Dark Sentinel (1)
["W-Well then, good luck to all of you! Ehehehe!"]
With those words, the dokkaebi vanished.
A food penalty and a survival penalty.
The former was a penalty I already knew about. But the latter, though fitting the style of Ways of Annihilation, hadn't occurred in the original.
I could only guess that my contract with Bihyung might have altered the course of events.
Jung Heewon, noticing that the biscuit crumbs in her pocket had vanished, asked in a dazed voice,
"Reader, I'm just asking in case... did you expect this to happen—?"
"I did. I thought about what those dokkaebi bastards would do first to torment the humans."
"...Shouldn't you be laying out a mat or something?"
I called over Lee Hyunsung and the rest of the group. The situation had been set, and now it was time to act.
"Give us back our food!"
"How... how could this happen..."
People from the marginalized group were wailing. Even Chun Inho and the main group looked stunned by the sudden food crisis. Chun Inho, locking eyes with me, bit his lip.
「No way… did he know this would happen? No, that can't be.」
If I could read his mind, I was sure that's what he'd be thinking.
[You have accurately read the inner thoughts of the character 'Chun Inho.']
[Your understanding of the character 'Chun Inho' has increased.]
...I gain understanding points from this?
I tried reading the expressions of others as a test, but no similar messages appeared.
Meanwhile, Chun Inho quickly composed himself and gathered the people.
"Everyone, please come together. I have an urgent announcement."
The announcement was simple. Due to the worsening situation, the marginalized group would have to provide even more 'scouting members.' Understandably, he was desperate—there was now no food underground.
"From now on, those who do not participate in the scout team will not receive food rations."
Despite the strong declaration, the citizens didn't resist. No—they couldn't. It was the obvious outcome in this situation.
Watching others' reactions, one by one, people volunteered for the scout team.
Even though the food was gone, a glimmer of hope remained on Chun Inho's face. The more dire the situation, the more control shifted to the main group.
Lee Hyunsung, watching anxiously, spoke up.
"Reader, what should we do now?"
"Of course, we go find food."
At my words, tension spread across the group's faces. Finding food only meant one thing.
"Do we have to join the scout team too? There's still food left on the surface, right?"
"No. We're not going to the surface. We'll die if we go there."
I looked at the standard issue gas masks strewn on the ground. There's no way those flimsy masks could block the deadly fog.
"But to find food, we have to go above—"
"Mr. Hyunsung. The world has changed. That means what we eat must change too."
I looked toward the tunnel leading to Yaksu Station.
"Wait, Reader... You don't mean—"
"That's right."
In this world, humans were no longer the apex predators.
But just because we weren't predators didn't mean we had to be prey.
"We're going to hunt monsters."
*
A short while later, a few members of the marginalized group, including myself, stood at the tunnel entrance toward Yaksu Station.
"I see. You're planning to go into the rail tracks?"
Since we refused to join the scout team, I expected them to give us trouble. But Chun Inho seemed oddly relieved that I was leaving the main group. Maybe he saw me as a threat to his power.
"Well, if we think long term, we'll need a team to focus solely on scenario progression. Good luck."
What a joke.
He spoke like he was in charge of everything. But his illusion of control wouldn't last long.
[Your understanding of the character 'Chun Inho' has increased.]
[Your understanding of the character 'Chun Inho' has reached a certain level.]
So that's how it is.
There are two main ways to increase character understanding.
One: gain their affection or trust.
Two: accurately grasp their inner thoughts.
This time, it must be the second.
[The character 'Chun Inho' is suspicious of your true intentions.]
As your understanding accumulates, it seems you even gain insight into their vague feelings and thoughts.
"Ah, before you go—could you bring one of our group members with you? We'd like to get some strategy information as well."
Of course. Chun Inho wouldn't let us go that easily.
I looked at the man awkwardly stepping forward. Of all people, it had to be him. What a stroke of bad luck.
"D-Do I really have to go too?"
"Aw, don't say that now, Hyung. You've been begging to make peace with Reader since last night."
"T-That's—"
The person Chun Inho assigned to our group was none other than Section Chief Han Myungoh.
"U-Uh, Reader... If you're okay with it, I'd like to come along too..."
"Sure. Let's go together."
When I agreed so readily, Han Myungoh looked completely stunned. He must've expected me to reject him outright.
