Surviving Restructuring

“Congrats, Young Man!”

“Congratulations, Mister!”

“Dude, seriously. What did you do to start off with twenty thousand points?”

“You didn’t see it? Eun-Ho totally nailed that negotiation earlier.”

As fireworks exploded in the sky and confetti rained down, a flood of attention followed.

“Should I try something like that too?”

“Try it and you might get deleted. No joke.”

“Yeah, the only reason he got away with it is because he’s Eun-Ho. If it were me, I’d be toast. Like, literally. Boom. Gone,” said the foul-mouthed guy.

Some were sincerely congratulating him with curiosity, while others didn’t even hide their envy.

“At least you know it,” Eun-Ho replied to the foul-mouthed guy.

“What?!”

However, there wasn’t any hostility nor veiled threats, either. If anything, it was more like playful bickering between close friends, like Ye-Ji and the guy who cursed all the time.

“If it wasn’t for you, Eun-Ho, they wouldn’t have even listened to us till the end.”

“Still, you cut it a bit close there at the end.”

“Totally! I thought you were gonna lose your lead for a second!”

“But I kinda figured you’d still come out on top, Mister.”

The general consensus seemed to be that Eun-Ho earned it. Besides, thankfully, no one here was greedy enough to make a fuss.

“At this rate, he’s gonna end up beating the Administrator someday.”

“Come on, don’t jinx it.”

“No, seriously. That guy? I can totally see it.”

Honestly, the praise was getting a bit too much.

Tap. Tap.

While brushing confetti out of his hair, Eun-Ho noticed Ji-Eun walking toward him. The very same female lead, director, and editor of the romance hit channel, all in one.

“Um... Congrats, Eun-Ho!”

“I owe it to you.”

She was acting a little awkward, totally unlike her usual self. Her earlobes had turned red too. Eun-Ho thought that she must be embarrassed. After all, even if it was just acting, pretending to be in love with a coworker was no easy feat. On top of that, she’d had to toss in cheesy background music and visual effects.

“By the way, did the system really have editing features built in?” Eun-Ho asked.

“Yeah! I just asked on a whim, and it turns out—wait, huh?” Ji-Eun suddenly froze mid-sentence. Then, eyes wide, she pointed at him. “H-how did you know about that...?”

She then slapped a hand over her mouth.

Ah. Crap. That was a slip.

“Uh... What I meant was—” Eun-Ho played dumb and asked innocently, “Hosting, was it? When your stream ended and all those viewers flooded into mine.”

Ji-Eun turned away and let out a small sigh, lips pursed. She seemed like someone trying to calm a racing heartbeat.

“You okay? You seem a little uncomfortable.”

“W-what?! No way! I mean—of course not! I’m totally fine! There’s no reason I’d be uncomfortable around you. I’m more than fine. I feel great!”

Yikes. She must have really been uncomfortable, even if it’s just for the trial. Can’t let this get out. Ever.

It’d be best to take this to the grave, as there was no reason to make things awkward. Just as he tried to steer the conversation elsewhere, Jae-Hyuk came running over, breathless.

“Hyungnim! You came to my chan— Ugh!”

Smack!

“Mmph! Mmmmph!”

“Eun-Ho? What are you—” Ji-Eun looked at Eun-Ho.

Still holding one hand over Jae-Hyuk’s mouth, Eun-Ho replied in a serious tone, “We’ve got a problem.”

“A problem? Wait what was Jae-Hyuk about to say?”

“That’s not important right now.”

“Mmph! Mmph?!”

“The situation’s not good.”

“Huh?”

Ji-Eun tilted her head, puzzled, but there wasn’t time for confusion.

“You saw the ceremony earlier, right?”

“You mean the reward ceremony? Of course! Your face was huge on that screen!”

“Exactly. Not just my face but everything was on display, including the whole background.”

“Ah!”

“Mmph!”

It wasn’t just paranoia but the situation really wasn’t great. His face, his surroundings, and his name had been broadcast to every survivor in Yongsan District.

“We’re probably going to attract a swarm,” Eun-Ho said.

“Like during that bounty hunting trial?” Ji-Eun asked.

Back when they had to hunt each other to fill out their teams, all sorts of lowlifes came after him, hoping to cash in on his head. It was important to note that the trial also had rules back then. They could find a way through as long as they worked the system right.

“But this time, it’s different.”

“How so?”

“People’s greed doesn’t follow any rules.”

Ji-Eun’s lips parted slightly.

Jae-Hyuk, now free from the hand over his mouth, stayed silent for once. A heavy silence settled over them.

