episode_0045

The word “power” contains many meanings.

Among them, the most fundamental would be physical power.

Lifting, moving, hitting, breaking something, and so on.

Power in the sense of being able to effect physical state changes.

Power, as a genre, is a very effective means regardless of time or space.

It can enable the resolution of problems.

Or it can make difficult conversations flow smoothly.

Someone says, “Such acts are no different from those of beasts.”

But the actual parties involved are silent. Because the dead don’t speak.

Those who criticize like that are highly likely to be hothouse flowers who have never been beaten half to death.

The form of power that imposes sanctions with physical force is one of the best means, if possible. I can confidently say and prove it.

As proof, people whose limbs are shattered are trembling in fear, kneeling neatly in rows and columns before me.

I am confident that no one will deny it when they see them sitting demurely with downcast eyes, like new brides entering the bridal chamber.

For your information, these lumps humbly kneeling are the very people who, just moments ago, were acting out as if they could pickle someone whole.

The gangster boss is no exception.

He thrashed about, foaming at the mouth, but once the hole in the back of his hand was widened, he became docile.

“It must be nice to have an onahole on your hand.”

Though he half-lost his mind at my words.

And now, the old man kneeling before me.

The old man, remarkably hale for his age, naturally brought up Confucian principles, revealing his stubbornness. I had hoped for something different, as the atmosphere seemed to change, but perhaps due to his age, he was slow to grasp the situation.

In the end, I raised my hand to converse from a fair position.

“Even now, if you admit your mistake—”

*Smack!*

“You’re making a big mistake right no—”

*Smack!!*

“How dare you! Do you know who I am—”

*Splat!!*

“Sto-stop! Let’s talk—”

*SPLAT!!!*

“I, I was wrong…”

*SPLAT!!*

“P-please spare me…”

*Smack!! Smack!! SPLAT!!*

“…P-plea, please spare me….”

“Huh? No. Keep going. I can hit you all night.”

“P-please spare me!”

“…You can resist more if you want.”

It took a little effort, but the conversation finally began.

A dignified atmosphere and a proper listening posture.

Within it, the old man desperately spilled everything.

*Thwack!!*

“Ughhhk!”

“I said let’s talk, not for you to flap your gums.”

The old man, who had been equivocating and diverting the conversation, was ultimately kicked by me.

I was truly impressed.

“Amazing. The moment a gap appeared, he started flapping his trap. I guess I’ve been too gentle.”

“!! N-no! I was wrong! I was wrong!”

Startled by my flat, emotionless words, the old man crawled on all fours across the dirty floor and knelt before me. He looked as if he was about to lick my shoes.

Even the whistling sound from his mouth was gone, and he spoke clearly.

Indeed, physics is useful.

The old man was subservience itself, but it didn’t move me.

That’s because he’s scared for now, but not truly submissive.

It’s just an act based on fear.

‘I think I roughly understand what kind of person he is.’

From experience, those with power displayed such behavior.

The kind of people who, somehow, get past the immediate crisis and then dream of revenge.

My head nodded instinctively.

I liked it.

A lighthearted feeling, with not an ounce of hesitation in my heart, filled my chest.

Seeing me like this, the old man’s eyes glinted, as if he misunderstood something.

And then he desperately began explaining, one by one.

In a truly earnest voice that would tempt any listener. It was so disgusting that I felt an impulse to immediately crush that chattering mouth, but for now, I endured and listened patiently.

For now.

***

“S-so, that’s how the situation came to be….”

“…”

The boring story was roughly finished.

But the content itself was like a crime thriller.

First off, the old man before me was indeed a National Assembly member, as expected.

His name was Lee Deokgyu.

When he tried to emphasize his self-introduction with force, I raised my hand, allowing me to quickly skip it.

‘People who show their asses but never their true intentions.’

Humans with excellent acting skills and incredibly quick minds.

These beings, whose problem lies in using such abilities for their own gain and to screw over others, will surely become a major future problem if left alive.

These bastards are like goblins.

