Chapter 126 (1/2)

Chapter 126. Seol Jihu (3)

Silence filled the air. The spectators watched on with varied expressions – Seol Jihu's comrades with stiff faces, the 32 minority members with nervousness, and the 78 majority members with curiosity.

The majority's silence could be seen as a tacit agreement of Audrey Basler's words. Although they weren't agreeing with her openly, what she said must have caught their interest.

That was simply how the human psyche worked. The moment they were directly involved in a problem, the fairness of the situation no longer mattered. Only gains and losses were important.

“Don't think too badly of me.”

Audrey Basler knew this too well.

“Ask them if you want…. Ah! Of course, they might feel disgusted since they have to give up their rewards, but deep inside, I'm sure they're happy to have a chance of survival.”

She said whatever she wanted….

“Anyways, talk among yourselves and come to a decision.”

And came up with the terms of agreement herself.

Seol Jihu stared at her intently. Snake Eyes smiled ferociously, and asked, “What's up with those eyes?”

“Why are you glaring at me like that?”

“…The 78 people from the majority side and the 32 people from the minority side need a symbiotic relations.h.i.+p.” Seol Jihu finally opened his mouth. “With one side missing, the other side cannot conquer the Stage.”

“Mm~”

Basler dragged out the end of her sentence and smiled with her eyes. An ominous feeling welled up inside Seol Jihu, and his mood quickly sunk. He wasn't sure if Basler was doing this on purpose or if this was just her personality. Regardless, she really seemed to be a borne provocateur.

“Really?”

Seol Jihu was about to ask, 'What do you mean?' However, his complexion quickly stiffened. He realized the cause of his previous ominous feeling.

What came next wasn't something that should be said in this place. However, Audrey Basler's mouth didn't stop.

“You might find out… tomorrow morning.”

…In the end, she said it. Cackling to herself, while staring at the 32 minorities.

She shouldn't have said that.

If she knew how the 32 people, the victims of the previous incident included, felt; if she knew why this conference was called for, she shouldn't have said that even as a joke.

After all, that was equivalent to kicking away the chance they barely managed to clutch on to.

Seol Jihu slowly tilted his head up and stared at the sky.

“Kekekeke! Huh? You're mad?”

Did she really think that? Or was she doing this on 'purpose', fully knowing the consequences behind her words?

[Where's all the killing and backstabbing and, you know, the fun stuff? It's gotta be more hardcore than this!]

Perhaps, it was both. Considering the Status Window he saw in Stage 1, she was more than capable of doing so.

[I can guarantee you one thing.]

Suddenly….

[Even if you don't do anything, there will be people who curse you. The more famous you get, the more hate you will receive. Some people will even resent you. That's not the end of it. There will be a ton of people who are going to try to use you.]

Words he had heard in the past brushed past his head.

[Because you're trying to jump ahead.]

Despite how horrible she was, Seol Jihu still thought it was worth it to try and lead her.

Although he failed magnificently the first time, he tried to learn from it and searched for a way to improve. However it was the same in Stage 2.

“Hey~ Are you mad~?”

In truth, he knew the reason. Just like Kim Hannah said, the world wasn't so simple and clear. And he thoroughly realized this through the Banquet.

“Aigo, what are we gonna do~? Our Prince is really angry~”

Giving one did not guarantee receiving one. Stealing two did not require giving two either.

“Okay, I was too harsh. Stop being so angry. Here! Let's shake hands and makeup.”

It was the same with human relations.h.i.+ps. There were those who expressed grat.i.tude for a show of goodwill, but there were also those who considered it a right. There were people like Oh Rahee, who were quick to understand, and people like Audrey Basler, who ignored everything.

“Prince~?”

Thus, the world wasn't a Golden Rule. If the world operated under the law of equivalent exchange, then it would be dyed golden.

“Are you ignoring me?”

So what should he do? If words didn't do any good, what method should he use?

“What are you so worried about?”

The answer was simple. After all, he was looking at it every single day.

“It's easy. Just come to a decision by tomorrow morning, and we can do things your way.”

He shouldn't be waiting or searching for the Golden Rule….

“You understand me, right?”

He had to become the Golden Rule.

“Did you get that?”

He had no intention of playing the role of an 'ally of justice'. He wasn't trying to become someone who was strong against the strong, and weak against the weak.

“Ah, this f.u.c.ker is ignoring me like some mutt on the streets.”

It was just that… if the world was like this… if this was the world he lived in….

“How boring.”

Although he might be late, he would have to adapt to it properly.

“No emotions~ No fun~ I'm out.”

Before he noticed, the sky of the vast field was s.h.i.+ning in a golden light.

'The Golden Commandment.'

…Right. Everything according to the Golden Commandment.

[Your 'Chaotic' level of cognition….]

And thus….

[…changes to 'Golden Rule'.]

[Moderate (Actions and thoughts are sensible; hard-working) / Awakening / Golden Rule (To treat others as they have treated you)]

The moment his standard was set….

