Chapter : 8
Survival Mission (1)
“First, until we officially choose a leader for the safe zone, I’ll take the role temporarily. I’ll make a basic clear plan, so until then, please avoid acting on your own.”
He looked toward his group and spoke to the girl sitting in front.
“Saea, record the player list, the number of donated kits, and some basic information.”
“What kind of basic information?”
“Name, skill types, and skill levels should be enough.”
“Yes, oppa.”
Then he turned back to the group.
“It may feel uncomfortable, but if we’re going to prepare for team battles, we need to understand everyone’s abilities. We’ll write down ours too, so please cooperate.”
One by one, people lined up in front of Saea, handing over their kits and writing their information.
Park Chang-hoon stood beside her, quietly observing each player.
Eventually, it was Dan-yoon’s turn.
He took out four kits.
At that moment, Chang-hoon’s eyes changed slightly.
“Your name?”
“Dan-yoon.”
He briefly considered giving a fake name but decided against it.
If someone later got a lie-detection skill, it could cause problems.
And unless he could change his face, it was something he would have to face eventually.
“That name sounds familiar…”
Saea tilted her head.
“Your skills and levels?”
“Stealth Level 2, Potential Release Level 1, Trap Detection Level 2, Physical Enhancement Level 3. The rest are similar to others.”
Dan-yoon told some truth—and hid some.
Since they were living together, some things couldn’t stay hidden anyway.
He kept one kit for himself not just for emergencies, but to avoid attention.
But it seemed he still attracted attention.
“Physical Enhancement Level 3?”
Chang-hoon spoke loudly in surprise.
All eyes turned toward him.
Dan-yoon glanced at the list.
Almost no one had even reached Level 2.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Oh… I thought earlier you were being reckless, but now I see you had confidence. Could you remove your mask?”
“I refuse. It’s more comfortable.”
“I was wondering if I might know you.”
Dan-yoon stared at him.
It felt like he already knew.
“Haha, just joking. You may not want your face known. I’ll probably ask for your help often, so I don’t want to offend you. You may go.”
Dan-yoon nodded and returned.
Park Chang-hoon.
An uncomfortable person.
Not evil—but skilled with people.
A political type.
The hardest kind for Dan-yoon.
“He looks very intelligent.”
“In an annoying way.”
“Haha, true, hyung.”
Still, he was useful.
He was doing what Dan-yoon didn’t want to do.
Park Chang-hoon was more capable than expected.
Dan-yoon and Pil-ju sat in a science room, reviewing documents he prepared.
In a short time, he collected player data, organized it, and planned routes and schedules for gathering food.
The first team would be the strongest.
After that, teams would be balanced.
No one would be left out.
“Not bad.”
“Yeah. Usually people like this are villains in stories.”
“Haha, villains?”
At that moment, the door opened and Chang-hoon entered.
“Sorry for overhearing. I had business here.”
“It’s fine. We weren’t insulting you. What is it?”
“Normally, I’d say ‘Join us or regret it’… but…”
“I won’t.”
“I figured. So I brought this.”
He handed them canned beer.
“Water and alcohol aren’t considered food. They’re fine.”
That made sense.
Dan-yoon had ignored alcohol before.
But bringing it now was smart.
Click—pssshh!
He handed them one each.
“Have a drink.”
“What do you want?”
“I want to clear up misunderstandings. I’m not a bad person.”
“I never thought you were.”
“Then I want to earn your trust.”
Dan-yoon tilted his head slightly.
What was his intention?
“I’m sorry about earlier, Dan-yoon. But people already know who you are. They just don’t say it.”
“I don’t care.”
“I’m a fan.”
“You don’t need to say that.”
“I watched all your matches. Even that one. I don’t believe the match-fixing accusations.”
“……”
“That match—you clearly wanted to win.”
“……”
“That money transfer was done without his knowledge! He didn’t even know about it for a week!”
Pil-ju suddenly spoke up angrily.
Dan-yoon waved him off.
“I read the explanation articles. Some fans still supported you.”
“I won’t say thank you. I want to forget it.”
“I’m glad to be with you.”
Dan-yoon didn’t reply.
Chang-hoon smiled lightly and left.
After he left, Dan-yoon stayed silent.
“He’s a good person, hyung.”
“You barely know him.”
But still—
His impression had changed.
A strange feeling.
The next day.
The first team left the safe zone.
Four members.
All had Physical Enhancement Level 2 or higher.
“Nice to meet you! You’re Mr. Dan, right? I’m Rainer Hagen. Call me Rainer.”
“Yes. Dan-yoon.”
“I’m Bae Ji-hyun.”
Dan-yoon reviewed their profiles.
Park Chang-hoon – temporary leader, balanced abilities, skill: [Morale Boost]
Bae Ji-hyun – former national archer, ranged attacker, skills: [Rapid Fire], [Mana Arrow]
Rainer Hagen – German trainer, huge muscular body, tank, skill: [Hardening Lv.3]
A balanced team.
Their gear was similar.
Light clothing, with simple armor made from boxes and tape.
Minimal protection for mobility.
Their goal: the nearest food supply point.
“First goal: scouting. Second: food. No casualties.”
They formed a Y-shaped formation.
Dan-yoon and Rainer in front.
Ji-hyun in the middle.
Chang-hoon at the back.
Protecting the ranged attacker.
“It’s a shame we don’t have a healer.”
“There were some.”
“But too weak to help.”
Chang-hoon looked at Dan-yoon’s weapon.
“You killed the Zombie Warrior first.”
“Yes.”
“Only the first hunter gets the weapon. Ji-hyun got hers too.”
He pointed at her bow.
“You don’t use arrows?”
“No need.”
She pulled an invisible string—
A glowing arrow formed.
Whoosh!
It shot forward and crushed a zombie’s head.
“I use Mana Arrow.”
“Of course. But it uses mana.”
Her shooting was precise and deadly.
Dan-yoon thought:
‘She’s strong.’
Zombies appeared occasionally—
But most died instantly from her arrows.
Some close ones were crushed by Rainer.
A strong team.
Then—
“Zombie group ahead.”
They looked forward.
A large group.
About 30–40.
Chang-hoon checked the map.
“No alternate route. Prepare to fight.”
Dan-yoon scanned quickly.
“There’s an evolved one. Back right.”
“Too far to see. A Warrior?”
“Looks like it has a spear.”
“Level 3 vision is really—”
Before he finished—
The zombie threw the spear.
Dan-yoon knocked it away instantly.
“…Looks like a spear-throwing zombie.”
“What kind of zombie is that…?”
