Emergency Defense Battle (1)
"Lee Hyunseong was nodding off like a duty officer in the control room."
If this were The Chronicles of Total Annihilation, such a description would have probably appeared. Maybe even a line like this:
"Lee Hyunseong likely has no idea. What kind of day awaits him today."
"Hyunseong?"
"…Ah, hmm, I dozed off for a moment. Reader, did you rest well?"
"Yes, I'm fine. But you were talking in your sleep. Something about a duty officer…"
"Really?"
"You said something about Private Lee Hyunseong…"
Lee Hyunseong's face turned red.
"Th-that's… I have a bit of trauma left over from my time in the military."
"Military service? But aren't you an officer?"
"Well… I transferred to the military academy during my time as a corporal."
"I heard that's pretty rare. I guess the army really suited you."
Lee Hyunseong gave a bitter smile. It was a smile easy to understand. Rarely does someone stay because the military suits them. More often, it's because nothing else does.
Well then, time to start throwing some bait.
"But I'm really glad you're here, Hyunseong."
"Pardon?"
"When you're up front holding the line, I feel reassured. Like someone's there to protect us."
"…Really?"
Lee Hyunseong gave a faint smile. Weak, but clearly comforted. After a short exchange, I moved away from him.
Originally, according to the third iteration's development, Lee Hyunseong should have awakened his trait while protecting people from the Ironhead gang at Geumho Station. But Jeong Heewon took that chance instead.
Before I knew it, Jeong Heewon, Yoo Sangah, and Lee Gilyoung had approached and were now looking at me. I leaned toward them and whispered.
"Did you watch the demo? Just do as I did."
"Yeah, more or less. But why do we need to do this?"
Why? Because of that.
[Character 'Lee Hyunseong' is beginning to feel a sense of responsibility.]
Watching Hyunseong scrub his iron shield with a naive expression, I was reminded once again.
'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint' is absolutely broken. At least, when it comes to "characters."
"I thought it might help Hyunseong. He's been looking pretty down lately… Maybe if people around him lift him up a little, he'll bounce back faster."
I said it as if I genuinely cared for Hyunseong. Naive Yoo Sangah nodded.
"Like that thing, 'Even a whale can dance if you praise it'?"
"Something like that."
"Got it. I'll try my best!"
Unlike her, Jeong Heewon seemed a little suspicious.
"Reader."
"Yes?"
"You're not, like… a 'one-eyed shaman' or something, right?"
"…What's that?"
"You don't know Gung Ye?"
She's quick with the labels. For a second, I wondered if Jeong Heewon might be the author of The Chronicles of Total Annihilation, but of course, that couldn't be true. Gung Ye's title is 'One-Eyed Maitreya,' not 'shaman.'
"It's nothing like that. I just have a special skill. Let's call it a skill that helps me understand people."
"…I won't ask. You probably wouldn't tell me anyway."
"Thanks."
"But you didn't use that skill on me, right?"
I almost let my expression slip. It's a blessing she doesn't have the [Detect Lies] skill.
I glanced at Lee Gilyoung and answered.
"I only use it on men."
"Oh my."
Not entirely a lie.
Because I haven't read Jeong Heewon's inner thoughts.
Yet.
"Anyway, everyone please keep it up. First Heewon, then Sangah, and finally Gilyoung. One at a time, casually, whenever you get the chance."
"Like, 'Oh my, I believe in you, Hyunseong!' Something like that?"
"Not that dramatic. Just be natural."
"Ugh, this is so cringey."
Cringe or not, it has to be done. Because for this plan to work, Hyunseong's trait evolution is essential. If I had known Yoo Joonghyuk would act like that, I would've set this up earlier… But if we work hard, we might just see results today.
And it looked like the others were doing well enough.
"Hyunseong, you're reliable in a steady sort of way. Like a pine tree."
"Haha, thank you, Heewon. Incidentally, my favorite military song is 'Blue Pine Tree.'"
[Character 'Lee Hyunseong' feels proud.]
"…I didn't ask."
[Character 'Lee Hyunseong' feels a little downhearted.]
"You're one of the most righteous people I've met."
"Oh… I wouldn't say that. But thank you, Sangah."
[Character 'Lee Hyunseong' begins reflecting on justice.]
"Hyunseong-hyung, your muscles are the best."
"Thanks, kid."
[Character 'Lee Hyunseong's self-esteem increases.]
Hard to believe those soulless compliments are actually working. Thank goodness Hyunseong is such a simple character. After several similar conversations, the system message finally changed.
[Character 'Lee Hyunseong' is waiting for a trigger to evolve his trait.]
Good. Everything's going smoothly.
Yoo Sangah asked in a slightly worried voice.
"But… doesn't it look like Hyunseong is feeling a bit pressured…?"
Sangah really is kind. Even in situations like this, she worries about others' feelings. That's something I lack.
"He might be, a little. But I think it's necessary. Some people grow stronger the more weight they carry, right?"
"Ah…"
"Don't worry. It'll work out. And… Gilyoung, did you check what I asked?"
"Yes, hyung."
Lee Gilyoung, who had been waiting nearby, responded. A pair of cockroaches raised their antennae on top of his small head.
"She's on basement level one."
"Thanks."
Hyunseong's part was done. Now it was time to steal someone else's power.
I headed alone up the transfer stairs. As soon as I climbed, I was greeted by members of the "Landlord Alliance."
