Sam Costner chases after what he calls a "valuable job" in the post-apocalyptic world.

Ask him what value means, and without missing a beat, he will answer in his deep, gruff voice, like a bear in autumn, "Either being rich or living carefree."

A living legend of the doomsday, Sam lives by his own creed. He proudly works seven hours a day and lives with high spirits and purpose. As an elite bodyguard, he's racked up legendary feats—protecting a commissioner from 20 speeding Raiderz through the desert, rescuing someone from a city besieged by 300,000 zombies, and taking down a brown bear zombie with nothing but a battered wooden stick.

Each tale is thrilling and unbelievable, but Sam brushes them off as if they were no big deal. In the world after the doomsday, when people talk about reliable bodyguards, only one name comes to mind: Sam Costner.

However, not just anyone can hire him. To Sam, a job has to be valuable, not just in money or supplies (though he doesn't mind those), but in adventure, excitement, friendship, and belief. That's what matters to him.

It wasn't always this way. After the world fell apart, Sam became known for being stubborn and rough. He worked for money, living large off others' desperation. In a world ruled by jungle law, Sam thrived as a hired thug, having numerous resources, doing whatever he pleased, and gaining infamy. Most people saw him as scum, but he never stopped to question whether they were right. To him, the old world was gone, along with his past life. He had no choice but to go with the flow.

That all changed when a kid showed up. He was just a crying little brat, barely old enough to wipe his own tears, offering Sam payment in the form of moldy tomatoes and potatoes and watches. Sam kicked him out more times than he could count, but the kid kept coming back—eyes red, staring up at him with stubborn determination. No matter where Sam went, even into the most dangerous places, the kid would appear, begging him to save his family from the Raiderz.

Sam only accepted the job out of frustration. With the kid tailing him day and night, his thug buddies were already laughing behind his back. And frankly, he didn't want to wake up every morning to see that grimy face staring at him pitifully.

Saving the family was easy. Sam barely broke a sweat busting them out of the Raiderz' prison. He was ready to wave them off and walk away, but something about the way they looked at him—pure gratitude, full of hope—gave him pause.

After that, Sam started to reflect on the life he was living. The doomsday may have changed the world, but it didn't get to decide what he wanted to live for.