Chapter 112

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 112: First Night (3)

Step. Step. Step.

With a lighter body and mind, and a drowsy feeling settling in, I stepped out of the large bath.

Then, from the end of the hallway, a loud voice rang out.

"……I just wanted to do well!"

Hmm?

That sounded like the foul-mouthed one.

Hearing a loud crash, I hurried toward the commotion, wondering if a fight had broken out.

It was my room.

Scattered across the floor were my companions, all in their pajamas.

"That old geezer… just kept nagging till the very end…."

The foul-mouthed one slumped onto the floor, their face flushed red, mumbling to themselves with the look of someone who had lost everything.

"Golf isn't even real exercise… it's too damn slow…."

"Ugh, shut up already!"

At that, Yeji, who was already sitting on the floor, snapped and grabbed Jiwoong by the collar.

"Ah! Who drank all of this?! Was it you?!"

"M-my stomach doesn't feel so good… Ugh!"

So…

'They're drunk, huh?'

Thud, thud, thud!

Jiwoong, swaying on his feet, dashed toward the bathroom.

Watching him, Sola crossed her arms and clicked her tongue.

"Ugh… I hate this. I'm going to bed."

"Hey… Just one sip, okay?"

"Shut up. Are you coming or not?"

"Come on! We don't even know when we might die. Can't I have just one drink?"

Smack!

Yeojin got a flick on the forehead and was waved away dismissively.

"Both of you, go to bed. It's late."

"Ahjussi!"

"What about them? I told them they'd get in trouble when you got here…."

Sola furrowed her brows with a worried expression, unlike Yeojin, who was whining.

"I'm not going to scold them. They're all adults."

"Aww, we're turning twenty in a few months, too. Can't we just have one drink?"

"Talk to me again when that time comes."

Maybe everyone was finally letting their guard down.

"Secretary Kim's little brother! Have a drink!"

"I'll take two!"

I get it.

They had been running non-stop until now, and now they found themselves in a luxurious, comfortable place—they wanted to enjoy it.

It must have felt like a break from the restructuring chaos.

'They need to relieve their stress, too.'

High-quality rest.

That applies to mental health as well.

Thinking that, I turned to leave.

'There are plenty of empty rooms.'

There were enough vacant rooms, so I figured I could just pick one.

But then—

"Eunho!"

Jieun, dressed in a tracksuit, came running toward me.

"You’re here?"

She beamed at me.

"Where did all this alcohol come from?"

"Someone grabbed it from the dining hall display… and they gave me a recommendation…."

Her voice trailed off.

Looking closely, her cheeks were red, too.

'She must have been drinking as well.'

When I stared at her, Jieun hesitantly grabbed the sleeve of my shirt and asked,

"Do you remember the first time we met?"

"The day you joined the company?"

"Mm… Not that. The first time we talked."

The first time we talked…

Ah.

"I asked if you needed the conference room. I had to prepare for the weekly meeting."

"…That was the first time?"

"Yes. I remember it clearly. You were probably too overwhelmed on your first day to recall."

"……."

I remember it well.

Back then, my colleagues were buzzing about a stunning new hire wandering around, looking for a meeting room.

But why did Jieun look so surprised to hear that?

"Why do you ask…?"

Just as I wondered if she had something to say, Jieun shook her head as if it didn’t matter anymore.

Then—

"…I’m drunk."

She looked down for a moment before lifting her gaze again and speaking.

So I responded.

"Yes, you look like it."

She really did.

Jieun blinked and then asked,

"Do you want to go for a walk?"

A walk, huh.

Not a bad idea.

The night air would help clear her head, and it would be better for her to sleep with a clearer mind.

Thinking about tomorrow's condition…

'And who knows what’s out there?'

It might be dangerous, so it would be best if I accompanied her.

Just as I was about to nod—

"Oh! Eunho oppa!"

Yeon Bora came running toward us, her hair twisted up like a topknot.

Tap, tap!

She sprinted over with her arms wide open as if she wanted to hug me.

Seeing that, I placed my hand firmly on her forehead to stop her.

"You're not even strong, so why did you drink until you got drunk?"

"You drink to get drunk! If you don’t want to get drunk, drink water, not alcohol!"

Sigh.

"Just one drink, oppa! Please?"

