Chapter 227
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 227
Chapter Title: Planned Murder - 2
So that's how it is.
I got the rundown on the Korean Shelter from Mi-kyung.
It was a total mess, apparently.
The worst schism since the shelter was established.
And the cause? No surprise there—Seok-hyun.
The massacre had apparently sparked major backlash among some folks.
They were probably thinking the blade might turn on them next...
"You're not even worth it."
According to Mi-kyung, most of the dissenters were office types.
Not that there were strict office vs. field roles in the apocalypse, but the tendencies were clear.
If your traits weren't combat-oriented, you ended up handling paperwork or odd jobs.
Your body stayed safe, but you got disconnected from the field vibe.
Just like right now.
"You'd know the atmosphere if you'd been out there."
Hundreds of Koreans and Chinese faced off across Gimpo Airport.
It was so tense that even a small spark could've ignited full war.
Those who hated Seok-hyun clearly hadn't felt that vibe at all.
Mi-kyung said the others weren't quite that extreme.
But honestly, that wasn't the real issue yet.
Lee Beom-seok had gone out and run into Go Ho-kyung.
Didn't seem like he'd planned it, but he was feeling down and a bit tipsy, so he lashed out on impulse, or so she said.
And then he got convinced that we'd misunderstood Judeca.
—What a bunch of idiots... So what did Go Ho-kyung say?
—That guy's...
—Not a guy, a monster. Tentacles coming out of his neck—straight-up monster.
—Ah, yeah. Anyway, that Go monster kept insisting they weren't our enemies. Said we'd understand their intentions eventually...
—Can you explain that part in detail?
It was quite a story; I listened for a good while.
Boiling it down:
—Our goals aren't different from yours.
—In a monster apocalypse, passive survival isn't viable.
—So we flipped the script and chose coexistence with monsters.
—That came with perks like extended lifespans and boosted combat power.
—We call ourselves the New Humanity.
I nearly burst out laughing at that point.
New Humanity?
What a load of bullshit.
Their bodies turn monstrous, and they drop massive points and skills on death...
They'd protest they're not 100% monsters, but to me, they already were prime specimens.
Mi-kyung summarized the rest.
—We're the chosen of Judeca.
—Judeca doesn't want destruction—he wants creation.
—He's building a new civilization based on the New Humanity.
—Act late, and the chance is gone.
—Uh... that's it.
—Got it. Sounds like some cult leader spiel. What'd Lee Beom-seok say?
—Not much reaction. Just listened.
—No drama on-site, huh?
—Yeah. They talked a bit and parted. I waited two hours thinking something might go down...
Two hours lurking in an alley.
I praised Mi-kyung as gently as I could.
—Must've been tough. Good job—thanks.
—Hehe.
—Anyway, shelter's still quiet?
—Yeah. No big tension yet.
They weren't openly shunning us out of fear, she said.
Anyway, we'd have to watch this situation.
A quest was coming up soon—getting tangled in it could shake things up.
Time to check some攻略 guides first.
—Tell folks to stay in for now. Ji-man's there; if anything comes up, you handle it, Mi-kyung.
—What about you, oppa?
—Things are messy; can't open a dimension gate right now.
My hunch about Ezekiel handling ether well was spot on.
They'd laid down some anti-ether field around their outpost.
Couldn't use dimension gates or any extras because of it.
I could escape the area and use them again, but it was a pain.
Right now, Seok-hyun and Ppung-deng-i were scouting the Ezekiel outpost with drones.
—I'll alternate watches with Seok-hyun, so call anytime.
—Come back soon, oppa.
—Da-jeong and Geom-in are south; wait for them. If shit hits the fan, hole up in that forest.
My second dimension gate linked the Korean Shelter dorms to the old forest base.
Infrastructure was gone, but the site remained.
Tents were there—could crash anytime.
I wanted to gate in and kill Lee Beom-seok right now, but no justification.
Quibbling over justification in this world felt off, but he was Jang Won-taek's right-hand man.
So I'd wait till he slipped up.
"Nah..."
Turn crisis into opportunity, right?
Quest system was activating soon.
Felt like I could frame Lee Beom-seok as the villain then.
Using a bug even the devs didn't know about.
Did Jang Won-taek know about this?
Asked Mi-kyung—she said this was the first mention.
I called Hyung-jun hyung.
—Hyung, you hear all that?
—Every word, right beside her.
—What's the vibe like to you?
—Pretty bad, but not critical. Nothing's blowing up yet.
Lee Beom-seok hadn't bought in fully...
No need for me to swing the sword yet.
Can't preempt without symptoms showing.
Can't slaughter them all just for shunning, right?
Part of me wanted to, but had to consider the other shelter residents...
I gathered my thoughts.
—Drop a hint to Jang Won-taek. I'll hear his side before acting.
—And we bounce between forests while we wait?
—Yep. Stash non-essentials in the forest. If they pick a fight, clap back hard. If it feels off, let me know.
—Got it. Shoulders feel heavy now.
Hyung-jun hyung would handle it fine.
Not as extreme as me—good at getting along with everyone.
I closed the auction house and looked up at the sky.
Drones buzzed over the Ezekiel outpost below the hill.
Looked just like birds.
.
.
.
Da-jeong and Geom-in arrived near the Ezekiel outpost.
We gathered in the cave to plan next steps.
Geom-in relayed the elves' stance.
"They've never seen those fruits or seeds either. Elderwood lore's mostly myths—even they don't know much."
"They know it, but not if it's real?"
"Yeah. Like our half-millennia history with the bear-turning-human tale—we don't take it literally."
Da-jeong chimed in.
"They wanna plant it, but the spot's a headache."
Her finger pointed to a plateau pretty far from the Ezekiel outpost.
