Episode 10
In a world where people had to struggle to survive, human values were very important.
No one wants to protect someone else at the risk of their own life.
Therefore, people had to be useful in order to respect each other and for minimal human relationships.
In a way, this was natural. What kind of person would want to build a relationship with someone if he only caused inconvenience?
However, Lee Jae-heon, the old man’s manager, has been nothing but a bundle of nuisance, and even in the midst of all this, he had to win the favor of the main character for a better life than his previous life.
And so far, the efforts appear to have had some success.
If the relationship had been the same as before, no matter what Lee Jae-heon’s condition was, he would have shown only a minimal response, but now he even asked questions first.
However, what he didn’t think about
was that Lee Jae-heon’s common sense when recalling his past life was quite different from that of ordinary people.
“Now? “It must be difficult to move.”
“…? Can’t you tell by looking at the current situation? “We need to find a place to rest before it gets completely dark.”
“But…”
“I know it’s unreliable because of this situation, but let’s do it in moderation, right?”
“….”
Jeong In-ho frowned.
“…All right.”
For some reason, I felt like the words kept going around in vain.
* * *
In the novel, the main character determines his route by looking at the blood stains that fell from the flower shop to the park, but because the situation changed as time away from work decreased, Lee Jae-heon had to think of a different method.
“Then let’s go to the park.”
I was just saying it out loud.
“A park?”
“There have been monsters in every building up until now.”
In fact, it was most common to present opinions in this way.
Rather, it would be even more strange to indirectly guide even the smallest thing, such as ‘suggesting direction’, like this.
Nevertheless, the reason Lee Jae-heon tried to use the blood stains in the flower shop was so that he would not have the upper hand among the group.
He had no intention of leading this multitude of squires to the end now.
Those who have done group work will know this. The unspoken fact is that among the randomly selected team members, the first one to open his mouth is labeled as the host.
Especially in a chaotic situation like the present, the leadership of the group was inevitably handed over to someone who could make judgments and define actions as dryly as Lee Jae-heon.
However, Jaeheon Lee’s purpose was survival for a better life.
‘And dying isn’t bad, at least for me.’
That is why Lee Jae-heon should not be the one to decide the future of this team.
If he dies later, what will the remaining people do?
For the above reasons, Jaeheon Lee tried to hand over the role to the main character around the park episode. It was like that in the novel too.
But now, quite a few people in the group are injured.
The flower shop owner had a large cut on his forearm, the doctor had a wound on his side, and Jaeheon Lee… his mouth hurt even talking.
It was difficult to think that a group with low physical strength would be able to find a decent shelter on their own.
Even if you choose, you’ll be lucky if you don’t end up in some strange building.
In the end, it was only Lee Jae-heon, currently in the role of captain, who could lead them to the park, which was the best option for now.
In the end, he put his regrets aside and expressed his opinion.
As expected, the exhausted group accepted his opinion without much hesitation.
“Well… there’s no place that can be guaranteed to be safe…”
“If monsters are going to come out anyway, it might be better to go to a park where you can at least get water.”
“Anyway, I agree, so can we go quickly and get some rest?”
The owner, who was shocked at the flower shop he bought with his own money, nodded.
Assistant Manager Jeong, who had a good sense for a beginner, pointed out the key points, and Employee Kwon, who was sitting on the cement floor, urged the decision.
In addition, the fact that there were three injured people also contributed to the group’s quick decision.
In the case of Lee Jae-heon, especially since he injured his leg, his range of movement would have been quite limited, but moving to a nearby park would not have been a huge burden.
The group that had been with us from the company skillfully organized their line, deciding on a route to a park not far away.
“The manager is injured, so let’s go in the middle.”
“With things like this, the injured person continues to go to the middle position, right? I think the assistant manager and I can handle the last part…”
“We will carry the luggage, so please give it to us.”
The doctor, who was watching Chief Kang packing a container of tools and some snacks, soon turned his eyes to see Jae-Heon Lee standing blankly.
It was an observational gaze, as if asking for an explanation.
Jaeheon Lee responded to that.
“What is it?”
“…No, I was sorry.”
The doctor gave Lee Jae-heon and the flower shop owner simple treatment in a short period of time.
I don’t know why there were bandages in the coat, but the president, who was dripping blood, had to be treated for the sake of his stamina.
As pressure was applied to the wound to stop the bleeding, the flower shop owner shed physiological tears.
“You’re in so much pain…”
“If you stop the bleeding properly, it usually hurts a bit. “I’m glad the wound wasn’t too serious though.”
