[1 hour 30 minutes remaining until the third scenario activates.]
"Life sure is bitter, isn't it?"
"Excuse me?"
Staring blankly as the group talked about Yoo Joonghyuk and Gong Pildu, I approached them upon seeing Jung Heewon's 'Judgment Time' activation being cancelled.
"Even though Gong Pildu looks like that, it seems he isn't considered evil from the gods' perspective. They probably see it as him building his own world in his own way."
"Ha..."
Jung Heewon looked at me in disbelief.
"Ultimately, seeing him as evil is just our opinion. It means the Constellations see it differently."
"Then couldn't you just sweep him away?"
I shook my head.
"If I just go and kill him blindly, that would truly make me the evil one."
"Ah..."
Seeing Jung Heewon's sour expression, I grinned.
"Instead, how about just tormenting him a bit? I think our Dokja-ssi has a brilliant idea."
"...Me?"
Yes. You.
"Well, yes. It's not like there's no way, and I do have something in mind."
"What do you need for that?"
"Time. And Gang-hoon-ssi. Please don't play a big role in that operation. We need a stage for Hyunsung-ssi."
At Dokja's words, Jung Heewon looked back at Hyunsung, who was far away, wondering why.
"I'll explain this again later."
"Okay."
"Why does it feel like only you two know... Ah, never mind. It's nothing."
I affirmed that we would talk later.
The reason was simple.
[1 hour remaining until the third main scenario activates!]
Because the scenario was scheduled to start soon.
"We should prepare for the scenario first. We need to find a room."
"A room?"
Kim Dokja looked around and pointed in one direction.
"Do you see that? Threatening others to protect their own room."
Soon, the man holding out inside was pushed out by another man, and the Green Zone count written above changed from 1/1 to 0/1.
"Shouldn't we stop them?"
"Even if we intervene, the result will be the same. It means someone will die eventually."
"Can't it be that no one dies?"
"That will probably be impossible in this scenario."
As soon as Kim Dokja finished speaking, a Dokkaebi appeared in the air.
[Now, now! Shall we slowly start the third day's main scenario? Since quite a few new faces have joined today, it'll be even more fun! Hahaha!]
Snap.
As the Dokkaebi snapped his fingers, the third scenario appeared before us.
< Main Scenario #3 - Green Zone (Day 3) >
Category: Main
Difficulty: C
Clear Condition: Occupy a [Green Zone] within the station and survive the monsters swarming every night at midnight.
This scenario lasts for a total of 7 days.
Duration: 8 hours
Reward: 1,000 Coins
Penalty for Failure: -
"Th-this is... Dokja-ssi! Gang-hoon-ssi!"
Checking the scenario contents, Hyunsung approached us.
But the Dokkaebi wasn't finished speaking yet.
[It's a simple rule. Occupy a 'Green Zone' before others. Of course, you can take away others' 'Green Zones' too. You better hurry! If you fail to occupy a 'Green Zone' by midnight, you'll experience something terrible!]
The Dokkaebi looked at us with a sneer mixed in.
[Well then, good luck everyone!]
After the Dokkaebi finished speaking, the group's expressions hardened.
Screams of people from behind, those pushing each other away to survive, and self-rationalization.
"Do we have to fight like those people too?"
"We don't need to fight among ourselves. We just need to find a room with a large capacity."
Right.
Green Zones vary wildly in size depending on the type.
"But such rooms would be hard to get, wouldn't they?"
"Probably. So let's scatter and search. If we can't find one by 20 minutes before the scenario starts, let's gather here."
"Should we each go search?"
"No. For personnel distribution, Hyunsung-ssi with Sangah-ssi, and Heewon-ssi take Gilyoung and search. Gang-hoon-ssi and I will search individually."
The group, including me, nodded.
The personnel distribution is truly artistic.
[20 minutes remaining until the third main scenario starts.]
Since no one seemed to have found a suitable room, we gathered back at the place where we first scattered.
"None. All full. Right?"
"That was the case."
"Asking for 2,000 Coins for one night? Ha, really funny."
"They probably suddenly raised the rent."
Jung Heewon nodded at my words.
"Dokja-ssi. Find anything?"
