Vampire Overlord's Harem In The Apocalypse-Chapter 31: Apocalypse Farming (I)

The morning air was still cool as Simon stood by the stove, watching the steam rise from a pot of boiling noodles.

He whistled low, the kind of whistle that came from someone who felt the weight of the world, but had learned to shrug it off for a little while.

It was a good day. A very good day, in fact.

He added a little more spice to the noodles, the small touches of flavor being a luxury in this new world. How had he managed to get the gas cooker?

A trade, of course. A keg of fuel had gotten him more than he expected — he had received the portable gas cooker and a couple of gas cylinders.

He had bargained hard, and the Market System that was in place had worked wonders for someone like him.

Goods were scarce, but the right trade could get you almost anything. You just had to know where to look, who to talk to.

Bethany, his companion, shuffled down the stairs. Her skin, a pale green that was both eerie and beautiful, looked even more striking in the morning light, though she had clearly not had enough rest. Her hair was all tangled, a stark contrast to the immaculate care she usually gave it.

But, Simon couldn’t blame her. The nights had been tough, and they were all running on fumes at this point.

He handed her a steaming bowl of noodles, the aroma drifting through the kitchen. She took it from him gratefully, her eyes still sleepy as she sat down at the table.

Simon chugged down his own bowl in one go, enjoying the warmth it brought. When he dropped the empty bowl on the counter, his hand brushed against the rifle slung over his shoulder.

Bethany’s eyes flicked to it, and then back to him. "You going somewhere?" she asked, her voice still thick with sleep.

Simon nodded as he pulled his jacket on. "Yeah," he said, his tone casual, but the slight edge in his voice gave away that he had a destination in mind. "Just need to check things out."

Before she could respond, Simon made sure his pistol was tucked safely into his pocket, and with a quick glance over his shoulder, he opened the door and stepped outside.

The front yard was a grim sight. Bodies. Ten of them. All sprawled across the lawn, victims of his previous "Kill streak."

Those who had died in a kill streak wouldn’t come back as zombies, which was the small consolation he allowed himself. But what remained were just shells, empty husks that would never again walk, talk, or do anything.

He checked them quickly. Weapons, some gear, but nothing too valuable. A few handguns. A couple of knives. The firearms still piqued his curiosity, though. He had to wonder where they were all getting them from. It didn’t seem like the average person had access to such equipment anymore, and yet, it was becoming all too common.

Simon knew the answer would come in time, but for now, he couldn’t waste energy on questions without answers.

The market was full of strange trades, bizarre dealings, but if he wanted to survive, he needed to focus on the here and now. He closed the gate behind him and stepped out onto the street.

If yesterday had been eerily silent, today was the opposite. The groans of the undead filled the air.

The streets were crowded with zombies, wandering aimlessly, their rotting bodies stumbling across the pavement, attracted to the sound of life, the scent of flesh.

It was a constant reminder that the world was different now, that the rules of survival had shifted. And for Simon, it meant being on alert at all times.

He drew his pistol from his pocket, the cold metal of the weapon comforting against his palm. He had planned to be using it less frequently recently, saving the ammunition, but sometimes a shot was necessary.

He squinted down the street, his eyes locking on a zombie a bit farther ahead. Its head turned, eyes sunken and vacant, its mouth agape.

He steadied himself, lined up the shot, and pulled the trigger.

The gunshot cracked through the air, louder than expected in the otherwise still morning.

The zombie’s head exploded in a spray of dark red, the body dropping to the ground with a thud. Simon didn’t wait to watch it collapse. He already had his eyes on the next one, scanning the area for any movement.

He kept his pace steady, walking down the street. As he passed a row of abandoned cars, a gust of wind ruffled his hair, and he paused for a moment to adjust his grip on the gun.

The wind smelled faintly of decay, and Simon fought back the wave of unease that crept up his spine. He couldn’t afford to feel unsettled. He had to be sharp.

As he continued his path, Simon heard a noise behind him. A shuffle. Then a growl. His instincts kicked in immediately, and he whirled around, his hand tightening on the pistol.

A group of zombies — four or five — moved towards him from an alleyway to his left. Their eyes were glazed, faces frozen in twisted expressions of hunger, and as they saw him, they quickened their pace.

Simon didn’t hesitate.

He brought the gun up in one fluid motion, aiming at the nearest zombie, and fired. The first shot dropped it instantly, the bullet piercing its skull. The others didn’t falter, though. They kept moving forward, drawn in by the fresh scent of life.

His heart rate increased, but his mind stayed calm.

He squeezed off another round, and another. The zombies fell, one by one, but there were too many of them.

Simon’s grip on the gun tightened, and his eyes darted around for any advantage.

It was then that he heard something behind him — a loud crash, a shout. His head snapped around just in time to see another group of zombies emerging from a building. He was surrounded.

For a moment, panic started to claw at him, but Simon fought it back. He wasn’t going to get caught like this. Not now.

With a quick calculation, Simon bolted towards a nearby fire escape.

He didn’t want to waste precious ammo if he didn’t have to. The zombies were slow, clumsy — he had time to get out.

He reached the base of the ladder, kicked it out of the way, and climbed. Higher and higher, until he was perched above the street, the chaos below him.

He took a deep breath, watching the zombies wander below, confused by his disappearance.