Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: These Losers Clapping in Awe is Hilariously Funny! Am I Messing Up the Rescue for Innocent Girls Who've Never Been Saved Before?!!
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At my declaration of war, the Rankers began murmuring among themselves.
"What the hell is that guy even saying?"
"He's the infamous one who steals Constellations and fucks them."
Um...
I do steal Constellations, but it's not to fuck them...?
"He was licking his lips earlier while staring at our Cactus Lass. Saying she was hot and all that... He's definitely a psycho."
"Getting excited over Cactus Lass when she's not even in her feminized form? What kind of fetish is that...?"
"The world's a big place, and perverts are everywhere."
Isn't the lewd one me, but what's in your heads?!
-Though I couldn't say that, since Kim Taeyang's language was way too crude...
Kuma, who'd been quietly listening, suddenly stepped forward.
The loyal Kuma was the type who couldn't stand by when a friend was being slandered.
"Hey! You done talking?! There could be people who get turned on by Cactus Lass, you know?!"
"?"
But Kuma always managed to miss the mark...
"If it's a cactus covered in all those spines... it must give off a really mature vibe! With those arm-like protrusions on the sides, it kinda looks human-like too... And such a small, cute cactus—it's got plenty of sexual appeal!"
Kuma desperately trying to defend me.
What she got in return were looks of contempt from her comrades.
"Kuma? What the hell are you talking about...?"
"Senior Kuma... you sound like a total perv..."
"N-No! I didn't mean I was into it—I'm just defending Taeyang...!"
"There's no way Taeyang would get turned on by a cactus, right? Must be some misunderstanding."
"Y-Yeah...!"
Kuma's face turned beet red as she slunk back.
She really had no sense whatsoever.
At that moment, a faint tremor shook the building.
Vibrations traveled up from the floor.
"M-Monster...!"
"It wasn't over?!"
Monsters poured in from the passages surrounding the lobby.
"There's too many...!"
Even the Rankers who'd been lounging around sprang into action.
There were just that many enemies.
Way too many for a so-called 'Tutorial Wave.'
"Hey, hey! You civilian pigs!! Move your asses!!!"
"Eek...!"
The most vulnerable were, predictably, the non-Awakened.
And sure enough, one of them got attacked and collapsed.
"Gaaah! P-Please, save me!!"
And with that scream...
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Injured: 1/1] [Tutorial Wave Objective Achieved!] [All monsters have been reset.] "?"
The monsters vanished.
Poof! Right before their eyes.
"What the...?"
"What just happened?"
"Is it cleared...?"
Immediately after, a system window popped up in front of everyone.
Visible to all.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [First Wave] [Objective] [Deaths: 0/1] [Time Remaining: 11 hours 59 minutes] "Objective achieved?"
"So the clear condition was to create an injured person...?"
Even the Rankers were a bit baffled.
Which made sense.
It was a rare rule.
Seol Harin returned after helping the others, her expression grave as she asked,
"You... figured it out?"
"Hah? Obviously. This dungeon incites conflict."
The dungeon's rules were simple.
Waves started at regular intervals.
To clear a wave, you either fought until no monsters remained, or achieved the objective.
And that objective was the kicker.
In the Tutorial, it was one injured person.
In other words, the moment one of our own got hurt, it cleared.
So what about the next wave?
"As expected, deaths."
"Dungeons are evil by nature, aren't they?"
One death.
Just one person dies, and you pass easily.
Or a few heroes risk their lives to fight it out.
"This is a trap."
"You're quick on the uptake, bitch."
"Hmph. Obviously... The dungeon wants to whittle us down bit by bit. People start thinking 'as long as it's not me,' fight passively, casualties mount, and our forces weaken with each wave."
Seol Harin was sharp, alright.
She'd grasped the dungeon's design right away.
But analyzing human psychology was another matter entirely.
"Still, it's a relief. With all these high-level Rankers, we can clear it without much trouble."
Character doesn't scale with ability.
It's a plain truth—watch the big shots gorge on taxpayer money without a single apology.
These heroes here were no different.
This dungeon preyed on human selfishness,
And this place was crawling with selfish humans.
Meanwhile, Lena had a better read on human hearts than Seol Harin.
"Are you an idiot?"
Lena popped up out of nowhere, flashing a rotten grin as she taunted.
Seol Harin's face hardened coldly.
"...Introduce yourself."
"What? Didn't you see us stalling earlier, promising not to fight? You think all high-level Rankers are the type to risk their lives?"
"Of course... "
Seol Harin turned—and her words cut off.
The Rankers were arguing with their Guild Master.
