novelraw Chapter 10 : I Don't Want to Stand Out (4)
Chapter 10 : I Don't Want to Stand Out (4)
Chapter 10 - I Don't Want to Stand Out (4)
“Why is he taking so long?”
Fumito grumbled, chewing on a hot dog.
“The Commander went to report to the Commander-in-Chief on the way. Taebaek should be on his own...”
Fumito casually shifted his gaze.
Rock was walking alongside him. She was wearing a bodysuit, with the sleeves of her outer jacket tied in a knot around her waist.
In addition, she wore a foldable mask that fit the contours of her jawline perfectly. Infrared lines spread across the mask like blood vessels, blinking on and off with every breath.
“That Taebaek guy, maybe he got lost on the way. Rock, what do you think? It seems like he got lost, right?”
Nod, nod.
Due to the special nature of her ability, Rock refrained from speaking as much as possible. Her silent demeanor was like a stone, which is why she was called Rock.
“You think so too, right? Anyway, they made the layout of the headquarters too complicated. It's a real maze. Even I, who's been here for two years, get confused sometimes.”
The infrared lines on the mask blinked three times. Translated, it meant, 'That's because you're an idiot, Fumito.'
“Compared to the average person, I'm in the upper ranks! If the comparison group is you or Da-hee, how many people in the Resistance wouldn't be considered an idiot?!”
Rock, who had been shaking her head, suddenly shot him a cold glare.
“You think I'll get scared just because you suddenly change your ga—mph!”
Rock suddenly shot her arm out. She shoved the hot dog Fumito had been mumbling around deep into his mouth, all the way to the root of his tongue.
Fumito's face turned ashen. He pounded on his chest, swallowed the hot dog, and then shouted.
“I almost died! Even if you can't talk, you need to do something about those violent hands of yours-”
Rock wasn't looking at Fumito; she was looking past him. He then turned his head in the direction Rock was staring.
In the distance, a wall of people had formed. After exchanging a glance, the two of them also headed over.
Murmur, murmur.
The people were watching something. Since the backs of their heads were blocking the view, Fumito and Rock had to move around for a while.
Then, both their eyes widened in surprise at the same time. Their gazes landed on a familiar face.
“Huh, huuh?”
Taebaek, whom they had been eagerly searching for, was there. And at his feet, some blond guy was kowtowing deeply.
“Rock. That person over there...”
Both their eyes were fixed straight ahead.
“That's the 8th Battalion's playboy, James, right?”
Rock nodded at Fumito's question. She was just as dumbfounded.
“But why is Deputy James doing that?”
James was an ace whose stock was rising rapidly in the Resistance. The fact that he had earned the position of Deputy of the 8th Battalion just one year after joining was proof of his excellence.
...That James. Why was he in such a state? It couldn't just be Fumito's lack of intelligence, because the expression on the face of Rock, a brainiac with a shining IQ of 158, wasn't much different.
“I can't stand the curiosity.”
Just as Fumito was about to tap the shoulder of the person in front of him to ask, a low voice echoed through the corridor.
“Kneel.”
It was Lee Taebaek's voice. He continued, his gaze devoid of emotion, as if looking at a worthless insect.
“That is our eye level.”
Fumito shuddered with thrill.
“In... insa...”
If you were a real man.
“Insane.”
Your heartstrings would surely be plucked.
Meanwhile, Rock, who was with him, got goosebumps all over, as if she'd just found a cockroach in the corner of a room.
'W-What's with that line? It sounds like something straight out of a comic book.'
Wondering if she was the strange one, she glanced around. Two-thirds of the crowd had an exhilarated reaction like Fumito's; those who were doubtful like her were in the minority.
It was the aftereffect of Taebaek buffing his Spirit. Spirit was a stat that affected not only the caster but also those around them.
'Fumito's an idiot, sure, but why is everyone else acting like this?'
Rock was experiencing cognitive dissonance. It was a shock that more than half the onlookers were deeply moved by Taebaek.
Rock had had high hopes for Lee Taebaek. His outward appearance was that of a fairly normal person, quiet even.
'That's what I thought.'
Her fingers curled up like squid on a hot grill. Cringing, so cringey. Her fingernails were digging into her palms.
'Kneel?'
The sight of him calmly spitting out a line that not even a middle schooler would use made her chest tighten.
The one normal person?
Nope.
He was perhaps talented enough to claim the title of the craziest bastard even in the 9th Battalion, a den of madmen. The reason people were so thrilled was probably because of his handsome face, not his words.
So this is what they mean when they say a handsome face provides its own plot armor.
'At least I have to keep my head on straight.'
Rock shook her head vigorously, clearing her thoughts.
Regardless of the circumstances, if they caused friction with the 8th Battalion, it would be the 9th Battalion that suffered the consequences.
The 8th Battalion Commander, Dr. Pepper. Because he nitpicked the 9th Battalion over every little thing.
— The budget allocated to the 9th Battalion is too large compared to their headcount, their duties, and their value.
