And so, I answered their various questions—from what kind of person I was, to how I obtained such abilities, to where the Garara alligator meat came from—to the extent that I, having received a ton of coins, could answer.
It was tiring and exhausting in many ways.
Then, the next day.
Waking up early, I hastily had breakfast with a convenience store lunchbox and was about to start business again when Cheon Inho suddenly visited and said he wanted to buy all the food supplies I had.
I wondered what Cheon Inho's ulterior motive was, but I handed over the food obediently for now.
[Incarnation Cheon Inho has paid 4550 coins.]
Having obtained the food, Cheon Inho then left with a friendly smile, saying "Well then."
But does that guy know?
That I was planning to get rid of all that food anyway.
"Shop."
Opening the shop, I immediately went to the food section, where there were loads of ordinary foods costing around 1 to 3 coins on average.
"Hey... did I really make a profit?"
I had received 50 coins for each item of food worth 1 to 3 coins.
It was truly an enormous profit.
A few minutes after making such a huge profit, Jung Heewon woke up and asked if I had any food left.
"No, I sold it all."
"What!? My goodness, all that huge amount was sold?"
"Well... that's what happened."
"Whoa~ Who on earth bought all that food..."
"The mainstream group bought it, I hear?"
At my words, Jung Heewon exclaimed in disbelief.
"Huh? Wait a minute. So you're saying the mainstream group ended up monopolizing the food again?"
"Well... that's about the size of it?"
"No, then what do we do! Didn't you hear what I said yesterday!? Those bastards in the mainstream group use the food to exploit people like livestock! Why to those guys!!"
I calmed the angry Jung Heewon and said.
"Heewon-ssi, we can just get food again, right?"
"No.. that... ah... that.. ah!!. Seriously... what do you mean by saying that so calmly!"
"No, since we can just get it again anyway, what's the problem?"
"No.. that... really.... Ugh!"
Frustrated, Jung Heewon asked me.
"At least you kept some for yourself to eat, right?"
"No, I sold it all."
"....Haa... really... Yuseong-ssi... what on earth were you thinking...."
[You have purchased a 'Wise Choice' lunchbox.]
[2 coins have been consumed.]
Looking at the lunchbox purchased from the shop, I answered.
"That kind of thinking."
"....."
Jung Heewon's mouth hung open as she looked at the lunchbox I bought from the shop. Realizing that everything she had said until now was unnecessary worry, she looked deflated.
"Would you like it? I've already had breakfast."
"Ah... um... yes..... I'll gratefully eat it."
Soon, Jung Heewon began unwrapping and eating the lunchbox next to me.
Time passed like that, and that afternoon, Cheon Inho suddenly gathered everyone in the station and said.
"Starting today, food rations will be restricted. The distribution is three pieces of biscuit per person. And—"
Before Cheon Inho's announcement could even finish, people began to stir greatly.
"What? Three pieces of biscuit? How are we supposed to live on just that now!"
"That's right! Those reconnaissance team bastards eat more than the ration, don't they? Did you think we wouldn't know?"
Despite the curses springing up from all around, Cheon Inho merely smiled calmly.
After having bought all the food from me in advance, the person who now held the food control rights at Geumho Station was himself.
"Well said. You are correct. The reconnaissance team receives more rations. So, if you want to obtain food, please apply to join the reconnaissance team."
At those words, opposition arose from various places.
"Almost no one who applied to the reconnaissance team comes back! It's always only those Iron Head bastards who return!"
"Are you telling us to die now?"
Despite the violent reactions from the citizens, Cheon Inho spoke nonchalantly.
"Those people were just unlucky. As you know, the outside is extremely dangerous. If you're dissatisfied, how about going out to get food yourselves?"
I, knowing the truth, knew that talk was nonsense, but they were in a state of knowing nothing.
"Th-that's.........."
Perhaps that's why? The people shut their mouths like mutes. Going outside now meant death. Everyone knew that fact.
However, Cheon Inho's words didn't end there.
"Ah, of course, there is a way to obtain food even if you don't become part of the reconnaissance team."
"What is it?"
"Trade. If it's something we judge to have value, we will exchange it for food. Everyone has something different they can offer. Right?"
With Cheon Inho's words finished, people who had already been gathering in front of the tarpaulin for a few minutes were attempting to haggle.