"Haha, look who it is. The illegal tenant himself."
"…"
"After pulling all that, you still came upstairs, huh? Heard you survived yesterday without a 'room.' That true? Guess Yoo Joonghyuk helped you?"
I ignored them and kept walking. Thinking I was scared, the alliance members kept jeering.
"Isn't it hard living as Yoo Joonghyuk's lackey? Come join our alliance. Pildu said he'd consider it."
I counted the remaining "Green Zones" on each floor as I passed by, pretending not to hear. One, two, three… For the plan to work, I couldn't miss a single one.
"Of course, you'd have to bring those women with you."
Only eleven Green Zones remained. The number had dropped significantly due to yesterday's scenario. It was a close call, but still possible.
"Hey, are you ignoring us?"
"I hear you. Tell Pildu I'll think about it."
At my reply, the alliance members looked at each other and snickered.
Laugh all you want—for now.
As I walked up the escalator, leaving them behind, I suddenly felt cold steel at my neck. I hadn't sensed a thing…
At this stage, there's only one skill capable of such stealthy movement.
[Ghost Steps]
"Disappointing, old man."
Lee Ji-hye. Rude, but undeniably skilled. There's a reason she was chosen by Admiral Yi Sun-shin.
"You do know what'll happen to your girls if you make a deal with those bastards, right?"
"Of course."
"And you still do it? You should've just died yesterday."
I shrugged.
"Put the sword away. I came to talk."
"Talk? You came all the way here just to see me?"
"Yeah."
At that, Lee Ji-hye obediently sheathed her sword. When I turned to look, she was no longer behind me. She was already up ahead, standing by the turnstile to the first basement level. She must have moved using her special footwork.
"What do you want to talk about?"
"But why are you standing there?"
"Master told me to guard this spot."
"...Guard it?"
"Means you can't pass either."
She tapped the turnstile and made a throat-slitting gesture. I looked past the barrier toward the corridor that led upward. Exit numbers that led to the surface. But not all of them did.
A bad feeling crept over me.
...Don't tell me that bastard Yoo Joong-hyuk is taking that route.
If Yoo Joong-hyuk ordered her to guard this place, there's only one reason.
He's using this scenario's distraction to secretly attack the hidden dungeon in Chungmuro.
Hidden dungeon. It sounds cool. Honestly, it's not a bad thing if the protagonist gets stronger.
The problem is, even the Yoo Joong-hyuk of the third regression couldn't clear that dungeon.
Looks like I need to move faster.
"I need your help."
"My help?"
"We're going to crush Gong Pil-doo and his group today."
"...Are you serious?"
Lee Ji-hye looked at me, trying to gauge my sincerity.
[Understanding of character 'Lee Ji-hye' has increased.]
"With just your power? Even if all your ragtag group jumps in, you'll be overwhelmed."
"What if you help?"
She turned her head sharply, seemingly offended.
Can't blame her. She must've challenged Gong Pil-doo the first day she came to this station and lost. If Yoo Joong-hyuk hadn't appeared in time to save her, she'd be dead.
"There's a way. A plan we can pull off—if you help."
"...But my master told me to guard this place."
"If you don't help, most people here will die."
"They're going to die anyway."
"Did Yoo Joong-hyuk say that?"
Her eyes wavered noticeably.
"You know that boy who was talking with us yesterday died, right?"
"...Yeah."
"He could've lived. Today, he could've come running up to us again, going on about Yoo Joong-hyuk's heroics."
"That's..."
"Yoo Joong-hyuk killed him. He could have saved him, but he didn't."
I felt conflicted as I spoke. I make it sound righteous, but I'm not that different from Yoo Joong-hyuk. In the subway, at Geumho Station... I turned away from people I might have saved because they endangered my safety.
But the more hypocritical a person is, the more convincing their words can sound.
"I saw the scenario video of you in the subway."
Lee Ji-hye flinched.
"The one where you killed your classmate to survive."
"...Stop."
"You probably didn't want to do it."
[Character 'Lee Ji-hye' is deeply agitated.]
"What do you know?"
"What would I know? Of course I don't. I'm just talking nonsense."
"..."
"But if I'm going to talk nonsense anyway, I want to say this: If you turn away today, you'll regret it for the rest of your life. Without a doubt."
[Character 'Lee Ji-hye' is in deep turmoil.]
I don't know the person Lee Ji-hye well, but I know the character Lee Ji-hye. If left alone, this girl will eventually become Yoo Joong-hyuk's loyal subordinate. But that's in the future. For now, she isn't. She may admire his strength, but she's fundamentally different from him.
She spoke a few minutes later.
"If I help... will people live?"
"Not all, but a good number will."
"...What do I need to do?"
"We'll start at 7 p.m. today."
I shared the plan with her—just the parts she needed to carry out.
After listening quietly, Lee Ji-hye stared at me in disbelief.
"Are you sane? You're seriously going to do that?"
"Yeah."
"...Honestly, I don't think it'll work. Just so you know, I haven't said I'll help yet."
"It's your choice."
I said that, but I knew she'd move.
There's a reason this brat was chosen by Admiral Yi Sun-shin.
[Constellation, 'The Sneaky Schemer,' likes your shamelessness.]
[You have received 100 coins.]
[The supporting constellation of Lee Ji-hye has taken a liking to you.]
[You have received an additional 100 coins.]
All preparations are now complete.