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

The group approached them and, seeing as they were humans who weren’t outrightly aggressive, their group was a little relieved. Of course, they didn’t put down their guards too much.

It was led by a large man with massive scars, looking at them up and down, as if mentally noting their states and counting their numbers.

The leading person immediately zoned in on Shinho, whose weapon was up as his eyes never left them.

”Refugees?” he asked. Shinho’s eyebrows furrowed, and the other man’s face immediately softened.

”That’s good.”

???

”Where did you come from?” he asked.

This man was Mauru and there tens of other people with him.

His team had left the territory just around dusk. They were sent on a mission to check the area 1 kilometer from the territory walls. It was a mission by the territory, adding 50% more contribution points for every refugee they rescued.

This was a very good mission to brave souls who wanted to gain a lot of contribution points.

In fact, this mission had minimal advantages to the territory. It only added population—which it didn’t lack anymore—not to mention they weren’t certain the newcomers would be functioning members of society.

Instead, the mission had a lot more to do with humanity. How cruel would it be for the refugees to perish when they were so close to them?

The Mauin Villagers, who were new to this concept, were extremely touched and were determined to contribute.

They even left earlier, while the sun was still up at dusk. They were protected by special insulation suits created by the Research Center. It was made of material that could shield them from the heat and also had a cooling interior skin, though how it was created was beyond them.

It was still a bit hot though, so they took it off and placed in the space as soon as it got dark. They also put on their special torches and lighting hats—also new products of the Specialty Store—and continued with their search.

Today, they ended up venturing a bit farther than usual. They encountered a few monsters already up and about to hunt, killing them, deciding to go farther just in case.

And they really did meet refugees—hundreds of them.

It was a pleasant surprise, and they were relieved to see more people alive.

Also, this meant a lot of Contribution Points.

At this, they couldn’t help but look even more ’kindly’ at the refugees, who were more or less creeped out by their smiles.

”Where were you from?” Mauru repeated, seeing as the people he was talking with still hadn’t answered.

Then he wondered if their hearing was affected. It wasn’t new—a lot of people got damaged in some way when they stayed out for too long during this time. They received a lot of refugees with a lot to ’repair’ in the hospital.

It was Shinho, the de facto leader, who stepped forward. He bravely faced these strange people with their strange tools.

His body language was still defensive—as everyone else by default due to various reasons. Other than the fact that they did not know these people, they also sensed some ’greed’ in these people’s eyes.

Why did they look at them like that?

Shinho frowned and clenched his fist. What were they planning to do to them?

The aborigine’s sharp eyes then noticed how ’nice’ they all looked. They were relatively clean except for some splashes of blood and dirt in their clothing—which were all good-looking.

They also had filled bodies, unlike their dried up and withered ones.

What if they were slave drivers? Intent to make them slaves? Although they weren’t won in wars, they could still be sold as such after being forced to swear unfair oaths!

If so, would they be kidnapped and sold so these people could eat well? But how could they eat well if there was no source of decent food? No matter what, if one only had these dry leaves for a meal, everyone had to be skin and bones by now.

Sure, they were near the river so it was possible the restaurants were still in operation due to the survival of many plants, but how many could that support?

Then… his heart turned cold at a thought.

What if… what if these people had fat because they were one of ’those’ territories—territories with citizens that ate

humans

?!

He gripped Ferra’s hand. She herself ran away from that type of place. How broken would she be if they ended up in another one?

((If Mauru and the others knew that these walking ’Contribution Points’ believed they showed filthy greed, and even thought that they were

cannibals

, they’d be very depressed.))

”Who are you?” Shinho asked after a while, and Mauru looked at him and gave him a friendly smile—which made him look even creepier, to be honest.

”My name is Mauru, and this is my team,” he said, making quick introductions.

Mauru was captain of his own team, predominantly composed of the surviving guards from Mauru Village. They lived at the edge of death and war their whole lives, and their teamwork was very impressive.

The team was kept balanced though, and there were a few Terrans—and therefore elementalists—in their team.

It would never cease to amaze the aborigines how all Terrans seemed to be elementalists. Back in Mauin, such figures were basically legendary to them.

There were a few Terrans in their team, two of whom were women. One was Cassie, a wind swordsman, and there was Barbara, a spearman with a wind affinity.

Barbara (called Barbie by some close friends and family) was one of the soldiers who belatedly arrived in the then-Fargo Village and joined Victor’s team. Like many others, she eventually got assigned to Alterra. This was mostly to train them, but they could also be permanently assigned there depending on the orders of the higher ups.

She was quite tall and muscular for a woman, and she looked badass with her short dark hair, tanned skin, and sharp features.

Cassie also had short hair, albeit light-colored ones, though hers was a little longer and past the ears. She also had a softer demeanor to her, which was quite charming to a lot of men.

Bumi, in particular, couldn’t quite take his eyes away from her.

Anyway, the leaders were currently facing each other. One was tense, trying to figure out the other’s dangers, strength, and motives. In contrast, the other was feeling friendly and concerned, thinking of ways to welcome them to Alterra.

The misunderstanding was also strong in this one.