Episode 23
#23
Meanwhile, the atmosphere of the subjugation team waiting for Han Cheol was unusual.
Because even though it was past 12 o'clock, the time when the pledge ended, and 10 minutes had passed, Han Cheol was nowhere to be seen.
The same was true for the party that had been sitting at the same table as Han Cheol.
Gang Inhan's legs shook with anxiety, Sin Yua downed an entire bottle of soju out of nervousness, and I Sina and I Hayun wore anxious expressions.
They were all worried about Han Cheol, who wasn't returning.
Just then, Gang Inhan sprang to his feet and opened his mouth.
"This won't do. We have to go look for him."
"Sigh... yes, let's go look. I heard some noise from the back mountain earlier."
"Yes, I'm sure something happened to the Chief there."
At his words, the entire party slowly rose from their seats.
But rendering all their worries meaningless.
"Is something wrong?"
Han Cheol appeared with an ordinary expression.
At that moment, the entire subjugation team began to shout with faces full of joy.
"""Waaaah!!"""
They all discovered me alive and began making a fuss.
Well, the fact that I was alive meant that all the demon beasts in Ulsan had been subjugated, so I could understand their feelings perfectly.
"Han Cheol!"
"Mister!"
"Chief! I knew you were alive!"
"Seriously, where did you go before coming back now!"
I Sina, I Hayun, Gang Inhan, and Sin Yua also ran to me, shouting with bright smiles.
I too smiled as I looked at their faces.
"You've all worked hard until now."
"Not at all. Rather, the Chief had it much harder."
"We really thought you'd gone off somewhere and died since you weren't coming back."
With those words, Sin Yua smiled playfully and handed me a can of beer.
"You said we'd drink after midnight, right? Let's drink till we drop."
"Yes, but wait a moment before that."
With those words, I took out a jewel from my inventory.
It was the 'Jewel of Royal Command'.
I held it in my hand and opened my mouth.
"I have to keep my pledge first."
"Haha, I see. Then don't you have anything to say before you break it? We're waiting."
"Huh?"
At those words, I looked around.
I had wondered why it was so quiet; it seemed they were waiting for me to speak.
Still, this was perfect timing.
They seemed to be expecting a congratulatory speech, but separate from that, there was something I absolutely had to tell them.
Feeling their focused gazes, I spoke to the people.
"I sincerely thank all of you who have helped me until now. And... I'm truly grateful, but I have no intention of leading you all going forward."
At those words, the people briefly showed surprised expressions, but nevertheless remained quiet.
Without a single question, they were simply listening to me.
That made me feel sorry yet grateful.
I spoke to them.
"Of course, this doesn't mean I'm going to abandon and discard you all. I too will help with Ulsan's reconstruction and intend to keep the pledge I made. But in that process... we don't need a king."
With those words, I raised the 'Jewel of Royal Command' high above my head.
Strength gradually entered my hand, and at some point, with a cracking sound, the 'Jewel of Royal Command' shattered into pieces. The fragments of the jewel emitted a blue light, riding the wind and scattering in all directions.
I spoke to the people once more.
"I have cleared all the demon beasts from the streets of Ulsan. Of course, I can't say there will be no dangers in the future, but even so, I can confidently say it's the safest city in the country. I will build facilities in such a place, and those facilities will not be places of welfare or volunteer service. I don't want to become the king of this place and take responsibility for you all to the end while serving you and suffering losses. However, what I can say for certain is that those facilities will be places that greatly help you all."
Starting with those words, an older middle-aged man chuckled, letting out a faint laugh.
Beginning with that survivor, laughter spread throughout the surroundings.
I looked at them with a puzzled expression at this inexplicable situation, and the middle-aged man who had laughed first smirked, raising the corners of his mouth, and opened his mouth.
"So Chief. You don't want to be king, right?"
Damn... was it that obvious?
Still, since the atmosphere wasn't bad, I could answer brightly and comfortably.
"Honestly, I didn't really want to."
""""Hahaha!""""
At my honest answer, the people finally burst into laughter.
I spoke to them.
"Of course, I'm thinking of giving separate benefits to all of you who helped me. I'll do my best to give you preferential treatment at the facilities I build in the future."
"No, Chief! How could we not follow you when you're going that far for us! Just keep being our chief! Haha!"
"The Chief has already done more than enough! How could we not be grateful when you're doing so much for us?"
I looked at the people's smiling faces and smirked.
Honestly, I had expected a somewhat cold and serious atmosphere, but it seemed that had been an unnecessary worry.
