The Perfect Leader
The sun had set, and darkness settled over the station. Lanterns placed at intervals flickered to life. It was quite late into the night before I finally met the man they called the Leader.
The first thing I felt upon seeing him was disappointment. I'd built up an image of what a person called "Leader" should look like in my head, but there wasn't a single detail that matched. A gaunt, shabby-looking middle-aged man. That was it.
Is this guy really the Leader? This is the person who supposedly fights monsters all by himself like some one-man army? For real? He doesn't look the part at all...
Well, if we're going by appearances, I don't exactly look like someone who commands four beautiful women as his servants either. Still, the way the crowd poured out to welcome him made it clear he was the genuine article.
The Leader had brought a young woman with him. She looked completely cowed, trembling with anxiety as she glanced around at the people. When Choi Dong-seong approached, the Leader told him, "You know that XX High School? I picked her up near there. Her name is A-young. She's still pretty shaken up, so please look after her."
"You went all the way out there?" Dong-seong asked, sounding stunned.
The Leader gave a warm chuckle. "I kept going and ended up farther than I intended. Doesn't seem like there are any more people worth rescuing in this area."
"You need to be more careful with your body. Everyone here is depending on you, Leader..."
At Dong-seong's words, the people around him chimed in, all expressing concern for the Leader. The atmosphere was uncomfortably heartwarming. I really don't like this kind of vibe.
Anyway, the woman named A-young was led away by the others. The Leader noticed me and spoke with mild surprise. "I don't recognize your face. Were you rescued by one of the teams?"
Before I could answer, Dong-seong stepped in. "Ah, these aren't people seeking shelter with us. They're visitors who stopped by while searching for someone."
"Searching for someone?" The Leader looked genuinely startled. After listening to Dong-seong's brief explanation, he nodded and turned to us. "You must be remarkable people, wandering this dangerous world just to find someone. My name is Kang Yun-su. Around here, they call me the Leader. In any case, I truly hope you find the people you're looking for."
"Ah... yes, thank you."
Even from that short exchange, it was obvious he seemed like a genuinely good person.
Dong-seong spoke to him again. "Leader, you look exhausted. Please wash up and get some early rest today."
"I am tired, but I still have a few things to take care of. Ah, have the food-gathering teams led by Mr. Jeong-sik and Mr. Kang Tae returned yet?"
"Ah..." Dong-seong's expression darkened.
"...It seems they haven't come back. Understood. If they're not back by tomorrow, I'll have to organize a search party. I wonder if they're causing trouble somewhere again, or if they ran into trouble while causing it..."
The Leader's face hardened as he spoke. The Kang Tae he mentioned was probably the same bastard I knew. I didn't recognize the name Jeong-sik, but if they put together a search party, they'd find them quickly. After all, the whole group was holed up in the building right across the street.
While I was thinking that, the Leader let out a small sigh and turned to me. "I have some matters to handle, so I'll have to excuse myself. It's getting late—why don't you stay here tonight and leave tomorrow? Traveling at night is dangerous."
Oho. I was just wondering how to figure out whether this guy is the hero or not, and he's handing me another chance. Much appreciated.
"Would that really be all right? To be honest, I was a bit worried about how late it was. Then I'll have to impose on you for just one night."
After acknowledging my thanks, the Leader instructed Dong-seong, "Prepare the station staff room for these two and A-young, whom we rescued today. The three of them can stay there."
"Yes, understood."
"Then I'll leave it to you. Rest well, everyone."
With his greetings finished, the Leader disappeared into his office. He'd been out all day, so he had to be exhausted. He really did seem like an impressive person.
Dong-seong watched the Leader's retreating back for a moment, then spoke to the woman beside him. "When A-young arrives, send her to the station staff room. We'll have her sleep there tonight."
After passing on the message, Dong-seong guided us to the station staff room, which was located right next to the Leader's office. Inside, I saw a surprisingly comfortable-looking bedroom.
"All first-time survivors rest here on their initial night," Dong-seong explained. "It means they should rest as much as possible before facing the harsh tent life ahead. We've put the most effort into making this the coziest bedroom. See the curtain in the middle? The men can sleep on that side, and the women on this side. Since another woman was rescued today, the two of you can share this area."
He looked at Ji-su as he spoke, and she answered with a nod. Once Dong-seong left, only Ji-su and I remained in the station staff room.
"Sleep with the woman who just arrived today," I told her. "I'll take the other side."
"Yes, Mas—"
"Don't call me Master where other people might hear. Are you completely brainless?"
My cold tone made Ji-su suck in a sharp breath. "S-sorry. Then... what should I call you..."
"Just call me Oppa. What, do you want to keep calling me loser oppa like before?"
"N-no..."
Ji-su hung her head. I turned away coldly and pulled back the curtain. The space beyond was just as comfortably arranged as the women's side.
I had zero intention of actually sleeping here tonight. Why would I sleep in this cold place when I had the Cradle of Rest? Good thing no one was sharing my side. If someone had been, I would've been stuck sleeping here like Ji-su.
After sitting with Ji-su for a while, A-young—the woman I'd seen earlier—came in. She must have already heard the situation outside, because she greeted us warmly. The anxiety she'd shown before seemed to have faded considerably after receiving the people's kind treatment. She looked extremely tired, so I exchanged brief greetings with her and Ji-su before stepping behind the curtain.
Soon I heard rustling, then the lantern went out. Darkness filled the station staff room. A-young must have been utterly exhausted; before long, soft snoring drifted through the air.
