Chapter 117
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: Pathetic Bastards
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Why did you kill people?”
“We have human rights.”
“Why turn women into slaves and make them men's possessions? That's blatantly wrong.”
“There are clearly way more people from downstairs. So why have all the management positions gone to the second-floor folks? And completely excluding those who were already leading people from underground? That's unacceptable.”
“Humans are equal. How can you deny people food, let alone guarantee it? In a world like this, we should be helping each other.”
―And so on. Doyun unleashed every complaint or question that most of the weaklings here might harbor.
I didn't react much, just silently listening to what he had to say.
Let's see how far he'll go.
That was exactly my mindset.
And so the long, 30-minute speech―or rather, his tirade against me―finally came to an end.
'Don't discriminate against the weak, more or less.'
I stopped him.
Such soft thinking.
But to those weaklings, it would sound like words of salvation, warm and comforting.
“So you don't want to do anything yourselves but want us to risk our lives fighting in your place?”
But while I understood their feelings, I didn't sympathize.
This wasn't the old, cushy peaceful world anymore.
Humanity was on the brink of extinction, with monsters swarming everywhere, dying to devour people.
In the midst of all that, for someone who'd gained safety through my efforts to spout such arrogance? Unbelievable.
“Th-that's not what I meant...! I'm saying guarantee basic survival rights and protect human rights! Do you even think treating women like commodities is normal?!”
Doyun fired back in fury at my calm mutterings.
Hm... Listening quietly must've given him courage.
I stared at Doyun, who was getting bolder by the second, then released his shoulder and turned my hand toward empty air.
I channeled my mana.
Woooong―!!
“Wh-what are you doing?!”
Thud crash!
At my sudden shift, Doyun―who already had nowhere left to retreat―instinctively stepped back and tumbled off the platform.
I looked down at the sprawled Doyun with cold eyes and spoke.
“Human rights... Yeah, human rights are important. But do you know? Human rights are a concept born from power.”
I began constructing a spell.
No offensive power at all.
I only needed size and overwhelming presence.
Forcing the spell's flow to twist without collapsing, relying purely on mana control.
No relevant knowledge, just going by feel in this reckless stunt.
The result: dozens, hundreds of flaming spears materialized in the air.
Overwhelming might.
The sheer spectacle implying I could wipe out everyone here in an instant drew gasps of horror from all sides.
“Do you have power?”
“Ah... Aaaah...”
And Doyun, who'd only had a mouth on him until now, was no different.
Crawling backward, unable to form proper words.
He was terrified in an instant.
“Perfect timing. Let me ask you all too. Did any of you have the power to step on this ground? The power to clear every zombie in this building and create a safe space? If there's someone with that talent, step forward now. I'll back them fully. I'll even hand over a manager position in Junsang's place.”
It was a bold offer, but naturally, no one came forward.
Instead, only terrified whimpers echoed amid my menacing glare and the fiery lances burning in the air.
“None, huh... Of course not. You lack power, courage, and will. Even if you had will or courage, you didn't have the strength to act on it. If I hadn't come here, you'd all have been wiped out soon enough. I guarantee it.”
The crowd tensed at my firm words.
Deciding this was enough, I looked back down at Doyun.
Our eyes met, and his face drained of color as his body trembled violently.
“Yet here's someone rebelling against me, his lifesaver. Human rights... The powerless have no human rights. You seize your own rights with your own power. And guaranteed survival? Pathetic. Is this a peaceful world?”
Zombie corpses still littered the area, uncleaned.
People eyed them fearfully, as if they might spring back to life any second.
“No. It's an era where you must risk your life to seize survival. Demanding the most precious things without lifting a finger? That's worse than a dog.”
“Kuh...!”
Doyun let out a groan, knowing it was aimed at him.
He clenched his trembling hands in desperation.
I shot a glance at the guy who still hadn't come to his senses and continued.
“But I do have a minimum of mercy for fellow humans. That's why I gave you a chance. Those who seized it are living pretty satisfactorily now. And for the incompetent women who couldn't secure their own survival, I gave them a chance to maximize their value. So what more should I do?”
I'd created conditions where they at least wouldn't die.
I'd given them opportunities to advance.