Suddenly, Jaeheon Lee felt a sense of unreality.
“….”
A hazy drowsiness comes over me.
The doctor treated all the wounds on his side, and of course it was too simple to call it a cure, but at least treated him to the point where he would no longer bleed, and then joined the group.
It didn’t take long until the group was ready and headed to the park.
“…Has the park changed like our company?”
The owner of the flower shop, who was adjusting the bandage on his forearm, opened his mouth to what Manager Kang said while walking down the street.
“I guess… I guess so. “I don’t know how the company has changed, but…”
“Now that I think about it, he was the owner of a flower shop. “I wonder if your name is…”
“Ah.”
The president answered with a faint smile.
“This is Yoon Garam. “Please call me whatever you prefer.”
Garam Yoon.
Lee Jae-heon blinked slowly when he heard that name.
‘How can this become a variable?’
In the novel, it was toward the end of the park episode that the president, or Garam Yoon, joined the main character.
Deputy Jeong sees the only survivor in the park other than his group and draws him to his side.
Of course, apart from being good, the main character had a cold personality, so it wasn’t a case of specifically ethical considerations to get her.
The people the protagonist had already decided to take responsibility for were students, the elderly, and the weak, so he judged that he would no longer be able to protect anyone.
However, the reason the protagonist changed his mind was because this woman had a slightly unusual constitution in the other world.
Although he was suspicious of President Yoon’s constitution, he also judged it to be useful.
There was no harm in purchasing such favors from the flower shop owner in advance.
“Over there… Manager?”
“Please tell me.”
“I wonder how I should call him…”
And by seeking a doctor, Jaeheon Lee had already gained enough favor from President Yoon.
He answered in a dry voice.
“This is Lee Jae-heon. I would appreciate it if you could call me manager like you did before.”
There is no need to buy more favors than this.
As mentioned earlier, Jaeheon Lee no longer wanted to exert influence.
In order to get the group to do what I wanted, I had to appear as a member of the team, not as a leader who was the center of attention.
Until now, I had no choice but to take on the role of host, but I couldn’t have been happy about the situation where I couldn’t commit suicide with peace of mind.
No, what is suicide? Judging by the reactions of those around him, it seems like he would scream if he even hurt himself.
The doctor’s gaze was already growing dark, and I didn’t want to attract any more attention.
If the favor of the main character, President Yoon, goes beyond that level, it only becomes a headache.
She blinked for a moment as if she understood Lee Jae-heon’s meaning, but then smiled faintly.
“Yes, manager. “I was grateful just now.”
“….”
As expected, his behavior was smooth.
The CEO Yoon Garam in the novel he remembers was a typical thin and long type of person.
I don’t come forward and present opinions or arguments, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have ideas.
I’m not the type of person who’s scared, but I’m also not the type to panic and not be able to do my responsibilities.
Not active, but not passive either…
Above all, mental management is excellent.
Despite not being able to think more calmly than the average like the main character or the current Lee Jae-heon, thanks to these thin and long characteristics, President Yoon in the novel was the person who survived for the longest time after the main character.
‘Of course, that also has its limits.’
President Yoon was a character that resembled a dam.
It can hold enough water within the ceiling and hold strong, but if the water overflows beyond that, it collapses helplessly.
It was for this same reason that she joined the group last in the novel.
President Yoon could not accept the end of his close customer, who was torn to pieces before his eyes. President Yoon even says at the time, ‘I could have saved him, but I didn’t.’
This means that, like employee Kwon in the novel, she too may feel guilty about the death of others.
“It was nothing.”
“Ugh… I’m really sorry about the burn on your leg.”
“….”
Like this.
Of course, in Lee Jae-heon’s eyes, it was a very stupid thing to do.
‘There are a lot of very inefficient people in the world.’
I didn’t kill him with my own hands, I didn’t induce him to, and I just had no ability to save him. Feeling guilty about seeing someone die is something only idiots do, isn’t it?
In his view, the idea that it could be saved was nothing more than wishful thinking.
President Yoon only had an unusual constitution, but he did not have enormous power.
Later, he misunderstood this and started chewing on sweet potatoes without any water, which was enough to make the reader’s stomach feel clogged.
Jaeheon Lee stopped thinking at that point and nodded.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. “If you’re really sorry, please help me build a house later.”
“…Home?”
In response to President Yoon’s question, employee Kwon next to her opened his mouth.
“Manager… are you going to build a house? “Do you know how to build one?”
“I was just talking about shelter. Simply build pillars and a ceiling…”
“Isn’t that what you mean?”
