Chapter 13

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 13

Chapter Title: Group Class (2)

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Just what the hell were they talking about?

I racked my brain, trying to recall the previous moment.

"Uh, it was definitely about utilitarianism, right?"

"Utili-what?"

This time, the bubbly girl shot me a questioning look right back.

"You know... that's what they call this kind of thing. It's right there on the next page."

That's when the shy girl—

Han So-mi, I think her name was—stepped in quietly to explain for me.

"Oh, for real~? What the heck, Han Kyung-jun, you studied ahead? That's cheating~!"

This threw me off again.

Was utilitarianism still too advanced for a first-year middle schooler?

But the girl next to me, Han So-mi, knew it.

Maybe because she's the vice class president?

Or maybe this bubbly one just has an empty head.

"So, one person or five? Hurry up, we're running out of time~!"

Anyway.

"I agree with your opini—"

I didn't want to bother getting dragged into it.

So I was just about to mindlessly follow the 『Always agree with them to avoid arguments』 policy.

But right then.

Along with this utterly useless system nagging, a quest window popped up.

"Alright."

I instantly switched up my attitude.

It wasn't the system's nagging that swayed me.

All stats +1.

That meant every stat I currently ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had—Physique, Intelligence, Charm—would go up by 1.

Honestly, I'd prefer dumping them all into Intelligence for a +3 there.

But that's just greed.

Free Intelligence +1? No complaints there.

This wasn't just some simple second chance at life anymore.

The quest window had turned my second life into a full-on 'game.'

Time to play it properly.

The quest goal was to 'successfully' complete the group discussion class, after all.

Loserdom or popularity—didn't matter.

Finally, time to take school seriously.

How?

Just like right after enrollment, when I snapped Lee Ho-kwon's wrist.

To curb my skyrocketing loserdom, I'd thrown away all shame and embarrassment.

Butting into everything like a nosy busybody, pretending to be the good guy everywhere.

Same deal now.

I might never turn from loser to popular kid.

But if it's a quest and my job to do it?

I'll treat it like work and get it done, no problem.

"First, let's summarize the opinions so far."

The atmosphere shifted in an instant.

The male classmate who'd been ignoring me now had slightly widened eyes.

The vice class president, who'd been cautiously watching me, now looked intrigued and puzzled.

"Oh, finally getting into it~?"

The bubbly girl group leader wore a satisfied smile, like I was finally stepping up.

"The one who said pulling the lever to kill one is better... that was you, right?"

I hadn't really listened to what the kids said.

But I could guess well enough.

Utilitarianism debates like this were all the same—same old slop.

Their actual opinions didn't matter one bit.

This was just procedure for the job. Acting.

As I said that and glanced around at a few of them—

"Um..."

The shy Han So-mi timidly raised her hand just a little.

"Me too."

One nameless boy agreed as well.

So the remaining one, our bubbly girl group leader, must have been...

"You went with letting the five die? Something about your mom?"

"Yup~! If that one person was your family or friend, could you really pull it~? Bet you've never thought of it that way, huh?"

Yeah, no.

Super common take.

"Then if your mom was one of the five, you'd pull the lever?"

"Huh~? Oh, does it work like that?"

The group leader tilted her head for a second before countering.

"But that's not the point~! No matter if it's one or five, who are you to decide? Those people are precious family, moms, dads to someone too."

Not a bad angle.

One death or five?

Seems like a clear-cut question at first glance.

But it's a trap.

The real issue is: who are we—mere mortals, not gods—to decide who dies?

Yeah, the trolley problem was invented to critique and paradox out utilitarianism.

"Good points, all of 'em."

But.

"Way too outdated. And clichéd as hell."

"Wh-what did you say~?!"

The group leader raised her voice at the end, pissed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠off.

I piled on immediately.

"No life can be quantified by numbers... Sounds like it's emphasizing life's value, right? And yeah, that's part of the test."

This wasn't philosophy class, after all.

Just debating stuff from the middle school ethics textbook.

The textbook authors probably put it there hoping kids would land on answers like this.

But that's popular kid thinking.

"The real essence is somewhere else entirely. Way darker, deep in the human psyche."

I set the mood hard, even interlocking my fingers and propping my chin like a villain.

Felt like I was the mastermind.

"One minute left. Group leader, summarize for the team."

Of course, the teacher's oblivious remark shattered the vibe instantly.

"Only one minute? We gotta hurry and figure out the presentation!"

"So what's this dark, deep thing~? Keep stalling and I'll just summarize as leader myself?"

The nameless boy urged us on.

The bubbly girl finally gave in and started scribbling presentation notes frantically.

