"Those mainframe bastards can't be trusted," Jongho growled.
"Can't we just kill them all and be done with it?" Yunhee added, frustrated.
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.
"The people are 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."
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 having a elegant-looking wristwatch in a ruined world?
For the next few minutes, the same scene will replay over and over again. The survivors will meet the mainframe group with various items and the mainframe group will determine their value.
If they liked it, they will accept it and give out food rations. But if the item was of no value to them, they will chase the person away.
Of course, some people protested against the mainframe group but they were beaten up shortly. In the end, they had to pay ususual prices for food.
Suddenly, my eyes caught the sight of a familiar mainframe member. It was the big man from before. What was his name again? I have a hard time remembering background characters
"Tck!"
When the man saw me, he made an irritated sound and swung his head to the other side. What a foolish fellow.
"Oppa," Yunhee's voice pulled me from my thoughts. Her piercing blue 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, indifferent. 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.
I saw Angelica sprang to her feet. I already knew what she wanted to do. So I stretched my hand and grabbed her shoulder.
"Jakga?"
"What are you doing?"
"Aren't you seeing that? I'm going to stop them. I can't allow this."
"It's a futile effort."
"What are you saying?"
Angelica gave me a look. It was a look that spelled she was annoyed.
"Stopping them from tossing out those people will be meaningless. A similar sight will occur later. If that happens, what will you do then?"
"Isn't that obvious? I will just stop them again and again."
"You foolish girl, that will only make you the target of their resentment."
"Are you saying I should just watch?"
"Yes. Just sit back and watch this time."
"Is watching the only thing I can do? Isn't there an alternative?"
Her body began to shake. It seems she must have gone through a lot during my absence. Not everybody could adapt to this new world.
I sighed.
"What I'm trying to say is that you don't need to act. Everything will settle itself out if you just wait."
"But—"
"Just wait," I interrupted. "Trust me."
Right on cue, a system message appeared before me.
[A Meta Story is being generated.]
A system window appeared infront of me. It was a Fable 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 a quest that was commonly featured in a video game.
"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? Will it fit though?"
The crowd muttered among themselves. Then someone shouted upon noticing the dome was still intact.
"The safe zone is still here!"
"It didn't disappear!"
The people became happy that the safe zone didn't disappear upon the arrival of the new scenario. What a useless bunch.
"Fools."
Maybe the people were either blind or just stupid. The theme of this Fable was not survival, but hunting.
You needed to hunt down monsters and collect their cores. That was the only way to survive the Fable, not by staying in the safe zone.
Angelica looked at me with a stupid expression and opened her mouth.
"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."
I ignored Angelica for the time being and looked at Kim Minhyuk.
"Everyone, listen to what I have to say."
Minhyuk spoke to attract the attention of the crowd. His expression turned serious. He seems to have noticed as well.
"You guys heard it, right? I assume you already know what you need to do."
Everyone nodded their heads. In order to survive, everyone needed to hunt down monsters. Of course, there were still people who were terrified of the fact that they had to fight monsters.
But it can't be helped. If they don't fight, they will die. That was just the truth of the story. They can't depend on others anymore.
This world was far too harsh for dreams of comfort.