The Cult Leader's Iron Fist

Why the hell are you here? "Now, everyone. We said we'd divide it fairly, right? Please line up slowly! Enjoy your meal today!"

A neatly pressed navy suit. Black horn-rimmed glasses. And that perpetual smile playing on his lips. A clean-cut salesman vibe. Joo Jin-tae, born and raised in Junggye-dong, had been a successful academy instructor. His main subject: math. He'd pass on everything he knew to the kids and even offer college entrance counseling when needed—a typical teacher you'd find anywhere.

But that guy...

"Hey, fuck! We brought all the food, so why are the women getting more?"

Joo Jin-tae's group had no official name, but if it were a church, they'd be the youth group. A bunch of guys who handled the heavy lifting. Up until now, they'd followed him without complaint. He was always reasonable. Always giving mathematical answers that made sense. In this chaotic mess, when you couldn't trust anyone, he shone like a star.

But cracks were forming.

"Come on, calm down. What's the matter?"

One guy from the youth group let out a sigh. He couldn't take it anymore.

"Jin-tae, this isn't right. We risked our lives for that food. I lost my friend Seok-yong today trying to get it."

"I know. But I said it before: fairness."

"Then why are the women getting more? They don't even appreciate our sacrifices."

"Women are meant to be protected and cherished. That's how the educated elite in politics have always done it. We can't distort fairness here."

The young man had a point to argue from, so he rebelled. But Joo Jin-tae's response was a masterpiece. Just like the kind of people they'd all seen before—the ones who shoved all the sacrifices onto men. The logic of those who built that society.

The young man protested. "What kind of fairness is this? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Don't the women mock us during break time?"

"No, no. That's not a mathematical answer."

"Huh?"

"Alright. Come to the counseling room. We'll sort out your concerns privately."

"Sigh."

Joo Jin-tae entered the counseling room alone with the young man. As soon as they sat, the guy laid into him.

"This makes no sense. The women just take it all, complain even when we share blankets."

"Calm down. Did you know? Human blood contains iron. Yes, that iron we all know."

"Pardon?"

In an instant, Joo Jin-tae pointed at the young man. The surface of his face rippled and shuddered like waves.

Crack! Splurt!

Iron shards tore sharply through his skin—face and all over his body—bursting out. The young man died without even a scream. Joo Jin-tae had solidified the iron in human blood and forced it out. A power that was his ability... but not quite.

"That's why there's always someone disrupting public order. In times like these, women are useful, but men? Consumables. Gotta educate 'em."

Suddenly, Seong Najin crossed his mind. He clicked his tongue.

"If only there were an overwhelmingly strong figure like him. Then discipline would hold."

Joo Jin-tae prayed over the dead young man, flashing his fake smile. Then his phone rang. He pulled it out with a blank expression.

"What is it?"

"Haha, you're prickly as ever. We're on the same side."

Kim Sin-tae's eyebrow twitched. It was a reluctant alliance at best. He'd never considered himself side-by-side with a mere thug. Sin-tae's face twisted in disgust, but his words were different.

"Haha, of course I know. You're my business partner. So?"

Gwak Man-ho ground his teeth over the line. Sin-tae's lip curled.

"Could you poke the guy I'm thinking of?"

The call ended. Sin-tae's eyes gleamed unnaturally.

I reached out my hand and slowly grinned. Was my ability back, or was the blood gathering on its own? It converged on the spot I pointed at in the air. The blood mass grew overwhelmingly larger.

Right before hitting exactly 1L, the rest of the blood dribbled out weakly. Probably my current proficiency limit. Disappointing, but actually good. Meant there was room to grow. If this was my ceiling, I'd be pissed at myself.

Instead, I was curious. What happens when I hit 1L? How much stronger will I get?

Now that I could use the skill again, I grinned in satisfaction.

Alright, next up.

I tried checking where the food was. As I scanned around, a sponsorship notification popped up.

I chuckled. As expected, generous sponsorship. 50 more than before. If only I could pit the constellations against each other. I licked my lips.

Thanks, Constellations! Keep watching!

If they wanted a clown, I'd play the part. Not like I was a real one anyway.

Meanwhile, the mart folks whispered among themselves, eyeing me warily.

I checked them out too. Any useful skills? Nope. Not a single one. None that could threaten me.

But they'd know now. Abilities were real. And I might get even stronger.

Maybe because of my scrutinizing gaze, an old man who seemed like their rep stood slowly. He approached cautiously, sighing.

"Y-Young man!"

"Hm?"

"W-We’ll give you a third of our food. Please, just!"

"For real? Saves me the hassle of picking."

