Investing in My Harem in the Apocalypse Makes Me Stronger

Cain did not simply give everything to the strongest people.

If someone already possessed a suitable weapon, there was little reason to hand them another one while someone else was still fighting with an ordinary knife or a piece of sharpened metal.

Anything without an appropriate owner could remain inside his Inventory until one appeared.

The damaged Common-rank gloves were stored again as well.

Once the equipment had been divided, Cain turned toward the Scrolls.

The atmosphere among the nearby survivors changed noticeably.

Weapons were already valuable, but everyone understood that Scrolls were different.

A weapon could improve someone’s combat effectiveness, while a powerful Talent or Skill could completely change what that person was capable of.

Cain picked up one of the Blue Scrolls.

”Maya.”

Maya had barely finished attaching her new sword to her waist when she heard her name again.

She turned around just in time to catch the Scroll Cain tossed toward her.

Her eyes widened after recognizing its color.

”You’re giving me something else?”

”Yes.”

”Why?”

”Because I think you’ll be useful.”

Maya stared at him for a moment.

”That somehow sounded less flattering than it should have.”

Cain had already turned toward Professor Holt.

”Professor.”

The second Blue Scroll flew toward him.

Holt caught it easily before checking the item in his hand.

Cain then gave one Green Scroll to Professor Ian and the other to Professor Irina.

”You can open them yourselves.”

Professor Holt glanced at the Scroll.

”You don’t want to know what we get?”

”I’ll ask afterward. Right now, getting everyone ready is more important.”

The four people moved away to inspect what they had received, while Cain returned the remaining equipment to his Inventory.

Once that was finished, he faced the auditorium again.

”Now we decide how we’re going to Level everyone.”

The nearby conversations gradually stopped.

Cain walked toward the center of the open floor so that the people around him could hear clearly.

”The majority of the group will move together toward the southern side of the city.”

His gaze settled on Professor Holt.

”You’ll help organize everyone during the trip.”

Holt nodded.

Cain then looked toward Nathan.

”You, Elara, and Jack will stay with the main group.”

Nathan immediately understood Cain’s intention.

With three 1st Echelon fighters accompanying everyone, there was no reason for Cain to personally supervise the larger group.

”Once you reach the southern part of the city and find an area with enough zombies, divide everyone into smaller teams.”

Cain looked toward the other fighters.

”Don’t spread too far apart. I want you covering more ground, not wandering around alone.”

The purpose of separating into smaller teams was to allow more people to gain experience efficiently. If dozens of people crowded around the same group of zombies, most of them would barely receive anything.

However, spreading throughout the city without support would defeat the entire purpose.

”If one team encounters something they can’t deal with, everyone else needs to be close enough to respond quickly.”

Professor Holt considered the arrangement before nodding.

”That’s manageable.”

Nathan added, ”We can keep the groups within a few streets of each other and adjust the distance depending on how many zombies we find.”

”Exactly.”

Cain had no intention of controlling every small detail himself. Nathan and Professor Holt had already proven capable of making decisions, while Elara and Jack could handle anything dangerous enough to overwhelm the ordinary teams.

”You’ll sweep through the southern area together.”

Cain then turned toward Ron.

”As for you, nothing changes. You’re coming with me like we already agreed.”

Ron nodded.

He had expected that from the moment Cain promised to personally help him become stronger.

Cain’s gaze shifted toward another person.

”Alex.”

The large weightlifter had been standing quietly near several students. When he heard his name, he looked toward Cain.

”You’re coming with us too.”

Alex appeared slightly surprised.

”Why me?”

”You’re already one of the highest-Level Unranked people here, and your raw Strength is useful.”

Cain saw no reason to complicate the explanation.

Whatever had happened between them when Alex first entered the auditorium was already dealt with. Holding a pointless grudge and wasting someone with considerable combat potential would only hurt the group in the long run.

Cain wanted everyone useful to become stronger before the battle at the western park.

”The three of us will sweep through the eastern side of the city.”

Ron nodded thoughtfully.

”So the others handle the south while we handle the east.”

”Exactly.” Cain continued, ”The main group doesn’t need to wait for us either. Keep moving and Leveling up. We’ll meet up with you later.”

Professor Holt nodded.

”Understood.”

Cain’s reason for taking Ron was obvious on the surface.

His Advancement Mission still required ten more qualifying kills, and Cain had already promised to help him become as strong as possible.

