Chapter 38: Friendly Neighbors [3]

Marauder of the Apocalypse

"Yes, I am a con man."

On the street as the evening sun was setting, Sagihyeok sat down in the middle of the street, muttering as he recovered the rope and roughly wiped off the oil.

The people on the villa street surrounded Sagihyeok as if they were audience members at a concert, quietly watching him. It was as if this was some entertainment in the monotonous apocalyptic life.

Yet a strange silence settled over the street. It was like being in a church where the pastor was leading a service.

Sagihyeok, now a confessing sinner, rambled on.

"The easiest way to make money was that. Fraud. Deceiving wealthy people and taking their money. That's why I did it. As soon as the zombie situation broke out, I thought this was an opportunity."

I watched him silently.

He had the nature of a plunderer, using the disaster as material for fraud.

It seemed his ability to judge the situation was a bit lacking. The virus was directly spread by the chairman, yet he only committed financial fraud. If he were more intelligent, he would have immediately recognized the chairman's bigger picture and prepared for plunder.

Sagihyeok also seemed to be belatedly regretting this fact. He hung his head low, and his heavy voice fell to the ground like a shadow.

"I didn't know the world would collapse this much. I thought it would just pass like the coronavirus or the flu. If I had known..."

People started murmuring. Voices condemning Sagihyeok began to be heard.

Is this man really a con man? Why did he come here? How could you be fooled by him?

Around then, an ajusshi (older man) stepped forward. Muttering suspiciously, as if he had eaten something wrong, the ajusshi asked sharply with his eyes flickering.

"So why are you here? What's your purpose? And what was the reason you pretended to be incompetent from the beginning? What was your intention in being kind to us?"

At that moment, Sagihyeok lifted his head. He looked at the ajusshi with an aggrieved expression and appealed to the people around him.

"I was just wandering around trying to escape someone chasing me, and I happened to come here by chance. I really did my best at the work. And the kindness..."

Sagihyeok looked around, the villa residents sending him suspicious and condemning glances.

Sagihyeok, who had been overflowing with self-confidence even when being scolded for his incompetence, now trembled at the tips of his fingers like a soldier whose armor had been forcibly removed, and muttered.

"It was sincere. I sincerely tried to live with you all. Because I have to. Because that's how I live."

His voice was like a confession.

"The virus spread is entering a lull. People are all holed up at home, wearing masks, and disinfecting. Zombies and people don't overlap their activity areas, so they don't fight. But..."

What had he seen while wandering the streets to escape the vengeful victims? He continued in a weak voice.

"There are even more cases of people killing people. This shouldn't be. It means we're all going to die. Fighting each other, we'll eventually be overrun and killed by the zombies."

His persuasive words came to a conclusion.

"To survive, we must cooperate, show consideration, and act with goodwill. That's all. I really didn't have any malice."

"..."

Sagihyeok, like a prisoner awaiting a death sentence, relaxed his body and closed his eyes, slumping down.

Meanwhile, the people on the street had a subtle expression. It seemed they understood, and were willing to let it go. In any case, their reaction was not hostile.

I clenched my fist.

I see. That's why Sagihyeok's impression was ambiguous. That's why the judgment was not clear like a pastor's.

'He was a born plunderer who put on the mask of a good person. This makes it confusing.'

The con man focused on gaining favor openly. Even when the world was fine, he was a person who had been plundering other people's money. As someone who inadvertently became a plunderer due to the incident, I couldn't help but be confused.

Even Sagihyeok treated kindness as an end in itself and showed kindness.

It was a big mistake. I chuckled under my mask.

'Pastor. There is a lost sheep here. I will guide it back well.'

People should do what they are good at. Kindness? Cooperation? A con man must live by fraud.

Sagihyeok was swept up in the zombie situation and lost his way, and I decided to lead the lost one into the light.

The ajusshi seemed to be checking the expressions of the villa residents, and then slowly picked up an iron pipe.

"For now, go home and stay. Don't run away."

"...Can I stay?"

"I need to think, so wait."

That's how the people seemed to disperse. Surprisingly, the people did not try to drive Sagihyeok away.

And I went after Sagihyeok with the ajusshi. The ajusshi seems to want to interrogate him further, and I'm here to guide him.

***

The house Sagihyeok entered was neatly organized. It seemed like the interior had been renovated, and the old villa house had a rather sophisticated office-like atmosphere.

Sitting in the chair in front of the table, Sagihyeok quietly looked at me and the ajusshi.

It seemed he had noticed that the real interrogation was about to begin. The ajusshi was clearly the influential figure of the villa neighborhood, and I was probably felt as a fellow plunderer.

"I will answer anything you ask. I also enjoyed living here. If I can just live here."

Sagihyeok, who said he really enjoyed it and regretted a lot while working and socializing together.

The ajusshi, who seemed to be suffering from suspicion, took out a notebook and gripped a ballpoint pen.

