Landlord (4)
It was about ten minutes after Bi-Hyung disappeared that casualties began appearing on the Line 3 platform.
Currently, there is only one 'room' on the Line 3 platform.
Because Line 3 lacks any strong contenders, the weak didn't back down—they simply turned their murderous intent on each other.
"Die! Just die already!"
[30 minutes remaining until the start of the third main scenario.]
Even as the surroundings descended into chaos, I quietly continued reading the Destruction and Salvation Method.
Most likely, today's scenario would unfold exactly as I anticipated.
To survive, I had no choice but to memorize every word without missing a single line.
[What the hell are you doing right now, man?!]
Alongside Bi-Hyung's Goblin Communication, the messages of the Constellations came through.
[The Constellation 'Prisoner of the Golden Gobi' wonders what you're doing.]
I reflexively turned off my smartphone. That's when I realized something I hadn't thought of before.
Why hadn't the Constellations reacted to me reading the Destruction and Salvation Method?
In the original work, there's even a scene where the Constellations question the fairness of the system after discovering Yoo Joonghyuk is a regressor.
Then shouldn't there have already been some kind of response about me possessing this text?
[What are you doing staring at a blank notepad? You're driving all the Constellations insane with frustration!]
…A blank notepad?
I turned my smartphone back on. The screen showed the Destruction and Salvation Method text.
"You mean this?"
[Yes! Are you planning some kind of operation with a blank notepad? You'll die if you just sit there! Damn it, I actually signed a contract with this guy...]
A chill ran down my spine.
The goblin couldn't read this 'text'. If the goblin, who holds top-level system authority, couldn't read it, then the Constellations surely couldn't either.
Then… what kind of being gave me this text?
"Aaargh!"
A final scream rang out. The 'room' on Line 3 finally had a new owner.
[Green Zone 1/1]
"…Don't come any closer."
A boy shakily pointed a knife at me. Surprisingly, the victor was the boy who had guided us earlier. A boy whose name I still didn't know.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to take your spot."
I deliberately stepped back to reassure him. Just then, I sensed someone approaching from behind.
"Oh really? Acting all calm, huh? You looking to die?"
I didn't need to look to know who it was from that rude tone.
"Seems like you're acting pretty relaxed too."
"No one touches my room. Everyone knows what happens if they try."
Lee Ji-Hye twirled a blue-bladed sword as she spoke. At her current spec level, she was probably unmatched except for Yoo Joonghyuk or the 'Landlord Alliance'. She looked me over and spoke again.
"I hope you don't die. That whole act of standing up to our Master earlier was kinda impressive."
"I'm not going to die, don't worry. And failing to find a 'room' doesn't necessarily mean you die."
What I said was true.
Just because you don't find a 'room' doesn't mean you're doomed.
There was someone in this very station who had proven that impossibility just three days ago.
Lee Ji-Hye narrowed her eyes.
"Do you even know what you're saying?"
"Yeah."
"Are you strong? As strong as our Master?"
No sooner had she asked than Yoo Joonghyuk appeared behind her.
"Return to your room."
"Ah… yes, Master."
Lee Ji-Hye obediently left. Yoo Joonghyuk glanced at me as he turned away.
"Do you plan to fight the monsters?"
I shrugged.
"You will die. And so will your companions."
"We'll see about that."
As he left, something unreadable flickered in Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes. I didn't activate [Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint].
Not all emotions require words to be understood.
[20 minutes remaining until the start of the third main scenario.]
I heard people coming down the stairs from the transfer passage. Lee Hyunsung, Lee Gilyoung, and Yoo Sangah—all had grim expressions. As expected.
Yoo Sangah spoke with a downcast face.
"We… couldn't find a room."
"That's okay. What about Miss Heewon?"
"She said she'd try negotiating upstairs…"
Before she could finish, Jung Heewon came storming down, yelling at the top of her lungs.
"2,000 coins for one night? Are they kidding me? I swear, I might just fillet them!"
She huffed in outrage.
"Dokja. Do you know what they said upstairs? They—"
"They raised the rent all of a sudden, right?"
"…You already knew?"
It was entirely predictable. The tenants are the ones who die if they don't get a room in 20 minutes. The landlords have the power, so of course they'd jack up the price.
"Did you find anything, Dokja?"
"No, I couldn't either."
"Oh…"
I looked at each of them in turn.
It was time to make a choice.
"There are two ways."
Their eyes lit up at my words. But the methods I was about to present would likely betray their expectations.
"The first is an easy method where we can all survive."
Jung Heewon narrowed her eyes.