“Are you going to keep talking to adults?”
Perhaps he had regained his composure and felt more at ease, but Lee Jae-heon’s instincts as an old man came out at the boldness of an employee whom he had not even made eye contact with before.
Rather than saying I was genuinely annoyed, I was more bothered by the constant questions than anything else.
When Employee Kwon, who had not yet shaken off his childlike nature, became quiet, the protagonist intervened this time.
As the park got closer, the group became disorganized and their ranks fell apart, so it was easy to talk to them.
He asked with his usual sincere expression.
“Are you going to work again in that condition?”
“Then where are you going to rest?”
“Isn’t there a pavilion in the park?”
“Are you saying that even when you look at that tail right now?”
Lee Jae-heon pointed with his finger to the entrance to the park, which he had almost reached, and said
, “….”
Assistant Manager Jeong kept his mouth shut.
It is safe to call it a jungle, with trees so dense and the sounds of animals and insects coming from nowhere.
Fortunately, there was no monster in sight, but the park was in such a burdensome state that it felt different from what we saw from the outside.
Anyone who looks at it can hardly see it as an ordinary park.
As the group who confirmed this spread out and murmured, the protagonist seemed even more at a loss for words, and Lee Jae-heon scoffed at Assistant Manager Jeong.
“Do you realize now how foolish you were? “Is it very distant?”
“Rather than that…”
The main character, who had taken off his glasses and was touching the space between his eyes, soon continued.
“Then I will do it. “I’ll be with the rest of the team and Yeon-seok, so please take a break, manager.”
“Who wants you to rest? “You were going to work anyway.”
“I guess the manager was planning to work together as well.”
“…What on earth is your problem from earlier?”
Jaeheon Lee muttered that and frowned.
Before I knew it, the informal way of speaking from my past life popped out, but before I had time to correct it, questions began to engulf my mind.
I wondered if he was worried about me, but that couldn’t be possible.
Why are you worried about how bad our relationship has been so far?
Until now, I thought he was saying this out of concern that his mobility would be lowered, but seeing as he viewed working itself negatively, that wasn’t the case.
Then the only conclusion left is controversy.
“No, if you don’t like me, tell me after everything is done. “I already have a lot of work to do, so why argue about it…”
“I’m telling you this because I’m really worried.”
The main character who said that seemed sincere.
“….”
Lee Jae-heon, who became wiser after recalling his past life, began to understand the situation again.
When he saw that expression, it wasn’t a lie.
In that case, either the protagonist was genuinely worried about Lee Jae-heon, or he was so good at managing his facial expressions that he could fool even me.
However, the protagonist has not been able to manage his facial expressions that well yet.
No, above all, there was no reason for him to deceive the old manager who was not worth much.
And wouldn’t the smart protagonist know that he couldn’t afford to waste his emotions like this?
In other words, it meant that the protagonist was truly worried about him.
“…?”
After finishing his judgment, Jaeheon Lee asked.
“why?”
“…yes?”
“Why are you worrying?”
I couldn’t understand.
The relationship between the old manager and the main character was the worst so far, and the main character wasn’t so affectionate that it could be resolved in just a day or two.
No matter how much Lee Jae-heon’s usefulness has been rediscovered, it makes no sense.
Or rather, that was why Jaeheon Lee was in no position to be worried.
In this world, a person’s usefulness was an important virtue, and Lee Jae-heon was more valuable than any of them.
There is no reason for them to abandon Lee Jae-heon now, unless he chooses to die himself.
He was still useful.
“…Is there a reason for that?”
So there is no reason to worry.
Not being able to understand meant not knowing any information, which meant embarrassment.
Lee Jae-heon’s expression calmly distorted, but fortunately, the other party members were distracted by the strange park and were not listening to their story.
Lee Jae-heon’s expression, having relaxed there, returned to normal again.
“I didn’t know, but I guess you have a lot of affection for Assistant Manager Jeong…?”
“….”
“I never thought you would be worried about me and not anyone else.”
To Lee Jae-heon’s seemingly absurd words, the main character, who had always maintained a sincere face, responded with a strange expression.
“…Wouldn’t anyone else be worried, not just me?”
“why?”
“Well, you were the most injured out of all of us. “He lost a lot of blood and even got burns on his ankle while trying to save those two people.”
“Can you move well?”
Jeong In-ho’s face distorted at that.
“That doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt… does it?”
“….”
This time it was Lee Jae-heon’s turn to keep quiet.
“…Huh.”
I made another mistake.
