Jung Hayan (1)
An invisible hierarchy was taking shape.
Even beasts that couldn’t speak formed their own pecking orders; in a situation like this, it would have been stranger if no subtle differences in status had appeared.
It was the most natural thing in the world wherever human beings lived.
“For now.”
At the top of that little pyramid stood Kim Hyunsung, the man who had made this place.
I didn’t know what had happened during the process of securing the Shelter, but one thing was certain: the people here trusted him.
If I’d been in their place, I would have reacted much the same way.
They’d been dropped into some unknown place, and not just any place, but one crawling with monsters.
A man who stood up with a sword and fought monsters already earned himself a bonus in people’s eyes, and on top of that, the bastard was stupidly kind.
It would have been odd if people didn’t look up to him.
After him came Lee Jihye, the woman who spent every moment skimming the cream off the top at Kim Hyunsung’s side.
Compared to Kim Hyunsung, who was always running around outside, she spent most of her time here, managing food distribution, night watch, and all the other tedious work that required manpower.
The few people who could be called Lee Jihye’s faction also held considerable power.
Of course, they couldn’t abuse that power or flaunt it openly because they were aware of Kim Hyunsung, but I was sure things happened when he was outside.
“Then what does that make us, hyung?”
“We’re basically right below Kim Hyunsung. We’ve got the strength to fight and we can secure food.”
“Hmm….”
“From their perspective, I doubt we’re very welcome.”
“But at first….”
“Of course they were happy at first. But yesterday probably ruined the impression we made. We practically made half our intentions clear—we want to move independently. To put it a little harshly, we drew a line and told them, ‘We’re not the ones who are going to keep you fed.’”
“But the food those bastards took included our share too. Shouldn’t they at least be grateful?”
“Sure, there are probably some who think that way. But humans are always wary of new power holders, even if it’s just a small gathering of people no one else would want. That’s just how it is.”
“So you’re saying Kim Hyunsung is keeping an eye on us?”
“No. Kim Hyunsung probably doesn’t even think of this place as his.”
“Then who exactly is keeping an eye on us…?”
“People who think this place belongs to them.”
Kim Hyunsung wasn’t the one playing king. It was Lee Jihye, the woman enjoying everything the king had to offer from beneath him.
“I think I know what you mean.”
“Kim Hyunsung stands above everyone here, but the one who actually controls them is that woman. He doesn’t even have the time to manage this place, since he spends most of it outside. Where strength is needed, the one who has strength is king. Where food and a comfortable shelter are needed, the one who holds those things is king. Kim Hyunsung may have strength, but the one with food and comfort is probably her.”
“You mean Lee Jihye?”
I gave a rough nod and went on.
“That’s right.”
“…….”
“You just need to give your own people a little extra, then lightly push away the ones you want to keep at arm’s length and make them feel the cost. Power is made by discrimination. Jung Hayan is probably one of the people who got on Lee Jihye’s bad side… which is why she was kept apart, doing all the rough work.”
“When did you start observing Hayan that closely?”
“I’ll have to keep a closer eye on her from now on.”
Park Deokgu quietly nodded.
Watching Jung Hayan had only just begun.
It had been an impulsive judgment, born from reading the natures of two people—Lee Jihye, the selfish ambitious type, and Jung Hayan, the pure-hearted supporter—but I thought there might be a chance it would produce exactly the result I wanted.
* * *
“Hayan, you need to do your job properly.”
“Huh? Y-yes….”
“Everyone’s working hard here. It isn’t as if only you have it rough. In a situation like this, everyone has to pull together…. If you keep going on like this, we’ll have no choice but to reduce your food ration.”
“Y-yes….”
“Saying yes over and over doesn’t change anything. I’m sure you’ve heard, but things aren’t getting any better. We don’t even know how long we’ll have to stay here, and it isn’t easy to bring food in from the other locations either. If monsters attack while Hyunsung is out, we’re all dead. That’s why building the walls is so important.”
“Y-yes, I understand. I-I’m really sorry.”
“Tch. If you don’t want to get kicked out, stop wasting time and work hard. More and more survivors are turning up, so there won’t be a place for you forever. Honestly, I don’t know what’s so selfish about the people who came in this time….”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing. Anyway, just do your work properly.”
“Y-yes. I understand.”
I watched the irritable man stalk off outside.
Her head lowered of its own accord.
She couldn’t tell what she’d done wrong, but it seemed he wasn’t satisfied with her work.
No, of course he wasn’t satisfied.
It had already been several days since she’d failed to meet her assigned quota, so it wasn’t strange that he was snapping at her like that.
I’m pathetic.
She’d always been told she was slow and clumsy, but now she hated herself for not being able to move quickly even in a situation like this.
It hurts.
Looking down a little, she saw her ruined hand. Most of the fingernails had come off, hanging loose. It hurt, but she could at least understand some of what he’d said.
