WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Editor: smol_anon

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 19: Episode 4 - Even Hypocrisy is Virtue (4)

When morning came the next day, I was almost out of food. Jeong Huiwon shook the convenience store bag, disbelief evident on her face.

“Holy crap, did you sell all of this?”

“Yes.”

“Hah, that’s hilarious. Everyone was just biding their time, and then they... took everything.”

“No, it wasn’t just the minor group that bought them.”

The late-night visitors weren’t just from the minor group.

—Kim Dokja-ssi, you really made the worst choice.

Cheon Inho was one of them.

—You’ll regret this.

More than half of my food was bought by the main group. Of course, they paid fairly.

Upon hearing the story, Huiwon became furious.

“Wait a minute. So, in the end, the main group monopolized the food again?”

“More or less.”

“No, seriously! Wasn’t the point to encourage trades between people to weaken the main group’s power?”

Unexpectedly insightful. I admired her for a moment and answered.

“You’re right. That was the plan. I wanted people to take action on their own.”

“Then you shouldn’t have sold to the main group! That way, nothing changes!”

“But something did change. I now have coins.”

“Excuse me?”

I earned 1,450 coins. Not bad for a night’s work as a merchant.

“What the... What are you thinking, Dokja-ssi? Sangah-ssi, can we really trust this guy?”

Caught off guard, Sangah hesitated for a moment but then smiled brightly.

“I trust him.”

That was... unnerving.

“Dokja-ssi, you at least kept some food for yourself, right?”

“Nope, sold it all.”

Huiwon gaped at me, speechless. At that moment, someone poked my cheek. When I turned, there was a stick snack in front of me.

“Huh? Is this for me?”

A nod, paired with adorable head movements. Smiling, I took the snack and put it back into Lee Gilyeong’s mouth.

“It’s fine, you eat it. By the way, everyone still has the food you bought yesterday, right?”

“Yes, we have some left.”

“I still have a little.”

“Why, are you planning to buy it back? I’ll sell it at a higher price.”

Huiwon playfully waved her biscuit.

“No, I’m telling you to eat it all before today ends.”

“What?”

“Make sure you eat everything by the end of the day. Trust me.”

I emphasized it repeatedly.

“Otherwise, you’ll regret it.”

“Why? …Wait, hold on. Sangah-ssi, why are you listening to him?”

“If Dokja-ssi says so, there must be a good reason.”

Sangah, already munching on her remaining biscuits, chewed silently. Hyeonseong looked unsure but started opening his food as well. Gilyeong had already eaten everything as soon as I mentioned it. He’s a good listener.

“Ugh, this feels wrong... I’ll keep just one biscuit, though.”

“I won’t stop you.”

I merely shrugged at Jeong Huiwon’s comment. After all, the consequences were hers to bear.

By noon, the main group made a big announcement. Gathering everyone in the center of the platform, Cheon Inho spoke.

“Starting today, the amount of food distributed will be limited. Each person will receive three pieces of biscuits. Also—”

Before he could finish speaking, the crowd erupted.

“What? Three pieces of biscuits? How are we supposed to survive on that?”

“Yeah! Those reconnaissance bastards eat way more than we do! You think we don’t know?”

Despite the insults being hurled at him, Inho just smiled calmly.

“You’re absolutely right. The reconnaissance team does get more food. So, if you want more food, you can join them.”

“No one comes back from the recon team! It’s always those Cheoldu Gang thugs who return!”

“Are you telling us to die?”

Even as the citizens grew more aggressive, Inho remained composed.

“Those people were just unlucky. As you know, the outside world is extremely dangerous. But if you’re dissatisfied, why not go find food for yourselves?”

“Th-that’s...”

People fell silent. Everyone knew it—stepping outside meant death. Inho, as if to soothe the discontent, continued speaking.

“Oh, but there are ways to obtain food without joining the reconnaissance team.”

“What’s that?”

“Trades. Anything we deem valuable can be exchanged for food. After all, everyone has something different to offer, right?”

Several people flinched under his cold gaze. Most of them had come to buy food from me the previous night.

[The character Cheon Inho has activated the skill Incitement Lv.2.]

As expected, Inho had the [Incitement] skill. Well, most group leaders had it. The real question was how he’d use it.

“I wasn’t going to take things this far, but Kim Dokja-ssi gave me a great idea. Yes, everyone, nothing is free in this world. If you want food, you need to prove your worth. That’s only natural, isn’t it? Haha, thanks for the tip, Kim Dokja-ssi.”

