[There are 20 minutes before the third scenario is activated.]
There was the sound of people coming down the stairs.
As everyone reunited with Kim Dokja, Yoo Sangah opened her mouth with a gloomy expression.
"Room… there were none."
"It is okay. Rather, where is Heewon-ssi?"
"She is trying to negotiate upstairs."
At these words, Jung Heewon jumped down with a terrible scream.
"One night is 2,000 coins? Are they joking right now? I am really going to hit them."
The agitated Jung Heewon snorted and said.
"Dokja-ssi, do you know what is happening upstairs? No―"
"They suddenly raised the taxes, right?"
"Eh… you already know?"
"Did Dokja-ssi find anything?"
"No, I didn't."
"Ah…"
Actually, he didn't even search. (Van was a witness.)
Since he wasn't particularly concerned about finding a zone for himself, Lenoch decided to watch how the situation would play out. In the end, he could just enter Gong Pildu's huge zone even if it was at full capacity when the scenario began.
He watched Kim Dokja's group discuss their future course of action.
"What is the second method?"
"There is no need to kill anybody with this method. But it is very difficult."
Van examined each person's face, analyzing their reactions.
"If you choose the second method, please unconditionally follow my instructions. Please trust me, even if it doesn't make sense. If one person doesn't trust me―"
Kim Dokja's gaze lingered on Gehrman Sparrow.
"We will all die."
With this way, the reader could get rid of the unpredictable variable.
Although he didn't know if Gehrman had any hidden skills up his sleeves, as long as everything went according to plan…
The party members nodded almost simultaneously. Lee Hyunsung said, "I believe in Dokja-ssi. I have survived up to here because of Dokja-ssi."
Kim Dokja remained focused on Gehrman Sparrow. Pretending to be casual, he checked, "Is that also okay with you, Gehrman-ssi?"
Gehrman Sparrow looked back at him.
Flipping a coin in his pocket and feeling the result, Klein nodded.
Kim Dokja smiled.
[There are 5 minutes before the third scenario is activated.]
"Then follow me."
After that, Kim Dokja proceeded to share his plan with the party members.
"Once the monsters appear, run straight in the direction they are coming from."
"…Huh?"
"Understood? Just run towards them. Just before you encounter them, be sure to look at the left wall. Then you will know what I mean."
Puzzling instructions that demanded absolute trust.
"Just trust me or you will die. Don't forget to look at the left wall."
Still, the party members nodded.
"What about Dokja-ssi?"
"I'll find another way with Gilyoung, Gehrman-ssi and Yoosoung."
However, Kim Dokja knew. The green zone there only had a place for two people.
Although he had a way to survive outside the green zone, Gehrman Sparrow probably wouldn't be able to survive the monsters.
The worst possibility would be that the madman decided to sacrifice the children. Who knew what unpredictable actions he would take.
But even if it seemed cold-blooded, Kim Dokja thought that even Gehrman choosing to sacrifice one of the children could be an opportunity.
Because then, his party members wouldn't accept Gehrman as one of theirs. They have quite a strong sense of justice.
[The third main scenario is enabled.]
The barrier that was blocking the tunnel to Euljiro-3 disappeared.
But Kim Dokja didn't know.
"Run!"
Before he put his plan into action, a variable had already come into play.
Grrr!
The monsters started to be created in the red zone. It was mainly the grade 9 ground rats. Then the middle ranks were filled with the intermediate grade 9 underground species, the 'grolls'.
Kuooooh!
A monster with a black mane that was in the shape of a bear. The sharp horns on their foreheads were threatening.
One was relatively easy to deal with, the problem was the number.
The moment Lee Hyunsung encountered the first groll, Kim Dokja shouted.
"Now!"
Yoo Sangah found it first. Green tiles shimmering on the wall.
"Ah―!"
The enlightenment was instant. The moment Yoo Sangah's hand touched the wall, it emitted a bright light.
[Green Zone 1/3]
The agile Jung Heewon immediately touched the wall behind her.
[Green Zone 2/3]
However, Lee Hyunsung missed the timing. It was because the ground rats clung to Lee Hyunsung's shield.
"Hyunsung-ssi! Catch it!"
Lee Hyunsung grabbed the 'thread' that Yoo Sangah threw him. Thanks to the strength of the two women, Lee Hyunsung flew through the air and reached the wall.
[Green Zone 3/3]
Grrrrrrr!
The monsters stared at them but once they entered the green zones, the monsters couldn't attack.
"Dokja-ssi!"
Yoo Sangah called out to him but there was no time to look back. He was already running with Lee Gilyoung on his back, Gehrman Sparrow and Shin Yoosoung following after him.
「…In the third main scenario, there are several hidden green zones. This is activated on a specific wall and the green zones on the wall won't appear until after the scenario starts… if you think about it, humans were the ones who thought of it as the concept of a 'room'.」
Kiiiiit!
A few ground rats chasing after him bit him in the thigh. The blow wasn't big because of his high strength, but these small things could accumulate.
Kwack!
Lee Gilyoung hit a few ground rats with a blunt weapon from his position on Kim Dokja's back. Gehrman Sparrow also helped by firing air bullets at the monsters. But there were too many of them. In addition, the grolls were fast.
