"Those mainframe bastards can't be trusted,"
"Can't we just kill them all and be done with it?"
Their responses were exactly as I expected after I explained the situation to them. Lee Jongho's fiery anger and Jung Yunhee's rashness were predictable, yet understandable.
"... Isn't killing them going too far? Why not leave."
Jongho shook his head.
"No. This time, I agree with Yunhee. Those people are nothing but scum. They treat others like cattle and eliminate anyone who dares to defy them. Just like they tried to do to us."
I raised an eyebrow. "Wait, they attacked you?"
"Yes. It happened this morning. When we refused to accept their love call, they ambushed us when we were scouting for food."
His hands clenched into fists, trembling—not with fear, but with barely contained rage. His glare shifted to the mainframe group's men, some of whom casually leaned on their pipes like enforcers.
So that's how it is.
The mainframe group doesn't just control the sector's safe zone—they crush any dissenters. Like zealots serving a deity, they dole out punishment to anyone who defies their doctrine.
I glanced at the weak survivors, who wore expressions full of quiet resignation, and then at the healthy, well-fed mainframe members. The power dynamic was clear as day. The survivors, bound by fear and dependency, dared not bite the hand that fed them.
They were weak.
Once humans were caught under some false sense of safety from a particular group, a completely one-sided relationship will be formed. It resembled the way some companies manage their employees—creating a one-sided relationship and maintaining control over them.
I signed.
"These people are too hopeless. They are too tame to the mainframe group. If nothing is done, the situation will only worsen."
Jongho nodded grimly. "That's why we need to end them."
Indeed, it would be better to just eliminate the mainframe group in a single sweep. However,
"No, not yet."
It was too early to make a move. The opportunity to act will naturally arrive. We just needed to be patient.
"It's too early to act. The opportunity will come naturally, we just need to wait for the right opportunity."
If my calculations were correct, that person would make an announcement anytime from now.
Jongho frowned but didn't argue. He understood the logic, even if it frustrated him.
Hours passed. The others eventually fell asleep, except Jongho, who remained alert like the soldier he once was. I kept watch as well, waiting
Then, it happened.
"Everyone, gather around. I have something important to announce," a voice echoed across the safe zone.
Kim Minhyuk stood at the center, flanked by his lackeys. His smile was smug, his posture exuding authority. This was the moment I had been waiting for.
Angelica stirred, rubbing her eyes groggily. "What's going on?"
"Minhyuk is making an announcement," I said.
She frowned. "Announcement? About what?"
"Just watch. You'll see."
Minhyuk's voice cut through the quiet. "Due to the lack of food supplies, we'll be reducing everyone's rations."
If only the readers could see this. It only took a single sentence to turn everyone's expression into a frown, and then, their frowns transformed into something else.
The crowd erupted in anger.
"What the hell?!"
"The food was barely manageable level before but now you want to shorten the rations. How are we going to survive if you do that?"
"Don't the scouts get more food? You think we don't know."
Minhyuk started receiving curses left and right. Even so, he didn't stop smiling and remained calm.
Minhyuk remained unfazed, his smug smile never wavering. "Yes, the scouts receive more food."
"Then..."
"However, it's not unreasonable. They risk their lives while you all sit here doing nothing. If you want more, join the scouts. Simple, isn't it?"
"Are you crazy?"
"Do you want use to die? How are we going to fight against the monsters?"
"That's right. We will definitely die if we go outside."
Kim Minhyuk responded to the grumbling crowd with a harsh voice.
"Hmm, is that so? You don't want to die you say. What about the people that volunteered as scouts? Did you think they wanted to die? No. Yet, they still went outside. It was not because they were mad. They did so because they didn't want to starve. And yet here you are, whining like toddlers."
"That..."
The grumbling continued, but no one had a real retort. Minhyuk's reasoning, twisted as it was, silenced them.
"I've anticipated this reaction," Minhyuk continued. "That's why I've come up with a solution."
"What is it?"
"C'mon, say it quickly."
"It's simple. We will give out food in exchange of anything of value. It doesn't matter what It is. Anyone can bring something different. That's fair, right?"
As he finished speaking, the people began looking at each other. This is an interesting way to exploit people of their coins. I can already predict what is going to happen next.
Soon, the people began to move. They gathered around the people from the mainframe group.
"I will exchange with coins. How much?"
"200."
"Excuse me?"
"I said give me 200 coins."
"Wh-What? 200 coins for a bread?! That's too unreasonable!" Someone protested.
"Don't have the money? Then move along," a mainframe member sneered.
200 coins for a piece of food. Indeed, that was too unreasonable. As expected, they started setting unreasonable prices. Why are humans so predictable.
It was cringe.
"Look at this wristwatch. I bought it for $100,000."
(T/L: 100,000 US dollars = 15,305,900 Won)
A rich man showed the mainframe group his golden wristwatch. Indeed, it looked very expensive. If the world hadn't changed, there was no way I would be able to afford it. However,
The response was cold. "We're not interested."
"What? Wait...Wait, Let me."
"Move away."
They chased the rich man away without mercy. Although that watch was worth alot, but that was only in the old world. It was completely worthless now.
What was the point of wearing an elegant-looking wristwatch in a world on the brink of ruin?