A flat-topped mesa-like rise—the stag beetles' homeland, apparently.
Fine up to there, but... I eyed them both.
"Elves aren't helping?"
"Too busy protecting Belond Forest from monsters."
"Their home matters more than Elderwood, huh?"
Going to Elderwood was sorta en route, so fair enough—but tasking us with chores rubbed me wrong.
Then Geom-in pulled something from her dimensional pouch.
"Amelia sent this as a gift."
Ether stones and ether orbs—the elves had gathered them diligently.
"Whoa, no need for all this."
Couldn't refuse that goodwill.
We ate and talked.
"That Lee Beom-seok punk's gonna cause trouble."
"Like in the Great Labyrinth, just powering up?"
"Didn't do anything specific. Heard Go Ho-kyung's pitch, though."
Seok-hyun raised his fist at that.
"Kill him."
"Not yet."
"Kill first, think later."
"Later. Quest starts soon—can villain him then. Not now."
Da-jeong peered into my eyes.
"Why? Hell, Bunny Duo could snatch and off him. Scatter the followers."
"Need some justification. Can't just smash the Korean Shelter."
I didn't deny Jang Won-taek's dream of making it humanity's nest.
If I did, I wouldn't be half-affiliated like this.
Key was: it could wobble, but not break.
Needed a Korean base.
Plus all those supplies... scattering them would suck.
Da-jeong tilted her head.
"That quest had no rewards, so no one did it?"
"Newbies grinded it. Trolls crashed the party."
Quest system introduced mid-game in Survival Life.
Somehow planned with zero rewards.
Exp yes, items no.
Only newbies bothered—then trolls piled in to grief.
I trolled the trolls.
"Early quests are basic: farming,攻略 stuff."
Geom-in went, "Ah."
"I grinded quests at launch. Remember the golden goblin one?"
"No rewards killed the fun."
"Didn't expect zilch."
"Revamped with Unknown Monsters expansion. You quit before."
"Ah..."
Veterans nodding now.
Thanks to you quitting, I solo'd brutes like a madman.
Geom-in asked.
"An Geun-seok triggers quests too? Big problem."
"Just old plans manifesting IRL."
If An Geun-seok controlled the system, I'd be dead or captured ages ago.
"So, to villain Lee Beom-seok..."
I explained using the quest bug to frame him.
Da-jeong shook her head.
"Thought Bunny Duo was the craziest. Can't top you, Sung-ho."
"Don't one-up this. Anyway, that's my take. Too late to sway him—might as well use him.
Seok-hyun grinned wide.
"Murder's planned too, huh? Nice."
Is that how it lands?
Best case: Lee Beom-seok reforms now, fully backs me.
But no way.
He hates us, clashed with Jang, gathering people.
Stopping now kills his voice forever.
Saddled up? Ride or stick close.
I listed tasks.
"Seok-hyun, Ppung-deng-i: keep scouting, map it. Da-jeong, Geom-in: stag beetles to plateau, plant seeds."
Da-jeong narrowed her eyes at me.
Looked displeased.
"Feels like we're always the errand runners?"
"Last one, then settle lakeside. Sent Little Fist there too."
"Hmm... really the end?"
Guilty twinge.
I desperately averted her gaze.
.
.
.
"Quest starting soon, huh..."
"High chance Lee Beom-seok turns villain. I want him silenced."
"...If he just shuts up, it's all solved?"
"He dies, followers too."
"What about the shelter?"
"Varies, but it'll hold. Population dips."
Jang Won-taek closed his papers, face haggard and glum.
"Heard your chief of staff met Go Ho-kyung. Rumor says he refused... for now."
"Did he really? You buying it?"
"..."
Silent, he lit a cigarette.
Fierce cough erupted.
"Ahem, cigs are rough these days."
"Not nosy, but quit while you can."
"Haha... what more at my age."
"Heard you wanna officiate the first wedding."
"Sigh... sounds like a dream now."
Jang exhaled smoke, rambling.
"Lately, doubting it all. Can we really build a new civ, safe city...?"
"Tell that to Lee Beom-seok too?"
He nodded weakly.
"Scenario? Game lore progressing, deaths rising. Everyone but your circle might die. Heh..."
"No dumb shit, no deaths—right?"
"Hearts aren't simple..."
Folks feared me and Seok-hyun.
Yet envied, felt inferior.
Instinctual—uncontrollable.
Monsters like An Geun-seok and Go Ho-kyung failed to sway me, so targeted hearts.
No fool falls for it... unless cornered.
My plan was simple.
Lee Beom-seok's flipping to Go Ho-kyung: inevitable.
So exploit it.
"Or kill him now."
Jang's eyes bulged.
"N-no, can't. Absolutely not."
First time seeing calm him panic.
That vital, huh.
No standout skills, but long-time ally.
I pressed.
"Can't kill, can't watch. What's the play?"
"Wait a bit... he might change..."
"Can't wait long. Quest hits, he's villain."
Not set in stone—quests random.
But outliers like him trigger subjugation quests.
Jang bowed his head at my notice.
"I'll persuade as best I can."
I left his office, walked shelter streets.
Shunning my sister-in-law stopped when I arrived.
But subtle discomforts lingered.
Some pivoted to total avoidance.
Hard to protest covert snubs.
I sat on a bench, drawing stares.
Heads turned quick—not friendly.
"Petty bastards."
Voice carried; folks flinched.
Confident? Come at me.
"Can't speak up front, just yap behind. Waste of food."
"Without Seok-hyun, you'd be monster chow—mouths still flapping."
"Holed up, world's easy? Go fight Chinese yourselves."
Street emptied suddenly.
Can't retort, so ignore.
Sighed, looked up—footsteps approached.
Lee Beom-seok.
Planned Murder - 2 End