The Story Completely Changes

Two military trucks sat blocking the department store entrance.

I stopped for a moment and looked back.

"You don't have to come with us."

Baek Sihyeon's group hadn't received any quest at all. And these were people who had fought side by side with the soldiers — and with the civilians inside the department store — through life-and-death operations. No matter how horrific the things someone in there had done, what was about to happen might sit wrong with them. Sympathy might shake their resolve.

"No. We're going in with you."

"Yeah. If a person does something worse than an animal, they have to pay for it."

At Baek Sihyeon and Lee Jeongcheol's words, the rest of their group nodded with faces set in grim determination.

Then we go in together.

"Let's start."

"Come on, Nari."

"Okay."

Jaeyeol and Nari moved first, and Suho and I followed right behind them.

Same as when the soldiers hit the bank — the drivers would stay with the trucks. And they had guns. So to get into the department store safely, we were going to open the entrance first.

The method was simple.

"KRAAAAH!!!"

"KRAAH!!!"

"KRAAAAAH!!!"

"KRAAAH!!!"

Once Jaeyeol and Nari reached the road in front of the main entrance, zombies would swarm the cars around them, and the soldiers in the truck cabs would naturally look that way.

Or not. Even if the soldiers ignored the two of them, it wouldn't matter. The arrows Nari loosed would grab their attention either way.

Shiiiiing!!!

Paaaat!!!!

While the soldier in the driver's seat flinched or ducked at the arrow that shattered the passenger window, Suho and I slipped up from behind the truck and scrambled into the cargo bed. We dropped down into the space the truck was blocking at the main doors. I sprinted for the truck up front while Suho smashed the driver's window with his spear and pressed the tip to the soldier's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠throat, subduing him in a heartbeat.

The instant Nari's arrow punched through the passenger window of my truck, I smashed the driver's window with my mace and shoved my hand inside.

Kwaaak!!!

I clamped my hand around the soldier's throat through the shattered glass and said quietly,

"Drop the gun. Unless you want your neck snapped."

"Kh...!!"

We hauled both soldiers out of the trucks, stripped them down to their underwear, and forced them to their knees on the ground.

"P-please spare us..!!"

"Please, just our lives...!"

"How many did you bring?"

"Sixteen including me!"

"Same for me!"

"Got it. Keep your voices down and stay quiet."

"Yes..."

"Understood.."

Excluding the two drivers, thirty men. Add Captain Son Gijun and the eight soldiers already inside, plus about fourteen surviving civilians. Thirty-eight soldiers and fourteen civilians — fifty-two total.

"Juhan, that's more than I expected?"

"Yeah. If they're all bunched up, this is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠going to be a headache."

"What do we do? Stick to the plan?"

"First let's figure out how they're moving."

"Alright."

Guns were a last resort. The second a shot went off, the bugs would pour in like a swarm of bees.

"Are you sure you don't need our help?"

"Yes, we're fine. It's actually easier this way. And if the soldiers show up before we get there, subdue them as planned."

"Got it."

The resistance fighters with guns would be ambushed along the second-floor railing. The moment the soldiers stepped out onto the first floor — no cover — trying to reach the trucks at the main entrance, the resistance would use the high ground and pin them down with gunfire.

Of course, that was only if our operation failed.

For fifty-two people to clear the quest, they needed to kill five hundred twenty insects total. Were there that many bugs inside this department store?

Probably not that many — but either way, to clear the quest they'd have to split up and hunt in groups. Or drive a larger number of insects into a mass hunt.

If all fifty-two were gathered in one place, we'd join the resistance fighters ambushed on the second floor. Without guns, subduing that many people was impossible.

But that wouldn't happen. Once people started clearing the quest one by one and picking up stats and skills — if it went in order of strength starting from Captain Son Gijun, and once they adapted to fighting the insects — they would absolutely split their forces. It was simply more efficient.

"Kieeee!!!!"

"What the hell are you doing?! Let me kill it first!!"

"It's not as easy as it sounds...!"

"Quit whining! Can't you see we're busy?!"

"Whining? What's your name?!"

"Sergeant First Class Park Gibum, why!"

"Park Gibum! I've got your name locked in!"

"Remember it or don't..!"

"Kieeeeee!!!"

"Team leader!"

"I'll take the mantis. Clear the ants as fast as you can."

"Yes, sir!"

Just as I thought.

And of course, the first person we ran into was Captain Son Gijun. There were familiar faces too — ones I hadn't seen since this morning.

"Deputy team leader! Another mantis!"

"I've got it."

A massive soldier charged the mantis. Sergeant First Class Kim San. And the other soldiers who'd been with Captain Son Gijun, Kim San, and Lieutenant Kim Mihi were all there too. Plenty of new faces mixed in as well.

"Alright, shall we? I'll take Captain Son. The rest of you handle the others."

"Then I'll take Sergeant Kim San."

