WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS
Translator: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈
Chapter 18: Episode 4 - Even Hypocrisy is Virtue (3)
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Despite Inho Cheon's commotion, the constellations didn't request a Bounty Scenario.
In other words, it still wasn't the best time to get rid of him.
For about half a day after that, I focused on getting a grasp on the situation at Geumho Station. Most of the information came from Lee Hyeongseong.
"There are currently 86 people gathered at Geumho Station. Ah, counting you, that makes 87 now."
"That's fewer than I expected."
"Yes. Only the people who were near the station when the scenario broke out, and the people who were on the train, survived. No one says it out loud, but I think everyone here cleared the first scenario..."
He didn't have to finish. I could tell just by looking at their faces. The ones who survived by trampling on someone else's life. Every human here was a killer.
"Right now, Geumho Station is broadly divided into two groups. Strictly speaking, it's one group and everyone else."
Hyeongseong looked toward the people with a dark expression. Men armed with metal pipes and tools of all kinds. At a glance, it was obvious which side held the power.
"Just trust me! The group chairman is doing everything he can, so rescue will come soon!"
Manager Han Myeongoh, the youngest son of the Hangyeong Group.
"He's right, everyone. Don't lose hope. We can get out of here."
And the real power, effectively leading the group while backing Han Myeongoh, was Inho Cheon. They were the "major group."
"I'm bored, Mom... Can I play a game on your phone?"
"Just wait a little longer. The rescue team will come soon."
"I'm telling you, the government will move. A country doesn't collapse that easily."
And the ones surviving somehow under the protection of that major group were the rest, collectively called the "minor group."
They looked far too weak-willed for people who had killed someone. But gather a hundred killers in one place and there would still be the strong and the weak. Maybe they didn't even think of themselves as murderers. Maybe they believed it couldn't be helped.
Looking at the major group as they stirred people up, Hyeongseong said, "The distribution of food is decided by the major group. They've already looted the convenience stores and restaurants in the station... and we're almost out of food that can be eaten right away."
"I see."
"Because of that, starting yesterday, the major group has been drafting a few people and sending them aboveground to search for food. Huiwon was one of the people they drafted too. She used to go around with us."
"Huiwon...?"
"Ah, that's the name of the woman you saved during the day."
I looked at the woman lying on a subway bench. Maybe it was because of the Monkey's Lungs, but her complexion was much better than it had been that morning.
"Was she the only one who got left behind out of the people they drafted?"
"No. Actually, a few more people went out this morning too, but only the people from the minor group failed to return."
"They failed to return?"
"Yes."
Hyeongseong's face darkened again. I could more or less tell how things were going. I grabbed his shoulder hard. The moment I actually touched him, I knew for sure. As expected of Steel Sword Emperor. At this rate, his Strength level would soon pass 10.
"W-why are you doing that...?"
"Someone as capable as you must have gotten offers from that side. I'm impressed you didn't go."
Hyeongseong's objective combat ability was above Bang Cheolsu's. There was no way Inho Cheon hadn't tried to recruit him.
"Ah, well..." Hyeongseong scratched his cheek awkwardly before continuing. "I can't explain it very well. I don't really know much about grand things like morality or ethics... but that side just felt wrong."
Wrong...
It wasn't much of an answer, but I could feel the sincerity in it.
As expected, Lee Hyeongseong was Lee Hyeongseong.
"Don't forget that feeling."
That way, I could keep trusting him too.
Rumble.
I thought I heard a cute little sound from somewhere, and when I turned around, Yu Sangah and Lee Gilyeong were looking at me. They looked like baby birds waiting to be fed, and I couldn't help giving a bitter smile.
"Come to think of it, it's already dinner time. You're all hungry, right? Have one each."
I handed out the food I'd brought from the convenience store.
"Ah. Really? Is that okay?"
"It's free this time, but next time I'll charge you."
"What? How much...?"
"You all have coins, right? It'll be 10 coins per item, so keep that in mind."
"No way..."
Yu Sangah and Lee Hyeongseong both looked startled for a moment. They clearly hadn't expected me to say that.
"Of course that's only fair. I'll pay starting now. I don't need anything for free."
Surprisingly, the one who said that was the woman who had been lying on the bench just a moment ago. It looked like she had come to her senses.
"I'm Jeong Huiwon. Thank you for helping me this morning."
"It's nothing."
At first, I'd thought she gave off a delicate impression, but looking at her now, I realized that had been prejudice.
"Sangah, Hyeongseong. Get ahold of yourselves. This isn't the time to be making faces like that. Every bit of this food is something that person risked his life to get. You're not actually thinking of taking it for free, are you?"
