The Idle

Since starting the Cart People Project, I had been receiving a steady stream of rescue requests. However, more often than not, I ended up rejecting them because the conditions didn't align with our needs. As a result, fewer than ten people had joined Samira so far. While it was a positive development that three new Awakened over level 20 had joined, the overall results were disappointing. What was even more regrettable was that the project's direction was slightly different from what I had expected. It was too skewed in one direction.

I had hoped the survivors would find their way to us on their own...

Every inquiry that had come in so far was a request for rescue. Of course, I was grateful that we could increase our population even in this manner, but it was true that I was greedy for more. Then, for the first time, a group appeared that claimed they would come on their own. They said there were 21 of them.

"It's finally happening."

"Yeah. It was worth the wait."

I gathered my team to prepare for their arrival. We picked a spot and set the appointment immediately.

"Thinking back, I think the time with Choi Min-seong was the real jackpot."

"That's true... If we can just get one like that every now and then, it'll be enough."

"Right. Wouldn't the people whose rescue requests were rejected try to find us on their own once they get more desperate? They're only playing hard to get because they can still manage to survive for now..."

I was currently at the meeting spot, chatting with Jang Hoseop. It was early, and the morning mist hadn't even cleared yet. The reason I decided to expand ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Samira’s influence was that we needed more people. That was certainly the beginning, but I had refined my mindset toward the project to focus on Samira helping others. Since I said so, everyone naturally thought that way, and this tone was carrying over to the new arrivals as well.

"Why aren't they desperate? Everyone knows about the gate collapses by now, right?"

"Well... maybe they think moving right now is more dangerous?"

"Still, they have to do something. Once the gate collapses start in earnest, it'll be far more dangerous."

As we chatted, I felt even more appreciative of Choi Min-seong, who had brought several people, including the soccer team kids. According to Jang Hoseop's evaluation, Choi Min-seong was working very hard during his internship.

"*Yawn*... But they seem pretty diligent, too. To say they'd come this early. They could have come a bit later."

The group we were waiting for today was the same. It’s better when the other party is desperate; it saves us unnecessary energy.

Rumble, rumble, rumble.

As Jang Hoseop spoke about the group we were meeting, a sound like rolling wheels began to echo. The noise was quite loud, as if several carts were moving at once.

"Huh? Boss."

"Yeah. It popped up on the target detection. They're coming this way."

"Wow, speak of the devil. It's them, right?"

"Must be. Unless it's an incredible coincidence."

The people who came with me prepared for combat in case of an emergency. There were 30 Awakened alone. And the opposing group was smaller than what we had discussed beforehand.

"There are 18 of them."

"Understood."

The tension among our people rose. Soon, the group ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠emerged through the mist.

"Oh, those really are 'Cart People'."

Just as Jang Hoseop said. A large number of people were walking in a disorganized line, each pushing a shopping cart. They were the kind of carts used at grocery stores, and they were piled high with luggage.

"Huh?"

Then, when the distance closed enough to recognize their faces...

"That person... isn't that her?"

Jang Hoseop was shocked. He looked as if he had seen someone he knew.

Yuri-an...

The total number of people was three fewer than expected, but the rest matched the information we had. Except for the woman who claimed to be the leader, everyone else was male.

"Boss. It is, right? That... what was the title again?"

And Yuri-an, the leader, was someone I knew as well. To be precise, I was the only one who had seen her face. She was in her late 160s in height and had a slim build. Even without much makeup, her face was exceptionally beautiful. She even had a youthful look, making her seem like someone in her 20s rather than 38.

"Anyway, you know. The Queen of Rom-Coms."

"Yeah, looks like it. Let's go."

"Whoa... her face is so small. Why didn't I realize it when I heard the name?"

Actress Yuri-an. Her face was her business card. Even I, who didn't watch dramas, knew her face. Still, we went through the identity verification process.

"Are you from Samira?"

"Yes."

"Phew... that's a relief. Ah, I am Yuri-an, who has come seeking the land of Samira. Thank you for inviting us."

I am so-and-so who has come seeking the land of Samira. That was the password. After finishing the identity verification, we moved to a building we had cleared out in advance.

"Yes, the basic information is all correct."

"You are thorough."

"This much is standard these days. Let's move on to the next part."