Truth be told, if they'd bitched when I tried taking it, I'd have killed them. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠But handing it over? Fine by me. Felt like tribute from vassals.

I could've killed them all and taken everything. But...

No. Need to disperse people around the area. If another trial hits, it'll split the zombies too.

Imagine just me and Sa-eun in Junggye-dong. Hell. All those zombies piling on us? Even I'd say fuck that.

So, disperse. Who knows? Next might have winged zombies.

Was planning to take a moderate amount anyway. But they misunderstood for me. Perfect.

They brought the food. Frozen stuff, grains, instants, even three 20kg bags of rice. A feast.

Damn, maybe later I'll be like a local lord getting tribute. I grinned, scanned it, and shoved it all into my ring at once.

Their freaked-out reactions were hilarious.

Kyah, the ring shines in moments like this!

Grinning in satisfaction, the old man tremblingly asked, "I-Is that enough?!"

"Nah, didn't have to, but since you offered, thanks. Stay safe."

"Y-Yeah!"

"Anyway, handle the corpses yourselves."

I headed upstairs without waiting for a reply. Business done. No reason to linger.

Today's haul was massive. A few months' worth if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I ration moderate?

My lip twitched. Barely held back a grin as I left Latte Mart.

Logged into HotDealChan. Now I saw a banner showing current survivor pop per district. Tapped mine.

What? Dropped more? Wow, people killing each other everywhere. Human nature.

Resources limited, no slack. So, kill.

Sure, some hold out without killing. Praise them with odes to humanity or whatever.

Who knows how long that'll last.

Into HotDealChan. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Ability Nullifier Flashbang, huh. 200 points? Pricey.

Definitely useful. Especially ability user vs. user.

Made me wonder. Counter to that coming too?

Nothing came to mind yet.

Strolled, testing Invenom. Occasional screams in distance. Apocalypse life.

Like this? Imagined spraying poison forward. Nothing.

Tilted head. Proficiency issue? Then.

Grabbed a nearby slipper. Try this.

Sizzle, hiss! Green liquid oozed from my hand like sweat, melting the slipper instantly.

Oh, that's the power.

"Whoa, nice... but suck."

Close-range only. Awkward for casual use. Sure, someone like Sa-eun might love melee, but most prefer ranged. Main foes are zombies anyway.

So expect more ranged powers. What's the point?

Eyed a nearby building. For kicks, spat blood and imagined infusing poison.

Hiss, drip. Blood just melted. No mix.

Proficiency? Shame.

But I felt it. This'll make waves someday. Good enough. Better than nothing.

Headed to Sanggye—precisely, Nowon Station.

"Kek!"

A zombie crawled from a wrecked car nearby and stood.

I smirked. "Boo."

"Ka-haaak!"

Blind charge. But up close, it gripped a sharp kitchen knife. Face all wrinkly too.

What, rejected by the creator?

Dodged the swing easy, slapped its face with my sole.

Sole smack!

Hit with Invenom too. Satisfying thud, zombie reeled.

"Grur, krrgh!"

It paused mid-lunge. Half its face melted green in seconds. Spectacular.

Whistled mockingly. "Fast, huh. Too bad it's not ranged. Customer, like my plastic surgery?"

"Keruk!"

Upper body liquefied. Done.

Chuckle, pressed on. Crossed the bridge, buildings appeared.

Straight up, Nowon Station.

Bit more walking. But denser urban infra than Junggye.

Got the luxury?

No clue when next game starts.

Mulling as I went. Then a boom. Lightning struck a nearby building. A zombie plummeted from the roof.

"Hm?"

Charred black. Like roasted chestnut.

Then a fireball slammed the roof. Chaos. Check it out?

Then a figure leaped from the roof. Suicide finish? Looked ragdoll at first, but stabilized midair, gliding to a graceful landing.

Huh?

Familiar face. Approached slowly.

"Phew, barely handled it. Up to here was as planned."

"Jeo Eunha?"

"Hm? Oh, sunbae?!"

Eunha, dusting her skirt, spotted me. Eyes met. I stared blankly.

Was that magic show hers? Nah, nothing weird. Everyone awakens. Just know-how difference.

But what shocked me was separate.

Grinning cat-like, she sidled up. "Omo, sunbae! Didn't expect you here!"

"What're you doing not home?"

"Long story! Headed home, crazy people attacked! Got separated from Sa-eun sunbae too!"

"Yeah? Hmm."

"So here I am. I..."

Couldn't focus on her tale. Naturally.

Since seeing status windows, I reflexively check people first.

Eunha too. Hid my shock barely.

Why's everything but name and age broken?!

Jeo Eunha's status was glitched.