Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Uncomfortable Proposal, Good Choice
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Four people had sneaked into the church to steal.
Three men and one woman.
They were all different ages, and they hardly knew each other.
Ah, there was a couple in their twenties among them.
"Please, just let us off this once. This is really my first time doing something like this."
"Sir, we were only planning to take a little."
"Ah, I just came along with her, that's all."
None of them had even reached level 5.
Of course, they were subdued without much effort.
"Excuse me. We'll give you money... Just untie us..."
The captives were making a racket.
All of it was self-serving nonsense that meant nothing to me.
"Let's see. Kim Do-dong, right?"
"Yes? Ah, yes, that's me."
Jang Ho-seop called out their names like he was taking roll call.
Once identities were confirmed, he shook his head at me.
Meaning none of them had the skills we'd been watching for.
"Gag them."
"Got it."
The captives struggled wildly.
Because they were thrashing and trying to shout even louder, Jang Ho-seop was having a hard time.
"Haa... Yu-na."
"Yes."
Yu-na created four water arrows.
Then she launched them with just a flick of her wrist.
"Eek!"
The water arrows shot forward swiftly but stopped right in front of their faces.
She could pull off tricks like this now at close range.
"Be quiet."
Peace was restored in an instant.
We hid them out of sight and resumed our watch.
And by morning, we'd caught two more thieves.
We'd caught a total of six thieves.
Right around the appointed time, we opened the front gate and stepped out.
The churchyard was filled with villagers.
Almost everyone had come.
"Come on in."
Under Jang Ho-seop's guidance, the people filed into the chapel.
Half tense, half expectant expressions.
We seated them in the pews.
Jang Ho-seop ascended the pulpit.
But their eyes lingered not on him, but on what was in front of him.
"Why are those people...?"
Because we'd tied up the thieves we'd caught right there in front of the pulpit.
The six of them were bound to chairs in a neat row.
"Hello, everyone from Muhwa-dong. I'm Jang Ho-seop."
The murmurs died as he began to speak.
"Thank you for coming. I'll now explain our team's proposal and what you'll need to do."
He launched into the speech we'd prepared.
"We're planning to leave this place soon and find a new home. To establish a sustainable base for long-term survival."
The people focused intently on Jang Ho-seop's words.
"To do that, we need everyone's help. We're looking for those who will join our team and come with us."
They had gathered here to solve their immediate hunger.
But they knew Jang Ho-seop's words offered them a new opportunity.
"If you join us, you'll be assigned tasks suited to your talents and skills. We'll provide food, shelter, and..."
Jang Ho-seop started with the carrots.
Basic living support.
Help with leveling up and skill development.
Improved treatment based on performance, and so on.
He couldn't reveal everything, but he assured them it would overcome the anxiety and crises they faced.
"Of course, there are conditions. You all understand the state of the world right now."
Now came the real talk.
"We're not a horizontal team. We want people who can devote themselves to the goal of survival."
The listeners' emotions began to shift.
Some rebelled, others nodded in agreement.
Maybe their stomachs weren't empty enough yet.
"These people in front of you coveted the rewards we risked our lives to seize."
The reason we'd laid the bait.
The reason we'd revealed the church's location and set the trap—it all poured from Jang Ho-seop's mouth.
His voice grew louder.
"Enemies! Must be struck down. That's the path I—and we—live by! That's our way of survival."
No room for weak hearts.
We weren't volunteers.
"What we want is everything from you. In return, we'll protect and care for you."
I needed people who would follow my actions without question.
These thieves were the first test.
"Steel yourselves. Those ready, pick up a weapon. Stab the enemy before you and prove your resolve."
A table in front held several knives laid out.
To join us, they had to stab one of the bound thieves.
This was my filter.
"What kind of crazy talk is that?"
As Jang Ho-seop finished, one man shouted.
It was such a predictable reaction that I almost laughed.
I'd expected the backlash.
Even so, the reason for this test was that it was convenient.
Even after the cataclysm, some retained their humanity.
The pharmacist we'd met on day one, and Hunter Gang Hye-seon too.
I'm different from them.
So I only wanted to take those who could accept and follow my actions, no matter what they thought inside.
People who could discard their own values and embrace change.
People who needed something to lean on to escape anxiety and fear.
People who could escape their immediate hardship without a second thought.
That's who I'd embrace.
"Stab a person? There was no talk of this."
Another one.
This test doubled as preparation.
From watching them, some freak out at the sight of a single bird flying by.
I wanted people who could grab a feral dog by the scruff when it lunged.
This was that first step.
"I just came here to work and get paid. And now this out of nowhere..."
So that guy didn't fit.
He wasn't ready to let go yet.
"Is the proposal uncomfortable?"
"Yes! Uncomfortable! Isn't that normal? Even if the world's gone mad, there are kids here right now..."
The man stood, raising his voice.
As if hoping for agreement from the others.
"What I said yesterday still stands."
Jang Ho-seop replied calmly.
"Everyone, this isn't coercion. It's a choice. Those who want to work just for today and get paid can do that."
