A Survival Guide for a Counselor in the Apocalypse Chapter 43

Chapter 43

 

Lee Hoin tugged my back as if to say we should go, and I nodded for now.

“Thank you.”

The citizen of “6” was still smiling brightly.

We slowly backed away.

‘…Is the clown a taboo?’

Why? It’s not the “king,” so then the “king” is… I frowned slightly as I thought. I considered digging through the original work, but honestly, it would probably take too long.

‘I don’t remember.’

This place was really just a stopover for farming materials. There were even runs where it wasn’t visited at all. In other words, it was a place you came to on a whim. And even then, it was only briefly described and glossed over, so it probably wasn’t detailed anyway.

‘It gets summarized. If even that rough explanation gets shortened further…’

It would likely just say something like: participated in the event.

 

—

[Wow, a master of inference.]

[That’s a reasonable deduction. Now you can use that reasoning somewhere else.]

—

 

There’s a king, and there are demons, so why is the trigger reacting like this to the clown?

“Something’s off.”

“Like that’s the only thing?”

“Wait.”

Near the carousel attraction, I spoke to one of the “6” citizens.

“Hello.”

“Yes, hello!”

“May I ask you something?”

“Of course!”

“What do you think about demons?”

At that, the “6” citizen blinked rapidly for a moment, then tilted their head.

“Hmm, they’re free-spirited, lovely, and perfect creations!”

A face that spoke as if it were obvious. I looked at them for a moment before asking again.

“And what do you think about the king?”

“His Majesty is great! Why do you ask such a thing~?”

“Then what about the clown…”

The mouth that had been speaking so easily shut tight.

Then, laughing awkwardly, they said:

“They’re a good person! They gladly love everyone.”

“…So they’re benevolent to all.”

“Oh, you got it right away!”

“I see.”

I fell silent for a moment, staring at that bright face, then asked:

“Is the king also benevolent to all?”

To my question, the “6” citizen still smiled brightly and said:

“You’re quite interested. Are you perhaps considering settling here?”

They didn’t answer. They just deflected with a question I couldn’t answer easily.

I stayed silent for a moment, then shook my head.

“No.”

The “6” citizen smiled.

“You should consider settling down! It’s a great place to live!”

As if.

I said thanks for now and turned my head. Lee Hoin had been watching my exchange, clearly finding it suspicious as well.

“…This feels off.”

Exactly.

The clown’s benevolence is affirmed as something obvious, but the king’s benevolence is avoided… why?

“While we’re moving, check if there’s any attraction related to the king.”

I felt like I had to uncover something related to the king to resolve this unease. No… it would resolve it. It wasn’t intuition. It was certain.

Lee Hoin nodded.

 

—

[Isn’t this digging too deep?]

[Sometimes it’s better to leave things buried!]

—

 

Ignoring them, we searched. We could come back to the carousel later. While wandering and reading signs aimlessly, we found an attraction that mentioned the “king.”

More precisely, something that seemed related to the king.

[Royal Tribute Guard]

A tribute. Normally, something is offered to a king or the highest authority.

“Lee Hoin!”

When I called him, he immediately turned back from another attraction entrance and came over.

“This one.”

As I pointed at the sign, the smiling “6” citizen clapped their hands.

 

— 

“Would you like to participate?

For reference, this attraction requires competing with others!

The team that reaches the end first wins.

Coincidentally, three teams are currently waiting!

The numbers didn’t match, so it couldn’t be helped!

You’ll be split into two teams!”

— 

 

The “6” citizen opened the door. Beyond it, nothing could be seen due to a curtain.

“Are we going in?”

At Lee Hoin’s question, I nodded.

“Hey, don’t trust them too much.”

He said that to my back as I walked ahead. I nodded again. The fact that he could still think clearly enough to give advice was reassuring.

“I don’t. Except for you.”

Other than Lee Hoin, there was no one in this world I could trust. There’s no such thing as a perfect ally or friend. When survival is at stake, people turn into strangers the moment you turn your back, and into enemies when they’re hungry.