Lee Hyunsung looked concerned, but I had my reasons.
And so, our team of survivors from Car 3807 was re-formed—me, Lee Hyunsung, Yi Gilyoung, Yoo Sangah, and Han Myungoh. Five people in total.
"Can I come too?"
"…Your body's not fully healed. Are you sure?"
"This much is nothing."
One more person. Including Jung Heewon, our party became six. Not too few, not too many.
Grrrrrr…
Of course, when the real crisis comes, the number of people probably won't matter much.
[A new sub-scenario has arrived.]
Category: Main
Difficulty: E
Clear Conditions: Hunt a monster that can be used as food and cook it.
Time Limit: None
Reward: 500 coins
Failure: ???
The moment I stepped into the tunnel, the sub-scenario was triggered.
Securing food. It was a prerequisite sub-scenario before the second main scenario.
[A few constellations are anticipating your performance.]
Before we'd even walked ten steps, darkness consumed the tunnel. Even with flashlights, we couldn't make out the surrounding outlines.
That was proof of a light-blocking veil ahead. The real danger lay beyond it.
"Reader, wait. From here on, it's seriously dangerous."
Jung Heewon, walking beside me, was the first to stop.
"You're not just going in like this, right? This looks like a suicide mission. Gilyoung is with us too."
"I've been worried too. Isn't it better to leave Gilyoung behind while we still can? And if possible, the women too..."
"Mr. Lee Hyun-sung, I may not be as good as you, but I can fight quite well too, you know? I even practiced kendo in the past."
"But…"
As the mood seemed to heat up with an unnecessary argument, I cut in at the right time.
"Mr. Lee Hyun-sung. I mentioned earlier, didn't I? The world has changed. The idea that women are physically weaker is just a stereotype. Now, anyone can become stronger by improving their overall stats. However, Ms. Jung Hee-won, there's a flaw in your argument too."
"…What is it?"
"Just as being a woman doesn't mean you're weak, being a child doesn't mean you're weak either. Gil-young, show them."
Lee Gil-young stepped forward. He glanced around briefly before sitting on the tunnel floor and extending his hand. Jung Hee-won's eyes widened.
"Oh my God, what is that?"
"Sh-shit! That's a cockroach!"
Han Myung-oh shrieked in fear.
A cockroach, making a faint rustling sound, was connected to Lee Gil-young's fingertip by a faint thread-like line. The cockroach, like an obedient puppy, listened to Lee Gil-young's words and then scurried off into the darkness.
"My trait is 'Insect Collector.'"
Insect Collector. Through the skill [Multi-species Sympathy], Lee Gil-young possessed the rare ability to communicate with insects in a simple way.
"There's nothing ahead. We should be safe for about a hundred steps."
Everyone looked dumbfounded by the overwhelming scouting power Lee Gil-young had shown. With a mischievous expression, he continued.
"I appreciate the concern, but I didn't follow you all just to be protected by big brothers and sisters."
"Ah, right…"
Jung Hee-won nodded with a slightly awkward look. I patted Lee Gil-young's head as he came to stand beside me.
Lee Gil-young's ability was one I had never seen in the original Destruction Method novel. Saving him early on was definitely not the wrong decision. We passed through the transparent barrier and stepped into the true darkness.
[You are entering a danger zone.]
"Yoo Sang-ah, it's dangerous, so hold my hand while we walk."
"…Aren't you the one more scared than me, boss?"
"N-no, that's not true!"
The air inside the veil was damp and sticky.
"Dim the light."
At my words, Yoo Sang-ah immediately covered the flashlight. Since it didn't have a dimming function, the only way to reduce the light was by hand.
"Ugh. Don't shine it at the floor."
After checking the floor, Jung Hee-won gagged. Mutilated corpses. The bodies of people who had naively tried to move toward the spring were scattered, lying in such numbers they were being stepped on.
Yoo Sang-ah tightly shut her eyes, Han Myung-oh trembled, and even the brave Lee Hyun-sung let out a deep breath.
Surprisingly, the only one unfazed was Lee Gil-young. Not a hint of fear could be seen on the child's face. It gave me an eerie feeling.
Was this kid… thinking this was all just a game?
"There's something other than humans here too."
As Lee Gil-young said, the floor wasn't littered with only human corpses. There were also bodies of creatures about the size of grown wolves, resembling moles with large front paws.
