The Reborn Otaku’s Code of Practice for the Apocalypse - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

*Oz’s Corner has graciously allowed me to help translate the project, they translated the first chapter (link in table of contents)*

Translator notes: I don’t use footnotes (though I will if need be) . Not sure how good this is but it’s more readable then pure MTL at least .

The agent exited and escorted Luo Xun to a nearby apartment building . "Brand new neighbourhood in the southwest area, some of the building have not been completed yet . The home is well placed, newly renovated with a great view and little noise . There may be only a few people here now but that will change once the new supermarket is built . "

Luo Xun kept quiet, nodding while listening to the sales pitch . He already knew that only two floors of that building had been built, the new supermarket remained just a rumour . However this place would become a golden downtown area since the army and another regiment were nearby . Both conveniently in the southwest area .

In the future two bases were established at the beginning get of the Apocalypse and subsequent zombie outbreak . One was the rapidly cleared southwest base under the protection of two army regiments, the other was the eastern base .

A year after M-city was overcome, Luo Xun fled north to the southwest base and the eastern base the following year . Not long after he fled to A-city zombies and mutant animals appeared at the same time . Luo Xun remembered the basement of eastern Building 3, his previous home of 8 years during the Apocalypse . Since he now has an alternative, he naturally will no return to that basement . Not to mention that basements are currently on rented out for storage purposes .

In the corridor someone had written a string of phone numbers in oil pen and pasted small advertisements for renovating or installing air conditioning and plumbing . Even the elevator door was not left untouched, when the two entered inside the elevator,  the walls were covered in posters .

Luo Xun glanced around while the agent awkwardly smiled . "People came in advance since there isn't any surveillance and this is not considered private residential property yet . ""As usual then . " Luo Xun looked at the graffiti in the corridor . By the time he had arrived, the walls had long since become unspeakably filthy . Any trace of wall postings had been covered with the blood and brain matter of deceased zombies . They stopped at the 16th floor, the agent unlocked the apartment with the key and described the home .

"The first floor has a living room, balcony, kitchen, bathroom and storage room . The second for has a terrace, 2 bathrooms and 3 bedrooms one large and two small . Have a look inside . "The agent continued, "The house is fully furnished and comes with a secure door . A family had planned to move in but got a work transfer . The new workplace was too far from here, hence the need to rent out . Though the appliances have not arrived yet . "Luo Xun dipped his head, knowing there was more to the situation . The home had been set up for an elderly person because of the location and terrace, therefore there was not an urgent need for appliances . However the elderly person had passed away from illness so the home was now empty .

The agent had been deliberately vague, possibly afraid the Luo Xun would not rent if he knew all the details . Luo Xun was satisfied with the sunlight streaming through the large windows at the back . When they went upstairs, Luo Xun bypassed the empty bedrooms and headed to the terrace . It was sealed with glass for safety reasons and the roof was too windy . Even better (for Luo Xun) it was tempered glass . With this, he felt the 3500 monthly rent was a good value, considering the cost of living in urban areas .

"Okay the house is good . ""Then you…?""I will rent, when can the landlord come and sign the contract?"

The agent grinned and called the landlord . The monthly rent was 3500 with a deposit of three months worth of rent upfront and a 3500 agent fee . The two parties signed the agreement on the morning of October 1 and Luo Xun received the key to his dream house .

In his past life he had admired this house . When he reached A - city southwest base, home planting techniques and simple water purification had already been implemented amongst others . Various explorer teams had gathered mutated crop seeds from nearby farmland . After analysis and observation by the research department some crops were discovered to have high yields and short planting times . Thus crops that provided basic energy needs were popularized .

At that time, Luo Xun only had a basement room under 10 square meters, with barely a breeze and a trickle of sunlight from being blocked by other buildings . Unlike earlier residents who could set up solar panels on their patch of roof, Luo Xun had to buy electricity at exorbitant prices from others .

Even so, he planted a number of crops that did not need sunlight in is small basement such as beans sprouts, chives, garlic and some other non-mutated crops . He also had some large yield mutated crops that grew in shade . This decision helped him save a lot of money . In Luo Xun's mind, his practical skills are quite strong . Even in poor conditions he would find a way to survive, even better now that he e turned to the past .

Only eight buildings had been built, when a portion of North central area returned to the city, six buildings were ready for sale . This area had been established three knows ago, the new home had Ben renovated under a month ago .

When the Apocalypse struck, four buildings had been finished, two had been outfitted and the last two did not have any doors or windows installed . Two of the houses were completed under the supervision of the army to provide a safe area . They did not deal with already completed homes . The original owners were left out by survivors once the Apocalypse began in earnest . In his past life, a family of three had rented the place out half a month before the start of the Apocalypse . This was since there weren't any appliances despite having good furnishings . Most migrant office workers in the city would choose somewhere else, otherwise how much would they need to spend to buy appliances?

Luo Xun knew the house was excellent . Later on, he could buy solar panels from the military and take advantage of the window space . Useful if one cannot or does not want to buy electricity . Mrs . Wu had a hard personality and loved to be frugal . Usually with multiple purchases there would be concessions, however Luo Xun never got any discounts . So he went and bought himself a rechargeable battery to become self sufficient .

The two sides almost came to blows but the family of three with thick waistlines had to swallow their words when they descended from the 16th floor . The family relied on the fortuitous location of their home to sell electricity as their livelihood, unlike others who grew crops at home . In addition, the son had never been outside the secured areas since the mother could not bare if her child got killed out on an expedition .

The landlord was missing after the start of doomsday and did not return to the southwest base . Luo Xun was not sure but they had likely died during the disaster . Even if they had returned, they would not get their original home back since housing was allocated according to base regulations .

Luo Xun was not a saint, since he was an ordinary person he never entertained thoughts of heroism . With the house, he now had a dwelling which he wanted to turn into a fortress to improve his life (in comparison to his past life) . A place he can spend the long and terrible apocalypse in relative relief and peace .

There are now 57 days until the end of the world .