The Pervert God's Buildup

After barricading the main entrance with the dead beetle, I immediately pulled out of the area.

Insects scattered across the vast department store would come swarming any second.

We ended up on the third floor.

Not the entire floor, but the purple flowers blooming around us gave off a peculiar scent insects hated. It wouldn't stop them completely, but if we stayed quiet and hidden, we could rest safely enough.

As long as we stayed quiet.

Thud!!!

I clearly warned them, yet there they go.

And why is that idiot just taking it like a complete moron?

"You unlucky bastard..!!"

"......"

Baek Sihyeon, collar seized and shoved hard against the wall, kept his head bowed as the man's bitter accusations poured over him.

"This is all your fault! You unlucky bastard!! You said it'd be fine, right?! Nothing would happen, right?! Then what the hell is this?!!!"

"I'm sorry..."

"Sorry for what?! Mister, let go of him! How is this our fault?!"

"She's right! We're hurting and grieving too!!"

"Shut up! You're all the same!!"

"Yeah! Ever since you people showed up, accidents haven't stopped!!"

"And now another person is dead!! How many more have to die before this ends!!"

"How is that our fault?!"

"Then why are you the only ones always fine?!! People keep dying around you, yet not a single one of you gets hurt!!!"

"Just admit it! You started the rumor that you can earn points here, didn't you?!"

"Yeah! You dragged us here because you got a quest to get us killed, right?!"

"Please stop!!"

Oh-ho.

This is good.

Relations between Baek Sihyeon's group and the rest of the people were bad.

Not just bad—absolute rock bottom.

Staying with the crowd would be pure misery from here on, but leaving the National Assembly left them nowhere to go either.

If I casually held out a hand ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in a situation like this, they'd grab it without thinking.

So why not stoke the conflict a little more?

"We're heading out on a quest."

"Kang Juhan."

"Yes, Captain."

"May we join that quest as well?"

They bit the hook themselves.

I'd expected the civilians to take the bait first, but whatever. Anyone works.

"When you say 'we,' who exactly do you mean?"

"Naturally, the people here."

"I refuse."

"What..?"

"Captain, the soldiers, and the five who were with the guy getting collared over there. That much I can allow."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"W-what are you saying?!"

"Why not us?!"

"I can't stand whiny people."

"Whiny?! People have died—"

I slammed Mook into the floor.

No—I drove it straight down.

Crack!!!

The heavy steel rod punched through the solid floor. The people who'd been raising their voices fell silent at once.

"Don't whine. I have zero obligation to help any of you."

"......"

"Th-then..! Why help the soldiers and those guys..?"

"Because they're not dead weight. You are."

Watching others enjoy benefits you can't have?

Even people without complaints start growing them.

Especially when this quest's penalty is lethal-level.

"We decline. We'll act together with these people."

Kid's got pride, I'll give him that.

Doesn't matter. That pride will just make him look even more unlikable.

"Suit yourself. Captain?"

"We'll find our own way. We have to prevent any more sacrifices."

"Then do that. Let's go."

I left with my group and started hunting insects so everyone could clear the quest.

Even with numbers that should have been overwhelming, the hunting stayed easy thanks to their habits.

Mantises were independent monsters that even fought each other over prey, and the ants only moved in groups of about five on average until a queen appeared.

Occasionally a larger pack of ten showed up, but those were rarer than you'd think.

"Haa.. I'm exhausted...."

"Unnie, how many left?"

"Two for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me now.. Nari, you?"

"One."

"I'm jealous.. How many do you guys have left?"

"Three."

"Same."

"I've still got five..."

Whenever we took a break mid-hunt, we circled back to where the people were.

It was safe, sure, but mostly I came to mess with them.

"Hang in there a little longer, everyone. Clear the quest and you get three stats plus a skill. What was the penalty on this one again? I already cleared it so I can't check."

"Six random stat drops, half your held points deducted, 30% stat reduction for three days, and breeding expansion."

"Hmm... They're really trying to kill us with a memorial service. Taking six stats—what are we supposed to do after that?"

I shot a sidelong glance at the crowd. They bit their lips, scowling as they glared our way.

They needed help but were too scared to ask, so the anger just built.

And that resentment and rage always aimed itself at the softest target among the people who might still help them.

"Captain Son! Any word from headquarters?! Are they coming to rescue us or not?!"

"They're drafting an operation, so please wait a little longer."

"How long are we just supposed to wait?!"

"Anyone who comes here has to take the quest. Simply escaping means accepting massive losses. On top of that, this is a space where firearms are restricted. We have to plan carefully and move carefully."

"Ugh..! Seriously..!!!"

"You guys do something at least!"

"Why are you taking it out on us?!"