[Hahahaha! This situation is fun. Then like yesterday, should there be a penalty?]
A dokkaebi spoke followed by the system messages.
[A scenario penalty has been added!]
[Some existing green zones will be disabled.]
"N-No! Uack, aaaaack!"
Screams rang throughout Chungmuro Station.
Ignoring the chaos around him, Kim Dokja continued to fend off the monsters coming his way.
Gehrman Sparrow followed behind him, holding Shin Yoosoung in his arms.
However, most of his abilities had been sealed by the Star Stream. Although he could still use the low-level ones, the most useful powers he had were currently locked away.
Gehrman had theorized that using the Acting Method to level-up his current 'skills' may unlock the higher-level abilities he had, but it would take too much time.
If only he could pull out historical projections right now. It would make it much easier to sweep away these ground rats.
Trying to shoot air bullets to kill this wave of monsters one by one and continuously jumping through flames to escape was taking a toll on his spirituality. Especially since it was counted as 'magical power', and the low stat in question gave him less leeway than before he was nerfed.
Most of all…
His other base stats were quite low as well.
With his clown abilities, his agility was higher than the average person. However, he had only invested in his 'magical power' stat and his stamina and strength were the same.
As he thought while holding a full-grown child, he was starting to become exhausted.
"Ahjussi."
The faint voice of the child resounded in Klein's ears.
He briefly glanced down at Shin Yoosoung, showing he was paying attention, before focusing on the battle in front of him.
"You can leave me here, you know."
Klein's movements paused.
Then, he met the gaze of the child looking at him.
There was no anxiety. No fear.
She gripped Gehrman's clothes and urged him.
"Leave me here, ahjussi. I can deal with the monsters on my own."
Klein's cold mask broke for a moment, replaced by surprise.
Shin Yoosoung saw it all.
'Ahjussi is kind.'
She knew his usual facade was a mask.
'But I.'
She clenched her fist and forced a reassuring smile.
"I am a bad girl, so you don't need to worry about me."
It'll be alright.
So leave me here.
"I know I am a burden for ahjussi."
The man's usual cold expression was gone.
Instead, his face was emotionless, his emotions unreadable.
"Shin Yoosoung."
Shin Yoosoung's eyes widened. Although not soft, his voice sounded gentler than usual instead of the usual harsh tone.
The man slowly put her down as she waited for his next words.
Had he accepted? Would he actually leave her here?
Klein hesitated for a moment, searching for what to say, before putting his hand on the child's head.
Shin Yoosoung received the pat, question marks on her face, and Gehrman settled on an answer.
"…I am even worse than you."
Watching the child tilt her head, his lips pulled up slightly into a Gehrman-style self-deprecating sneer.
"So shouldn't we bad guys stay together?"
That should be an answer a child can understand, right?
"Even if I'm a burden?"
Gehrman continued shooting the ground rats approaching, pretending it didn't put a strain on him.
"Then you only have to become stronger."
Shin Yoosoung held her breath.
Somehow, hearing these words felt reassuring.
As if everything would be alright.
They would survive this apocalypse.
Then, tears started flowing down her eyes.
It was only now that she realized the weight of the current situation.
It was now the apocalypse. The world wasn't safe, her family was dead, there were monsters roaming the streets and everything wouldn't be the same ever again.
Yet, at the same time, the presence next to her also brought a great sense of relief.
Gehrman was now the only one she had.
Following him back then had been the right choice.
"But, but…"
Wiping the tears constantly pouring out, Shin Yoosoung argued.
"I'm a bad child."
"It's alright."
"I killed my dog."
"It's alright."
"Do I really deserve…?"
"It doesn't matter. I'll stay by your side anyways."
As Gehrman patiently answered all her questions, Shin Yoosoung cried even more.
"You won't leave me?"
"I won't."
Then, he added.
"That's a promise."
The two continued to trail behind Kim Dokja, Shin Yoosoung gradually calming down.
At that moment, Kim Dokja stopped.
On the wall, a green zone for two people was shining.
They were four.
Kim Dokja's gaze met the one in the green zone, realizing that a variable had occurred in his plan.
[Green Zone 1/2]
Shin Yoosoung's pupils started shaking.
…There was already someone inside.
The reader forgot about the monsters coming from behind and stared at him. There was a guy who should never be there.
"Hey."
Yoo Joonghyuk turned to them.
"Can't you get out? You don't even need to stay in here."
"It is difficult. I am tired today."
There was only one free place.
Holding Lee Gilyoung, the reader's gaze turned to Shin Yoosoung.
Kim Dokja's expression hardened.
They wouldn't be able to survive the night while protecting the children.
Kim Dokja saw Yoo Joonghyuk calmly staring at him. He really wanted to punch the regressor.
Grrrr!
There were the cries of the ground rats chasing them from behind. It was too late to blame anyone. He could feel Lee Gilyoung's breathing.
At that moment, a voice came from the side.
"Give me the children."
Since when was he here?
A silver cane in hand, the man who should have been at the other end of the station was standing there.