episode_0013

Episode 13: Group Class (2)

What in the world were we talking about?

I rummaged through my immediate past memory.

“That, it was definitely about utilitarianism, right?”

“Utility?”

This time, the lively girl, in turn, looked at me with question marks in her eyes.

“Uh… just call this utilitarianism. It’s on the very next page.”

At that moment, the timid kid.

Han Somi, perhaps, quietly explained on my behalf.

“Oh, really~? What, Han Kyunjun, did you do a pre-reading? How mean~”

This is embarrassing again.

Was the word utilitarianism still difficult for a middle school first-year?

But Han Somi next to me knew it.

Is it because she’s the vice class rep?

Maybe, conversely, this one is just empty-headed.

“So is it 1 person or 5 people? Quickly, no time~”

Anyway.

“I also agree with your opinion……”

Because I didn’t want to bother.

I just tried to mindlessly practice 『If you object, you are always right』.

But at that moment.

*Ding!*

The status window that hadn’t appeared for so long finally appeared before my eyes.

[Tip✍ The start of becoming popular begins with having enjoyable conversations with classmates.]

[Tip✍ If it was hard to talk to others during break time because you were shy, you can use class time to naturally continue the conversation.]

Along with the impossible status window’s lecture, a quest window popped up.

“Alright.”

I changed my attitude in an instant.

It wasn’t that my heart was moved by the status window’s lecture.

[Sub Quest 『Group Class Together』]

[Goal: Successfully finish the group discussion class.]

[Reward: Potion of All Stats +1 Increase]

All Stats +1.

That means the stats I currently have, Stamina, Intelligence, and Charm, all increase by 1 each.

Honestly, I’d rather gather it all for Intelligence and just get +3 Intelligence.

That would be greedy.

But it means I get 1 Intelligence for free.

Not just a simple second playthrough.

Since it’s just become a second life ‘game’ through the quest window.

I should properly apply myself accordingly.

In fact, the quest objective was also to ‘successfully’ finish the group discussion class.

Whether I’m an outcast or popular or whatever.

The time has finally come to take school lessons seriously.

How?

After I just entered school and broke Lee Hogeon’s wrist.

To lower my soaring outcast level, I threw away all shame and embarrassment.

Like how I meddled everywhere with excessive busybodying and acted out all sorts of good deeds.

It’s the same now.

Even though I, an outcast, cannot become popular.

If this is a quest and work I must do.

I can think of it as 『Work』 and accomplish it anytime.

“First, let’s organize the opinions presented so far.”

The atmosphere changed in an instant.

The eyes of the male group member who hadn’t been interested in when I would answer opened a little wide.

Curiosity, along with a lack of understanding, began to dwell in the eyes of the vice class rep who had been observing me carefully since earlier.

“Oh, looks like you finally feel like doing something~?”

And the lively female group leader had a satisfied expression, as if I was finally doing things properly.

“The person who said it’s better to pull the rail and let one person die was definitely……”

I didn’t listen to what the kids were saying.

But I could take a rough guess.

Anyway, utilitarianism discussions are all the same, like the same old vegetable with the same old rice.

In fact, their opinions don’t matter at all.

This is just a formality for the work, just acting.

As I said that and quickly looked around at a few kids.

“Me……”

The timid Han Somi quietly raised just her hand with an embarrassed expression.

“Me too.”

One unnamed male kid also agreed with that.

Then the one remaining, that lively female group leader, surely.

“You were for the side where 5 people die? That, your mother, was it?”

“That’s right~ If that one person was our family or friend, how could you pull it~ How about that, you’ve never thought of this, have you?”

Yeah, no.

It’s very common.

“Then if your mother was among the 5 people, you would pull the lever?”

“Huh~? Oh, does it become like that?”

The leader tilted her head for a moment, then quickly retorted.

“But that’s not what I want to say~ What I mean is, no matter if it’s 1 person or 5 people, how can you decide that as you please? Those people must have also been precious family, mothers, and fathers to someone like me.”

It’s a decent approach.

Whether to kill 1 person or to kill 5 people.

