Fodder War
Fodder War
[Transaction accepted.]
[Coins held 1568 > 1588]
Hammer Goes : thx thx. hey u got any Marlboros?
Yajeongkojeong : Who knows. If I find those later I'll hit you up.
Hammer Goes : oki^^. If you do, please, I'm begging you.
The last transaction of the day was complete.
I pushed the semi-transparent window to the edge of my vision and let out a short sigh.
The profit came to just over 500 Coins.
Still, maybe the self-promotion was paying off—not a bad haul for the first day.
"Alright, that's it for today."
I clapped my hands together, and the First Generation, who had been absorbed in their task, all slumped in visible relief.
The fact that they'd followed my nonsensical orders without a single complaint deserved a few bonus points.
I handed each of them two cans of beer.
"Uh... this is...?"
"You worked hard, so you should get something out of it. Makes the work feel a little more worthwhile, don't you think?"
You have to ease up on them sometimes.
Squeeze them too hard and they'll wither up fast. Hand out rewards like this, and they get a lot easier to handle.
It's good for managing their mental state, and they'll show a lot more enthusiasm for my orders going forward.
"Th-thank you."
They seemed a bit surprised.
They exchanged bewildered glances, then soon each of them smiled with genuine delight.
"Uh... why am I getting three...?"
"You took the lead. The squad leader's supposed to get a little extra."
Especially Number 9.
She still maintained a deeply respectful attitude toward me.
According to Jeong Ji-min, she'd volunteered for a squad-leader-ish role, and that effort had been commendable, so she caught my eye a little more.
On top of that, her score was a 9.
If you took out the special case Im Soo-ah, she was the highest-ranked piece of ass in the group.
Of course I'd be fond of her.
"Wow...."
The other women stared at Number 9 with undisguised envy.
That was their reaction for now, but if this kept up, those looks would likely sour into jealousy sooner or later.
Which was exactly what I intended.
This kind of preferential treatment would disrupt their unity.
Given a little more time, the ones rallying around Number 9 and the ones who didn't would start butting heads, competing to curry my favor.
"Alright, now go inside and rest. Kick back with a beer or two, and if you get sleepy, brush your teeth and go to bed. Oh, and grab whatever you want for snacks from the kitchen."
"Yes! Thank you! Everyone, let's head back!"
Number 9 shouted in a booming voice.
Maybe she was just that thrilled to feel recognized—the smile never left her face.
"Man, today was a real windfall. How long's it been since we had this?"
"Right? Number 4, you any good at drinking?"
"Hey, old lady. Who do you think you're talking to? Back in my day, I was a real..."
"You're both hilarious. Who gets that worked up over two cans of beer?"
"What do you mean, 'two cans'? If you don't want it, give it to me!"
The others were no different.
As they moved toward the kitchen under Number 9's lead, they chattered noisily.
Works like a charm.
The whole mood had visibly lifted.
I was watching them with a satisfied grin, but something caught my eye.
'Huh...?'
One thing kept nagging at the edge of my vision.
There was an exception.
For some reason, Number 7 had stayed behind, fidgeting awkwardly and gauging my reaction.
I tilted my head and asked.
"What? You got something else to say?"
"No... it's not that, exactly... I was wondering, maybe I could trade this beer for a cigarette...?"
Number 7's voice was painfully timid, but her eyes were locked onto the cigarette pack I'd pulled from my pocket earlier.
She was so hard up for a smoke that I could actually see her throat bob as she swallowed dryly.
I watched her for a moment, then spoke.
"Can't do that. I can't treat you differently from the rest. It'd be an issue of fairness."
"B-but you gave Number 9 an extra one... and Number 0 too...."
Dammit... Jeong Yeon-ji, that bitch couldn't keep her mouth shut and went blabbing it already, huh?
Unacceptable.
Next time she slips up, I'm going to torment her asshole until she's pregnant up the backside.
"Didn't you hear what I said earlier? Number 9 acted as squad leader. And Yeon-ji worked hard servicing me yesterday. They earned it for their effort."
"Then... if I service you, too, would you give me one?"
"Hey. You do know what she actually did, right? You're saying this with full knowledge?"
"I know. You just have to... lick it down there, right?"
Number 7 looked ready and willing to lick a literal asshole if it meant getting a single cigarette.
I liked the enthusiasm itself.
But the timing was bad.
I shook my head.
"No. Right now you... you're just not doing it for me. Plus, I'm already pretty booked up."
And that was the truth.
Every single day, I had to blow at least one load, no exceptions, into Ha Hui-ryeong and Kim Ha-yoon. Then there was Angelica, who'd been grumbling about why I hadn't woken her up after I'd promised to yesterday.
And if you added Jeong Ji-min into the mix, who I needed to pin down under the excuse of "education" whenever she acted up... my schedule was effectively packed full.
"So next time. When I've got some time to spare, I'll call you."
"Next... when exactly is next...?"
"What, are you really that desperate? Can't hold out a little longer?"
Number 7 nodded frantically.
I gave her a slightly dumbfounded look.
Apparently, she'd been a massive chain-smoker back when society was still intact.
'This girl's not normal, either.'