Her face barely changed as she said exactly what she wanted to say.
"Ah..."
Only then did Sangah seem to come to her senses, her cheeks reddening.
"I didn't think it through. I'm sorry. Of course that's how it should be... You're right. I don't want anything for free either. And I don't want to depend on someone else."
"I feel the same way as Sangah. I'll pay in coins from now on."
Their reactions were unexpected enough to surprise me a little. Even if the apocalypse had come, not everyone would be the same kind of person.
"If you insist... all right. You all know how coin transactions work, right?"
"Yes. We learned a few days ago. You touch index fingers, and then, um..."
"You just say the number of coins you want to give in your head."
Starting with Huiwon, then Sangah and Hyeongseong, each of them picked up one item and paid 10 coins. Thankfully, the resistance from my Allies wasn't as strong as I'd expected. At first, this decision might have seemed cold, but before long, my Allies would realize it was the right one.
[Few constellations are relieved that you are not an idiot.]
[Few constellations have sponsored you with 100 coins.]
This was how you survived in this damned world.
[Lee Gilyeong has paid you 20 coins.]
"Huh? You paid 10 extra coins."
"That's for the chocolate bar I ate during the day."
Lee Gilyeong's expression was unexpectedly resolute as he said it.
[Few constellations are showing interest in Incarnation Lee Gilyeong.]
Maybe the ones who adapted fastest to the new world weren't adults, but children. Chewing on a calorie bar, Hyeongseong asked, "Then are you going to keep staying with us, Dokja?"
"Ah, about that..."
"Kim Dokja."
It wasn't Hyeongseong who called me. When I turned around, the "major group," led by Inho Cheon, was standing there. Right. It was about time.
"Could we talk for a moment?"
Among them was Bang Cheolsu, glaring at me with all his teeth gone. I glared back just a little, and he quickly averted his eyes and pretended not to notice. Pathetic bastard.
"Sure. Let's talk."
At my answer, Inho nodded as if satisfied.
"Then could everyone else leave us for a moment? I'd like to speak with Kim Dokja alone."
"Ah, if that's the case..."
"No. Nobody needs to get up. Listen together."
At my words, the Allies who had started to step away stopped awkwardly. Something twitched around Inho's eyes.
"Hm, is that so? Well... I don't mind."
With a casual air that said listen if you want, Inho brushed off the bench a few times and sat down heavily. Men from the Iron Head faction came up on both sides, handed him a cigarette, and lit it for him. He'd watched too many movies.
"You seem like the type who doesn't like unnecessary formalities, so I'll get straight to the point."
"Please do."
"Join our group."
Just as I'd expected.
"Someone at your level could get a high position in our group. I'd like you to help lead the group with us."
"Why me?"
"I think you already know the reason."
Inho glanced at the battered members of the Iron Head faction as he spoke.
"You're a hero who saved people from monsters. A hero like that deserves a fitting place."
Now that was an interesting way to reframe it. So he meant to make use of my existence that way.
"What if I refuse?"
"Refuse? That's amusing. I never even considered that possibility."
Inho laughed as he blew cigarette smoke in my direction.
"Kim Dokja, this isn't a request. You have a duty to do this. Can't you see those poor people over there?"
People with grimy faces were watching us nervously. A hungry child whimpering, exhausted old people.
"I'm not asking for anything grand. I'm simply asking you to cooperate for everyone's survival. You have the power to do that, don't you?"
"What exactly do you want from me?"
"We need someone to be our hitman."
A hitman?
"Until a few days ago, there was someone who filled that role. He procured food by himself, and he even taught us how to hunt in the tunnels near Yaksu. More precisely, we just watched and stole the method unilaterally."
I didn't even need to ask. He was talking about Yu Junghyeok.
"But that person suddenly left last night."
"So you need someone to replace him?"
"Anyone who could make Cheolsu end up like that has already proved more than enough skill."
At that, I saw Hyeongseong and Sangah's eyes widen. Only now had they figured out what the situation really was.
"There is absolutely nothing bad in this for you. You'll become these people's hero, and you'll become a leader of the group with us. Everyone will like you, and also..."
"Sorry, but I'm not the sort of person who can take responsibility for others. I have no intention of joining your group."
"Hm. Is that so?"
"More than anything, the way you run your group doesn't suit me."
I looked over the hot-blooded members of the Iron Head faction, then the sickly faces of the people in the minor group. Jeong Huiwon in particular was glaring at Inho Cheon as if she were looking at a sworn enemy.
"Is that so? Then it can't be helped. But if you change your mind, come find me anytime."
"That won't happen."
"Haha, we'll see about that."
