chapter 10

An invisible hierarchy was forming.

Even beasts that were incapable of speech would create a class-based system among themselves. It would be stranger if, in a situation like this one, there were no subtle differences in ranks.

As long as it was a place people inhabited, it was a natural outcome.

“First of all.”

At the very top of the pyramid was Kim Hyunsung, the man who had built this place.

I didn’t know what had occurred whilst finding this shelter, but the people here certainly placed a lot of trust in Kim Hyunsung.

I would have had a similar reaction.

Of course, it was a natural reaction for someone who had suddenly fallen into an unknown land crawling with monsters.

The fact that there was a guy willing to pick up a sword and stand up against those monsters was very reassuring, especially since that guy was foolishly kind.

It was no wonder then, that people admired him.

Next up was Lee Jihye. A woman who had an unexpected windfall from being with Kim Hyunsung.

Unlike Kim Hyunsung, who frequently roamed outside, she spent most of her time in the shelter, managing food distribution, guarding the shelter, and other essential tasks.

There were also some people who could be considered part of ‘Lee Jihye’s Unit’ that held significant authority.

Of course, while Kim Hyunsung was here, they couldn’t abuse or openly take advantage of their power, but it was inevitable whilst he was gone.

“Then where are we, Hyung-nim?”

“You could say that we’re right under Kim Hyunsung, because we have the strength to fight and retrieve food.”

“Umm…”

“It’s probable that they’re dissatisfied with us right now.”

“But at first…”

“Of course, they were sweet to us at first. But I’m sure they didn’t like what happened yesterday. It was like implying that we want to be independent. To put it bluntly: ‘It’s not our job to feed you.’ That was likely the last nail in the coffin.”

“But part of the food they took was ours. Isn’t it natural to say, thanks, instead?”

“Of course, there are people like that too, but… It’s human nature to try to keep new powers in check. Even if it’s just within a small group of people.”

“Does that mean that Kim Hyunsung is keeping us in check?”

“No, Kim Hyunsung doesn’t think of this place as his own in the first place.”

“Then who the hell is so wary of us…?”

“People who think this place belongs to them.”

It wasn’t Kim Hyunsung who was pretending to rule. It was Lee Jihye, the one who was profiting off of him.

“I think I know what you mean.”

“Kim Hyunsung is the figurehead of this group, but she’s the one controlling it. In the first place, Kim Hyunsung doesn’t have time to manage this place since he spends most of his time outside. Where might is required, the one with strength is king, and where food and shelter are a priority, the one grasping them is king. Kim Hyunsung has power, but it’s that woman who has food and shelter.”

“You mean Lee Jihye?”

I nodded slightly.

“That’s right.”

“…”

“One more loaf of bread is enough to win people over and you can send away those you’re wary of. Power is created by discrimination. Jung Hayan is probably one of the ones who aren’t favoured by Lee Jihye… That’s why she was separated from the group and sent out to do rough work.”

“Since when have you been paying so much attention to Hayan-ssi?”

“In the future we will have to keep an even closer eye on her.”

Park Deokgu nodded quietly.

Watching over Jung Hayan was just the beginning.

It was an impulsive judgement based on Lee Jihye and Jung Hayan’s dispositions, ‘Selfish Ambitionist’ and ‘Pure Advocate’. Even so, I thought that I could perhaps really achieve the results I wanted.

***

“Hayan-ssi, you need to do your job properly.”

“Yes? Okay…”

“Everyone is working hard. Hayan-ssi isn’t the only one who has it difficult. In a situation like this, we all have to work together… If you keep up this attitude, we’ll have no choice but to reduce your rations.”

“Yes…”

“It doesn’t matter if you say ‘yes’ or ‘no’… As you may have heard, things aren’t looking bright. It’s not easy to get food from other places, and we also don’t know how long we’ll have to stay here. If a monster comes while Hyunsung-ssi is out, we’ll be slaughtered. That’s why building walls is so important.”

“Yes, I understand. I’m really sorry.”

“Tsk. If you don’t want to get kicked out, don’t slack off and work hard. As more survivors are found, there won’t be any space left for Hayan-ssi. I just don’t understand why people who’ve just joined are so selfish…”

“I’m sorry?”

“It’s nothing. Just do your job properly.”

“Yes, okay. I understand.”

She could see the man who anxiously spoke out turning away.

Subconsciously, she lowered her head.

She wasn’t sure what she had done wrong in his mind, but he didn’t seem to like anything she did.

No, it was natural to not like it.

It was no wonder he was unhappy. It has been a few days already, and she still wasn’t able to fulfill her assigned workload.

‘Stupid.’

She had always heard words such as ‘slow’ or ‘slug-like’, but she hated herself for not being able to move faster even in this situation.

‘It hurts.’

She looked down slightly, and saw her ragged hands. Her fingernails were almost gone. It was painful, but she could definitely empathise with what she had just been told.