A problem that at first glance seems to have a definite answer.

But that’s a trap.

The essence lies in whether we, who are not even God, dare to choose who to kill.

In fact, this utilitarianism problem, the ‘Trolley Dilemma’, is probably a thought experiment created to criticize utilitarianism and argue against it.

“Okay, it’s all good, but.”

However.

“It’s worn out. And at the same time, too cliché.”

“What, what did you say~?!”

The leader raised her voice at the end, getting angry.

I immediately add to that.

“No life can dare be replaced by a number… At first glance, it seems like a topic that emphasizes the importance of life. And it is indeed meant to test that.”

Anyway, it’s not a philosophy class.

We’re just discussing based on the content in the middle school ethics textbook.

Surely the person who wrote the textbook put it in the ethics textbook hoping that students would converge on this kind of answer.

But this is the way popular kids think.

“The real essence is somewhere completely different. Much darker, in the deep parts of human nature.”

I set the atmosphere dramatically, even speaking with my chin resting on my interlocked hands.

Doing this somehow makes me feel like a mastermind.

“One minute left. Leader, summarize your group members’ opinions.”

Of course, that atmosphere immediately collapsed with the teacher’s tactless remark.

“They say there’s only 1 minute left? Shouldn’t we quickly organize how we’re going to present?”

“So what is that dark and deep thing~? If you keep wasting time, I, as the leader, will just organize it however I want?”

The unnamed male student rushed me.

The lively girl, unable to withstand the urging, quickly began to write down the presentation content in her notebook.

She gives off the feeling that she doesn’t study at all, but her handwriting is pretty, so she must be a kid who doesn’t study.

“Anyway, saying ‘what if it’s your mother or family’ is too cliché.”

I felt bitter about the ruined atmosphere and picked a fight.

“What~? Then how should you say it?”

“Say it like this.”

The problem and values created by popular kids.

With the unique disgust of an outcast who directly mocks and shatters it.

I’ll tell you that winning method.

* * *

“…Then I will present Group 8’s opinion.”

[Become the group leader in the group class and present in front of everyone.]

[Outcast level decreases by 1.]

I didn’t particularly intend to step up and say this.

Suddenly, I found myself becoming the leader and preparing to make a presentation.

I definitely told the original leader roughly what to say like this and that, and even wrote down keywords for her.

She listened intently, then.

『Huh? Uh huh~? Uh uh huh~? Ah, I don’t know! Han Kyunjun, you present! It’s too hard~!』

Well… that’s how it happened.

“Just now, many groups mostly said they couldn’t help but kill one person.”

We are Group 8.

There are a total of 4 columns of desks, and with 4-5 people paired up in front and back to form a group.

We, who were sitting in the very back seats, naturally became Group 8.

Because of that, luckily, we got to present the latest.

“Especially Group 1 just now, in response to Group 2’s objection, said even if it was their family, it would be 1 person rather than 5 people.”

It’s the same method as before, but slightly different.

This time, it’s not for the purpose of stalling for time.

It’s for the purpose of attracting the attention of the guy I’m about to beat down with logic, no, sophistry.

In other words, targeting.

“Yes, and?”

The leader of Group 1 is also a girl, just like our Group 8.

Instead, the atmosphere is completely different.

If our lively leader has that bright feeling just like my analogy.

Group 1’s leader is much shorter and instead has long bangs that almost touch her eyes.

Her eyes visible through them feel fierce like a wolf, giving the feeling of a Pomeranian that was poorly trained and talks back even to its owner.

She was the kid named ‘Jahee’ who was called up after number 36, number 37, and read the textbook but then also read the index and page number below it.

“Is there a problem with that?”

To her answer, which could be slightly impudent, I didn’t change my emotion at all.

“Then I will ask slightly differently. You don’t need to worry, I won’t bring up cliché talk about family or friends like Group 2. It’s just that I have a small question.”

Rather, at my words that she didn’t need to worry, the Group 1 leader became more worried and wary.

At the same time, it stimulated her curiosity, so she listened for now.

