Chapter 196: Economy? Currency? I Don't Know, Man (1)
Chapter 196: Economy? Currency? I Don't Know, Man (1)
When I returned to the room, Al’shel was gone. I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't immediately share what I’d discovered and was about to flop onto the sofa.
Fortunately, Al’shel returned to the room almost immediately.
“You’re back earlier than I expected.”
“I was going to say the same to you.”
“Is that so? I expected you to be in the middle of a massive brawl by now, shouting, ‘Bring out your leader! Right now!’ while leveling an entire sector.”
…As I thought, this guy sent me out knowing exactly what I’d run into.
Well, whatever.
If I hadn't been thinking straight, I might have actually beaten those guys up and then headed straight for The Enemy’s main base to blow off some steam, as per my usual routine.
So, with a confident expression, I spoke up.
“I think I know what’s wrong with the Demon Train now.”
Perhaps my smirking delivery was a bit of a shock.
Splat.
Along with the sound of something thick and viscous hitting the floor—
“Huh?”
Al’shel’s voice drifted over, sounding genuinely bewildered. I turned my head to see a syrup bottle rolling on the ground and Al’shel staring at me with wide eyes.
“What, is it that surprising?”
“Yes. It is. Did you happen to meet some Great Sage? Someone who offered to tell you everything?”
“I just ran into some thugs. Pretty standard stuff.”
Though, I suppose running into thugs isn't exactly 'standard' for most people. Anyway.
“Then let’s hear it.”
At my words, Al’shel immediately brought over some coffee and sat down across from me.
“Don't you need to clean up the syrup?”
“It’s already been taken care of.”
Huh?
Surprised, I looked back. The spot where the syrup had spilled was perfectly clean, without a single trace left behind.
“Maintenance like that is handled automatically as long as you pay the currency. Please, don't be so surprised.”
Ah. Come to think of it, this wasn't a normal space. It felt so much like our world that I’d forgotten for a moment. It was a bit startling to realize even services like that were tied to currency.
But that wasn't the important part.
Now, how should I put this?
“So, about the current state of the Demon Train. To put it bluntly, isn't it the neutralization of the training halls and the concentration of wealth?”
Specific groups have divided up the training halls to monopolize wealth, leaving the lower classes with no way to earn currency.
In a normal society, you could go live in the mountains or survive as a homeless person. But here, the structure is like a game where everything depends on currency.
If you go outside, there’s nothing but the endless Otherworld—which is essentially a death sentence.
I didn't know if people were kicked off the Demon Train entirely once they ran out of money or if they just lost their housing.
Regardless, evicting residents like that negated the train's purpose as an Ark and its function as a training center for soldiers.
Just looking at those thugs roaming around, they were incredibly weak. Even if there were thousands of them, they wouldn't be able to take over so much as Jeju Island.
Satisfied with my own reasoning, I took a sip of the coffee in front of me. Unlike the coffee I’d had earlier, this was a light blend with the sweet taste of syrup.
I enjoyed the flavor while waiting for Al’shel to look impressed.
“…Is that all?”
Al’shel just stared at me blankly, showing no particular reaction.
Uh. This wasn't the reaction I expected.
“Well, there are several problems branching off from that. Like focusing on fighting over vested interests instead of getting stronger. Or the creation of a structure where they exploit others.”
But did I really need to go into such detail? You’re the smart one here.
“The point is, a powerful minority is controlling the weak majority.”
As I rambled on in my flustered state, Al’shel laced his fingers together and watched me with a lukewarm gaze before speaking.
“You are partially correct… though, I suppose since it’s you, Lee Ha-ram, I should say it’s impressive you figured out even this much.”
Was that a compliment or an insult?
“Then what do you say the problem is?”
“It’s so broad that it’s hard to put into words. First, the currency system that allows the problems you mentioned to occur is an issue. The exams that have been changed at whim are another. To put it simply, the entire system is the problem.”
“Do you think that makes sense? Even I could say ‘everything is a problem.’”
“Hmm. I see. I spoke too aggressively to emphasize that what you said was only a fraction of the truth. Then how about this?”
Grin.
Al’shel spoke again, a sly smile spreading across his face like a mask.
“The residents have no desire to grow. Because the Demon Train is such a sturdy fortress, they have given up on growth and ignored those distant False Existences. They only care about protecting the value they already hold.”
The sinister atmosphere Al’shel usually exuded when manipulating others began to fill the room.
“Saturated in peace, they are simply carving up what they have among themselves. They even massacre newcomers based on their own arbitrary standards. Ha. Even when we were in charge, the failure rate for those exams was only about 10 to 20%. It is an Ark, after all.”
“Kuk. Kuk. Kuk.”
A laugh that didn't suit an octopus at all leaked out.
Actually, 10% sounds pretty high too.
I decided to ignore that. Those octopus bastards were always sadistic.
“But Lee Ha-ram. Doesn't this… look familiar to you?”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“Complacent soldiers, soaked in peace, refusing to grow.”
“Kee. Kee-kee-keek. Guk-guk.”
A long, sharp laugh dominated the room.