Therefore, the 9th Battalion's budget should be cut, and that money should be redirected to his own unit, the 8th.
Pepper was said to constantly hound the Commander-in-Chief with this argument.
'It hasn't been approved yet thanks to the Commander-in-Chief's discretion, but it's true that the voices of complaint against the 9th Battalion are loud.'
Suddenly, Rock glared at Yoo Da-hee with narrowed eyes. Standing next to Taebaek, she wore an indifferent expression.
There was no way Yoo Da-hee couldn't predict the trouble brewing... She was probably just too lazy to care. Rock resigned herself to the fact.
'I'm the only sane one here.'
Rock was about to take a step forward, filled with a sense of responsibility. But before she could, the sound of slow footsteps echoed out.
“The first rule of the Resistance: We are united for the great cause of 'liberation,' therefore we avoid infighting. However...”
In an instant, the bustling surroundings fell silent. The gazes that had been fixed on Taebaek turned toward the source of the voice.
Immediately, an incredible scene unfolded. As if on cue, the wall of people split to either side. The corridor, which had been like a clogged drain, was instantly cleared.
Fumito and Rock, quickly coming to their senses, also joined them. They stood at attention with their hands behind their backs, pressed tightly against the wall.
As the members formed ranks, the Commander-in-Chief folded one of the two fingers he was holding up in a V-shape and spoke.
“An exception is made for traitors.”
Kang Hyunseong assisted the Commander-in-Chief, standing just close enough to almost step on his robe. He shot a glance at Fumito and Rock.
After letting out a deep sigh, he once again followed the Commander-in-Chief. It seemed those two didn't know the full story either.
“Second, the Resistance repays the debts of its members.”
The Commander-in-Chief bent his remaining finger and added.
“Favors are repaid twofold. Grudges, tenfold.”
The Commander-in-Chief stopped five paces away. Kang Hyunseong stood two paces behind him. The atmosphere changed.
“The young man bowing before you is one of our members.”
The face screen gleamed smoothly as a voice flowed out. The tone, of course, was mechanical.
“But I've just witnessed one of our precious members being humiliated by an 'outsider'. As the Commander-in-Chief, what should I do? I suppose I'll have to repay this grudge, won't I?”
“......”
At those words, Lee Taebaek quietly raised his eyes. Though he was just standing still, he exuded a detached aura.
However, a change occurred in Lee Taebaek's expression. It was a subtle change that one wouldn't notice without watching closely.
'I'm fucked.'
......
Lee Taebaek was burning up with anxiety.
A super big shot who had appeared out of nowhere.
If it had been a moderately important person, he wouldn't have been this nervous.
'The Commander-in-Chief is in a league of his own.'
With a single nod of his chin, he could move the entire combined force of the Resistance, the darkness of Lake City.
His heart was pounding. It felt like his pores were opening up.
'I can't get scared.'
Especially since his opponent was the Commander-in-Chief.
Strain your eyes and clench your jaw to maintain a poker face.
Taebaek chewed on his lower lip, thinking of a brilliant witty remark to overcome this total mess.
There had to be a clue. The mindset of a gamer and the applicable knowledge of a developer reared their heads.
'The Commander-in-Chief is set up as a character who likes to test people. There's a high probability that even this threat is a kind of test.’
A sharp glint appeared in his eyes. His enhanced Spirit and the newly acquired 'concept' quickly quelled the turbulent storm within him.
'It's fine if they think I'm a madman, no, let's just brand myself with the impression of being a madman.'
The Resistance holds madmen in high regard. They say there's but a paper-thin difference between venomous spirit and madness.
The fact that madness is a key criterion for member selection says it all.
'Let's just think of this as one more dance on the edge of a knife.'
Having steeled his resolve, Taebaek muttered.
“How absurd.”
The members' eyes lit up with fury.
They lowered their hands to their hips. Where their hands went, heavy firearms and blades hung.
It was, in every sense of the word, like walking on thin ice. One wrong word, and they looked ready to turn him into a beehive.
“Stop.”
The Commander-in-Chief stopped the members with a hand gesture. He cocked his chin arrogantly, as if daring him to say more.
“Alright, Mr. Outsider. What is it that you find so absurd?”
“If repaying favors and grudges is the rule of the Resistance, then I deserve a reward. Yet you spoke of a grudge. If this isn't an absurd situation, what is?”
“A favor? What favor?”
Lee Taebaek didn't reply immediately to the Commander-in-Chief's question. He created a pause, adding weight to his words.
A moment later, Taebaek spoke again.
“I was the one who was insulted. This blond guy shoulder-checked me first. In the underworld, you know what that means.”
This is a world where you get stabbed just for making eye contact on the street. A shoulder check? That's a challenge to a life-or-death duel.
“But I let him off with just making him kneel.”
It was a bluff that wouldn't fool anyone. But this shallow trick was the only solution that came to his mind.
Dammit.