“Instead of simply turning a lever to switch tracks, if you were the train conductor and could choose one of the two tracks as you wished, would that choice from earlier remain unchanged?”

That person immediately replied yes.

While doing so, she emphasized again that whether it was family or friends, it would be equally unavoidable.

I said I fully agreed and nodded my head.

“Right. Even as the conductor, you couldn’t help it. Then this time, I’m sorry, but I’ll twist it a little more. What if you were neither the lever nor the conductor……”

I paused slightly.

“You can save the lives of all 6 people by completely pushing one unrelated person onto the track. Would you push them?”

At that moment, for the first time, an immediate answer didn’t come.

Was it taking time to grasp the changed problem?

It was distinctly different from when I or another group had picked a fight just now.

“What kind of crazy… weird question is that? Rather than that, I’d rather sacrifice myself and……”

“You are too small and frail, so you can’t. So you’ll just lose your life and that’s the end.”

The audience softly chuckled! and stirred.

At that, the Group 1 leader was momentarily speechless with an incredulous expression.

Without missing that gap, I immediately asked consecutively.

“On the other hand, that unrelated one person is neither your family nor friend, is large and fat, so if you push them immediately, you can definitely save the remaining 6 people.”

“No, that’s such a crazy… ridiculous setup…!”

“That person also agrees. They’re asking you to push them quickly. Would you still not push them?”

“So……!”

“They have courage, but lack that ounce of courage to jump in themselves, so they are desperately pleading with you. Ah, the train is already in front of your eyes. You must push now to save the innocent 6 people, those who might be your friends and family. Would you push them? Or would you save the fat person you don’t even know and leave the other six to die?”

“Th- that’s…!”

The Group 1 leader bites her molars with a furious expression.

While doing so, she finally manages to open her mouth.

“P- push-”

“Yes, they died.”

“Wh- what?!”

I shook my head as if genuinely regrettable.

“It was too late. The 6 people were cleanly run over by the train and died, and the courageous person who was fat and large was hit by the side of the passing train and died because you pushed too late.”

I sit down in my seat.

“Still, you survived, alone. Congratulations.”

When I sent my gaze diagonally forward,

I could see the Group 1 leader with her mouth completely agape, utterly dumbfounded.

Having confirmed that, I now turn my gaze to everyone around and wrap things up.

“Just now, the utilitarianism dilemma that the Group 1 leader experienced is ultimately bound to converge on ‘responsibility’.”

The importance of life?

It’s absurd to choose who to save and who to kill when you’re not even God?

Did they come from living in a flower patch on the moon?

“Anyone can say it with words. Whether it’s 1 person, 5 people, or even everyone. You can kill and save as much as you want with words.”

What’s important is not utilitarianism.

Nor is it whom to kill and whom to save.

Much less is it the importance of life.

“If you could decide this with just one button, you would press it quickly with a slightly uneasy feeling, saying you couldn’t help it.”

The real essence of this problem with the miners desperate to die on the train tracks is.

“However, if you are in the position of pulling the lever on site, you would at least need enough determination to pull the lever. Furthermore, if you become the conductor yourself, you wouldn’t be able to move that heavy train without tightly closing your eyes.”

It ultimately lies in how much less ‘guilt’ and ‘responsibility’ are involved in me killing someone.

“If you are in a position where you directly sacrifice someone with your own hands, whether it’s 1 person or 5 people, what if it’s your mother, or if you have family and friends, soon all choices become useless.”

Unlike what is taught in ethics textbooks.

It’s a common sight when you go out into society.

How many people are there who speak as if they are saints and the very essence of the Tao Te Ching?

I would rather trust someone who honestly chooses to kill the side that is unrelated to them, whether it’s 1 person or 5 people.

“In the end, unable to save either 1 person or 5 people, or anyone, it would usually lead to catastrophe, just like the Group 1 leader just now. Therefore, what’s important is not whom to save and whom to let live, nor the gravity of life, but simply the choice. And the social responsibility to bear that choice.”

Choice is important.

For example, if right now, half in this classroom had to live and half had to die.

I am confident I could choose in just 1 second without hesitation.