Beyond the Eternity

I slowly approached the girls sitting at the corner. They must have realised someone was approaching them because they raised their heads and looked at me.

It was here I lifted the plastic bags with a smile.

"Are you guys hungry? I bought food. Here, take this and this."

I pulled out the food from the plastic bags and passed it around. Everyone had a share.

"Food? I thought all the stores were already robbed."

"I was just lucky."

"If that is the case, are you sure you want to give us this for free?" Jung Yunhee asked with a curious voice. Was she trying to see what kind of person I was?

"It's only free now. But onwards, you guys have to pay me coins."

"How much?"

"Fifty coins."

"T-That..." Angelica stammered, looking confused. On the other hand, Jung Yunhee titled her head thoughtfully.

"Fifty coins? Isn't that too small?"

"Why? Are you complaining?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, I'm just curious. Although I'm not an expert but doesn't the price of goods increase when it's scarce?"

"True. But I'm just giving you a discount."

"I see."

"No, that's not right. I will pay right now." Lee Jongho said, surprising everyone.

"Jongho-ssi..?"

"Jakga-ssi, I'm sorry but I can't take this for free." He said firmly, then turned to the girls. "You two, how can you be so shameless? He risked his life to get this food and you're thinking of eating it for free?"

There was a slight annoyed expression displayed as he spoke. From an outsider's viewpoint, it looked like he was disciplining a stubborn child.

"Ah!" Angelica turned red. "I'm sorry, I was too short-sighted. You're right, we will have to pay."

"I was going to pay anyways. I don't like freebies."

The situation played out the way I expected. Even so, I couldn't help but to be a little surprised.

"Very well. Does anyone know how to exchange coins?"

"Ah yes. You just open the system window and input the amount of coins you want. Like this."

Everyone opened the window and proceeded with the transfer. I started receiving notifications one by one.

[Angelica Thompson has transferred 50 coins.]

[Jung Yunhee has transferred 50 coins.]

[Lee Jongho has transferred 50 coins.]

A pang of guilt hit me, but it quickly faded. Even if it seemed harsh, it was necessary. Nothing was free in this world, just like Minhyuk said.

I sat down on the floor, pulled out a chicken wing from the plastic bag, and took a bite. The taste of cold chicken meat filled my mouth, and I frowned.

"It's cold," I muttered.It couldn't be helped. In the apocalypse, there was no way to heat or preserve food, so it was natural that the food would be cold.

I sighed. It was really unfortunate. I was once again reminded that this was not the world I knew.

"Hey..." I began, drawing the group's attention.

"Tell me everything that happened while I was away."

***

"I see."

Those were the only words that came out from my mouth. Lee Jong-ho had explained everything that transpired when I was away. At the end of the story, I couldn't help but frown.

Reason? It was because of Lee Jongho's words from the start of the story.

Three days?

The group arrived at the safe zone three days ago. It wasn't a big story. The problem was that I was unconscious for three days straight.

How was that possible? It didn't make any sense. Was I injured to the point where it took me three days to recover?

No, that was not right. After the end of the second scenario, all my injuries were healed due to the after scenario healing effect. Meaning, it didn't take me three days to heal.

So Instead of a physical problem, it was more of a mental problem, huh? That was the only conclusion I could reach. Even so, that didn't explain how I was unbothered throughout those three days.

I racked my brain for an answer but came up with nothing. There was a possibility of that person helping me but the chances of that happening was close to zero.

I opened my mouth and asked my next question.

"Tell me, how you guys found the safe zone?"

"To be honest, it was someone that helped us or else, we would have died."

"Someone helped you?"

"Yes. Not just us but the whole survivors here was saved by that woman. What was her name again?"

Her? A woman?

Lee Jong-ho noticed my expression and continued.

"Ah, yes! I remember now. She said her name was Soo Jinyoung."

My eyes slowly widened.

Soo Jinyoung. It was a name I didn't expect to hear this early. I see. So she has already began to act.

"Where is she now?"

It was possible. If that person was here, then maybe we can use that route. But Lee Jongho's next words immediately shattered that illusion.

"She's not here."

"Not here?"

"She left the safe zone three days ago, the same day we entered."

Interesting. With this information, I was able to determine alot of things. It seems like she was in a hurry. But why? She must have probably gone to museum to fetch artifacts.

The museum itself wasn't particularly remarkable. Its true worth lay in the historical artifacts it housed, which had the potential to be transformed into special weaponry.

It was unfortunate, really. I would have gone there as well, but the risk was simply not worth it.