"Hyung, Suho hyung or I can take him."

"Nah, I'll do it. Guy looks like he hits hard — might as well match the character."

Jaeyeol shot me a slightly worried look. I shrugged at Gihun, who was practically radiating confidence.

"Let him do what he wants. If it looks dangerous, back him up."

"Got it."

"Don't need help~ I'm going first!"

"Hyung, wait up!"

"Suho."

"Yeah?"

"You handle the girls and the insects first."

"On it."

"What should we do?"

"Help with the insects. Fighting soldiers was going to sit wrong with you guys anyway."

"Alright."

Suho, the girls, and Baek Sihyeon's group would take the insects. The rest of us would subdue the soldiers.

But what the hell was that idiot doing?

"Kieeeee!!!!"

"Thanks."

"Urgh!! That's not a thank-you...! Hey! Why are you attacking me?!!"

"Sigh...."

Gihun, who'd charged in to subdue Kim San, ended up tanking a mantis attack for him and basically helping with the hunt. Which was probably why Captain Son Gijun didn't even flinch at my appearance — he just asked for help instead.

"Just draw its attention for a moment!"

But I wasn't Gihun.

Kwajik!!!!

I swung my mace, bursting the mantis's eyeball and caving in its skull, then turned to face Captain Son Gijun, who held a military greatsword in each hand.

"This is an ambush."

"......"

"Try to stop me."

"Enemy assault!!!"

"Wait, hold on... Keuhk!!!!!"

"Sigh..."

Gihun, still holding the mantis's forelegs, left his side wide open — Kim San drove a hit straight into his ribs and sent him tumbling across the floor. The other soldiers started attacking Jaeyeol, Mingu, Jaemin, and Yeonghun.

Accepting this quest might have been the right call after all. Those thugs hadn't been much help, but these soldiers were going to teach my people exactly how hard and dangerous a fight against other humans could be.

Of course, that didn't apply to me.

Hwiik! Hwik!!!

Captain Son Gijun swung the reverse-gripped greatsword in his left hand and thrust the properly held one in his right. I leaned my upper body back and tilted my head, slipping both attacks.

But that was exactly what he'd wanted — to buy distance and time.

Seuk- seuk-

He dropped both greatswords, his hands going to his waist for the pistol. He wrapped both hands around the drawn gun and leveled the barrel at me.

I was still faster.

Deopseok- hwaak!!!

Taang!!!

Without the Acceleration skill, that would've gotten me. I barely caught his wrist and shoved it up, sending the bullet into the ceiling. With a breath of room to spare, I offered some advice.

"What are you going to do when the bullets run out, relying on a gun like that?"

"......"

He looked slightly rattled, but his recovery was fast. With his right wrist still locked in my grip, he passed the pistol to his left hand and dropped the muzzle.

I was faster again.

Taat!!

I swung my mace up to knock the pistol away, then brought it straight down — stopping it dead, right in front of Captain Son Gijun's forehead.

"Still want to continue?"

"Why are you doing this?"

"Revenge."

"Is there something between us that warrants revenge?"

"It's not revenge against you, Captain."

"Then..."

"Team leader's done. Now fight me. I don't like owing people."

Kim San, who'd been knocked out by the entrenching tool I'd swung from the bridge, cracked his neck left and right as he came over. But he wasn't the only one who hated owing a debt.

"Augh....!! That hurts like hell..!!"

"That's why I told you Endurance matters. One hit and you're down — what's the point?"

"From now on I'm putting everything into Endurance first..!!"

Gihun clutched his side, forced himself up, and peeled off the gauntlets on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his hands.

Kung- kung-

He clenched and unclenched his fists as he strode toward Kim San.

"Old man. You any good with strength?"

"Strength? That's my specialty."

"Then let's go."

"Fine by me."

What was that? That painfully simple male conversation?

It wasn't just the talk that was simple. The fight was just as basic.

Kwaaak!! Kwaaak!!!

They locked fingers, clasped both hands, and went straight into a contest of raw strength. And that was the absolute worst choice — for Kim San, at least.

"Kkeuuuuk...!!"

"Heheheheh!!!"

"Sigh... fighting like actual cavemen..."

Kim San's fingers and wrists were slowly being bent back, his knees starting to buckle, while Gihun still had enough room to laugh. Because raw Strength alone, Gihun sat at a full 17 — the highest among us, myself included. On top of that he had a Might skill that boosted Strength further. Even if I used Stat Amplification, I couldn't guarantee I'd win a pure strength contest against him.

Tuuk!!

Kim San's wrists finally folded completely. His knees hit the floor, and the surrender came out.

"I...! lose...!!!"

"Hooo!!! I won! You see that?!"

"I saw. You brute."

"How is that brute?! That's manly! Right, Sergeant Kim San?!"

"Kid knows a thing or two. I lost this time, but I won't lose the next."

