Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Now It's Time to Throw Our Weight Around
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“The search team's back!”
“Ooh…!”
“Looks like they scored big this time!”
People buzzed with excitement, crowding toward the search team. The men strode in proudly, arms loaded with boxes and bags.
Choi Si-yu approached as if she'd been waiting.
The men didn't even glance her way.
“Status on the haul?”
“Hey, people died out there, and you're asking about loot first?”
The driver from the search team yelled, fuming.
That might prick anyone's conscience, but Choi Si-yu didn't flinch.
“Soldiers dying in the line of duty is unavoidable. What matters is mission success. So, how much did you bring back?”
What ironclad military spirit.
The men ground their teeth and dumped the goods in front of her.
“Here, take it, damn it!”
Choi Si-yu's eyebrow twitched. But this wasn't the first insult she'd shrugged off. She sighed deeply and ordered the female soldier beside her.
“...Understood. Sergeant Han, store the supplies in the communal warehouse and distribute rations once sorted.”
“Yes, ma'am!”
The female soldiers picked up the tossed items and carried them to the Staria.
In that moment, Yoon Cheol-woo nodded toward his team with his chin.
Here we go.
“Ga-eun, Teacher A-yoon, Nara. All three of you, stay low and don't move.”
“...Huh?”
Gong Ga-eun blinked back in confusion.
But there was no time for explanations.
“Just do as I say. I heard some bad news.”
“Ah... Okay!”
“Got it.”
Bang bang bang──!!
The words had barely left their mouths when gunfire erupted.
“Kyaaah!!”
“Wh-what is it?!!”
“Waaah~!”
Everyone hit the deck. Children's cries echoed from everywhere.
“Everyone, eyes front!”
Yoon Cheol-woo stepped forward, rifle in hand.
Dozens of armed men flanked him.
He even pointed at the Staria.
“You lot too, come on out~.”
The female soldiers emerged from the Staria, hands on heads. Their guns were gone.
They'd been hiding inside. Slick.
“What the hell is this?”
Choi Si-yu whipped out her pistol and advanced.
But men all around trained their weapons on her.
Odds were about 1:10.
No chance in sight.
“What is it? A coup. Right, our little soldier girl?”
“Why do this now, in a crisis? Lower your weapons and follow orders, or I'll court-martial you for disobedience.”
“Court-martial? Cour~t-martial?”
“Yes. By military law...!”
“Try it.”
Yoon Cheol-woo smirked and stepped up.
He pressed his chest against her barrel.
“...What?”
“Do it.”
“.........”
Her gun trembled.
Of course.
A 29-year-old whose whole world was the military had no clue how to control underlings without military law.
She'd mistaken their quiet compliance for her own power.
Reality flips that easy.
“Sniff...! P-please spare me...!”
“Fuck, don't move.”
Sergeant Han knelt nearby, hands up, sobbing. The guy behind her prodded her skull with his foot.
“Why... why...?”
“Why? Act like our captain here, and this is what happens. Scavengers get the grub, eaters stay put. Got it?”
“That your gripe? But for the public good...”
“Ugh~. Who wants your damn speech?”
Choi Si-yu shut her mouth at Yoon Cheol-woo's bark.
He smirked and turned to the crowd.
“Listen up, folks. You've been chowing down on our hauls like kings, huh? While we risked our necks against monsters. Right? Huh?”
“Damn right!”
“Ungrateful bastards. Not even a thanks.”
The search team men hollered at the crowd.
“From now on, we control all food. Wanna eat? Obey us. Or go scavenge yourself. Capiche?”
The people pushed back.
“What're you saying?”
“You keeping all the food for yourselves?”
“You shameless...”
“Shut it──!”
Bang bang bang──!!
One burst silenced the complaints.
Everyone hugged their heads and dropped low again.
“We play nice, and you think it's your right? Huh? You pitch in to fetch this food?”
“...”
“.........”
Silence.
He was right. The so-called 'protected' here hadn't lifted a finger for food.
“Wh-what do we do...? Us?”
“If the kids starve...”
Gong Ga-eun and Do A-yoon glanced at me, holding their breath. They knew I was on the search team.