"What do you think Rankers are? They're desperate to boost their value. To reach S-Rank without that kind of thrashing around, you need overwhelming skill."
"......"
"Those guys will demand bigger money, bigger rewards. They'll see this as their golden opportunity."
"We could still persuade them...?"
Stung by the idiot remark, Seol Harin forced the issue.
It wasn't like her, and she probably regretted it right away.
"I thought you were pretty smart back in that hellhole... Guess I was wrong."
Lena was grinning ear to ear, satisfied with the hit.
Seol Harin trembled with rage.
She clenched her teeth, flicked the 'First Wife Candidate' badge on her chest, and spat,
"A concubine like you, talking back... "
"You're a 'candidate' for First Wife, not the First Wife. Forgot because your brain's too small?"
"You...!"
"Hey, hey!! Cut it out!!!"
I barely stopped them before it escalated into a real fight.
When the hell were Seol Ha-jeong and Cloé coming back?
Those two were the buffers!
"That's enough."
Then the Guild Master and Rankers approached us.
Not the Guild Master, but Jeong Isol as representative.
The hero of 'Cactus Lass.'
"We've decided."
"Hah? Decided what?"
"We'll pick a 'scapegoat' from the civilians or low-tier heroes."
"Hawa... "
The words sent the staff and others into an uproar.
How could they not?
A scapegoat.
Meaning they'd rather sacrifice a civilian than fight the monsters themselves?
"You're heroes! Don't you have a duty to protect the citizens?!"
"It's not just your lives—mine matters too. You think an S-Rank label is some invincible cheat? Facing those monsters is life-or-death for us every second."
"Hawa..."
Not wrong, technically.
But using that to lord over others' lives? Nah.
"You call yourself a hero?!"
"Guild Master! You're really okay with this?!"
"If we leak this to the press, it'll be a huge scandal!!"
Probably.
If we could get out, that is.
Park Hee-yeon stepped up to calm the agitated staff.
"Everyone, calm down! It's not like we're definitely handing someone over!!"
"Then...?"
"All heroes will fight. But we can't go all out. We have zero info on this dungeon. We need to conserve strength for what's ahead. That's why... we absolutely must designate someone to sacrifice for the good of us all in emergencies..."
"What's an 'emergency'?"
"So you're just gonna abandon us in the end?"
"You haven't even fought full-force and you're sacrificing civilians?!"
"This is insane!!"
"Guild Master Park Chung-hyun would never allow this!!"
"Quiet down, all of you. Like it or not, we've decided. It's final. So you lot pick who the scapegoat is."
"......"
The Guild Master and Jeong Isol weren't wrong.
Might even be the most efficient strategy.
From the heroes' perspective, anyway.
The scapegoat wouldn't be thrilled, though—their hands would shake with injustice.
Plus, these Rankers would rake in fortunes after escaping—why should civilians bear the risk?
"Hawa... This world's too cruel..."
Cactus Lass perched on Jeong Isol's head.
She shuddered as she continued,
"But for efficient clearing, it's unavoidable... Cactus Lass hopes you all wisely navigate this crisis... Hawa..."
That line felt ominous.
The kind of tantalizing dialogue that made me want to check with NTR Solution!
⚙ NTR SOLUTION ⚙ + Cactus Lass is saddened by this cruel situation! + Comfort her so she doesn't ache with worry—use wisdom and courage! If things go according to plan, snagging Cactus Lass will be a breeze...
"Hey. I warned you—don't lick your lips at Cactus Lass...!"
"Hawa... Cactus Lass is embarrassed..."
She seems to like the licking, though...?
Anyway.
Cactus Lass wasn't the priority right now.
"Shut your traps, you selfish sows dumped in the human trash bin."
"Wh-What...?"
"We've already picked the scapegoat."
"Picked...?"
The standoff had split into two camps.
The Guild Master and a few Rankers.
And me, Kim Taeyang, with the rabble.
So if a scapegoat had to be chosen, it was only right for me—the leader of this group—to do it.
I turned around, and people hurriedly averted their eyes.
"You... Shouldn't we at least hold a meeting for something like this?"
"I agree, Taeyang. Of course, picking an inferior bitch to sacrifice is most rational, but we have to consider public opinion..."
Seol Harin and Lena looked genuinely worried for me.
But no need.
I'm a genius who's grinded thousands of hours in these galges!
"The scapegoat I've chosen is..."
All eyes on me.
Fear and tension on the civilians' faces,
Curiosity on the Rankers'.
I grinned and met their expectations.
"Me, Kim Taeyang."