"Challenge me anytime. I don't run."

"......"

The two of them exchanged a conversation I could not begin to understand, then even clasped hands and helped each other up — a full display of fair play.

Meanwhile, Yeonghun and Jaemin seemed to have learned a lot from this opportunity.

"Hoo... that's enough. Looks like the match is decided."

"Damn it...!!"

"Why are you trying to get back up? We lost."

"Son of a bitch...!!!"

Gihun, Jaeyeol, Mingu, and I had won. Yeonghun and Jaemin had lost. That didn't mean those two were weak. These soldiers were just stronger than expected.

"Nobody mo—"

"Next one's your head."

"......"

Even then, a young man tried to pull a gun for a last-second reversal — but the arrow Nari had planted next to his face made his legs give out, and he dropped right where he stood.

"We'll be collecting the guns for now."

"Hoo... I'd appreciate an explanation of what this revenge is about."

At Captain Son Gijun's words, I pulled Jihye's phone from my pocket and showed him a single photo. It was disrespectful to the dead, but I'd taken a picture of Yeonghun's late cousin with the phone camera. With Yeonghun and his uncle's permission, of course. Neither of them wanted innocent people sacrificed either.

"This is..."

"Don't tell me one of us..."

"It wasn't us!"

"What do you take us for?!"

"Team leader! Deputy team leader! It really wasn't us!"

"There's no way we'd do something like this!"

The soldiers looked indignant. But one of them reacted differently — the guy whose legs had given out from Nari's arrow.

"It was you, wasn't it?"

"W-what are you talking about?! I didn't do it! I was just standing next to them... eup!!"

The confession slipped out before he could stop it, and a heavy, dull set of footsteps rolled across the floor.

Jeobeok..! Jeobeok...! Jeobeok!!

Yeonghun stood in front of the man who'd confessed, head bowed, clenched fists trembling.

"I-I said it wasn't me!! I just went along because they were doing it— Keuhk!!!!!!!"

Yeonghun's fist buried itself clean in the man's gut. The soldier clutched his stomach and pitched face-first into the floor. Yeonghun kicked him once more to flip him onto his back, then climbed on top of him and raised a violently shaking fist high.

"Hyeonji...!"

Puk!!!

"How much...!!"

Puk!!!

"It must have hurt....!!"

Puk!!!

"Feel it yourself, you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠son of a bitch!!!!!!"

The last full-power punch stopped in midair — Jaemin had locked both arms around Yeonghun from behind.

"Let go of me!!!!"

"We need to find out who the rest of them are. Kill them after we know."

"......Uwaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!"

Yeonghun howled out his rage, slamming his fist into the floor beside the unconscious man's face. He was going to break his own hand at that rate, so Mingu had to rush in too before they finally dragged him off.

Peoeoeok!!!!!!

One of the five men responsible for Yeonghun's cousin's death had been at the department store. The other four weren't. But that didn't mean no one among the soldiers and civilians here had done anything wrong.

"W-we just— she was struggling after losing her husband, so..!"

"That's right! We were only comforting her— Keuhk!!!"

"Aaagh!!"

"Don't give me that shit!!"

"How could you do that the second Hyocheol died?!!"

"You pieces of shit worse than dogs!!!"

"Keuhk!! Keok!!"

"Euhk..!! Eok..!!!"

Soldiers who had forcibly assaulted a wife who'd just lost her husband. Soldiers who had assaulted a child who'd lost her older brother. Even among the civilians, there were people who — far from stopping the soldiers — had seen what they were doing and done the same.

"I-I-I just...!!"

"Die. You maggot."

"D-don't kill me! Spare me! I didn't do anything bad enough to die for!!!"

The atrocities that had started at the National Assembly. It hadn't been like this from the beginning. As time dragged on and the situation showed no sign of improving, people started to change.

We're going to die anyway — might as well live however we want.

But only by picking on the weakest people.

"Is all of that true..?"

"Yes, Captain."

"Then, Lieutenant Kim Mihi — are you planning to fight the military?"

"If necessary. No — I will fight. At the very least, the military holding the National Assembly isn't doing its job. So please help us. We can't do this alone."

At Lieutenant Kim Mihi's request, Captain Son Gijun and the other soldiers fell into thought. In a military built on absolute chain of command, joining a resistance wasn't insubordination — it was open rebellion.

"I know. I know how strong your sense of duty and conviction as a soldier is, Captain Son Gijun. But you said it yourself, didn't you? Blowing the bridge wasn't something that served everyone."

"But it was about protecting the citizens we could protect."

"Exactly. So please protect the citizens you can protect this time too. Don't look away. I'm asking you."

"......"

If Captain Son Gijun and these soldiers sided with the resistance? Then maybe the story would change completely. Not a military victory — a resistance victory.

A white quest....

Yes! This was a proper quest!

But what the hell was a Lucky Random Box?