"I-I'll buy it with coins. How much?"
"200 coins."
"Huh? But I don't have that many coins."
"Then get lost."
At that moment, one of the Iron Head members selling food in front of the hideout saw me, flinched and trembled, then gritted his teeth.
He must be one of the guys who got beaten up by me yesterday.
"By the way, did I say thank you yesterday?"
Suddenly turning my head, Jung Heewon, who had come over at some point, spoke. I answered.
"...This morning, while eating the lunchbox you got from me, you said 'I forgot to say it yesterday, but thank you for helping me.'"
"Did I?"
Then, Jung Heewon's eyes fixated on the Iron Head member with a dislocated jaw.
"That bastard with the bandage on his jaw, he's the one who tried to rape me yesterday."
"....Is that so?....."
".....I'm going to kill that bastard myself, so don't touch him. Understood?"
"...Understood...."
More time passed after that.
People busily moved about to obtain food from the Iron Head, and the Iron Head laughed at such people.
Bzzzt!
At that moment, a light flashed in the air with a sparking sound, and a dokkaebi appeared.
[Weell......... H-has everyone been well? You must have been very bored all this time, right?]
"Uwaaah!"
People still not accustomed to dokkaebis panicked just from its appearance. And understandably so, since nothing good had ever happened since those guys showed up.
[We-well, the friend originally in charge of this channel got disciplined, you see.......... S-so I'll be in charge of this scenario.]
The creature, whose timid speech was very impressive for a dokkaebi, continued.
[B-but, everyone. You look v-very peaceful, don't you? That Bihyung guy boasted to me, but to set the scenario difficulty like this.........….]
The dokkaebi looked around and said.
[Heh, hehe. I-if you've started a scenario, you should think about clearing it.]
Click!
[A scenario penalty has been added.]
[From now on, food stockpiling is restricted.]
[Previously existing stockpiled food will disappear.]
"Wh-what the!"
As the dokkaebi snapped its fingers, people who had been taking out emergency rations to eat from various places screamed.
Regardless of mainstream group or marginalized group, from all locations, things that could be called 'food' floated up into the air and
Puff!
Canned food, snacks, calorie bars, etc.—all the emergency rations people had stored turned to powder in an instant and scattered.
[I-is worrying about food all you can do? E-earth trash, anyway.........]
Simultaneously with those words, following system messages appeared.
[A scenario penalty has been added.]
[The 'Survival Fee' entry has been added.]
[From now on, every night at midnight, a 'Survival Fee' of 100 coins will be automatically collected. If you fail to pay the 'Survival Fee', you will die.]
[The 'Survival Fee' penalty will remain in effect until the second main scenario is cleared.]
Soon, the dokkaebi told the people to do well and then vanished abruptly.
"Give us back our food!"
"How, how could this happen."
People from the marginalized group, who had lost their food in an instant, shouted into the empty air where the dokkaebi had been, looking dazed.
Likewise, due to the sudden food crisis, Cheon Inho and the mainstream group were also flustered.
Then, Cheon Inho, who had barely regained his composure, quickly began to organize the chaos and gather people.
"Everyone, please gather. I have an urgent announcement."
The announcement was simple. Since the situation had worsened, they would conscript even more 'reconnaissance team' members from the marginalized group.
"From now on, we will not distribute food to personnel who do not participate in the 'reconnaissance team'."
Despite the hardline declaration, the citizens didn't particularly oppose it. No, they couldn't. It was a natural outcome in this situation.
Soon, people who were gauging the situation volunteered for the reconnaissance team one by one, and because of this, hope remained on Cheon Inho's face even though the food had disappeared.
"Dokja-ssi, what should we do now? Should we also join the reconnaissance team?"
"No, we're not going above ground. Going that way means certain death."
Saying that, Kim Dokja looked toward the tunnel leading to the water fountain side.
"Wait a minute, Dokja-ssi. Don't tell me...."
"That's right."
Following Kim Dokja's gaze and looking at the railway track, Lee Hyunsung was startled and looked at Kim Dokja. In response to Lee Hyunsung's reaction, Kim Dokja nodded with an impassive expression, confirming that Lee Hyunsung's thoughts were correct.
"Since the world has changed, what we eat must change too."
Kim Dokja spoke while looking at the party members who were making panicked expressions looking at him.
"We will hunt monsters."