For the next few minutes, the same scene would repeat endlessly. The survivors would approach the mainframe group with various items, and the mainframe group would assess their value.
If the item was deemed valuable, they would accept it and hand out food rations. But if it was worthless to them, they would simply chase the person away.
Some people protested against the mainframe group, but they were quickly subdued. In the end, they had to pay the usual prices for food.
Then, my eyes landed on a familiar mainframe member glaring at me. It was that large man from before. What was his name again? I always struggle to remember background characters.
Ah, silly me. Everyone should be treated respectfully.
That was my belief so I should at least greet him.
I waved at him with a smile.
"Tck!"
When the burly man noticed me, he clicked his tongue in irritation and turned his head away. He probably thought I was mocking him.
"Oppa,"
Yunhee's voice pulled me from my thoughts. Her piercing eyes met mine. "How can you be so calm?"
"Do I look calm to you?"
"You tell me? Most people would be panicking, but you... You're different. Cold. Calculating. It's like trying to stare into the depths of a bottomless void."
"Perhaps," I said indifferently. Her words weren't wrong, but even I didn't fully understand myself.
Shortly afterwards, the mainframe members were dragging some people out of the safe zone. It seems they were the people that couldn't pay rent anymore.
Angelica sprang to her feet and headed somewhere. I already knew what she wanted to do.
I stretched my hand and grabbed her shoulder.
"Jakga?" she questioned sharply.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Can't you see that? I'm going to stop them. I can't allow this."
"It's pointless."
"What do you mean?"
Her expression shifted to one of irritation. It would be troublesome for me if she caused a scene.
I explained,
"Stopping them from casting those people out won't change anything. The same thing will happen later. What will you do then? Will you stop them each time?"
"Isn't it obvious? I'll stop them again, every time."
"You foolish girl. That will only turn you into a target for their resentment."
"So you're saying I should just stand by and watch?"
"Yes. This time, just watch."
"Is that really all I can do? There's no alternative?"
Her shoulders trembled. It seems she must have gone through a lot during my absence. Not everybody could adapt to this new world smoothly.
I let out a sigh.
"What I'm saying is, you don't need to intervene. If you wait, things will settle on their own."
"But—"
"Just wait," I cut her off. "Trust me."
As if on cue, a system message appeared before me.
[A Meta Story is being generated.]
A system message appeared infront of me. Without delay, I proceeded to the read the contents of the message.
+
[ Sub Narrative ### — Monster Hunting ]
[✧ Type: Sub]
[✧ Difficulty: E ~ D]
[✧ Clear Conditions: Hunt down the monsters and collect 50 cores.]
[✧ Time Limit: 72 Hours.]
[✧ Reward: ???]
[✧ Penalty: ???]
+
Vooom—!
Something vibrated and manifested in the grasps of the people. It was an inventory pouch.
This Sub Narrative was pretty straightforward.
Hunt down monsters and collect the loot. It was an objective that was commonly featured in a video game and countless stories.
This should let us progress to the next Main Story.
Voices rose from the crowd.
"We need to hunt down monsters and collect their cores?"
"It's just like a quest in a video game."
"This pouch is for storing the cores, right? But will it fit them all?"
"I heard there's something called a dimensional storage! This pouch is probably an item installed with the dimensional storage skill!"
"Oh, so I can store everything inside this thing like this."
Excited murmurs spread as people eagerly experimented with their dimensional pouches, like children unwrapping new toys from a convenience store.
Eventually, someone shouted upon noticing the dome still intact.
"The safe zone is still here!"
"It didn't disappear!"
"So we can continue to stay inside the safety zone!"
Cheers of relief spread as people rejoiced that the safe zone remained despite the arrival of the new story.
What a useless bunch.
"Fools."
Were they blind or just plain stupid? This Narrative wasn't about survival, it was about hunting.
Hunting!
To survive, they had to hunt monsters and collect their cores. Staying in the safe zone wouldn't protect them from what was coming.
Even though the penalty for failure wasn't revealed, clinging to false security was absurd.
Shouldn't they be more cautious? Why was everyone this lazy?!
Wasn't it better to rely on someone else? Was that what they were saying?!
'Tch! They're not just lazy. They're completely unmotivated. Those guys did a great job of draining their fighting spirit.'
I clicked my tongue
Lost in thought, I noticed Angelica staring at me with a vacant expression, her mouth opening and closing like a fish.
"Jakga, did you know...?"
"Not really. But I have a hunch something like this was bound to happen. After all, it was too peaceful. Plus, that fairy likes to mess with humans."
"I see. That makes sense."
Ignoring Angelica for the moment, I turned my attention back to Kim Minhyuk, standing in the centre.
He stared into empty space, processing the message as he carefully plotted his next move.
He then shifted his gaze and faced the people.
"Everyone, listen to me," he said firmly.
His expression had grown serious. A sharp bastard like him must have already grasped the intent of the Sub-Narrative.
"You guys heard it, right? I assume you already know what you need to do."
The crowd nodded in understanding. To survive, they had to hunt monsters. Still, fear lingered in the eyes of those unwilling to face the brutal reality of combat.
But there was no choice. If they didn't fight, they would die.
That was the harsh truth of this story. Depending on others was no longer an option.
This world was far too unforgiving for dreams of comfort.