Chapter 11

00011 Split into two. =========================================================================

"Here we go again. If you just stayed quiet, you might have been able to stay in the middle."

In response to the immediate challenge, Park Dong-geol frowned at the talkative woman but didn't retaliate. Instead, he spoke in a much softer voice than before.

"Didn't you hear what this lady just said? She said we shouldn't fight with each other."

"Why don't you reflect on your actions up until now?"

"Well, that's true. Still, since we've gathered to share our opinions, how about we at least listen to each other?"

Seeing Park Dong-geol admit this so readily, everyone was taken aback. The talkative woman furrowed her brow, wondering if he had eaten something wrong.

"First, I apologize for my actions in the open space. And I hope you won't take my harsh tone too personally. I've always spoken this way, and I didn't have any bad feelings towards you guys."

Park Dong-geol glanced around and slightly bowed his head. Although his gaze still held some resentment, it was much less intense than before. He moved a bit closer to the center of the group and observed their reactions. Thinking it was a good time to start talking, Park Dong-geol got straight to the point.

"I agree with part of what the bank lady said. Yes, arguing now is not right. Let's put aside our bad feelings and think about how to escape from those monsters and survive. What do you think?"

"…Then, let's hear what you have to say."

"Exactly as I said. I agree with part of it, but I have some complaints. First, I want everyone to realize their own situations."

"What part are you complaining about?"

When Yi Borim asked, slightly grumbling, Park Dong-geol smiled slyly and replied.

"Planning to survive is natural, but I don't think I can cooperate. Cooperation? It sounds good, but in this situation, it just sounds like nonsense."

"I thought you were going to say something. Then get out. Go out and run away by yourself and survive by yourself."

The talkative woman snorted, but Park Dong-geol didn't budge. Instead, he nodded in agreement.

"Of course, I've thought about that too."

"Then get out."

"Let me finish. Listen to the end, okay? Listen to the end before you speak."

When Ahn Hyun gave her a look, the talkative woman, though angry, closed her mouth. Park Dong-geol, with everyone's attention on him, continued calmly.

"I'm uneducated and rough, but I can't lie. I'm simple. I felt and thought a lot while almost losing my life in the open space just now. Since then, the word 'cooperation' has been grating on my ears."

At Park Dong-geol's words, everyone shuddered, recalling the events in the open space. As if waiting for this reaction, Park Dong-geol's Adam's apple moved slightly.

"To be honest, I wasn't just anxious; I was really scared. I was so scared that I almost wet my pants. Think about it. Those things we only see in movies and TV were right in front of me. What could I do? If the guy on watch hadn't moved quickly, most of us might have become a tasty meal for those monsters by now. So I thought and pondered. This isn't a boast or a threat, so don't misunderstand. I've had some experience with knives. I can now kill people or animals without hesitation. Why? Because I don't want to die. In the open space, it was a sudden shock, but I want to live. So if that situation happens again, I'll use this weapon to survive."

Park Dong-geol's speech was long and not yet finished. However, people, though skeptical, began to focus on his words. I inwardly sighed, guessing his intentions but decided to wait and see. He was now pointing at each person and continuing his speech.

"I don't know much about the others, but that gangster-like guy seems to have done some sports. He brought a weapon and has dealt with the monsters, so... And you, if you can act as much as you talk, you might be some help. The guy with the crossbow goes without saying. Yes, these four can definitely help each other. In other words, there's a possibility of forming a cooperative relationship. Don't you think?"

Upon hearing Park Dong-geol's words, Ahn Sol, Yi Shin-woo, and Yi Borim's faces darkened. In other words, they were saying they were not helpful. Eventually, Yi Borim mustered the courage to speak up, her voice trembling.

"So, you can't cooperate with people who aren't helpful?"

"Whoa, calm down. I'm not done yet."

"Exactly…."

