Chapter 95.1

Chapter 95 – Rule 30: The Disciplinary Committee Leader Doesn’t Lose (4)

“Hah… hah….”

I leaned against the wall, trying to catch my breath. We had barely managed to escape, but my body felt like it was hitting its limit.

Fortunately, there were some medical supplies nearby. Using the last of my strength, I wrapped bandages around my wounds and took a moment to rest.

We had arrived at an empty private hospital room.

Dalbi’s condition was dire; her body had been pushed to its breaking point. I wished she could rest properly, but the situation wouldn’t allow it.

I laid the unconscious Dalbi on the bed. I applied ointment to her wounds and wrapped them in bandages as well.

“Hm?”

During this process, something fell from Dalbi’s arms onto the floor. Picking it up, I found it to be a peculiar-looking spinner.

‘This is… a disguise spinner?’

Recalling my knowledge from the original story, I spun the spinner. As it turned, Dalbi’s appearance shifted into someone familiar.

Kim Yeon-hee.

A new recruit in the Disciplinary Committee.

‘So it was her….’

A sigh escaped my lips.

‘I’m not even surprised anymore.’

I spun the spinner again, reverting Dalbi back to her original form, and placed it back in her arms.

I leaned against the wall and stealthily peeked out the window.

I saw a familiar landscape.

‘So it really is the Zero Zone.’

This was the Zero Zone.

An empty, ash-colored city.

There was an official theory that the Zero Zone lay outside the range of the Blessing of the Golden Sheep, as its boundary was not clearly defined.

To me, who knew the lore, that was just a rumor. The Zero Zone was, in fact, within the range of the Blessing of the Golden Sheep.

‘Good thing I knew my way around….’

Although the game and reality were different, I had at least memorized the locations and purposes of certain buildings. Thanks to that, I hadn’t lost my way while fleeing.

‘The Heavenly Banquet Offering….’

The barrier of the Heavenly Banquet Offering was still shimmering with its mysterious glow.

The God of Gluttony wouldn’t bother moving for someone like me. The Army of Gluttony and Hong Kyu were likely searching to deliver me back to the God.

The God was probably furious about having its meal interrupted.

‘Unless the God devours me completely or Hong Kyu is defeated… that barrier won’t disappear.’

One side had to be finished for this battle to end.

‘Maybe it’s because we’re in the Zero Zone. As someone who worships the Head Principal, Hong Kyu isn’t rampaging around recklessly.’

I recalled Moon Chae-won’s testimony.

This place was where the Head Principal’s secretive and inhumane practices were laid bare. With the Six Sinners being hunted down these days, the Zero Zone had likely regained its purpose.

Thus, Hong Kyu, who followed the Head Principal, couldn’t just act freely within the Zero Zone.

‘That means it’ll take some time for them to find us. As long as his sister doesn’t show up too soon.’

Among the Gluttonous Twins, his sister, Hong Bin.

If she showed up, hiding would be pointless.

‘The communication’s down too.’

Whether it was the barrier blocking everything, my smartphone displayed “Out of Service Area,” and even the Disciplinary Committee communicator wasn’t working.

We were completely isolated.

Like rats trapped in a cage.

I slumped to the floor, leaning against the wall.

“Ugh…”

Pain shot through every part of my body.

‘My body’s wrecked, and my magic is depleted….’

Magic takes time to recover once it’s completely drained.

With a 6th Tier physique, I could still be considered strong within the city even without magic, but that meant nothing against Hong Kyu.

Additionally, it was unlikely my magic would recover before Hong Kyu found us.

Even a few minutes would help.

All I could do was rest, recover as much stamina as possible, and figure out a way to escape.

“……”

When I lifted my head, I saw Dalbi lying on the bed.

An indescribable mix of emotions churned within my chest. Unable to put them into words, I could only breathe uncomfortably.

* * *

30 minutes later.

“Ugh…”

I heard a groan from Kim Dalbi.

I quickly got up and approached her.

“You’re awake? How’s your body feeling?”

“……?”

Dalbi looked at me with a bewildered expression.

“Who…?”

“What?”

“Who are you?”

Dalbi asked, her face tense.

I couldn’t grasp the intent behind her question.

“You’re asking who I am? Are you serious?”

Was she messing with me at a time like this? I couldn’t believe anyone could be this clueless.

No, her expression wasn’t joking.

“…Did you forget who I am?”

“‘Forgot’…? Oh.”

Dalbi abruptly sat up, cautiously placing a hand on her forehead. Her hand was trembling.

“Did I forget something… again?”

“‘Again’?”

“There’s a lot missing in my memory… What happened to me? What did I do? Why is my memory like this…? Why is it like this…!? Ugh!”

Perhaps panicking, Dalbi’s voice grew louder, so I immediately covered her mouth.

“Keep quiet. The enemy’s outside looking for us.”

“…….”

Dalbi lowered her head.

She noticed the bandages I had wrapped around her wounds, then looked back at me and nodded.

She seemed to have pieced the situation together.
She likely assumed she had fought with all her might, given how many gaps were in her memory.

She must have considered me an ally for treating her.

Once Dalbi calmed down, I let go. As I tried to back away, she grabbed my sleeve and gently pulled.

“You… you know me, right?”

Dalbi’s eyes were trembling violently. She looked terrified.

It was the typical reaction of someone who didn’t want to accept the harsh reality before them, trying to deny it.

“Who are you…?”

“……”

“My past… it’s gone again… like it never happened. Again, and again… I hate this feeling….”

At the sight of Dalbi, my mind momentarily froze.

Countless memories flashed through my head in quick succession.

‘…So that’s what it was.’

I finally understood why Dalbi’s complex ability appeared to have no penalties.
Why she would eventually become the Great Villain who brings about a dystopia.

The answer was clear now.

‘The penalty was her memories. Probably not just any memories, but the important ones, the cherished ones, the treasured moments.’

The fact that she had forgotten me confirmed it.

I suddenly recalled the contents of the letter Dalbi had written to congratulate me on my high school admission.

─ ‘I’ve become a piece of trash in this city, but… I’m always on your side. ^_^’

The words she had written.

‘It was self-deprecation.’

Those words held Dalbi’s deep self-loathing.
She had come to despise herself.