I rose from my spot and summoned the Gate of Rest near the curtain. When I opened it and stepped inside, Si-eun and Ji-yoon greeted me.
"Oppa! You're back?"
"Yeah. You two doing okay? Sorry for making you wait so long."
"It's fine. I was just talking with Sister Si-eun the whole time. But... where are we?"
"Still inside the survivor camp. I decided we'd stay the night here. I couldn't find your parents, Ji-yoon. It doesn't look like they're part of this group."
Ji-yoon's face fell. She lowered her head.
"...It's okay. There's nothing we can do about it. I believe they're safe somewhere. Probably..."
Si-eun wrapped an arm around the dejected girl's shoulders, and I patted Ji-yoon's head a couple of times. She tried to shake off her disappointment and forced a bright expression as she asked me, "D-did you find the person you were looking for, Oppa?"
Come to think of it, these girls still only knew that I'd come here searching for someone. I'd have to explain everything properly when I had the chance.
I nodded. "I found a candidate... but I'm not sure if he's actually the one I'm looking for yet. That's what I need to check."
Si-eun and Ji-yoon tilted their heads in confusion. "Check? How?"
I began walking slowly. The Cradle of Rest I'd summoned was a massive square roughly ten meters on each side. That was more than enough space to encompass the Leader's office right next to the station staff room.
Which meant I could simply walk over there.
I moved at a leisurely pace. Passing through the curtain, I saw Ji-su and A-young lying down. I walked right past them and straight through the station staff room door. Everyone must have gone to bed; the place was silent and pitch dark.
I continued on to the Leader's office. Slipping through the door like a ghost, I found Kang Yun-su sitting at his desk, scribbling away at something, with Dong-seong standing beside him.
Ji-yoon and Si-eun, who had followed me, whispered, "Oppa, who are these people?"
"That's the guy they call the Leader. The young man next to him seems like some kind of assistant."
"Ah, the one those bastards mentioned yesterday..."
When I nodded, both girls tilted their heads and moved closer to examine him carefully. They were probably thinking the same thing I was: This guy is supposed to be the Leader?
"So the person you were looking for was the Leader of this place?"
"Well... it seems that way for now, but I still don't know if he's the right one. That's what I'm here to find out."
While we were talking, Dong-seong addressed the Leader. "I'll take my leave and get some rest. You should rest soon as well, sir."
"Understood. Don't worry about me—just go rest."
"You must rest immediately! You know how important your health is to all of us!"
The Leader sent Dong-seong off with a kindly smile. Once he was alone in the office, he let out a heavy sigh and began going through the documents on his desk one by one.
"Food supplies are the real issue. We're doing well for now, but they'll run out eventually... and we have no way to produce more. Winter's coming soon, too. We'll need better preparations for the cold season. I should speak with the gathering teams..."
He muttered to himself in a low voice as he reviewed the papers. He really was an impressive man.
Watching him work so diligently, Si-eun murmured, "He seems like someone with a very strong sense of responsibility. Truly remarkable."
"Right, Sister? Just looking at him, I wasn't sure he was the Leader those people described yesterday... but seeing how he acts, it really does seem like he is."
I felt the same way. Could this middle-aged man actually be the hero? No matter how hard I thought about it, I couldn't tell. Maybe I should just ask him directly tomorrow. Something told me a man with his personality might actually give me a straight answer.
As I pondered this, the Leader rubbed his face wearily and slumped back in his chair. He looked completely worn out. It didn't seem like watching him any longer would give me any clues about whether he was the hero or not. Time to let him rest—and for me to do the same.
"Let's head back and get some sleep. Staying here isn't going to—"
He suddenly shot up from his seat. Whoa, that scared me. Why was he jumping up like that?
The Leader stood abruptly, let out a long sigh, and muttered, "The stress has really been building up..."
Yeah, I can see that. So why don't you just go to sleep already?
I was about to leave with Ji-yoon and Si-eun when his next words stopped me cold.
"That woman... she was pretty..."
Huh? What did he just say? Did I mishear him? Why was he licking his lips?
I glanced at Ji-yoon and Si-eun. They were staring back at me with wide eyes.
"What... what the hell?"
They shook their heads. "We're not sure. Did he just say a woman was pretty? Out of nowhere?"
"What woman is he even talking about... No, that's not the point. Why would he suddenly say something like that?"
I had no idea. It wasn't like asking me would help.
While we stood there in confusion, the Leader slowly walked out of the office. The three of us hurried after him.
"Where do you think he's going?"
I had no clue, but his destination quickly became obvious.
The station staff room. The very place where Ji-su and A-young were sleeping. The same place where I was supposed to be sleeping.
Why the hell is he going there?
The Leader glanced around. No one else was in sight—except for the three of us, who were standing right in front of him, watching his every move. Everyone else seemed to be asleep, leaving only silence in the station.
He pulled a small metal case from his pocket. Opening it carefully, he took out what looked like a large needle or sting. Si-eun examined it closely and whispered, "That... isn't that a poison needle? The kind goblins use..."
It looked like one to me too. I'd seen goblin poison needles plenty of times, so there was no mistaking it. I even had a few stored inside the Cradle of Rest. But what did he plan to do with it?
The Leader slowly rolled up the sleeve of his shirt. Then he stabbed the needle mercilessly into his own arm.
Yeah. I'd thought he seemed too perfect to be human. This guy was clearly insane. Completely and utterly.