Jang Ho-seop, Soo-jung auntie, Yu-na, Jang-su uncle.
The four of them stood at the pulpit, looking down at the crowd.
"But only for today. We didn't set this up just to help you."
They all had healthy complexions.
Their hair was neat, beards trimmed, clothes clean.
Even auntie had makeup on and earrings.
"Choose. Or you can just leave."
Meanwhile, what about those sitting?
No need to comment on their appearances.
The chapel reeked like an underground homeless camp.
"Wh-what right do you have to tell us to stab those people?"
The man mustered courage again.
Now I recognized him—the head of the family I'd seen before.
He'd brought his wife and son again today.
Did he want to flip the table?
This situation that wasn't going his way?
"The right of the victor."
Jang Ho-seop answered curtly.
Then he turned away from the man and scanned the crowd.
"Those who want to join us, raise your hands. Those who want work and pay, go that way."
That was all from Jang Ho-seop.
He stepped back, giving them time to decide.
Swoosh.
Surprisingly, someone raised their hand right away.
"Me."
It was the mom with the baby.
She stood, baby on her back.
"Yes. This way."
Jang Ho-seop seemed a bit surprised too.
He kept his expression neutral, but his emotions wavered.
"What should I do?"
I found myself leaving my seat and approaching her.
Sister Bom scurried after me.
"First, this..."
"I'll do it."
"Ah, brother. Okay."
I took the knife from Jang Ho-seop.
And met the mom's eyes.
"Auntie, could you hold the baby for a moment?"
"Yes."
Soo-jung auntie took the baby.
Meanwhile, I stared intently at the mom.
'She resembles her.'
The look in her eyes was the same.
The resolve to protect her child.
I could sense it even without Target Detection.
So I changed my mind.
Because I'd seen my own mother in her from the past.
I made the choice I'd postponed yesterday, right then.
"Uh... Yi Hyun?"
"Give me your hand."
"Ah, yes."
I placed the knife on her hand.
And gripped it together with mine.
"Don't tremble."
"I... Hoo. Okay."
"Support it with your other hand here. Can't have you getting hurt."
My mom had trembled too.
My mom.
"Just stab. Think of it as pressing lightly."
"Yes... Now?"
"Yes. Don't pull out—just stab. No blood will splatter."
The day my mom killed her husband.
That day, I just smiled innocently in front of her.
I couldn't comfort her.
I lacked the words and actions suited to the situation back then.
That's how it was.
This went against our plan, but I guided the mom's hand.
Stab—
The knife we held together plunged into the man's stomach.
"Ah..."
The mom let out a dazed breath.
The stabbed man writhed in pain.
"Good job. Now let go."
I whispered in her ear.
To keep her focused on me.
"You made the right decision. Good choice. Now forget everything else—just think of your baby."
The mom nodded.
Relief washed over her from my whisper.
"Is... is it over?"
"Yes. It's done. You're one of us now. Don't worry."
I smiled and met her eyes.
I'd used this woman for my own satisfaction.
That was it—just up to the mom.
Sister Bom and I returned to our seats.
"Um, me too."
"Yes. Come forward."
People began deciding one by one.
Some to the pulpit.
Some to me.
No one simply turned and left.
"Grghhh!"
"Mmmph."
The number of knives piercing the thieves' bodies grew.
Their muffled screams echoed endlessly.
"They're crazy. This is insane."
"Do we really have to go this far...?"
"Hoo... I don't know if this is right."
Those in front of me were the ones who'd chosen work and pay.
I could hear their hushed whispers.
"Don't look. Come here."
As Jang Ho-seop spoke, the man who'd rebelled alone hugged his son.
"Dad, I think that side is right."
"What? What are you talking about?"
It was ridiculous.
His son, who looked about middle-school age, wanted to go to the pulpit.
And soon enough.
"Last one, huh? What'll it be?"
People's choices ended faster than expected.
Jang Ho-seop asked the man sitting alone.
He sighed, stood, and headed to the pulpit.
"Alright, choices are done."
The last person stabbed a female thief.
Jang Ho-seop tidied up the room.
All the thieves were still alive.
"Everyone, please sit again? Ah, gather up front. I have something to say."
More people remained on that side.
Soo-jung auntie stepped forward for them.
I looked at those gathered in front of me.
Unlike their words, they stood quietly, waiting.
"We're moving."
I said briefly and turned.
They followed with tense expressions.
We entered the short hallway connecting to the annex.
I opened the door first and waited for them.
"Hey, do you really think this is right? Forcing people into choices like this under the pretense of food..."
His confusion showed on his face.
Why bring it up now that it was all over?
"But where are the supplies?"
"No signs of use here..."
When I didn't respond, the man shut up.
The others said nothing about what happened in the chapel.
Creeak, thud.
The last person entered the annex.
Sister Bom stayed outside and closed the door.
"It's too dark in here. How are we supposed to work in this...?"
Faint red sunset light filtered through the curtains.
That was all.
Click.
Then came the sound of the door locking.