It didn't take long for me to understand what he meant. As soon as the Iron Head faction members withdrew, other group members who had been waiting off to the side rushed over. They were people from the minor group. They grabbed at me without warning and raised their voices.
"Hey, is the rumor true?"
"Is it really true that you're monopolizing the food?"
"There's not even enough to go around, and you're saying you'll keep it all for yourselves?"
"You said it was all gathered together! What gives you the right to keep it for yourselves?"
"Leave the food to Inho! Then we'll get it distributed fairly!"
I could tell well enough what was going on. Behind the crowd, I could see Inho smiling faintly. His lips were saying:
Choose.
Would I hand out the food and become a hero?
Or would I monopolize the food by myself and become the villain?
If I chose to become the hero, I'd be dancing right into Inho's scheme. Once I handed out the food, I'd have no choice but to go hunt for more with the group, and eventually I'd get stabbed in the back.
On the other hand, if I monopolized the food, I'd be isolated from the group in an instant and left alone.
[Some constellations' eyes gleam.]
[Constellation Secretive Plotter snorts.]
As the people started getting more and more worked up, Inho stepped in.
"Everyone, please calm down. It seems there's been some misunderstanding, but Kim Dokja isn't that kind of person."
Well, look at that. He even had a hype man.
"Kim Dokja has agreed to be active with us. The food he brought today will of course be entrusted to the major group and fairly distributed, and from now on he'll work together with us for all of you and-"
He spoke in a tone that made it sound obvious I would choose his side. I couldn't listen to any more.
"That's enough."
I thought for a moment. What would Yu Junghyeok have done? ...Ah, I see. The fact that he wasn't here was itself the answer.
But I wasn't Yu Junghyeok.
"Of course, I'll share the food."
At my words, I saw the corners of Inho's mouth rise. But with people, you never know until they've finished speaking.
"But it won't be free."
I wasn't going to throw everything away and push forward like Yu Junghyeok, but that didn't mean I would take responsibility for everyone either.
I would give them food, but not for free. For a moment, the people looked blank, as if they didn't understand what I'd just said.
"What do you mean, not for free...?"
"I'll put it simply. I have no intention of monopolizing the food. But I'm not going to leave the food with Inho Cheon's group either. I'm not a volunteer, and I don't trust those people."
I grinned and pointed at Inho.
"I want to trade with all of you. So I want to sell food to you at a fair price."
"S-sell it?"
"What are you talking about...!"
"H-how much... Do you mean money?"
From farther back, I could see Inho's expression hardening. Smiling back at him, I continued, "No. I only take coins."
* * *
A little while later, only people from the minor group who had some connection to me remained around us.
"Um... Dokja. Was that really the right choice?"
"Tch, what in this world is free? Dokja, you said exactly what needed to be said. It was satisfying."
Huiwon fired that back at Hyeongseong's concern.
After I made my declaration to trade, the people turned their backs on me. They were probably deeply disappointed.
"I agree with Huiwon. The people here are too used to the major group."
"Exactly. Those bastards... Geumho Station is completely in their hands. People gobble down whatever they're given like livestock, and every so often they get dragged into the Search Party like they're being hauled off to the slaughterhouse. Like I was this morning."
Jeong Huiwon trembled all over. In truth, the ones who had really been monopolizing the food all this time weren't me, but the major group. Under the excuse of "fair distribution," they had monopolized the food and used it as feed to tame people.
Humans become the weakest when they believe someone is protecting them. In a one-sided relationship like that, people gradually start depending on and obeying the authority built on top of it, whether they realize it or not.
"I agree as well. That's why I believe what you declared today was very meaningful, Dokja. People need to have the will to do something for themselves. However..."
At Hyeongseong's words, everyone looked toward the food.
"Not a single thing has sold. Fifty coins per item... wasn't that too expensive? Maybe you should give it to them for 10 coins each, the way you sold it to us..."
It wasn't unreasonable to think that. The people kept stealing glances at the major group and showed no sign of coming this way at all. They would still need some time. I answered calmly.
"Let's wait a little longer."
Before long, night fell. At intervals, the footsteps of giant monsters could be heard from aboveground, and people having nightmares muttered in their sleep. Lee Gilyeong and Yu Sangah fell asleep first, and even Jeong Huiwon was nodding off.
"You should get some sleep too, Dokja. I'll stand watch."
"No. It's fine. You sleep first, Hyeongseong."
"But you must be tired."
"There's something I have to do."
"Something you have to do?"
I pointed behind Hyeongseong. To his surprise, human shadows were flickering there. And there weren't just one or two of them.
"Um... are you still selling food?"
At last, the people had begun to move.
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