Chapter 10: I Don't Want Attention (4)

“Why isn’t he coming?”

Fumito grumbled as he chewed on his hot dog.

“The Captain must’ve gone to report to the Commander-in-Chief midway. Taebaek’s probably left all alone by now…”

Fumito glanced sideways.

Rock was walking alongside him. She wore a bodysuit, with the sleeves of her outer jacket tied around her waist in a knot.

She also had on a folding mask that fit snugly along her jawline. Infrared veins spread across the mask like blood vessels, blinking faintly with every breath.

“This Taebaek guy, did he get lost on the way or something? Rock, what do you think? Looks like he got lost, right?”

Nod, nod.

Due to the nature of her ability, Rock avoided speaking as much as possible. Her silent demeanor, solid as a rock, was why they called her Rock.

“You think so too, huh? They really made the base layout way too complicated. It’s a total maze. Even I’ve been here two years and still get confused sometimes.”

The infrared on her mask blinked three times. Translation: ‘That’s because you’re an idiot, Fumito.’

“I’m top-tier among normals, you know?! If you compare me to Dahui or you, how many in the Resistance aren’t idiots?!”

Rock shook her head, but her gaze suddenly sharpened coldly.

“If you suddenly change your look like that to scare me… Mmph!”

Rock abruptly thrust out her arm. She shoved the hot dog Fumito was munching deep into his throat, right down to the root of his tongue.

Fumito’s face turned ashen. He pounded his chest and swallowed the hot dog before yelling.

“I almost died! Even if you can’t talk, tone down that violent hand of yours—”

Rock ignored Fumito and stared beyond him. He followed her gaze and turned his head as well.

Far ahead, people had formed a wall of bodies. The two exchanged a glance and headed that way.

Murmurs rose.

The crowd was gawking at something. With backs blocking their view, Fumito and Rock shuffled around for a while.

Then both their eyes widened simultaneously. A familiar face came into view.

“Uh, uhhh?”

The Taebaek they’d been desperately searching for was there. But at his feet, a blond was prostrating flat on the ground.

“Rock. That guy over there…”

Their eyes stayed fixed ahead.

“8th Battalion Deputy Commander Swallow James, right?”

Rock nodded first at Fumito’s question. She looked just as baffled.

“But why’s Deputy Commander James acting like that?”

James was an ace riding high in the Resistance. Seizing the 8th Battalion deputy position in just a year proved his excellence.

…So why was that James in such a state? It wasn’t just Fumito’s intelligence issue—even Rock, with her IQ of 158, looked equally stunned.

“I can’t stand the curiosity.”

As Fumito tapped the shoulder ahead to ask, a low voice echoed through the corridor.

“Kneel.”

It was Lee Taebaek’s voice. He continued in a cold gaze, as if looking at worthless vermin.

“That’s the eye level between you and me.”

Fumito shivered.

“Cr… cra…”

Any real man would.

“Crazy.”

It struck a chord deep in the soul.

Meanwhile, Rock beside him got goosebumps like she’d spotted a cockroach in the corner.

‘What the hell? That’s some comic-book line.’

She glanced around, wondering if she was the weird one. Most shared Fumito’s thrilled reaction—only a minority like her were skeptical.

It was the aftermath of Taebaek buffing his Mental stat. Mental affected not just the caster but those around.

‘Fumito’s an idiot, but why the others?’

Cognitive dissonance hit Rock. Shocking that over half the onlookers were impressed by Taebaek.

Rock had high hopes for Lee Taebaek. His appearance was fairly normal—rather subdued, even.

‘Or so I thought.’

Her fingers curled like squid on a grill. Cringe city. Her nails dug into her palms.

‘Kneel?’

Her solar plexus clenched at him delivering such a middle-school-level line so nonchalantly.

Normal guy?

No way.

He might even claim the top madman spot in the 9th Battalion’s den of crazies. People’s shivers weren’t just because Taebaek was handsome. Faces provided narrative plausibility, after all.

‘I need to snap out of it.’

Rock shook her head vigorously to clear her thoughts.

Whatever the cause, clashing with the 8th Battalion hurt the 9th exclusively.

8th Battalion Commander Doctor Pepper. He nitpicked the 9th relentlessly.

– The 9th Battalion gets too much budget relative to headcount, activities, and value.

Thus, cut 9th’s budget and redirect to his 8th.

Pepper preached this, constantly hounding the Commander-in-Chief.

‘Commander-in-Chief hasn’t approved via discretion yet, but discontent toward 9th is real.’

Suddenly, Rock glared thinly at Yu Dahui. Standing by Taebaek, she looked bored.

Dahui couldn’t be unaware of the blue incoming. …Probably just too lazy. Rock sighed inwardly.

‘I’m the only sane one left.’

Rock stepped forward with resolve. But slower footsteps echoed first.

“Resistance Rule One: We unite for the cause of ‘liberation,’ so we avoid infighting. Except…”

The bustling crowd fell silent instantly. Gazes shifted from Taebaek to the voice’s source.

A bizarre scene unfolded. The human wall parted left and right like a zipper. The clogged corridor cleared instantly.

Fumito and Rock snapped to and joined, standing ramrod against the wall with hands behind backs.

As members formed ranks, the Commander-in-Chief folded one finger of his V-sign.

“For traitors.”

Kang Hyeonseong flanked him at stepping-stone distance, clad in his overcoat. He glanced at Fumito and Rock midway.

Exhaling deeply, he followed. They didn’t know the full story either.

“Two: The Resistance repays members’ debts.”

The Commander-in-Chief bent the last finger, elaborating.

“Grace twofold. Grudges tenfold.”

He halted five steps away. Kang Hyeonseong stood two paces back. The air shifted.

