The Weight of Leadership
I wanted to show these people what reality truly was right away, but there was something I had to take care of first, so I held back. I hadn't come bearing only good news.
“We'll talk later, just like Nayoon said.”
“No…!”
Thud—!
Donghyuk tried to keep pushing his demands, but the spear in my hand literally shattered, stopping him cold.
‘Why the hell did that happen…?!’
The crude spear could no longer withstand his strength. I was surprised too, but I didn't let it show.
“Ahem…… A funeral comes before any of this!”
“A funeral……?”
We couldn't keep bickering like this in front of the people who had died fighting to protect the Mart. Only then did those who had followed Donghyuk realize there were casualties. Most of them had arrived without serious injuries, so they had assumed the fight had been easy. But the state of the bodies told a different story.
The dead couldn't be treated. Of course, we had covered the corpses with cloth, but during the move, the fabric had shifted, revealing the horrific reality beneath. Limbs crushed beyond recognition, melted skin, exposed flesh……
“H-how many people died……?”
“Ugh……”
“People…… How can people die like that……!”
“What the hell happened……?”
Those who hadn't grasped the severity finally understood. Some even vomited on the spot after witnessing something straight out of a gore film.
I paid no attention to their reactions.
“Nayoon, you said there was a good spot, right?”
“Yeah……”
“Let's go there.”
“……”
Even Donghyuk couldn't stop this. If he tried, the people currently on his side would clearly turn against him.
We all moved to a sunny, open clearing. In total, five people had been sacrificed. Five graves were quickly prepared.
We finished the modest funeral. The victims would understand, given the circumstances. Later…… if the chance came, we would honor them properly.
“Dohyun…… Could you come with me for a moment……?”
“……”
While I was watching the mourners, Nayoon quietly approached and spoke. She looked like she had something important to say. Even the people who had been pressuring her moments ago had gone quiet, so we had a little time. I nodded and followed her to a secluded spot.
“……This is the first time we've talked alone like this, isn't it?”
“I guess so?”
It did seem that way. Nayoon continued.
“This doesn't really have anything to do with the current situation, but…… could you listen to my story……?”
I couldn't refuse. She spoke with quiet desperation.
“What is it……?”
“It's not that important. It's just about what happened to me on the first day of all this……”
“The first day……”
“……You probably already know, but I've killed someone before.”
It was a story I'd heard. On the day I first arrived at the Mart, Daon had told me about it over dinner. I'd thought it was unavoidable and had simply put it out of my mind. I hadn't expected Nayoon to bring it up herself.
Her expression as she spoke was terrible. She looked like she might cry, which was completely unlike her.
“It's a bit awkward for me to say this when I wasn't even there, but it was unavoidable. Thanks to you, a lot of people were saved. Honestly…… I don't think your choice was that wrong!”
I meant it sincerely. I wasn't sure if I could have done the same in that situation, but I knew that surviving would eventually require harming others. I'd been thinking about that a lot lately. It had simply happened to Nayoon a little sooner. I genuinely wanted to comfort her, though I wasn't sure if my words would help.
“Thank you for saying that. But I…… I shouldn't have done it……! I…… I became a soldier to protect people. And now I've killed someone……”
Her voice grew agitated. Of all the people I'd met, Nayoon was the one who fit the image of a soldier the most. Of course, I hadn't served in the military myself, so I didn't know much about soldiers. The person Nayoon had killed was the boss of the organization Jaehun's brother had been part of. From what I'd heard, he was an extremely vicious man. It was surprising that Jaehun's brother had worked under someone like that. The man had countless prior convictions and had committed crimes too vile to even mention at the time. Even so, to Nayoon, he had still been a citizen she was supposed to protect.
It didn't mean I wasn't frustrated, but I tried to understand her feelings and, to some extent, I did.
“……I'll be honest. Right now, this situation is hard for me!”
The sudden appearance of monsters and having to fight for our lives every day was probably part of what she meant by “hard,” but what she was really struggling with was being in a position where she had to lead a group and make decisions.
“Ever since I became a soldier, I've only lived a life of receiving orders and carrying them out. But now I'm the one making all the decisions and giving the orders……”
I could somewhat agree with what that old man Kwak Donghyuk had said about soldiers not tasting power. Well, I agreed with the statement itself, not with the reason he'd brought it up. Nayoon was someone who was truly far removed from power. Right now, in a position where she could do anything more than anyone else, all she wanted was to protect people. I couldn't agree even a little with the idea that she was a soldier drunk on power.
Our eyes met. The pained expression she'd worn while speaking faded, and she returned to her usual self. It seemed like what she was about to say next was what she really wanted to talk about.
“I have a favor to ask!”
“……”
After Dohyun and Nayoon finished their conversation, time passed, and Donghyuk gathered his people to resume the discussion he'd been forced to cut short. Dohyun stood confidently in front of Nayoon, and Donghyuk still found that displeasing.
“I told you not to butt into adult conversations. Besides, you don't even live at the Mart. Outsiders should stay out of it!”
“……Up until a moment ago, that was true. But now there's a bit of a connection, so that won't work.”
