Chapter 12: Split in Half
Chapter 12: Split in Half
No one said a word. Park Donggeol's words had struck them all like a dagger to the heart. After moistening his parched lips with his tongue, Park Donggeol continued.
“If you prioritize your own life, you don’t need something like trust. The team I want is one where we can help each other without dragging each other down. In other words, I only want to travel with people who are prepared for that.”
“That’s too… much.”
Lee Borim’s voice was on the verge of tears, but she didn’t seem ready to back down. However, Ahn Hyun and the sharp-tongued woman, who had been keeping Park Donggeol in check, remained silent. A look of despair crossed her face, but she quickly forced herself to speak, her expression desperate.
“Call me selfish. I don't care. It's all or nothing, isn't it? And let me be clear: if things don't look right, I'll leave on my own. It seems I'm already on everyone's bad side anyway… Honestly, I’m probably not the only one sick of your half-assed attitudes. The young man with the crossbow got fed up and left to stand watch, didn't he? You all need to think for a second.”
“Are you kidding me? How would you know if someone is useless or unhelpful without even trying?”
The sharp-tongued woman immediately retorted, but her voice lacked its earlier strength. At that, Park Donggeol opened his mouth, looking as though she had walked straight into his trap.
“‘How would you know without trying?’… Are you kidding me right now?”
“What did you say?”
“Do you still think this isn't reality? Do you have a spare life or something? This isn't some computer game where you can save and load. Wake up! If we all rush out there and someone makes a mistake…”
Park Donggeol paused for a moment, then raised his thumb, swiped it across his neck, and finished his sentence.
“We all die.”
His final words carried a heavy impact, and a visible tremor of unease ran through the group. Lee Borim stared blankly at the ground, while the sharp-tongued woman bit her lip. Only the woman with the cold expression maintained her initial composure.
“And let’s not misunderstand each other. I know you don’t like me, and I was at fault for that, so I’ll apologize again. But let’s not try to sway people with pointless words. I haven’t said anything about abandoning anyone yet.”
Watching their reactions, Park Donggeol let out a bitter smirk, then thumped his chest and shouted.
“Since we’re on the topic, let’s decide right now. If there’s anyone who agrees with me, come to my side. As long as your resolve is firm, anyone is welcome.”
As his words ended, a tense silence fell over the hill. Shaken by his speech, everyone began glancing at one another. Though they hated to admit it, his words had effectively stirred their deepest fears. He had skillfully woven his argument into the basic human instinct for survival.
The ripple effect spread like wildfire. Ahn Hyun and Ahn Sol were contemplating, and even the sharp-tongued woman, who had opposed Park Donggeol from the start, showed signs of hesitation. In contrast, the thug casually tapped a clean steel pipe he had brought along, looking completely at ease.
To be blunt, I didn't care as long as Ahn Hyun and Ahn Sol didn't join him. But just in case, I activated Third Eye and focused on the sharp-tongued woman and the other woman I hadn’t examined yet. I needed to at least check their stats. My first target was the sharp-tongued woman, who had piqued my interest.
〈Player Status〉
1. Name: Lee Yoojung (Year 0 User)
2. Sex: Female (22)
3. Height · Weight: 166.3cm · 51.7kg
4. Alignment: Good · Neutral
[Strength 32] [Durability 38] [Agility 50] [Stamina 30] [Magic Power 48] [Luck 46]
(Remaining stat points: 0)
Hmm.
I’d wondered what gave her the confidence to stand up to Park Donggeol, and it turned out she had good reason. Ahn Hyun and Ahn Sol were exceptional, but her stats were by no means lacking for a beginner. Her high Agility and Magic Power were a particular blessing, opening up paths for both melee and magic classes. I decided to keep an eye on Lee Yoojung. Then, I immediately directed Third Eye toward the next person. This woman was also quite intriguing.
〈Player Status〉
1. Name: Kim Hanbyul (Year 0 User)
2. Sex: Female (21)
3. Height · Weight: 170.2cm · 48.5kg
4. Alignment: Lawful · Chaos
[Strength 28] [Durability 32] [Agility 46] [Stamina 24] [Magic Power 68] [Luck 40]
(Remaining stat points: 0)
〈Unique Ability (1/1)〉
1. Charisma (Rank: F Plus)
“Ghk.”
The moment I saw her Unique Ability, I let out an involuntary gasp.
No way. Charisma?
For a moment, I was speechless, struck by a shock similar to when I had first checked Ahn Sol’s information. And I finally understood why I had been reminded of ‘her’ when I first saw Kim Hanbyul. Because ‘she’ had also possessed a talent for Charisma.
A part of me wished I hadn’t looked, but I immediately shook my head. My thoughts were suddenly a tangled mess. According to my initial plan, both Lee Yoojung and Kim Hanbyul were talents I could not afford to lose.
Lost in my troubled thoughts, I habitually gathered and scattered the dirt on the ground. A doubt began to surface. Ahn Hyun and Ahn Sol. Lee Yoojung and Kim Hanbyul. The four of them all had stats that surpassed the average for new Users in the Hall Plain. Even if they were scattered, with stats like these, more than half of them should have survived.
Is there something I don't know?