"Birthplace. Parents, relatives. Elementary, middle, high school, university, military, and subsequent activities. Tell me everything. Where, with whom, and what activities."

When I glanced at it, the notebook had thick stars drawn on it. It seemed he was going to investigate thoroughly, suspecting everyone in the villa neighborhood, as blood ties, regional ties, and school ties could be the motives for betrayal.

Something seems a bit off, but well, this is also the apocalypse, isn't it?

The interrogation continued until the sun set and darkness fell.

Sagihyeok spoke diligently, and I kept my mouth shut. I'm not interested in this kind of interrogation. Regardless of the past, as long as there is the nature of a plunderer and value to be exploited, that's enough.

After all, betrayal and plunder cannot be prevented. Rather than investing time and mental energy in a place like this, it's better to live assuming betrayal.

And the interrogation was roughly concluded.

"I got it for now."

"Then what about me?"

"Stay quiet. I haven't cleared the suspicion yet. If you do anything suspicious, I'll kill you right away."

That ominous remark meant that he had passed the suspicion test.

As Sagihyeok let out a sigh of relief, I stood up. It's my turn to take action.

Sagihyeok's body stiffened. His eyes moved and looked at my hammer. The dried blood on the hammer. Is it too threatening? It may have the zombie virus on it.

"Don't be nervous for no reason," I said kindly as I approached him and patted his shoulder.

"Mr. Sagi-hyeok. Don't lie."

"I, I didn't lie. It's all the truth."

"No, that's not it."

This guy, has he worn the mask for too long? Just like how I was under the pastor and got caught up in a pseudo-religion, has he imitated the good for too long and forgotten his true nature?

I made eye contact with Sagi-hyeok. When sincerely persuading, one should make eye contact, right?

"You don't have any real goodness. Your kindness was all just an intentional act."

"No! Truly, sincerely, I wanted to get along with all of you-"

Sagi-hyeok shouted loudly, seeming genuinely wronged, like an actor who has excessively immersed himself in the role.

He was an excellent con artist. I laughed admiringly.

"Really? No, it's because that benefits you, being kind is beneficial, and you chose that as a way to survive."

"That's..."

His complexion turned pale. Whether immersed in the act or truly sincere, he must have realized his true intentions.

I don't understand genuinely good people. I can't grasp the principles behind their actions. But this guy, I understand him. He chose kindness because he calculated it would be beneficial.

That's why the Sagi-hyeok I can empathize with has the qualifications of a predator.

I patted his shoulder a few more times, telling him not to worry.

"I'm not condemning you. In fact, I like it. It's better to coldly choose long-term benefits than to act impulsively and foolishly."

"No, I... Truly, no. My sincerity is..."

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Sincerity, what sincerity? If he were truly a good person, would he have lived by deceiving?

Sagi-hyeok's essence is one. He is a person who pursues benefits. In the apocalypse, he judged that good deeds would be beneficial, and acted without regard for his emotions.

Leaving behind Sagi-hyeok, who was still maintaining the act, I briefly looked at the old man.

"Let's do one thing, Mr. Sagi-hyeok. If you finish this one task well, I'll get you into the villa district."

"...To an apartment?"

The old man seemed to have caught on, his eyes faintly gleaming.

I nodded and continued whispering.

"Go to the apartment and commit fraud. Sow division, lure the leadership to our side, or harm the other side. I'll leave the method up to you."

It's a move with nothing to lose.

Even if it fails, it's fine. The apartment people are enemies anyway. It can't get any worse.

If Sagi-hyeok betrays? If he fails and gets caught? It's the same. He's not a key figure anyway. It's better for the suspicious neighbor to disappear.

If it succeeds, I'll gain an excellent predatory comrade while keeping the enemies in check.

"I, I can't. I can't do this kind of thing anymore. I've decided not to do it anymore."

Sagi-hyeok lowered his head deeply. His hands were trembling. Is he lacking confidence?

I instilled confidence in him.

"Mr. Sagi-hyeok. People should do what they're good at. You can't do simple labor, right? You're always making mistakes and causing trouble. This is a task where you can utilize your specialty to help the villa district."

"But I shouldn't do this. Everyone's going to die."

His eyes were shaking, as if he was confused.

The old man then chimed in.

"If you don't help with the work, you'll die sooner. You heard the story, right? About the clash with the apartment people. We'll be fighting soon. If we fight like this, we'll lose. All the people you've been associating with will die."

"..."

Sagi-hyeok clutched his head and groaned in pain, like a sick person. His lowered head cast a shadow on his face.

Soon, Sagi-hyeok lifted his head. His face was deeply exhausted, like someone who had just finished a full-speed sprint. Through his cracked glasses, his heavy-lidded eyes gleamed with a faint, cunning light.

"...I'll do it."