Jang Hoseop took the lead in the conversation. It was to use Lie Detection.

"Could you explain why there are 18 people in total?"

"We had an accident on the way. There was a horde of monsters."

"So, did three people die?"

"Yes. They died, and we had to leave the bodies behind."

Jang Hoseop nodded and clenched his right fist. It meant it was the truth.

"Kim Jae-seok, who is outside, is level 21... how is it that you, Yuri-an, are the leader?"

"Thankfully, many people follow my lead well."

Jang Hoseop's emotional state was fascinating. He was extremely favorable toward Yuri-an. It was the first time I had seen him act so favorably toward a stranger so quickly. Had he always liked the actress Yuri-an?

"If you join Samira, you must follow Samira's rules."

"Of course."

"There will be uncomfortable parts. A point of concern is..."

Yuri-an smiled at Jang Hoseop. Then she spoke in a soft tone.

"Hoseop. Ah, may I call you Hoseop? I feel familiar with you because I've seen you a lot on the Square."

Jang Hoseop glanced at me and nodded.

"Um... yes. But please call me Director when others are around..."

"Hehe. Yes, I will. Seeing you in person like this, it feels like I've met a celebrity."

"No, that's more like me..."

Jang Hoseop grinned. This guy... he's unpredictable. I had thought Jang Hoseop was fundamentally averse to women. Especially women he might feel attracted to. But when we went into a gate together last time, I had guessed his taste a little. Jang Hoseop liked cute, small women. If we were talking about animals, herbivores like rabbits. In my opinion, Yuri-an was far from a herbivore. She was older, but her appearance didn't show it. I thought she was a style Jang Hoseop would find burdensome, but I was wrong this time.

"My former profession was an actress. I have an image known to the public. Is that why you're worried?"

"Well... yes."

"I can't completely ignore that part, but... I hope you see me as just a person who survived for now."

Jang Hoseop nodded. Again, he clenched his right fist tightly.

"I've tried really hard to adapt. I've gone through painful, difficult, and sad things, just like everyone else."

"Yes."

"I know how dangerous and harsh this world is now. I am prepared to survive."

Perhaps because I had met the disheveled guy who was complaining yesterday, Yuri-an's answer pleased me.

"Um... to put it simply, should I say I'm not in a position to be picky? Is that expression a bit off?"

"No, no. You have a good mindset."

Yuri-an hadn't lied even once while talking to Jang Hoseop. Her personality was also easygoing. Her skill isn't related to combat either... but she reached level 17. Yuri-an's skill was the ability to groom her appearance. It was similar to the skill of Do Jieun, whose wrist I had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cut off due to her kleptomania. I felt it would be fine to accept Yuri-an's group.

"Then, I will briefly mention how you will live in Samira and move on. Detailed explanations..."

Jang Hoseop must have reached the same conclusion as me. He glanced at me once and then proceeded with the conversation quickly, as if he had guessed my thoughts. Some more time passed, and we were just about finished with the necessary talk.

"Ah, how did you live in Seoul Station? It's a place with a lot of foot traffic... it wasn't 21 people from the beginning, right?"

"Yes. There are still people remaining at Seoul Station. It was very chaotic at first, but..."

"Wait a minute. You mean they didn't all die, and there are people remaining?"

"Yes."

While gathering information, I learned that there was a fairly large force at Seoul Station. If it was Seoul Station, it was much closer than Namsan. Hearing the story, the number of survivors was also high.

"Then they must have established themselves well... why did you decide to come over here?"

"I had a difference of opinion with the people there. Um... I think Samira's active response to the current situation is correct."

The Seoul Station force was reportedly acting very defensively. It was to minimize sacrifices. It was a big catch. The addition of Yuri-an's group was not something that would end with just the addition of 18 people. I would have to talk to the group members separately.

I returned to Samira's land. We accepted Yuri-an's group as interns. "Let's talk while we eat." I had breakfast with my team and talked about what happened at dawn. When I said there was a fairly large force at Seoul Station, everyone was surprised.

"Wait, that's different from our speculation?"

We had concluded that Seoul Station had been occupied by monsters. That was because someone had talked about Seoul Station on the Square before.

"Yes. It is said that the Seoul Station force leaked false information."

