“I have to sleep.”
Jung-geun pressed his eyelids.
“But I felt I should tell you something before that.”
He looked at Taesan with a bitter smile.
“……So you were Taesan of Alone Mode.”
Taesan nodded calmly. He let out a hollow laugh.
“Well, this is… Ah. Thank you for the Skill. I learned it well.”
“Is it useful?”
“Very.”
Jung-geun had used the No Breath Attack in his fight with the monster. If he hadn't discovered it himself, it meant he had learned it by following the post Taesan made on the community forums.
“To be honest, I was half in doubt. But I didn't think it was a completely nonsensical story, so I gave it a try, and I really did get it. Goodness.”
He muttered with eyes full of wonder.
“……It doesn't make any sense.”
“You also thought they were just a bunch of guys full of talk, didn't you?”
“Yes•••••• well.”
He smiled bitterly.
“A little, yes.”
Jung-geun was a Hard Mode Player and had almost died several times. There were many times he would have truly died if his companions, who were conquering the Labyrinth with him, hadn't helped. But to descend the Labyrinth alone, without anyone's help, in Alone Mode, which was even harder than Hard Mode?
In Jung-geun's eyes, it was impossible. Thanks to Taesan's explanation, he had obtained the No Breath Attack Skill, but the thought ingrained in his mind hadn't changed. So even when they were all talking boisterously, he felt it was a pity, but at the same time, he thought their words were just empty bluffs.
But it wasn't a lie. Jung-geun sent him a look of wonder.
Overwhelming strength.
Honestly, he couldn't even grasp how strong he was. When the even larger monster that appeared at the end attacked them, he had lost track of the monster's movements. It was a being he could not face at his current level.
And when the monster reappeared, its upper body had been blown away.
“Is everyone in Alone Mode like you?”
“No. They're probably similar to you.”
The current Jung-geun was strong. Having descended the Labyrinth without delay, he wasn't much different from Lee Tae-yeon and Kang Jun-hyeok, who had faltered. Jung-geun sighed in relief.
“That's a relief.”
He too had done his best to descend the Labyrinth, fighting with his life on the line. But if everyone in Alone Mode was like Taesan, if all his efforts were meaningless, his mind would have been greatly shaken.
Jung-geun bowed.
“Thank you, Mr. Taesan. Thanks to you, I... didn't have to make a disgusting choice.”
A desperate emotion was evident in his voice. Taesan waved his hand dismissively.
“I did it because I wanted to, so it's fine.”
“No. I am truly grateful.”
He said with quietly blazing eyes.
“If you wish, Mr. Taesan... you may use me as you please. I will follow any order.”
“Cut it out, you punk.”
Taesan shivered.
“Just act like you normally do. Before I smash your head in.”
A Jung-geun that polite. It was extremely awkward. At Taesan's murderous words, Jung-geun flinched and shivered, then grinned.
“Is that so? You're refreshingly direct as always, Hyung-nim.”
“Hyung-nim?”
“You're older than me, right?”
“Probably‘?”
The Jung-geun he remembered was 23. A two-year difference.
“Then you're Hyung-nim. I can call you that, right?”
He smiled lightly. It was the joyful, always cheerful laugh that Taesan remembered.
Taesan replied.
“Do as you please.”
“Thanks.”
Jung-geun seemed somewhat relieved. As he unburdened his heart, sleepiness suddenly washed over his face. He rubbed his eyes with a tired face.
“Well then, I'm off to sleep. See you tomorrow.”
He staggered away. The Ghost let out a hollow laugh.
[What a quick change of attitude•.]
“That's his strong point.”
Not losing one's smile in the midst of despair was a difficult thing in itself. The next day. Jung-geun immediately clung to Taesan, chattering away.
Taesan accepted it with a not-so-bad expression.
“Hyung-nim. Then are all the skills mentioned in the community forums real?”
“You should know by now, shouldn't you?”
“……Fortitude really exists? How are you supposed to learn that?”
Jung-geun looked at Taesan with a fed-up expression. To not get hit even once in a situation where a single blow would mean death. It might be possible in a game with multiple lives, but in reality, it was an absolutely impossible method.