"?"
The scapegoat I chose was myself.
"Hey. Quit joking and speak straight. If things go south, we'll break the sacrifice's legs or knock 'em out and toss 'em to the monsters."
"Kukuku. You subhuman bitch disqualified by your shit personality? Even monsters would stick out their tongues at you."
"......"
No one was getting thrown.
Because I'd make sure of it.
So no need to nominate anyone else.
Then Abigail climbed onto a desk and shouted,
"Everyone!!! Did you see?!!! Did you hear?!!! The Leader has once again paved the path of sacrifice!!!! His vow to never let his followers fall into danger!!! His steadfast, diligent heart fulfilling a hero's duty to protect us all!!!! This is our Cult Leader!!!! Our God!!!! The Leader, Kim Taeyang!!!!!"
"......"
Her speech was, as always, overly emotional.
I mean...
That culty tone just doesn't land, right?
Can't she give a normal speech...?
But unexpectedly, applause broke out.
Clap clap clap...
"Kim Taeyang... Thank you..."
It wasn't from some sow.
Nor a Taeyang Church believer.
Just a regular civilian staffer.
He thanked me sincerely.
Clap clap clap clap clap—
"You're the real hero!"
"We'll do anything we can!"
"Long live Kim Taeyang!!"
"Long live!!!"
The applause swelled.
Over 400 people cheering my name.
It was genuine.
Not brainwashing or delusion—real support.
I'd predicted this.
Planned it, even.
But damn, getting this applause felt fucking great...
"Kukuku. These loser shits clapping in awe is hilarious! First time getting saved by a hero? You naive bitches who've never been rescued—am I the one royally fucking up your salvation?!! Hey!!!"
That's the only way I can express it... but anyway, it feels good!
"Kim Taeyang."
The Guild Master, Park Hee-yeon, called me.
"Yeah?"
"No more solo actions from now on."
"Hah...?"
"Follow Jeong Isol, our commander. Your survival odds are way higher that way."
Of all people, Jeong Isol...?
Though she was strong enough to lead without it being weird.
Still, no intention of following her.
Unless she was under me.
"Hey hey!!! What bullshit is that?!!! This body doesn't obey bitches!!!! This body commands bitches!!!!!"
For some reason, Lena chimed in excitedly with "That's right!" at that part.
"Do whatever with you shithead subhuman sows—it's not my problem!!!!"
"W-Wait! If we don't combine forces, combat gets harder!"
"Hah?!! Then get under me!!!!"
"Ha..."
Park Hee-yeon was speechless.
"Guild Master. Just let him be. It's their loss anyway."
"This isn't the time to think about losses! To avoid deaths..."
Negotiations over.
Now we had two factions.
Jeong Isol's Ranker faction.
Kim Taeyang's faction.
The end was clear.
Ranker faction wouldn't fight full-force.
Taeyang faction would, but not enough to hold off monsters.
Eventually, a death on our side, wave ends.
As long as waves continue and I don't budge, this loops.
In other words, unless I yield, only we lose.
"But Taeyang... You sure? We can't protect all the civilians alone..."
But structurally, I can't lose.
As a possessor, I know most settings and plots—how could I?
"Hey, piss sow! You daring to doubt me?!"
I lightly grabbed Lena's collar.
"N-No! It's not that, I'm just worried..."
"Quit meddling and hold your piss..."
"Ung...♡"
I calmed her with the piss-holding game.
She loves it most then.
Anyway...
That's when Pomi returned.
"Master!!!"
Pomi appeared, a huge spear in her mouth, arms full of weapons.
Eyes sparkling, tail spinning like a propeller—like she was begging 'Praise me quick!'
Seol Ha-jeong and Cloé followed, arms loaded with weapons and artifacts.
"We swept everything Taeyang mentioned."
This dungeon had two strategies.
Pacify Rankers and unite—that's the standard.
Or find hidden artifacts everywhere and arm 400 civilians—that's the hidden route!
"Whoa—way more than I thought."
"Pomi dug up the buried ones too."
"Everyone, gather in front of me! Time for weapon distribution and tactics training!"
Cloé rallied the civilians.
The Rankers' faces changed.
Most turned ashen like cement, but some Constellations eyed us curiously.
"Hawa... Cactus Lass is amazed by Kim Taeyang's wisdom..."
Superior insight and leadership!
That's how you seduce Constellations!
At the crucial moment, pheromone perfume to steal them en masse!
Finally, inject sticky humanity into those subhuman Rankers, turn 'em into polite sows...!
Turn that fake Justice into true Justice...!!!