Chapter 24: The Return of Ordinary Life
Translated by Vine | Proofread by Lust
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The people of Gyeongju were starting to feel a semblance of normalcy returning to their lives.
For the first time since the apocalypse, it seemed like the threat of becoming a zombie within the city had truly vanished.
“Hey, Kim! Bring over those washed dishes!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Kim Taehyun, who worked at the Balhut Church’s canteen, felt this shift more keenly than most. He had taken a job there after the liberation of Gyeongju, utilizing his culinary background from his days as a student in the culinary arts program.
Of course, with more experienced chefs and skilled restaurant owners present, Taehyun, who had only been a teaching assistant at college, found himself starting as a kitchen helper. The work was demanding and tiring, but Taehyun didn’t mind in the slightest.
In fact, he was quite content with his current job.
“You look well today.”
“You look exhausted.”
“Well, I’ve been doing dishes all day.”
The main thing that made Taehyun satisfied was the sense of security that came with the job. The canteen was one of the safest places in the compound, guarded fiercely by Awakeners of the church, who were risking their lives to protect them.
For people like Taehyun, who remembered the days when every scrap of food could mean a deadly fight, having someone watch over you like that brought a deep sense of relief.
And, of course, having a place where he could eat his fill was enough to bring tears to some people’s eyes.
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“What’s the news today?”
“Oh, you wouldn’t believe it. They’re saying that Captain Jung Dong-geon is putting together a real expedition and heading out on a major mission.”
“Isn’t there still a lot of zombies out there?”
“Apparently, they’re developing some kind of new weapon to fight them.”
Conversations like these with Awakeners at the canteen helped Taehyun stay informed about both the church’s inner workings and the outside world. It reassured him that choosing the church to protect his family had been the right decision.
Plus, the job provided not just food but also a wage that allowed him to support his family. Taehyun’s life had stabilized to a point where he could hardly imagine going back to those days of cowering in fear of zombies.
“Oh, you’re here again today, Mr. Taehyun.”
“Ah, Lady Yuna! You look beautiful as always.”
“Haha, thank you.”
On days when he was particularly lucky, he might even catch a glimpse of Choi Yuna, his benefactor. Though Yuna, as the leader of the Balhut Church, could have lived with privileges far above the rest, she chose not to. She dined with the other church members in the canteen, saying that they were all followers of Bahamut, sharing the same status.
Of course, some found her presence a bit overwhelming, or revered her with awe, so she didn’t come to the canteen every day—usually about two or three times a week. Today happened to be one of those lucky days for Taehyun.
Today is a good day.
Indeed, it was. Taehyun made sure to give Yuna the best-looking portion of food, thinking gleefully about how he would brag to his coworkers later.
“By the way, the church is planning to open a school soon. Do you have any younger siblings who might be interested, Mr. Taehyun?”
“I do, actually. My younger sister. I’ll definitely register her.”
“We’ve hired teachers to educate the children. It may not compare to before, but…”
“That’s more than enough.”
Truly, it was. His family had started working again, and soon, his younger sister would be attending the school run by the church. Although life wasn’t the same as before, this was enough to reassure Taehyun.
Things are really getting back on track.
In the streets, laborers and Awakeners were tirelessly working together on rebuilding projects. Scouts braved unexplored areas, and official expeditions ventured out to nearby towns and villages. When these expeditions returned successfully, the streets were filled with the resources they brought back.
With the church flourishing, it wasn’t long before envious raiders started to appear. In response, the church had established a security force to counter them, gradually restoring order to the streets of Gyeongju.
Reports of crimes by rogue Awakeners had also decreased dramatically. Taehyun couldn’t help but scoff at those who dared commit crimes within the church’s territory.
“Starting today, there will be no more material rations.”
“What?”
A month after the rebuilding began, the church announced the sudden cessation of material rations. The news sent a shiver down Taehyun’s spine.
“Instead, we will distribute coins that can be used to exchange for goods at our authorized shops. Instructions on using the coins are available on the Balhut Church’s community site. Please make sure to check it.”
“Coins?”
The labor compensation hadn’t disappeared entirely, just changed forms. Instead of material rations, they would now receive Balhut Church-issued coins as payment for their work. Though the administrator called it a coin, Taehyun recognized it for what it truly was.
“It’s money, isn’t it?”
Yes, it was currency. An actual, tangible currency used to buy things. It was like the cash people used before the apocalypse.
“Everyone’s getting it.”
And it wasn’t just him. Everyone else was also receiving their pay in coins. Although he had been initially taken aback by the abrupt end of rations, it didn’t take long for Taehyun to understand that they were now being paid in actual currency.
The church wasn’t handing out the old Korean Won that had lost all value, but a newly minted currency made specifically by the Balhut Church.
It’s impressive.
Whoever had managed to produce this currency had done an exceptional job. The coins were well-crafted, polished, and had a collector’s appeal.
And the announcements weren’t over yet.
“For this month, wages will be distributed daily. From next month onward, they will be paid as a monthly salary. Please keep this in mind for saving and budgeting.”
