WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Editor: smol_anon

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 18: Episode 4 - Even Hypocrisy is Virtue (3)

Despite Inho's antics, the constellations did not request a Bounty Scenario.

In other words, it wasn’t yet the optimal time to deal with him.

For the next half-day, I focused on figuring out the situation at Geumho Station. Most of the information came from Lee Hyeonseong.

“There are currently 86 people gathered at Geumho Station. Oh, with you, that makes 87.”

“That’s less than I expected.”

“Yes. Only those who were near the station or on the train survived when the scenario started. No one says it aloud, but... it’s safe to assume that everyone here cleared the first scenario.”

He didn’t need to say more. Just looking at the expressions on people’s faces told me everything. Those who survived by trampling on someone else’s life. Every person here was a killer.

“The people here at Geumho Station are divided into two major groups. Strictly speaking, one is a group, and the others are just everyone else.”

Hyeonseong looked over at the people with a dark expression. They were armed with metal pipes or other tools, and it was clear at a glance which side held the power.

“Trust me! The chairman of Hangyeong Corporation is using all his connections. We’ll be rescued soon.”

Han Myeongoh, the youngest son of Hangyeong Corporation’s chairman.

“That’s right, everyone. Don’t lose hope. We’ll get out of here.”

And the man who had taken Myeongoh under his wing, Cheon Inho, was the one actually running the group. They were the “main group.”

“I’m bored, Mom… Can I play phone games?”

“Just wait a little longer. The rescue team will be here soon.”

“The government will act, you’ll see. A country doesn’t just collapse that easily.”

Then there were the people under the protection of the main group, clinging to life. These were the “excluded group,” the rest of the survivors.

They were too dependent to seem like killers, but even among a hundred murderers, there were strong and weak. Maybe they didn’t even think of themselves as murderers. They were likely telling themselves they had no other choice.

Hyeonseong looked back at the main group, where people were rallying around them.

“The distribution of food is decided by the main group. The convenience stores and restaurants in the station have already been raided… most of the edible food is almost gone.”

“I see.”

“That’s why, starting yesterday, the main group began sending teams above ground to scavenge for food. Huiwon-ssi, who used to travel with us, was part of one of those teams.”

“Huiwon-ssi?”

“Oh, that’s the name of the woman you saved earlier today.”

I glanced at the woman lying on a subway bench. Thanks to the Monkey’s Lungs, her complexion had improved a lot since the morning.

“Was she the only one left behind from her group?”

“No. A few more people were sent out this morning, but only members of the excluded group didn’t return.”

“They didn’t return?”

“Yes.”

Hyeonseong’s face turned grim again. I had a rough idea of what was going on. I gripped his shoulder firmly. He was indeed as sturdy as expected, worthy of the title Steel Sword. He would surpass level 10 in Strength soon.

“Wh-what are you doing?”

“With your combat power, you must’ve gotten offers from their side. How come you didn’t join them?”

Hyeonseong’s fighting ability far surpassed that of Cheolsu. There’s no way Inho wouldn’t have tried to recruit him.

“Well… I can’t really explain it well, but I just didn’t feel right about it. I don’t know much about fancy morals or ethics… but something about them felt wrong.”

“Wrong…”

It wasn’t much of an answer, but his sincerity came through.

As expected, Lee Hyeonseong was still Lee Hyeonseong.

Grrrr.

A soft growling sound came from behind me. I turned to see Sangah and Gilyeong looking at me like baby birds waiting for their mother to feed them. I couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

“Now that I think about it, it’s almost dinnertime. You’re all hungry, right? Take one each.”

I handed them the food I’d taken from the convenience store.

“Huh? Really? Can we?”

“This time it’s free, but next time, I’ll charge you.”

“What? How much…”

“You all have coins, right? I’ll charge 10 coins per item from now on.”

“No way…”

Sangah and Hyeonseong’s faces instantly filled with surprise. They hadn’t expected me to say something like this.

“It’s only fair. You can pay me starting now. No freebies.”

Surprisingly, the one who spoke up was the woman who had been lying on the bench until a moment ago. It seemed she had regained consciousness.

“My name is Jeong Huiwon. Thank you for helping me earlier this morning.”

“No problem.”

At first, I thought she seemed delicate, but now I realized my initial impression was wrong.

“Sangah-ssi, Hyeonseong-ssi. Snap out of it. This is no time to make faces like that. This food— is something he risked his life to get. You’re not seriously thinking of taking it for free, are you?”