“And how did you even get a Skill like that? As expected, Hyung-nim, you're amazing.”
The sparkling eyes made Taesan slightly uncomfortable.
‘He wasn't originally like this.’
He had approached him in a friendly manner, but he hadn't shown this kind of respect. There might have been admiration and praise, but he had acted like he was just an older brother he knew. But now, his face was full of genuine respect.
‘Is it because I saved him?’
Since the way they met was different, it was natural for his attitude to be different as well. As he was vaguely changing the subject, Kim Hwi-yeon approached.
“There you are.”
“Ah. Nunim.”
“Did you rest well?”
“Yes. My head's a bit clearer now.”
“Good. Then I'll start explaining.”
She glanced at Taesan. “Um•••••• Hwi-yeon subtly gestured towards Taesan. Jung-geun shook his head.
“Hyung-nim will listen too. That's okay, right?”
“Uh, Hyung-nim?”
“Yes.”
Hwi-yeon was bewildered. She had never seen Taesan before. She thought he was an ordinary person from Normal or Easy Mode, but seeing Jung-geun's reaction, something was different.
“Did you know him from before?”
“No.” “Huh?”
“There's no reason why he can't, is there?”
“Mm... that's true, but.”
What she was about to explain was the overall situation. It wouldn't make a big difference if one more person listened. After pondering for a moment, Hwi-yeon turned around.
“Then follow me.”
They arrived at a small reception room inside the City Hall.
“Um, what is your name?”
“Kang Taesan.”
“Taesan?”
After tilting her head for a moment, surprise appeared on Hwi-yeon's face.
“No way?”
“Yes.”
“Huh... So I finally get to see the person who was talked about so much?”
“It seems I was quite the topic of conversation?”
“We talked about it amongst ourselves. We were leaning more towards it being false... but I guess it wasn't a complete lie after all?”
She looked at Taesan with eyes full of curiosity.
“Are you really strong? Even stronger than Jung-geun?”
Jung-geun gave a small nod. Hwi-yeon let out a sound of admiration.
“That's amazing. Many of us died even though we were in a group, but you broke through alone. Do you have some secret method?”
But there was no further reaction. It was because she thought he wouldn't be much different from Jung-geun. Jung-geun and her strength were almost equal.
Not an uncontrollable level. Jung-geun, reading her expression, smiled bitterly but didn't bother to correct her.
“Then it should be fine for you to listen.”
Hwi-yeon began to explain with a calm face.
“First, most of the people have gathered. Seeing as the number of people arriving has clearly decreased, it probably means everyone who's coming has come.”
She spoke calmly, but her face was distorted.
“After a rough count, there are one hundred thousand people left.”
From five hundred thousand to one hundred thousand. Only 20% survived. At the despairing figure, Jung-geun bit his lip.
“I don't know who did this, but they're a son of a bitch.”
She rubbed her eyes and continued.
“The problem is, out of these one hundred thousand people, only a thousand can stand against the monsters.”
“……That few?”
“You must have felt it while bringing people here. Unless you're at least from Hard Mode, or at the very top of Normal Mode, it's impossible to even face them. In reality, ninety-nine thousand people are useless in combat.”
Hwi-yeon pressed her forehead.
“Food is a problem, sleeping space is a problem, what kind of quest will start next is a problem... It's all problems.”
“It might have been better to just stay in the Labyrinth.”
“I think so too. What was the reason for calling us here?”
They were high-rankers in Hard Mode. Having already adapted, they didn't fear the Labyrinth much. It was simpler to just keep descending than to be completely blocked like this.
For now, that's what they thought.
“And the person in command is also a problem.”
“Huh? Aren't you in command, Nunim?”
In Hard Mode, Kim Hwi-yeon had formed parties and managed the basic strategy. Since people didn't know the reality of Alone Mode, he naturally thought Hard Mode would take charge, but Hwi-yeon shook her head.
“I was going to, but Easy Mode. Those crazy bastards are making a fuss.”
“……Easy Mode?”
At the unexpected words, Jung-geun tilted his head.
“Why them?”
The Easy Mode Jung-geun had seen was truly weak. He thought it was impossible for them to have any influence, as they were not much different from ordinary people. But Kim Hwi-yeon ruffled her hair.