“The friend kneeling before you is one of ours.”

The face screen gleamed smoothly as a mechanical voice flowed.

“But I witnessed our precious member insulted by an ‘outsider.’ As Commander-in-Chief, what should I do? Repay the grudge, obviously?”

“……”

Lee Taebaek quietly lifted his eyes. Motionless, he exuded transcendence.

Yet subtle changes flickered across his face—missable without focus.

‘Screwed, big time.’

Lee Taebaek felt a chill in his chest.

A super heavyweight had appeared out of nowhere.

A mere bigshot wouldn’t tense him this much.

‘Commander-in-Chief is off-spec.’

One nod, and he commanded Lake City’s shadows—the Resistance’s pinnacle.

His heart pounded like twin hammers. Pores felt open.

‘Can’t flinch.’

Especially against the Commander-in-Chief. Tense eyes and grit teeth for poker face.

Taebaek licked his lower lip thoughtfully, seeking a brilliant escape from total crisis.

Clues always existed. Gamer mindset and dev knowledge surfaced.

‘Commander-in-Chief likes testing. Even this intimidation’s likely a test.’

Spirit gleamed in his eyes. Buffed Mental and new Concept swiftly calmed the storm.

‘Crazy’s fine—no, etch ‘total psycho’ image.’

Resistance valued crazies. Poison and madness were paper-thin apart.

Madness as key recruitment metric said it all.

‘Just one more knife dance.’

Resolved, Taebaek growled.

“Ridiculous.”

Members’ eyes blazed fury.

Hands dropped to waists—heavy weapons, blades.

Thin ice indeed. One wrong word, and beehive time.

“Enough.”

Commander-in-Chief gestured halt. Chin jerked arrogantly: Go on.

“Yes, outsider. What made you scoff?”

“If repaying debts is Resistance rule, I deserve reward. Yet you speak of grudges. What’s more absurd?”

“Grace? What grace?”

Taebaek paused before replying, lending weight.

“I was the one insulted. This blond bumped my shoulder first. You know what that means in the underworld.”

Eye contact meant stabs here. Shoulder bump? Duel challenge.

“But I settled for a kneel.”

Bluff that wouldn’t land. But shallow ploys were all he had. Damn.

“…Commander-in-Chief, you’d notice: If I wanted, this blond’s head would’ve rolled long ago.”

“Yours’d roll beside.”

Commander-in-Chief countered icily. Heart ached—physically painful.

“Hearing it, not entirely wrong. Seems James provoked first. Your feats add weight.”

In that instant, he’d checked CCTV via helmet display.

“So, saved a member’s life—claim blood money?”

Laughter laced his tone.

“That’s the plan.”

“Eyesight poor? Can’t grasp the situation?”

“Only big fish catch whales’ eyes. Minnows are beneath notice.”

“Wh-what?! Cocky bastard!”

Members bristled. Already holding back, now small fry? Raging justified.

But fury died quick. Commander-in-Chief burst laughing.

“Hahahahahaha!”

Mechanical and human mixed, layered echoes scraping nerves long.

He spun. Overcoat fanned like a fan, then folded.

Step, step.

He walked off. Kang Hyeonseong followed, relieved.

“Oh, right.”

Commander-in-Chief glanced back, half-moons on screen.

“Welcome belated. Welcome to the Resistance, Lee Taebaek. See you soon.”

He left with Kang Hyeonseong.

As they shrank to dots, Taebaek clutched his solar plexus. Chest warmly throbbed.

‘…Somehow passed.’

Enough. Ignoring piercing stares, eyes met James’. He mumbled, then lowered lids.

Hope no grudge lingered.

Such futile worry amid rough tug. Fumito and Rock dragged him fleeing.

Thanks to their swift action, Lee Taebaek escaped unscathed.

“Unexpected.”

Kang Hyeonseong’s words alone with Commander-in-Chief. He replied forward-gazing.

“What? No punishment for Taebaek?”

“Yes. Figured you’d harshly punish the outsider, regardless of right/wrong.”

Arm bends inward. Closed groups like Resistance amplified this.

Thus, Kang expected formal detention of ‘still-outsider’ Taebaek.

“Hyeonseong, you lived with him a week—know less than first-glance me?”

“…Pardon? What.”

Commander-in-Chief half-turned. Helmet hid, but intrigue shone in Kang’s eyes.

“If he’d tried force there… Bloodbath. Lee Taebaek does it if he says. Has the power too.”

“Agreed, shocked. Subduing 8th Deputy Swallow James barehanded. Knew Taebaek special, not this level.”

Commander-in-Chief faced forward. Overcoat scraped floor only sound.

After pause:

“Been ages. Bone-chilling eye contact. Felt this facing one of Ten Wings. Nostalgic.”

“…!”

“Potential or hidden power—who knows. Just vibe. But certain:”

Commander-in-Chief chuckled.

“If Taebaek’s that caliber, Resistance enters Lake City’s mainstream.”

The next day.

Gulp.

A hot pot steamed before Lee Taebaek’s eyes.

Appetizing vapor tickled his nose. Jaw tingled like electrified.

He’d starved ten shriveled days.

After that long fast, glorious first meal: kimchi stew.

“Asked kitchen auntie to set aside.”

Kang Hyeonseong offered spoon with toothy smile. Dawn broke, he’d hauled kimchi stew to Taebaek’s temp room.

“Eat before cools.”

No declining kindness. He devoured like possessed. Home taste intact.

Kang eyed Taebaek oddly, then spoke haltingly.

“Listen while eating.”

Ears minimally open. No time amid feast.

At least till next words.

“Commander-in-Chief to you, Taebaek…”

Clink. Spoon dropped.