probably be at a discount.

In retrospect, they should’ve thought of that before coming in. They were just too tired and desperate for a place to rest to think some things through.

Anyway, how could they just let all that hard work go to waste?

So, they decided to leave, hoping the half orc could protect them until the next couple of territories.

They left the gate and looked back longingly. Before they could get too far though, they saw some familiar faces they didn’t think they’d see here at all!

…

At this time, a small group of people were walking around, seeming to plan as they walked around the territory.

Their first stop was the barracks where training was at its peak, though they made sure not to go too hard or they’d be tired before the actual war.

Then they made rounds outside the territory to ensure that there was no enemy camping too closely for comfort.

Rather, if there was, then it was one of only chances that Gill, who was beyond the level cap, could attack directly.

They had a lot of things to discuss and finalize. This was their first war with this situation and there were simply too many variables to feel that their win was guaranteed.

At the very least, it was certain they’d get quite a bit of losses.

How many reliable guards did they have now? These people weren’t like Alterrans. They wouldn’t brave through a situation especially if it got the least bit dangerous. They were more likely to abandon post instead.

This was what Gill worried about the most. While they made plans to deal with as many situations as they could, people’s heart were still incredibly unreliable.

As the party traversed the territory though, they were stopped by some familiar faces.

It was a group of aborigines. They looked horrid and had obviously not taken a bath for many days, and because a lot of them had grown facial hair it wasn’t easy to recognize them.

A few of them brightened at the sight of Gill, waving at him with bright smiles. ”Gill!” they yelled.

Gill narrowed his eyes, blinking when he recognized the man after a couple of seconds. ”Bart?”

”Yes, it’s us! We’re just passing by,” he said, relieved to see someone. ”Why are you guys here? I thought you went elsewhere?”

”Also, do you have some of that sauce left? We’ll buy it!” he said, and the others looked at Bart as if he was the most quick-witted and smart leader ever.

”We did, and we do have the products,” Gill said, answering all his questions.

It was just that—at some point—his eyes fixed on their group changed from recognition… to calculation.

He was looking particularly deeply at the half-orc, who was staring back with narrowed eyes.

”And you’re just in time.”

Bart and the others: ????