"Those mainframe bastards can't be trusted."
"Can't we just kill them all and be done with it?"
After I explained the story from the beginning to end, Lee Jongho's and Jung Yunhee's responses were as such. It was expected.
"... Isn't killing them going too far? Why not leave."
"No. This time, I agree with Yunhee. Those guys are nothing but lowly bastards. They treat people as if they are cattle and kill anyone that goes against them. Just like they tried to do to us."
"Wait, they tried to do something to you guys?"
"Yes. It happened this morning. When we refused to accept their love call, they ambushed us when we were scouting for food."
Lee Jongho's body trembled as he glared at the men carrying the pipes. There was no feeling of fear. Instead, it was his bottled up rage targeted towards the mainframe group.
I see. I finally understand the situation now. Not only did the mainframe group have total control over the sector's safety zone, they will eliminate heretics that goes against their authority. It was akin to followers of a deity meting out punishment to those who defy their teachings.
I looked between the weak-looking survivors and the healthy people from the mainframe group.
There was no way the survivors wouldn't have figured out the situation by now. It was too obvious yet none of them chose to retort. Why? It was simple. They were weak. They couldn't retort against the hand that was feeding them.
Once humans were caught under some false sense of safety from a particular group, a completely one-sided relationship will be formed. It resembled the way some companies manage their employees—creating a one-sided relationship and maintaining control over them.
"The people are hopeless. They are too tame to the mainframe group. If nothing is done, the situation will only worsen."
Indeed, it would be better to just eliminate the mainframe group in a single sweep. However,
"No, not yet."
It was too early to make a move. The opportunity to act will naturally arrive. We just needed to be patient.
"Let's wait a little."
If my calculations were correct, that person would make an announcement anytime from now.
Time slowly ticked by. A few hours has passed and the rest of the group has fallen asleep. I was keeping watch.
"Everyone, gather around. I have something important to announce."
A voice echoed.
It was Minhyuk. He stood in the middle of the safe zone with his lackeys standing behind. He finally began to move as anticipated.
"... Hm, what's going on?"
Angelica raised her head and rubbed her eyes. She just woke up from sleep so she wasn't awake of the situation.
Jung Yunhee woke up as a result of the commotion. As for Lee Jong-ho, he did not sleep. As expected from an ex-soldier.
"Minhyuk is making an announcement."
"Announcement? About what?"
"Just watch and you will see."
He decided to act later than expected. Let's hear what he wanted to say. In no time, Kim Minhyuk began to speak.
"Due to the lack of food supplies, we will be shortening everybody's rations."
If only the readers could see this. It only took a single sentence to turn everyone's expression into a frown.
"What the hell?!"
"The food was barely manageable level before but now you want to shorten the rations. How are we going to survive if you do that?"
"Don't the scouts get more food? You think we don't know."
Minhyuk started receiving curses left and right. Even so, he didn't stop smiling and remained calm.
"Your words are true. Indeed, the scouts get more food."
"Then..."
"However, it was reasonable. They put their lives at risk while you all just sat here and do nothing. If you want more food then you need to become a food scout. It's a simple story, yes?"
"Are you crazy?"
"Do you want use to die? How are we going to fight against the monsters?"
"That's right. We will definitely die if we go outside."
Kim Minhyuk responded to the grumbling crowd with a harsh voice.
"Hmm, is that so? You don't want to die you say. What about the people that volunteered as scouts? Did you think they wanted to die? No. Yet they still went outside.
It was not because they were mad. They did so because they didn't want to starve. And yet here you are, whining like toddlers."
"That..."
The crowd couldn't speak anymore. It was as if someone has sealed their lips. It was Minhyuk's words.
"You foolish girl, that will only make you the target of their resentment."
"Are you saying I should just watch?"
"Yes. Just sit back and watch this time."
"Is watching the only thing I can do? Isn't there an alternative?"
Her body began to shake. It seems she must have gone through a lot during my absence. Not everybody could adapt to this new world.
I sighed.
"What I'm trying to say is that you don't need to act. Everything will settle itself out if you just wait."
"How can you be sure?"
"Just watch. Trust me."
The message should be arriving anytime now.
[A Sub Fable is being generated.]
A system window appeared infront of me. It was a scenario message.
+
[ Sub Fable ### — Hunting ]
Type: Sub
Difficulty: E ~ D
Clear conditions: Hunt down the monsters and collect 50 cores.
Time Limit: 72 Hours.
Reward: ???
Penalty: ???
+
Vooom—!
Something vibrated and manifested in the grasps of the people. It was an inventory pouch.
This Fable was pretty straightforward.
Hunt down monsters and collect the loot. It's a quest that was commonly featured in a video game.
"We need to hunt down monsters and collect their cores?"
"It's just like a quest in a video game."
"This pouch is for storing the cores, right? Will it fit though?"
The crowd muttered among themselves. Then someone shouted upon noticing the dome was still intact.
"The safe zone is still here!"
"It didn't disappear!"
The people became happy that the safe zone didn't disappear upon the arrival of the new scenario. What a useless bunch.
"Fools."
Maybe the people were either blind or just stupid. The theme of this scenario was not survival but hunting.
You needed to hunt down monsters and collect their cores. That was the only way to survive the trial, not by staying in the safe zone.
Angelica looked at me with a stupid expression and opened her mouth.
"Jakga, did you know..."
"Not really. But I have a hunch something like this was bound to happen. After all, it was too peaceful. Plus, that fairy likes to mess with humans."
"I see. That makes sense."
I ignored Angelica for the time being and looked at Kim Minhyuk.
"Everyone, listen to what I have to say."
Minhyuk spoke to attract the attention of the crowd. His expression turned serious. He seems to have noticed as well.
"You guys heard it, right? I assume you already know what you need to do."
Everyone nodded their heads. In order to survive, everyone needed to hunt down monsters. Of course, there were still people who were terrified of the fact that they had to fight monsters.
But it can't be helped. If they don't fight, they will die. That was just the truth of the story. They can't depend on others anymore.
This world was far too harsh to allow such dreams.