He is a person who chose kindness for the sake of gain. If fraud is beneficial, he would naturally choose it. Our villa neighborhood was a decent group to join.

My uncle and I responded quickly.

"Of course. How can we turn away someone who risked danger for the neighborhood? Right, uncle?"

"Then, from now on, you're family."

And so, Sagi-hyeok began to move slowly. He rummaged through his belongings, took out a neat suit, put on his intact glasses, and wore a military watch on his wrist.

As his attire changed, Sagi-hyeok's demeanor transformed. Confidence became his clothing, and his tone became more reliable.

Even in his somewhat lacking movements, there was a sense of success.

Sagi-hyeok muttered, "Please provide me with the personal information of the apartment people, especially the primary targets. The more detailed, the better."

"It's not difficult. I've already investigated."

My uncle rattled off the information of the apartment residents, including the president of the residents' association and the building manager. Sagi-hyeok meticulously checked the information on his phone and began planning.

Centered on the hope of this era, which is reluctant to be suspicious, like a disinfection safety zone.

I smiled contentedly.

'Pastor, you are watching. I have guided a lost lamb back to the right path.'

It was a good thing that the person who had been doing unrelated work due to the disaster had returned to their main business.

There was a kind neighbor in front of me, holding the hope that is hard to find in the apocalypse. A kind and benevolent neighbor who shares that hope.

***

Perhaps thanks to Sagi-hyeok's abilities, or perhaps the apartment people were in dire need. The kind neighbor operation went very well.

A few days later, Sagi-hyeok returned to the villa neighborhood with a group of apartment people.

We had already prepared a trap and were lying in ambush on the street.

The sidewalk was blocked with cars, bodies, and luggage, and only the road was left empty. Sagi-hyeok and the apartment people cautiously approached on the road.

Whatever he said to deceive them, the faces of the apartment people were a mix of hope and anxiety.

"M-Mr. President. Do we really have to do it this way? We haven't done anything bad, but the people in the other neighborhood don't like us."

"Then you can go back."

Sagi-hyeok shrugged, as if he didn't care, and looked back.

His gaze went beyond the apartment people, towards the road behind them. The point where the attack would begin. Sagi-hyeok needed to escape at the right moment.

Because the plan was to push them with the cars. That's why the sidewalk was blocked.

I stood by the window and quietly waited for the revenge drama that was about to unfold.

'It's starting.'

Boo-woong-!

A rapidly accelerating vehicle appeared at the end of the road. Sagi-hyeok briefly seemed to cast a dark shadow on his face, then quickly climbed onto the parked cars on the side of the road.

Sagi-hyeok disappeared in an instant. People looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"Mr. President-"

That was the end of it. The vehicle collided straight into the apartment people. A loud crash. People flew like in a cartoon, falling like bowling pins.

"Aagh!"

"Why drive like that-"

Slow to assess the situation. Even those who managed to avoid the vehicle had missed the golden time.

"Apartment bastards, die!"

"Kill them!"

People waiting in various parts of the villa building came out with weapons and mercilessly beat the panicked people.

A deadly ambush, a clean encirclement, a perfect numerical advantage.

In an instant, a group of apartment people were taken care of. I also quickly went out to the street, pretending to be working hard and panting as I looked around.

A bloody road. People with joints bent like dolls, people with cracked heads, people cut by an ax. All of them were apartment people.

A person who seemed to still have a breath of life painfully raised his head. It was the president of the residents' association. She was looking for Sagi-hyeok.

"Mr. President. Why, why. Test kits, safety..."

Is this a final mental attack? Appealing to conscience to wound the mind? But unfortunately, it is meaningless to our capable plunderer.

I hit the head a few times with a wooden mallet, and quickly went around to confirm the kills.

Suddenly, I turned my head and saw Sagi-hyeok surrounded by the people of the villa street. His face was pale. He couldn't take his eyes off the body of the president of the residents' association.

And the color gradually returned to that face. It's thanks to the encouragement of the people around him.

"Sagi-hyeok, well done. You're so reliable. Thanks to you, we got revenge on those bastards."

"You did it when it mattered. You've worked hard. You were in danger too."

"Thanks to you, we're safe. With this many dead, the apartment people won't dare to mess with us."

People showered Sagi-hyeok with praise. The pure joy, relief, and satisfaction. They acknowledge Sagi-hyeok regardless of the means.

I also strongly patted his shoulder.

"See? Cooperation, kindness, whatever, just do what you're good at."

Sagi-hyeok, who had been blankly looking around the villa street, burst into laughter.

"Haha. Hahaha."

He seems happy to be recognized. Indeed, a person should do what they are good at, what suits their nature. Killing, theft, fraud, these are also advantages in today's world, aren't they?

A world where people can freely display their abilities without prejudice, a world where it doesn't matter what field they are in as long as they are helpful, a world where their abilities are purely recognized. It was a world full of hope.