“But maybe... If you put the item in your inventory, it’ll be fine?” Ji-Eun offered. “No one can steal it if they can’t access it, right?”

“Hmm...”

What was Eun-Ho supposed to say to someone who thought the worst-case scenario was just theft? Maybe he should let it slide as there was no need to bring her into the ugly side of this world.

However, in the end, he turned and called out, “Hey, Swear-Master.”

“What kind of nickname is that?! I have a perfectly good name—”

“You know the guy who died in the tunnel? How did you get the item from him?”

The foul-mouthed guy froze.

Swear-Master had brought back a full set of weapons and armor from the guy who’d died alone inside the tunnel, after losing his mace. He said he looted it earlier, but Eun-Ho wanted to know how. It wasn’t like the dead guy had kindly dropped all his gear before passing out.

Wait. Sol-Ah and Yeo-Jin had picked up gear from dead opponents too. That means...Items stored in inventories spill out when you die.

Whether it was everything or just some of it, he wasn’t sure.

“T-then you’re saying people might...”

Jae-Hyuk was stunned speechless, so Eun-Ho answered for him, “Well, yes. They might kill for it.”

“No way...”

That expression—half disbelief, half refusal—said it all.

If just the possibility shakes them this much, then they’d be horrified to learn how common it already is.

Ji-Eun hugged her arms around herself like she was feeling a chill.

“Maybe we should move somewhere else, then? Just in case someone does something stupid.”

“Moving won’t help. My face is already out there.”

“Aah...”

Jae-Hyuk clenched his fists and declared like a knight swearing loyalty to his liege, “Then I’ll stay by your side, Hyungnim! I’ll be there twenty four seven!”

Hiding behind others and letting someone else take the risk was one way to handle it. However, if this was bound to happen sooner or later, then maybe it was better to face it now.

“I have a favor to ask.”

“Yes! Just say the word!”

While the danger was still predictable and he held even a slight advantage in information, he wanted to prepare again.

Eun-Ho began. “If any strangers show up...”

***

Strangers—well, not quite—eventually came.

“Run! Somebody help us!”

“Aaaah”

Trailing behind them was a house-sized monster.

“Kroooar!”

“H-how the hell did a monster get here?!”

“It’s because the barrier’s gone!”

Just like they said, Namsan Tower was no longer a safe zone because the translucent barrier had vanished along with the Ghosts. Now, the monsters had no reason not to chase their prey all the way here.

[Defeat the Hungry Brown Bear!]

Even though there was only one bear, Eun-Ho hesitated, wondering if he should jump in.

Ji-Eun stepped forward first. “Eun-Ho, stay back. We’ll take care of—”

“No, Noonim! I’ll handle it!”

“Huh? By yourself?”

“Yes! Leave it to me!”

Before Ji-Eun could say anything more, Jae-Hyuk stepped out to block her.

“Jae-Hyuk, no! That thing’s too dangero—”

“Let him go.”

“But Eun-Ho!”

“He’ll be fine.”

Eun-Ho’s words were calm but certain. Jae-Hyuk nodded once, then bolted into action.

Thud!

There was determination in his eyes. Then his lips drawn into a tight, straight line. He had changed.

“Haaaah!”

His ridiculous battle cry hadn’t changed, but as long as he could swing that mace properly, it didn’t matter.

Wham!

“Take this! Hyaaah!”

Jae-Hyuk’s mace slammed into the bear’s leg. The blunt weapon pushed in like an excavator smashing through concrete.

“Kroooar!”

The bear let out a monstrous shriek of pain as it staggered.

For a second, Eun-Ho thought it had collapsep, but it steadied itself. With its front paws, it reared up and came crashing down.

“Jae-Hyuk! Watch out!”

Thump!

However, unlike his usual self, Jae-Hyuk didn’t panic. Instead of flinching or dodging, he took the hit head-on. He fought back against a beast twice his size. With monstrous strength and savage instincts, the creature would indeed be fatal if someone got careless.

“Haaaaah!”

Wham! Thud! Wham!

Blow after blow, solid, punishing strikes exchanged and blood dripped from Jae-Hyuk’s boots, pooling at his feet.

“Wait, is he healing?”

“Ultra Regeneration... That’s a hell of a skill.”

Like time itself had reversed, new flesh grew where wounds had been.

Boom!

The bear, on the other hand, had taken the full brunt of Jae-Hyuk’s blows. Now a pulp of shattered bones and crushed muscle, it collapsed in a heap.

“Phew...”

Jae-Hyuk turned and walked back.

“Jae-Hyuk...!”

“Good work.”

He appeared completely drained, but his face was radiant.

“Thanks, Hyungnim!”

