Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: The Fog Lifts
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Monstrous beasts burst mercilessly from the fog.
The humans facing them showed all sorts of reactions.
"Argh! Spare me! Please! Aaaah!"
Some fled in terror.
"G-get away! Die! Just die!"
Others swung their weapons wildly in panic.
"Damn it..."
Some simply gave up and accepted death.
But the outcome was the same no matter what.
"Gah! Cough!"
A man with his chest pierced by a tentacle vomited blood.
The monsters swarming from all sides hunted down the people without mercy.
Of course, not everyone died so pointlessly.
"Damn it! Everyone, group up for now! We need to break through!"
"Monsters are coming from every direction! It's impossible!"
Kim Min-su was desperately fighting back with a group of relatively unharmed survivors.
But despair had already colored his face.
As if he knew there was no way out of this anymore.
"Things are going better than expected."
I watched the whole scene from afar.
Riding atop one of the monsters' heads.
"Kyaaah!"
Just then, a winged monster charged at me from the side.
"What the hell is this?"
-Thwack!
One swing of the baseball bat, and the monster exploded in a shower of gore.
Feels pretty good.
'If those people had properly formed ranks and fought, the results might've been different.'
As I said, the fog monsters aren't as strong as they look.
Their appearances are grotesque and their sizes imposing.
But once you actually fight them, they feel manageable.
If those guys hadn't panicked and had gotten into formation.
There would've been sacrifices, sure, but they could've made it out alive.
'Well, I was the one who led them to this point.'
If they hadn't been scared in the first place, this many monsters wouldn't have shown up.
There's one regrettable part, though.
It would've been easier to clean up the monsters later if they'd fought properly.
The scene was so gruesome that Metafiction activated to protect my mind.
But at this point, do I even need that?
'No pity for those bastards.'
Would the old me have felt guilt?
Honestly, probably not.
This is a world that's falling apart.
I can't afford mercy for those who came at me with malice.
It's not just because I see this world as a novel.
They drew their blades on me first, that's all.
'Still, good call leaving Hye-na behind.'
Hye-na isn't a cold-blooded type like me or a reincarnator like Yoo-ri.
This scene would leave trauma for her.
Of course, Hye-na's stronger than I give her credit for.
But no need for her to get hurt by this.
"P-please! Save me! I was wrong, so help me, please!"
That's when Kim Min-su spotted me somehow and shouted.
His body was splattered with someone else's blood.
His usually smug face was overcome with terror.
All his underlings around him were already dead and sprawled out.
"I'll do anything! With me, you can rule this safe zone however you want! You could even make the other women your sex slaves! So please!"
I scratched my cheek at his words.
Then answered in a leisurely tone.
"How much you offering? Around 10,000 coins might make me consider it."
I wonder what he thought hearing that.
Honestly, no idea, and I don't care.
Time passed like that.
Until finally, no moving humans were left.
"What a gruesome sight."
Chunks of meat scattered everywhere.
The ground was dotted with blood and bits of pink flesh.
Honestly, it wouldn't be weird to puke at this.
But thanks to Metafiction, my mind stayed calm.
"Guess it's my turn now."
I kicked off and swung the baseball bat at the monsters.
-Crunch!
A cheerful coin notification rang out with every swing.
As expected from the sheer number of monsters, the coin earnings were substantial.
I was happily farming away at this gold mine of a spot.
"Y-you...bastard..."
"What? You're still alive?"
Kim Min-su spoke from where he lay collapsed on the ground.
He was still breathing, but he didn't look like he could get up.
His side was torn wide open.
Blood and entrails poured from the wound.
Honestly, it's a miracle he's still conscious.
"How can you call yourself human...after letting all these people die...?"
I slowly approached him as he spoke.
Impressive how he still managed a terrified expression in his dying state.
"Hey, let's get our facts straight. You guys tried to kill me first, remember?"
"Urk..."
"And didn't you hoard all the food and drive people into the fog to die? Honestly, you've killed way more than me. And you're the one calling me out? You, of all people?"