Goblins are physically weak, but they are terrifying later on.

If left alive, they will stab you in the back in some way.

Even though they are monsters, they can make expressions and shed tears. There are adventurers who, softened by that sight, couldn’t finish them off.

The men die, and the women are raped.

These bastards grow terrifyingly if given time.

I’ve dealt with goblin armies that grew in power and conquered small cities.

So I know well.

This old man, with his ‘golden badge’, and the gangster boss are of the same ilk as goblins.

For now, they bow their bodies out of fear of pain, but not their inner selves.

These beasts, once they overcome this crisis, will surely seek revenge.

Therefore, they should not be spared, nor given time.

These bastards were trying to sprout a goblin nest in this school.

These humans’ plan was roughly as follows:

Fewer soldiers than expected and a poor environment.

With supplies not properly delivered, the number of survivors gradually increased, and the soldiers fighting zombies grew exhausted.

Although only a few days had passed, Lee Deokgyu, who had been holding his breath, stepped forward at the moment internal dissatisfaction began to spread. He presented his ‘golden badge’ and claimed to rise for the people.

He gradually consumed the public opinion of the survivors, highlighted the incompetence of the soldiers, and intended to enter negotiations. And the subject of that negotiation was armaments.

It was a short time, but the exhausted citizens were fooled by Lee Deokgyu’s words as if by magic, and the influence of the two Lieutenants began to significantly dwindle.

Perhaps feeling guilty for not properly protecting the citizens, they acted like idiots.

Around the time the soldiers’ control stopped working and the atmosphere became heavy.

From there, they were going to seriously acquire weapons and strongholds and begin operations, but a variable emerged.

“That variable is my group?”

“Th-that’s right.”

“Why on earth? It’s just two celebrities at best.”

“Th-that is…”

I kicked Lee Deokgyu again, who was rolling his eyes right in front of me.

No matter how much humans are creatures of forgetfulness, this person’s intelligence is questionable.

Hearing Lee Deokgyu’s confession, despite his gasping and crawling, made a vein throb on my forehead.

My blood rushed to my head at a plan that poked at ugly human desires.

‘It seems… I’ll have to get rid of them.’

Seeing me seriously contemplating, Lee Deokgyu hurriedly continued.

“W-we originally intended to negotiate amicably—”

“Shut up. Before I rip your mouth open.”

“Gasp…”

*Crack- snap-*

Without realizing it, the joints in my tensed hand screamed. The sound, coming from my open hand, not a clenched fist, made the gangsters gasp in dismay.

I glared at Lee Deokgyu and asked what I was curious about.

“You could have just cooperated well with the military from the start, right?”

“Th-that’s…”

“Ah. Right. They were goblins.”

“Go… What?”

“Bastards obsessed with power just can’t stay still.”

These bastards wanted to live like kings even here.

They must have wanted to build their own pyramid and stand at its apex.

If this crappy plan had succeeded, Shia and Jihyeok hyung would definitely have suffered terribly.

Lee Deokgyu, causing dizziness. He’s an incredible bastard.

Now I asked the most important thing.

“Why did you do it?”

“Huh? Huh?”

“Why did you hit my people?”

“Th-that’s…”

Just as I was about to clench my fist, seeing Lee Deokgyu waver again.

“Hyung-nim!! Those bastards picked a fight over the food!”

A roar-like shout boomed from behind me.

I turned my gaze and saw Dong-woo.

His flushed red face showed no trace of his usual mild expression.

“That old geezer brought those gangsters and questioned why only the soldiers were being fed! He talked like crap, asking if we couldn’t see the hungry people and if we were discriminating now!”

Choi Dong-woo, this guy.

He was a man who acted when it mattered.

“When Jihyeok hyung-nim and Shia noona took Lieutenant Park’s side, those gangster bastards threatened them! When Young-cheol hyung and Byeongsu hyung tried to intervene…”

“Then why are Shia and Bomi injured?”

“Those people behind them also rushed in! The noonas almost got into serious trouble!”

“Who did that to your face?”