Daily wages for now, monthly salaries later. It was a shift away from the apocalypse’s emergency rationing, toward the language of the pre-disaster world.
“It feels like having a regular job again.”
Yes, life was returning to normal. The world was finally starting to heal.
“Starting next month, utility fees for electricity and water will be collected as well. Once the currency is fully integrated, income taxes will also be implemented.”
In the pre-apocalypse days, his parents would have grumbled about electricity and water bills. Yet this time, the idea of paying taxes was oddly comforting. It felt like a sign that life was stabilizing. Even though taxes were something most people dreaded, Taehyun found himself eagerly anticipating the day he’d have to pay them.
Life really is getting back to normal.
This city was becoming the world he had hoped for. It seemed that Yuna’s predictions were coming true after all.
As if under a spell, Taehyun clutched the pamphlet and coins he had been given and trudged home.
“You’re back, Taehyun.”
“Yes, Mom.”
Their home wasn’t the apartment they had lived in before. It was a refurbished villa that the Balhut Church’s reconstruction team had rebuilt and provided free of charge. Inside, his parents were examining the new coins with thoughtful expressions.
“Taehyun, your father and I have decided. We’re going to take a leap.”
“A leap? What do you mean?”
With a determined look, his mother continued.
“We’re going to open a small business.”
“We’ve decided to start our own venture.”
The idea of opening a business left Taehyun scratching his head nervously.
“But… won’t that be expensive?”
After all, starting a business required a lot of money. You needed to pay for rent, renovations, supplies, and equipment. If you were selling goods, you would also need connections to source inventory and establish a customer base.
As these concerns piled up in his mind, Taehyun doubted his family could succeed in the ruthless world of business without any connections.
“But real estate prices are meaningless now, aren’t they? The church has declared that former property values are irrelevant.”
“Oh.”
Indeed, these were the end times. All the values from before had been erased by the zombie apocalypse. While Taehyun worked in a relatively safe environment, outside, zombies still roamed, and raiders who rejected the authority of the church lurked nearby.
The entire economy had essentially reset, and that meant opening a business wouldn’t cost nearly as much as it once did.
“The church stated that previous property values and ownership won’t be recognized. Considering that most properties here were abandoned and proving ownership is practically impossible, that makes sense.”
The Balhut Church had reclaimed all properties within Gyeongju, assigning ownership based on their needs. It was likely that future land ownership would follow the same pattern, with the church acquiring the land first before distributing it through sales.
What this meant was essentially “nationalization without compensation” for existing property owners—a harsh but necessary policy. For Taehyun’s family, who had never owned anything more than a leased apartment, this was a golden opportunity.
“What kind of business are you planning to open?”
“A food business.”
A challenging endeavor, as food service was considered one of the toughest industries.
“Isn’t that going to be difficult?”
“Of course it will be.”
“But everyone is struggling right now. If we work hard, we could make a lot of money.”
In times like these, when everyone was poor, they thought that if they worked hard enough, they could leave their son with a successful business.
Taehyun understood their resolve but still had doubts about whether the coins he had just received could be trusted as a foundation for the business.
“Are these coins really enough to start a business? They’ve only just been distributed, and who knows if they’ll hold any value.”
His concern was valid. These coins were brand new, and no one really knew how reliable or valuable they would turn out to be.
What if they made a lot of money, only for the coins to end up worthless?
“Ah, you don’t know yet. Check the church’s site. Bahamut himself has guaranteed the value of these coins.”
“Bahamut himself!?”
The name Bahamut held a special meaning for Taehyun. The god of the Balhut Church, the mighty and compassionate dragon who had eradicated the zombies in Gyeongju and brought peace to the city.
If Bahamut was personally guaranteeing the value of the coins, then perhaps they really could be trusted.
“Alright. I’ll go check it out.”
With renewed determination, Taehyun made his way to one of the church’s authorized stores. If his parents were serious about opening a business, he would support them however he could.
When Taehyun arrived at the store, the sight that greeted him was unexpected.
“Selling! Everything must go! Unused items at great prices!”
“Clearance sale! Everything’s on clearance! We’re not accepting ramen or canned tuna anymore! Coins only!”
It seemed people had already begun to trust in the coin’s value. Vendors lined the street near the church store, displaying all sorts of items on makeshift stalls. Some were useless junk, while others seemed more valuable. It felt like he had stepped into a bustling flea market.
“We can exchange your ramen or canned tuna for coins. We’ll offer you a rate slightly lower than our selling price.”
“Do you accept other items?”
“Yes. Electronics, jewelry, even gold. We have specialists who can appraise them.”
The church store itself was busy, with a variety of items for sale, and was even buying supplies and valuables from the church members. It was clear that the Balhut Church was aiming to establish a functioning market economy.
“Mom, Dad.”
After browsing the items at the store and nearby stalls, Taehyun found some inspiration.
“Let’s start small with a food cart. I’ve already checked with the church, and we can get the proper permits.”
And so, the first venture of the Kim family was a street food cart.
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