Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Control
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I frowned at the unexpected quest content.
'Drinking water?'
No matter the environment you're stranded in, drinking water is crucial.
The human body is 60-70% water, after all.
I'd once read that you can't last more than a week without water, but you could survive a month on water alone.
Water was that vital to humans.
'First clams, now drinking water.'
My thoughts grew a bit complicated.
No way it meant scouring this damn island for natural fresh water, right?
That would be total bullshit. How the hell do you find drinkable water surrounded by saltwater ocean?
"Hey."
"?"
"What're you thinking so hard about?"
"Nothing. We've dug enough now. Let's head back before we get heatstroke or sunstroke from this blazing sun."
Nod.
We each grabbed an end of the burlap sack and headed back to where the others were.
"What's that?"
Someone came out to greet us as we arrived.
It was Yoon Jihoo.
Towering height. Muscular build. Brown hair and blue eyes.
He was mixed-race and loved working out, giving him a bigger, more solid frame than most gym buffs, but his family background was a bit unique.
"Huh? Those are clams, right?"
He recognized them at a glance.
I'd taken forever to figure out what they looked like, but Yoon Jihoo nailed it on the first try.
'Son of a Michelin-star chef, as expected.'
His father was a Michelin-star chef who dominated a huge chunk of Korea's food industry.
Thanks to that upbringing, he had talent and an eye for food even without pursuing it seriously.
"But why'd you catch these?"
"Just in case we run short on food."
"Ah, right. There was that little issue. You two caught all these?"
Yoon Jihoo looked up at me and Kim Yeonju beside me.
She flinched, trembling at his gaze.
After yesterday's ordeals, she'd etched a fear of our classmates into her heart.
Especially after what I'd told her separately, she now shrank back and stayed cautious around the boys.
She was practically like the teachers.
"Yeah. Just the two of us."
"That's not okay. Hey, you lot! Yeah, you lazy bastards lounging over there!"
At Yoon Jihoo's booming voice, all eyes turned to him. The teachers resting on one side scrambled over at the sight.
"You gonna stay put over there?"
Only when he laced his tone with irritation did the flight attendants snap to attention and gather.
"Seems like you all lack some awareness. You here for a vacation? Huh?"
"……."
"We're the ones on a graduation trip. Not you. You have to take responsibility! Protect the students! Feed them properly!"
Yoon Jihoo jabbed his index finger at each one's chest like he was pounding them.
His strength was so immense that even those light pokes sent teachers and attendants stumbling back or falling, only to scramble into place.
It went on for a while, and even when he prodded the women's chests, not one complained.
'This just proves we live in a twisted world.'
Adults taking scolding from boys younger than them without a peep, enduring it silently.
"Did you mess up, or not?"
"…We did."
"Louder! Did you, or didn't you?!"
"We did!"
I took in the whole scene.
And by then, I'd clarified what I wanted to do.
Nothing good.
They say if you lie with dogs, you get fleas—or become a monster.
I suddenly wondered.
What does it feel like to treat people like dirt?
Having learned it firsthand from them all this time, I wanted to flip it around.
'I want to crush them. Treat them however I feel like.'
It wasn't revenge.
Maybe over the past three years, I'd unknowingly turned into a monster just like them.
Perhaps the courtesy and morals a normal person should have had all crumbled away in that time.
'Not yet, though. Wait. Bury this desire deep until that moment comes.'
"Hoo. From now on, move on your own? Don't make me repeat myself. Got it?"
Nods all around.
"Then prep these for dinner."
With Yoon Jihoo gone, sighs of relief echoed everywhere. Then sharp glares turned my way.
"Jeong Woojin! If you're gonna do that, say something first!"
"Right! What the hell is this?!"
The math and science teachers snapped at me harshly.
A stark contrast to how they couldn't even lift their heads or open their mouths to Yoon Jihoo.
"Um, hey."
The only one reacting similarly was our homeroom English teacher.
She stood between us, looking distressed, unable to act.
She'd always been indecisive. Maybe that's how she'd lasted three years without getting fired.
I let out a light sigh and turned my gaze aside.
Graduation was right around the corner; I had no desire to deal with these fake teachers.
But the side was no better.
"Yeonju. Even so, this isn't right."
"Unnie, you're so selfish. Trying to stand out by going off alone?"
"Yeah, unnie, that's not fair."
Kim Yeonju's side was much the same.
They were itching to blame her since they couldn't go after me.
'They say in any group, don't stand out—stay average.'
Honestly, I hadn't expected this.
Over the past three years, I'd always been alone, so I'd never seen someone else take the fall for me.
'Lesson learned. Be cautious even with small actions next time.'
I shoved Kim Yeonju behind me and drew both groups' glares to myself.
"You all seem pretty dissatisfied. If you're that upset, I'll go talk to Jihoo."
Mouths that had been spewing all sorts of crap clamped shut like they'd been sealed.
As if on cue, they glanced around and peeked at Yoon Jihoo in the distance.
'Humans are so sly.'