"In these kinds of situations, it's always the second method people choose… So what's the other one?"
"The second is extremely difficult. And one of us may die."
"Uh… then we can't do that. Let's go with the first one."
"What about the rest of you?"
Lee Hyunsung responded first.
"If everyone can survive, I think the first method is better."
Lee Gilyoung nodded. Only Yoo Sangah hesitated.
"…Can we hear what the method is first?"
I nodded and walked to the landing of the Line 4 transfer passage.
"The first method is that."
They turned to where I pointed. Five men and women stood there, nervously guarding their space.
[Green Zone 5/5]
"The 'room' they're occupying has exactly five slots. But their individual stats aren't very high. Honestly, even if not all five of us fought…"
"Wait, Dokja, are you saying—"
"Yes. We kill them and take their room. That's the first method."
My calm voice made the group tremble slightly.
Jung Heewon looked deeply hurt.
"…Do you think we didn't consider that option already?"
"If Hyung says to do it, I can do it."
Lee Gilyoung stepped forward.
"I'm not afraid. I'll do it."
"No, Gilyoung!"
Yoo Sangah grabbed his shoulder.
I looked at her and spoke indifferently.
"They probably killed someone to get that spot too. Honestly, we can't survive the future scenarios with this mindset."
"Dokja."
Jung Heewon cut in.
"I killed someone at Geumho Station. I chose to do it, and I don't regret it. But…"
She continued with a pained expression.
"Just because I became a killer doesn't mean I like killing. I don't want to become a monster."
"…"
"…I want to hear about the second method."
With Lee Hyunsung's final comment, I closed my eyes briefly.
"I understand everyone's thoughts."
That was enough.
"We'll go with the second method."
Their faces brightened. Truthfully, I'd intended to use the second method from the start.
Surviving by killing someone is one way, but choosing only the easy path won't catch the attention of the Constellations.
However, the second method required real resolve.
Not just from me—but from all of us.
I had to see if they truly had it.
Jung Heewon chuckled bitterly.
"…I knew it. You were going to pick the second way anyway. Why test us like that?"
"I didn't mean to test you. I would've respected your decision no matter what."
I patted Lee Gilyoung's head as he looked up at me with anxious eyes. Yoo Sangah sighed.
"You're really mean, Dokja."
"Sorry I'm not a nice person."
"What's the second method?"
"This way, no one has to die. But it's extremely difficult."
My heavy tone made everyone's expressions tense.
"If we go with the second method, follow my instructions without question. Even if they make no sense—trust me. If even one of you doubts me—"
"…"
"We'll all die."
Someone swallowed nervously. One by one, they nodded. Lee Hyunsung spoke for everyone.
"We trust you, Dokja. Honestly, the fact we've survived this far is thanks to you."
[5 minutes remaining until the start of the third main scenario.]
"Then follow me."
We moved toward the railway of Line 3.
Past the shattered screen doors, we stood at the entrance to the tunnel leading to Euljiro 3-ga.
In the dark tunnel, the glowing red 'Red Zone' awaited.
"The monsters will probably spawn from there and start pushing forward. They'll sweep through Line 3 and climb to the surface floor by floor."
Lee Hyunsung asked anxiously:
"…So we fight them here?"
"No. We can't. If we fight here, we'll all die."
Surviving until dawn without a Green Zone while facing those terrifying monsters—only Yoo Joonghyuk could do that.
This time, Jeong Heewon asked.
"…Then should we run toward Dongguk University Station?"
"That won't work either. Once the scenario is activated, you'll die automatically if you leave Chungmuro."
"Then what should we do…"
"For this plan, we need to split up. Lee Hyunseong, Yoo Sangah, and Jeong Heewon—you three. When the monsters appear, run straight toward the direction they're coming from."
"…What?"
"You got that? Run directly at them. And just before you collide with them, make sure to check the wall on your left. Then you'll understand what I mean."
They looked like they didn't understand, but there was no time to explain further.
"Just trust me. If you don't, everyone will die. Don't forget to look at the wall on your left."
"Got it, Dokja."
Yoo Sangah was the first to respond, as if she understood what I meant.
"And, just to be cautious—make sure you only run after the monsters appear."
I picked up a small stone and threw it toward the tunnel. It sparked in midair and bounced away. Lee Hyunseong and Jeong Heewon nodded as if they got the message.
"What about you, Dokja?"
"I'll find another way with Gilyoung."
This method won't work unless they trust me.
Who in their right mind would believe someone telling them to charge into monsters?