"Alright, alright, we heard the Chief loud and clear! Now let's raise a toast. My arm is killing me from holding it up for so long!"
"""Hahaha!!"""
"Huh? Uh... um..."
A toast, huh...
Since they suddenly asked me to say one, nothing came to mind.
But well, judging by the atmosphere, it seemed like they'd accept anything I said.
I raised my beer can and spoke.
"It's time to return to our daily lives! The world has changed like this, but I guarantee that this city will be safer than any other. Now, cheers!"
"Hahaha! And to the Chief who was willing to sacrifice himself for us!"
"""Cheers!"""
* * *
The next day, 1 PM.
While the people who were drenched in alcohol were groggily rising, I called my party to a table and held a meeting.
Before starting the meeting, I cautiously asked the party members who looked somewhat exhausted.
"Uh... is everyone alright?"
"Haha... I think I drank a bit too much."
"Ugh, my head feels like it's going to crack too. By the way, are you okay, Han Cheol?"
"Yes, I think it's because my Mental Strength stat is high."
"That stat has an effect like that too? Let me see... huh, what? My Mental Strength stat went up by 1?"
At Sin Yua's words, I made a bewildered expression.
Wait, if her Mental Strength stat went up by 1, just how much did she drink?
"Um... if it's too hard, should we have the meeting later?"
"No, it's not that bad for me, so I think I'll be fine."
"Me too. Since my stat went up, I suddenly feel fine."
"Are you alright, Sina?"
"Yes, I didn't drink that much."
Since everyone said they were fine, I guess I could proceed with the meeting.
I nodded at my party's words and opened my mouth.
"First of all, as you all know, my pledge isn't over yet. The third pledge, providing facilities, remains."
"The restaurant and shower facilities, right?"
"Yes. Of course, I can provide the restaurant and shower facilities by myself without much help. That's the pledge, after all. However, I think those facilities alone will be somewhat insufficient, so I'm thinking of building other facilities... but I think I'll need your help with those."
"What kind of facilities are you thinking of building?"
"First... one of them is something I don't plan to receive your help for, but I'll tell you in advance. The first facility I'll open is a shop."
At my words, everyone looked at my face with puzzled expressions.
Gang Inhan raised his hand and asked me a question.
"Uh... by shop, do you mean something like the shop system we received?"
"Yes. Of course, I plan to sell goods at much cheaper prices than the shop system provided by the Constellations."
"Wow... Han Cheol, what kind of skill do you even have?"
To Sin Yua's question, I could only answer with a smile.
"It's a secret."
"Ah, stingy, at least tell us a little."
"Right now, the identity of my skill isn't what's important. What's important is that I have the ability to provide a shop."
"Alright. I'm asking just in case, but you're planning to operate the restaurant and shower facilities like the shop, where people pay points, right?"
"Yes. As I told you yesterday, I have no intention of creating welfare facilities, nor do I plan to suffer losses."
I had to build facilities because of the pledge, but I had no intention of taking losses.
If so, I just had to make those facilities usable in exchange for points.
At those words, Gang Inhan thought for a moment and opened his mouth.
"I have a slight concern. Those of us who participated in the Sacred Flame Battle will be fine, but do those people really have points to pay?"
"That's not a problem. The second facility I'm building is for those people."
"Huh?"
"What facility are you thinking of building?"
At my words, everyone looked at me with curious expressions.
The second facility was also the reason I had called them to this place.
I told them about the second facility I would build.
"It's a training center."
"A training center?"
"Could you perhaps explain more in detail about this training center?"
"For example, you can think of it as a training facility similar to the Sacred Flame Battle we went through. Of course, it will be conducted much more safely than the Sacred Flame Battle."
"Ah! So the Chief is planning to create consumers?"
It was Gang Inhan, who had understood my intentions exactly.
As he said, the training center I would build next would be a facility to create consumers for the shop, shower facilities, and restaurant I would build in the future.
I nodded at Gang Inhan's words and answered.
"That's right. And I think I'll need your help to build that facility."
"Us?"
"Yes. Gang Inhan, Sin Yua. Please take charge of the training facilities I'm building, one each."
"Us?"
"Yes. I'll need something like proxies to conduct the training. Of course, this isn't an order or a request. Think of it as me scouting you two. So you can refuse if you want."
"Then will there be a salary?"
"I'll pay you a monthly salary. Also, how about free use of the restaurant and shower facilities?"
At those words, the two of them seemed to be contemplating.
Of course, their contemplation didn't last long.