“The bastard who got shot!”

This is proper conversation.

Asking and answering, only the main points, simple and quick.

Truly, he’s the kind of man I’ve kept my eye on.

I listened to Dong-woo’s honest and straightforward submission, looking at Lee Deokgyu and the gangster boss.

Besides the two vermin in front, the expressions of the unharmed civilians and the still-intact gangsters were truly a sight to behold.

Some had heavily contorted expressions, while others averted their gaze.

Unfortunately, I didn’t see any regret in their expressions.

I’m an idiot for expecting even a speck of human conscience.

“W-we were just hungry!”

“Are soldiers the only ones with mouths, and we just snouts?!”

“Yeah! We should all help each other out! Everyone’s struggling!”

As the nonsense started, Lee Deokgyu’s and the gangster boss’s expressions subtly changed. A glimmer of hope that a reversal was beginning due to a variable.

*Crunch!!*

‘I’ll never let that happen.’

I stomped on the face of the gangster boss, who was lying motionless.

*Thud! Thud! Crack!*

In a flash, his face was severely mangled.

Blood flowed from his broken nose, and broken teeth splattered on the floor.

*CRUNCH!*

“Ahh—!!”

I shattered the knee of Lee Deokgyu, whose face was turning pale.

Knees are important, but he doesn’t have much longer to live anyway, so it’s fine. At that age, it’s the way of the world to prepare to go.

The selfish shouts that had loudly echoed in the wide hall rapidly lost their power at the sound of bones shattering.

Looking at those survivors, I opened my mouth.

“There’s something you’re mistaken about.”

My tone was casual, but I didn’t stop my emotions from seeping through.

“First. That soup was given by me. I gave it as a one-time service to the patriotic soldiers who are slaving away protecting bastards like you, out of pity for them.”

I took a step closer to the silenced people and spoke blandly.

“It wasn’t for you in the first place. Second. You guys are just holed up, trembling. They’re fighting zombies. How are you in the same situation? Don’t be mistaken.”

“Watch your mouth, buddy!”

“They’re soldiers! If they’re soldiers, shouldn’t they protect us?!”

“It’s a soldier’s duty to fight!”

“Shut up.”

I spoke, pouring all my emotion into my voice as it was about to rise again.

The emotion filling my mind right now.

Killing intent.

A thick killing intent flowed out towards the unspecified crowd.

I felt an illusion that the surrounding temperature was dropping.

The people flinched at the suddenly changed, murderous atmosphere, but—

“Soldiers do have a duty to protect. But they don’t have a duty to protect plunderers like you.”

“Hey, plunderers? What do you mean we’re—”

“Threatening to hand over weapons and food, and then coming in a group to wield violence, that’s what we call criminals. This isn’t my assertion; it’s a societal agreement.”

“N-no, that’s not it—”

“If you obeyed an old man and gangsters blinded by dirty desires and caused all this trouble, there’s no denying it. You threatened the military and have no right to complain if you’re summarily executed.”

People who closed their mouths and glared only at me.

“Hungry? Go out and get it yourself, like me. If you’re too scared, just bow your heads and tremble like you are now, then starve to death clutching your brats. You bastards.”

Raw, crude words.

The gazes filled with rage after hearing my words were like flickering flames.

It was like being in front of a bomb about to explode.

“Zombies are scary, but I’m not, apparently?”

At my words, the people seemed to come to their senses and hesitated.

People who lose their reason see nothing.

When gathered in a group like this, courage they didn’t have seems to well up.

They’re baring their teeth even though I just crushed gangsters whom they couldn’t even handle themselves.

Humans are indeed dangerous.

And I leave no lingering regrets.

“Let’s see this through to the end.”

I smiled faintly and began to walk forward.

Towards the half-crazed people and the gangsters hiding among them.

I can’t just let it go after my companions were treated like that.

I can clearly see the people’s faces turning pale.

They’re no different from gangsters, just without knives.

I have to finish this now for what comes next…

“Stop it.”

The soldier’s stiff tone stopped me.