Now, it was all up to their will.
[The third main scenario has been activated!]
With a soft rustle, the barrier blocking the tunnel toward Euljiro 3-ga disappeared.
"Run!"
At my shout, the three who were ready to sprint all started moving at once.
Grrrr—!
Monsters began to spawn in the Red Zone.
The bulk of them were made up of Grade 9 subterranean species: Mole Crickets. Filling in the ranks were Grade 8 subterranean species, [Grolls].
Groooar!
Covered in black manes and shaped like bears, the Grolls were threatening with sharp horns protruding from their foreheads.
One or two might have been manageable. The problem was the number. The tightly packed swarm couldn't even be called a "pack" anymore.
If they collided with that wave, they would definitely die.
Just as Lee Hyunseong was about to clash with the front-line Groll—
"Now!"
Yoo Sangah was the first to spot the wall. A faintly glowing green tile on the surface.
"Ah—!"
The realization came instantly. As soon as Yoo Sangah's hand touched the wall, it lit up brightly and activated.
[Green Zone 1/3]
Agile Jeong Heewon followed right behind her and clung to the wall.
[Green Zone 2/3]
But Lee Hyunseong missed his timing. The mole crickets clung to his shield, slowing him down.
"Hyunseong! Grab on!"
Yoo Sangah used her specialty, [Thread Binding], to pull Hyunseong in. With both women's strength, he was briefly lifted into the air and barely managed to reach the wall.
[Green Zone 3/3]
It worked.
Grrrrrr!
The monsters glared at the party in frustration, but since they were now inside the Green Zone, the monsters could no longer attack them.
"Dokja!"
Yoo Sangah called out to me, but there was no time to look back. I was already running with Lee Gilyoung on my back.
"...The third main scenario contains a few hidden 'Green Zones.' They are activated on certain walls and only become visible after the scenario begins. Green Zones are stuck to the wall... Come to think of it, only humans ever thought of them as 'rooms.'"
Yoo Joonghyuk of the 'Extinction Method' had found several secret Green Zones in Chungmuro through many regressions.
And on this Line 3 platform, there were only two such Green Zones.
Screeech!
Suddenly, some mole crickets that had chased after us bit into my thigh.
My stamina level was high, so the damage wasn't serious—but these small things can build up and become a problem later.
Whack!
Lee Gilyoung, on my back, fended off a few of the mole crickets with his club.
But there were too many. And faster Grolls were mixed in as well.
From about ten meters away, a familiar boy was staring at me in fear.
[Green Zone 1/1]
For a moment, I was tempted. Tempted to take the easier route, just this once.
[Hahahaha! Things are getting interesting. Then, like yesterday, we should have a penalty today too, right?]
The dokkaebi's voice rang out loudly from the air, followed by a system message.
[A scenario penalty has occurred!]
[Some of the existing 'Green Zones' are now deactivated.]
"No! No, noooo!"
Screams echoed throughout Chungmuro Station. The closest one came from the boy nearby.
Crackle!
"AAAAAGHH!"
The moment the Green Zone disappeared, the boy's small body was torn apart and devoured by the mole crickets.
While the boy's death bought us time, I sprinted down the passage with Gilyoung still on my back. But the path ahead was already blocked by monsters coming through the shattered screen doors.
I hid Gilyoung behind me and drew [Unbreakable Faith].
Slash!
The blade of the Baek Cheong-gang Sword swiftly cut down the incoming monsters. But their numbers didn't decrease at all.
Even surviving a single day among these monsters was a feat. Yoo Joonghyuk truly was a monster himself.
Even if I converted all my current coins into total stats, I wasn't sure I could pull that off.
That's when Gilyoung spoke.
"Hyung…?"
"Not now. I'm busy."
"You can leave me behind."
"…What?"
Slash!
"I don't really get it. Why are you helping me or the others? If you were alone… you'd survive better."
To be able to say that so calmly, even when facing death...
Maybe this kid's heart had already died long ago.
"You're right."
Another mole cricket fell to the ground with its neck severed.
"Being selfish, surviving alone, living boastfully on my own—it would definitely be easier. But…"
Why am I doing this?
If someone asked me that, I wouldn't be able to explain it clearly.
But there is one thing I can say for sure.
"There's this novel that crashed and burned because it went that route."
"…Huh?"
I think this every time—but I'm not protagonist material.
I'll never be a hero or a savior.
But—
Gilyoung's eyes trembled.
As I hoisted him back up on my back, I said:
"Hold on tight."
Lee Gilyoung won't die.
At least not today.
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