Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: I Will Become Your King!
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"...Slave?"
The people's eyes widened in shock.
Slave?
They all seemed uncertain if this was the kind of slave they knew.
Aaron drove the point home for them.
"Yes, slaves. They're a tremendously useful resource, aren't they? You can use them however you like, just feed them, and dispose of them at the owner's discretion."
"Wait, wait, wait!"
Seo Chang-woo shouted repeatedly, his face flushed red.
It looked more like he was trying to calm himself than address Aaron.
After several deep breaths, Seo Chang-woo finally managed to speak.
"Slaves? Who are you turning into slaves?"
"The Commoners of enemy territories, of course."
"C-Commoners?"
"Yes. You all know this already, right? Territories—no, safe zones—aren't just here. They're scattered at reasonable distances. Close enough if you really want to go."
"So war means..."
"Wars between Pioneers of different territories. And the slaves are the Commoners living there."
A heavy silence fell.
Everyone had vaguely known about other territories.
But war? Loot and slaves?
Their worst fears confirmed, the people's expressions turned grave.
"Of course, this applies to you all as well."
Aaron smiled and affirmed their darkest assumptions before any objections could arise.
"Loot and slaves go to the victors. If the Pioneers here lose to an invasion from another territory, the people of this territory will be dragged off as slaves."
"Th-that's insane! No way that's possible!"
"Whether it's possible or not isn't up to you."
Aaron cut down the desperate cry with a cold voice.
"Don't try injecting weird philosophies or morals into this. It's just become possible. No matter how much you scream, if someone wins a war, they can kill you and enslave your family. That's all."
"...!"
"And the only ones who can protect you in such an invasion are the Pioneers. Though there are exceptions."
"Ex-exceptions?"
A voice rang out, eager for more details.
But Aaron added to his words with cruelly pitiless eyes.
"It's up to the leader whether to resist or surrender. If there's no hope of winning, Pioneers can defect to another territory and join their ranks."
"...!?"
"Well, that's only possible for capable Pioneers. Without prior negotiations, you'll all be slaves for sure. If the enemy leader is generous, you might join as Commoners."
Aaron chuckled as if that were unlikely.
The frozen crowd stared at the laughing Aaron, fists clenched tight.
But Aaron ignored the gazes from all sides and continued.
"I'll say it again: Elect a leader and follow their orders. That's all I can tell you. You can choose not to, of course, but..."
Then you'll have to deal with the consequences yourselves.
That heavy unspoken addition left them speechless.
Aaron's explanations continued a bit longer after that.
He had finished with rewards, so it was mostly about the leader's authority, taxes, and war.
Among them, the leader's authority caused a stir rivaling the slave talk.
Not a single one was weak.
Even worse, these powers weren't limited to Commoners.
Even fellow Pioneers could be restricted at the leader's whim.
Naturally, both Pioneers and Commoners erupted like disturbed beehives.
But the leader requirement of 'Level 5 or higher' made their reactions slightly different.
"What's the difference from slaves? It's just telling us to grovel!"
"Why are they doing this to us? Is it such a crime not to fight monsters?"
"Damn it, applying it to fellow Pioneers is too much."
"Think positive. If our faction's leader wins, that's all power for us."
Commoners despaired at the thought of their rights unilaterally stripped by a leader.
Pioneers were torn, knowing that power could be theirs—or someone else's.
Our team was no different.
The comrades gathered at my place all wore serious faces.
"A leader. I figured one would emerge eventually, thinking back to World Rebuild days, but this is too soon."
"Soon isn't the issue; it's the powers. They're excessively strong. Falling out with the leader ends you."
"Maybe. For order, they need to be that robust. Weak powers would just breed resentment."
Park Sang-gu stared at me in disbelief.
"Hyung-nim, you're not worried?"
"Worried about what?"
"What if a bastard becomes leader? We're screwed!"
"Screwed how?"
I snorted at his needless worry.