"Because they're helping you!"

"Yeah! Get the stats and skills with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠their help, then come help us!"

"That works!"

"Go ask them right now!! If we lose our stat points because of this, you're taking the blame?!"

"Stop shoving!"

"Mister..!!"

"I'll talk to them! Just stop pushing!!"

Wow... they really know how to kill any goodwill.

At this rate even Baek Sihyeon should cut them off and stick with me.

But whether from pride or something else, Baek Sihyeon stayed silent. Choi Junseok and Lee Jeongcheol, shoved forward with him, made the request instead.

That wouldn't do.

If we were going to live together going forward, the hierarchy needed to be crystal clear.

"......"

"Could you help us a little..?"

"Please."

"Just the two of you need help?"

"Huh??"

"No! All six of us—"

"Then the people who need it should do the asking. You're not kids. Having someone else beg for you?"

"Ah... hey.. Sihyeon.."

"......"

"You two, get over here too!"

I didn't even stand. I just turned my head and looked at Baek Sihyeon's group.

"Please help us."

"Please.."

"Help us!"

"Please help."

"......"

"......"

Choi Junseok, Kim Seojeong, Lee Jeongcheol, and An Gyeongsu all bowed and asked for help.

But Baek Sihyeon, still nursing a grudge over me tearing the clothes of the woman he secretly loved right in front of him, and Yu Eunseol, who'd been covered in my semen back in the clinic last time, kept their chins high and looked anywhere else, pretending not to notice.

"Then just the four of you can come along."

"Hey..! What are you doing..!!"

"Eunseol..!"

"Don't. I have no desire to force help on people who don't want it—"

"Please... help...."

"I... request your help...!"

In the end Yu Eunseol and Baek Sihyeon bowed their heads, and I cheerfully accepted the request.

"Sure."

And at that exact moment a quest window floated up in front of my eyes.

A black quest from the pervert god, no less.

What kind of scheme is this pervert god cooking up now?

The quest was shady, but since we were in a department store, clearing it wasn't hard.

"We don't have time for this!"

"We've got time right here."

"What if something happens to the people while we're doing this?!"

"They're safe. As long as nobody starts shooting guns or screaming their heads off singing."

"Even so..!!"

"Hey, Baek Sihyeon."

"......"

I deliberately dropped my voice low.

He shut his mouth immediately.

He knew I was stronger than him right now.

But I wasn't planning to crush him with force alone.

"Look over there. How do their faces look?"

"......"

Seeing the women's expressions, Baek Sihyeon's own face softened a little.

"Everyone's exhausted from surviving this long. Especially the women. They've had it several times harder than the men."

"I know that, but..."

"You have to give them a chance to reset their mood like this once in a while. Otherwise it's not the body that breaks first—it's here."

I tapped my temple. Baek Sihyeon looked around with worried eyes, then let out a small sigh and nodded.

"...Understood."

"So what style do you like?"

"....Why are you asking that?"

"Just asking. I'm helping you out—can't you answer something this simple?"

"......"

After a brief silence, Baek Sihyeon glanced at Yu Eunseol and whispered almost under his breath.

"Something flashy yet... plain..."

"Haa... picky as hell. Just pick one."

"You asked and I answered..!!"

Leaving the red-faced Baek Sihyeon behind, I headed over to where Jihye and Nari were.

"Flashy yet plain style."

"Picky..."

"Right? Still, I think I get the vibe."

"Yeah? Then I'll leave it to you."

"Okay."

"Yes."

Set loose in an ownerless department store, the women who hadn't dressed themselves up once since the zombies appeared came alive like fish returned to water.

"Eunseol, this would look great on you!"

"I'm fine."

"Fine my ass. Get over here!"

"Hurry! Hurry!"

"Unnies..!!"

"Seojeong, you come help dress Eunseol too!"

"Okay~~"

"We're going too!"

"Eunseol, try this one~"

"This too! This too!"

Even Yu Eunseol, who'd been wearing that haughty face like every second was a waste, was helpless once Jihye, Nari, Choi Junseok's girlfriend Kim Seojeong, and the three nosy aunties all piled on. She got dressed up whether she liked it or not.

Of course, we kept hunting the whole time.

The women's chatter was drawing insects in ones and twos.

"Hey, incoming."

"Kieeeeek!!!"

"Kieeek!!"

"Kieeeek!!"

"Kieeeeeeek!!!"

Four ants.

Perfect for a relaxed fight.

"Hey, Baek Sihyeon."

"I know! Joints!"

"Not that. Where'd you meet the guy with the glasses?"

"Gyeongsu? At the café. Why are you asking?"

"Just curious how you all ended up together."

"Ask after we're done."

