ChatGPT said:
No one said a word.
Park Dong-gul's words had struck a chord—no, driven a blade straight into everyone's chest. He wet his lips with his tongue, then continued speaking without hesitation.
"I don't think you need trust when your own life's on the line. The kind of team I want is one where people help each other—but don't drag each other down. In other words, only those with that kind of resolve are welcome to join me."
"That's… too much."
Lee Bo-rim's voice trembled with tears. But it seemed she wasn't willing to back down just yet. Strangely, both An Hyun and the chatterbox woman, who had been keeping Dong-gul in check until now, remained silent. Desperation crossed Bo-rim's face, and she finally forced her lips to move.
"Call it selfish if you want. I don't care anymore—it's all or nothing now, isn't it? Let me be clear. If I'm not convinced, I'll leave and go alone. I've already got enough people hating me. And honestly? I don't think I'm the only one sick of your half-hearted attitudes. Even the guy with the crossbow bailed on us to 'stand watch.' Maybe think about why."
"You kidding? How do you know someone's useless or unhelpful without even giving them a chance?"
The chatterbox snapped back immediately, but her voice lacked the energy it usually had. Sensing this weakness, Dong-gul smirked and replied.
"Did you just say, 'how do you know without trying?' You serious right now?"
"What did you say?"
"You still think this isn't real? You think you've got extra lives to burn? This isn't a save-and-load kind of game. Wake up. The moment someone screws up in the middle of a mission…"
He paused, then ran his thumb across his throat in a slashing gesture.
"…we all die."
That last line hit hard. The ripple it caused was visible in everyone's eyes. Lee Bo-rim stared blankly at the ground, and the chatterbox bit her lip in frustration. Only the cold-eyed woman remained unfazed, her expression steady.
"And let's not get it twisted. I know you all hate me, and I've been a dick—I'll admit that and apologize again. But don't twist my words. I never said I'd abandon anyone."
Dong-gul's mocking smile grew wider as he thumped his chest and declared loudly.
"Since we're at it, let's decide right here, right now. If anyone agrees with me, come over to my side. As long as you're ready to commit, anyone's welcome."
A tense silence followed. His words had clearly shaken people. They glanced at one another, hesitating, unsure. As much as I hated to admit it, Dong-gul's manipulation had struck home. He twisted his message in a way that played on people's primal fear of dying.
The influence was spreading fast. Even An Hyun and An Sol were hesitating. Surprisingly, even the chatterbox—who had been at odds with Dong-gul the entire time—was wavering. Meanwhile, the wannabe thug casually tapped his steel pipe, unaffected.
Honestly, I didn't care what happened, as long as An Hyun and An Sol didn't join him. Still, just in case, I activated my Third Eye and turned it on the chatterbox and one woman I hadn't evaluated yet. At the very least, I needed to see their stats.
First target: the chatterbox—someone I had high hopes for.
Name: Lee Yoo-jung (Year 0)
Gender: Female (22)
Height / Weight: 166.3cm / 51.7kg
Alignment: Good · Neutral[Strength 32] [Endurance 38] [Agility 50] [Stamina 30] [Mana 48] [Luck 46]Remaining stat points: 0
'Hmm.'
No wonder she could stand up to Dong-gul. She wasn't lacking at all. Compared to An Hyun and An Sol, she didn't stand out as much, but with this stat spread, she was more than viable. Especially the high agility and mana—she had clear potential for both melee and magic paths. I made a mental note to keep her in consideration. Then I turned my Third Eye on the next woman—someone I was quietly curious about.
Name: Kim Han-byul (Year 0)
Gender: Female (21)
Height / Weight: 170.2cm / 48.5kg
Alignment: Lawful · Chaos[Strength 28] [Endurance 32] [Agility 46] [Stamina 24] [Mana 68] [Luck 40]Remaining stat points: 0
Charisma (Rank: F Plus)
"Ugh."
I accidentally let out a noise when I saw it.
'No way… Charisma?'
I was hit with a shock similar to when I first saw An Sol's profile. Now I understood why she had reminded me of her. Because she had also possessed the Charisma trait.
Regret washed over me. Maybe I shouldn't have looked. My thoughts turned messy. But the conclusion was clear: both Lee Yoo-jung and Kim Han-byul were essential assets. I couldn't afford to lose either of them.
