The Second Ordeal (1)

I was in the middle of sighing when a golden alert popped up in midair.

It was the second ordeal.

What the hell? A quest on top of that?!

The constellations must think this is normal.

Whatever, that was secondary. Without thinking, I shoved Chaerin behind me.

Of all times, it had to start now.

Chaerin, with a startled look on her face, got pushed back and lightly bumped into the wall. She stared at me.

"M-Mas, mas-ter?"

"Hm?"

"Master. Euu, uwaaah."

Chaerin made a sad face. I tilted my head as I looked at her.

All zombies were supposed to go berserk, right? She should be attacking me too.

What the hell? Why's it different this time?

Chaerin was fine. If anything, she whined like a kid trying to crawl into her mom's arms.

I stared at her for a moment, then gasped in realization. I covered my mouth with my hand.

I get it. She's my thrall now?

That was the only explanation for this. I immediately pulled her into a hug.

I whispered softly, "Sorry, I'm sorry."

"Uuuh, mas-teer."

I held her tight and warm, then kissed her.

Chaerin accepted the kiss. She even skillfully stuck out her tongue and licked mine.

As we finished the kiss, I said, "Chaerin, I gotta go again."

"Uuuh? Master, mas-teer."

"I'll rest here when I need to, so don't worry. You aren't hungry or anything, right?"

"Auuuh."

She shook her head. Good.

"Alright, I'll talk to the others and come back. Rest here."

I grinned and ruffled her hair. She pouted with a dazed look, then nodded.

So damn cute.

I carefully opened the door and stepped out.

The second ordeal had begun.

As I headed to the kitchen, the two women came down. Sa-eun looked relieved to see me.

"Najin, you saw it?"

"Yeah. Second ordeal, right? Whew."

Right in front of everyone, a Ration Ticket appeared for each of us. It looked like a dark green movie ticket.

I examined it closely.

Front has an expiration date 50 years from now, and a picture of Arorong smiling. Back's just camo pattern.

Nothing special. That damn Arorong was starting to grow on me.

But this game wasn't over with just one. I needed four of these.

Eunha stood with her hands behind her back, smirking like she'd figured something out.

"So, what's the deal with this game? What's the intent?"

I glanced at her. Her antics were so blatant, I couldn't help but chuckle.

"What else? Make people kill ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠each other."

Sa-eun was shocked. She sat at the kitchen table.

"What? Oh, yeah, these Ration Tickets are only for us, huh?"

"Yeah. Not zombies. But we need four each. That means killing others who have them inevitably."

To take them, after all. Barter? No way. Without four, you're dead.

"Haa."

Sa-eun sighed. She probably never killed a person before.

Killing zombies might seem no big deal, but rampaging to kill me versus a normal person walking around? Different story.

The guilt must be heavy.

Eunha, on the other hand, had her eyes sparkling.

Why's she grinning like that?

It was almost suspicious. Was she enjoying this?

Eunha glanced at Sa-eun, then at me. Her pinkish lips moved.

"Sunbae, does that mean we have to fight each other?"

"What bullshit is that?"

"Well, yeah. Like, if sunbae kills me and Sa-eun sunbae, that's three. Just snag one more and done!"

Sa-eun looked horrified, glancing between me and Eunha. I sighed.

Her, her. If you're testing betrayal, there are better ways.

"You dumb? We're on the same side."

"I know. But do promises mean shit these days? Oh, but I trust you, sunbae~!"

What a sly fox. Throws out the premise then slips away.

But weirdly, I couldn't hate her. Felt like taking a test.

I shook my head, rubbed my chin, and voiced my thoughts. Better make them trust people here.

"Even mathematically, each of us needs to kill three people. Teamkill? Waste of time. More humans will start forming groups ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠soon. That's what we do."

"Eek."

Sa-eun's hands trembled. I approached her with a big smile. Had to encourage her.

Sadly, no choice.

"Sunbae, I'd love to kill six and give you half so you don't have to."

"Najin, no!"

"But in this world, this era... no choice."

Even if I helped, she'd refuse. She's a good person.

I tried to convince her sincerely. In this world, you can't avoid killing. If you don't, you die.

Sa-eun's face darkened, something nagging at her. Then she slowly nodded.

"Yeah, I get it. I'll try too. Thanks."

"Sure thing, sunbae."

Eunha, who'd been watching, clapped. Licking her lips.

"Settled then? Let's go kill some people."

Saying that so casually. She's something else.

I patted Sa-eun's shoulder.

"We'll split up. Wider range that way."