She seemed like she'd never study, but her handwriting was pretty—figures, only slackers write nice.

"Anyway, mom and family stuff is just stale."

I grumbled, bummed the mood died.

"What~? Then what do you say?"

"Say it like this."

The problems and values popular kids come up with.

Loser-style revulsion to mock and shatter them head-on.

Behold, the winning formula.

"...Then Group 8 will share our thoughts."

I hadn't planned to step up and speak like this.

Yet here I was, somehow the group leader, prepping to present.

I'd even told the original leader exactly what ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to say and jotted down keywords for her.

She listened intently, then...

『Huh? Uh-huh~? Uhhh~? Ugh, whatever! Han Kyung-jun, you present! It's too hard~!』

Yeah... that's how it went down.

"Many groups just now said we have no choice but to kill one."

We were Group 8.

With four rows of desks, pairing front and back into groups of 4-5, we ended up as the last group in the back row.

Luckily, that meant presenting last.

"Especially Group 1—they countered Group 2 by saying even if it's family, one is better than five."

Same tactic as before, but tweaked.

This time, not to stall.

To draw the target's gaze with logic—or sophistry.

Target lock-on.

"Yeah? So?"

Group 1's leader was a girl too, just like ours.

But total opposite vibe.

Ours was bright and bubbly, per my analogy.

Theirs was short, with long bangs half-covering her eyes.

Peeking through: wolfish, fierce—like a Pomeranian trained wrong, snapping at its owner.

The one called 'Ja-hee' who, when called after 36 as 37 to read the textbook, read the table of contents and pages too.

Hong Ja-hee.

"What's that a problem?"

I kept my expression neutral at her snippy reply.

"Let me rephrase it a bit. Don't worry, no clichéd family or friend stuff like Group 2. Just curious about something."

My 'no need to worry' only made Group 1's leader more guarded and curious.

She had to hear it now.

"Not just switching tracks with the lever—if you were the train driver choosing the track freely, would your choice change?"

She instantly said no.

Emphasized again: family or friend, no choice.

I nodded, fully agreeing.

"Right. Even as driver, no choice. Sorry, but let's twist it more—you're neither lever-puller nor driver..."

I paused dramatically.

"What if shoving an unrelated one person onto the track saves six lives? Would you push?"

First time: no instant answer.

Taking time to process the change?

Unlike when I or others nitpicked before.

"What kinda weird-ass question is that? Better if I sacrifice myself then..."

"You're too small and frail. That just wastes your life."

The audience snickers softly.

Hong Ja-hee freezes, dumbfounded.

I pounce without missing a beat.

"Meanwhile, that unrelated one isn't family or friend—big, fat build. Shove 'em, save the six for sure."

"No, that's bullshit... ridiculous setup...!"

"They consent. Begging you to push them. Still no?"

"But...!"

"They've got courage, just not enough to jump. Pleading desperately. Oh, train's right there. Push now to save the innocent six—could be your friends, family. Or save the mystery fatty and let six die?"

"Th-that's...!"

Hong Ja-hee grits her teeth, furious.

Finally spits it out.

"P-push—"

"Yes, they're dead."

"Wh-what?!"

I shook my head regretfully.

"Too late. Six got cleanly crushed. Your big, brave fatty? You pushed so late, train clipped him sideways."

I sat down.

"At least you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠survived. Alone. Congrats."

Glance diagonally forward—

Hong Ja-hee gawking, mouth agape in disbelief.

Confirmed. Now address everyone for the close.

"The utilitarianism dilemma Group 1's leader just faced? It always boils down to 'responsibility.'"

Life's sanctity?

Mere mortals choosing who lives/dies is absurd?

What fantasy flower field you from?

"Anyone can say it. One, five, all of 'em. Words make killing/saving easy."

Even utilitarianism isn't about who to kill/save.

Let alone life's value.

"If it's one button? We'd push, uneasy but whatever."

The real core of this mad-miner-on-tracks dilemma?

"But on-site, pulling the lever? Need decisive guts. As driver? Can't move that beast without squeezing eyes shut."

It's about minimizing 'guilt' and 'responsibility' in killing.

"Directly sacrificing with your own hands? One or five, mom or family/friends—every choice crumbles."

Unlike textbook morals.

Real world? Dime a dozen.

So many saintly, scripture-spouting folks in words only.

Prefer honest ones picking 'kill unrelated one or five' straight-up. More trustworthy.

"Usually ends like Group 1: save no one, straight to disaster. So it's not who to save, not life's weight—just choice. And the social responsibility to bear it."

Choice matters.

For example, right now—if we had to kill half this class to save half.

I could pick in one second, no hesitation.