As I ignored the system notifications, I slowly entered the safe zone, feeling the familiar unease of eyes on me. The spectators' gazes never wavered and focused there attention on my every move.
"Did you guys see that?"
"The heads of those monsters just exploded."
"Did anyone see what he did?"
Murmurs spread like wildfire, but no one seemed to understand what had actually happened. To them, it looked as though the Man-eating rats simply exploded out of nowhere. In truth, I had killed them so quickly that their eyes couldn't track my movements.
It was the effect of the skill 'Eagle Eye'. It was a dangerous skill indeed.
However, if their agility stats had been high enough, they might have been able to spot me. It was a reminder that the people here were weak.
It was expected. Most of them lacked a Star Contract and had no real understanding of the system. They were simply scrambling for survival in a world that demanded more.
"Jakga—?"
A voice cut through my thoughts, pulling me back to reality. I turned to see a few silhouettes approaching me. It looked like they made it here safely after all.
"Angelica?"
"Oh god, I'm really glad you survived." Her face lightened in relief.
"Well, I'm not that easy to kill," I replied, giving a half-smile, though the situation felt awkward. I scratched my cheek nervously.
"I knew you would survive, Jakga," said Lee Jong-ho, the ex-soldier.
His muscles appeared even more solid than before. Had he grown stronger during my absence?
"I'm really sorry for that time..." He added, his gaze turning regretful.
"Don't worry, it was an unavoidable situation," I reassured him.
"Even so, I'm ashamed. Please forgive me." He bowed his head slightly, his sincerity evident. Jong-ho was a simple person, always earnest and straightforward.
How was that incident his fault? Wasn't he pushing himself too hard?
Then I suddenly felt a presence and turned my head.
Then, I felt a subtle presence beside me. I turned to find Jung Yunhee standing.
She had changed out of her hospital gown into a black leather jacket and casual clothes. She must've moved so quietly that I hadn't even noticed her presence until now. Was this the effect of her assassin attribute?
Creepy. She reminded me of those midnight stalkers.
She nodded her head slightly, as if acknowledging my presence. I responded with a nod in kind, knowing her quiet nature. She was a woman of few words, and that suited me just fine.
It seemed like everyone had made it to the safe zone without incident, just as planned.
"Hmm?"
But then, I noticed something off. Looking closely, the group wasn't complete. Someone was missing.
"Where is the doctor?" I asked, furrowing my brow.
"Ah! That..." Angelica and Jong-ho exchanged looks, their expressions darkening, while Yunhee remained neutral.
Wait, could it be…?
"Was he caught by the monsters?" I asked, the worst-case scenario flashing through my mind.
"W-What? No."
"Was he killed by someone?"
"No, It's not that either."
"Then...?"
"He's alive but..., how should I explain this?"
Before Jong-ho could finish, he was abruptly interrupted. It was because several group of men approached us.
"Is that the newcomer?" one of them asked, eyeing me with an unsettling interest.
"Yes, I'm sure," another answered.
I narrowed my eyes. They were about ten in number, each armed with metal pipes and baseball bats. Among them, I spotted a familiar face.
"Kwangsun?"
"... Jakga?"
Doctor Kwangsun's voice was filled with surprise, though his eyes quickly shifted to avoid mine. Seeing him here, I pieced together what was happening.
A large man, with an intimidating presence, stepped forward from the crowd. He was clearly the leader of this group.
"You... Do you know him?" the big man asked, his voice gruff.
"Ah, yes. He's an acquaintance of mine," Kwangsun replied quickly, though there was an edge to his voice.
"Is that so?" The leader studied me for a moment before turning his gaze toward the others. "But he still has to follow the rules."
"Rules?" I repeated, confused.
The big man looked back at me and stated matter-of-factly, "If you want to stay here, you have to pay rent."
"Rent?"
"You didn't know?" the leader continued with a smirk. "You have to pay 500 coins to stay in the safe zone."
"..."
I tilted my head in disbelief. 500 coins? What kind of racket were they running here?
I glanced around and noticed the strange number of survivors in the safe zone.
[Safe Zone: 187/1000]
187 people? The limit of the safe zone was 1000 people, yet there was only 187 people here?
As I suspected, stronger survivors were beginning to take control of the area, monopolizing it for themselves. The chaos was breeding opportunists—just like in the novel.
"Why should I pay you? The safe zone is a public area."
"Well, it used to be," the big man said, his grin widening, "but not anymore."
"If I pay 500 coins, you will let me stay in the safe zone?"
"Yes. For a day that is." The man confirmed with a businesslike voice.
"...."
I felt a vein in my head twitch. Did he think 500 coins was equivalent to 500 Won?
"Isn't that too much?" I muttered.