"Didn't you hear? Other territories can invade."
"What does invasion have to do with the leader?"
"A leader will fight desperately because it's their turf. But other Pioneers?"
"Uh..."
Park Sang-gu's eyes swam blankly.
Still confused, I explained patiently.
"If the leader's been abusing other Pioneers, will they risk their lives? They'd sooner surrender to another territory."
"...!"
"Is that even possible without the leader's consent?"
Min Jae-yoon approached, horrified.
I shrugged lightly.
"System-wise maybe not, but loopholes exist. They can decide to enslave enemy Commoners or accept them as new ones."
If even for Commoners, surely for Pioneers—far more valuable assets. Merging them is profitable.
"Sure, risk of betrayal, or being treated like rolling stones. But if surrender still seems better, that's that."
Extremely, the leader could be torn apart alone, the rest peacefully absorbed.
Unlikely unless idiots involved.
"But if someone grabs leadership and drags us down? No lunatic would. We're the strongest here."
"I-is that how it works?"
"Exactly. No need to worry."
"But that doesn't mean someone else should be leader, right?"
As Park Sang-gu shut up, Yoon Ho-chan spoke up.
Our only one with family as Commoners, he seemed especially anxious.
"It's possible, so power could go to their head. Better if hyung becomes leader."
"True enough."
No issue with others, but I wouldn't mind doing it myself.
Best to claim the seat personally if possible.
"What do we do? Appeal to people now?"
"Appeal how? Run a campaign?"
"Even that, if needed. First election's by vote, right?"
"Forget it. Too late."
I chuckled and shook my head at Yoon Ho-chan.
With impressions set, what would a day or two of campaigning change?
Lucky if mockery doesn't grow.
"Besides, no plans to become leader right now."
"Huh?"
"Need mindset reform first."
Leader now? Tyrant at best, monster at worst.
Old Earth's human rights and welfare ideas linger.
Generosity mandatory for bare decency.
'Sucker living for Commoners or villain forcing reality—both needed. But no need for me to be either.'
Let others suffer that.
I'll reap the fruits later.
I suppressed my rising smirk and looked at my comrades.
"I already have a plan."
"A plan?"
"Yeah. It's like..."
We had a week to elect a leader.
But no one wanted to wait.
Factions—Choi Seung-hyuk's, Seo Chang-woo's, and ours including—were long assessed.
"If we're doing it, let's do it early!"
"Right! Right now!"
Initially chaotic Commoners unified on quick voting.
Not eagerness for a ruler, obviously.
Delay risks Pioneer infighting shrinking candidates or pre-deals nullifying votes.
'Want to lock in while votes still matter.'
Former: murder reduces options. Latter: all collude, vote meaningless.
Either way, Commoners' picks powerless.
So early vote: last shot at influence.
Even discriminatory Aaron sided with Commoners here.
"Choosing your ruler is self-determination; must respect that. Changing them later is another matter."
His final uneasy remark furrowed brows.
Before voting, top candidates stated visions.
Seo Chang-woo first, shouting:
"Nothing more to say. I just want everyone to become Pioneers. No oppression, no taxes, maintain the status quo. Just do your best."
Status quo.
Best offer sans free service.
People nodded, knowing his conduct.
Next, Choi Seung-hyuk, stiff-faced, aware of disadvantage:
"We are the majority. Remember that. A leader decides if we protect you—or not."
Threat, not campaign.
People frowned, but he had no choice.
Past bullying made promises ring hollow.
Reaction chilled anyway.
Last, me. Gazes focused.
I smirked at their eyes full of strange longing.
'They want me to save them.'
Seo: grand ideals, lacking power.
Choi: just exploit Commoners for top spot.
Only I have ideals and power to achieve them.
Unfortunately, my ideals far from theirs.
"Skip the empty rhetoric and honorifics."
People gasped at my fuck-your-votes attitude, but I shouted heedless:
"I will become the king who rules you all!"