Calm down.
“Let's watch and see what they say.”
“Okay...”
“Ugh......”
Silence fell again. Then one auntie stood.
“Y-you young punks...! So what're we supposed to do?”
“No food means the kids all starve?”
Yoon Cheol-woo chuckled at the backlash.
“Told ya. We're not heartless. Just do what we say, yeah?”
“Kekeke...”
Murmurs rose at 'what we say'.
“Wh-what do you want...?”
“What else? Auntie, strip and dance.”
“Eugh~.”
“Fucking gross.”
“.........”
The auntie flushed crimson, frozen amid the mockery.
“Slaves who'll obey stay. Pissed? Get out. Oh, tentacle monster by the parking lot—dodge that~.”
“No long explanations needed. Ladies know the drill. But aunties actually stripping? You're dead.”
“Rest of you, serve us right. Kid guardians cover their brats' shares too, got it?”
“Oh, that big-tits teacher?”
“Gonna work hard to feed those kids now. Heh heh...”
I glanced at Do A-yoon. She trembled, face twisted in fury.
Casually asked,
“You gonna do what they say?”
“No way!”
She'd obey me before.
Almost said it, but she stared right at me.
Ah. Thinks I'll bake bread?
She trusts only me.
Not bad.
“Fucking bastards...”
Wi Nara was the most pissed.
Makes sense. Thought she'd escaped Yoon Cheol-woo's grasp, only for this.
“No... I hate it so much...”
“Nara...”
Gong Ga-eun hugged her tight. As if she knew it was inevitable.
“B-but sis, Dad... If Dad can't...”
“.........”
Wi Nara had injured Wi Moo-jin too.
Guardians cover dependents.
She was his now.
“Ughhh......”
Her fists clenched. Steeling herself, maybe.
Just not against those guys.
I stood slowly.
“...Godfather?”
“One sec.”
Left Gong Ga-eun and walked forward.
“Excuse me, coming through. Thanks. Just a moment. Yep, thanks.”
I wove past dazed stares, trembling folks, the despairing—bowing and greeting.
Finally reached the armed men.
“Don't move....... ...Park Daebu?”
“Yeah, hold on.”
They recognized me, lowered guns.
Search team knew I'd helped secure this haul.
Figured I was one of them.
“Godfather, where you been? Pick a girl for tonight.”
“Heh... Ain't no solo feasts.”
I answered their jeers.
“Nah. I'll eat alone.”
“...Pardon?”
Pushed past their confusion to the food pile.
“Everyone, attention!”
Mimicked Yoon Cheol-woo exactly.
“All you here—armed folks included—from now on, do as I say.”
Heads tilted.
“.........?”
“Who the hell's this guy?”
“What's with the old man?”
Yoon Cheol-woo nearby snickered.
“Park Daebu. This some joke?”
He approached.
“No clue why you're pulling this, but can't you see it's serious? Even if you're one of us, this is trouble.”
“You too, Yoon Cheol-woo. Obey me.”
“Wait... You serious?”
He glared, face hardening.
Glare all you want.
“I see it different. Food only for those who obey the search team? I'm against.”
“...Didn't you agree with us?”
He chin-jerked; guns swung my way.
“Godfather!”
Ga-eun's voice. Ignored it.
“Of course I agree. Spot on. Recipients obey providers. Rational, natural order.”
“That's what I'm saying. Didn't get it...?”
“You don't get it. Yoon Cheol-woo. You're the recipient—why not obey me?”
“Huh?”
He scoffed.
“Why am I the recipient...? Can't make sense of you. You just risked your life with us at the mart. Not like you fetched it solo.”
“Exactly.”
“...Huh?”
“I fetched all this food.”
“What bullshit...”
He aimed and closed in.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [1+1 ability deactivated.] “Wha...!”
“Wh-what?! The food! The food's gone!”
“Where'd it all go!?”
Where? In my hands.
“One announcement, folks.”
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ [1+1] [Duplication complete]
A lunchbox materialized in my right hand.
The only food left in this space.
“I can provide your daily bread.”