Chapter 31
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: The Proposal
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The angel spoke.
[As you can see, the quest is to protect the relic.]
"Protect the relic?"
[Everyone, please look toward the center of the village.]
Everyone's attention gathered in one place.
In the center of the village stood a massive, diamond-shaped crystal, reaching a height of five meters.
It was an alien object, completely out of place in the ruined village's atmosphere.
[Monsters will appear every thirty minutes to target that relic. You must work together to protect it during a total of five waves.]
In short, they had to fend off five monster waves over three hours.
"So it's a cooperative mission this time?"
"Feels like a defense game."
As the people muttered amongst themselves, the angel spoke.
[Due to the nature of this round, many monsters will appear. But there's no need to be afraid. They will be weakened to one-third of their usual strength. Of course, the experience and gold will be reduced accordingly.]
"Monsters weakened to one-third?"
"Isn't that too easy?"
[If you successfully protect the relic for three hours, you'll receive an additional reward, and the round will end. The successful participants will then be ranked by the number of monsters they've killed.]
"In order of most monsters killed?"
"So we have to protect the relic and kill a lot of monsters."
[And if you fail to protect the relic? You'll receive a massive penalty. The round will end immediately, and survival will still be determined by the number of monsters killed.]
"So we get an extra reward if we protect the relic, and a penalty if it breaks..."
"Either way, we have to kill a lot of monsters to rank."
The people nodded in understanding.
It was a cooperative mission that was, in essence, an individual one where success was based on personal performance.
*'So all I have to do is kill a lot of monsters?'*
A fighting spirit ignited in Jo Joong-sik's eyes.
The look in the others' eyes wasn't much different.
Especially since the number of slots for this round was 1,225.
A threshold far too narrow for 4,900 people, it was only natural for a competitive spirit to arise.
[And in the last round, you selected a district representative, didn't you? Was that Life is a Documentary?]
The angel's gaze fell upon Jo Joong-sik.
[Starting this round, you can use the district representative's authority. The right of command, that is. *Kee-hee-hee.*]
At the sound of that laugh, Jo Joong-sik bit his lower lip.
*'That damn angel bastard, laughing like an asshole.'*
Having been tricked by the angel before, he couldn't help but feel animosity.
*'I should just sew that mouth of his shut.'*
He thought it half-jokingly, but a moment later…
Jo Joong-sik found himself in a situation where he truly wanted to shut the angel's mouth.
[You must all be curious. What happens if the district representative dies?]
Because another bombshell had just dropped from the angel's lips.
[If the representative dies from a monster attack or natural causes, the position becomes vacant. But what if they're killed by another player? The killer immediately becomes the new district representative and can use the authority. All ten uses of the right of command, that is.]
"If you kill the district representative..."
"You can become the new one?"
The crowd's gaze naturally turned to one person.
Despite the stinging glares, Jo Joong-sik scowled and glared at the angel.
*'Fuck, fuck, fuck, that fucking angel bastard!!!'*
If he could, he would have let loose a satisfying torrent of curses and torn the angel's wings off, but…
*'You son of a bitch angel! You never said there was a rule like this!'*
He could only glare like this while grumbling inwardly.
After all, he was completely in the weaker position.
No matter how great a boss of the Joong-sik gang he was, even he could control his anger in front of someone stronger.
[Well then, the monsters will arrive in ten minutes. I hope you all cooperate and survive for the next three hours! Though I doubt you'll cooperate. *Kee-hee-hee!*]
Leaving behind only a sneer, the angel vanished in a flash of light.
After confirming the angel was completely gone, Jo Joong-sik screamed.
"Fuuuuuuck! Fuuuuuuuuck!"
Cursing at the empty air changed nothing.
The only thing that had changed was the way people were looking at him, as if eyeing their prey.
*Shing—*
Some even began to stealthily approach, drawing weapons from their inventories.
"What do you think you're doing? You planning on killing me with that?"
"Y-Yeah! If we kill you, we can become the district representative!"