…This guy.

All eyes turned to me. Most were filled with resentment.

“It’s his fault...”

To think he’d turn the hostility toward me like this...

I watched Inho’s retreating figure as he headed back to the tarp-covered hideout. Still, compared to the ones in Chungmuro or Seoul Station, this was nothing.

Already, voices could be heard as people began bargaining in front of the hideout.

“I’ll pay with coins. How much?”

“200 coins.”

“What? I don’t have that many coins.”

“Then get lost.”

200 coins for a single piece of food. Even a dokkaebi would faint at such extortion. One of the Cheoldu Gang members selling food outside the hideout flinched when he saw me. A bandage was wrapped around his thigh—likely one of the guys I dealt with yesterday.

“Did I thank you for yesterday?”

I turned to see Huiwon standing nearby.

“I think you did.”

“Well, thanks again.”

I wasn’t sure what she meant until I noticed her gaze fixed on the limping Cheoldu Gang member.

“That limping bastard tried to rape me yesterday. Didn’t succeed, though.”

“…I see.”

“I’m going to kill him myself, so don’t touch him. Got it?”

Her bloodthirsty glare was rather impressive. Given this, she should’ve received the blessing of a patron constellation by now. Perhaps her attribute was blooming late.

[The exclusive skill Character Profile has been activated.]

I was briefly worried as I used the skill. Would she still be registered as a character, given that she was originally supposed to die?

+

<Character Details>

Name: Jeong Huiwon

Age: 27

Patron constellation: None (Three constellations are currently showing interest.)

Exclusive attribute: Crouching Figure (Common)

Exclusive skills: [Demon Slaying Lv.1], [Swordsmanship Lv.1]

Stigma: [Great Mountain Push Lv.1]

Overall stats: [Constitution Lv.4], [Strength Lv.4], [Agility Lv.7], [Mana Lv.4]

Overall evaluation: A Crouching Figure with great potential. Due to her Attribute not yet blooming, her information cannot be fully accessed.

+

Thankfully, her profile appeared. She was different from characters like Yu Sangah, Lee Gilyeong, and Han Myeongoh. Perhaps the author had abandoned her, but she was originally designed to have a role.

Moreover, her exclusive attribute was quite interesting.

‘Crouching Figure.’

It might not sound impressive, but it was one of the few ‘super-evolving’ attributes in TWSA. Although it was currently at the Common rank, depending on the circumstances, it could evolve to Rare, and even Legendary.

One of the 100 strongest in the Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse, the Berserk Butcher, also started with Crouching Figure.

Jeong Huiwon.

I initially thought she was just a passing character, but maybe I should consider recruiting her. The [Demon Slaying] skill was a bit concerning, but if nurtured properly, she could become a formidable hitman.

“But Dokja-ssi, you’re so calm.”

Calm, huh... I suppose that’s how I appeared.

“I’m used to it. I’ve read about situations like this in novels.”

“Really? Does that even make sense? …Wait, where are you going?”

Without answering, I climbed down from the platform. Huiwon looked like she wanted to follow, so I extended my hand.

“It’s fine.”

She shook her head lightly, gesturing that she didn’t need help as she landed gracefully beside me. Together, we walked along the tunnel toward Yaksu Station. The darkness was so thick we could barely see, but the smell was unmistakable—blood.

“You’re not going in there, right?”

Huiwon asked.

“Everyone who’s gone that way has died, gangsters or not. Going in there is certain death.”

She was wrong. Not everyone died. At least one person had already cleared the path and moved on to the next station.

We climbed back up onto the platform. Even after all this time, the line of people waiting to trade for food was long. Some of those who protested against the main group were beaten, and a few paid an unfair price to purchase food. Huiwon’s anger flared when she noticed a group of young women from the minor group sneak behind the tarp.

“Ugh, this is infuriating. Did you see that?”

“I did.”

Inho had said that anything could be traded for food. Those women had gone behind the tarp empty-handed. Grinding her teeth, Huiwon stood up.

“We can’t just sit here and let that happen.”

“What will you do?”

“I’m going to stop them. I don’t care what the situation is, that’s just wrong!”

“If you stop them, they’ll starve.”

“So, what? Are you saying we should just sit and watch this happen?”

“Yes, this time, it’s best to just watch.”

“What does that even mean?”

