Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Let the Power Abuse Begin
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Click.
Click, click.
"What the hell is this?"
Yoon Cheol-woo pulled the trigger over and over, but it wouldn't budge.
"Fuck. Fuck. Why isn't this working...! Fuck...!"
As Yoon Cheol-woo frantically yanked at the trigger like a madman.
"It's a misfire!"
"Just shoot him!"
Bang──!
An unidentified search team member fired his gun.
This time, it went off properly.
Of course. All I'd asked Uncle Wi Moo-jin to do was freeze Yoon Cheol-woo's gun.
I'd wanted to freeze his body solid, but that hadn't worked.
For some reason, the term "target" in my status window didn't seem to apply to people.
I'd had no choice but to freeze just his gun. But that alone was enough.
"Gah! Heuk─!"
Thud.
Yoon Cheol-woo collapsed to the floor, vomiting blood.
He must have taken two or three shots to the body. Blood kept pouring from his mouth.
He probably wouldn't survive.
"H-He actually shot him...."
"Murder. That's murder."
"No...! That bastard tried to shoot first! It was self-defense!"
"Don't you get it? If Park Daebu dies here, we lose our food too?"
The search team shouted at each other in panic.
Well, this was probably their first time actually shooting and killing someone.
But they needed to realize something.
This was an apocalypse with no laws or anything.
And even legally speaking, it was self-defense.
"Mr. Yoon Cheol-woo."
"Urk, grrrk...! Fuck...! Fuck...!"
I approached Yoon Cheol-woo and placed my hand on his body.
Warm blood surged onto my hand.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [1+1 ability has been activated.] [Subtle Persuasion ability has been duplicated.] ⚔ STATUS ⚔ ⚡ Survivor Ability: Subtle Persuasion 💨 Rank: B ✨ Effect: People will naturally follow your ambiguously persuasive words. So this was the ability.
With something like this, he'd tried to play leader?
It seemed useful. Like weak-level brainwashing, but the more you mixed it with truth, the more it amplified the persuasion.
Still, it wouldn't be enough to become a leader on its own.
I'll make good use of it.
"...He's dead."
"………."
"We really... really killed someone...!"
The search team members trembled with their guns in hand, or collapsed to the ground entirely.
But they'd have to get used to it. They'd be shooting a lot from now on.
At people, not monsters, of course.
"Let me speak to you all again. I won't force you. It's your choice. Follow my orders and get food, go out and fend for yourselves, or try to intimidate me and take it by force. It's all up to you. Those who'll stay with me, gather in front of me. Those who won't, go over by the B3 pillar."
At my words, people started glancing around at each other.
Some hesitated, wondering whether to stay or go. Others racked their brains furiously.
As they eyed one another, the first to step forward was the search team member who'd shot Yoon Cheol-woo. He hung his head, perhaps from guilt.
"………."
"Good choice."
"You're really... giving double portions, right?"
"Yes. I keep my promises."
"If... if we find my mother later, please give her food too. Then I'll do whatever you say."
Ah, so that's it.
I smiled brightly.
"Of course. I hope you find your mother."
"...Thank you."
The man turned to face the others from right in front of me.
His eyes said he'd shoot anyone who tried anything. Well, he'd already killed once.
For ordinary folks like us, committing murder is naturally hard.
But the first time is hard; the second isn't. Especially with a solid justification.
"M-Me too... I'll follow."
"Me too!"
"Ah...... fuck it. Whatever."
One person stepped up, and the rest flocked to me.
Search team or not, crowds of people soon lined up in front of me.
Whether they were truly convinced by my words, or it was the power of the ability I'd copied from Yoon Cheol-woo, or just bandwagoning... I wasn't sure.
"I'll do whatever you say!"
"You're really giving us food, right?"
"We don't have to go outside anymore, right?"
One thing was certain.
As long as I kept feeding them properly, these people wouldn't bite me.
"Godfather...."
A familiar voice. I turned to see Gong Ga-eun.
She stood before me, head slightly bowed.
"What... what about us...?"
Her face was full of worry.
Strange.
If it were me, I'd be trying to mooch off a connection at the top for some scraps.
But she hadn't even thought of that, hesitating just like everyone else.
"Will you accept too, Ga-eun?"
"W-What do you mean?"
"My offer. Doing as I say."
"Ah......"
Do as I say.
That was my one condition.
"I-I......"
Gong Ga-eun fidgeted and trailed off.