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t reach a conclusion. I could make a few guesses, but I couldn't be certain. I decided to put the thought aside for now. I reactivated Third Eye to observe the situation again. Since I had already decided to take all four of them with me, there would be plenty of opportunities to observe them later.
*
The first to move was Lee Shinwoo. Having a Lawful · Good disposition meant he was a good person, but it also had its downsides. Such people often lacked a backbone and tended to be easily swayed. It was a shame to lose his Luck stat, but other than that, he didn't have much else to offer. I offered a silent prayer for Lee Shinwoo's soul.
“I-I want to join the team too!”
“Hmm…”
Park Donggeol looked Lee Shinwoo up and down as if appraising him, then asked in a low voice.
“You have to protect yourself. If you become a burden, I won’t hesitate to leave you behind.”
“I understand! I’ll work hard!”
“…Alright! If you do your part, I’ll also do my best to help you. Let’s get out of this hellhole alive together. And… I’m sorry about before. I was too on edge. I sincerely apologize.”
The moment Park Donggeol gave his permission, Lee Shinwoo’s face lit up with relief as he ran over to him. The way they hugged each other tightly wasn't exactly a pleasant sight. After recruiting Lee Shinwoo, Park Donggeol turned to Ahn Hyun.
“You there. Think it over carefully. We’ll always welcome someone like you.”
The thug deliberately emphasized the word ‘we’ as he asked in a suggestive tone. Ahn Hyun’s expression grew troubled. He stood at a crossroads, and the path he chose was entirely up to him. Watching him, not just Ahn Sol but most of the others swallowed nervously, their eyes fixed on his decision. Finally, Ahn Hyun slowly began to speak.
“My answer is the same. I will never abandon my sister.”
His tone was even and calm. For a moment, Ahn Sol’s face brightened, and Lee Borim’s face also flooded with relief. But then, Ahn Hyun continued.
“Still… if you’ll include Sol in this team you’re talking about, I’ll consider it.”
Oh, dear.
With those words, the situation tilted back in Park Donggeol’s favor. In other words, the choice was now his. And this was the exact situation he’d been hoping for. He feigned a troubled expression before answering with a reluctant look.
“That’s a bit difficult. To be honest, we can handle you, but we’d have a hard time protecting your sister Sol. We have no intention of doing so, either.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. I’ll just pull the weight of two people.”
“No, it’s not that simple. Unexpected things can happen… If she holds us back like what happened in the clearing, it’ll be a problem.”
“Then I have no choice…”
“For now, I’ll put it on hold. If you had spoken up first, it might have been different. Anyway, once the team is finalized, we can discuss it again.”
Park Donggeol intentionally cut Ahn Hyun off, leaving the door open. It was a calculated move. In reality, only Ahn Hyun and I had actively fought against the Deadman. But I wasn't there, so it was only natural that the group’s balance would shift toward whichever side Ahn Hyun chose. Of course, the trick was that Park Donggeol had no intention of accepting Ahn Hyun, but by leaving the possibility open, he succeeded in unsettling the others once more.
“As for you… do whatever you want. Arguing back and forth will only tire me out.”
Park Donggeol glanced at Lee Yoojung and mumbled, brushing her off. Lee Yoojung frowned but didn’t say anything. Without a second thought, Park Donggeol turned his head and addressed Lee Borim and Kim Hanbyul, who were still standing silently.
“Now… I’d like to hear what you two think.”
“……”
“I told you, don’t misunderstand. If I really intended to abandon people, would I have accepted this guy? He made me a promise. That he wouldn’t hold us back. That he would protect himself. He said he would make himself useful. It’s not like I wanted to take on this role. I was prepared to go it alone. But if you want to live, you have to do what’s necessary, right? So if you want to join this team, make the same promise. In front of everyone.”
“What do I have to…”
In the end, it was Lee Borim who answered first. Park Donggeol glanced at Kim Hanbyul for a moment before continuing.
“Just promise that you’ll help the team in any way you can, not just expect blind protection. If I decide you’re not being helpful, I’ll kick you out without mercy. Of course, if you prove to be useful, we’ll do our best to help you in return. If you have the guts to harden your heart, then come join this team.”
Help the team in any way you can. The phrasing was strange and carried a dangerous undertone. Lee Borim seemed to sense it as well and continued to hesitate. A look of contempt flashed across Kim Hanbyul’s face. Park Donggeol licked his lips and turned to Kim Hanbyul.
“The same goes for you.”
“…Give me a moment.”
Kim Hanbyul’s expression remained cold, but she closed her eyes as if to think. I was a little worried, but if my hunch was correct, she would likely postpone her decision. Park Donggeol seemed to permit this, taking a step back and slinging an arm around Lee Shinwoo’s shoulders.
The idea that someone would naturally refuse to join the team was something that only happened in novels or comics. In reality, humans were emotionally weak creatures. Especially when their own lives were on the line, it was common for them to cast aside their pride.
How much time had passed?
In the end, the first to move was the bank teller, Lee Borim. She gave a slight nod, then rose weakly to her feet and took a step toward Park Donggeol. Her internal conflict was plain to see, but she eventually lowered her head and joined Park Donggeol and Lee Shinwoo.
At that moment, a triumphant smile spread across Park Donggeol’s face.