Before Benjamin could retort to Canu, I asked Canu first.
"What do you mean by saying it's similar whether we leave in the elevator or not?"
Shouldn't we be in better condition when we leave the leaking underwater base? Why would being trapped in a leaking place and leaving in the elevator be similar? Do you know something about the Infinite Bridge or have any other information? Benjamin shouted at me from the side.
"Hey! I was talking first! Why are you butting in and causing a fuss!"
"That's exactly what I mean. There's no real difference."
"Wait quietly."
I, Eunji-hyun, Benjamin, and Canu, the four of us, were standing next to the elevator door, each saying a word. Suddenly, a creaking sound was heard. Turning my head to find the source of the noise, I saw Kevin, who had taken a corner of the elevator, scratching the elevator wall with the edge of his axe. He then said in a hoarse voice.
"Shut up!"
Everyone who had been talking fell silent at his charisma. Eunji-hyun glanced at us and Kevin, then buried her head back into the elevator circuit. Benjamin, who had been looking at Kevin, grumbled from across from me.
"It's all your fault."
"Does blaming others make your life any better?"
Benjamin lowered his body as if he wanted to pounce on me right away. However, he didn't attack. It seemed to be because Kevin, who was about 10 cm taller and 20 kg heavier, was still looking at us with his axe in hand. He warned me.
"You're lucky today."
Then he moved to stand next to Carter, leaning against the elevator wall and glaring at me and Canu.
Well, if I was lucky today, wouldn't I be lying on a beach, sipping a cocktail, listening to music, or taking a walk under the blue sky?
Instead of being trapped in this deep sea, trying to escape in a flooded elevator with strangers. I quickly dismissed Benjamin from my mind and tried to resume the conversation with Canu.
At that moment, the elevator spoke to the people.
[Over capacity]
The flat, monotonous voice sent a chill down my spine. I realized that although everyone was already inside, the elevator door wouldn't close. I thought it was because the door had been open for a long time or because Eunji-hyun was checking the elevator's internal circuit, but it seemed that wasn't the only reason.
The elevator, with lights on for the 1st to 7th floors and the BA (Basic Area) button, spoke to us as if dismissing us.
[Over capacity]
Everyone turned to look at Eunji-hyun, who was standing next to the door. She looked at the water on the elevator floor and the people, then said emotionlessly.
"It's because of the weight of the water. The elevator can operate, but it can't lift the combined weight of the people and the water above the ankles."
James, looking at the water-soaked elevator floor, asked Eunji-hyun.
"How heavy is the water? The capacity is 50 people, but there are only 12 people here, and the water only reaches our ankles."
Eunji-hyun stared blankly at everyone's faces, as if she didn't want to explain. Yoo Jin, standing next to Kim Ga-young, walked to the end of the elevator, splashing through the water, and then walked back, muttering.
"Assuming the distance from here to the end is 400 cm and from here to there is about 300 cm, and the water level is about 25 cm... Oh, 1 liter of water weighs 1 kg, so divide by 1000."
Yoo Jin stretched out her fingers to measure the water level on the floor and sighed several times. Impressive. She was calculating the weight of the water using a formula. I had just realized that 1 liter equals 1 kilogram.
Yoo Jin bit her lip and narrowed her brows, then said.
"The elevator is marked to carry 3750 kg, but the water alone weighs about 3000 kg. This is a rough estimate, so the weight of the water could be more."
Kim Ga-young, praising Yoo Jin as the best, massaged her shoulders. I, who had been clapping softly, started doing simple multiplication. Assuming an average weight of 75 kg, multiplied by 12 people. So the weight of the people here is about 900 kg.
Assuming the water weighs 3000 kg, at least 2 people need to get off to match the 750 kg limit. At that moment, Carter, hanging from the metal handle inside the elevator with both arms, said.
"I... I'm not getting off."
Benjamin shouted at the people.
"The last people to get in the elevator should get off with a clear conscience."
Logan, who had been leaning against the elevator wall, burst out laughing. Ahahaha! The low laughter of Sam, James, Canu, and others filled the elevator.
Eunji-hyun and Kevin had gotten in early, and the rest had entered the elevator at about the same time. I don't remember who got in early or late. It doesn't seem like you acted with a clear conscience, will people listen to you? As expected, no one got off the elevator after hearing Benjamin's words.
The elevator scolded us.
[Over capacity]
When no one moved, Benjamin pointed at Sam, who was grinning, and said.
"You, you pig. Get off quickly! Without you, two more people can fit."
Sam shouted angrily.
"Do you think I'll get off alone! I'll drag you down with me. Are you ready to get off with a pig? Are you ready? I'll drag you down with one hand!"
Sam stretched out his arms and walked a few steps to the right and left like a crab, causing Benjamin to curse. James and Canu chuckled at the sight. Kevin, shaking his head, looked at the elevator wall and said.
"Whoever gets off, it's best to decide quickly."
Then he scratched the elevator wall again with his axe. Creak.
"I drew a line when I got in the elevator, and the water level has been rising."
Was he trying to scare people? On the elevator wall, there was a line drawn at the height of the ankle bone and another line that had now risen to the calf.
...The water had receded to the ankles and was now rising again. The drainage system couldn't stop the water from rising. Fear began to show on people's faces.
Logan asked the quiet people.
"What, should we have a physical fight and randomly push three people out?"
Logan stretched his neck and cracked it, then said softly. I'm fine with it. Then he cracked his wrists and fingers threateningly. Kevin, in response, tightened his grip on the axe handle. A faint tension swept through the elevator. Logan looked around and asked.
"Is there anyone who wants to get off the elevator voluntarily?"
There was no answer. Logan was looking at Benjamin, and strangely, Kevin was also looking at Benjamin. Benjamin, meeting Logan's gaze and then Kevin's, cursed at them for staring at him.
Do we have time to fight in this elevator? ...Honestly, I would rather just get off than fight to get on the elevator. I'm not usually lucky, and Kevin's axe might slip and fly at me. If Benjamin is forced out, who's next? Who will be the next person?
It might be better to find a healthy way to escape rather than get involved in a fight and get hurt. If that doesn't work, we can go back to the main engine room.
But if I make a decision here, there are at least two people who can be easily chased away by force. I didn't want to see the two people who had worked hard to open the valve be chased away. Besides, I was responsible for the lives of the children in my backpack.
"People are desperate to survive. Who would want to get off here?"
Emma, sitting in the corner, said while submerged in water. She was squatting on the floor, and soon her knees would be submerged, but she didn't move. She was sitting there, soaked.
Thinking that if a fight broke out, quickly getting off and back on might not be a bad idea, I looked at the elevator buttons, which were all lit up. I asked Eunji-hyun almost unconsciously.
"Engineer! Can we have more than half the people get off here, stop the elevator at floors 3 to 4, and drain the water? People can walk up the stairs and get back on at the 3rd floor."
We can avoid the water-filled 1st floor, stop the elevator at another floor, and drain the water before getting on. Eunji-hyun smiled faintly at me and then stiffened her face at the others.
"That's a good suggestion. Does anyone have a better idea? If not, I'd like to adopt this suggestion."
Thinking he would be chased away by force, Benjamin hurriedly pointed at Emma and said.
"Then make her get off first. I'm going to the 3rd or 4th floor by elevator. I worked hard to open the drainage hole! The person who did nothing should get off!"
...Try saying that to Kevin. Kim Ga-young said to Benjamin.
"Pitiful kid."
"..."
"Pathetic kid."
Not understanding the insults or translating them late, Benjamin took a few seconds to get angry.