"Are you saying you can't pay?" The big man raised his metal pipe, slamming it into the ground with a thud.
Thud!
"If you can't pay then leave. We don't need parasites that take advantage of our kindness."
[The Skill 'Threathen' has been used.]
[The Skill failed due to the high level difference.]
"Oh, aren't you rather strong?" I said, unimpressed.
The intimidation tactic didn't faze me in the slightest. I could feel the constellations stirring with annoyance.
[The constellation 'Judge of War and Wisdom' is annoyed by these people.]
[The constellation 'Architect of Destruction' snorts.]
The men looked at me with malice, but their expressions began to change when they saw the plastic bags I was holding. It was bags filled with food.
"Also, leave that here as well," the big man demanded, pointing at the bags with a twisted smile.
[The constellation 'Judge of War and Wisdom' is infuriated.]
In many stories, there were this one person or minor group that relentlessly tried to block the protagonist for no apparent reason whatsoever. It was an annoying trope that the author used to move the plot and I found it cringe.
These antagonists are typically portrayed as lacking any significant intellect or complexity, acting in ways that seem implausible in the real world. After all, people are usually more rational and calculated. Yet, when I pondered deeper, I realised that human nature is replete with irrational and cringe-worthy actions.
"Get him!" the big man shouted. His voice was full of authority, and the other men, except for Kwangsun, began to advance on me.
They thought they had the advantage with their numbers. But that wasn't going to be enough.
I raised my revolver and pulled the trigger.
Bang!
One of the goons screamed in agony as his leg exploded from the bullet's impact. "Aaaaack! My leg! My leg!"
The others stumbled back, shock and fear overtaking them as they realized I wasn't some push-over.
"The hell! He's got a gun!" one of them shouted.
"The hell! That's not a normal gun!"
"Shit! Is he crazy?!"
Hey now, why are you trying to paint me as the villain here?
The survivors watching us also recoiled, clearly terrified. In a world where firearms were practically useless against monsters, seeing a real gun was more alarming than I had expected.
"H-Hey now..." the leader stammered, trying to regain control of the situation. "T-There's no need to go that far. You don't have to pay to stay here. Just... just put the gun away, okay?"
His sudden change in attitude was laughable. Just moments ago, he had ordered his men to attack me, and now he was backpedaling.
What a shameless fellow.
I didn't respond. Instead, I used my Black Box skill to assess him.
[Personal skill, Black Box (Envy) has activated.]
+
[Private Information]
Name: Baek Sang-won.
Age: 34 years old.
Star Contract: None
Primary Attritudes: Alleyway Thug (Common)
Skill Cards:
| Hand-to-hand Lv. 2 |
| Threaten Lv. 2 |
Overall Stats:
Physique Lv. 6, Strength Lv. 8, Agility Lv. 6, Magic Power Lv. 2.
Character Description: A unlucky thug that couldn't even get the aid of a Star Contract. A background character that tends to overestimate his abilities.
+
Ah, I finally remember now.
"You're Baek Sangwon from the mainframe group, right?"
"Huh? You know me?" Baek Sang-won's face turned pale.
Despite his imposing appearance, Baek Sang-won was nothing more than a lackey, following orders from a more powerful leader. I knew exactly who that leader was, but as I scanned the area, I couldn't find him.
The real leader of the Mainframe group should be nearby, watching quietly from the shadows.
Where are you? I scanned the area but couldn't spot anyone matching the description in my mind...
Where was he hiding?
"Where is your boss?" I demanded, my patience running thin.
Baek Sang-won stammered. "What? I'm the leader here!"
"Don't play dumb," I said, stepping closer and aiming my gun at him. "I know you're not the leader. Where's the real boss?"
"I don't know what you're talking abo..."
Baek Sangwon fell silent the moment I clicked the firearm.
This was only to threaten him. I had no intentions of raising a commotion. But of course, he didn't know that.
He panicked and took a step back.
"Now let me repeat myself. Where is your boss? And please answer honestly, I don't like it when people lie."
With the gun in my hands, an intimidating atmosphere was created.
The goons began to shake and that guy who got shot from earlier was still squirming on the grouy. It was only a matter of time before they cracked.
"Hey, there is no need to go that far."
A voice emerged from the shadows.
Someone stood out from the crowd of survivors. It seems that person has finally decided to reveal himself.
The figure came closer and closer towards me. There was unmistakable confidence in his stride.
"I'm the person you are looking for."
I froze when I saw his face.
Instead of the main leader of the mainframe group in the novel, a familiar yet unexpected face appeared.
Was this some kind of joke?
"Kim Minhyuk," I muttered, shock coursing through my veins.
The last person I wanted to see, and the reason why my high school years had been nothing but a living hell.