I anxiously dug at the dirt with my fingers—a nervous habit. And I felt something else: suspicion. An Hyun and An Sol. Lee Yoo-jung and Kim Han-byul. All four of them had stats that far exceeded the Whole Plane's average. Even if people had scattered at the start, with numbers like that, at least half of them should've survived.
'Am I missing something?'
There were possible theories, but no clear answer. I shelved the thought for now and reactivated my Third Eye. If I was planning to bring all four with me, I'd have plenty of chances to observe later.
The first to step up was Lee Shin-woo. His alignment—Lawful Good—meant he was kind-hearted, but usually lacked conviction. People like him often just went with the flow. His Luck stat was a waste, honestly, and the rest of his stats weren't worth mentioning. I quietly offered a prayer for his soul.
"I-I want to join your team!"
"Hmm…"
Dong-gul looked him over for a moment, then asked in a low voice,
"You have to protect yourself. If you're a burden, I won't hesitate to leave you behind."
"I understand! I'll do my best!"
"…Alright! As long as you do your part, I'll give it my all too. Let's make it out of this hell together. And… sorry about earlier. I was just on edge. I mean it."
As soon as Dong-gul accepted him, Lee Shin-woo practically lit up and ran to his side. The two embraced like old comrades—which, honestly, made me cringe. With one member secured, Dong-gul turned his gaze to An Hyun.
"You. Think about it. We'd welcome you with open arms."
He emphasized the word "we" and softened his voice. An Hyun looked troubled. He was clearly at a crossroads, and everyone—including An Sol—watched him with bated breath.
Eventually, he spoke.
"My answer's the same. I could never leave my sister behind."
His voice was calm and steady. An Sol's face brightened instantly, and even the cold woman seemed relieved.
Then, An Hyun added,
"But… if you include Sol in your team, I'll consider it."
'Ah… here we go.'
And with that, the balance tilted back toward Dong-gul. He had just been handed the power of choice—a situation he'd been waiting for. He furrowed his brows slightly, then replied with an annoyed expression.
"That's kind of a problem. You? Maybe. But your sister? We can't protect her, and we don't want to."
"You don't have to worry. I'll pull double the weight to make up for it."
"No, it's not that simple. What if something unexpected happens? What if she drags us down, like at the clearing?"
"Then I—"
"Hold up. I'll decide later. Once the rest of the team is set, we'll talk again."
Dong-gul cut him off deliberately and left things open-ended. It was calculated. So far, only An Hyun and I had taken active roles against the Deadmen. And since I wasn't present, all eyes would naturally gravitate toward An Hyun. Dong-gul didn't want him—but he left just enough room to sway others.
"Whatever. Do what you want. No point arguing with someone like you."
He turned to Lee Yoo-jung, who just furrowed her brow without replying. Then he looked toward Lee Bo-rim and Kim Han-byul.
"Alright. Let's hear from you two."
"..."
"Don't get me wrong. If I really wanted to abandon people, would I have taken him in? He promised not to be a burden. Said he'd protect himself. Said he'd be useful. I didn't want this job—but if we want to survive, someone's got to lead. So if you want to join, just make that same promise. In front of everyone."
"What exactly do you mean by that…?"
Lee Bo-rim was the first to ask. Dong-gul glanced briefly at Kim Han-byul, then answered.
"Just say that you'll help the team in any way you can. If I decide you're useless, I'll kick you out without hesitation. But if you are useful, we'll do everything we can to help you. If you're ready to harden your heart, then come join us."
That line—"help the team in any way"—reeked of something shady and manipulative. Bo-rim seemed to sense it too, hesitating. Meanwhile, Kim Han-byul's eyes flashed with clear contempt.
Dong-gul clicked his tongue, then turned to Han-byul.
"You too. Same deal."
"…Give me a moment."
She closed her eyes completely, as if needing to think. I was a little worried, but if my instincts were right, she was leaning toward refusal. Dong-gul gave her space and slung an arm around Shin-woo's shoulders instead.
It's easy to believe someone will refuse when you're reading a novel. But in real life, people are fragile. When your life is on the line, pride is often the first thing to go.
How much time had passed?
Eventually, it was Lee Bo-rim who stood first. She gave a weak nod, then slowly walked over to join Dong-gul and Shin-woo. Her eyes were filled with inner conflict, but she lowered her head and quietly joined them.
And at that moment, Park Dong-gul smiled with utter satisfaction.