"No. Go to bed. Do you even know what I’ll make you do tomorrow? And you still got this drunk?"

Without realizing it, I ended up scolding her like she was a younger sibling.

But instead of listening, she started tapping her toe on the floor, tilted her head, and spoke up.

"By the way—I’ve been wondering for a while now—"

The way she dragged out her words made her sound just like a typical drunk.

I was about to send her inside when—

"Are you two dating?"

She asked something ridiculous.

"Who’s 'you two'?"

"You and Jieun unnie. Are you guys dating?"

Flinch!!

Jieun let go of the sleeve she had been holding and flinched in surprise.

"Yeon Bora. If you're going to say weird things, just go inside and sleep."

Jieun's face, when she glanced back, was stiff.

She looked just as taken aback.

Thinking it would be rude to drag out the conversation, I quickly cut it short.

"It's not weird—I'm just asking to confirm, just to confirm."

"Why would you even need to confirm that…? Ugh, whatever. We're not dating, so go wash up and sleep."

Jieun was incredibly popular.

She probably didn’t even realize it.

Ever since she arrived, our department's company dinners had suddenly increased in frequency.

Celebrations for giving up on dieting, for the end of the month, even for the neighboring team member’s younger sibling getting a job—any excuse was used to organize one.

All the staff and assistant managers constantly hovered around Jieun's desk, chatting her up.

I never quite understood why they bothered explaining the company's business structure and vision to a temporary secretary on a two-year contract.

'Every time I ate with her, I also got my fair share of attention.'

…Though most of it was about how kind Jieun was to eat with me.

Anyway.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Really."

Hearing the clear answer, Yeon Bora grinned widely.

I pushed down the bitter feelings that came with old memories and spoke again.

But Yeon Bora wasn’t done yet.

"Alright, then I'll go brush my teeth and—"

"Oppa."

She clasped her hands behind her back, stood on her tiptoes, and leaned her face in.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

"I'm twenty-two."

"Huh?"

"I'm not a kid."

"Why are you suddenly saying—"

"Good night! See you tomorrow!"

With that, she blurted out something obvious at full speed and dashed out of the room.

Yeon Bora.

I didn't expect that from her…

"Is she just talking nonsense because she’s drunk?"

I muttered, reaffirming the belief that you really only understand people after getting them drunk.

"…Eunho."

"Oh, sorry. Should I leave? Want to take a walk?"

Jieun, her head hanging low, called my name.

Thinking it was rude to talk while she was still here, I quickly asked, but Jieun had already turned away.

"…I think I’ve sobered up. I'll sleep first."

* * *

The crimson sunset lingered in the sky for a long time.

A long night.

The wait for the night to begin was long, and once it did, the night itself felt even longer before it finally ended.

At last, the night dissolved into the perfect blend of lingering intoxication and soft moonlight.

AM 08:30

Morning had arrived.

[Attention all survivors in the ROK zone.]

[At precisely 9 AM, the new employee training will begin. Please gather at the arena.]

By the time the announcement was broadcast, most people had already gathered in front of the lodging area.

They knew from experience.

At this time, there would be instructions on where to go.

"How was the other lodging?"

"Our place was probably the best, noona! We only had one sheet to deal with!"

"Right? They said they’d switch today… I hope they don’t."

There was a good reason everyone was saying the same thing.

Because—

[With the 'Crimson Serenity’ lodging perk, you will not gain weight despite food intake.]

[You will not experience hangovers after drinking.]

No wonder we drank so much last night.

"Let's be first place again today!"

"Fuck yeah, of course!"

"Awesome! Let's do this!"

Regardless of whether they were Yejin, the foul-mouthed one, or people whose names I didn't even know, everyone was united in spirit.

'I get it.'

Not just because they wanted to sleep comfortably.

Not just because they wanted to eat, drink, and enjoy freely—

'It’s a reward for surviving until now.'

It's filthy and miserable, but at least I lived.

In the end, my choice was the right one.

…And I had proof of that.

'As long as the outcome is satisfying, that’s all that matters.'

"Thanks for the good night's sleep."

Park Gongchan approached me.

Even as a national athlete, he had been running laps around the area since early morning.

Yet, his face was as fresh as if he had slept for 12 hours.

Following behind him, a few soccer players chimed in.

"I haven’t slept that well in ages."