Grinning from ear to ear, it seemed like he’d just won the lottery.

***

Jae-Hyuk walked away from the bear with confidence. A group of wounded survivors trailed behind him like war trophies.

I recognize a few of them from the screen...

Some were familiar to Eun-Ho, not that the memories were particularly pleasant.

“T-thank you! You saved our lives!”

“We made it! We’re alive!”

“Seriously, thank you! Hey, didn’t we meet before?”

One face stood out among the panting crowd. It was a former office worker Eun-Ho had teamed up with during the ”Hunt” and ”Shadow Path” trials at Namsan.

This was the same guy who’d almost lost his head after saying the wrong thing to Harona. Harona had offered to just delete him right off the bat when he complained about the Entrance Exam.

He used to have teammates back then.

“Oh hey, you came back.”

“Yes! I ran into a monster and ended up here while trying to escape.”

“Hmmm, so you’re saying you came here because of the monster? That bear chased you all the way here?”

“Yes! None of us are fighters, so we didn’t stand a chance on our own...” replied the man.

“And the others with you are?”

“Oh, they’re survivors from Itaewon. We met on the way.”

In total, there were thirteen visitors. Five of them were from the earlier “Hunt” trial, and there were eight other strangers from Itaewon.

“This place is still better off. Below the mountain is crawling with monsters.”

“I was worried when the barrier vanished, but it really is dangerous out there.”

“We’ve got injured over here! I know it’s a lot to ask, but do you have any medicine or bandages?”

Some were tense, wary of the group they’d encountered, but others looked genuinely relieved to see familiar faces.

“Still, it’s good to see people we know.”

“I’m not so sure.”

“Sorry? Why not?”

“The bear.”

“What about the bear?”

According to the reports, the Hungry Brown Bear they said they were running from never appeared outside of Namsan.

“Have you ever seen one outside Namsan?” Eun-Ho asked.

Ji-Eun tilted her head, confused by the question. “Uhh... No, I don’t think so. Why?”

“Up until now, the bears have only ever appeared within Namsan, in the mountains. Below, it’s the Venomous Sky Tigers that roam.”

“Yeah, that’s right. But what does that have to do with—”

“If the monster that chased these people was a Bear, and not a Sky Tiger, that means these people were already in the mountain before they ran into trouble.”

“What?”

“Also, the barrier’s gone, so if they were just looking for safety, why come here of all places?”

Ji-Eun’s face stiffened. “Wait... Don’t tell me that—”

“So don’t let your guard down.”

It was hard to say. Sure, maybe they came back here because it was familiar, hoping to camp through the night. However, Eun-Ho knew better as he knew who was out there.

He remembered the ruthlessness and the ease with which Subject X had slaughtered others just to entertain the observers. Eun-Ho couldn’t forget that greedy gleam in their eyes when they saw the first place reward, and the way they instantly tossed aside a gun for a more powerful one before charging out into the field.

His gut feeling told him that Subject X was there. The second he saw Namsan Tower on that reward screen, he would’ve made a beeline for it.

That’s because if someone kills me first, my items will scatter. So it’s better to get here fast.

It wouldn’t be surprising if even the Bear attack had been staged. In fact, it probably was. The only question now was who that Subject X could be.

Who is it? Eun-Ho thought, looking around.

“Oppa, we’re safe now, right?”

“Yeah. Don’t worry. I’ll protect you, no matter what.”

Is it that couple over there?

“My leg! My leg’s killing me...!”

Or maybe it’s the guy clutching his wounded leg, screaming in pain. He seems totally harmless, but it can be anyone.

Behind every mask, there could be a different face. Even innocent-looking college students or injured civilians couldn’t be trusted at face value.

Eun-Ho kept scanning them carefully when Sol-Ah stepped forward.

“Come over here,” she called.

She began treating the wounded.

“Aaah...”

“Thank you, young lady! Thank you!”

A wave of soft blue light shimmered from her hands. The moment it washed over the group, their wounds began to vanish as if they had never existed.

“Phew...”

More and more injured people got back on their feet. Sweat began to bead on Sol-Ah’s brow. Perhaps she’d healed too many at once.

Thud.

Then, she slumped down onto a bench, clearly exhausted.

She really is a good person...

She always came off cold and kept to herself, but at her core, she was kind. That was just who she was.

Then, a man who’d been quietly watching stepped up hesitantly. “U-um... You okay?”

“I’m fine,” Sol-Ah replied.

“You and that other guy, you both saved us. We’ve just been taking without giving anything back.” He wore an expression of pure innocence with no hint of ulterior motives. “I want to repay you somehow...”