Grade-9 subterranean species: Earth Mole Rats.
Despite the insect-like name, these were not mere bugs. They were like piranhas of the underground—persistent hunters that moved in packs, burrowed through the earth, and relentlessly pursued prey.
But these mole rats were now lying sprawled as if they'd been bombed. Jung Hee-won muttered in awe.
"…Who on earth did this?"
Naturally, there was only one person around here capable of doing this to the mole rats.
Yoo Joong-hyuk.
He had carved his way alone through this tunnel to the next station.
But something felt off. According to the original third timeline, Yoo Joong-hyuk wasn't supposed to move to the next station until tonight or tomorrow.
Why had he hurried?
Did he suddenly feel pressed for time?
Because of what?
"Reader, do you think we can use this for food?"
"The scenario says we have to 'hunt it ourselves,' so this probably doesn't count."
"…True, and it does feel gross. But how are we supposed to cook it? Maybe roast it over a fire?"
That would work. The problem is, it has to be a special fire.
"Anyway, Hee-won, you said you were good at kendo, right?"
"Uh, well, I wouldn't say I'm that good… But what are you doing right now?"
I had stabbed one of the mole rat corpses with a spine and was beginning to cut into it with a knife. Reading about it in a novel didn't quite prepare me for how hard it would be in reality.
Still, I managed to peel off the tough hide and successfully extracted the spine. It was rough, but usable.
"What are you going to use that for?"
"To practice kendo, you need a weapon, right?"
It wasn't as good as the spine of a Stone Hog, but the earth mole rat's spine was a single solid bone, making it a decent early-stage weapon.
After cutting the cartilage connecting to the legs and shaping it a bit, the bone roughly resembled a blade. I handed it to Jung Hee-won.
"Thanks. I feel like I've gone back to the Stone Age."
"You'll need to grind it more to make it useful. Try sharpening the edge with any nearby stones."
"Hehe, got it, chief."
Jung Hee-won cheerfully began sharpening the blade. Watching this, Lee Hyun-sung seemed a little jealous.
"Want me to make one for you too?"
"Oh? Really? You'd make one for me too?"
"Anyone else, come over here. You should all learn how to do this. Let's make them together."
Truthfully, this was my first time trying it too. If the Destruction Method hadn't included detailed monster butchering descriptions, I wouldn't have dared.
Why was Destruction Method unpopular? Simple. The author was too obsessed with setting details.
"…Reader, you seem like a beginner, but your hands are oddly skilled."
We sat together making weapons. This time, instead of swords, we crafted spears. Since the others didn't have [Kendo] skills, I judged that longer-reach weapons would be safer for them.
I gave the largest spine to Lee Hyun-sung, average-sized ones to Yoo Sang-ah and Han Myung-oh, and for Lee Gil-young, I fashioned a blunt weapon using a baby mole rat's skull.
[You have successfully acquired weapons through your own effort.]
[A few constellations are intrigued by humanity's primitive instincts.]
[Constellations have donated 100 coins.]
This time, everyone received the message.
"They really give coins for things like this."
"The scenario's not all hopeless. Do you all have your coins ready?"
"Yes, we do."
"If possible, invest everything except what you need to survive into Strength, Stamina, and Agility. If you don't, you won't survive."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Once preparations were complete, we began moving again. The hundred steps Lee Gil-young mentioned were just ahead.
[Sub Scenario — Food Acquisition has begun!]
Earth mole rats began crawling out from the ground. I quickly counted. One, two, three… Thirteen in total. More than expected.
Grrrr…
The pack of mole rats drew a boundary line and began to threaten us. Once we crossed it, the battle would begin.
"There's no specific strategy. We're all new to this, and it might sound cruel, but to be honest—I don't expect everyone to survive."
"W-what…"
"Still, I hope you all survive. Please."
Only Han Myung-oh looked truly rattled. The others were tense, but determined. Jung Hee-won's eyes, in particular, burned with spirit.
"Alright. Let's do this. Let's all survive and meet again!"
Just as Yoo Joong-hyuk once tested me, I also had hopes for these people. No matter how good the advice, those who aren't determined won't survive in this world.
In the end, only you can save yourself.
Everyone must understand that now.
"Let's go."
And I, too, will soon know whom among them I should take with me.
As I took one step forward, the mole rats began to move.
The battle had begun.