‘Everyone is working hard.’

Everyone was doing their best to survive.

Hyunsung-ssi, Kiyoung-ssi and Deokgu-ssi, who were out fighting against monsters, as well as the people who were building walls together.

Compared to before, when she had been frantically running around on her own, not knowing when she would die, this place was akin to heaven.

If Kiyoung-ssi hadn’t helped her at that time, she would have been killed by monsters.

As she remembered how she had clung to him almost the whole way here, her face flushed red.

That was the first time she had been in such proximity with a man.

As she recalled that memory in a daze, she raised her head when she heard a voice coming from beside her.

“Hayan-ssi, I know you have it hard. Let me take that.”

“Ah, Seokwoo-ssi.”

“He’s probably also been under a lot of stress lately.”

“I-Is that so?”

“Yes, Hyunsung-ssi has been going out a lot lately, so building fortifications is very important right now. Jihye-ssi must be thinking the same thing. We don’t know how long we are going to be here, so we have to do everything we can. You’ll have to understand.”

“Ah, I-I know.”

“You seem to be particularly sensitive today. I think Hayan-ssi is one of the hardest working people here… I’ll talk to him later. Let’s go eat together first.”

“Ah… Yes.”

“I heard yesterday that Hyunsung-ssi got food from the starting point.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. I heard it from Jihye-ssi, so it must be true.”

“That’s a relief, hehe.”

Yoo Seokwoo.

He was a man who spoke his mind.

Of course, since he was in charge of her, helping her benefited him too, but most of the time he seemed to just want to chat.

“By the way, isn’t this work hard?”

“O-Of course it’s hard, but there are definitely others who have it rougher.”

“But still, it’s not an easy job… You know, you could cheat a bit.”

“No. I can’t even finish the work assigned to me in the first place… I can’t cheat. Seokwoo-ssi is injured, but you still work with us…”

“I’m overseeing everything, so I don’t have to do much, haha. Actually, I have no problem with this, haha.”

While chatting about various things, they arrived at the food distribution table.

She could see a few people lining up.

Park Deokgu and Lee Kiyoung were nowhere in sight. It was possible that they had already finished their meal or had left to go elsewhere.

‘It hasn’t been long since they came back from hunting.’

Surely they would want to rest.

“Line up and stand here. You can wait for your turn.”

“Yes.”

“Ah. Yes.”

After receiving the food, they settled down in a nice spot. She could see others who were gathering together to eat.

A brief thought crossed her mind to sneak over and join them. However, perhaps because of her timid personality, it wasn’t easy for her to talk or hang out with others in the first place.

“These circumstances are hard for them as well.”

“Yes?”

“I mean the others. It’s tough for everyone. No one can afford to take care of anyone else, and in the case of Hayan-ssi, who came here a bit later, they’re probably even more reluctant.”

“Ah… I-I guess so. A-And I can’t do my job properly…”

“No, Hayan-ssi, you work harder than anyone else. With time, when you get used to it, everyone will accept Hayan-ssi. Just like I do now.”

“T-Thank you for taking such good care of me.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. I just want to get closer to Hayan-ssi.”

“Oh! So do I. Thank you for always helping me.”

Now that she thought of it, she had received a lot of help from this person.

From the very beginning, he had been the first to approach her and help her make connections. He had made her time here a lot smoother.

‘Thank you.’

It happened while she was placing a piece of bread into her mouth. She could feel Yoo Seokwoo grabbing her hand.

“Ah…”

She tried to pull back, but he didn’t let go.

She turned her head and saw Yoo Seokwoo looking at her.

“L-Let go of me. P-Please…”

“What?”

“L-Let go. Why, all of a sudden…?”

“But just now…”

“T-That’s not what I meant.”

She looked around hurriedly, but there was no one else there. It felt like Yoo Seokwoo’s always-smiling eyes had changed a little.

His smile was nowhere to be seen and a look of ridicule had taken its place.

“Hayan-ssi.”

“Y-Yes?”

“Did you think that I was doing you a favour?”

“W-What are you talking about?”

“If you are taking something, you also have to give something back. You really don’t know shit.”

“W-What are you saying. W-Why are you being like this…”

“You know how much I’ve done for you, don’t you?”

“I-I don’t know much about that. I appreciate your help, but…”

“You… Are you really that stupid? Or are you just pretending to be stupid? Should I be more direct?”

“J-Just let go of my hand now. Ah, it hurts. It hurts…”

“If you want your time here to stay pleasant in the future, you better be nice to me. You stupid woman. You still haven’t figured it out?”

His eyes were scary. She had never seen anyone look at her like that before.

She didn’t even know why things had turned out this way.

What she knew for sure was that she wanted to get out of there.

As she desperately tried to pull her hand away, she heard a loud voice from behind her.

“Hey, Hyung-ssi. If you don’t want that hand of yours to be broken, you better let go.”