I slowly turned around to see the two Lieutenants walking out.

“Please stop. Everyone understands enou—”

“Don’t order me around.”

“Seonghan…”

“What’s enough? Can’t you see? Their resentful gazes?”

They don’t realize what they did wrong.

If I don’t finish this now, I’ll be retaliated against later, one way or another.

“I’m not a soldier. I have no duty to protect the nation and its people, unlike you.”

“But they are merely citizens who were incited.”

“No, they’re criminal bastards who gave up on thinking.”

“…Please. Stop.”

The two Lieutenants bowed deeply towards me.

Right now, I don’t like them either.

No, they are people I can’t even stand to look at.

It’s regrettable, but if you look at it, it was my mistake from the start.

I shouldn’t have left my companions.

This is the result of acting on foolish emotions.

Still, I need to say what I have to say.

“You clearly promised. That you’d protect my companions.”

“…I apologize.”

“The blood shed from Lieutenant Park’s fist. The emotions you, Lieutenant Kim, swallowed. You couldn’t ignore that, so you threw yourselves into it, and now you stab me in the back like this?”

“……”

“I brought back 12 soldiers and 6 civilians alive. I recovered supplies too. But this is the result of risking my life and toiling away?”

“I, I’m sorr—”

“You can’t even manage this corrupt old man and these gangster bastards, and now you cause all this trouble?”

“……”

The Lieutenants couldn’t react to my harsh murmurs.

The current moment, where I speak only what I have to without emotion, would feel even deeper to them.

How angry and disappointed I was.

To Lieutenant Kim, I threw a bundle of items from my pocket.

*Clatter-*

Lieutenant Kim, who caught them well with both hands, immediately widened his eyes upon checking the items.

Items that should have originally shone silver.

Metal tags, stained and dirty with dried blood.

Lieutenant Kim, holding the soldiers’ dog tags in his hand.

Lieutenant Park, watching from nearby, had his expression heavily contorted.

“I think I’ve done enough, but it seems you haven’t?”

“Th-these are…”

“From now on, cooperation is over. Don’t ask for any favors. And I will personally take care of these vermin. Don’t interfere.”

“Se-Seonghan! Just a moment!”

“Anyone who interferes will be treated as an enemy.”

I snarled with genuine intent.

I blandly started walking towards the remaining faction.

The startled remaining faction murmured in great confusion.

Soon, it would be my turn to turn that murmuring into screams of regret and repentance.

I slowly walked, loosening my neck and hands.

It was then.

*Clasp-*

Someone embraced my back.

I tried to shake them off in sudden annoyance, but I couldn’t.

The arms embracing me were slender.

And…

“Stop it now…”

“What?”

She got slapped herself, so what is she saying…?

“Everyone’s scared. Even the grandmas and grandpas…”

“Ah.”

Small, tearful words of plea. My head felt a little cooler at the pleasant voice.

I glared forward for a moment.

‘These damn bastards.’

There are indeed too many eyes watching. I don’t care about the gazes of those complete strangers. Why would I bother with humans who just stood by and watched my companions in danger?

However, my companions are different.

Dong-woo, whom I strangely like, and also, I’m a bit reluctant to show a bloodthirsty side in front of my companions.

More than anything, hadn’t I decided to live like a normal person?

The calculation that there’s no immediate need to kill them forms.

‘Because out of sight is fine.’

“Alright, just let go for a moment.”

“I, I’m sorry…”

As her arms released, I frowned at the trembling figures in front of me. It wasn’t because I regretted the disappearance of the violently soft sensation and pleasant scent that had embraced my back.

“You don’t need to be sorry.”

“……”

“And don’t cry.”

Seeing her belatedly nod and hide her face, I decided to let it go for now.

The bastards who saw me completely relax my fist looked absurdly relieved, but I wonder.

Time continues to flow.

‘Now’ becomes ‘a little while ago’ in an instant.

I am not particularly patient.

Imagining distorting those openly relieved expressions, I subtly twisted my lips upwards.