So those who failed to seize them had no room to complain, even with ten mouths.
“Spare me the lame excuses and hypocrisy. Save that for a time machine back to the past or go build your own country elsewhere. Don't provoke me with arrogant rebellion when you're under my protection.”
As a final touch, I canceled the spell hovering in the air.
“Etch this deep in your minds: you're alive solely because of my mercy.”
The ultimate warning.
Everyone here would take it as such.
As I finished speaking, Junsang subdued Doyun again.
I nodded, and he was hauled off with the scrawny ones already caught.
I'd considered killing them right there in front of everyone, but it felt too cliché, and they were too worthless to waste like that.
Of course, the scrawny ones were getting executed immediately.
I'd left disposal to Junsang, so he'd handle it.
'The atmosphere was buzzing with anticipation, and now it's gone cold again.'
I'd gotten unusually worked up myself.
That worm Doyun daring to defy me had ignited my temper with his insolence.
Whatever. I'd vent this anger on him later.
I shoved Doyun and his pals, now headed to the new sturdy prison on the second floor, to a corner of my mind and scanned the crowd again.
Everyone I looked at flinched.
Faces pale with fear everywhere, so the mood needed lifting.
“Ahem... A sudden hiccup occurred. Relax. As long as you don't defy me, I won't harm you. Keep proving your worth, and I promise you won't be discarded.”
'Yeah. As long as you prove your worth.'
Proving worth.
Those who met it and those who would eventually fall short.
Or already had. Joy and sorrow crossed in an instant.
The divide was starkest among the women.
Men could prove value even in their 50s, or longer with skills or know-how, but women? At most 10 years.
Maybe 15 before aging turned them into discards or flesh toilets. Near certainty.
Unless they lucked into a good master or picked up skills like the restaurant ladies. Their lifespan here was 20 years tops.
Of course, society might stabilize before then, ending this extreme setup, but they wouldn't realize that right away.
“Still, you're all too down... Can't let a few disruptors turn this celebration sour.”
I glanced at my subordinates handling Doyun's crew, then at Junsang, who'd returned.
As prepared, he sprang into action.
He took my spot as I stepped back.
“Everyone! Listen up! Even with that brief interruption, today is the day we secured a complete safe zone! So the boss says we can use all the food without holding back just for today!”
At Junsang's words, eyes turned to him.
Just hearing good news from someone other than me visibly eased their pallid faces.
“Haha! It's a feast! A feast! Sure, starting tomorrow we'll clean up every floor including the first, but before that, let's all shake off the fatigue we've built up! We've survived! And we'll keep surviving!”
“Y-yeah...! We've survived!”
Survived.
More and more latched onto that keyword.
Junsang really was a pro at agitation and morale boosting.
The total opposite of my crush-them-with-power-and-logic style.
Plus, while I had a stern, expressionless face, he had that jolly, affable look.
No wonder he outshone me at calming the crowd.
“Yes! So let's band together―we who might be humanity's last―and rebuild villages! Cities! Countries! Civilization itself! This is our first step together!”
'Humanity's last... Nah. There are still hundreds of survivor groups worldwide clinging on.'
But no need to kill the vibe, so I stayed quiet.
His speech (or agitation) ended to standing ovations from his crew, spreading gradually if a bit tepidly across the room.
Some still despaired, but they were the minority now.
Swept up in the masses' thirst for life and hope for tomorrow, the crowd followed majority rule as always.
With that, the interrupted manager introductions and all other proceedings wrapped up, and everyone headed to the second floor for the feast.
Honestly, it was mostly frozen food, but for people who hadn't had hot meals in ages, they wept in bliss.
Of course, I skipped the feast, taking my lovely girlfriend and slaves to the break room for a small party with delicious shop-bought food.
'Me joining would've just chilled the mood anyway.'
I'd firmly refused Junsang and his crew's invitations and lounged with the slaves, enjoying our private downtime.
Oh, and Seola came up from underground to join.
People stared at her now openly my slave, but one look at my face scattered those gazes.
The party amped up with the new face, full of fun.
I learned shop food was surprisingly tasty and shook my hips till everyone passed out.
Naturally, Jiyeong was the sole survivor to the end.