She'd approached me willingly even knowing what kind of "service" Jeong Yeon-ji had to provide to score a cigarette.
The moment she'd done that, she'd proven she was a serious oddball herself.
I scratched my head and let out a long sigh.
"Haa.... Fine. I was just about to go out for a smoke anyway, so I'll give you one."
"F-for real?"
"Yeah. But just one, got it? Come on."
"Yes! Thank you!"
Number 7 bowed her head over and over.
She was so thrilled that a huge smile spread across her face.
I told her to knock it off, my tone a little dry, then stepped out of the camper van first.
And there, the scene that met my eyes was drenched in crimson blood.
"Oh? You're here?"
Angelica was covered in gore, grinning at me brightly.
A blonde beauty holding entrails and beaming like that... it was like a scene straight out of a horror movie.
"How's it going? Find out anything else?"
"Hmph. No results to speak of. It would have been perfect if he'd been diseased, but unfortunately, that wasn't the case. In the end, it was just more of the same as yesterday."
"I see. So no need to keep going here, then?"
Angelica nodded.
Then she cleanly severed the entrails she was holding with her ice machete and asked Ha Hui-ryeong, who was nearby, to heal her.
Ha Hui-ryeong shot Angelica a sulky glare, then eventually sighed and placed her hand on the injured area.
When she pushed her hand into the split-open stomach, the flesh astonishingly knitted itself back together in an instant, returning to its original state.
"Even the organs came back?"
"So it would seem. Just to be sure, I split the belly a few more times, and the excised parts had regenerated perfectly. A truly irregular ability, this one."
"Hmph, unlike some people."
"Is there really any need to compare me to you? We simply have different roles to play. Our value is likely similar."
Angelica deflected Ha Hui-ryeong's teasing with perfect composure.
It was the same dynamic every time.
Ha Hui-ryeong would snap at her, and Angelica would shrug her shoulders and reply calmly.
It was like watching a prickly wildcat and a haughty wolf.
Each had their own distinct flavor.
"That's enough. From here on, we need to start deciding how to dispose of this."
"What? Already?"
"You've played with him long enough. Time to let him go now."
Ha Hui-ryeong and Angelica both looked like children who'd had their toys taken away, their expressions full of regret.
But they didn't argue any further.
"Fine. So what are you going to do? Wait, what's with the girl behind you?"
"Ah, her?"
They were more interested in Number 7, who was practically glued to my back.
When they narrowed their eyes and approached, Number 7 flinched and pressed herself even closer to me.
And no wonder she did.
Ha Hui-ryeong and Angelica, both drenched in blood, looked utterly terrifying.
"Number 7, total pussy score of 7. Haven't you two seen her around occasionally?"
"We have. But a 'pussy score'? What's that supposed to be?"
Come to think of it, I guess Angelica didn't know about their situation.
"It's a score I give them, based on an overall evaluation of their tightness, face, and other factors."
"Is that... so? Just out of curiosity, what score am I?"
"You're... about a 9.5?"
"Out of how many?"
"Out of ten, obviously."
"I see. You rate me quite highly. Though I am somewhat disappointed it is not a perfect score."
I scratched my cheek awkwardly and stuck a cigarette in my mouth.
Truthfully, anything in the 9-point range was effectively the highest score I gave.
That score was reserved for women who perfectly matched all my tastes in every category.
If there was one woman closest to a perfect ten....
"What? Why are you looking at me?"
"Nothing. Never mind."
Tsshh.
Ha Hui-ryeong tilted her head, a puzzled look on her face.
I brushed her off with a vague answer, lit the cigarette, and puffed out streams of smoke.
Just then, Number 7, still behind me, tugged lightly at my sleeve.
Ah, right, I'd promised to give her one, hadn't I?
"Here."
"Y-yes...!"
She took it reverently with both hands, as if that single cigarette were worth a fortune.
Like a junkie aching for a fix, she jammed it into her mouth and looked around for a lighter.
I let out a little chuckle and lit it for her.
"Hooohp.... Fwahhh...."
A face drowning in pure bliss.
Number 7 sucked on the cigarette slowly, savoring it like it was the first smoke she'd had in ages.
"When you're done with that, could you go call Ha-yoon and Kang Ha-rin? Oh, and tell Kang Ha-rin to bring her little siblings, all of them. And have her bring a big bucket of cold water too."
"Okay... I will... fwoo...."
She answered, but her mind was clearly miles away.
A dreamy expression on her face, she inhaled deeply and blew out a series of smoke rings.
No, more like... a jellyfish shape, I'd say.
She blew smoke back into the circular ring, making it hang in the air like a jellyfish swimming.
She was really savoring the hell out of that thing.
Enough to show off a trick like that.
"Damn, she's really enjoying that. Guess she was a heavy smoker before? I can't even do that."
"It certainly doesn't look like the work of a mere amateur."
Ha Hui-ryeong and I shared our slightly dumbfounded observations, but only for a moment.
Having finished the cigarette in a flash, Number 7 staggered back toward the camper van like someone high on a drug.
And shortly after, Kim Ha-yoon, Jeong Ji-min, and Kang Ha-rin along with her siblings came out one by one.
