And inside, was a stout old man, quaking in fear.
"Why hello there," I said, pointing the gun at him.
"H-holy fuck? Is that a person!? Hey hey, are you alright—?"
I turned around and pointed the gun at the hero.
"Shut up," I said, and shut up he did. He was not naive enough to trust the first person he saw now. For all we knew, this guy could have caused all the bloodshed here.
"I am not… I am not… I… please, please help me! It just started! It just started so suddenly!"
I raised the gun ahead and drove it into his mouth.
"I didn't ask."
Tears streaming down his face, the man raised his hands.
"Now. How do I heat some water here? I am going to kill for a coffee and a smoke."
The man's eyes widened in surprise.
He slowly pointed at the counter behind us, a single orange pipe running down the wall. I moved the gun out of his mouth and pumped my brows.
"G-gas pipe… building in this district… are old…"
"Stove?"
"U-up there!"
Got it. Other than the induction, there was also a gas stove here. Interesting.
The hero checked the cabinet for the stove and brought it down. The setup into the pipeline wasn't usually that tough, and the gas flowing out was pretty low as well, I was no gas master, but the risk seemed low.
There was little that I believed this fucker could tell me. So I asked the only question on my mind.
"When did this all start?"
The man lowered his gaze…
"I-I don't even remember… it's all so haz—"
The gun was shoved again.
"Twenty days! About twenty days!"
Hm.
I see.
There was still stuff that I was curious about. But I didn't think it was without risk.
[The Strongest Dragon God System recommends against what you're planning]
[The Strongest Dragon God System insists you're better than that]
That was true.
I didn't have to take the risk myself, I was better than that.
The Apocalypse Keeper being very similar to something straight out of a game was quite disconcerting. The existence of things like penalties and bonuses made me hesitant to do anything.
It was best to be wary.
"Hey, hero, come here."
"Just call me by name…"
The hero, Relafan, walked over to me at my call.
"Here," I said, handing him the gun.
"What?"
"Shoot him."
[The Strongest Dragon God System did not mean that!!]
Fuck off.
"V-vincent? Are you crazy…?"
The man started squealing.
Relafan's hands trembled.
Why?
Why was he being so disobedient? I couldn't understand.
"Do I… Need to beat sense into you again, Relafan?"
The hero shivered.
The stout man whimpered.
I didn't care.
Slowly, I stood up and clasped my hands around the hero's chin.
I guided my hand over his own and turned off the safety of the gun.
"Place your finger on the trigger."
"V-vincent…"
"Do it."
I was very curious. I needed to know what would happen.
"Pull the trigger. Shoot him."
Relafan bit his lips.
His finger curled.
"N-no… nono nononono AHK—"
—BANG!
Brains spilled out all inside the cabinet.
Relafan sunk down, his breathing heavy.
"Fuck… man…"
"What does it say? Did you get a window pop up?"
Relafan sighed and nodded.
"Scenario 1, requirements fulfilled."
"AHAHA! I knew it!"
People too.
Were mutated beings.
In this world where animals were rare and we had barely run into any monsters, how were people to fulfill this requirement? How were people to entertain?
By dying. Of course.
"Funny, coffee?" I was in a good mood, so I could make it.
"Yes… please…"