"You'd commit murder for a reason like that?"
"You're the one who committed murder!"
"That's right! We can't accept a gangster bastard like you as our representative!"
"I'd rather kill you and become the representative myself!"
"Trash like you deserves to die!"
Faced with the crowd's jeers, Jo Joong-sik could only sigh in disbelief.
"Ha, fuck. They're looking at me like I'm a total pushover."
Jo Joong-sik drew a dagger and aimed it at the approaching people.
"Then come on. I'll take the head of the first bastard who tries."
"Acting tough when you can only use the right of command ten times!"
"You're nothing special!"
Sneers appeared on the people's faces.
Their reasoning was that with only ten uses, he wouldn't dare use the right of command recklessly.
But even a cornered rat will bite a cat.
"Ten uses? That's right. It's a shitty ability. I admit it. But I'll promise you one thing."
A cold smile spread across Jo Joong-sik's face.
"The first bastard who comes at me, I'll fuck them up for sure. Whether I use the right of command or something else, I'll make sure that bastard dies."
At Jo Joong-sik's venomous declaration, the people faltered.
As befitting the boss of a gang that held sway over Seoul, his entire body radiated killing intent.
"D-Don't be scared, everyone! He may look like that, but his level is similar to ours!"
"That's right! He hasn't even completed his class advancement yet!"
"Let's hurry up and kill him and get a new representative!"
"If we push with numbers, it'll be no problem!"
A few shouted encouragement, but no one was willing to step forward.
The thought that they might die if they were the first to act stopped them in their tracks.
*'Idiots. Just because a gun only has ten bullets doesn't mean it's not scary.'*
Jo Joong-sik had expected they wouldn't dare rush in.
As someone who constantly fought turf wars with other gangs, he was used to these kinds of threats.
"Come on! Come and get me, you sons of bitches!"
Despite Jo Joong-sik's provocation, no one dared to move.
*'Heh heh, of course they won't. No one wants to be the first to die.'*
No matter how strong the opponent, he could easily subdue them with a single use of his command.
Unless it was someone like Black Scythe, who was immune to the right of command.
*'Damn it, I should have gone into the forest to hunt monsters like Black Scythe.'*
If he had raised his level and advanced his class, he would have received the sub-quest reward and been free from the right of command too.
*'Became the district representative for nothing, just to become a target for everyone. Tch!'*
If he'd known the position was like this from the start, he never would have bullied people into voting for him.
Jo Joong-sik's gaze shifted to Black Scythe, who was standing idly to one side.
*'Lucky bastard.'*
He was envious of Black Scythe, the only one in their district who had completed a class advancement.
Whether he noticed the stare or not, Ryu Min was lost in deep thought.
He was thinking about none other than the third round.
*'The third round quest is nothing special. I just have to block five monster waves.'*
Protect the relic while fending off monsters.
It was a truly simple quest, but there was one thing to keep in mind.
The monsters would get stronger with each wave.
*'That's not a problem. It just means I can get more experience and gold.'*
For Ryu Min, who needed to collect a lot of gold this round, stronger monsters were actually better.
The problem was the timing for triggering the hidden sub-quest.
*'To reveal the sub-quest, I have to use Jo Joong-sik.'*
More precisely, he needed Jo Joong-sik's right of command.
He could easily obtain the right of command by killing Jo Joong-sik and becoming the representative, but…
*'I absolutely cannot become the representative in this round. There's a huge hidden penalty.'*
He had to use the right of command without becoming the representative.
To do that, he needed Jo Joong-sik's cooperation.
Ryu Min looked around.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on Jo Joong-sik.
Most were wary glances, but some were filled with bloodlust.
*'Just as I expected, he seems to be in a tight spot.'*
Ryu Min smirked and started walking.
The time had come for him to step in, just as planned.
*Step, step—*
As Ryu Min moved with his giant scythe in hand, Jo Joong-sik panicked.
"Wh-What? Why are you coming over here? Stay back!"