"...Why did you call me? And why on earth my little siblings too?"
Kang Ha-rin, judging that the blood-drenched scenery was bad for the kids, covered the twins' eyes.
Kang Ha-jun looked noticeably more haggard than before, his face blank and vacant.
Well, no surprise there—he'd been rolling around in the bathroom this whole time with Number 2 and that wild-haired woman he'd captured, so of course he'd be drained.
"Is there something else you need my help with?"
"Ahaha... I don't think I'd be any help in this sort of thing, unlike Ha-yoon unnie..."
Kim Ha-yoon stood there with an expressionless face, ready to follow orders, and Jeong Ji-min, whose first instinct at any gap was to think of ways to weasel out.
I waved my hand at the two of them.
"Forget it. I just called you two as spectators, so you can go back inside if you want."
"Spectators? What are you trying to pull now, oppa?"
Instead of answering, I just shrugged my shoulders.
It meant they'd see when it happened.
"Hmm~. Then I guess I'll just watch for a bit and head in. Ha-yoon unnie, what are you going to do?"
"I'll... stay too."
At their responses, I glanced over and jerked my chin at Kang Ha-jun.
"You, bring that woman you caught recently. You know what happens if you touch her without permission, right?"
"I won't. I've agreed to be satisfied with what I'm given."
Right, I'm sure you have.
I'd put that Suggestion in him to make it so.
But I couldn't help the lingering unease.
Which was why I planned to settle this today, once and for all.
"Is it fine to set her here?"
A moment later, the guy came out with the naked woman slung over his shoulder.
"You fucker! Let me go!? I said let go!"
But she was resisting fiercely.
The nameless woman thrashed wildly, trying to break free of Kang Ha-jun.
Though with her arms bound tightly, all she could really do was kick her legs around frantically.
"Yeah, put her down there. Anyway... your mouth's as filthy as your face."
A faint smirk on my lips, I approached the woman Kang Ha-jun had set down.
She glared at me ferociously.
In her eyes, hostility and fear coexisted.
"But that feistiness has a certain charm of its own."
"...The fuck are you talking about, you psycho."
Her eyes darted around.
After quickly scanning her surroundings and realizing there were more people here than she'd thought, her tone grew somewhat less heated.
Oh, so you can read the room after all?
I chuckled inwardly and snapped my fingers at Kang Ha-rin.
Kang Ha-rin let out a deep sigh and handed me the one-liter water jug she was holding.
I immediately dumped it over the unconscious man.
"Pwahak! Keck, kuhhack! Hah...!"
The man came to, gasping for air harshly.
But he didn't seem to have the wherewithal to raise his upper body yet, likely still suffering the aftereffects of the torture.
"Hey, Ha-jun. You any good with your fists?"
"Huh?"
My sudden question made him blink.
He clearly couldn't grasp the context.
But I ignored that and kept talking.
"I asked if you're confident you could beat this guy in a fight."
"What's this all of a sudden..."
"If you win, I'll give you this woman as a prize."
"For real!?"
Of course, it was bullshit.
Since I'd be saying goodbye to him soon enough, this was the last time I'd ever be "bestowing" a woman on him.
"Hell yeah, absolutely. I'm strict about rewards and punishments. You know that by now, don't you?"
"...Yeah, I do."
At first he'd been confused, but Kang Ha-jun immediately brightened at my next proposal.
His eyes suddenly full of life, he looked the woman over and then back at the man.
"But remember this one thing. This doesn't end until someone is dead. Either you die or that guy dies, one of you has to croak. You still want to do this?"
He seemed to struggle with it for a moment, but it didn't last long.
Kang Ha-jun checked out the woman's appearance, and then, his face full of resolve....
"D-don't do it! Ha-jun...! If you go that far, you're really crossing the line. No matter what, that's just wrong. You're not that kind of guy. So please..."
The moment he nodded, his sister Kang Ha-rin cut in, horrified.
Her face had gone pale, and she was clearly panicked, as if she'd never imagined he'd actually do this.
"...I'm fine with it."
"Hey! Kang Ha-jun!!"
"Noona, shut the hell up! This is my business! I'll handle it! I said I'll handle it myself!!"
"Wh-what...?"
When Kang Ha-jun snapped back in anger, Kang Ha-rin looked completely dumbfounded.
But regardless, Kang Ha-jun's resolve was firm.
"I'll do it. Either I die or that bastard does."
"Ooh, I like that confidence."
I grinned and clapped him on the shoulder a few times.
Kim Ha-yoon approached me and whispered softly.
"This... this is what you meant by a 'spectacle'?"
"They always say a fuckboy war is the most entertaining, don't they? And this is a deathmatch with their lives on the line. Should be pretty damn intense, don't you think?"
"...Yeah, right."
Kim Ha-yoon didn't look terribly comfortable with it.
But the other women, except for Kang Ha-rin, had pretty positive reactions.
"I like it. This'll be a pretty decent way to kill some boredom."
"Hmm. I am fine with anything, as long as you are."
"Me too. I don't care who croaks."
And with that, the Fuckboy Wars were officially convened.