“...Commander-in-Chief, you must have realized it. That if I had really wanted to, this blond guy's head wouldn't be on his shoulders, but rolling on the floor.”
“If that had happened, your head would be rolling right next to his.”
The Commander-in-Chief retorted chillingly. His heart ached. It wasn't just a feeling; he felt a physical pang of pain.
“Now that I hear it, you're not entirely wrong. It does seem that James started it. And since I've also just heard about your exploits, your words carry some weight.”
In that brief moment, the Commander-in-Chief had checked the CCTV feed on his helmet's internal display.
“So, since you spared our member's life, you're here to collect a reward for it?”
The Commander-in-Chief's voice was full of amusement.
“That's the plan.”
“You, you must not have very good eyes. It seems you're having trouble grasping the situation.”
“You have to be a big fish to be seen by a whale. I don't care how many small fry there are.”
“Wh-What?! Th-the nerve of this guy!”
The members flared up. They were already holding back, so being suddenly treated like minnows was enough to make them furious.
But that anger did not last long. Because the Commander-in-Chief suddenly burst into a broad laugh.
“Hahahahahaha!”
The sound, a mixture of a mechanical tone and a real voice, was heard in multiple layers. The nerve-grating laughter echoed for a long while.
The Commander-in-Chief spun around. His robe spread and folded like a handheld fan.
Step, step.
He began to walk away. Kang Hyunseong followed, his face showing that a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
“Ah, right.”
The Commander-in-Chief turned only his head to glance in Taebaek's direction. A pair of crescent moons formed on his face screen.
“My welcome was late. Welcome to the Resistance, Lee Taebaek. Let's see each other again soon.”
Leaving those words behind, the Commander-in-Chief departed with Kang Hyunseong.
As their figures disappeared into a dot, Taebaek rubbed his solar plexus. A warm feeling churned in his chest.
‘…Looks like I managed to get through it, somehow.’
That was enough. While ignoring the thick, piercing gazes on his skin, his eyes met James's. James opened and closed his mouth, then lowered his eyelids.
I hope no hard feelings remain.
While he was having such futile worries, he was pulled away by rough hands. Fumito and Rock had hurriedly grabbed him and bolted.
And thanks to the two of them acting so quickly, Lee Taebaek was able to make a grand escape.
......
“That was unexpected.”
Kang Hyunseong said, once he and the Commander-in-Chief were alone. The Commander-in-Chief replied, looking straight ahead.
“What was? The fact that I didn't punish that kid, Taebaek?”
“Yes. Honestly, regardless of who was right or wrong, I thought you would severely punish Taebaek for being an outsider.”
One always favors their own. This tendency is even stronger in a closed group like the Resistance.
That's why Kang Hyunseong had thought he would detain Taebaek, who was 'still' an outsider, even if only as a formality.
“Hyunseong, you shared weal and woe with him for a week, so how is it that you seem to know less than I do, who's just met him?”
“...Sir? What do you mean.”
The Commander-in-Chief turned back slightly. Even though he was wearing a helmet, Kang Hyunseong could clearly picture the interested expression on his face.
“If I had tried to suppress him with force in that situation… a lot of people would have bled. That kid, Lee Taebaek, he's the type to actually do what he says he'll do. And he probably has the power to back it up.”
“I admit I was taken aback as well. To think he could subdue the 8th Battalion's Deputy, Playboy James, without lifting a finger. I knew Taebaek was special, but I didn't realize he was on this level.”
The Commander-in-Chief turned to face forward again. The only sound was the swish of his robe dragging on the floor.
After a brief pause, he spoke.
“It's been a long time. Feeling a chill down to my bones just from making eye contact. Yes, I felt this exact same way when I faced one of the 10 Wings. It makes me feel a bit nostalgic.”
“......!”
“Whether it's potential, or if he's hiding his true strength, I don't know. It's just a feeling I got. But one thing is for sure.”
The Commander-in-Chief made a sound like a fresh smile.
“If that kid, Taebaek, is on that level, then our Resistance can also enter the mainstream of Lake City.”
......
The next day came.
Gulp.
In front of Lee Taebaek was a ttukbaegi.
Appetizing steam billowed up, tickling the tip of his nose. A jolt ran through his jaw, as if it had been zapped with electricity.
He had starved for a whole ten days.
At the end of that long fast, his glorious first meal was kimchi-jjigae.
“I asked the Madam to set this aside for you.”
Kang Hyunseong held out a spoon with a pearly-white smile. As soon as morning broke, he had come to the room where Lee Taebaek was temporarily staying, carrying the kimchi-jjigae with him.
“Here, eat before it gets cold.”
He did not refuse the kind offer. He began to eat like a starved man. It tasted just like home.
Kang Hyunseong stared at Taebaek with a strange look in his eyes before finally, with some difficulty, starting to speak.
“Listen while you eat.”
He kept only a minimal ear open. He really had no time to listen.
At least, not until he heard the next words.
“The Commander-in-Chief wants you, Taebaek...”
Clang.
The spoon fell.