Alex also had plenty of room to grow.

However, Ron’s Advancement Mission was only part of why Cain wanted him nearby.

Cain needed his friend’s speed to become even more ridiculous before they returned to the western park.

If everything went well, that preparation would never matter.

If things went badly, it might become extremely important since this was related to his own life.

”Take a short break first,” Cain said, raising his voice enough for everyone to hear. ”Eat something, prepare enough water, and make sure your weapons are ready before we leave.”

The auditorium quickly became active again.

Several people headed toward the stored food, while others gathered around the newly distributed equipment.

Professor Holt called over a number of experienced students and began arranging the larger hunting group. Nathan joined him shortly afterward to discuss how they would divide the smaller teams once they reached the southern area.

Alex remained nearby, still familiarizing himself with the weight of his new greatsword, while Maya stood beside Elara and examined the Blue Scroll she had received.

Cain watched everyone for a short while before his attention shifted toward another part of the auditorium.

Doctor Owen was treating several injured survivors near the wall.

Evelyne stood beside him.

Pale green Mana gathered around her hands as she finished healing a shallow injury on a student’s arm. The wound gradually closed beneath the light until only a faint redness remained.

Cain waited until she finished before calling her.

”Evelyne.”

She looked over.

Cain crooked one finger toward her.

”Come here.”

Evelyne frowned slightly, but she still walked over.

”What?”

Cain did not answer immediately. Instead, he glanced around the auditorium before turning toward one of the side exits.

”Not here. Follow me.”

Evelyne’s frown deepened.

”Why do we need to go somewhere else?”

”You’ll see.”

Without waiting for her response, Cain headed toward the exit.

Evelyne stared at his back suspiciously for a moment before following him.

Their movement naturally attracted a few glances from the people nearby.

Elara, who had been standing beside Maya while the latter examined her newly obtained Scroll, noticed them leaving together. Her gaze followed Cain and Evelyne until they disappeared through the side door.

A slight frown appeared on her face.

Maya noticed the change in her expression and followed her gaze.

”What’s wrong?”

”Nothing.”

Elara answered calmly, but her eyes remained on the doorway for another moment before she finally looked away.

Outside, Cain continued walking without saying anything.

Evelyne followed several steps behind him as they crossed the open space beside the auditorium. A nearby university building stood only a short distance away, close enough that they could return immediately if something happened at the shelter.

Its entrance had already been checked and cleared earlier, so Cain pushed the door open without hesitation.

Evelyne entered after him.

The interior was silent.

Most of the rooms on the first floor had their doors open, with overturned chairs and scattered papers showing how quickly everyone had fled when the apocalypse began.

Cain chose an empty classroom near the entrance and stepped inside.

Evelyne followed before looking around suspiciously.

”You dragged me all the way here just to talk?”

Cain leaned casually against one of the desks.

”I wanted some privacy.”

Those words only made her more suspicious.

Considering their previous experiences whenever Cain wanted to speak to her alone, Evelyne had every reason to be wary.

Cain studied her face for a moment.

She had been unusually quiet throughout the entire loot distribution. She was not exactly angry, but there was a faint dissatisfaction in her expression that she was clearly trying to hide.

”What’s with that face?”

Evelyne immediately frowned.

”What face?”

”The one you’re making right now.”

”I always look like this.”

Cain glanced toward the classroom door as if he could somehow see through the walls toward the auditorium.

His mind briefly returned to Maya.

The Rare-rank sword was already hanging from her waist, while the unopened Blue Scroll remained in her hand.

When Cain looked back at Evelyne, her eyes narrowed almost immediately.

”Stop looking at me like that.”

A smile appeared on Cain’s face.

”You feel wronged because you didn’t get anything.”

”No.”

”That was fast.”

”Because I don’t.”

Cain nodded slowly.

”Of course you don’t.”

Evelyne crossed her arms beneath her chest.

”I already have a stronger Talent and Skill because of you. Why would I care about those things?”

”Exactly.”

Cain nodded as though Evelyne had just proven his point for him.

Evelyne stared at him for a moment before narrowing her eyes.

”Then why did you call me over?”

”Can’t I talk to you without wanting something?”

”No.”

Her answer came so quickly that Cain’s eyebrow twitched.

”You really have a terrible opinion of me.”

”You earned it.”

”Ungrateful woman.”