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

A/N: So I see a lot of people guessing that the next big arc is the Town Upgrade! It’s true, BUT because there’ll be a short time skip, I need to settle a few things before we head there.

So... manage your expectations! Getting so far into the story, you probably have an idea how long the next big arc will

actually

commence lololol

...

____

Fossu stepped forward, using his earth ability to check if there were traps. He found that everything was just typical soil, though he noted that the makeshift fences were really dug deep, so they were relatively durable.

”It’s safe for now,” he said. ”There’s no notification, either. I think… this isn’t a territory…”

”What?” the others said, going past the threshold. They came in groups though, just in case. Of course, the place wasn’t big, so the hundred or so of them quickly filled up the entire place.

After observing a bit, they came to the same conclusion as Fossu.

But… why would a non-territory be in a place like this?

”...this is it?” His father asked, looking at the flimsy 1-yard-tall fence that probably only served as a rough delineation. They then turned to look at the sheds, as well as a group of stones arranged in a circular manner with something at the center.

”Is this… black metal?”

”In the middle of nowhere?”

”What a waste…” one said, trying to pull it and failing to do so. ”Ah, it’s tied…”

”How strange…”

Some people studied each element of the place, while most just found themselves a seat somewhere to rest.

Soon, someone found the stone box placed near one of the trees and shrubs.

”What is this?” he asked. A lot of people nearby turned to him, looking over his shoulder.

More and more people gathered to see, with someone nudging it with his feet.

”Well, it’s obviously a stone box,” he concluded, crossing his arms.

”Ah yes, we’re not blind. We can see that.”

”Open it up.”

”No, you do it.”

”You found it.”

”So, contribute. Open it.”

After playing a classic game of rock, leaf, and dagger, a loser was determined. The aforementioned loser would be the sacrifice to open the box.

Leaning back as far as he could—just in case—the sacrifice carefully opened the lid.

Flop!

The lid landed elsewhere and nothing dangerous came out of it. The people heaved a sigh of relief, immediately converging to explore its contents.

They took sticks to move the items around, just to be safe, and were relieved to see that everything appeared safe for now.

Some brave souls soon took these items into their hands to see, and soon Fossu and the others also arrived to check what the commotion was about.

Inside the box, there were various bottles (very high quality compared to what they had encountered), unfamiliar packages, and what some people recognized as rare parchment.

”It’s a little thin though,” one of the older ones mumbled, having touched parchment due to working under the lord at the time.

”So many writings…” Fona mumbled, ”I wish I could read…”

Fossu smiled at her, ”I can teach you.”

At this, a little boy appeared next to them, jumping up with pride. ”Brother taught me! I can also read!”

The couple chuckled, with Fona patting his small head. ”Wow, Fonfon is very good.”

The little boy grinned, making the adults chuckle.

Anyway, they handed the ’parchment’ to the only literate one there—Fossu.

Like before, there were unfamiliar symbols but there were also text that he could recognize. It was written smaller than what he was used to, so Fossu took a while to read its contents.

As soon as he understood all he could, he read it out loud. ”Paying forward,” he paused. ”You can use whatever you need, but use just enough— and try to leave some for others!”

Fossu had no idea what it meant, but he felt good about it.

After the first set of refugees who went to Alterra after the Heat Wave, a team actually went and improved this place while they were hunting. The next day, another team noticed this and did the same, adding some items into the Communal Chest.

The Communal Chest was made larger, more durable, and even waterproof. They added sections that would divide things according to use like sauces, dried meat, noodles, and non-edible stuff like a few sheets of paper for messaging others.

They also figured that there would be aborigines who wouldn’t know how to use these so someone actually went ahead to give some instructions and some basic ingredients!

”They said we could add this on meat,” Fossu mumbled, pointing at some of the sauces. Interestingly, the liquids in the bottles were also tagged and titled in both languages.

The others were naturally reluctant to completely let down their guards.

”Is it even safe?”

”I don’t know…”

”They also said you can make fire with that,” Fossu said, this time pointing at the circular metallic pot in the middle.

They were already confused about what the black iron was for. Apparently, it was for communal cooking?

They may not use the sauce due to suspicions, but they could at least use the tools to make fire.

After much debate, they ended up using them though for a few pieces of meat they got from the mobs before.

Fona, an amateur cook, led this after Fossu read the instructions to her. She was desperate to replace the horrible memories from before with good ones, so exploring a new taste seemed to be a good way to do so.

Soon, a rich aroma spread around, causing everyone to stop speaking, and just focus on the meat skewers displayed enticingly in front of them.

Some level-headed ones were a bit worried for mobs it could attract, but their stomachs still grumbled.

When it was done, many ’brave self-sacrificing’ souls volunteered to try it out. Fona could only chuckle, handing them a stick each to sink their teeth to.

Without exemption, their eyes all went wide.

”This is…”

”DELICIOUS!”

The exclamaitions naturally got more and more people curious to try it out. Eventually, Fossu and his family also took a few pieces, and they were all surprised at the flavor that seemed to shake their souls.

Small mobs were naturally attracted by their commotion, but instead of being worried, they became excited.

Why? Because the meat they had was gone!

Fossu watched as the citizens suddenly became brave and couldn’t help but feel amazed. His eyes shifted back to the box in wonder.

How

magical

…

”Where… did they say these came from?” Fona asked, similarly curious. His parents also looked at him, wondering if he knew.

”Is it a town?” His father asked. Was a town nearby? If so, then why were the monsters so manageable?

Fossu narrowed his eyes and looked closely at the letters again, recalling the signages they encountered before. More likely than not, these all came from the same place.

”Alterra?” he mumbled, recalling what was written in the sign. ”It’s likely from a place called Alterra Village.”

A place that could place signages so far away, create paths, and create little places like this in the middle of nowhere… must be extraordinary.

They had never heard of it, but… they were certainly looking forward to seeing it for themselves!