"Why... ah, was it to keep people from coming?"

Aunt Sujeong's thought was correct. The Seoul Station force was reluctant to have outsiders approach.

"There is a large supermarket at Seoul Station. There are department stores and many convenience facilities like restaurants, too."

Seoul Station was a really big station. The scale of its auxiliary facilities was enormous. It didn't just have a large supermarket; there were also warehouses for various cargo transported by rail. You could consider those warehouses alone to be the size of a decent building.

"They must have had a lot of food that is easy to store long-term."

"Ah, so that's why..."

"Yes. It means they just have to defend it."

The Seoul Station force was struggling to protect their supplies. They were leaking false information on the Square and creating physical obstacles to make it difficult for outsiders to approach.

"One of the defensive strategies they chose is to maintain the number of Awakened."

"What? What does that..."

"They say many Awakened with fundamental skills died in the process of pushing back monsters."

They called it a defensive strategy, but in reality, it was just the Awakened with power playing it safe. Jang Hoseop added a word to my explanation.

"They chose to 'camp'."

"'Camp'... what?"

"It means hiding and holding out. That's what it means..."

Aunt Sujeong nodded and asked again.

"But in the long term... no, do they think they can hold out until they die of old age?"

"That's not the case. Anyway, Yuri-an had a different opinion from them, so she came over to us."

"I don't really understand."

That was the story I heard from Yuri-an so far. "I have to go to Seoul Station." And that was the conclusion I had reached.

"What? Suddenly?"

Jang Hoseop put down the spoon he was using to scoop rice at my words. Had I started with the conclusion too abruptly?

"I don't mean I'm going right now. I'm planning to go after handling the rescue requests that have come in first."

"Ah... yes. Then we'll have to push back the new rescue requests a bit. How much time should we set aside..."

Since I had set the direction, my team would prepare accordingly.

"Just set aside one day. And call Yuri-an to figure out the situation at Seoul Station more specifically. You said they make traps and stuff, right?"

"Yes, I understand. How many people are you thinking of taking?"

I thought for a moment at the follow-up question and answered.

"I'll go alone."

"Uh... since they are reluctant to have outsiders, wouldn't it be dangerous if something happens?"

"That's why I'm going alone."

"Ah... yes, that's right. Then I'll ask Yuri-an a bit more..."

That was how we began to set up the plan to visit Seoul Station.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Yuri-an entered.

"Hello."

Yuri-an had actively cooperated with my team in grasping the situation at Seoul Station. And she had asked through Jang Hoseop if she could have a private meeting with me. I heard she had something secret to tell only me. So, I made an appointment, and she was here now.

"Welcome."

"Wow... your office is nice. I was surprised when I saw the main building, too..."

Yuri-an looked around my office with her eyes wide open. It was just clean; there was nothing particularly great about it. It's better than the intern dormitory, though... More than that, I was surprised by Yuri-an. I had heard she was adapting well and working hard, but her appearance had changed a lot. Yuri-an had washed up cleanly and put on makeup. She was wearing a neat dress and even heels. Those were all luxury items. You could buy them with magic stones at the trading post, but the price was much higher compared to daily necessities. She shouldn't have that much leeway yet... When an Awakened goes on external activities, they earn much more magic stones than a regular person. Considering that, it wasn't entirely nonsensical. She also had supplies she had brought with her.

"Ah, since this is a meeting with you, Lee Hyun, I couldn't come looking sloppy. I pushed myself a little..."

Yuri-an said, looking down at her body at my gaze, as if she had guessed what I was thinking. I stood up from my desk and moved to the sofa in front.

"Please sit. I heard you had something separate to tell me."

"Yes... *ahem*. Ah, I'm sorry, but could I have a glass of water?"

There was a bar in one corner of the office stocked with drinks and snacks. Yuri-an was looking in that direction. She must have been thirsty.

"Is water enough? You can have other things if you want."

"Really? Then, may I help myself?"

"Yes... please do."

I just sat on the sofa. Yuri-an looked happy as she chose water and fruit herself. They were canned fruits, but those were precious, too.

"Thank you. I really wanted to eat fruit."

However, Yuri-an, who had brought the food, sat right next to me. Even though there was a spacious sofa opposite us. The scent of a fresh-type perfume wafted over.