Chapter 18 (1/2)
Chapter 18 – Day 5, 5th Floor Social Standing
According to my estimate, there were 30 people left, which was more than I thought there would be.
The remaining people weren't communicating with each other. They knew those left at the end would have to form a team so they just watched each other's faces. It seemed like they wanted to stay until the end.
Tak.
There was a loud sound as I closed the book and 30 pairs of eyes focused on me. “Please hand me the leftovers from our meal and water.”
“Yes!” I ate the remaining food and drank water. I had already eaten but some time had pa.s.sed and I was quite hungry, so why shouldn't I eat the remaining food? Of course, I finished it quickly and turned my attention back to the book.
“Again? I'm bored because you're only looking at books.”
“Read this.” I threw the mathematics book at Yang Su-jin and concentrated.
[Reading Comprehension. Lv 3. 44/400]
[Language Acquisition Lv 2. 187/200]
[English (Reading, Writing)Lv 3. 13/400]
Some time pa.s.sed and I saw a shadow in front of me. I looked up to see a man standing over me. His angular face and thick eyebrows gave off a tough impression. When he opened his mouth, a thick and calm voice came out. ”I'd like to go with you.”
”Your name?”
“Kwak Yu-han.” I looked at the list on the wall. Kwak Yu-han was in 7th place. “If you let me go with you&h.e.l.lip;”
“Wait there.”
”&h.e.l.lip;”
”Do you want to go with me? Then wait until everyone is gathered.” Kwak Yu-han's eyes widened like he was surprised and he nodded. He sat down against the wall and leaned on it.
That was the beginning. After seeing me accept Kwak Yu-han so easily, the rest of the people started to gather around. ”I-I will go as well.”
”My name is&h.e.l.lip;” I had put on a wicked act. In order to get what I wanted, I was a powerful person who did terrible things without changing my expression.
So what were their motives for going with someone like this? Kill me or 'eat me'? It was an easy way of thinking, but would all thirty something people think the same thing? I needed to think more realistically.
I looked at the crowd of people gathered and raised my index finger before I made a 'shh' gesture and everyone fell silent. This compliant response was my evidence. In general, there weren't many who would choose to fight someone stronger than them. They would rather choose to go under that strong person.
“Excuse me, you there in the front. Your name?”
“Kim Jong-gyu. I&h.e.l.lip;”
“Rank.”
“125&h.e.l.lip;” I raised my hand to stop him. ”Huh?”
“I would appreciate it if you get out of the way so I can see the others.”
Kim Jong-gyu's complexion changed. “Nope. Can you just listen to me for a minute? Just please take me. If you let me accompany you then I will do whatever Kim Hee-chul ssi tells me to do. So&h.e.l.lip;”
He was a fairly educated person so his words flowed smoothly, but it didn't matter. “Excuse me, Ajuss.h.i.+.” I interrupted Kim Jong-gyu and pointed a finger. His head looked in the direction of my finger like a dog. He saw the people silently watching the conversation.
“See them? Do you think that any of these people will be less hardworking than Ajuss.h.i.+?”
”&h.e.l.lip;” Kim Jong-gyu's expression was embarra.s.sed. It was a smart idea but he had too many compet.i.tors. A person with the strength of two people. Two people who moved as one. I had wondered if it was easy to break through this dungeon, but I hadn't been able to find a good answer.
But that was before killing someone in this dungeon. I would gain the 'talent' they had in the dungeon. It wasn't 1+1, but rather 1+0.1~0.2. I hadn't suddenly become a genius just because the loser was killed.
Moreover, considering that techniques weren't pa.s.sed down if someone was killed, the best way to break through this dungeon was to work as a team. Of course, it wasn't that easy. Trust didn't suddenly sprout from the ground.
Even if two people who were similar in skill were able to hold hands and negotiate, it was hard to trust one another unless they believed in each other thoroughly. But what if they weren't equal? What if there was a clear hierarchical relations.h.i.+p?
Obedience. Rather, the one on the bottom could be comfortable as they obeyed the one above. By giving up that initiative, I had to be confident that the person wouldn't betray me.
The second successful candidate was a boy around 20 years ago. He was somewhat defiant and handsome. Compared to the well-grown body, his face was still immature. ”Kim Ha-jong. 19th place.”
“Go wait at the wall.” Ever since Kim Jong-gyu's exclusion, half the people had turned away silently. Perhaps they were ranked lower than Kim Jong-gyu. There wasn't the least bit of value in bringing them with me.
The third and fourth people that I picked were a set. There was one girl who looked around Yang Su-jin's age. The other person was a boy who seemed to be one or two years older. ”Siblings?”
”Yes. My brother is Lee Sang-hoon. I am Lee Min-ju.”
Compared to the older sister's att.i.tude, the younger brother seemed to be in a poorer condition. There was no eye contact and his shoulders were slumped. “My brother is ranked 185th but I am 15th.”
“Are you a set deal?”
“My brother's share&h.e.l.lip; No, I am confident that he can do it.”
“This pair would be useless.” Yang Su-jin spoke in a mocking voice towards Lee Min-ju. She was looking at Lee Min-ju with dissatisfaction. Lee Min-ju was glaring back.
Clack!
”Ah!” I hit Yang Su-jin in the back of the head and nodded to Lee Min-ju.
“Go to the wall and wait.”
“Thank you!” The sister pulled her little brother away with saying a word.
“A-Are you really going to take them?”
”Are you jealous of a younger woman?”