"What about Lee Kwangsun? Why did he join the mainframe group?"

"Well, it's not a big story. He received a love call from Minhyuk and he joined their group shortly after."

I could understand why he decided to join their group. Compared to the other survivors, the mainframe group was stronger and possessed better weapons and more food. From a logical standpoint, joining them was a good move. However...

"That's not all, right? Did you all receive a love call as well?"

In terms of strength, the doctor was the weakest in the group. So it will be strange if Minhyuk chose to only recruit the doctor and ignored the others.

"I received a love call as well. But I refused."

"I did as well."

Jongho, Angelica and Yunhee. They all received a love call from the mainframe group, they refused their offer in the end.

The reason?

"I didn't like the way they handled things."

"I care for morals or anything. But I felt something was wrong.

"I don't like them so I refused."

Everyone gave their answe. In the end, it was very simple. They didn't like the members of the mainframe group especially Minhyuk.

It was understandable. The mainframe group looked like a reasonable party. But in reality, they were nothing but lowly thugs.

"Also, there's..."

"Kim Jakga."

Angelica couldn't finish speaking becaude someone rudely intruded. I looked behind and saw Minhyuk. Speak of the devil.

"Minhyuk?"

"Can I speak with you..." He glanced at the rest of the group. "Privately?"

I noticed the party were silently glaring at him. Did something happen that I was not aware about?

"Okay, let's talk."

I did not know what happened but with the current atmosphere, I wouldn't be surprised they attacked him.

"Good. Ah! Let's go over there."

As Minhyuk nonchalantly marched off to the distance, I felt someone grab my shoulder. It was Lee Jong-ho.

"Jakga-ssi."

"Hmm?"

"Don't trust that guy. He's dangerous."

"I already know. You don't have to be worried about me."

"But still..."

"Jongho-ssi, I can handle the situation. If I wasn't confident, did you think I would agree."

"Well, you don't look like a careless person."

"Good. You guys wait here, I will be back quickly. You just have to trust me, okay?"

"Alright."

Although he was reluctant, he still released my shoulder and let me go. I left the group location and met Minhyuk who was sitting on a bench and lighting a cigarette.

After all this years, It seems he has not abandoned his bad habit.

"I will go straight to the point. Join my group, Suwon."

Well, he certainly did go straight to the point. Of course, I was already expecting his offer.

"I can offer you an executive position. What do you say?"

"Why me?"

"Why? It's very simple. The last food scouts have not returned for a while now so I assume they have been all wiped out. In other words, we are seriously lacking man power."

"You wanted more people, why didn't you recruit the survivors?"

"It's not as easy as you think. I already tried that but more than half of the survivors here were utterly useless."

Minhyuk frowned as he looked at the rest of the survivors. The survivors were crying children and elderly people.

If you gather multiple killers together, there will be an hierarchy among them. The weak and the strong. The problem was that the people here were too weak to be killers.

"I don't need any random nobody to join my group. I need people that are willing to kill. I need people who are strong."

I see. I think I understand this bastard's true intentions.

"What you're saying is that you need a hitman."

He needed a strong person who he can control at will. In response, a creepy smile formed on Minhyuk's mouth.

"That's correct. We need someone with great strength who can lead the people. "And you are just the guy that I'm looking for."

"Hmm. But why should I join you?"

"It's not a bad offer. You can become the leader of this people along with us. Don't you want to help this people? We never know what will happen in the 3rd or 4th scenario, so shouldn't we work together for our fu..."

"Stop, that's enough."

I stopped him before he finished speaking. I had heard everything that was needed to be heard.

"I don't plan on joining your group. I never will become responsible for this people. They are nothing but dead weight."

Those were cruel words but it was the truth. They were useless people that couldn't even defend themselves. There was no use of nurturing dead weights that will slow me down.

There was no benefit whatsoever.

"More importantly, I don't like the way you guys run things."

I looked at some healthy members of the mainframe group playing cards while the rest of the survivors were starving. They were obviously hoarding all the resources.

"Is that so? I guess it can't be helped."

Minhyuk stood up from the bench and threw the exhausted cigarette somewhere. I was honestly expecting more of a reaction from him.

"If you change your mind later, you know where to find me."

"I won't happen."

"You never know. What was that old saying again? Even the day after tomorrow, we don't know tomorrow. In any case, I'll see you around."

Minhyuk nonchalantly walked away.

I could only stare at the back of the retreating Minhyuk. I was thankful that he left, otherwise, he would have seen my expression.

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