"Can you do what that guy or the crossbow guy can do? Do you think you can stab the monsters with rocks or knives? From what I see, you can't. Especially you and the kid next to you, you just screamed every time they appeared. The woman over there at least kept quiet and didn't interfere. If you could do that, I wouldn't have said anything."

The woman Park Dong-geol pointed to was the one who had asked me why I was leaving my seat. She still maintained a cold and calm demeanor.

After a moment, Yi Borim finally spoke, her voice much more subdued than before.

"So, the conclusion is that you're going to abandon people who aren't helpful…."

Seeing Yi Borim unable to continue, I thought about Park Dong-geol. I understood his intentions, but it was still a statement worth reconsidering. Initially, I thought he was just a dumb brute, but he had accurately assessed the situation and was presenting his own logic, regardless of his motives.

Looking at the dejected Yi Borim, Park Dong-geol bared his yellow teeth and spoke with renewed confidence.

"Why are you jumping to conclusions? I haven't finished talking yet. Don't be so sensitive. The world is give and take. So, cooperation means you guys have to show that you can be helpful to some extent. If we just pretend to cooperate and go outside, what do you think will happen? The gangster will be busy with his girlfriend, and the kid will just freeze and be a hindrance. I don't want to protect and cooperate with such useless people. My life is the most important. Isn't that true for you too?"

The talkative woman fidgeted, seemingly at a loss for words. The female bank clerk's face was visibly red, her fists trembling, but she also seemed at a loss for words. After calmly observing their reactions, Park Dong-geol, sensing the right moment, continued smoothly.

"My life is the most important, and I think that's true for everyone here. If you agree, let's be straightforward. Some people here can't cooperate. They're just blindly hopeful. That kid, right?"

When Ahn Sol was pointed out, she looked flustered, glanced at Hyun, and tried to speak. She seemed to have something to say, but couldn't find the words and bowed her head again. Park Dong-geol, seeing this, exaggeratedly shrugged and continued.

"He knows that, which is why he told the kid to walk on his own earlier. If he had gone with the crossbow guy when he suggested it, he wouldn't have ended up like this. What's with your reactions? Did I bark again?"

It wasn't barking. Regardless of his intentions, he had accurately assessed the situation to some extent. The problem was that he had thrown a fastball at those who needed help.

"If you think I'm wrong, prove it now. Go down the hill right now and bring back one or two of those monsters. If you can, I'll shut up immediately."

"……"

Park Dong-geol, having said his piece, stepped back and returned to his spot. I was curious about the others' reactions and began to observe their faces.

Ahn Hyun seemed lost in deep thought, his eyes closed, while Sol trembled slightly, looking at her brother. The most pitiful were Yi Borim and Yi Shin-woo. Park Dong-geol had clearly targeted them. They were visibly tense, their teeth clenched. After a while, Ahn Hyun broke the silence.

"I understand what you're saying."

Ahn Hyun, who usually kept quiet, glanced at his sister and spoke clearly.

"Sol is my sister, not my girlfriend. I have no intention of abandoning her."

"Brother…."

Ahn Sol, moved, hugged Ahn Hyun tightly. Park Dong-geol, seeing them, seemed surprised and replied hesitantly.

"They're siblings. I didn't know that. In that case, there's nothing I can do. But that doesn't change anything. Who can guarantee that the same accident won't happen again?"

The situation was quite interesting. Unable to target Ahn Hyun, he focused on Ahn Sol, the clear burden, to pressure Ahn Hyun. Park Dong-geol had ultimately chosen to separate himself. However, he was not leaving quietly but was clearly shaking the group. Ahn Hyun said nothing more, and the hill became so quiet that even breathing could be heard.

"Don't think too badly of me. I talked a lot, but staying in this ambiguous state won't get us anywhere. It seems many people don't like me."

"So, what do you ultimately want…?"

With less sharpness than before, the talkative woman asked, and Park Dong-geol answered immediately.

"I want to form a proper team here."

============================ Author's Note ============================

1. Typos and context corrections.