"Yes, I'll do it."
"Uh... me too. But you know we'll be short on people, right?"
"That will be your job from now on. I'm planning to make you two the heads of the training centers."
"Huh? Me?"
Sin Yua was visibly flustered at those words.
Ah, come to think of it, had she said she didn't want to be a leader?
"It's not mandatory. As I said earlier, I'm scouting you. You can refuse if you want."
"Hmm..."
Sin Yua crossed her arms and let out a groan.
After a moment, Sin Yua let out a sigh and opened her mouth.
"Sigh... I'll do it. I'm not stupid enough to throw away a given opportunity."
At those words, I smiled satisfactorily and nodded.
Then Gang Inhan opened his mouth with a slightly awkward expression.
"Uh... Chief, I'm grateful for the opportunity, but why me... Actually, even though I look like this, I'm a bit young. I'm only 24."
"Huh? Really?"
"Yes...."
I had thought he was at least 2 or 3 years older, but he was actually 1 year younger than me.
No, more than that, I couldn't help but be a bit flustered by his reaction instead.
Could it be that he still doesn't know?
I spoke to the two of them.
"It's because you two are the strongest among the survivors. This is the kind of world it's become. From now on, it's an era where those with strength hold power."
It was an obvious fact.
Because there wouldn't be anyone who still thought the center of power came from money after the world had ended.
Currently, it was a world of the law of the jungle.
I spoke to the two of them.
"Just think of me as an investor. I'll support you with much more than other investors would. I'll support you with everything, including the restaurant, shower facilities, shop, and points. Because earning points through you all is enough for me."
At those words, the two who had been pondering for a moment seemed to have made up their minds and bowed their heads to me.
"We'll work hard for the time being."
"Me too... Should I call you Chief from now on?"
"...Just call me comfortably like before, Miss Yua."
"Hee hee. Okay, got it."
"Then for now, we'll need to find survivors to entrust as instructors for the training centers."
"Yes, try scouting them by mentioning the conditions I mentioned earlier. There are more than enough people here to hire, after all."
With those words, I looked at the subjugation team.
They were the people who had joined the subjugation to help me.
They would be more than enough to entrust as instructors for the training centers.
* * *
Meanwhile, at that time, inside the Gate that had opened near Apgujeong, Seoul.
"""Waaaaah!!"""
Inside that Gate, people's cheers filled the surroundings.
Some raised their hands high and shouted, while others hugged each other, enjoying the joy of victory.
Their reactions were natural.
Because they had successfully captured Seoul's first Gate.
Of course, the group that had been at the center of this Gate capture was enjoying the joy of success just as much.
"Haha, Miss Yu Hyeon and Mr. Gim Jinseong. Good work."
"Really... to think we'd capture a Gate. I thought you two had lost your minds at first."
"I know, right? I never thought we'd actually clear a Gate."
"I'm so glad I followed Miss Yu Hyeon. To think the two of you took down that huge monster."
The party members, their tension released, sat down on the ground with a thud as they smiled at the woman and man who had contributed the most to this Gate capture.
However, the face of the woman who appeared to be the leader of this group was severely hardened.
Feeling puzzled by her appearance, the man named Jinseong opened his mouth toward the woman.
"Hey, Yu Hyeon. What's with your face? Is there a problem?"
At those words, the woman called Yu Hyeon turned her head toward the man standing next to her, Gim Jinseong, with an indifferent face. She was a beauty with an elegant appearance, with long black hair, a beauty mark under her eye, a sharp nose, and a defined jawline.
However, her face was coldly settled.
She had a face that looked like she would draw the sword at her waist and cut someone down if they so much as touched her.
"Gim Jinseong."
"What? What's wrong? What is it?"
Jinseong could not understand her expression.
Because she somehow looked angry at him.
In reality, she simply glared at Jinseong and spoke.
"Did you steal my achievement?"
"...What are you talking about?"
She looked ready to draw her sword, as if she would kill him if he uttered even a single nonsense word.
However, upon hearing those words, Jinseong's expression was unusual as well.
He looked as if he, too, could not understand the current situation.
The next moment, Jinseong, realizing something, opened his mouth in shock.
"Hey... don't tell me?!"
"That's right."
With those words, Yu Hyeon gritted her teeth and spoke.
"The achievement disappeared."
At those words, Jinseong couldn't help but make a blank expression.
Those words ultimately meant.
"Some bastard cleared the Gate before us?!"
Because it meant someone had captured the Gate before her, the protagonist.