Everyone is working hard.
Everyone was doing their best to survive.
Hyunsung, Kiyoung, and Deokgu were outside fighting, and the people building the wall with her were the same.
Compared to the old days, when she’d been running around in a panic and never knew when she might die, this place was practically heaven.
If Kiyoung hadn’t helped her back then, monsters would surely have gotten her.
Remembering how he’d practically carried her here made her face grow hot for no reason.
For someone like her, who wasn’t used to touching men, it had been the very first time.
She was blankly reliving that moment when a voice beside her made her nod.
“You understand, right, Hayan?”
“Ah. Seokwoo.”
“That guy’s probably been under a lot of stress lately.”
“I-is that so?”
“Yes. Hyunsung has been going outside more often these days. He probably thinks building the wall is that important. Jihye must be thinking the same thing. Since we don’t know how long we’ll have to stay here, we need to put up every bit of defense we can. It’s only natural that people are on edge.”
“Ah, I-I understand that too.”
“He seems especially touchy today. From what I can see, Hayan is one of the people working harder than anyone else…. I’ll talk to him separately later. For now, let’s go eat.”
“A-ah… okay.”
“I heard Hyunsung brought back food from Start Point yesterday.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. I heard it from Jihye, so I’m sure it’s true.”
“That’s such a relief. Hehe.”
Yoo Seokwoo.
He was one of the few people here she could talk openly with.
Of course, since he was one of the people overseeing the work, he seemed to be trying to help her in all sorts of ways as a newcomer, but he also had a good social instinct and often spoke to her first.
“By the way, isn’t the work hard for you?”
“I-it is hard, but there are definitely people doing even harder work.”
“Even so, this kind of labor can’t be easy… you can take it a little easier.”
“No. I can’t even finish my quota as it is… I can’t afford to slack off. You’re hurt too, Seokwoo, but you’re still working….”
“I’m in a position where I manage things, so I don’t have to move my body all that much. Haha. Honestly, this much is no problem. Haha.”
By the time they’d exchanged enough idle conversation, they had already reached the ration line.
Not many people were standing there, lined up in a single file.
Deokgu and Kiyoung were nowhere to be seen. They’d probably already finished eating or were elsewhere.
They only just came back from hunting.
They must want to rest their tired bodies.
“Line up and come this way. Take it in order.”
“Yes.”
“Ah. Yes.”
After receiving their food with both hands, they found a suitable place to sit, and she could see everyone gathered in little groups, eating together.
She’d thought about easing into one of those groups, but maybe it was just her timid nature, because it wasn’t easy to start a conversation or sit with people first.
“It’s probably because things are so hard.”
“Pardon?”
“The others, I mean. Everyone’s in a difficult situation.”
“Ah… r-right. Because I haven’t been doing the work properly….”
“No. Hayan is working harder than anyone else. Once enough time passes and you get used to the job, everyone will accept you too. Just like me.”
“T-thank you for seeing me so kindly.”
“Not at all. It’s only natural. I want to be closer to Hayan.”
“Ah! I feel the same way. Thank you for always helping me with so many things.”
Come to think of it, she’d received a great deal of help from this man.
From the moment she arrived until now, he had always spoken to her first, tried to connect her with the others, and generally done everything he could to make things easier for her.
He’s a kind person.
That was when she absentmindedly shoved a piece of bread into her mouth and felt Yoo Seokwoo’s hand close around hers.
“Ah….”
She tried to tug away with some force, but her hand wouldn’t come free.
When she turned her head, she saw Yoo Seokwoo looking back at her.
“P-please let go of my hand.”
“Huh?”
“L-let go. Why are you suddenly…?”
“But just now….”
“Th-that isn’t what I meant.”
She hurriedly looked around, but there was no one else nearby. Yoo Seokwoo, who had always been smiling, seemed to have changed somehow.
The smile at his mouth was gone, replaced by a look of disbelief.
“Hayan.”
“Y-yes? Yes?”
“Did you think I was running a charity for you?”
“W-what are you talking about?”
“If something goes in, something should come out. You really are unbelievably clueless.”
“I-I don’t know what you mean. Why are you doing this…?”
“You know I’ve been bending over backward to make things easier for you, don’t you?”
“I-I don’t really know about that. I-I mean, I’m grateful for your help, but….”
“Seriously… are you really stupid? Or are you just pretending to be stupid? Should I make it a little more direct for you?”
“P-please let go of my hand first. It, it hurts. It hurts….”
“What I’m saying is that if you want to get along here, you need to make a good impression on me. You stupid woman. Do you still not understand the situation?”
His eyes were frightening. It was the first time she had ever experienced anything like this.
She couldn’t understand why things had turned out this way.
Only one thing was clear: she wanted to get away from here.
When she desperately tried to pull her hand free the other way, a loud voice rang out from behind them.
“Hey, buddy. If you don’t want that hand broken, I’d let go.”