Her expression barely changed as she spoke her mind without hesitation.

“Oh…”

Realizing their mistake, Sangah blushed.

“I wasn’t thinking… I’m sorry. Of course, we should pay. I don’t want to take handouts either.”

“I feel the same way. I’ll pay for it with coins from now on.”

I was a bit surprised by their reactions. It seemed that not everyone reacted the same way to the apocalypse.

“Well, if that’s how you feel... Alright. Do you all know how to trade coins?”

“Yes. We learned a few days ago. You just touch fingers and... um…”

“Just think about the number of coins you want to send.”

Jeong Huiwon, Yu Sangah, and Lee Hyeonseong each took one item and paid me 10 coins for it. Thankfully, they didn’t resist too much. At first, this kind of decision might seem harsh, but soon they would realize it was the right choice.

[A few constellations are relieved to see you aren’t a pushover.]

[A few constellations have gifted you 100 coins.]

This was how survival worked in this cursed world.

[Lee Gilyeong has paid you 20 coins.]

“Huh? You gave me 10 extra coins?”

“That’s for the chocolate bar I ate earlier.”

Gilyeong’s expression was surprisingly resolute as he said this.

[A few constellations are taking an interest in incarnation Lee Gilyeong.]

Maybe children would adapt to this new world faster than adults. Chewing on a high-calorie bar, Lee Hyeonseong asked,

“So, Dokja-ssi, will you be staying with us?”

“Oh, about that…”

“Kim Dokja-ssi.”

It wasn’t Hyeonseong who called my name. Turning around, I saw Inho and members of the “main group” approaching. Right, it was about time.

“Could I have a word with you?”

Among them, I spotted Cheolsu, still glaring at me despite his missing teeth. When I narrowed my eyes at him, he quickly looked away. What a pathetic guy.

“Sure, let’s talk.”

Inho nodded as if satisfied with my answer.

“Then, could the others give us some privacy? I’d like to speak to Kim Dokja-ssi one-on-one.”

“Oh, if that’s the case…”

“No, there’s no need for anyone to leave. You can all stay and listen.”

At my words, the others hesitated mid-step. Inho’s eye twitched slightly.

“Hmm, is that so? Well… I don’t mind.”

He sat down on a bench, trying to appear nonchalant. The men from the Cheoldu Gang appeared, handing him a cigarette and lighting it. He looked like someone who watched too many gangster movies.

“You seem like someone who doesn’t like unnecessary formalities, so I’ll get straight to the point.”

“Please do.”

“I’d like you to join our group.”

Just as expected.

“With your abilities, I can offer you a high position in our group. Help us lead this place.”

“Why me?”

“You know the answer to that, don’t you?”

He glanced at the battered members of the Cheoldu Gang.

“You’re a hero who saved people from monsters. A hero deserves a proper position.”

Interesting how he was trying to spin my presence to his advantage.

“And what if I refuse?”

“Refuse? That’s funny. I hadn’t considered that possibility.”

He laughed, blowing smoke in my direction.

“Kim Dokja-ssi, this isn’t a request. You have an obligation. Don’t you see these poor people?”

The haggard faces of the people glanced in my direction. Children with empty stomachs, the elderly exhausted from hunger.

“I’m not asking for anything grand. Just a bit of cooperation for the sake of everyone’s survival. You have the power to help, don’t you?”

“What exactly do you want from me?”

“We need a hitman.”

A hitman?

“Until recently, we had someone doing that for us. He went out to gather food on his own and even showed us how to hunt in the tunnels near Mount Naksan. Well, we watched and learned without him knowing, to be exact.”

I didn’t need to ask who it was. It had to be Yu Jeonghyeok.

“But he suddenly left last night.”

“So now you need someone to replace him?”

“Considering what you did to Cheolsu, you’ve already proven your strength.”

I noticed the wide-eyed expressions on Hyeonseong and Huiwon. Only now did they realize what was really happening.

“There’s nothing to lose for you. You’ll be a hero to these people and a leader of the group. Everyone will love you, and also…”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not the type to take responsibility for others. I have no intention of joining your group.”

“I see.”

“Besides, I don’t agree with the way you run things.”

I glanced at the Cheoldu Gang members and then at the sickly faces of the excluded group. Jeong Huiwon, in particular, was glaring at Cheon Inho as if he were her mortal enemy.

“I see… Well, that’s too bad. But if you change your mind, feel free to come to me anytime.”

“I doubt that’ll happen.”

“Haha, we’ll see.”