"Kieeeeeek!!!!"

Met at a café.

That meant they'd been together from the start.

A variable that never appeared in the webtoon, in a place that had nothing to do with me.

Why?

He didn't look special enough to be a variable.

"Gyeongsu!"

"I'm fine! Sorry, could you draw its attention one more time?!"

His movements were pathetic.

Not even on the level of Jaemin or Yeonghun.

But he knew the weaknesses of mantises, beetles, everything.

Could be a skill.

But if it wasn't?

"Nice work!"

"Huff..! Huff..! Thank you..."

"......"

Maybe that guy was in the same position as me.

Another person who'd fallen into the webtoon.

"......"

"......"

What? Why's he staring at me like that?

Don't tell me he's thinking the same thing about me?

"Is there something you wanted to say to me?"

"Why do you think that?"

"You were staring so hard..."

Ah, I was staring too hard.

But it was just too weird.

A sixth member who never appeared in the webtoon.

"You just looked a little uneasy."

"Ah.. sorry.. I'm not confident with physical stuff..."

"If it's not too rude, could I see your status win—"

"Oh my! Eunseol, you're so pretty!"

"Seriously gorgeous! You look like an idol!"

"Isn't this unfair? Pretty face and a body like that?"

"Unnie..."

While I was helping Baek Sihyeon's group finish off the ants, Yu Eunseol's makeover was complete.

And Baek Sihyeon's gasp slipped out.

"Whoa....."

She did look good.

Flashy yet plain style.

An oversized white tee tucked into a red tennis skirt for the plain part, earrings and bracelets on both wrists for the flashy part.

Though the accessories probably weren't even necessary.

Like Kim Seojeong said, her face and body were already flashy enough.

Light makeup on that expressionless face plus a touch of color on her cheeks brought out real life. She looked ready to debut as an idol.

More surprising was that she'd been bare-faced this whole time.

Anyway, even in the oversized tee her chest stood out, and the smooth legs under the short skirt were so striking the accessories barely registered.

Thanks to that, the quest cleared cleanly.

Was this calculated too?

Did it know I'd stare if she was dressed like that?

Yu Eunseol, whose eyes met mine while I still couldn't look away, turned that lightly made-up face ice-cold and glared at me sharply.

Wait—this was a chain quest??

This goddamn pervert god..!!

And what the hell are these chain quest rewards?!!

"Kieeeeeeek!!!!!"

What? Sending a mantis right now to make me do the quest??

The build-up is perfect..!

"Yu Eunseol, want to take that one?"

"Ah..! Yes."

"Eunseol, your clothes—!"

"Go on, hurry!"

"Quickly!!"

Thank god.

Kim Seojeong tried to stop her, but sharp-eyed Jihye and Nari immediately fanned the flames from the side.

Tap-tap-tap—

Yu Eunseol grabbed her scabbard and ran up beside me still wearing the short tennis skirt. Baek Sihyeon, a little farther back, couldn't tear his eyes off her.

Conditions were perfect.

"A mantis's weak points are under the jaw and the eyes. But like every living thing, it's most sensitive to visual threats, so the eyes are harder to hit than you'd think. Aim for the jaw."

"Yes."

"And... I'm sorry about that day."

"......"

Yu Eunseol said nothing.

She simply drew the razor-sharp Japanese sword from its scabbard.

While turning her head just enough to glare at me like she wanted me dead.

Shhhrrring—

Taat!!

She sprinted toward the mantis like she was fleeing me.

"Kieeeeeeek!!!!!"

"Now! Dive in!"

The second I knocked aside the swinging foreleg with Mook, I shouted.

And Yu Eunseol, without a shred of doubt, shot past my side and straight into the mantis's reach.

Even though it still had one foreleg left.

"Kieeeeeeek!!!"

"Look out!!"

"Ah...."

I raised Mook to block the foreleg dropping toward Yu Eunseol's head.

And with the tip of the rod, I flipped her short skirt up.

Flutter~

The skirt billowed wide open, putting Yu Eunseol's white panties on full display.

Rewards are trash, but at least the quest was easy. Nice.

Kaaaang!!!!!

Grrrk!!

I gripped the horizontal Mook with both hands and held the mantis's foreleg. Yu Eunseol yanked the fluttering skirt back down under her hips with both hands and glared at me with eyes full of pure resentment.

"Sorry. Accident."

"You absolute...!!!!"

"What are you doing! Kill it already!"

"Kieeeeeeek!!!!!!!"

"I'm going to kill you!!!!!"

Ugh, why did my jaw and the top of my head just go cold?

Puuuuk!!!!

The Japanese sword that stabbed through the mantis's jaw burst out the top of its head—and another quest appeared right in front of my eyes.