Everyone agreed. I grabbed a water bottle from the fridge and drank.

Game on again.

Perfect timing, I thought.

That name Sin-tae casually dropped bugs me. Probably the mastermind. Man-ho? Wanna hunt that bastard first.

To stabilize the area, eliminate threats. Half-moons, gangsters, nutubers, whatever. Even if it means massacres.

I headed to the entrance.

"No need to rush all at once. Time's generous, lots hiding. Take it steady. Come back here to rest!"

"Yeah."

"Yessir! Hehet♪"

I stepped outside. The sunlight felt especially intense today.

I declared to the world as I ran.

"Constellations, I'll stir up some chaos again. Watch me!"

Anyway, focus on the job. First, find the gangsters puppeteering the local punks.

In this situation, picking them off one by one is textbook.

But think about it. One ticket per person. If you can handle crowds, target the masses, right?

Ten gangsters = ten tickets.

So, prioritize gangsters. Stock extras if needed.

Honestly, this game felt fishy. Just four tickets? Something hidden?

I shoved my hands in my pockets.

Wish I had search skills now.

Arms crossed, pondering. Blood Lord. Am I using this power too shortsightedly?

Time to test.

Used it a lot in real fights. Proficiency might've gone up unnoticed.

No alert, but who knows.

Like that beginner skill divided into stages from level 1?

If ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠so. I drew a bit of blood from the mass behind me.

Perfect—the Ark loomed ahead. Massive, ominous wreckage. Like a ghost ship from a pirate flick.

Too big, splits Eunhaeng Sagori like a wall.

Wanna scout it. But flying or wall-climbing needed.

Flying better. Can I?

Tilting my head, I sprayed thick blood droplets into the air. Compressed max.

Fixed them in place.

Now the key part.

"Hoo."

I carefully stepped on a droplet. One by one, climbing like stairs.

Getting farther from the ground.

Oh, ooh, it works!

That moment.

"Nyaaong!"

"Ah!"

Whoosh, thud!

Focus broke; droplets dissolved. I fell on my ass and turned.

"Fuck, that's tricky."

Thought it'd work. Too iffy for emergencies.

Looked at the nearby cat. Korat staring blankly.

Held up well in this mess.

"Alright, something else."

Approached the cat, dripped blood on its back.

It shook, but blood stuck.

Glared, tail up, vanished elsewhere.

What I wanted: Can I track my blood anywhere?

Like a tag.

I waited, heading that way. Sprinkled blood spots around deliberately. Sticky on webs or weeds.

Focused my mind.

A minimap appeared in the corner of my vision.

Hoo?

My position blue, green dot where cat went.

Just like a game.

Awesome. Let's see.

Forgot the Divine Game, chased eagerly. As blue neared green—

Found the cat lounging on an AC unit.

Tracking works!

I swallowed hard. Can I control it?

Aimed lightly, pulled like tugging a string.

Blood on its back wriggled, dropped, returned to me. Cat fine.

Not that advanced. Inject into body?

Right then—

Knew it. The guy who loved animals despite massacres. Hated Jews, but respected blacks and yellows more than anyone.

Wondered why you were quiet.

Won't try on the cat.

No point beefing with constellations.

And I already sensed it. Presences approaching me.

Through the blood I'd sprinkled on the way.

Deliberately entered a dark alley. Presences popped up everywhere.

Whoa, creepy. Long way to go, but that made it more fun.

Couldn't wait to meet my stronger self.

Then a voice.

"Hey, stop right there."

Thick, low male voice. I stopped, turned.

Thugs who looked like sidekicks appeared. The biggest lumbered forward cockily.

"Nice to meet ya. You're Seong Najin, right?"

"Think you got the wrong guy."

"It's you, don't lie. Saw you on CCTV."

I clicked my tongue inwardly. Forgot about CCTV.

Trouble if people know my face.

But weird. A gangster accessing CCTV?

Where's control? Community center? Police station? They take it?

Anyway, solve quick.

I grinned. "So, what's your business?"

"Got a job to rough you up. Stay put."

"Nah."

"Make it easy, kid."

"Your mom tried easy and popped you out. Can't do that."

Provoked on purpose. They waited as I licked my lips; veins bulged.

"This motherfucker!"

"What're you waiting for? Beat him!"

"Don't kill. Make him a cripple!"

Ten swarmed from all sides.

One thing to do: Kill all but the big mouth who started it! New way!

Grinning, I floated a blood mass upward.

Try different this time?

Compressed bullets to the max, one by one.

Then unleashed a barrage.