“Aren't they the very embodiment of the frustrations you held toward Earth?”
* * *
‘It’s not exactly the same, but it will at least serve as practice.’
Al’shel’s words echoed in my head.
Those soaked in peace.
Those with power.
The rotten higher-ups.
Factions.
Thinking of that, I recalled the current state of the Demon Train as Al’shel had described it.
‘The cost of living on the Demon Train is currently absurd. To cover a single day’s residence fee, one must hunt over a hundred monsters in the training hall.’
‘And that price doesn't even include food. There was originally a system to adjust prices based on the supply of currency to prevent this, but it seems they’ve exploited it.’
‘It’s a long story if I explain the details, so I’ll keep it brief. There was a system that adjusted overall costs based on resident income. However, because transactions are also treated as income, certain groups are disguising their total income as being much higher by cycling currency to the lower classes.’
‘And as you saw, Lee Ha-ram, because people without actual skill are repeatedly ‘defeating’ those stronger than them, the amount of currency in circulation has exploded. Consequently, the profit one can earn through actual training has plummeted.’
‘In short, a structure has been formed where people are subordinate to those with massive incomes—even if those incomes aren't as large as mine. And those at the top, unwilling to share their wealth, have interfered with the exam system to drastically reduce the number of new arrivals.’
He said a lot of things, but honestly, I don't really remember them.
Something about inflation or deflation.
Blah, blah, blah.
“Un-ho. Do you get it?”
“Roughly?”
Why does Un-ho understand it when I don't?
Sigh. I guess I really am a meathead.
I’ve rarely doubted my own intelligence in my life, but to think I’d become a drooling idiot in a situation like this.
While I was wallowing in self-pity, swaying back and forth without even bothering Un-ho—
“The calculations are complete.”
The answer I’d been waiting for came from Al’shel, who had been busy with a pen at the desk.
“If the coordinates Un-ho provided are correct, we will pass that area in approximately 30 days. However, we must pass through the Deep Otherworld at least once.”
The Deep Otherworld was likely the place Al’shel mentioned where Reality Anchors don't work.
One month, huh.
I didn't think I could change this place in that time.
To be extreme, if the accumulated currency was the problem like Al’shel said, I could just kill everyone who had it… but wouldn't that just result in all the people depending on them getting kicked out? It’s not like the prices would adjust instantly.
And it wasn't a fundamental solution. Even if I purged them, the ones below them would just do the same thing again. That’s all they’ve seen and learned.
Besides, we couldn't stay here and manage things forever.
Would Al’shel do that?
I stole a glance at him.
Al’shel just tilted his head back and forth as if to say, “What?”
…Yeah, I didn't think he’d go that far.
If he were that kind of guy, he wouldn't have abandoned this place in the first place.
I think I’ve been overthinking.
It felt like I’d done a year’s worth of thinking in ten minutes, and my head was starting to ache. I spoke up to clear my mind.
“Al’shel?”
“Yes.”
“Whether we succeed in changing things or not, we’re leaving in a month, right?”
“Yes. As I promised at the start, that is absolute.”
Well, then… I guess I’ll help.
It’s all experience, and like Al’shel said, it’ll be good training.
And frankly, I’m bored.
I could handle just sleeping for the first day or two, but doing that for a month would drive me crazy.
It’s not like there are cell phones, game consoles, or computers here.
So, to kill some time.
“Do you have a plan?”
I signaled my intent to cooperate.
“I have several ideas, but as you know, I am the type to plan thoroughly before acting.”
I don't know about that. You were always ignoring your own plans and going on rampages. I think you just like the act of planning.
“…Well, regardless of the plan, we lack information. Whether we resort to terrorism, crushing skulls, or planting parasites in spines, we need to know who we’re dealing with.”
That was true.
“You said you were involved in building this hunk of junk. Don't you have Administrator Authority or something?”
Like a GM.
“I do, but it’s nothing that grand. It’s just enough to access restricted areas, like where we went earlier. Accessing the entire database is only possible for those who were truly involved with The Core.”
Then changing The System would be difficult too…
“Then, among those with Core authority, do you know any—”
Before I could finish, I realized I’d said the wrong thing. Al’shel’s skin had turned a deep shade of purple.
“They are all dead, Lee Ha-ram.”
Right.
I turned my head away.
An awkward silence hung between us for about thirty seconds.
“Ahem. Anyway, that wasn't what I intended to say. Shall we go gather some information first?”
“Ah? Oh! Sure, sounds good to me. But how?”
Since Al’shel had summoned the courage to attempt a change of mood—something that didn't really suit him—I responded brightly to match.
“It is likely a method you will enjoy, Lee Ha-ram.”
Al’shel said as he moved toward the door.
I stood up from the sofa and followed him, waiting for his next words.
“We only have 30 days anyway, don't we? So.”
Click.
The doorknob turned.
“Let’s just pick a group, beat them senseless, and rip the information out of their heads.”
Al’shel smiled.
“That’s a surprisingly good plan for you.”
I smiled back brightly.
I summoned my hammer and swung my arms to warm up.