23. Voting Results
"Come under you?"
Jo Jung-sik nodded at Ryumin's question.
"Yeah. Then I'll at least spare your life."
Jo Jung-sik said this while twirling the dagger in his hand.
It was a clear threat.
Ryumin found this amusing and couldn't hold back a chuckle.
"Pfft."
"Hey. What's so funny?"
Ignoring Jo Jung-sik's serious tone, Ryumin opened his inventory.
Shing-
A huge scythe emerged from thin air.
Jo Jung-sik's dagger, shorter than a forearm, looked pathetic in comparison.
"..."
Jo Jung-sik unconsciously gulped.
"You want to try me now?"
"Y-you, where did you get such a weapon..."
"Kneel."
Ryumin spoke again in a cold tone.
"If you kneel down and bow your head apologizing now, I'll let you go quietly."
"You bastard, seems you still don't understand the situation. I'm going to be the next round's district representative..."
"Is my words hard to understand? Or do you need to see blood spilled here to be satisfied?"
Ryumin's scythe moved slowly.
Jo Jung-sik, unwillingly placed at a crossroads, swallowed his curses.
'Damn it! How was I supposed to know he had such a weapon!'
It wasn't just any scythe, but a huge one taller than a person.
Its threatening appearance at a glance crushed the fighting spirit of anyone wanting to fight.
'I was prepared to fight if necessary, but...'
This measly dagger seems no match at all.
Jo Jung-sik bit his lower lip.
He got into this mess for needlessly provoking Black Scythe.
'Shit... I got carried away thinking I had control of the situation when I'm not even district representative yet...'
Intoxicated by the thought of controlling the situation, he ended up messing with the nose hair of the 1st place ranker.
It was a clear mistake.
"Why no answer? Seeing how we conversed, you should understand Korean."
"..."
"Did you suddenly forget how to speak? Then I'll fix you so you can talk."
As Ryumin took a stance as if about to swing his scythe, Jo Jung-sik spoke with a tense expression.
"I'm Jo Jung-sik, boss of the Jung-sik faction. There's no gangster in Seoul who doesn't know my name. You think someone like me would kneel to the likes of you?"
Jo Jung-sik raised his dagger with determination.
"Come at me with that fancy weapon, damn it. But you better be prepared to kill. Otherwise, you'll be the one getting your throat slit."
Revealing his real name and taking a fighting stance in a situation where he should be intimidated?
'His guts are good now as before.'
Ryumin laughed inwardly.
'Should I stop playing around now?'
He had no intention of killing Jo Jung-sik.
He didn't even want to hurt him unnecessarily.
He needed someone to become district representative, and he had to use him in the next round.
'If I show off my strength needlessly, more votes might go to me instead of Jo Jung-sik.'
This much is appropriate - not losing in the battle of nerves.
Just like in previous regressions.
'It's about time for the angel to appear, so should I stop here?'
Sure enough.
[Are you all gathered, humans?]
The angel appeared as expected.
"Lucky."
Ryumin put his scythe back in his inventory first.
There was no benefit in drawing the angel's attention.
"Next time, be careful who you pick a fight with. If you don't want to die early."
"..."
As Ryumin turned away, Jo Jung-sik inwardly sighed in relief.
'Haa... I thought I was going to die from fear.'
It was a sigh of relief.
'Honestly my pride is hurt, but isn't it good I didn't die?'
Just now was just bluffing using bravado.
In truth, Jo Jung-sik didn't want to fight Black Scythe either.
'Phew... I almost died, damn it.'
But luckily the angel appeared and he could avoid the situation.
He didn't show a cowardly appearance in front of people either.
'Let it slide for now, but just wait. I'll pay back this humiliation double.'
If people here vote for him and he becomes district representative as planned?
Then there's no reason to be intimidated like now.
Because he'll have the overpowered authority of command.
As Jo Jung-sik was vowing revenge, the angel smiled.
[Kihihihi, humans. Have you discussed who to make representative?]
"..."
People remained silent.
It was hard to tell if it should be called discussion or intimidation.
The angel giggled, already seeing the corpses scattered around the open space.
[Looks like you didn't just talk for 3 hours. The 5,143 participants have been reduced to 4,988!]
More people died than expected, but not all from fighting each other.
Some who entered the forest died to monsters too.
[It's none of my business whether humans die or not. Then shall we proceed with voting as planned?]
As the wings fluttered, identical message windows appeared before everyone.
[We will now proceed with voting to select the district representative.]
[Each person can cast one vote, and the player who receives the most votes will become district representative.]
[In case of a tie, those players will become candidates and a revote will be held.]
[Now please look at the person you want to vote for and think 'vote' in your mind.]
[Players who do not finish voting within the 5 minute time limit will be eliminated and disappear from the round.]
[Voting time limit: 00:04:59]
As time was given, people murmured and glanced at each other.
'Look at the person we want to vote for?'
People's gazes naturally turned to Jo Jung-sik.
'As expected, attention is focused on me. Hehe.'
It was natural since he threatened to kill anyone who didn't vote for him.
But there were some who avoided eye contact.
"Hey, you Chubby Cheeks Steamed Bun!"
"Y-yes? Me?"
"Why aren't you looking at me? You didn't vote for me, did you?"
"N-no, I did."
"Don't lie. I've been watching, you've only been looking elsewhere!"
Jo Jung-sik intimidated people to encourage voting, trying to gain even one more vote.
After 5 minutes passed, the angel spoke.
[Time's up. There were 4,988 votes total, fortunately no stupid humans forgot to vote! Then shall we count the votes?]