"The lodging was amazing, huh?"

"Oh, uh, yeah."

I wasn't sure why they were thanking me since I wasn’t the one who prepared it.

Maybe they were grateful I picked a good one.

Either way, it was a small step toward earning their trust.

"You go say it."

"Ugh, no! You do it, unnie."

"Just say thank you!"

The bulky guys and idols who had been manipulated by Myung Seungtae were hesitant but visibly more at ease.

Even though they had been brainwashed, their past accusations against me made them reluctant to approach.

[A 'Gate' leading to the 'Arena' has appeared in front of the lodging square.]

[Everyone, please proceed to the Arena!]

"Shall we head out?"

"Yes!"

"Let's go."

Step.

Standing before the 'Gate' the system had created.

At my movement, people lined up behind me like a wave.

Click!

I turned the doorknob and opened the door.

Step.

Taking the first step forward.

Behind me, I heard their footsteps, lighter than yesterday.

['Vision' has been unlocked.]

[You are now moving to the Arena!]

* * *

Our night was long and peaceful.

So I foolishly assumed others had a similar night.

"Everyone… their condition…"

Jieun’s flustered voice was the last thing spoken before the group fell silent.

Bloodshot eyes.

Dark circles hanging deep, showing they had spent the night awake.

Unsteady legs, as if dizzy.

Some even carried a damp, musty smell.

The kind of humid stench you get when wet laundry has been left unattended for weeks.

Or the smell that lingers in a classroom after a group of sweaty students return from playing soccer in the rain.

“Something feels…”

“…off?”

“…Shut up.”

A sharp retort flew toward the whispering Koreans.

The Chinese team members, however, were glaring at only one person.

Me.

“It feels like we’ve become a common enemy, hyung!”

Jaehyuk whispered gravely, but the real problem lay elsewhere.

“We’re missing people.”

“Huh?”

There were too many people to count precisely, but certain areas seemed entirely vacant.

I hoped it was just my imagination.

“Maybe they just overslept?”

Overslept.

With people above them who could end their lives on a whim?

There was no way so many would be that bold.

“Now that you mention it, some doors haven’t opened at all!”

“Yeah, no one’s come out of them!”

“What’s going on? Shouldn’t someone check?”

As unease spread among the crowd—

Click!

One of the closed doors swung open.

“Hrk…”

A man crawled out.

Not on two legs—on two arms and one leg.

“!!”

“What’s wrong with him?!”

“W-what happened?!”

Half of his face was missing.

No, it was still there, but it could no longer be called a “face.”

As if grated against a steel plate, his skin was covered in deep, bloodied gashes.

The remnants of his face dangled, shredded like finely chopped vegetables.

“Ugh…!”

Someone gagged as the man dragged himself forward.

Tap! Ssssshh! Tap tap! Ssssshhhh!

Using only his elbows, he moved, his remaining leg dragging uselessly behind.

His other leg had been ripped apart, mangled beyond recognition—but he was fast.

As if some unspeakable horror were chasing him from behind.

“Sola!”

I called out to Sola and ran forward.

And then—

“What happened?!”

I asked urgently.

“P-please… help me…”

With just half a word left unfinished—

Thud!

His body collapsed.

His one remaining eye, filled with terror, remained wide open.

[CZE and three other zones.]

[All personnel deceased.]

Sway—

Sola, who had rushed forward, nearly collapsed.

I caught her just in time, making her flinch.

“T-this is…”

“…He’s dead. You don’t need to see.”

I covered the trembling girl’s eyes.

【‘The Raven of the Administration Bureau’ clicks his tongue, saying that weaklings who can’t survive the first night wouldn’t have lasted long anyway.】

Silence.

A heavy stillness settled over the fear-ridden air.

And then—

“A-all dead?!”

“You mean everyone who didn’t show up…?”

That was when the realization hit us all.

They had all been from the lowest-ranking zones.

And—

The unopened doors were all gleaming silver.

“The dorms! They were all Silver Blade rooms!”

“!!”

[Earth recruits, 8,001 eliminated. Remaining personnel: 91,999.]

[All surviving personnel attendance confirmed.]

‘All surviving personnel.’

With countless survivors and one confirmed casualty—

[The new employee training begins!]

The training had begun—sharp as a blade, brutal as slaughter.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]