"No, I haven't found anything either."
Kim Dokja examined the group's expressions, then seemingly making up his mind, spoke.
"There are two methods."
"Two even. Impressive."
"Yes. The first is an easy method where we can all survive, and the second method is very difficult. There is also a possibility someone might die."
The typical Kim Dokja choices: an easy but undesirable option vs. one you end up choosing anyway. Is it that thing where we have to pick one?
"Then let's go with the second."
"Huh? Why? Leaving the easy method aside?"
Jung Heewon asking me.
It seems she innocently can't think of the one direction.
She doesn't know what Kim Dokja is going to say.
"Because the first method is obviously pushing others out to steal their room."
"...?! Surely, Dokja-ssi wouldn't suggest such a method?"
"Gang-hoon-ssi is right."
Jung Heewon made a face as if deeply hurt.
Understandable.
It's not like anyone here doesn't do it because they don't know that method.
"Heewon-ssi committed murder at Geumho Station, and I crippled a person right then and there. But that absolutely doesn't mean harming people is good. Right? Heewon-ssi."
"Of course. I don't regret that time. But even so, I absolutely don't want to become a monster."
I nodded.
"So let's go with the second. Everyone doesn't want to harm others, right?"
"I'll follow Hyungs' choice."
[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' nods at your choice.]
"Does everyone think the same?"
At Kim Dokja's words, the group all nodded.
"I thought you all would. Let's go with the second method."
"Why bother showing people the bad option when you intended to go with the second anyway?"
"You never know. Because the second method is extremely dangerous."
"How dangerous is it?"
At Lee Hyunsung's words, Kim Dokja answered with a quite serious expression.
"If even one person doesn't trust me, you will die."
"Dokja-ssi. We trust you. Just surviving until here, haven't we greatly benefited from your opinions?"
[5 minutes remaining until the third main scenario starts.]
Kim Dokja looked at the message window.
"Then follow me."
Kim Dokja briefly explained to us and then came down from the platform to the tracks.
The tracks where monsters were scheduled to swarm.
Moving to the surface through here would be the monsters' path.
And the Red Zone, the starting point where monsters swarm.
But Dokja told the group not to fight monsters here.
He said if we fight, we die.
"Dokja-ssi."
However, Kim Dokja told them to run towards the monsters.
Probably to make them find the hidden Green Zone.
But I know.
That the limit on one side is 3 people, and the other side is 2 people but Yoo Joonghyuk is there.
"The hidden Green Zone ahead has a capacity of 3, and the one behind has a capacity of 2. I think... I'll have to hold out against the monsters. What do you think?"
"How do you know that?"
"I can see it."
I looked far away, towards the Red Zone direction.
The capacity of the Green Zone clearly visible.
Probably visible because of the Six Eyes.
"Is it the power of those special eyes again?"
"Yeah. It's called the Six Eyes, haven't heard of it?"
"No. It's the first time I'm hearing it."
Honest. I wondered if he'd play along if I pretended he knew.
"Anyway, I'll survive on my own. I'll help if things get critical, so don't worry."
"Understood. Please, survive."
"Who are you worrying about."
[The third main scenario activates!]
With a swish feeling, the barrier blocking the tunnel towards Euljiro 3-ga disappeared.
"Run!"
At Kim Dokja's word, the group ran out all at once.
Monsters spawning from the Red Zone.
Filling the ranks were the familiar Ground Rats and subterranean species I was seeing for the first time.
"Bear shape... but with a black mane. Has horns too."
"Is this the time to admire them?!"
"If I touch them now, the group will be in danger, so I should at least admire them."
"...Yes, indeed. Now!"
Kim Dokja instructed the group while conversing with me.
As expected, perfect for a leader. Kim Dokja.
"Dokja-ssi. Over there!"
I immediately pointed to the remaining Green Zone and shouted for Kim Dokja to run.
And turned my gaze toward the monsters rushing at me.
Did you want to reach me that badly?
Sorry, but... my existence itself will be like a Zone.
"Limitless Cursed Technique."
I raised the output of the technique.
"Be careful not to get crushed."
Violently enough that if they move carelessly, the monsters will be crushed to death.
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