I started toward the classmates. People panicked and tried to stop me.
"H-Hey."
"I didn't mean it like that."
They grabbed at me.
I ignored them and kept walking.
People flanked me, desperately spouting excuses, but I tuned them all out.
"Woojin. Listen to teacher."
"What I said earlier might've been misunderstood…."
But at some point, they stopped following.
The classmates' eyes had turned our way at the commotion. Teachers and attendants immediately cowered and backed off.
Only Kim Yeonju followed, asking,
"Wh-What are you gonna do? You really gonna tell him?"
"……."
"Their actions aren't right, of course, but they have a point. This wouldn't have happened if we'd all gone together."
"No."
"Huh?"
"If I'd suggested going clam digging together, they'd whine about the hassle and extra work. They'd probably sabotage us, telling us to quit messing around and stay put."
They just needed an excuse.
That's the level of character they had.
Look at that Lee Hyunji attendant.
She got the PE teacher bitten by a snake, I cleaned up the mess, and she hasn't said thanks once—acts like she doesn't know me.
'Her personality's rotten.'
Not that I'm one to talk.
"St-Still, you really gonna tell? Though you're right…."
I stopped. Kim Yeonju halted too.
"Noona. One piece of advice."
"Mm. What?"
"Until we leave this place, think only of yourself. Ignore everyone else."
"……."
"And stop following me. I'm not going to tattle."
I left her standing there, hands clasped, staring blankly, and resumed walking.
The kids were all resting in the clearing.
From yesterday afternoon's bare beach, there'd been big changes.
Four huge sunshades were up, mats laid on the ground.
On one side, solar panels stretched out, hooked to fans—probably charging via sunlight.
They'd grabbed them from the plane to solve the sun issue.
'They could've spared one shade for the teachers or attendants.'
They were huge, but the kids wanted space for themselves—no intention of sharing.
My eyes scanned around to the group's center. There sat 19 days' worth of food piled up.
"What?"
Yoon Jihoo, talking with Kim Jaejun, asked. I flashed a dumb grin and replied.
"Hoping to snag some water."
"Water?"
"Yeah."
I needed to check.
If the quest meant any water or if I had to hunt natural sources.
"Dokyun's over there, right? Go there."
I headed where Yoon Jihoo pointed. Kids lounged around; I wove through them.
"Fuck, battery's dead. So damn bored now. What to do? Would've passed time with some pills."
"Ease up. Taehun, you'll drop dead for real."
"Nah, not that kind. Park Jimin, you try it. It's killer."
That's when my eyes met Park Jimin's, mid-chat with Kim Taehun.
'Should I say hi?'
With what happened earlier, ignoring felt awkward. Felt like I should do something.
"You do plenty. I hate it."
But she treated me like air as always, continuing with Kim Taehun.
Guess my hope that we'd grown closer after hooking up was just delusion.
I stood before the stack of 2L PET bottles.
"Cups over there? Pour from those."
I filled a cup, then opened the quest window.
[173/600ml]
'It works.'
Meant any water counted—no need to forage.
I gulped it down and asked,
"Mind if I take one of these?"
The kid guarding the water, reading a book, replied without looking up.
"No. Water's under control starting today. Come drink what you need."
"C-Could you spare a small one?"
Besides the 2L bottles, there were 330ml minis.
Yesterday, we'd each carried one; kids still kept them nearby, sipping as needed.
Snagging a few to stash could complete the quest easy.
But then the book slammed shut.
He set down his glasses, fixing me with a cold stare.
"Can't understand plain words, huh? Getting cocky? Think you're graduated now?"
Han Dohoon.
Son of a five-term congressman.
Quiet usually, but spits venom or throws punches when pissed.
Glasses off meant violence incoming.
'He was the first to beat me till I blacked out.'
Woke up in the hospital. He'd gone berserk enough to land me there.
Of course, it was hushed up—no one knew.
'But if he's guarding water, not bad for me.'
It hurt, but after the hospital, he never beat me that hard again.
Plus, politician family.
Image control or whatever—he always smiled and gave something once cooled off.
Mouth-sealing and cleanup.
So probably smack me around lightly, then hand over water with a grin.
I braced willingly; he raised a fist to strike….
"Give it."
Huh?
We both turned to the voice as if scripted.
Kim Jaejun stood there. Our class leader and real boss.
"Jihoo said you caught a whole sack of clams for food early this morning. Earned a little water for that."
"Hmph. Lucky. Take it."
I took the 330ml bottle.
From afar, Yoon Jihoo called,
"But heads up—don't waste it de-sanding clams. No spare water; seawater's fine. This work, Seyoung?"
The girl he asked nodded.
"Yeah. Seawater here's clear. No issue."
Oh Seyoung.
Daughter of a hotel chain owner, rising star in Korean cuisine with mad skills young enough for media buzz.
If Yoon Jihoo—star chef's son—and Oh Seyoung said okay, it should be fine.
I said sure and pocketed the water securely.
'Phew. Somehow snagged 330ml.'