“Sit.”

Seol Jihu threw off his mask.

“…Hm?”

Audrey Basler's steps halted.

“I'm not done talking.”

She turned back. A look of ecstasy spread on her face, almost as if she was thinking, 'He's finally reacting'.

Without a doubt, she was enjoying the situation. Fine. Then he had to enjoy it as well.

“Oooh~ Getting feisty, eh?”

“I said, sit.”

When Seol Jihu walked forward, Audrey Basler's head slowly tilted up. The youth stopped right in front of her. When he glared down, Audrey Basler's serpentine eyes curled like crescent moons.

“Scary, scary. You gonna hit me?”

“I won't say it a third time,” Seol Jihu said in a low voice.

“Kik!” Blink, blink. Basler closed and opened her eyes twice before snorting, “I don't want to!”

As if she found the youth to be laughably funny, her face distorted venomously. She yacked, “I was going to let it slide, but you must really be out of your mind.”

It was then…

“Who the h.e.l.l are you to tell me what to—!”

Thwack! Basler suddenly plunked down as her eyes widened. Unable to withstand the instantaneous shock, she fell on her b.u.t.t and pressed her temples at the pain flooding in.

Looking up with a scowl, she saw the youth's fist. Only then did she realize what happened.

She was fl.u.s.tered only for a moment.

“Hey!”

“That b.a.s.t.a.r.d…!”

A few of her comrades tried to step forward but stopped when Basler signaled them with her hand.

“Wow….” With her b.u.t.t still touching the ground, she slowly opened her mouth, “Confident, eh, Prince? It must be nice to have so many friends!”

The smirk never left her face. “You finally showed your true colors…. Fine, I'll bark like you want me to do. I don't see why not.”

“What? You want me to wag my tail too? Like this?” She got on her hands and knees and began to shake her b.u.t.t.

“The one in the minority like the poor old me have to do this to survive….” She sneered while emphasizing the word 'minority'.

“This isn't enough? You're not satisfied? You really want me to bark?” She then opened and closed her mouth repeatedly, pretending to bark.

Knowing why she was doing this, Seol Jihu replied with a calm smile, “Sounds good. Do it.”

“Huh?”

“Bark.”

Audrey Basler's eyes widened.

“Since we're doing this, let's do it right. Ah, how about you pee as well? With one leg up, of course.”

“…What?”

For every problem, there was a bottom line that could not be crossed. Audrey Basler's mischievous face contorted indescribably.

“Ha!” She paused completely. She then dropped her head and slowly got up. “Hiyaa…. You have quite the taste!”

“You wanted to act like a dog, didn't you? I'm just giving good suggestions.”

“You must really think you're something special because I keep calling you Prince…. Oi.” Playfulness disappeared from her expression. One of her eyebrows perked up. “You sure you can handle it?”

“Looks like you're greatly mistaken here. We're not staying still because we're afraid of you. We're afraid of them – the Triads, Umi Tsubame, and Carpe Diem. Got it?”

Seol Jihu smirked.

“Huh? You think it's funny? Sure, go ahead, laugh all you want. But things will be different once we go back to Paradise.”

“Really?” Seol Jihu crossed his arms leisurely. “If it's just you, I think I alone am more than enough.”

“Oh?” Basler rejoiced as if she had been waiting for these words. “Is that your pride as a man? Looks like you have b.a.l.l.s. Then you wanna fight? Without anyone interfering from our teams, of course.”

She stealthily distanced herself and raised her guard up like a boxer. Seeing this with a vacant look, Seol Jihu threw away his Ice Spear and lightly dusted his hands.

“Ha.”

Audrey Basler chuckled.

“You must have seen a lot of mo-” She quickly lowered her upper body and finished, “-vies!”

Then, she abruptly bolted to the side before charging forward in an ambush.

She shot forward like a ray of light, but in the next moment, her proud face became blank. Along with the sound of the air bursting, the youth, who had been standing in a defenseless state, instantly rushed in.

'When…!?'

Thwack! With a clear striking sound, Basler's head forcefully turned. Her body also tilted and she spun in the air. But before she could mutter out a single cry, her left eye turned hot.

“Keuk!”

As expected of a high-level Archer, she didn't fall. However, she had already lost her balance.

“Wai—”

Next, another dull blow struck her head. A short cry rang out. In the end, she stumbled down once again.

She quickly lost her composure. With her head drooped low, she fell into despair. She couldn't believe what was happening. She knew the youth was strong, but how could an Archer lose out in speed to a Warrior of the same level?

That was simply impossible.

“You…!”

As if she couldn't accept the result, she tumbled up and brought one hand to her thigh.

Pang! The sound of the air bursting rang out again. Seol Jihu shot forward twice as fast as before and kicked her hand, which was pulling out a dagger.

The kicked hand flailed in the air, and she could see Seol Jihu with his right hand pulled back.

“Kyaaak!”

When his punch landed, Basler covered her eyes as if her vision had been muddied.