Well, even so, if she didn't like it, she didn't like it. Who knew what I'd make her do.
We knew each other, but we weren't that close.
She had to know I stared at her chest...
"I've wanted to do that from the start."
"?"
What?
"G-Godfather...! Th-Then you'll keep giving bread for our kids... the bread, right?"
Before I could ask, Do A-yoon rushed up to me.
The kids trailed behind her in a line with their teacher.
"I'm hungry~."
"Bread please~."
"I want snacks."
Did these kids pawn their bread or something?
My brow throbbed.
"I told you. If you do as I say......"
Before I finished, Do A-yoon cheered.
"Yay~! Kids, he's giving us bread!"
"Really?"
"Woo-hoo~!"
The kids excitedly linked arms and danced around.
"......Aren't you curious what I'll make you do?"
"Huh? Oh.... W-Well.... isn't it obvious?"
She scratched her cheek and averted her eyes.
She looked kind of happy?
Probably relieved about the kids' meals...
"B-But, sir. It doesn't affect your lifespan, right?"
"Lifespan?"
"Yes. Um... you said making bread shortens your life."
"Ah, that."
At Do A-yoon's words, others looked at me too.
"Lifespan?"
"There's a condition like that?"
People's expressions grew complicated.
Were they grateful for my sacrifice? Not really.
No one but someone like Do A-yoon would innocently thank me for it.
Most were probably scheming.
What if I died from the lifespan drain?
It'd mean my food supply wasn't infinite.
This fragile food distribution system would collapse, and people would have to go scavenging outside again. Who knew if any food would be left by then.
And if my ability was finite, these people would have less reason to follow me unconditionally.
In simple terms, my power would weaken.
So wouldn't it be better to say there's no lifespan limit?
"Yes, there is. My lifespan shortens every time I create something."
"...Really?"
"If your lifespan shortens... Godfather could die?"
"That's right."
At my words, people started to waver again.
As expected. This was an anxiety factor.
"But I've found a way to minimize this constraint."
"Huh?"
"What's that?"
"Coins."
I glanced at a few people.
Those who already knew what "abilities" were and how they worked.
"Those who know, know. You can strengthen abilities with coins. Mine too. Right now, it costs me days of life per item, but strengthening with coins can reduce it to minutes or seconds. Keep strengthening, and it'll basically have no restrictions."
"Ah...!"
"I see."
"Then how do we get coins?"
Simple.
"Kill monsters, or clear missions. However you get them, bring them to me. I'll give you food and supplies. This isn't an order. It's a trade."
At the word "trade," everyone nodded.
Naturally, I'd secured a coin supply too.
Now, what remained was...
"Um... Godfather. No, Godfather sir. What about those female soldiers?"
The search team pointed to the women tied up next to Staria.
They were all stripped of weapons and bound tight. Most hung their heads or avoided my gaze.
All but Choi Si-yu, who glared at me.
"We'll remove the gags."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
"They were too noisy, so we stuffed them."
Even so, cramming socks in their mouths was overkill.
As soon as I pulled it out of Choi Si-yu's mouth, she started yelling.
"Sergeant Park Daebu...! What the hell is this? Untie us now, or I'll punish you under military law!"
Oh dear.
Now I see why they stuffed the sock in.
A nearby search team member shook his head.
Undeterred, Choi Si-yu bellowed loud enough for everyone to notice.
"I heard everything! You have an ability to make food? If so, you should share it for the people, not use it to enslave them...!"
"Ah. So she's that kind of character."
"If you have power, you should sacrifice for the masses, not climb over them? You coward...!"
Ptoo!
She even spat on my shoe.
A true apostle of justice had arrived.
The search team member holding her asked.
"What do we do?"
"Hm."
Step aside. I have something to test.
"Everyone, attention!"
At my words, all eyes turned this way.
I patted Choi Si-yu's shoulder.
"I was going to share food with you all....... but this soldier here refuses to listen to me. So I can't give any to you either. Sorry. Thanks for your time. Hungry ones, go find your own food outside."
"......Huh?"
"Wh-What does that mean?"
"That's not what you said earlier! Godfather sir!"
I shook my head at their cries.
"Ah~. I really wanted to give it~. It was such a great opportunity for you~. But one person just~ won't listen. Too bad for me."
"Park Daebu......!"
"If she strips naked, kneels, and begs right now, maybe I'd share food with everyone~."
Let's see how much this soldier lady is willing to sacrifice for the people.