Cannibal Holocaust
The great Black Orc tribe had existed since the primordial creation of the Gate. Once mere ordinary orcs, they had endured an infernal ecosystem within the Gate that no fragile species could withstand. After countless near-extinctions and repeated evolutions, they finally ascended to their perfected form: the Black Orcs.
Unlike most solitary monsters, Black Orcs formed legions, giving them a massive advantage. Forged through millennia of blood-soaked history, they now claimed a seat among the upper echelons of the Gate's ecosystem. Excluding the absolute pinnacle—abyssal and transcendent species—no one in the Gate could ignore the Black Orc great tribe.
Talgok, the proud great warrior of the Black Orc tribe, possessed a hulking frame twice the size of regular warriors. His spirits soared at the prospect of human hunting after so long. Humans were truly versatile creatures—perfect as slaves and tender delicacies with their succulent texture.
Sometimes, corrosion phenomena caused the Gate to "devour" parts of the human world. Humans would tumble in during those events, but there hadn't been a single such windfall in the past decade. Today, however, a massive haul of fresh humans had rolled right in by sheer luck.
Talgok had joined the hunt to assist the warrior aspirants. He hummed a tune contentedly. But hours had passed since the upper-floor scouts went to collect and butcher the humans, and there was still no word.
Furious at the slow, incompetent aspirants, Talgok was about to climb the stairs himself when—
Click.
He'd assumed no humans remained on the first floor, yet an elderly human suddenly appeared, blocking his path.
"What room... are you visiting? Visitor. Registration... allow me... to assist."
The outfit on this human—it jogged Talgok's memory. Ten years ago, during the corrosion when hordes of humans flooded the Gate, they called those dressed like this "security uncles." A lowly class, despised even among humans. With his tribe's top-tier memory, Talgok was certain.
He didn't hesitate. His massive hammer swung toward the guard.
Whoosh—!
Bam—!
The air screamed as immense mass struck the guard's face. But something bizarre happened. The human, who should have exploded into a pulp and flown away, absorbed the brutal impact squarely—without budging an inch.
The guard's exaggerated smile twisted in an instant. It was a rage that would make even asuras back away.
"Challenging... manager authority. Face me. Mind your manners."
Talgok's razor-sharp instincts screamed in warning.
"State your... purpose. Before I tear off your limbs."
Sensing the threat, Talgok swung his hammer again. But his will crumbled against physical reality. To swing a hammer, you needed arms.
His right arm, still gripping the hammer, had been torn off at the shoulder—like crushed by a giant machine.
"...Kuwa?!"
Clutching his mangled shoulder, Talgok staggered back. Confusion outpaced the pain lancing through him. In the guard's hand dangled his arm.
"Slow... and stupid. Accept your death."
Terror widened Talgok's eyes as he retreated. He hadn't even registered how the human ripped it off. This was no longer prey.
Black Orcs prized bravery, but great warrior status wasn't won by bravado alone. Fleeing overwhelming foes was wisdom for the tribe's survival.
The overwhelming presence of abyssal species, rulers of the Gate's apex—he felt it now from this guard. A fatal mistake.
I have to run.
If he fled, the aspirants upstairs would be slaughtered. But for the tribe, a great warrior's survival was worth more.
As Talgok turned to leap—
The guard moved faster. A casual front kick toward Talgok's knee, like a light tap.
Crack—!
Talgok's knee joint snapped backward. He tumbled, losing balance, and the guard mounted his back heavily.
"Eastern etiquette... is important. Rude trash... gets evicted."
This wasn't combat. It was pure butchery—wringing and tearing a massive beast.
The guard seized the remaining left arm and yanked it free. He ripped out chunks of back muscle, twisted the spine.
"Kaaaaak—!"
The great warrior's agonized scream echoed through the building. But it weakened, soon buried in gruesome tearing sounds.
Where Talgok fell lay only unrecognizable meat scraps, guts, and a dark red blood pool. No trace of a great warrior's dignity—just gore.
As the disassembly ended, mascots from every floor converged in the first-floor lobby. They encircled the remains...
And began to eat.
It was a primal, frenzied feast.
Chomp, chomp.Gulp, crunch—!Snap, grind.
The mascots' costume mouths gaped grotesquely, pulverizing flesh and organs. They licked blood, crushed bones, and swallowed.
Thus, they erased the great warrior from the floor.
And I watched the entire spectacle live on the CCTV monitors.
Cannibal Holocaust.
That was the only phrase in my head.
"...What the hell am I watching right now?"
The living Black Orc had vanished in seconds. Now I understood how the mascots disposed of them without a trace.
A truth I never wanted to know.
I tore my eyes from the monitor and squeezed them shut. Suddenly, I craved a cigarette.
"Gonna have some fucked-up dreams tonight..."
As unease shook me, cheerful alert chimes rang out in succession.
[Hostile entity completely eliminated.]
[Mission reward: 10,000,000 won credited.]
[First mission bonus: 20,000,000 won additional reward.]
[Managers successfully awakened.]
[Diligent support fund: 7,000,000 won credited.]
[First knight selected.]
[Foundation of power established. Additional reward: 8,000,000 won.]
[Black Orc great warrior hunted.]
[Achievement reward: 30,000,000 won credited.]
[※ Question fee: 10,000,000 won deducted.]
"Huk! How much is all this?!"
Totaling a whopping 75,000,000 won. Even deducting the 10,000,000 won question fee left 65,000,000 won! Add the first lord-vassal bonus, and I had exactly 66,000,000 won in hand.
Euphoria from the massive windfall wiped the massacre from my mind. I grinned like a kid.
"Hehe, I'm rich now."
"My liege! Congratulations!"
As Jangbi boomed his cheers, a thought struck me. I'd earned 8,000,000 won knighting Gold Sun, but linking with Jangbi only netted 1,000,000 won.
"Kehahaha!"
I stared at the heartily laughing Jangbi.
This guy's... worth less than I thought?
I'd long forgotten he saved my life.
Sensing my dubious gaze, Jangbi looked puzzled.
"Kehah... Why that look, my liege?"
A twinge of guilt—I averted my eyes.
"Nah, nothing."
But joy was fleeting. Cold reality hit.
"Fuck! Rich my ass."
Starting a year from now, 8.333 billion won installments monthly. And here I was, giddy over 66,000,000 won.
Assuming 30 days a month, daily earnings needed: 277,777,777 won!
Reality crashed down hard.
"My liege! Are you unwell all of a sudden?"
Jangbi approached worriedly. Can't worry the vassal as lord. I replied solemnly.
"I'm fine. It's just a million-won thing."
"Pardon?"
My slip-up made me cringe, then the CCTV caught something chilling. The security uncle and mascots stood frozen, staring straight at the cameras.
As if they knew exactly I was watching. Glaring through the lens at me.
My heart plummeted. Goosebumps exploded.
Having witnessed their "dinner," terror peaked.
Why? Why are they staring like that?
As I swallowed hard in tension, a new system window appeared.
[Managers wish to pay respects to the King of Managers.]
[Permit? Yes / No]