Her voice brimmed with disgust. I remained silent, watching the tarp. It wasn’t long before—

“…You filthy bastards. You really think we’d agree to that?”

The women who had gone behind the tarp stormed out, spitting curses. It seemed the worst-case scenario hadn’t occurred after all. Just like the events in TWSA.

“Hahaha! Come back anytime if you change your mind!”

The collapse of morality in an apocalypse doesn’t happen all at once. Just because someone becomes a murderer doesn’t mean they’ll immediately indulge in every other crime. Huiwon blinked in confusion and asked,

“Did you… know that was going to happen?”

“Yes.”

“You believed in them?”

I didn’t answer. It wasn’t people I believed in. It was the book I’d read. Jeong Huiwon, oblivious to my thoughts, continued.

“Well, at least they still have some pride left…”

“This won’t last. People aren’t desperate enough yet. Once night falls, the same thing will happen again.”

A ripple had already begun spreading through the minor group. Not just among the women, but others who were also weighing what they had to offer. People began glancing repeatedly at the tarp-covered area. It doesn’t take long for people to abandon their pride when faced with survival. Grinding her teeth again, Huiwon declared,

“When it happens, I’ll stop it.”

“Stopping them isn’t always the solution.”

“I know, but—”

“One of the women who went behind the tarp is a mother. If her child starves to death, will you take responsibility for that?”

Huiwon’s expression trembled. She lowered her head, clearly trying to hide her conflicted emotions.

“Then… what should I do?”

[The character Jeong Huiwon has been influenced by your logic.]

[The character Jeong Huiwon feels ethical confusion.]

I watched her in silence. The reason I had taken the time to reason with Huiwon was to prevent any rash actions. After all, she possessed [Demon Slaying] and was the [Crouching Figure]. Depending on her choices, Jeong Huiwon could evolve into a mindless killer.

“Huiwon-ssi, the root of this problem is food. The monopoly on food is what’s causing this.”

“That’s… true.”

“Then, we just need to remove the root of the problem.”

“…What?”

Instead of replying, I checked my watch. It should appear any moment now.

Chichichichik!

There it was.

Screams rang out as a familiar figure appeared, tearing through the air. The nightmare that had sparked this whole tragedy.

[Uh… H-hello, everyone? I’m sure you’ve been bored during this time?]

The dokkaebi.

“Aaagh!”

Even the ever-composed Huiwon flinched when the dokkaebi appeared. It spoke in an anxious voice, unlike the confidence shown by Bihyeong.

[So… The previous manager of this channel was… um, punished. That’s why I’ll be in charge of this scenario from now on.]

Bihyeong was the usual manager for this region, but this dokkaebi had an entirely different appearance. Whereas Bihyeong’s fur was white, this dokkaebi’s was a deep black.

[Y-you all look so peaceful. Bihyeong seemed so proud of himself, but the scenario difficulty is... pathetic.]

“What do you want? Just get to the point!”

[Please don’t be angry, everyone. I’m only here for your sake.]

“For our sake?”

“Then give us some food!”

[F-food? Ahh, if it’s food you want…]

The dokkaebi raised its hand before the sentence was even finished.

[A scenario penalty has been added.]

[From now on, food stockpiling will be restricted.]

[All previously stored food will disappear.]

“W-what’s happening?!”

Cries erupted from people everywhere as the emergency rations they were holding floated into the air.

[Hehe, no. You can’t just focus on food. If the scenario has started, you should think about clearing it.]

Pffft!

Canned goods, biscuits, and calorie bars — all the emergency food people had collected — were disintegrating into dust, scattering before their eyes. Those who saw their food disappear fell to the ground in despair.

[You think you can just keep hoarding food? What a bunch of trash.]

The dokkaebi’s tone suddenly shifted, growing more hostile. The change jogged my memory. If I recalled correctly, this dokkaebi was a cruel one with a deceptively meek voice.

Far off in the distance, I noticed Inho’s shocked expression as he glanced toward me.

[So, let’s all have fun from now on, everyone. Hehehe.]

The system messages appeared immediately after.

[A scenario penalty has been added.]

[The Survival Fee has been implemented.]

[Starting today, 100 coins will be deducted every night at midnight. If you fail to pay, you will die.]

[The Survival Fee penalty will remain in effect until the second main scenario is cleared.]

A wry smile crossed my face as I read the messages.

Finally, it was starting to feel like Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse.

Footnotes:

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