It was no wonder; Ryu Min was the only one in the district who had completed a class advancement.
He was immune to the right of command.
On top of that, at level 16, he was incomparably stronger than Jo Joong-sik, who was only level 6.
It was only natural for him to be tense.
"No need to be scared. I just came to talk."
"Wh-Who said I was scared?"
Though he denied it, cold sweat beaded on Jo Joong-sik's forehead.
Having already been branded a public enemy, he couldn't help but be on guard when the strongest person in the district approached.
*'Is this bastard trying to put me at ease before launching a surprise attack?'*
It was natural for him to be suspicious of Ryu Min's intentions.
A quick look around revealed countless people aiming for his neck.
But contrary to Jo Joong-sik's worries, Ryu Min lowered his scythe as if to show he had no intention of attacking.
He also kept his distance, easing Jo Joong-sik's wariness.
"Wh-What do you want to talk to me about? Let me tell you right now, if you're planning on threatening me to hand over my neck, you should just give up..."
"I came to make you a proposal."
"A proposal?"
Surprised for a moment, Jo Joong-sik stared with narrowed eyes.
*'His proposal is obvious. He wants me to work for him, doesn't he?'*
Through years of accumulated experience in the gangster life, he could easily predict the next words.
The words of the strong were always predictable.
Deciding he might as well hear him out, Jo Joong-sik asked.
"What kind of proposal?"
"You seem to be in a bit of a predicament, right?"
"Who's in a predicament?"
"I'll protect you."
"What?"
At the unexpected offer, Jo Joong-sik's eyes widened.
"I'll stay by your side and make sure no other players can target you. In other words, I'll be your personal bodyguard."
"..."
Unable to speak, Jo Joong-sik fell into deep thought.
*'Black Scythe will protect me?'*
If the guy with the highest level and even class skills were to guard him?
*'I'd be able to hunt monsters without any worries.'*
He could comfortably kill monsters and raise his score without having to worry about the glares around him.
After all, his guard would be none other than the number one ranked player in the entire district.
And just as he thought.
Looking around, he saw the people stirring uneasily.
"Black Scythe is going to protect Life is a Documentary...?"
"Doesn't that mean we'd have to fight Black Scythe too?"
"Ha, no way..."
Jo Joong-sik, who hadn't advanced his class, was an easy target, but Black Scythe was by no means an easy opponent.
Even if a group of them attacked, a single swing of that giant scythe could take off their heads.
Some, having lost their will to fight at the mere mention of his name, took a step back.
The sight was astonishing even to Jo Joong-sik.
*'So this is the weight Black Scythe's name carries...'*
No wonder he quietly took second place in the vote.
*'Thinking back to then hurts my pride, but...'*
Seeing the others recoil, he found the offer tempting.
But proposals always come with a price.
"What do you want in return for protecting me?"
Ryu Min nodded at Jo Joong-sik's question and replied.
"It's nothing much. You must follow my instructions without question. That's my only condition."
"What?"
A look of bewilderment appeared on Jo Joong-sik's face.
To follow his instructions without question.
*'Isn't this just a different way of telling me to become his subordinate?'*
His expression changing, Jo Joong-sik asked seriously.
"Why are you making me this offer?"
"I can't tell you."
"What kind of instructions are you talking about, specifically?"
"I can't tell you that either. You just have to follow my orders without question."
"..."
To be told to follow orders blindly, without even knowing what they were.
It was natural for dissatisfaction to show on Jo Joong-sik's face.
After all, as a leader who commanded his own subordinates, he had his pride.
"You fuc—"
Just as he was about to flip his middle finger and curse like usual, Jo Joong-sik had a change of heart.
*'Wait, what if I refuse his offer? There's no telling what this guy will do.'*
What if he immediately swung his scythe and took his head?
That fear made him curl the finger he was about to extend.
"Decide. The others are waiting for your answer."
"..."
After a long moment of deliberation, Jo Joong-sik's lips finally parted.
"I..."