Chapter 14 (1/2)

Episode 2: Exodus / Chapter 14: Encounter (1)

TL: Myoni

Edited: Myoni, Yoni

My mother worked at a design company. She liked to make everything. The fans and mobiles she made would always be my toys. I wasn’t good with my hands. Instead, I would watch my mother as she made things. My mother would put snacks next to me as I watched her make pants and bags. I spent my childhood eating snacks while watching her quick hand movements.

When I was alone, I usually read books. Once I went into high school, my mother allowed me to use the T.V. and the computer… but I kept my habit in reading books. Although I read things like travel magazines, I would mainly read books on design, architecture and programming. Perhaps it was the influence of my mother but I wanted to be a person who made things when I grew up.

Choi Hyuk opened his eyes. Early morning. He slowly relaxed his heightened senses. He wrapped the Fang Saber and Predator’s Blade he untied yesterday and put on the Tireless Boots. He took out a toothbrush and toothpaste from his bag and roughly brushed his teeth. He checked his smartphone just in case but his smartphone still wasn’t working.

He stepped out into the hallway. He could smell something delicious.

And there was Jung Minji.

“You should eat before you go.”

She started to boil and fry the leftover food that she had eaten with her subjects. Her subjects returned in an orderly fas.h.i.+on.

The people who smelled the warm food naturally found their way to the cafeteria. Choi Hyuk followed Jung Minji to the cafeteria as well. All 452 survivors gathered in the cafeteria. Among them, 349 people were part of the Crazy Knight King Jung Minji’s troops and 103 were part of the Slave King Song Simin’s troops.

24 people deserted them at night and Kim Hyunbaek and his executives, in total 7, had died. The 98 people left from Kim Hyunbaek’s group were absorbed into Jung Minji’s troops. Above their heads was a symbol of a b.l.o.o.d.y knight.

7 of the deserters came from Jung Minji’s group, 15 from Kim Hyunbaek’s and 2 from Song Simin’s. Unexpectedly, Song Simin’s group had the least number of deserters.

While everyone was eating, an announcement appeared.

[The 24 who didn’t return in the morning. Perished.]

“As expected…”

People murmured to themselves. They would never see the 24 who had left yesterday night. And ‘deserter’… Jung Minji’s guess was right. They were making them into an army. Although, he didn’t know what the army was for.

Choi Hyuk just grinned.

Soon after, the mission for today was announced. No… a 30-day mission was announced.

——————–

[Throne Game + Survive and Escape]

All of Gangdong district has become a war zone. You cannot go past Gw.a.n.gjin bridge in the north and the stadium in the south.

On the 30th day, the locations of escape codes will be announced. Only the troops who have obtained the escape code may escape.

The locations of places with living supplies will be announced.

[Locations of supplies that are currently close to you]

D Mart

Herb Astronomy Park

——————–

The locations of supplies were all within 30 minutes of the school.

“Survive…? Is it telling us to have a free-for-all for supplies?”

Choi Hyuk bit his teeth.

The somewhat lively atmosphere became chilly. To survive and escape… it may be as hard or harder than yesterday.

In this atmosphere, Jung Minji made an announcement.

She was troubled over it during mealtime but after seeing the new announcement, Jung Minji made up her mind.

‘The rule about absolutely following king’s orders is gone. Unlike the test yesterday, this time, they want us to really show our leaders.h.i.+p skills. Then, I need to clarify the issue about Kim Hyunbaek.’

So that she could justify herself if a controversy arose. Jung Minji announced.

“As everyone knows, yesterday, Kim Hyunbaek died. No, Kim Hyunbaek and 6 executives of the Heckler troop died. In their drunken stupor, they molested a female student and committed other devious acts. They ignored our restraining order and even launched a pre-emptive strike. All 7 died in the fight. I am sorry we couldn’t resolve it peacefully.”

The cold atmosphere of the cafeteria calmed down a level. There were many points of suspicion. Who was molested? Did the Heckler King really launch a pre-emptive attack? Luckily, the fight began after Kim Hyunbaek took his close friends to drink elsewhere. There were no witnesses. But who would speak out? After the survivors said so. They even said they were sorry they couldn’t resolve it peacefully.

Only Song Simin raised his hand and asked.

“Did you have to kill him?”

“There was no other choice.”

That was it.

Afterwards, their destination was decided. Jung Minji and Song Simin allied together and went to D Mart.

There were some who suggested visiting their homes but they were quickly shot down. As the sun rose, they could see the area in front of the school lay in ruins. Smashed cars. As if someone had gnawed on the bones, there were pieces of bones and flesh everywhere. It was unreasonable to split up and visit their homes in this situation. Besides one person, Choi Hyuk.

“Are you going to be fine by yourself? We don’t know what it’s like outside.”

“It’s fine.”

“Okay.”

Jung Minji wanted to be with the strong Choi Hyuk but once Choi Hyuk refused, she didn’t ask again.

Choi Hyuk left the still eating troops of Jung Minji and Song Simin and walked out of the school entrance by himself.

As soon as he left the entrance, he ran towards his home.

Just what happened? In a day, the city lay in ruins. The more he ran, Choi Hyuk’s worry for his mother turned to anxiety.

However, Choi Hyuk didn’t find any traces of his mother in his home. Looking at the sink filled with dishes, it seemed like his mother never made it back home yesterday.

‘Is this despair? Or hope?’

He couldn’t guess. That it was hopeful since she didn’t walk through the ruined streets. Or if she couldn’t return due to a catastrophic event.

His heart raged with a burning anger and anxiety. Choi Hyuk swallowed those emotions down.

He walked down the stairs because the elevator was broken. He left the apartment complex. And Choi Hyuk stopped when he felt a chill. A different air blew in the apartment complex. His 20/10 vision looked at his surroundings. There were one, two, three people looking down at him from the apartment windows.

And a disgusting smell.

He saw those people waving their hands, it was desperation. He could clearly see their meaning. ‘Leave! It’s dangerous!’

Choi Hyuk clenched his teeth. The reason why he decided to move alone was first to check if his mother was safe. But, that wasn’t all.

‘Throne Game + Survive and Escape, this time, two games are combined into one.’

If you only looked at the mission itself, you would think that this was mainly about the ‘Survive and Escape’ but it was definitely a continuation of the Throne Game. If that was the case, there was a need to faithfully uphold his role as the ‘King without Subjects’. To make the eyes of the creators who were hidden behind the scenes widen, to become the real winner, he couldn’t be lazy or compromise.

‘The fact that there is a rule about the King without Subjects means that there is a way to become the king of this game without any subjects.’