Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: First Day as the Lowest Slave
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The L Hotel, occupied by Hwangmaegyo, was a fairly large building.
They didn't manage every floor, but it was still a structure of this size, complete with a front plaza fountain where people lived.
And naturally, all the miscellaneous tasks for this sprawling stronghold fell to the lowest slaves.
"Move it, move it! If you can't even handle this, what's the point of you worthless scum existing?"
Today marked my first day assigned as one of those lowest slaves.
I was cleaning up bags of filth while listening to the sharp voice of Yoon Ji-hye, the overseer of my slave group.
The stench was brutal.
What I was handling now was the aftermath from the residents of the fountain plaza using the bathrooms.
'No wonder it's so clean around here.'
Of course, this was familiar work to me.
The only differences were the larger group size and having plenty of fellow sufferers.
It wasn't much different from the chores I'd handled alone back at the dorms.
"Once that's done, next you haul water!"
The lowest slaves, stuck with all the dirty jobs, had no shortage of tasks.
Not just cleaning toilets like a moment ago.
Things like fetching bathwater for the regular believers and heating it up.
Or washing the believers' soiled laundry.
Distributing rations according to headcount.
And plenty more that took more hands than you'd expect.
"Young fella managed to survive all the way here on your own, huh. Name's Lee Seo-ho?"
"Yeah... I got lucky and was spotted by some of their scouting folks."
"That's fortunate. This place is tough on the body, but it's as safe as the old days and you eat your fill. In some ways, no need to worry about money makes it better than before."
What surprised me, though, was the attitude of the low-grade slaves here.
The roughly eighty of them didn't seem to have much dissatisfaction with their lot.
'...Well, in a world like this.'
Outside was crawling with zombies.
And the people here had all barely scraped by in that hell at some point.
After that, menial chores like these wouldn't faze them.
People give up on life more from a hopeless future than from physical hardship.
"Cough, cough."
"You've been coughing since earlier. Caught a cold?"
"Weather's getting chilly. Don't worry about it, though. This is nothing. Come on, let's finish up and move to the next task."
Still, it was intriguing.
Besides the white-haired old man coughing in front of me right now, all the other guys.
None of them had major complaints about slave life itself.
Sure, compared to life outside, the safety alone made it far better.
The issue was that only men endured this oppression.
'Must be their faith in that cult leader or whatever.'
As I was chatting idly with the fellow slave while transferring the black trash bags to the cart.
Yoon Ji-hye, who'd been watching, strode over to me.
"You trash newbie. Who said you could chat?"
"Guhk."
She approached and hooked her arm around my neck, choking me.
My airway compressed, forcing out a dry cough.
Squish.
When a woman locks you in a headlock from behind, her soft breasts naturally press against your back, making their presence known.
Not quite as massive as Hong Si-eun's, but this woman's were impressively sizable too.
Even as I struggled for breath, part of me savored the sensation.
"One more word out of you, and I'll call you aside for a private talk. Get back to work, trash!"
Yoon Ji-hye shoved me away soon after and returned to her post.
'What's her deal...?'
I rubbed my sore throat and glanced at her.
Arms crossed, she squinted her round eyes sharply, glaring this way.
Yet her cheeks held a faint flush.
'The Charm Eye is clearly working...'
Today was my first day working as a slave.
Half a day had already passed, and she'd scolded me like this several times during that span.
Each time, there'd been some subtle groping of my body or pressing hers against mine.
But that was it.
She talked a big game about private talks, but never actually pulled me aside.
That was odd.
'Hong Si-eun went straight for the kill.'
Maybe as a slave overseer, her situation differed from a trainer's.
She teased, dragging it out, but wouldn't go all in.
Blushing and stealing glances, overdoing the physical contact a bit.
But nothing beyond that.
'I need to try something else.'
Right now, I was at the absolute bottom of this cult's hierarchy as a low-grade slave.
And I didn't choose this treatment because I enjoy beatings and disdain.
Everything served one goal.
Solely to target the cult leader.
For this process—with its side entertainments—I'd volunteered for low-grade slave status because it was essential.
And to proceed as planned, I had to deal with Yoon Ji-hye somehow, my direct overseer.
"Hey, tough day, huh. Ji-hye's not usually like that, but it's your first day, so maybe that's why."
"...Huh? Who... who are you?"
Right then, a man approached with oddly friendly familiarity.
"Haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Kim Tae-young. You?"
"Oh, Lee Seo-ho."
"Haha, look about the same age. Speak casually. I'm twenty-four. You?"
Why's this guy using informal speech right off the bat?
Lucky we happened to be the same age, or it'd be awkward.
"Twenty-four too."
"Figured! You looked like a peer! Anyway, nice to meet you! Not here long myself, but hit me up anytime if you've got questions."
The guy who introduced himself as Kim Tae-young was incredibly upbeat and affable.
Even for a zombie-safe spot like this, he seemed excessively bright.
'Like a shonen manga protagonist.'
That was my first impression of him.
Well, if he's approaching with goodwill, no reason for me to dislike it.
I smiled brightly back at him and extended my hand.
We shook warmly.
"By the way, you were over by the fountain plaza until yesterday, right?"
After introductions, Kim Tae-young naturally joined me at the wheelbarrow I was pushing, keeping the chit-chat going.
