Asura stared at him for a moment.
Then he laughed.
"Hahaha! Fair enough."
He looked toward the people who had gathered behind him.
"Well, you heard him. We can figure that out later."
Braxton had already lost interest in the conversation.
"Those who are coming with me, follow."
He turned and walked toward the nearest damaged building.
Eight survivors followed him, bringing his group to nine people.
Some carried tools, while others were already discussing which structures should be reinforced first.
Asura watched them leave before turning toward his own followers.
"Alright, everyone. Let's go."
He waved toward the western side of the village.
"Time to prepare our territory."
One by one, the survivors who had chosen to follow him began walking away.
By the time they were finished, fifteen people had joined Asura.
Together with their self-appointed leader, the group consisted of sixteen survivors.
Faust watched the two groups disperse.
'So that's how they're dividing themselves.'
Braxton had gathered people who could contribute to construction and defense.
Asura, meanwhile, had attracted those who either trusted his strength or preferred having a powerful fighter protecting them.
'And just like that, the village has been divided into separate factions.'
Faust glanced toward the western buildings.
Asura was already issuing instructions to his followers, while Braxton's group had begun examining the damaged houses.
'This might actually improve their efficiency.'
Having different groups responsible for different tasks wasn't necessarily a bad arrangement.
However, the problem was that neither leader seemed particularly interested in cooperating with the other unless there was something to gain.
'Well, we'll see how long that lasts.'
With most of the survivors gone, only five people remained in the open area.
Faust, Nex, Leslie, Aphelia, and the older man carrying a handgun.
The older man looked toward the departing groups before shaking his head.
"Well, that happened quickly."
He stepped forward.
"You can call me Billy."
He checked his handgun and returned it to his side.
Then he looked toward Aphelia.
"So, what's the plan?"
Aphelia was still watching Asura's group.
She let out a sigh.
"At least they finally stopped arguing."
Billy chuckled.
"For now."
"Yeah. For now."
Aphelia turned toward the remaining survivors.
Her gaze passed over Nex and Leslie before settling on Faust.
"Come to think of it, you haven't said anything this entire time."
Faust looked at her.
"Me?"
"Yes, you."
Aphelia crossed her arms.
"What's your name?"
Before Faust could answer, Leslie leaned closer to Nex.
She whispered something into his ear.
Nex glanced toward Faust, then looked back at Leslie.
"Are you sure?"
Leslie nodded.
"I think so."
Nex studied Faust's face for another moment before giving a small nod.
Faust noticed their exchange but didn't comment.
"Just call me Faust."
The moment he said his name, Leslie's eyes widened.
"I knew it!"
Everyone turned toward her.
She stepped forward, staring at Faust with growing excitement.
"You're Faust McHollen, aren't you?"
Aphelia froze.
"Wait. What?"
She looked at Faust again, this time examining his face more carefully.
"Faust McHollen?"
Her eyebrows rose.
"That scientist?"
Faust remained silent.
Aphelia looked increasingly surprised.
"Hold on. Aren't you supposed to be dead?"
Faust gave a casual shrug.
"The Faust you're referring to is dead."
Aphelia frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Before she could ask anything else, Leslie moved closer.
"No. I'm sure it's you!"
She stared at his face.
"Your hair and eye color are different, but your face..."
She shook her head.
"There's no way I'd mistake it!"
Faust raised an eyebrow.
Leslie hurriedly opened the book she had been clutching against her chest.
"Look!"
She flipped through the first few pages before turning the book toward him.
Behind the cover was an old photograph.
It showed a young man whose facial features were almost identical to Faust's.
The biggest differences were his hair and eyes.
Leslie held the book closer.
"See? It's you!"
Faust lowered his gaze.
For a brief moment, he simply stared at the photograph.
'That picture...'
He recognized it.
The face staring back at him belonged to a time before everything had changed.
Before the apocalypse.
He hadn't expected to see that photograph again.
Faust looked away from the picture and toward Leslie.
"Why are you carrying that book around?"
Leslie smiled.
"Oh, the cover is just for show."
She turned the book around.
"The inside is actually filled with my notes!"
"Notes?"
"Yes!"
Leslie nodded eagerly.
"I've been recording all the mutations I've encountered since the apocalypse began."
She flipped through several pages, revealing handwritten observations and sketches.
"Plants, animals, insects, anything unusual I come across. I try to write down as much as possible."
Faust glanced at the pages.
'Mutation records?'
That was more interesting than he had expected.
Nex stepped forward.
"Sorry if she's bothering you."
He glanced at Leslie before looking back at Faust.
"She's always idolized you."
Leslie's cheeks reddened.
"Nex!"
"What? It's true."
He shrugged.
"You've talked about him plenty of times."
Leslie looked embarrassed.
Faust, however, didn't seem particularly interested in the compliment.
"Idolized..."
He repeated the word quietly.
Then he shook his head.
"There's nothing worth idolizing about that man."
Leslie blinked.
"What?"
Faust looked at the photograph once more.
"That Faust is dead."
He paused.
"And he was a failure."
Leslie immediately shook her head.
"You're not a failure!"
Faust looked at her.
She continued.
"You accomplished things that other scientists could only dream of! Your research changed so much, and even now, people still..."
"Leslie."
Faust interrupted her.
She fell silent.
He looked at the photograph for another moment before speaking.
"Any man who cannot protect his own family is a failure."
His voice remained calm.
Leslie opened her mouth, but the words she had been about to say never came out.
She looked down at the book in her hands.
Nex glanced between them.
Even he seemed unsure what to say.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Faust's expression had barely changed, but he had clearly lost interest in discussing his past.
Leslie tightened her grip on the book.
"But..."
"That's enough for now."
Aphelia stepped forward, interrupting her.
She glanced at Faust before turning toward the rest of the group.
"We can talk about that later. Right now, we have more important things to worry about."
She pointed toward the timer.
[11:29:14]
"We're already losing time."
Billy nodded.
"Agreed."
Aphelia looked around the group.
"Since there are only five of us, let's divide the tasks."
She turned toward Nex.
"You said you were going to gather food, right?"
"Yeah."
"Can you handle that?"
Nex nodded.
"That was my plan from the beginning."
"Good."
Aphelia continued.
"Try to gather enough for all five of us. If possible, bring back some extra food for Braxton's group as well."
Nex frowned slightly.
"Why his group?"
"Because they're going to spend most of the day building defenses."
Aphelia gestured toward the damaged houses.
"If they can strengthen the village, that benefits all of us. The least we can do is help with their supplies."
Nex considered the explanation before nodding.
"Fine. We'll bring back whatever we can find."
"Don't take unnecessary risks."
"I know."
Aphelia then turned toward Faust.
"And you."
Faust looked at her.
"Yes?"
"Since you're familiar with biology, could you accompany them?"
She gestured toward the forest.
"Check whether there are any unusual plants or animals. We don't know what's safe to eat, and with all these mutations happening, I don't want anyone accidentally poisoning themselves."