“What……? And this kid has been speaking informally this whole time……”
“Whatever. Listen carefully to what I'm about to say! The rest of you should listen too and come to a conclusion!”
I had been lounging around with a bored expression, but now I turned serious. Honestly, I had hoped today would just pass without incident. It hadn't even been long since we'd held the funeral for the victims. For him to come causing trouble again so soon meant there was no need to handle this nicely. Still, the one most at fault was Donghyuk, so I spoke respectfully when addressing everyone.
“……From now on, anyone who doesn't work has no place in our group!”
“What……?”
The crowd began to stir. Some even cursed, asking what kind of nonsense that was. I continued regardless.
“Those confident in fighting will receive training. Those who can't fight even if it means dying will be given other tasks. We are not heroes who help everyone, nor volunteers, nor soldiers. If you can't accept that, then you can't stay with us any longer!”
“Who the hell do you think you are, spouting that crap?!”
“Yeah, exactly, you little punk!”
I bought another crude spear. It was the best value. I slammed it into the ground to silence everyone, then continued.
“As for why I get to say this, Nayoon…… the sergeant here will explain!”
I pointed at Nayoon. Donghyuk reluctantly asked her.
“Sergeant, is this correct? Was this really agreed upon? Is this really what you want?”
Nayoon listened to Donghyuk until the end, then said something completely different from what he had expected.
“……It's all been agreed upon.”
“Right, of course it…… What?!”
“I'll formally announce it to everyone. Starting today, we will form an alliance with Kang Dohyun and his group here!”
Nayoon declared that Dohyun was now a member of the Mart. Her people stayed quiet since they'd already heard the news, but the others wouldn't stop whispering. Even so, Nayoon kept going.
“And I believe Kang Dohyun here is the most suitable person to lead this alliance!”
Nayoon stepped down. It wasn't what Donghyuk wanted, but she had declared exactly what he had hoped for—that as a soldier, she would abandon power and only protect. The people were confused about the situation. Donghyuk had incited them by saying that because Nayoon was a soldier, she shouldn't hold power, and that she might become a tyrant later. That was why he wanted to keep her in her proper role and elect a new leader. Donghyuk had cleverly hidden his own desires in all of this. He had planned to bring Nayoon down and take the position himself.
But now she was recommending some kid as the new leader. The people had stepped forward, but Nayoon's reputation wasn't that bad. Donghyuk knew that well. If the person she recommended had even a little strength……
This couldn't happen.
‘Things have really gone to hell……’
The one just as unsettled as Donghyuk was me. Honestly, the leader's seat wasn't something I wanted. I was fine living the way I had been. How was someone who had been an ordinary college student until recently supposed to lead over a hundred people…… But Nayoon had begged me so earnestly that I had no choice but to accept.
“Who decided on a leader without asking anyone?!”
Donghyuk's face flushed red as he shouted.
“Then how do you want to decide?”
“This is a democratic country. Of course we should vote!”
“Voting sounds good! Then, old man, are you running too? What do you have to offer?”
“W-what……?”
Settling everything with force wasn't my preferred method. But unfortunately, force was all I had right now. I intended to use it thoroughly.
“I'm stronger than anyone here, and I'll only get stronger! And if I become the leader, everyone behind me will lend their strength! Can you promise anything better than that?”
Of course he couldn't. So Donghyuk did what he did best.
“Y-you little punk, you don't even know your place! Everyone, are you really okay with this?! Don't we need to teach these brats a lesson right now?! A kid not even thirty years old is trying to become our leader!”
He was suggesting they take it by force if necessary. Almost everyone understood. But the image of what I had done earlier was still fresh in their minds. It had been overwhelming power. They knew my words weren't empty boasts. And if they took me down, they could take everyone behind me as well.
In the end, only a tiny minority agreed with Donghyuk. No one responded to him anymore.
“E-everyone……”
Donghyuk stood there dumbfounded as I said my final words.
“It's the same as the previous world. You paid taxes back then too. It's similar. I…… we will protect you. In return, just become someone this group needs. That's all! ……Those in favor of me becoming the Mart's leader, please raise your hands!”
Those who strongly agreed with Donghyuk didn't raise their hands. But that was only a small portion. Nayoon's people all raised their hands, and even those who had been with Donghyuk began raising theirs one by one after glancing around. Without counting, it was clear that the majority supported me becoming the leader. Even by the democracy Donghyuk had been shouting about, I had won.
“T-this…… This is ridiculous! You people are insane! You're really okay with some kid standing above us?!”
“B-but…… If he's that strong, couldn't he protect us……?”
“Honestly, what he said makes sense…… If we want to survive, we have to work too!”
“I never wanted to do this kind of thing from the start!”
“Y-you…… idiots! Have you no pride?! You worthless scum――!”
In the end, Donghyuk lost control and started hurling every insult he could think of. Not many people could tolerate that. Still, before things could escalate, I stepped in, preventing Donghyuk from getting beaten like a dog.
“Old man, that's enough. You're making a fool of yourself.”
“Gggghhh――!!”