Soon after, a translucent window appeared before people with nicknames and numbers.
The numbers kept rising like a real-time voting chart, then the results came out.
1st. Life is a Documentary (2,412 votes)
2nd. Black Scythe (2,077 votes)
3rd. Black Dragon on Right Hand (249 votes)
4th. Chubby Cheeks Steamed Bun (6 votes)
5th. Cute Baby Bird (5 votes)
...
...
Jo Jung-sik, who expected overwhelming results, frowned.
'I only got 2,412 votes? And 2nd place is Black Scythe?'
The difference in votes with Black Scythe was only 335.
Though not a close call, he was displeased that the gap wasn't larger.
'I told these bastards to only vote for me, but they secretly voted for Black Scythe?'
Jo Jung-sik glared around, but there was no way to know who voted for whom.
'Can't be helped. The results are already out.'
Jo Jung-sik grinned.
Whatever the process, as long as the result is good, that's all that matters.
'As expected, I became district representative. I've gained the powerful authority to control people!'
Jo Jung-sik's gaze turned to Black Scythe.
'No matter how strong he is, he can't win against 5,000 humans.'
If he orders people to kill Black Scythe, he'll eventually die.
'You bastard. I'll make you regret not killing me. Kukukuku.'
As Jo Jung-sik was filled with anticipation, the angel announced.
[It's decided. Life is a Documentary in 1st place has been selected as this district's representative!]
No one was happy.
Most votes were forced out of fear of Jo Jung-sik's retaliation.
The only one smiling was Jo Jung-sik himself.
"Hehe, now you all better suck up to me. Otherwise I'll kill you with my command authority."
As he declared in advance that he would act like a dictator, shadows fell on people's faces.
[Then I'll give Life is a Documentary, who became district representative, the authority to control people.]
Soon after, a message appeared before Jo Jung-sik.
[You have become the district representative.]
[You have received Command Authority, the representative's unique power.]
[You can check detailed information in the Skills section of your status window.]
'Hehe, finally.'
Jo Jung-sik grinned and opened his status window.
[Command Authority] was added to the Skills section.
Jo Jung-sik smiled and checked the information on this skill others didn't have.
[Temporary Skill - Command Authority]
-Effect: Can issue orders to forcibly control players.
The player cannot disobey orders under any circumstances.
Can be used 10 times total, and the skill disappears when all chances are used.
Only one order can be given to each player.
Note that the skill does not work on players who have a job.
The smile disappeared from Jo Jung-sik's face as he read the information.
'Wh-what is this? It can only be used 10 times?'
He thought he could give unlimited orders, but it's only 10 times.
'Well, it's still a powerful authority, but...'
He couldn't help but be dumbfounded, not expecting there to be limits.
'And what's with that last line? It doesn't work on players with jobs?'
In other words, getting a job makes you immune and able to disobey orders.
Of course, Jo Jung-sik doesn't know how to get a job either.
So he wasn't worried.
'Others probably don't know either.'
Anyway, if he uses Command Authority well, he can control the situation.
If he hides the fact that there are penalties.
Above all, it's good that he can kill Black Scythe who he hates seeing.
'That damn bastard. I'll order him to hand over all his items and commit suicide. Ah! Come to think of it, I can only give one order per person?'
Jo Jung-sik's mouth stretched into a wide grin.
'I'll threaten him to hand over items, then make him commit suicide if he doesn't listen. Of course, I'll kill him even if he hands them over. Kukukuku.'
He couldn't help but laugh at the thought of being able to get rid of his hated rival.
But Jo Jung-sik's laughter didn't last long.
Because the angel said something unexpected.
[Now, humans? You think it's over since you voted? But it's not. There was a hidden quest in this round.]
"What are you saying?"
"Hidden quest?"
As people were bewildered, the angel flapped its wings.
└Change class before voting time
└Obtain a class change item and get a job!
└Success Reward ▶ 50% discount coupon for today's items!
"Huh? What's this?"
"Sub-quest?"
People were surprised by the suddenly appearing quest.
They never thought there would be another quest.
[There was a hidden sub-quest in this round. It was set to pop up like this when you reach level 10... You didn't know? Kihihihi.]
"But how are we supposed to level up without monsters..."
The angel frowned at someone's complaint.
[No monsters? Monsters are everywhere if you enter the forest.]
"..."
[You can change class when you reach level 10 by hunting in the forest. You can get items needed for class change by killing monsters.]
"Ah..."
Sighs of regret flowed from people's mouths.
They belatedly realized.
That they had wasted time needlessly all this while.
'Damn, we shouldn't have been discussing and fighting in a place like this!'
'We should have just entered the forest and hunted...'
'Then we could have completed the sub-quest and gotten rewards!'
People sighed, but regret is always too late no matter how quick.
[Don't be too disappointed. You may have missed the rewards, but anyone can change class once they reach level 10. You can aim for the next round!]
After consoling people, the angel continued.
[Plus, only 80,000 people across all districts changed class this round. That's not even 0.01%!]
"80,000 people?"
"That many people changed class..."
Though 80,000 out of 900 million total survivors was certainly a small percentage, it didn't register in people's ears.
They just felt self-loathing at the fact that 80,000 people were higher level than them.
[Oh, come to think of it, there's one person who changed class in our district too.]
People were surprised at the angel's words and looked around.
"There's someone who changed class?"
"Who is it?"
[Shall we check the sub-quest tally results to see who it is?]
A moment later, as the tally results appeared, people's eyes widened.