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Then maybe..."
He pulled a small photo from his shirt's front pocket and showed it to me.
It was a passport-style photo.
The tiny kind used for IDs or passports.
It featured a pretty woman with black hair reaching her shoulders.
"You haven't seen this girl around there, have you?"
The guy who'd been all sunny and lighthearted until a second ago now looked deadly serious.
Meeting his eyes, I felt myself getting caught up in the emotion and peered closely at the photo.
"Nope, doesn't ring a bell."
"Sigh... Okay..."
He bowed his head and let out a deep breath at my answer.
'...Looking for someone?'
In a place where men were slaves and women commoners by default.
Maybe a girlfriend he'd come here with but gotten separated from.
"If you spot her, could you let me know right away?"
"Sure, if I do."
"Thanks a ton! I'll help you with anything if you need it."
Anyway, he wasn't a bad guy.
In this zombie world, folks usually schemed about others while prioritizing their own safety.
But Kim Tae-young felt purely genuine and bright, without that guarded edge.
The innately good kind of person.
You know the type.
Someone you haven't known long, but who puts you right at ease without needing to watch your step.
'I'll look into it later once I take over this place.'
A reward for the good first impression.
I'd gather info on the girl he was seeking and check it out down the line.
After bonding so suddenly with Kim Tae-young and finishing the trash haul.
It was during the water-hauling for baths and drinking supply.
"Ugh..."
The white-haired old man who'd chatted me up friendly-like while moving trash earlier.
He'd kept coughing and finally collapsed from exhaustion mid-haul.
"Hey! Who said you could rest!"
Yoon Ji-hye, ever watchful over us, didn't miss it.
She marched straight to the white-haired old man and raised her hand high.
In her grip was a makeshift whip of knotted rope.
Crack!
"Argh...!"
The swing echoed loudly, drawing a faint groan from the seated old man.
"Isn't that Manager Park?"
"He looked off since morning..."
"Should we tell someone now?"
"You nuts? Step in and you'll just get whipped too."
The water-hauling was a massive operation.
The hotel's entire population needed huge quantities.
So nearly all the low-grade slaves witnessed the white-haired man getting lashed by Yoon Ji-hye.
Perhaps because of that, she swung even harder.
Crack! Crack!
More groans escaped the old man as he staggered slowly to his feet.
"Urk, can't let this stand... I have to step in..."
That's when Kim Tae-young, who'd been watching, moved to approach Yoon Ji-hye.
Naturally, I stopped him.
"Huh? Wait—"
Instead of him, I rushed forward and blocked in front of the whipped old man.
"Stop it! He's been under the weather with a cold since morning!"
"What...?"
I spread my arms wide, glaring at Yoon Ji-hye mid-swing. Our eyes met, and she flushed slightly, halting her hand.
She stared blankly at me for a moment.
"Tch... Hmph."
Grinding her teeth in apparent frustration, she whipped her head away and stormed off.
"Get him up and take him to the tent. Everyone else, back to work!"
With that, she returned to her spot, arms crossed, glaring our way again.
The low-grade slave men watching all let out small cheers.
"Ooh! Who's that guy?"
"Brave, huh? Could've gotten himself hit."
"More like, she backed off just from his glare. That surprised me."
"Pretty cool newbie we got this time."
If the system had pinged a notice, it probably would've said something like:
Low-grade slaves' favorability has increased!
Ignoring the crowd, I flashed a sly grin.
'Grabbed the opportunity perfectly.'
Skipped a bunch of tedious steps and left a solid impression on the slave crew.
Even Kim Tae-young, who'd tried to step in first, sparkled with admiration, clapping and eyeing me.
"Impressive! Putting yourself out there for the weak like that! I really like you!"
As I returned to my spot, he playfully slapped my arm, showing his approval.
Seemed even more touched that I'd held him back and taken the lead myself.
'Just didn't want him stealing my moment.'
But delusions are free.
Gaining favor wasn't a bad deal.
。 。 。
Yoon Ji-hye watched the slaves haul water, arms crossed, eyes sharp.
To her, it was only natural.
Men were trash.
The treatment these oppressors—who'd relied on their strong bodies to dominate women—deserved.
She felt no guilt over their unfair handling or grueling labor.
Just one emotion burned in her mind right now.
'Crazy, crazy, crazy.'
Pretending to glare at the slaves, she fixated on one.
The new male slave who'd just arrived.
At first, she'd seen him as just another revolting piece of trash, like the rest.
But something felt off.
The moment their eyes first met, she'd sensed he was different.
'What do I do! He's too hot!'
And just earlier.
While she was disciplining an old man slacking on his duties.
He'd boldly stepped in front of her with a stern face.
Spread his arms to shield that trash, sacrificing himself.
Staring her down with intense eyes, as if to say, "Hit me if you have to."
That resolute face lingered in her mind.
'What should I do...? My sisters said just call them over at night if I want...'
Since first locking eyes with him.
She'd found her gaze drifting to him, sneaking in skinship to vent her budding feelings.
But that wouldn't cut it anymore.
Her thighs itched, panties soaked since a bit ago.
'Ha, but...'
Yoon Ji-hye relaxed her forced glare, her round eyes filling with distress as her face reddened.
'I've never done anything like that...'
And so, she watched the one man laboring sweatily with strange eyes.