I reached out and lightly tapped his cheek.
"This is just how it is. You were the strong ones until now. This time, I was stronger than you."
Yeah, that's the law of this world.
The weak die, the strong survive.
We're all ugly humans, nothing more.
Of course, there are lines you shouldn't cross.
And since this is a world inside a novel.
Anyone who crosses that line has to die.
Readers wouldn't forgive a character like that.
'That goes for me too, probably.'
I stood up.
Kim Min-su didn't respond.
To be precise, he died before I even finished speaking.
Not intentional on my part.
But with this, the dictator who ruled the safe zone was gone.
Primary Main Quest 1 has ended!
Congratulations on surviving!
Primary Main Quest 2 will begin after a short rest!
"Oh, the fog's clearing."
The thick fog vanished like a lie.
Bright sunlight shone from afar.
And with that, Primary Main Quest 1 came to an end.
Kim Min-su and his gang wiped out.
When I reported the news, unrest spread among the survivors.
I said the monsters killed them, not me, but who knows if they'll buy it.
The first thing they asked was this.
"What about the food...?"
"We'll distribute the food equally, of course."
Joy spread across their faces at my words.
They probably thought I'd take over ruling in Kim Min-su's place.
'What a hassle.'
This incident made me realize something.
Leading or governing people is just exhausting.
We're heading to the hotel soon anyway.
So I decided not to stir up trouble.
"Kinda unexpected, though."
Yoo-ri asked while we were handing out food to the people.
"What is?"
"We don't really need to bother distributing the food. It's not our problem anymore. We even dragged back all the weapons they dropped, what a pain."
"Yeah, true."
With the fog gone, most people will scatter anyway.
Sure, some might stick together.
But most will go their separate ways.
We could've just left the food and everything for them to sort out.
"But if we did that, fights might break out for no reason."
Humans see others' lives as worthless when their own suffering is on the line.
Leave it like this, and a second Kim Min-su might pop up.
Or at least, fights could erupt.
Of course, as Yoo-ri said, it's not our concern...
"Still feels kinda off, y'know."
"Hm."
Yoo-ri gave a small nod at my words.
Neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
She just added this.
"Don't ever forget that feeling."
How does my current self look to someone who's already survived one apocalypse?
Honestly, no clue.
"Phew! Last one?"
"Yeah! We divided it as fairly as possible."
We were basking in satisfaction after finishing the cleanup.
When suddenly a group approached.
"Ji-hoon!"
I turned to see the guys from before who begged me to fight for them.
"Thank you so much!"
"Truly grateful!"
The lead guy bowed deeply in thanks.
The others followed suit.
"We're moved by your sacrificial spirit and noble intentions!"
"......Huh?"
"No need to hide it. You fought alone to minimize the sacrifices!"
What the hell is this all of a sudden?
"We understood when you refused at first, even if it was disappointing. But you took on all the enemies by yourself! As expected, you're on a whole different level from us!"
The people behind him chimed in.
"We'll never forget this favor!"
"Thank you so much!"
"Ji-hoon, you're our dark hero!"
Honestly, a bit flustering.
I never expected them to interpret my actions like this.
'So they think I fought alone on purpose so they wouldn't get hurt?'
Pure fantasy interpretation, but based on what I did, it kinda fits.
Though the cultish vibe is a little weird.
"If you ever need help later, just say the word! We'll follow you with our lives!"
"Hey, everyone. That's not..."
Hye-na tried to explain, exasperated.
I stopped her and stepped forward.
"I merely fought for the sake of the powerless. It hurt my heart at times, worrying I'd be seen as a villain. But knowing you understand my intentions is enough."
The saintly words drew cheers from the crowd, like they'd been waiting.
"Ooh, as expected! That mindset! We'll carry it in our hearts too!"
"Hero of the weak!"
"Conscience of this ruined world!"
"Dark Knight of the safe zone!"
Yoo-ri and Hye-na stared at me like I was ridiculous.
Hey, what? So what if I let a bit of conscience shine through.