“Choi Jung-hyuk? That guy said he's going to take command.”
“And you just listened to that?”
“Of course, I told him to stop talking nonsense. Then he started shouting about whether I was looking down on him because he's from Easy Mode, and that he could rule just fine. So for now, it's on hold.”
Kim Hwi-yeon sighed.
“If it were a monster, I could just kill it, but since it's a human, I can't do that.”
The simple rule that the loudest one wins was still tolerated for now.
“And he's fighting with the Alone Mode kids too. It's a total mess. A mess. What's he doing taking hostages?”
“Hostages?”
“Yeah. Lee Tae-yeon and Kang Jun-hyeok? I heard they were captured.”
“What?”
Taesan's face contorted. At his sudden reaction, Hwi-yeon was slightly surprised and stammered.
“Uh, yeah. They were captured.”
“Why were they captured?”
They might be weaker than him, but they weren't weak enough to be touched by Easy Mode players. Right now, Kang Jun-hyeok and Lee Tae-yeon could fight Jung-geun and win without much trouble. But the fact that they were captured meant it was a problem other than strength.
‘I can roughly guess what happened.’
“Can't you do something about it?”
“What are we supposed to do? We don't even know who's wrong and who's right.”
They had never fought among humans. To intervene in a fight meant to be hostile and attack someone. That's why they were still cowards.
They were skilled in fighting monsters, but they were so clumsy in fights against humans like this.
“Still, no one has died yet. We should watch a little longer before intervening.”
“I have no intention of doing that.”
Taesan said indifferently. He stood up.
“Choi Jung-hyuk. Where is that bastard?”
“Huh?”
At his sudden movement, Hwi-yeon's pupils trembled. She said quietly. “He's in the building to the left……
Taesan headed for the door. Hwi-yeon, who had been hesitating, stood up.
“Wait. What are you going to do?”
“Rats should be stepped on in advance.”
With a relaxed reply, Taesan headed for the building. Hwi-yeon belatedly followed, trying to stop him.
“Wait. No violence!”
“Why?”
Taesan asked back. Hwi-yeon flinched at the calm question.
“We're already finished. The world has collapsed, and the law is meaningless. So why not?”
“……Still, you can't.” Hwi-yeon said with a firm face.
“Order must be maintained. People shouldn't kill people.”
Taesan stared at her blankly.
Kim Hwi-yeon.
A woman with long straight hair and a stubborn impression. She always tried to rigidly maintain order. In the end, she died trying to save everyone, following the rules she had set for herself.
“You're always the same.”
“What‘?”
To the flustered her, Taesan said quietly.
“I plan to maintain it too.”
But there are always exceptions. When Taesan showed no signs of stopping, Hwi-yeon gripped her sword. She couldn't just watch people fight, so she intended to stop him by force if necessary.
The moment she took a step.
“Huh?”
Her body lost strength and collapsed. A dull pain was felt on the back of her neck.
[22 Damage dealt to Kim Hwi-yeon.]
‘What!’
She screamed internally. I didn't feel anything, but I was attacked? Taesan, who had knocked her down, dusted off his hands.
“Just watch at a leisurely pace.”
‘Choi Jung-hyuk.’
Even in Easy Mode, he had created a guild and built a similar power base. Having claimed the Labyrinth first, he asserted his rights and committed all sorts of atrocities. Control of the Labyrinth.
Forced provision of Items. Priority over Boss Monsters, and so on. And he even secretly hunted down those he thought might become stronger than him.
Normally, those who couldn't stand it would rise up and resist, but Choi Jung-hyuk wasn't just about violence; he also had a knack for politics. He made some people his limbs and scattered them, then made an example of someone so that no one would dare to speak out.
He didn't just subjugate them; he also offered appropriate carrots to make people accept his rule. There was a time when the entire Easy Mode moved according to Choi Jung-hyuk's will. If things had continued that way, he might have survived until the end, making his voice heard and using everyone as a scapegoat.
“Come to think of it, he's pitiful. He gets crushed by me both times, doesn't he?”
Standing in front of the building's door, Taesan flicked his finger. With a roar, the door shattered. Leveling up through battle