It didn’t take long for me to understand what he meant. After Inho’s men stepped back, a group of excluded people approached me, raising their voices.

“Hey, is it true?”

“Are you really hoarding all the food?”

“There’s not enough for everyone, but you’re keeping it all to yourself?”

“You said we all gathered it together! How can you keep it to yourself?”

“Give the food to Inho-ssi! Let him distribute it fairly!”

It wasn’t hard to figure out what was going on. I spotted Inho grinning in the background, his lips silently mouthing:

“Make your choice.”

Would I hand out the food and become a hero?

Or would I keep the food to myself and be branded a villain?

If I chose to be a hero, I’d fall right into Cheon Inho’s trap. I’d be forced to go out with the group to scavenge for food, and eventually, I’d be betrayed.

But if I kept the food to myself, I’d be isolated from the group, alone.

[A few constellations are watching intently.]

[The constellation Secretive Plotter snorts with amusement.]

As the crowd grew more heated, Inho stepped forward.

“Everyone, calm down. It seems there’s been a misunderstanding. Kim Dokja-ssi isn’t that kind of person.”

What a smooth talker.

“Kim Dokja-ssi has agreed to work with us. He’ll turn the food over to the main group for fair distribution, and from now on, he’ll help ensure our survival—”

He was speaking as if my decision had already been made. I couldn’t listen any longer.

“That’s enough.”

I thought for a moment. What would Jeonghyeok do? …Ah, I see. The fact that he wasn’t here was the answer.

But I wasn’t Jeonghyeok.

“Of course, I’ll share the food.”

I saw Inho’s lips curl into a satisfied smile, but people should always hear the full story before reacting.

“However, it won’t be free.”

I wouldn’t discard everyone like Jeonghyeok did, but I wasn’t going to take responsibility for them either.

I’d give food, but not for free. The people stared at me, confused.

“What do you mean, ‘not free’...?”

“To put it simply, I’m not going to keep all the food for myself. But I’m also not going to hand it over to Inho’s group. I’m not a charity, and I don’t trust those people.”

I smiled and pointed toward Cheon Inho.

“I want to trade with you. I’ll sell the food to you for a fair price.”

“S-sell it?”

“What the hell…”

“How much… do you want money?”

In the distance, I saw Inho’s face darken. I smiled directly at him as I continued.

“No. I only accept coins.”

Soon after, only the people I had connections with were left around me.

“Umm… Dokja-ssi, was that really the right choice?”

“Pft, is anything free in this world? Dokja-ssi, I feel better now that you said what needed to be said.”

Huiwon snapped back at Hyeonseong’s concern.

After I made my “trade declaration,” the other survivors turned their backs on me. They were probably all deeply disappointed.

“I agree with Huiwon-ssi. These people are too reliant on the main group.”

“That’s right. Those bastards… Geumho Station is completely under their control. People take whatever they’re given like livestock, and when the main group needs something, they’re forced to join scouting missions, like I was this morning.”

Huiwon shivered in anger. The truth was, it wasn’t me who had been hoarding the food. It was the “main group.” They had been monopolizing supplies under the pretense of “fair distribution” and using it to control the people.

Humans are at their weakest when they believe someone is protecting them. In such one-sided relationships, people begin to depend on and obey authority, whether they realize it or not.

“I agree. That’s why I think Dokja-ssi’s declaration was important. People need the will to take action for themselves. But…”

At Hyeonseong’s words, everyone turned to look at the food.

“None of it has sold. Maybe 50 coins per item is too much. Shouldn’t you price it like you did for us, 10 coins each?”

It wasn’t unreasonable to think that way. People were still too afraid of the main group to approach me. They just kept stealing glances, hesitant to come over. They needed more time. I answered calmly.

“Let’s wait a little longer.”

Night soon fell. Occasionally, the sound of giant monsters' footsteps could be heard from above, and some people tossed and turned in their sleep, muttering from nightmares. Lee Gilyeong and Yu Sangah were the first to fall asleep, followed by Jeong Huiwon, who dozed off as well.

“Dokja-ssi, why don’t you rest too? I’ll keep watch.”

“No, it’s alright. You should sleep first, Hyeonseong-ssi.”

“But you must be tired…”

“There’s something I need to do.”

“Something you need to do?”

I pointed behind him. To his surprise, he saw shadows moving in the distance. And there weren’t just one or two of them.

“Excuse me… Are you still selling food?”

At last, the people had started moving.

Footnotes:

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried