Chapter 77
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: The Great Excavation Era
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After the typhoon passed, half the boys were utterly feeble, staggering around.
It was only natural—they'd been surviving by sharing a single banana a day between two people.
But the girls were perfectly fine.
Far from weakening, their skin had actually improved, glowing with a healthy sheen.
Yet no one breathed a word about what had happened that day.
They all clamped their mouths shut and pretended as if nothing had occurred, staying casually silent.
As if absolutely nothing had gone on during the typhoon.
Only Park Jimin, who knew the full story, laughed uproariously to herself.
'Pfft. These bitches sold their pussies and asses just to get fed, and now they're acting all high and mighty. Hilarious.'
Of course, Park Jimin wasn't stupid enough to say it outright, but she couldn't stop the laughter bubbling up.
"Psycho. If you just stand there giggling, all the good stuff'll be gone."
Kim Sujin said as she picked up some coffee peanuts from the ground.
Not just her—kids were scampering everywhere along the beach, frantically grabbing items.
"Jackpot! Jackpot! Crackers!"
"Drinks over here!"
On the white sands, unclaimed consumer goods poked out, waiting for their new owners.
Having gone without modern conveniences in this remote wilderness, the kids raced across the beach, snatching them up.
"Chaeyeon! That's mine! I saw it first!"
"Finder's keepers!"
Two girls bickered over a tube of sunscreen in the middle.
Seeing Kim Sujin and Yoon Chaeyeon squabbling, Park Jimin wedged herself between them, snatched the sunscreen, and said,
"Hey, friends? Look at the beach. Stuff's everywhere. Even if you spent days picking it up, you couldn't get it all."
Just as Park Jimin said, items were scattered all the way to the distant shore.
Realizing there was no need to fight over one thing, they scattered again to grab different goodies.
Park Jimin tore open the sunscreen, slathered it on, and grinned.
'Anyway, what a fun bunch.'
Just as the kids put on a spectacle like gleaning grain from a wheat field, with Park Jimin laughing at the sight—
"Everyone, gather up for a sec!"
Yoo Hana raised her hand and shouted.
"Jaejun has something to say!"
"Everyone, you all worked hard. It must've been tough for those five days, but you held up well."
At Kim Jaejun's words, the kids exchanged glances and nodded slightly.
The first two days of the typhoon, they'd really thought they were going to die.
From hunger, and from the cold.
It was the hardest stretch any of them had ever endured.
No joke—they'd wondered a thousand times if they were about to die, over and over.
In fact, two boys had actually died.
One had been brutally torn apart by a shark. Just thinking back on that moment still sent chills down their spines.
"So what's the point? If you're just gonna say we're lucky to be alive, I'd rather head back now."
At Park Jimin's words, the other girls nodded toward the beach in agreement.
And right then, snakes began slithering out from the shore into the forest, one after another.
Having chatted in the forest shade, they had no choice but to move back to the forest's edge to continue.
Kim Jaejun spoke.
"As you all know, the typhoon wiped out everything we'd built together. But you also know we need to pull together again to survive."
The kids nodded reluctantly.
They'd lived their whole lives getting whatever they wanted. So cooperation didn't exactly appeal to them.
Sure, once they grew up and ran they're companies, they'd learn it naturally—but these kids, fresh out of high school after a life of luxury, still only cared about themselves.
Syncing with others was exhausting.
But in this barren wilderness with nothing, teaming up clearly boosted survival odds.
"So we all go catch fish and dry them again?"
"No need. A bunch of essentials are rolling around over there."
"Then?"
"You all felt it while working last time right?—some busted their asses and helped a ton, others... not so much."
The moment he said that, Park Jimin's face stiffened. She could sense what Kim Jaejun was about to drop.
A bad feeling hit her, and it was spot on.
"I'm expelling the useless ones from the group."
"What?"
"What the hell does that mean, Kim Jaejun?"
Just as expected.
Until now, they'd cut slack due to family ties, overlooking poor work or issues. But with no rescue in sight after over a month, he wasn't tolerating it anymore.
"Expulsion out of nowhere? What kind of bullshit is that?"
It wasn't out of nowhere.
Signs had been building up to this decision.
Han Dogyeon had gone around beating the two laziest ones.
Even though exposure back home would screw them over big time, Kim Jaejun had turned a blind eye.
And now he was drawing his own sword.
In other words, until now, it had just been indirect.
"The expelled are Lee Seohyun, Han Jiwon, Yoon Chaeyeon. That's three."
Lee Seohyun and Yoon Chaeyeon widened their eyes in disbelief.
"You know why, right? No need to explain."
Han Jiwon was always sleeping, skipping work and getting caught constantly.
Yoon Chaeyeon was such a klutz she caused accidents daily, creating a net -1 in cleanup.
"Wait, what about me?"
Lee Seohyun protested, feeling wronged.
"Lee Seohyun, you pig out too much. Caught sneaking food multiple times."
"Th-that was..."
"Especially the night before the typhoon—a ton of drying fish vanished."
"Wait! That wasn't me! I swear it wasn't!"
She denied it vehemently, but the kids' stares were ice cold.
"There must be some mistake!"
"No take-backs. You're expelled. Han Jiwon—we don't know if she's alive, but if she returns, we'll inform her. The other two, leave now."
And so Lee Seohyun and Yoon Chaeyeon's expulsion was sealed.
Park Jimin let out a silent scoff.
'Look at these idiots.'
Sure, all three were useless at work.
But strictly speaking, they were neutral forces.
Not aligned with Kim Jaejun or Yoo Hana—and lately, ones Park Jimin herself had been pulling in.
'Heh heh. Way too obvious, Yoo Hana.'
In short, she'd lopped off the growing edges of her rival's faction and crushed them.
Borrowing her boyfriend's power to keep her from getting bigger.
With such a major decision, Kim Jaejun and Yoo Hana's crew showed zero unrest—that was proof.
Only Park Jimin's five were rattled by the sudden announcement.
Park Jimin beamed.
"Kim Jaejun. If it's about slacking, your lapdog's no slouch either. Honestly, what does Yoo Hana even do besides calling everyone for meals?"
"......"
Kim Jaejun went silent.
He wasn't listening.
Park Jimin hadn't expected that to stick anyway.
"That's all you wanna say?"
"No, Taehun told me. Park Jimin, you've been steadily getting food from Seohui."
Park Jimin glanced at Kim Taehun, who averted his eyes. She shrugged.
"Yeah, what about it? Seohui says my face isn't as disgusting, so she meets me."
"From now on, share that food fairly."
"Hmph. Why should I? I could hog it all myself."
"Do that, and I'll hold off on expelling them."
So that was the real goal.
Choose: hand over food, or watch your faction splinter.
Either way, Park Jimin's group weakened, while Kim Jaejun and Yoo Hana solidified power without loss.
A sweet deal.
"Ji-Jimin. What do we do?"
As silence dragged, Lee Seohyun and Yoon Chaeyeon fidgeted, while Yoo Hana smirked smugly beside Kim Jaejun.
As if declaring victory.
As if looking down on them like ants.
But Park Jimin laughed inwardly.
'Fun. But you know one thing and miss two. Do you think splitting my team ends it? Think your minions won't flip to me?'
She hadn't touched Yoo Hana's lackeys before because she lacked confidence in swaying them.
The neutrals were just a test.
To check their desperation for food.
And now she was certain. She could make every kid here kneel.
'The typhoon unearthed beach food, but it's still a limited stock.'
Eventually, they'd beg her.
Even before that point, pressuring for shares showed Kim Jaejun knew it too.
So Park Jimin smiled brightly, flipping him the bird.
"Yeah, fuck off."
"!!"
"Actually, perfect timing. Let's make it clear: from now on, I control food. And you know my personality? No fairness. I give to whoever I like. You got complaints? Take it up with Jeong Seohui. Can't save you if you end up like that guy recently."
She glanced at Han Dogyeon.
Han Dogyeon bristled, removing his glasses and stepping forward, but Park Jimin ignored him.
All the boys were scrawny now; she had hale Kang Hye-rin.
Kang Hye-rin stepped up, and Han Dogyeon instantly backed off, tail between legs.
Kim Jaejun, frowning, said,
"So you're ditching Lee Seohyun and Yoon Chaeyeon."
"Huh? No?"
"What?"
"Oh right, choose one or the other? Did you forget I said I'd control the food. I'll leave with the ones you kicked out."
"!!"
At Park Jimin's declaration, Kang Hye-rin and Kim Sujin joined her side, while Lee Seohyun and Yoon Chaeyeon teared up gratefully.
Park Jimin spun on her heel.
"Ji-Jimin, wait!"
Kim Taehun panicked, stopping her.
"How will five girls survive?"
"Why? Better than those leftovers."
Like Han Dogyeon, who barely worked while supervising.
Or Yoo Hana, lounging like a princess.
Or Lee Minhyuk, slacking like a cicada after nonstop hookups.
Or Kim Jaejun, standing around like nobility.
She was confident her group would outlast them.
"Sure, all together we'd survive better. But they broke the deal first with empty threats."
Kim Taehun looked at Kim Jaejun.
He'd spilled about the food to promote harmony, not this.
Under his gaze, Kim Jaejun called her back.
"Park Jimin. The world you know isn't everything. Hope you don't pick the wrong side."
Park Jimin halted, half-turned, and shot back,
"Pfft. Kim Jaejun. How do you think I survived my cutthroat family? How'd I snag the chairman's favor, eclipse my big sisters, become heir?"
"......"
"I know what there is to know."
About Jeong Woojin's special powers, and that Kim Jaejun and Yoo Hana held something too.
Park Jimin was fully aware.
But twenty years of instinct screamed otherwise.
That path was rotten rope.
'Even all of you together can't match one Jeong Woojin. You're the ones backing the wrong horse.'
So no need to chase that specialness.
It wouldn't change a thing.
No—lacking it might keep Jeong Woojin closer.
'Half-assed talent just makes enemies uneasy, eventually tightening the noose.'
Park Jimin turned and walked away.
Kim Taehun glanced anxiously at Kim Jaejun, who finally sighed.
"Fine. No expulsions. Everyone stay in the group."
Lee Seohyun and Yoon Chaeyeon's faces lit up.
Park Jimin, who was indifferent, waved without looking back.
"Whatever. Girls, let's go. Work hard today, let's have a feast tonight."
"Yeah!"
Park Jimin had now officially declared her independent faction.
Watching the leadership waver, the other girls pondered deeply.
Especially Ryu Sia and Oh Seyoung—their eyes darkened ominously.
The class kids huddled briefly, whispering to eachother, then went berserk scavenging the beach.
Spotting it through my binoculars, I prodded my girls too.
"Come on, move it."
Realizing the typhoon had buried all sorts of useful stuff underground, everyone dove into excavation mode.
No one bothered with the regular tasks.
It was the dawn of the great excavation era.
But supplies were finite—this was a type of competition.
Faster movers would have grabbed more stuff.
They'd spotted us too; then their pace became quickened. I whipped my girls even harder.
"Woojin. Anything goes right?"
"Yep. Bring whatever you find."
The class focused on food mainly.
They'd grab essentials if spotted, but strictly prioritized edibles.
I didn't need to, ofcourse.
Grab everything, then sell to my shop. Then buy the stuff I need later if needed.
My cash will skyrocket.
Daily sales exceeded 5,000,000 won.
A gift has been awarded.
『Message: Awarded when daily sales exceed 5,000,000 won. Send one message to a visible player. One-time use.』
I'd sold so much, I even got a mid-run gift.
'Perfect timing—it's starting to get hard to contact the group from afar. This'll come in handy somehow.'
Daily 5 mil income? This is becoming unreal.
Doubt I'd make that much in a lifetime on Earth.
'Our farming speed's diverging now.'
Started even, but class vs. our group widened.
Iy was inevitable.
Class individualists lugged their own hauls, bags bulging—now they hesitated over new find they come across: 'Grab or skip?'
And even after that, most stuff wasn't great.
Mostly substitutes, not ideal products.
They wanted A-brand items, bu5t all they got are B-brand instead, they gotta settle for that in the end.
Not me though.
"Alright, sunscreen on—don't get burns."
"Can I have the Sulwhasoo one, Master?"
"Woojin, I want the La Prairie."
The Girls requested their favorites.
I sold junk, bought exactly what they wanted anytime.
Handed Kim Yeonju the Sulwhasoo, then I eyed Jeong Min-a.
"Jeong Mina. I can't do that within any means."
"What? Can't even do that? I sweated under this sun!"
"It's just barely an hour in, and La Prairie isn't even sold here."
Not unlocked, or maybe high-end brands are absent.
"Tch. Fine."
The nude girls applied sunscreen mutually.
I let Kim Yeonju and homeroom slather me, then opened my shop.
Time to upgrade further.
Remaining points: 2,007.
I spent them all without hesitation.
2,000 points used.
'Finished Goods 2' unlocked.
Instant unlock: snacks, frozen foods, drinks—all consumer goods.
I bought canned ion drinks, then tossed them to my girls.
"Huh? Th-this..."
Their eyes bulged, then are filled with bliss at the cool drink, sweet refreshments—their faces were wreathed in smiles.
It looked like they'd all were dosed on drugs.
Even Han Jiwon grinned ear-to-ear.
Pop.
I cracked mine, and take a sip.
Kya! Artificial sugar sweetness, worlds apart from fruit. Long time no see—my pure delight.
No wonder they were losing it.
"Pasta for dinner?"
"R-really?"
"For real, Woojin?"
Nod.
What's a little splurge.
11% off! 11,000 won → 9,790 won
5% off! 5,800 won → 5,510 won
Squeals! Tired of grilled meat and fruit, they cheered wildly.
I shoved the energized crew beachward.
"So work hard yeah."
"Yes!"
I then unleashed them, my girls roamed the beach like herded sheep across the island.
I mostly lounged in the shade, only snagging big hauls for the shop myself.
Even that, my cash—once low for typhoon prep—surged endlessly.
Cash: 5,983,127 won
'Easy. Money's too damn easy.'