Even so, I trusted Lee Hoin.

I trusted the actions he had shown so far. He was absurdly altruistic. Maybe he’d change someday. People do change.

But the changes he had shown so far were in a good direction. There was no reason to be wary of him yet.

“Let’s go.”

I stepped inside first. Lee Hoin hesitated briefly, then followed right behind me.

Inside was another “6” citizen.

Greeting us lightly with a smile, they said:

“Please go to the left!”

Left. We entered and left at the fork, and people were already gathered there.

Including us, a total of five people.

In the dim space, illuminated only faintly, I looked around. There were supposed to be three waiting, but… something felt strangely familiar.

“Hey… that’s that guy, isn’t it?”

Lee Hoin whispered.

Yeah. Damn it, I see him too.

“…”

“…”

Standing still in the darkness, staring at us…

 

—

[Someone unexpected has appeared, hasn’t he?]

—

 

Before I could say anything, the other person stood up first, approached me, and held out his hand.

“…I didn’t expect to meet you here.”

It was Lee Hyun.

The closest aide of Do Yoeseol, who would become the leader of the Muryang Sect. That guy we met at the mart. Why the hell was he here?

I immediately shifted my gaze to the other two.

Unfamiliar faces. Even so, I silently recalled the names of characters who had moved with Lee Hyun. Just in case.

Nothing appeared. Still, I didn’t rule out the possibility that they were part of the Muryang Sect.

After staring at him for a moment, I took his hand.

“…So you were here.”

“Yes.”

Awkward as hell. Who would’ve thought we’d meet again after parting like that?

Before that awkwardness could settle further, the attraction began.

Chaaak!

The curtain covering one wall of the dark space was pulled aside.

 

—

“You are the guards!

You must escort and protect the tribute!

Enemies will attempt to steal the tribute from all directions!

And elsewhere, another guard team is traveling the same path.

They are escorting the same tribute, and the team that offers it later will incur His Majesty’s boredom.

Today, the ‘clown’ is not present, so you must be careful.

His Majesty hates boredom above all!

Now then, are you ready to depart?”

—

 

The king. It sounded like things would be slightly better if the “clown” were here.

 

—

“The demons are especially playful today!

You must never harm the demons!

His Majesty knows the scent of demon blood better than anyone!

Now, please grab the handle, and one person must push it firmly!

Anyone who is not a demon may be killed!

Ah, how tragic… daring to covet an offering meant for His Majesty…

Now then! I wish you good fortune!”

—

 

With those final words, a tunnel appeared.

A long tunnel.

And what we were riding was a massive mine cart. Though calling it a mine cart felt inadequate… it was far too large and ornate.

On rails, the cart held a large, unidentified boulder in the center and a handle at one end.

The “handle.” Probably…

Used to move forward if pressed with both hands.

Everyone fell silent.

Then, a long-haired woman quietly asked:

“…Who’s going to take the handle?”

Who would put down their weapon and grab the handle with both hands?

It wasn’t a simple question.

In this pitch-black tunnel, on a cart meant to “protect” something, you’d put down your weapon and grab the handle?

When anything could jump out at you?

Volunteering was close to arrogance.

‘…And we weren’t even five people from the start.’

We had just met. We didn’t even have good memories together. We had worked together before, but was that because of trust? No.

Back then, there had simply been a greater absolute threat that forced cooperation.

But here? Who knows.

No one spoke. Everyone was watching each other, hesitating. We had to start moving, but no one wanted to be the one.

 

—

[6 Tickets, Land of Adventure and Fantasy! – Royal Tribute Guard ▼]

Now then, someone has to take the handle. What will you do?

[〉 I will not take it.

[〉 I’ll take it.

[〉 Say nothing. Observe how the situation unfolds. (Suspicion) Owned]

– Clown of Revelry

—

 

For now, I chose to observe the situation.